Edward "Ed" Gillespie
Commodore 1998
When I joined the Yacht Club I immediately started to attend Board Meetings to learn about the Club. Very shortly thereafter I was appointed to fill in as Secretary for the balance of the term. The next year I was elected to that office, then the next two years Rear Commodore and 1 year as Vice Commodore before taking on the responsibility of Commodore.During that time frame the Club had continued to reach new levels. One of my biggest goals was to have more involvement & participation by all Club Members. We Instituted an Organizational Chart depicting all club members participating in support of Club Activities. This proved that we must have the best member supported Club anywhere.
The year progressed every quickly as we processed the new By-law changes and amendments proposed during 1997 and implemented them.
We established a Special Event Proposal Format to provide for consistent bidding for Lake Events that we would support, changed our annual Charity Golf Tournament to an Invitational Golf Tournament allowing more flexibility in the manner we conduct it’s business. That single function now supports our entire Youth Activities Programs and Donations.
Our Membership continues to "Host" The Lake Havasu Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights Program - The most Beautiful Spectacle on the West Cost of Arizona.
We have built a solid relationship with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Aux, Lake Havasu Police Dept and the London Bridge Amateur Radio Association giving us a very professional posture and respected reputation with our safety in supporting lake events.
We have re-instituted the Youth Sailing program, put our Staff Commodores (Club Officers) in Uniform, established our Club Office, providing computer, printer, bookcase and necessary materials for Club functioning. Established a system to control and identify Club gratuities i.e.., Food, Drinks, Ship Store items given for Birthdays, New Memberships, Work Parties, etc. Initiated a Yacht Club Opening Day Ceremony, provided high intensity Lights for our buoys to support lake events, added a Trophy Display Case, and yes even established plans for design and installing a Nautical Entry Way for our Clubhouse, as well as preparing to secure a beach location for Yacht Club use on the Chemehuevis Land.
All these things and others not to mention have become reality because the benefits provided by the ground work of our past Commodores and Boards, but most of all because of the overwhelming involvement and participation by you our Club Members.
I will always remember my term as the Lake Havasu Yacht Club "Hugging" Commodore