Saturday was a busy day here at BHYC. The weather co operated to the point that we had the windows open in the conference room for our monthly board of directors meeting. Poignant blue skies and a sparkling harbor were the backdrop. The nine o’clock sun was nearly parallel to the conference table top. I think perhaps it was the first board meeting where we had nothing to vote on, at least during my tenure.

One of the highlights was the announcement of the newly placed Team Leads. We are moving forward with the examination of how a different organization chart might work. Committees are being combined in appropriate groups and referred to as teams. There is the clubhouse team, led by Mimi O’Neill. The membership team is led by Sandy Wheeler. The boating and yachting team is led by Rear Commodore Jon Dunsford. The junior program team is led by Charlie Cochrane. The buildings and grounds team is led by Tom Blake and the administration team is led by Vice Commodore Liz Rettenmaier. After our meeting, we had a casual meet and greet for our new General Manager Tom Serino. He was in town to make plans for his new digs in the apartment in the Sailing and Education Center. Tom was very well received by those in attendance. He is affable and gregarious. He will return the weekend prior to April 1 as that is his first day.

The Boothbay Region Sailing Program under the direction Chris Liberti began Monday with on-land instruction. It was supposed to be the first week on the water but the Junior Program ramps and floats are still iced in at Blake’s Boatyard. Next Monday, the sailors will be on the water, weather permitting. There is an exciting opportunity for adults to become involved in this program. Please contact Charlie Cochrane if you would be interested in signing up to operate one of the safety boats twice a week this spring. This program had an open house Thursday evening. About seven families attended this well-planned event organized by Deanna Clarkson.

It’s wonderful to have had a series of beautiful days. I don’t miss the sizzling sound of tires passing over thaw wet roads. Soon the crunching sound underfoot will be swept and hushed. I particularly relish the longer afternoons. The sun suggests that Edward Hopper stopped in to paint the warm white westerly facing facades of our town.

When I think spring is right around the corner, I am reminded what Walter “Scotty” Scott told me. And I quote: “Gardiner, what you need to know is that on the 31st of May at 9 a.m., spring starts. And on the 1st of June, at 9 a.m., summer starts.”

To wit I say … That’s just the price we pay to live in this amazing part of New England.