Saturday, Aug. 27 marked the fast- coming end to another DEYC summer season. The Tugboat Inn Restaurant was the setting for the DEYC annual meeting.

Following the written roll call and reading of the call of the meeting by Secretary P/C Susan Pope, Commodore Jeanne Koenig offered a welcome and asked for a moment of silence to recognize our departed members.

Commodore Koenig asked for approval of minutes from the previous meeting. She then recognized new members and past commodores in attendance. A long list of committee chairs read their reports. After their reports many members offered positive suggestions for increasing membership and practical ideas for improving publicity. Suggestions included an updated website and improving the brochure and a more informative kiosk on the dock. Other ideas included: advertising the club in additional publications, DEYC ads for membership at other similar clubs and organizations and approaching the local television channel for advertising.

A suggestion to enforce the due date for membership dues was applauded by the members present. Freeman Etheridge, investment chair, provided a summary of the club’s investments over the 56 years since the club’s origin. Even with the downtrend in the market this past year, the investments have done well.

Under new business ,Commodore Jeanne Koenig introduced proposed changes in the DEYC by-laws. The club membership had received a copy of “new by-laws” to include the changes prior to the annual meeting. The members responded as expected with a lively discussion and lots of questions for the current bridge. Because of time constraints, a motion was made to table the proposed changes to a later date.

Commodore Koenig then presented DEYC rain jackets to her out-going bridge as a thank you for their tireless work.

There was a formal installation of the new bridge and new members of the board of directors. P/C Steve Arkley swore in the Commodore Brent Pope, Vice Commodore Aaron Rugh, and Rear Commodore Kristen King. He then presented them with their officer flags and name tags

New Commodore Brent Pope spoke briefly of his plans for his tenure as commodore. He presented his new fleet captain, Ed Gillis, to the members present. DEYC officer caps were presented to the new bridge and treasurer.

P/C Tim Parker shared details for the Day Tripper in Hodgdon Cove to follow the meeting. Meeting adjourned and several boats joined a raft-up in “the Gut.”

The next DEYC event is the “Haul Out Party” at Blake’s Marina Sept. 10.