It is hard to contain myself as the weather warms and allows me to take a walk along the property in Tiverton and feel and smell the freshing Southeast breeze as it make its way down the river from the sea. Your committees are becoming very active to support the summer programs. House committee has met on the property and is completing a list of improvements that will enhance the members’ experience this summer and in the future. New fencing is proposed to shed the view of the hole until the construction of the clubhouse begins. The tent on the hill will be delivered on June 1, 2004 and will remain there for the season. Outdoor carpeting will be laid out under the tent area to make the area comfortable. Portable lighting will be acquired to allow evening activities for family night and social functions. We expect to hold a catered open house at the club in mid June about the time the pool will open for the season. New banners are on order to place along the beach fence. Landscaping and flowers will begin to be planted in May. Our House Committee has interviewed stewards to start the season and be available during all times the club is open. The stewards’ primary mission will be to assist the members and to keep the surroundings neat and clean.

The past few months have been trying and driven to accomplish our task to rebuild the club in the splendor that it had prior to the fire. You are aware that since the fire last June, our Building Committee has worked tireless to design the new clubhouse to satisfy our uses and needs. The plans are still being fined tuned to conform to local and state building and zoning requirements. Many a meeting has been held at Dave Saurette’s home and his mother-in-laws office in Tiverton. We have retained an architect to complete the structural plans based for the most part on Rick Hall’s design you all saw last fall. The club will only have two floors above the basement and will contain a slightly smaller foot print than the original club due to squaring off the building in an effort to conform with the Town of Tiverton Zoning By-laws. These revised plans will leave the front of the building as viewed in the fall.

There have been several revisions of our ISDS application plans to install a new septic system at the back of the property. David Saurette, Wayne Karzenski and Todd Oman, our engineer, have attended many meetings with the state officials. Many of your board members have met and developed a history of the club uses and activities to enable the Rhode Island and Wetlands Protection Division of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to determine the size of the new structure. Marina members and various club members along with many business and property owners on Riverside Drive, Tiverton, RI have sent letters of support to this division. We have submitted a complete application to install a new system, in lieu of a repair permit, to enable the system to accommodate each day the largest number of individuals that could attend the club throughout the year. This will provide us years of carefree use of the septic system and at a much larger capacity than the old system. The system is designed to accommodate parking above the same by use of cement galleys. This will give us more parking to the rear of our property. The permit should have been received prior to your receipt of this report.

Competitive bids are now being sought to have the system installed and completed by June 1, 2004. Although portable heads have already been delivered for use of the members reading the club for the summer activities, we expect that our permanent outdoor heads will be constructed and completed before the pool opens for the season. We owe a lot to our members who have been persistent to keep to a time table to assure that the club will be more functional this summer while we wait for our final approvals and permits to start construction of the club.

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the board of directors, the construction of the clubhouse will be delayed until the fall. Although the Town of Tiverton Planning Board issued an affirmative report to the Town of Tiverton Building Inspector, Rob Walker, there are three state approvals that must be issued before we are able to apply for the building permits. The Town of Tiverton continues to support our efforts and have been most cooperative with our building committee members. We acknowledged their help and thank them for this. In fact, the Town of Tiverton community has been wonderful. I wish to assure the members that all of the club activities will continue this summer without interruption. Therefore, even if we secure our building permit this summer, we will not start construction until the fall. This also gives us an advantage to price out the facilities to other contractors and continue to refine the amenities that many members have requested.

Other than the ISDS permit to be secured shortly, a permit needs to be issued (PAP) by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to permit us to remove the berm at the front of the property. This will permit the installation of a garage door at the basement level of the club to permit the storage of many of the small sail training boats and club equipment during the winter. This will help us to maintain the equipment in top shape by being able to work on the boats during the off season and prevent wear and tear by harsh winter storms. This will also be a benefit to the neighborhood by allowing our appearance to be neat throughout the year. The Department of Transportation has completed its review and has indicated to us a positive view, but must wait to issue the permit after the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission has reported back to them. By all indications, this permit should be secured within the next couple of weeks.

The last permit is the CRMC permit issued by the State of Rhode Island. This will approve the rebuilding of the club with the few alterations that benefit our use and attractiveness of our property to the neighbors. This permit will be issued after the Town of Tiverton Building Inspector issues its letter to the division that the rebuilding is a pre-existing non-conforming structure without expansion to the prior use and structure. This letter should be issued shortly after a hearing before the Town of Tiverton Zoning Board in the middle of April 2004.

As we promised, your club continues to improve its sail training equipment by purchasing replacement equipment each year. It was voted to retire the inflatable chase boat and failing engine. The committee will be acquiring a fifteen-foot fiberglass boat with center steering and bimini, a four-stroke 30 horsepower outboard and trailer. Sail Training applications have been mailed to the parents of last years’ participants. Deposits are due May 1, 2004 with the balance due on June 17, 2004, at a mandatory Parent Orientation Meeting.

Junior sailing classes will begin on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, and end Friday, august 13, 2004. The NBYA Junior Race week will be at the East Greenwich Yacht Club beginning the week of August 15, 2004. The Tiverton will be represented as always. There are negotiations with the owners of the marina facility abutting our beach. It is possible that sail training may be headquartered there, with additional parking for the club members.

Work parties for view of utilities and to reconstruct the marina docks were held at the club during the months of March and April. Paul Cetola along with a work party of about ten people worked two weekends to rebuild and repair the docks to be launched on April 17, 2004. I worked along side of John Brady. Boy! I want to take his multivitamins. Its true, you’re only as old as you want to be. By the end of the first day, the crew was able to pick up replace and rebuild many of the structures. Many thanks to you all and especially, Rich Toolin and his wife who spent a cold weekend before the work party began to evaluate and set up the docks. Both water and electricity is available on the beach. The installation of the docks in mid April 2004 is a sign that life continues at TYC.

Lanny Goff informs me that his Race Committee has completed its schedules for the spring and summer events. I have already received my race courses and application. Hopefully, I will have a crew to join this year. The first race will begin on Wednesday, evening on May 19, 2004. As always, a party will commence when the boats come in. I may have to man a grill on the beach. Come on down and join the fun.

The swim program should be on time this year. New equipment will be installed and the pool should be open by the beginning of June to allow the water to settle before use. Lifeguards are in place and the swimming instructors are itching to begin a full summer.

There are plans to have a few big social events under the tent and on the beach. We hope to revive the annual clambake on the beach this summer by a professional bakemaster. We are in need of committee members to handle the social activities. Assistance is requested. Our board member, Cheryl Padilla, will help with the planning of events and inventory requirements of the Social Committee. We would like two individuals to head the committee. With enough support, it should be fun to plan a party with other members’ money.

Although, it seems to be an endless process to rebuild, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I thank everyone who has met and worked on this process. It seemed dauntless but you have brought it together. I look forward to seeing my friends of summer in the next few weeks and meeting our new members. I see good tidings and smoother sailing in the future. Hopefully, I will enjoy the club soon.

Mark L. Levin,

Commodore

Mark passed away in March 2004. He and his family have been members of the Tiverton Yacht Club for many years. Mark and his family resided in Little Compton, RI. An avid sailor and a licensed Coast Guard captain, Mark taught a navigation course for the Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron. He was racing crew and skipper in many of the club’s regattas. Mark was a member of the Sail Training Committee and spent many hours helping to make the program its best. We wish Mark’s wife Maryellen and son Kyle our heartfelt sympathy during this trying time. Friends of Mark Martin, Phil Viveiros and others, are in the process to have a permanent memorial placed at the new clubhouse.

Margie passed away in March 2004. With her husband, Stephen I. Lipman, a past commodore of the Tiverton Yacht Club, Margie brought to life the Narragansett Bay and attention to our club when her article was published several years ago. Margie chronicled her time with the club with many pictures that were on display at the club for years. We hope to gain copies from Steve to adorn our club again. As a traveler, Margie wrote about different countries and trips for many magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times. Margie was a great hostess and sailed with Steve in all kinds of weather. Besides her husband, she leaves behind a young and accomplished family. Margie always had a passion for Ireland.

Donations in Margie Lipman’s honor can be made to Athlone Public Library, Athlone County West Meath, Republic of Ireland. We wish Steve and his family many warm and loving memories.

Mark L. Levin

The Board of Directors sends their prayers and good wishes to Peter Gombosi and his family. Peter is suffering from a serious illness and will be unable to spend much time with us at the club this year. We all hope that he has a good recovery from surgery. Peter has spent many days working during the spring and fall with the Marina Committee activities. We thank him for his service to the club.

SWIM PROGRAM

All payments for the Swim program or Sail Training should go to the Club.

Attn. Treasurer

Tiverton Yacht Club

PO Box 54

Tiverton RI 02878

Indicate what the payment is for on the check.

Please go to the club Web site and click the Swim Program link, then download the Swim Application from the bottom of the page. Mail it to me, at 40 Penny Pond Road, Tiverton or contact Amy Teixeira directly at 401-624-6116.

Many thanks,

Ken Kiley

For those of you who have trouble attracting crew, this is for you. On June 5, 2004, the Tiverton Yacht Club will be sponsoring a double-handed race (one skipper, one crew). This will be a one class, non-spinnaker, PHRF race.

Lanny

Plans are being made for an array of activities that will interest juniors of all ages. Weekly pool games will begin on Thursday, June 24. Swimming races for youngsters will be divided according to ages. Prizes will be awarded for them as well as the winners of the big and little splash, basketball games and the best hand stands. The highlight of this weekly event is the penny dive that is really enjoyed by all who participate.

For the teenagers there will be a dance in July and August under the tent. Adult chaperones will be needed on these nights. The July dance will have a Hawaiian theme while the August one will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Beattles.

In the afternoon I am seeking volunteers who would like to sponsor a tykes pool party in the afternoon. It would be nice to have two of these during each of the summer months.

Jim Rogers, Junior Chair

LOG BOOK ADS

Advertising for this year’s log book is now being accepted. This is a great way to advertise your business to the 175 club members, their families and the many guests who come to the club.

Full Page Ad — $50.00

One Half Page Ad — $30.00

Thank you for your support of the club.

Jim Rogers,

Log Book Chair