Founding the AAYC

August 15, 1998 to January 1, 2002

It was a very hot and extremely humid, Saturday afternoon, August 15, 1998. I remember it well. We were visiting various marinas on the Eastern Shores of the Chesapeake Bay looking at trawlers. Exhausted and dehydrated, Al Collins, Peter Huber, and Tom Cusick stopped at the Fleet Reserve Club of Annapolis for refreshments. That day, we did not find a vessel that met our individual requirements. However, we turned our attention on the need and desirability of forming very accessible and versatile yacht club.  Current, local yacht clubs had long waiting lines, rigid requirements for membership, mandatory participation, initiation fees and annual dues that were extremely high for the services and benefits they provided. We were determined to explore the idea of establishing a new attractive alternative, yacht club testing its potential for growth, and organizing a group of like minded individuals to move the idea of developing of a virtual yacht club forward. Our spouses enthusiastically supported the idea of forming a new club. Two weeks later, we met at the Fleet Reserve for supper and dancing and discussed the idea with a much larger group of potential members. Our ideas and passion for a new club attracted interest and increased support among our friends. 

It was not until Mid-February 1999 that Robert Eck, past Commodore and treasurer of Boumi Temple Yacht Club (BTYC), and Coles Marsh, Commodore of BTYC joined the group and became the principal advisors, providing basic guidelines, rules, and procedures for operating a yacht club.  In the spring of 1999, both Bob and Coles invited Al, Tom. And Peter to various clubs’ opening ceremonies, introduced us to members of the various clubs, and asked us to participate with them in popular social activities. Our interactive involvement allowed us to observe and learn critical elements key to the functioning of a yacht club. The Kent Island Yacht Club’s opening ceremony in early May 2000 impressed us very much and boosted our resolve and commitment to advance the realization of our own club.  

In late Spring and early Summer of 2000, Al. Tom, and Pete, Bob, and Coles, and their respective spouses, met on a weekly basis at Al’s Boathouse on Lake Ogleton, at 88 East Lake Dr. Bay Ridge, Md. to seriously debate the formation of the yacht club, its scope, mission, and goals. First on the agenda was to select a clear, decisive, and prominent name to be proud of. Among the many names proposed “THE ADMIRALS ANNAPOLIS YACHT CLUB” was unanimously approved by the participants. At the second meeting at the boathouse, Al Collins was elected to chair the newly organized Executive Committee. Peter and Tom were assigned to review Constitutions and Bylaws of various yacht clubs and prepare a draft for the proposed club that would effectively meet the basic operational needs of management and the membership. Bob’s expertise was utilized to compare Articles of Incorporation for the State of Maryland and recommend the most relevant legal format. Coles primary duties were to draft and promote the strategic goals and policy objectives of the club and assist Peter to design and produce members ID cards, burgee, pins, and name tags. 

The Executive Committee was determined to draft bylaws that would give the leadership the power and authority to effectively manage and direct the activities of the organization, promote the expansion of the club, and enhance its success.  Permanent standing and special committees were formed to assist the leadership in carrying out its new duties and responsibilities. Committees were responsible for developing policies to attract, motivate, and retain the membership’s interest in the club. 

INCORPORATION OF THE CLUB

On June 14th, 2000, the 9th draft of the Constitution and Bylaws was presented to the executive committee for discussion. The 12th and the final draft was approved on August 9th, 2000. 

Bob Eck, upon reviewing a number of legal forms of Incorporation, recommended that a ‘TAX-EXEMPT NONSTOCK” Corporation format be selected. The application was approved by the executive committee on August 27th, 2000 and later hand carried to the Charter Division, State of Maryland, Department of Assessments and Taxation, located at 301 West Preston Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201. On September 26th, 2000 the Articles of Incorporation (ID-D06025092) for the ADMIRALS ANNAPOLIS YACHT CLUB Inc. were officially approved by the State of Maryland, Department of Assessments and Taxation. 

On December 12th2000, the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS) issued AAYC Employer ID Number (EIN: 52-2279924) and on June 26, 2002 IRS granted AAYC tax- exempt status. IRS has authorized AAYC to operate as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c) 7. The governing Articles of Incorporation named Al Collins as the founder and incorporator of AAYC; Tom Cusick and Peter Huber as co-founders. In addition to the founders, charter members included: Bob Eck. Coles Marsh and Eugene Rasmussen. The Charter members were recognized for their significant contributions to the formation and establishment of the club. 

FORMAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CLUB

The first formal meeting of the charter members was held on August 9th 2000. Among the items considered, none was as important as the organizational and operational structure of the club. Final drafts of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation were reviewed and approved. Membership policies: initiation fee of $100.00 and annual dues of $25.00 for regular members were adopted. It was determined by the executive committee that the charter members and the leadership should focus on recruiting new members who would promote and encourage good will and fellowship; foster fraternal and social activities within the club and with other yachting organizations, in an effort to cultivate and strengthen a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among members of the boating communities. 

At the August meeting, 2000 the nomination committee, chaired by Judy Cusick, recommended that the following members be elected to positions of leadership as follows:

• Al Collins, Commodore
• Tom Cusick, Vice Commodore
• Peter Huber, Rear Commodore
• Coles Marsh, Fleet Captain
• Bob Eck, Treasurer 
• Joyce Gillen-Kenney, Secretary

Albin Collins, the elected First Commodore, established new committees and appointed members to assist him in carrying out the Club’s primary mission.

• Jack Hoffman, Membership Committee
• Bill Kenney, Public Relations
•  Judy Cusick, Doris Eck, 
• Ruth Hoffman, Program Planning
• Dorothy Collins, Parliamentarian

At the next general meeting, the Commodore assigned officers of the Bridge significantly broader responsibilities than those specified in the Bylaws. Vice-Commodor Cusick assumed responsibilities for developing operational and financial policies. Rear-Commodore Huber duties called for producing AAYC Home Page and establishing procedures for the dissemination of information. Fleet Captain Marsh was assigned to expand relationship with other yachting organizations and explore requirements for joining the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association. Immediately, following the incorporation of the club, Rear Commodore Peter was given the most difficult task of designing and developing the AAYC WEBSITE. He produced an extremely informative and attractive (http://embark.to/aayc) site and placed our club on the internet/cyber network. By October 30th 2000, the site was operating and providing detailed information about our club’s goals, schedule of events, and membership options. It included summaries of important documents such as the Constitution and Bylaws and minutes of general membership meetings. Photos documented members’ travels, group cruising and rafting activities. Applications for membership could be examined and downloaded by any interested person desiring to become a member. 

The first anniversary celebrations, took place on November 10th, 2001. Vice Commodore Cusick reviewed major accomplishments and provided a vision for the future. Coles Marsh, MC, made a brief but witty introduction of key members. The highlight of the evening’s celebration was Harry Latimer’s 

“Cherry Pink Reason” Band playing the top 40 songs for the club’s dinning and dancing enjoyment. Listening to the musical composition of “Still Strong America” by Phil Pieraldi, the members heard an urgent and powerful call to make America always “FREE AND SAFE.’

Vice-Commodore, Betty Stahler, representing CBYCA was our honored guest. She informed us that our club is well qualified for membership in CBYCA and urged us to join it. By joining CBYCA, 

our club would attain a wider range of reciprocal opportunities to share and enjoy boating activities together with the other 134 clubs that are currently members of CBYCA. Commodore Collins vision, leadership, commitment, and accountability continued to govern the club’s efforts. 

Vice-Commodore, Tom Cusick was elected as the second Commodore at the General Membership meeting on December 5th 2001. Extremely well qualified, he assumed the position of leadership and succeeded Al Collins on January 1, 2002. He has chartered a course to faithfully and effectively carry out the AAYC’s designated mission. As the new skipper, at the AAYC helm, he promised to direct his effort to strengthen the foundation of the club and navigate AAYC forward at full speed to higher levels of prominence, increased recognition and respect within and outside the yachting communities. 

The AAYC continues to provide a community of water lovers the opportunity to gather and enjoy all the Chesapeake Bay has to offer!