From the Commodore’s Bridge
W
elcome to a new season of both celebration and thanks! The COVID-19 pandemic cut short our last season and certainly restricted our Club activities. The support of Club members enabled us to open gradually with all safety precautions in place. Because our operations were significantly better than our budget, we were able to compensate our staff during this difficult period. Our board and management want to stress that they have made Naples Yacht Club the safest location to dine in Naples. This issue of Waypoints contains the schedules for the 2021 season. You will find the complete cruise, entertainment and event, Speaker Dinner Series, and Ladies Book Club schedules. If the COVID-19 virus is not contained by the time we resume activities in the fall, we will have contingency plans in place if we cannot gather as usual. We have been—and will continue—pre-recording the Ladies Book Club presentations and Speaker Series lectures for members who are apprehensive about gathering at the Club. Your activities committees have an exciting year planned, so mark your calendar now and make reservations early so that you don’t miss anything. This fall, the board will be asking you to participate in a brief survey (as we did in the summer) related to our pandemic-restricted activities. We need to know what has gone right and what you think could be improved. There were many difficult decisions that had to be made. Restricting
guests and reciprocal activities were among the most controversial. This made recruiting new members exceedingly difficult because the potential new members could not come to Naples Yacht Club to enjoy our activities and camaraderie. The board felt that it was wiser to provide a safe environment for our members rather than trying to increase our revenue. The board is committed to continuous improvement, so your feedback will help us navigate change. Please participate! On behalf of our board and staff, I would like to thank each of you for supporting your Club during this difficult time. Chef Michael Katz has created a Harbor Provisions Menu that has been very well received, and since reopening, our members have been coming to the Club to be together safely and to enjoy our fine cuisine and ambiance. Our waitstaff, donning masks and gloves, has been genuinely pleased to see members’ familiar faces. Our membership is not as large as some of our competition, but we are fortunate that our members show a strong loyalty to Naples Yacht Club—so thank you. Remember, this is your Club, so come frequently and enjoy it!
Jim Lozelle Commodore
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Waypoints 2020-2021 | NAPLES YACHT CLUB
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9/15/20 11:05 AM
