Manager’s Message

Point-Counterpoint

Light banter between Brenda O’Connor and Mike Mooney

Brenda: Mike, as Ronald Reagan once famously said, “Well, there he goes again…” I am thinking that, what seems to be the umpteenth year in a row, we have something that is an obstacle to us just having a good time! First, we had Hurricane Irma. Then, we had to deal with construction for two years. And then, of course, we’ve had to adjust to the novel coronavirus.

Mike: I had almost forgotten Hurricane Irma. And last year, until mid-March, was such a blast that I had almost forgotten about the construction situation. Makes you want to say, “Enough, already.”

Brenda: I was thrilled when we finally had a safe opening in May and got to spotlight the cuisine from our new executive chef, Michael Katz. Before we could open, he had stepped up and recorded some cooking videos that inspired us and made us anticipate the possibilities once we could open.

Mike: Yes, that was great. And Sally worked with the Ladies Book Club to film and produce the last two book discussions and posted them on our website and YouTube channel so our members could view the presentations at their leisure and have fun. The May book club meeting was safely hosted in-person in our ballroom and featured, once again, cuisine ideas from the book. The ladies had a great time!

Brenda: At that luncheon, we really impressed them with our white-glove, er, blue-glove and mask service.

Mike: Well, you know, we were sending a message to all members: We are the safest place in town! And, I might add, the tastiest cuisine as well. Chef Michael did a terrific job; he made what sounded like a mundane beef stew look like it came from a Michelin 3–star restaurant.

Brenda: Come on, it was just stew! Well, it did look like tenderloin to me, now that you mention it…

Mike: Darned right it was, and the sauce was yummy! And don’t forget dessert. The apple cake was terrific. I saw a lot of empty plates coming back to the kitchen. And nobody left right away. The ladies stayed and socialized, even if the tables were separated by the mandatory six-foot rule.

Brenda: You know, that’s what we are really about: Good cuisine, safely and pleasantly served in our comfortable environment, with great camaraderie that makes you realize what a special place NYC truly is.

Mike: You got that right! And, to borrow from the Marines: We adapted, we improvised, and we overcame. I am really looking forward to this season. We may have some limitations like we have in past years, but we will continue to adapt to whatever challenges come our way to provide our members with premier experiences. After all, we are Naples Yacht Club, where we “honor traditions, and commit to excellence.”

Brenda O’Connor

Executive Director, Membership

Mike Mooney, CCM, CCE

General Manager