Florida Commodores Association

Last weekend's General Meeting of the Florida Commodores Association was a great event and the Sarasota Chapter of the FCA did a spectacular job of hosting the event! The all new Sarasota Yacht Club is magnificent and I encourage you all to visit this beautiful club at your earliest opportunity.

Saturday's meeting was well-attended and following lunch, we were honored to have Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick present our educational program on the oil spill's impact on our beautiful Gulf of Mexico waters. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a senior scientist and program manager for the Environmental Health Program at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Her current research focuses on the human respiratory effects of the Florida red tide. Dr. Kirkpatrick collaborates with investigators from seven institutions nationwide. She presented slides showing the monitoring devices they are presently deploying to monitor hydrocarbon emissions along the coast and into the Keys. She displayed satellite maps illustrating the currents and wind effects which could affect the oil distribution throughout the Gulf and potentially into Atlantic waters. The FCA was honored to have Dr. Kirkpatrick join us to present her very educational program. She was presented with a gift by P/C Rose Mattran for her service to our yachting community.

SYC Chapter President P/C John Godbald, assisted by P/C Rose Mattran and P/C Marie Rosenblad, did a marvelous job of planning the festivities. John was presented with the official Florida Commodores Association Chapter Charter for his chapter on Saturday evening following a spectacular patriotic Sundowners Ceremony and delicious dinner of elk rib eye stead and lobster tail. The wonderful staff of Sarasota Yacht Club led by GM Bernie Kloppenburg and assisted by Banquet Manager Winnie McClain, was saluted for their outstanding performance with a standing ovation of all who were gathered for this event.

The evening was completed with our traditional toasts. Sarasota Commodore Kay Goodman toasted the FCA and we, of the FCA, toasted Sarasota Yacht Club and then the final toast was our traditional toast to "The Keepers of the Flame"!

Please make your plans now to attend our Annual FCA Meeting and Change of Watch at Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club on October 22, 23 and 24th. Don't miss another one of these wonderful events. Come and share the camaraderie that we as Past Commodores enjoy.

Ron Richards

FCA Commodore 2010