50-YEAR MEMBERS - Ted Smith has enjoyed every year with the GLCC

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Great Lakes Cruising Club has seven members who have achieved 50-year membership. Over the next few months, we’ll be profiling them to learn about their perspectives on the GLCC and the boating world was like 50 years ago.

Theodore ‘Ted’ Smith

Current Boat: M/V Punchlist

Home Port: Clarkston, Mich.

Joined GLCC: 1975

GLCC Roles: Rear Commodore 2007-2012

Ted Smith joined GLCC in 1975. Now in his 80’s, Ted is a busy guy. He’s not retired, continuing to work in the construction field now as a consultant to the institutional construction industry. Lifeline caught up with Ted recently on a break from his many activities.

• Lifeline: You joined GLCC in 1975. What attracted you to the Club?

Ted Smith: Back in the ’70s, there was a relatively tight-knit group of boaters at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and the surrounding area who cruised together. Many were GLCC members. The stimulus for joining the GLCC was (the late) Jim Acheson, (former GLCC commodore, of Port Huron, Mich.), who was very active in boating and the GLCC.

• Lifeline: Was your family into boating?

I grew up being around boating with my family at the Detroit Yacht Club, purchasing my first boat in 1969, a 34-foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser. The boating and cruising bug certainly kicked in as I owned, in succession, a 37-foot Romer, 41-foot cabin cruiser, 47-foot cabin cruiser, 41-foot Sport Fisherman. Those were all Chris Crafts. I’ve owned my current boat, a 37-foot Sea Ray aptly named Punch List, for the past 20 years.

• Lifeline: Before GPS, navigating was very different. Tell us about your work involving boating education. 

I became actively involved with the United States Power Squadrons (USPS) with Jim Acheson around the same time I joined GLCC. (The USPS is now marketed as “America’s Boating Club” as its members are both power boaters and sailors.)

Back in the ’70s – well, for that matter through 2000, before charting technology was really in existence – if you wanted to learn navigation and stay off the rocks, you took classes. 

USPS did and still does offer comprehensive and detailed classes for recreational boaters in everything from boat handling, piloting, marine navigation, offshore navigation, celestial navigation to marine electronics, engine maintenance, etc. 

I’ve achieved the “Senior Navigator” designation, indicating that I’ve completed all these courses. Having a strong desire to give back to the boating community that has been so supportive of my boating interests, in addition to district roles with the USPS, I also dived into national roles including National Administrator Officer, National Executive Officer and ultimately Chief Commander. 

In my role as Chief Commander, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the USPS for its then 65,000 members. After I completed my tenure as Chief Commander, I stayed involved in the USPS, serving on the Government and Partners Relations Committee, Advisory Council, and member of the Governing Board – Emeritus status. Through my USPS involvement, I met boaters from all over the country, including Joe and Karen Mesenburg (who also became very involved with GLCC) and are still some of my closest friends. 

I was able to intertwine my role in the USPS and GLCC over the years, including an opportunity to be the keynote speaker at the GLCC Lake Erie Regional Dinner during the time I was the USPS Chief Commander. 

Additionally, I served as Commodore of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) in 1988 (I believe it was the same year that Jim Acheson was Commodore of GLCC). I’ve been pleased to have been a long-term member and serve these organizations in a meaningful way.

• Lifeline: Where have you cruised?

We’ve cruised extensively in Lake Erie, upper Lake Michigan, the North Channel and Georgian Bay. I have also made a challenging boat trip from Florida to Michigan on the 47-foot CC Commander when I purchased it from its Florida owner.

• Lifeline: You are a 50-year member, so you’ve seen the Club develop over the years. What changes were of the greatest improvement over the years?

The core value-add, comradeship, has not changed. That was really the foundation of GLCC. As far as information, back when I joined, Harbor Reports were updated annually, often with changes being made on my printed copy of the Harbor Report with pen and ink. What has changed is how information is communicated, whether it is Harbor Reports or events. Now Harbor Reports are electronic and can be updated daily and I can receive a notification every night at 7 p.m.

• Lifeline: Anything that is especially memorable?

Lots of great memories. I really enjoyed helping Jim Acheson cruise his boat to Florida as well as going to the North Channel to attend a recent Killarney Rendezvous with Jim and my wife, Susie. One of the best memories was Jim Acheson and I watching a launch from Cape Canaveral together on his boat.

 

• Lifeline: What type of cruising do you do now?

Cruising is a bit different now as we have a smaller boat, so cruising is confined to Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and the lower portion of Lake Huron. My wife’s son (Bud, and Nancy Wood) purchased Jim Acheson’s Lady J last year. (The boat is now named Nancy’s Buddy.) 

We just finished cruising with Bud and Nancy from Port Huron up to Mackinac Island. Bud will be joining GLCC soon to carry on the legacy.

• Lifeline: For each 50-year member, Lifeline reaches out to another member to gain their perspective. Joe and Karen Mesenburg offered this non-boating season story:

                There is a tremendous amount of connectivity surrounding Ted which spreads into the non-boating season. In addition to his lifelong friendship with Jim Acheson, Ted is also good friends with Joe (Past GLCC Commodore) and Karen Mesenburg and have cruised with them on their 53-foot M/V Put ‘N’ Call over the years. 

As in any 30+ year relationship, there has to be some type of rivalry in the off-boating season. In Ted and Joe’s case, it’s their love and commitment to their alma maters - the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, respectively.

These two universities have a 127-year rivalry which both Ted, Joe and Karen are proud to uphold. Depending upon the season’s schedule, Ted will host Joe and Karen (and vice versa), for a weekend of football, including tailgating with incredible seats to the game. Of course, each couple wears their team’s colors proudly, making them stand out in the midst of the home team’s crowds.

As in boating, Ted is ever the sportsman even when Ohio “occasionally” beats Michigan!