Cruising season launches in Bay City
By Christine Moore Skrocki, chairperson and GLCC director
The first board meeting of the year, appropriately named April Launch weekend, balanced fun and business.
We relaxed and visited, we explored and learned, and we were both serious in meetings and lighthearted at other times. It was the perfect balance.
Most importantly, board members completed the meeting agenda. They also found out more about Bay City, Mich. (H-61), for a possible future cruising destination, and solidified many friendships.
Members arriving in Bay City were welcomed in a private, comfortable hospitality suite, nautically decorated with Bay City history, on the top floor of the host hotel DoubleTree just down from guest hotel rooms.
Those attending could truly “let their hair down” since they had the space to themselves, with no hotel staff involved. Guests brought their own drinks. Light hors d’oeuvres were provided.
The site offered panoramic Saginaw River views. Members could take breaks and go out on the town to explore restaurants. Some took in the planetarium shows across the street.
Upon returning to the GLCC suite, guests found it had been rearranged and tables added, decorated with white cloths and lantern tea lights to set the scene for the next event: catered desserts and the presence of guitarist and singer Elizabeth Christie. Locally made gourmet pretzels, roasted nuts and chocolate candies were available to sample and take away.
The next morning, the setting was impressive, conducive to the business of the GLCC board. Many members joined the board for breakfast and listened in on the meeting. Lunch was back in Bay City, as GLCC members tried different restaurants from the lists previously handed out.
The historical museum opened its doors exclusively for the GLCC attendees. Knowledgeable and enthusiast historian Sam Fitzpatrick guided visitors around the displays of Bay City’s maritime and lumbering history.
An early cocktail party at 1600 hours allowed the group to explore the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club before the club opened to its members. The SBYC is the second oldest yacht club in Michigan outside of Detroit, established in 1894.
At around 1750 hours, Todd Shorkey spoke about the significant past and present of the Saginaw River.
Unplanned, but perfectly timed, was a freighter that passed in front of the SBYC as it was leaving the river. Dinner was followed by a comedian, Eric Wielinski, who kept the group laughing – and awake – after a weekend of business, visiting, exploring and learning.
All members are asked to consider joining in next year’s April Launch. All are welcome to the board meeting weekends.
