There’s a bright future ahead for GLCC
I’m honored to begin my term as Commodore of our Club and I look forward to continuing the great work done by Doug Jackson during his tenure, along with all the other Commodores and leaders past.
I wanted to start with a bit about my family and our history with the GLCC. My wife, Karen, and I joined the club in 1997 when we returned to Michigan from our time in Washington, DC, and Atlanta, Ga.
Our daughter, Meredith, was born in Atlanta, and our son, James, was born in Ann Arbor, Mich. Both kids now live in Fort Collins, Colo. (they actually live together), where Meredith supports HP with program management and James is a paramedic.
Both Karen and I still work. She is a product marketing executive, and I run an event and sports marketing agency.
Our kids grew up sailing on the Great Lakes with us on our Jeanneau sailboat, and the North Channel remains one of our family’s favorite summer cruising grounds. This past year, however, we spent lots of time on and around Mackinac Island as it’s somewhat easier for the kids to meet us there and cruise around northern Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, given their hectic schedules.
But enough about me and my family. Let me share some thoughts on the GLCC.
Our Club is strong because of the work of the many volunteers who make this organization run, and, of course, by the dedication of our office staff, Yvonne and Lynn.
Our events on the water and in person have been well attended and generally a good time for all attendees. I’m particularly excited about the upcoming Rendezvous in Little Current in 2025.
The North Channel of Lake Huron is one of my family’s favorite places, and we look forward to spending time there next summer with many of you.
Thanks to the leadership of the GLCCSchool team. Our classes are well-attended and represent a high-quality learning experience. Free access for GLCC members is an added value of membership, and I’m excited to see where the team can take this in 2025 and beyond.
If you haven’t taken advantage of the benefits our GLCCSchool offers, I encourage you to pick a class or two and attend on a cold winter night.
Meanwhile, it's important to continue looking for new ways to bring in new members, working with our digital committee and other member benefit initiatives. I’m encouraged by our early results led by this committee.
As we look ahead, we’re exploring new ways to enhance member benefits. We are excited about our progress.
We have a few committee openings, including a future sites committee leader and an event chair for our Spring Awakening event. Volunteering is a great way to contribute and connect. Feel free to reach out to Vice Commodore Craig Shantz or me if you’re interested.
Thank you for your trust and support. I look forward to working together to keep our club vibrant and enjoyable. Hope to see you soon at an event or GLCCSchool class.
Joe McKeown, Commodore