Canyon Lake Yacht Club honors pioneer members

BY Aprile McKinnon

The Canyon Lake Yacht Club values its volunteers. A Stewardship Appreciation Potluck was held at the Eastport Community Building last week with the room full to capacity to honor those who have served the club over the years.

“One of the things that we really wanted this to be tonight is a new signature of the Yacht Club,” Commodore Ron Wilbur said. “Our signature is Thankfulness for the people who have given their time and efforts to the Yacht Club. The Yacht Club wants to be known as the club that really appreciates people who put their time in, because we wouldn’t be the club without them.”

The rest of the evening was spent thanking “some very special people” who played a role in the creation and expansion of the Yacht Club through the years.

“What we realized is we are really standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us,” Ron said.

Those recognized at the dinner were Claude Beauchamp, former purser; Pete Delia, Green Dragon Master, chair of Lake Cleanup, and volunteer/leader of many other events; Paul Hawker and Teresa Fidler, consistent volunteers, and creators of the popular Whale Hunt event; Jim Lange, former vice commodore and chair of the Parade of Lights; Michael Morgan, getting almost $5,000 in sponsorships for the 2022 Parade of LIghts; and Chris Papavero, consistent volunteer and co-leader of the first Opening Day/Blessing of the Boats.

Pete Delia, left, and his late wife Suzie were known by many as the “Masters of the Green Dragon.” Pete holds his certificate after being honored for being the chair for the Lake Clean Days and a volunteer/leader of many other events. Also showing certificates are Marti Norris, was honored for being the first 1st Mate, a tireless club reporter of club news and a great support to the activities of the early Yacht Club. Her husband, Lee Norris, was one of the original club founders and also the first commodore of the Canyon Lake Yacht Club in 1990. Lee served three times in that capacity. Photo by Aprile DeAnne McKinnon.

Surprise guests and honorees were Lee and Marti Norris. Lee was one of the founders and also the first commodore of the Canyon Lake Yacht Club in 1990, serving three times in that capacity. Marti was the first 1st Mate and a tireless reporter of club news as well as a great support to the activities of the early club, Ron said.

The Yacht Club Commodore thanked Diann Prince Oltman, Yacht Club Yeoman for 2023, for her efforts in making the Canyon Lake Yacht Club a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. This designation is a huge milestone for the club, Ron said, since the club can now offer the additional tax benefit to its donors.

“It’s so exciting to see our membership grow,” Cindy Cameron, the club’s membership chair, said. “We started January with an enrollment of 100 people and now we are up to 124 members. We want to say thank you to you guys because you are the ones spreading the word.”

Many of the club members are participating in the Community Garage Sale that has been rescheduled to March 17.

“If you see a sign at the garage sale that says, ‘some of the proceeds to benefit the Yacht Club Scholarship Fund,’ then you will be helping a deserving student get a scholarship,” Ron said.

The Yacht Club has many new events this year to go along with some of the traditional ones and they hope to have many more members join the club.

“Members don’t have to have a yacht or a boat to join the club,” Ron said. “There are plenty of members who will take you along in theirs. Just be ready to meet great people and enjoy the fun in the sun.”