Page 43 - 2020 Yachting in Chicago

SOUTHERN SHORE YACHT CLUB

By Kenneth Mason, Commodore

outhern Shore Yacht Club
was founded in 1912.
SBut, even with its long
history, it’s safe to say 2020
SSYC is a vibrant,
was a year like no other. With
the coronavirus pandemic
growing, and
and resulting shutdown of the
lakefront and Chicago Harbors,
we were not able to open the diverse club. We
invite you to get to
Club to members and guests
until early July. With water
know us better!
levels at record highs, many
boats were unable to get under
the bridge. Even long-time
club members were forced to
dock their boats in other, more
accessible harbors. Plus, since
our Club is built above the water, the high levels caused buckling of
the clubhouse floor. Then on July 7, a severe storm moved through
Chicago and destroyed the canopy over the Club’s outside patio area.
Back row: Ken Mason, Commodore; Eschol Hall, Vice Commodore;
Sharon Urry, Communications Director; Lafayette Ford, Entertainment Director. Front
But none of that stopped us. The SSYC directors and members rolled row: Cynthia Bowers, Club Steward; Sandra Allen, Membership Director; Joyce Brown,
Treasurer. Not pictured: Arlene Love, Secretary.
up their sleeves and got to work. The results were amazing!
RECORD MEMBERSHIP INCREASE A FOCUS ON YOUTH PROGRAMS
One of the goals at Southern Shore Yacht Club is to encourage a love
We’re thrilled that, in spite of all obstacles, we were able to increase
of boating among the next generation, while teaching boating skills
membership by more than 60% by focusing on welcoming back former
and safety. In partnership with the Chicago Maritime Arts Center,
club members and increasing associate and reciprocal memberships.
in July, SSYC hosted a 2 week-long Boating, Building & Ecology
As that classic song taught us, we continued to “make new friends, but
Program, attended by 11- to 15-year-old youth from the surrounding
keep the old.” And those friends — both new and old— came together
community. Then in August, we welcomed a second group of local
to support the Club, with their time, their skills, and their energy.
youth for a 1-week CMAC Boating Skills & Marine Ecology Program.
The participants loved the programs and we loved hosting them.
We also want to extend special thanks to our fellow boating

enthusiasts at Jackson Park YC, Museum Shores YC, and Diversey YC
for their encouragement and support.
GETTING TOGETHER WHILE SOCIALLY DISTANCING
We hosted a series of engaging, fun, and safe events at the club,
including a “Welcome Back Members” event, a Fish Fry, a Ravinia-
style Latin Caribbean Jazz Concert, and an Oktoberfest Party. All
events were held outdoors (under our newly-replaced tent), with
social distancing, limits on number of attendees, and safety protocols
in effect. One club member summed it up, “Although the season got
off to a slow start with COVID restrictions and the high water, SSYC
managed to have some amazing parties. The music, the food, and the
friends combined to create some really good memories.”

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