DLSS President's Message

Summer is here and the DLSS Board of Directors would like to welcome everyone back to another great sailing season at the Delavan Lake Sailing School! Smiles galore will be seen from shore to shore as our young sailors cast off to the beautiful waters of Lake Delavan!

This year we have put together a team of coaches that are dedicated to teaching your sailor the joys of sailing, racing and the bond of DLSS friendships. The coaching staff consists of Alyse Compall, Zach Maher, Mark Ehlers, Mack Scheurell, Rachel Beers and Sarah Gross. Please visit our website, www.delavanlakesailingschool.com, to review the biographies of our experienced coaches. Over the winter, a few new board members have joined Team Delavan. We would like to welcome Mike McClenathan, Tim Torkelson and Erich Schloemer to the board! The new board has been working with great enthusiasm to bring a fun and successful sailing program to Lake Delavan. Our efforts are successful because of your generous donations and participation in the program. The Board of Directors would like to thank you for contributing to our many sailing school programs and for continuing to provide for the growth of sailing in the DLYC. We would also like to thank Joe Scheurell, Pat Maher and John Gjerde for their many years of dedication as they served on the board.

As we look forward to the 2010 sailing season, we have set achievable goals. These goals are simple because of the support of our sailing school families and the DLYC members. With the donations received to date, we have been able to expand upon both our Kinder Pram program and our Learn-To-Sail program. This year we will continue to offer the Kinder Pram program for our very young sailors. This class is geared for sailors between the ages of 4 to 6 years of age. Lessons will be held on Fridays from 4:00pm to 6:00 pm right before Friday Night Fish Fry! What could be better than sailing with your little one and then enjoying Fish Fry with your yacht club friends?

For the Learn-To-Sail group we are upgrading our sailboats and equipment, adding technology to the classroom and we are looking to implement the Kattack GPS teaching program which is being implemented in many of the ILYA sailing school clubs. This new program allows coaches to replay the on-the-water lesson in the classroom. The sailors will enjoy watching themselves on the big screen. Sailing school starts June 14, 2010 and continues until August 6, 2010. Our sailing clinics include world recognized Sally Barkow, our very own John Gjerde and an equipment clinic by Pat Maher. The summer will be full of fantastic and fun sailing experiences and a fun Junior Social program!

We need your help if we are to continue developing sailors for the future of the Delavan Lake Yacht Club. We are asking for your support in our goal of raising $15,000 through donations to the Delavan Lake Sailing School, a 501c3 not-for-profit educational organization. A donation reply card is available on our website. Best of all, your donations are 100% tax deductible! With your help, we can create a bright future for the DLYC and the DLSS!

On behalf of the Delavan Lake Sailing School Board of Directors, we thank you for your past and continuing support. Your sailing school is growing and improving with your help!

Sincerely,

Joanne Marozza
DLSS President