The Florida Commodores Association serves as a greatly needed link among Florida yacht clubs. It provides for the exchange of information among clubs on a statewide basis. Its educational program is designed to improve the quality of leadership in yacht clubs by providing instruction in the proper functioning of clubs and the customs and courtesies of yachting. It provides a much needed social link among past commodores, current commodores and future commodores of yacht clubs in the state of Florida.
Incorporation
Our association was incorporated on December 16, 2008.
Our Vision
The Florida Commodores Association is the leading fraternal, educational and social organization for past, present and future Yacht Club Commodores in the State of Florida.
Our Mission
Enhance the value of yacht club membership while ensuring the viability of member clubs by preserving yachting customs and traditions through the:
Establishment of educational programs
Promotion of social interaction
Sharing of leadership knowledge and experience
Support of club leadership
Creation of a foundation to support sailing
Chapters
The Chapter is the basic unit of the Association. A Chapter consists of five (5) or more members, from one or more yacht clubs. A Chapter may be chartered to a particular yacht club if all of the Chapter members are current members of that club, or it may be chartered to a geographic region.
Florida Commodores Association…a brief history
Florida’s Past Commodores celebrate December 16, 2008 as the natal day of the Florida Commodores Association (FCA), since it was on that day that a group Past Commodores gathered in Gainesville, Florida at the Cabot Lodge to approve newly promulgated articles of incorporation.
The FCA’s founders sought to form a union of Florida’s Past Commodores to better serve Florida yacht clubs and their membership. The founders were: Philip Bouckaert, Richard (Dick) Kelly, Chari Stanley-Leitch, Larry Kimmerling, Thomas Reynolds, John Matthews, and Richard Oakley. These seven founders then served as the initial Board of Directors (BOD).
The purpose of the new Florida Commodores Association is contained in Article III of the Articles of Incorporation as reads,” …to provide an entity, consisting of Past Commodores of recognized yacht clubs in Florida and North America, for the purposes of preserving and enhancing the noble traditions and customs of yachting, the sea, sailing and motoring vessels, seamanship, and other matters relating to the lore of the sea through educational, charitable and social programs.”
An early distinction among members was established to recognize “Charter Members”. Members and Associates who joined the FCA prior to July 1, 2009 have the honorary designation of “Charter Member” and are entitled to wear a special lapel pin in recognition of their member status.
The inaugural membership meeting was held in Orlando, Florida on April 18, 2009, just 125 days after formation of the FCA. Since 2009, the FCA has held general membership meetings quarterly at different member yacht clubs. Recording of the major activities of the FCA are primarily available in the Florida Commodores Journal.
Past Commodores of the Florida Commodores Association
Philip J. Bouckaert - 2008 - 2009
Ronald F. Richards* - 2009 - 2010
Thomas G. Reynolds - 2010 - 2011
John H. Matthews - 2011 - 2012
Larry M. Kimmerling - 2012 - 2013
John M. Slattery - 2013 - 2014
June Ann Degraw - 2014 - 2015
Wayne M. Stewart - 2015 -2016
Sam Foreman - 2016 -2018
Carole Lick - 2018 - 2019
Montgomery 'Jack' Kennedy - 2019-2021
Ray Dewrell - 2022
Bob Sutton - 2023
*Deceased
We also acknowledge the following members who served as Presidents of IOBG District 8 before the formation of FCA.
Richard E. Oakley
Louis J. Daniello
Joseph A. Tringali
Montgomery ‘Jack’ Kennedy
Richard Janisewski