In case you missed this in the MainBrace, congratulations goes to our own MainBrace editor Gene Ferguson. Gene was presented the US Sailing One-Design Award for Service on November 12. The following is reprinted from the November issue of MainBrace.
Each year US Sailing presents up to five awards to recognize outstanding individuals, classes, clubs, and fleets in onedesign sailing. These awards highlight role models of creative leadership in one-design sailing. This year one of our own,Gene Ferguson will be presented the One-Design Award for Service. This award recognizes distinguished service and leadership in the promotion of one-design sailing and class recognition. The formal presentation will occur on November 12, 2011, at the Bay Head Yacht Club in Bay Head, New Jersey.
Gene was nominated for this award by Past Commodore Rich Fox. Rich’s nomination accurately and eloquently
presents the work Gene has done for our association and the promotion of one-design sailing covering more than 30 years of sailing and promoting the Catalina 22. I could not do as good a job as Rich has done and so the letter of nomination is presented here. Congratulations Gene. This award is long overdue. The Catalina 22 National Sailing Association has benefitted greatly from your dedicated service and generosity.
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One-Design SERVICE Award – nomination
To recognize distinguished service and leadership in the promotion of one-design sailing and class organization.
Nominee: Gene Ferguson, Catalina 22 Class
Nominated by: Rich Fox, former National Commodore (2005-2008), Catalina 22 National Sailing Association
“The More You Give - The More You Receive!”
In 2011, a very special Texas sailor celebrates 33 years of one design involvement and distinguished service in the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association – Gene Ferguson of Lake Worth, Texas. Gene joined the C22NSA in 1978 after purchasing a Catalina 22 named Princess Ann. Gene will tell you that membership in the Association “has helped me to form some long lasting friendships from all over the country that I would not have experienced had I not joined the Association.” For over 30 years, Gene has promoted the Catalina 22 Class, making it one of the largest and most active one-design classes in the United States. Today, Gene remains very active in the Catalina 22 one design racing at the local, regional and national level. In additional to being a great racer and always demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship, Gene has a long history of distinguished service and leadership in the Class. Gene served as National Commodore of the C22NSA for three years – 1994 through 1997. In 1998, Gene became Editor of the Class magazine – MainBrace. The MainBrace is where Gene’s service really shines. In 1998, the C22NSA Board made a decision to begin writing, editing, printing, and distributing a stand-alone magazine for Catalina 22 owners – the MainBrace. The magazine was introduced in 1998 and is prepared and distributed 6 times a year to all members in our Association. Gene has been Editor of the MainBrace magazine for 13 years. The magazine features a minimum of 24 pages of Catalina 22 racing and cruising news, technical tips, fleet news, and officer reports. What is most amazing is that Gene always makes sure that the MainBrace is consistently delivered “on-time” to our membership, like clockwork. In 2006, Gene also helped with the preparation of the Catalina 22 Technical Manual on CD – featuring over 300 pages of Catalina 22 technical information. Gene has a motto that he lives by: “The more you give, the more you receive!”
In 2011, Gene Ferguson and C22NSA Commodore Ted McGee undertook a major effort to completely redesign and update the Catalina 22 website (www.catalina22.org). The new site includes feeds to social media sites including Twitter and Facebook. A Forum and a Blog are available to Catalina 22 owners to promote the exchange of information and to promote class activities. The new website helps to bring this 40 year old class into the 21st century and demonstrates the excitement and enthusiasm that keeps this well established one-design class strong and very active. Gene has given so much to the Catalina 22 Class. It is only fitting for Gene to receive recognition for his service during the past 33 years. It is with great honor that I respectfully nominate Gene Ferguson for the US Sailing One-Design Service Award.