Our own Patty Clark, new commodore of the Devil’s Lake Yacht Club, spoke to members tdoay about the organization she is now in charge of AND during its 75th anniversary!

Many events are scheduled again this year, Patty said. Tonight is actually the first board meeting with the club’s new manager. Patty mentioned that Brent Mercer is a new board member. The new year, she said, will begin with a radio remote with WLEN on a Friday afternoon in May. Members are entitled to free swimming and sailing lessons, along with a Euchre Club and a Lightening Club for avid sailors. On Sunday afternoon on May 17th, the club will hold an open house. All are invited, Patty said.

Among the events scheduled this year will be a Gala (black tie optional) event, a movie at the Croswell, a steak fry in conjunction with a college party when everyone dresses up in their favorite college gear, developing a yearbook featuring old ads and photos that had been in previous club publications, just to name a few.

Club membership, Patty was pleased to announce, is at 542 currently. It’s been very strong the past years. The Yacht Club has forged a reciprocity agreement with the Lenawee Country Club.

Patty said that the DLYC was originally built in the 1870’s as the Pleasant Grove Hotel at Devils Lake. In September of 1940 the Devils Lake Sail Club met with the Devils Lake Motor Boat Club in the Pleasant Grove Hotel. The meeting of these two clubs resulted in the formation of the Devils Lake Yacht Club (DLYC) in December of 1941. The primary objective of the new club, Patty said, was to "promote sailing". In about 1945, Patty said, one of the club’s members suggested that the Devils Lake Yacht Club purchase the Pleasant Grove Hotel for $10,000. Every member was asked to contribute the sum of $100 for the down payment and the balance was financed.

Best wishes for a successful year, Patty. I just need to share a bit of trivia since we're on the subject and that was my Dad was Commodore in 1944 (2 years before I was born!) and the 4th since the club was first organized!