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RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE FOUNDING YEAR OF THE BILOXI YACHT CLUB AS 1849
Rear Commodore Gavin Schmidt introduced and moved adoption of the following resolution:
WHEREAS, it was previously thought that the Biloxi Yacht Club was established in 1888; but
WHEREAS, an 1870 trophy discovered in New York City and an 1857 chalice from an estate in Mobile, Alabama revealed that the Biloxi Club had been founded at an earlier time and that more research was needed; and
WHEREAS, Past Commodore Otto Larsen dedicated many hours to the task of researching local records only to discover that fires, hurricanes, and war, but not pestilence, had gone before him to impede his progress; and
WHEREAS, undeterred, our indefatigable researcher turned to Mobile, alas, a fruitless endeavor; and
WHEREAS, our intrepid historian now found himself among the several local newspapers of the New Orleans area, where, Eureka! he uncovered the long sought truth about the Biloxi Yacht Club's establishment; and
WHEREAS, not one but no less than four newspapers published in 1849 recorded the fact that the Biloxi Regatta Club was alive and well in Biloxi, shown to be a large thriving town with five hotels (other areas having only one); and
WHEREAS, Biloxi, founded in 1699, had become by 1849 a major area for boating, having in that year a long wharf at which large ships could load and unload, and many private piers with an active sailing community; and
WHEREAS, the New Orleans papers discussed the Race of 1849 and subsequent races of the period, going into great detail about the Race of 1849, since the Biloxi Regatta Club, in a precursor to today's rivalry between Gulf of Mexico and Lake Pontchartrain racing circuits, was excluding from its regatta any boat that won two first place finishes, thus unfairly eliminating what the Lake folks thought were the leading boats of the time; and
WHEREAS, on August 8, 1849, the Race of 1849 was held by the Biloxi Regatta Club with Undine of Mobile, Alabama, owned by the Honorable J. W. Lescene, taking a first, and Mary Ann, owned by James & Co., taking a second, and Biloxi's own Flirt, owned by A. B. Cammack coming in third, so that by that date it is certain that what has become known in modern times as the Biloxi Yacht Club, was already in existence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE BILOXI YACHT CLUB as follows:
1. That the year recognized for the founding of the Biloxi Yacht Club be and hereby is established as 1849.
2. That the Articles of Incorporation of the Club be and hereby are amended to reflect the founding of the Club in 1849.
3. That attached hereto and made a part hereof are excerpts of the four New Orleans newspapers unearthed by inveterate historian Otto Larsen, namely the August 7 and 10, 1849 Daily Crescent, the August 9, 1849 New Orleans Picayune, the August 10, 1849 Evening Picayune, and the August 18 and September 7, 1849 New Orleans Daily Crescent, together with the November 4, 1994 and November 4, 1996, Sun Herald articles about the finding of the 1870 and 1857 trophies, which together provide the irrefutable evidence of the Club's existence as early as August 1849.
4.. That henceforth and with all deliberate speed the publications of the Biloxi Yacht Club shall reflect the Club's founding year as 1849.
5. That the Commodore be and he hereby is instructed to send a certified copy of this resolution, including its attachments, to the Gulf Yachting Association, and such other similar organizations as he deems appropriate and advisable.
Governing Board Member Pete Aufdemorte seconded the motion, and after discussion, it was adopted by the following vote:
Vice Commodore Robbie Schmidt voted: Aye
Rear Commodore Gavin Schmidt voted: Aye
Immediate Past Commodore Mark Ederer voted: Aye
Governing Board members
Peter Aufdemorte voted: Aye
Debra Bounds voted: Aye
Richard Breslin voted: Aye
Charlie Dellenger voted: Aye
Jerry Munro voted: Absent
William "Bill" Striegel voted: Absent
ADOPTED this the 15th day of November, 2000.
/s/ Richard Schmidt, Jr. Commodore Richard Schmidt, Jr.
CERTIFICATE
I, Ann Bowden-Hollis, Secretary of the Governing Board of the Biloxi Yacht Club, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Governing Board at a duly called meeting of the Governing Board on the date and the year therein stated.
So certified, this the 14th day of December , 2000.
/s/ Ann Bowden-Hollis Ann Bowden-Hollis
