At the Society’s annual awards ceremony, on June 12 2006, Dave Knowlton was honored by being elected by our Membership the seventh Life Member of the South Sound Sailing Society. Lifetime Membership is high recognition bestowed on only a select few for “extraordinary, unselfish contributions to the Society.”
Dave joined the South Sound Sailing Society in 1986. He served several years as House Chair, and went on to serve as Commodore in 2002-2003. In 1998, Dave was recognized with the Society’s Sportsmanship Award, an award for distinguished “service to the club or to sailing in general” and for those “who are models of good sportsmanship, both on and off the water” and who “give of their time and conduct themselves in ways that help make sailing in south Puget Sound even better.” Through the years, Dave has introduced countless people to the joys of sailing and racing, always emphasizing good sportsmanship and ensuring that all aboard his beloved Koosah enjoy their time on the water.
In 2005, Dave was recognized for twelve years of perfect South Sound Sailing Society race attendance, a record that will not soon be matched or broken! Dave also competes in the Southern Sound Series, often organizing SSSS teams, and represented South Sound in Swiftsure this year, for the tenth straight year.
Dave rarely misses a Sailing Society meeting, and spends time setting up tables and chairs before hand, and cleaning up afterwards. He often provides photos and articles for the Ship-to-Shore, and has worked to enhance the membership’s general enjoyment of meetings with Blue Light Specials during his year as Past Commodore, and a memorable awards ceremony program this year with co-star Kelly Coon.
Many in SSSS have their own special Dave Knowlton memories or stories; there is so much he does for SSSS and for sailing in South Sound. He is truly an exemplary member of our Sailing Society, and a worthy recipient of Lifetime Member.
Dan Decker, O-My-God
Proposal to the Board of the South Sound Sailing Society to Honor
Dave Knowlton
As a Lifetime Member of the South Sound Sailing Society:
Lifetime Membership is a high honor that has been bestowed on only a select few. Other than “extraordinary, unselfish contributions to the Society” there are no specific criteria for Lifetime Membership, and the four members who have been recognized as deserving of this honor in the past have each stood on their own unique contributions to the Society.
Dave Knowlton is worthy of selection as the next Lifetime Member of the Sailing Society for his twenty years of selfless dedication to the Sailing Society, and to the ideals for which the Sailing Society was founded. “The South Sound Sailing Society is a group of area folks who share a love for sailing” and “who enjoy the camaraderie of meeting, racing, and cruising together.” By word, example, and deed, Dave has consistently demonstrated the attributes of the ideal Sailing Society member, and has set the standards for all who aspire to serve our Society and to extol our common love for sailing.
Dave joined the South Sound Sailing Society in 1986. In the years since, he served several years as House Chair, and went on to serve as our Commodore in 2002-2003. He even worked hard to animate his role as Past Commodore, with “Blue Light Specials” on the starboard aisle, complete with hilarious promotional skits that kept us all entertained.
In 1998, Dave was recognized with the South Sound Sailing Society Sportsmanship Award. That award is reserved for members who distinguish themselves “in service to the club or to sailing in general” and “who are models of good sportsmanship, both on and off the water” and who “give of their time and conduct themselves in ways that help make sailing in south Puget Sound even better.” These attributes continue to characterize Dave and what he brings to sailing and to our Society. Dave has introduced countless people to the joys of sailing and racing through the years, both young and old. The log of Koosah is replete with the names of those Dave has welcomed aboard, to include Sailing Society members looking to crew, their children and friends looking for a new experience on a sailboat, and Boy Scouts looking to expand their horizons. And while Dave races to win, that is always a secondary priority to good sportsmanship and to ensuring that all aboard enjoy their time on the water. Winning the race is sometimes difficult, too, with twelve or more crew all waiting for pizza; but Dave is always the winner, when the last of those happy sailors steps ashore!
Dave, his infectious smile, his friendly hail, and his beloved Koosah, are all familiar to those who race in South Sound. In 2005, Dave was recognized for twelve years of perfect South Sound Sailing Society race attendance, a record that will not soon be matched or broken! Dave also competes in the Southern Sound Series, often organizing SSSS teams, and he heads back to Swiftsure this year, for the tenth straight year.
Dave rarely misses a Sailing Society meeting. Indeed, he is often one of the first to arrive, and one of the last to leave; working before hand to set up tables and chairs for the meeting, and to take them down and clean up afterwards. He has often answered Steve Worcester’s plea for photos and articles for the Ship-to-Shore, and as this is written, Dave is working hard on an awards ceremony program for this June’s meeting.
Each of us in South Sound Sailing Society probably has our own special Dave Knowlton memories or stories; there is so much he does with us and for us, that what is chronicled above can only best be described as representative of this truly exemplary member of our Sailing Society. Dave Knowlton is a great sailor, a true sportsman, a steadfast friend, and he should be the South Sound Sailing Society’s next Lifetime Member.
Respectfully submitted this 16th day of May, 2006.