Nominees for Commodore must have previously served at least two years as Officer or a committee chair.
I learned to sail in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland at age 6 and did a lot of Tall Ship sailing around the outside of Europe in my teens. Ive taught sailing and crossed the Atlantic. I worked for Westinghouse and Emerson in Pittsburgh until I moved to Solomons nearly 6 years ago. I bought my first boat, and joined SMSA and immediately got reinvolved with sailing. I've spent time as an assistant instructor with the high school sailors. As facilities chair, I built our warming kitchen and kept the premises functional. As cruise chair, I've enjoyed planning and leading cruises around the Chesapeake Bay. Over the last 2 years I’ve been your Rear Commodore, coordinating the clubs' chairs for land-based activities including bar, social, membership, facilities, and communications.
We lease our premises which means if you want to improve them, you're investing in an asset the landlord benefits from. As a result, I've advocated that we should consider buying the property so we can benefit from those investments. To do so takes a multiyear disciplined and focused Board which is why I became Rear Commodore. Now that the opportunity has presented itself to do so I offer myself for the position of Commodore to complete the process.
Sailing is the clubs focus, and especially bringing in new people and teaching them this lifetime sport. A suitable premises of our own helps achieve that, benefiting all our members. Carpe Diem.
Steven Birchfield has chaired the Small boat race program the past two years with SMSA. He also assists with the highschool program on a weekly basis providing mentorship to the youth sailors on the PAX sailing team, assists with the adult learn to sail program over the summer as an "on the water instructor," and has inspired 7 former crew member of his racing team in the past 3 years to start their own race/sailing program building the SMSA fleet of skippers/boat owners. He is deeply passionate about sailing and enjoys taking photos of our members in their own element out sailing in Solomons and on the Chesapeake Bay as many can be found on the SMSA Facebook page
My family joined SMSA in 1973, shortly after we moved to the area, and I have actively participated in all SMSA programming since that time. I am married with three children, Mallory (33), Ellie (31), and Henry J (18). My wife Jacki (SMSA member since 1979), son Henry J (SMSA member since birth), and I have been very involved for decades, in many club activities including racing (currently on our Melges 32, “One Trick Pony”), cruising our Baybuilt, teaching at summer camp, participating in and helping with the Small Boat Program, and organizing Screwpile Race Week. For the past two years I have served as the SMSA Commodore. In prior years, I have served as Facilities Chair, Keelboat Racing Chair, Yearbook Chair, and I have served as a Director on the SMSA Board for several terms.
SMSA has been a large part of my life and I hope to keep the Club in a position to help others, for generations to come, to learn and enjoy the world of sailing as I have been able to do. My goal is for SMSA to be a club that excels in providing membership programming, runs efficiently, and is positioned to be sustainable into the future. I hope to attract and maintain a membership body that views sailing as a lifestyle and has long term commitment to SMSA.
My name is John Herbig, and I would like to serve SMSA as the next Rear Commodore! I have been a member of this club for the greater part of 20 years. I have served the club in the past as Publicity Governor, Social Governor, and Junior Governor – all of these are now called “Chair” positions. My children participated in Summer Camps and the Sunday Junior program. I have assisted in the past with Sailing Center Chesapeake (SCC) with activities ashore and on the water – Also served as PRO for several national events held at SCC. I currently sail as crew on Bad Cat but have also sailed with many other boats over the last 20+ years and have been sailing in the Small boat program currently with Martin Howell on Sellanrea. I have assisted with all the “on the water” programs for many years. When I’m not sailing or at the club I still volunteer as an adult leader in Scouts. I assist and facilitate training programs for adults and youth. I am a Merit Badge counselor for the “on the water” merit badges. I have been a volunteer in the Scouts for 30 years. I have worked at Quantum Sails – Solomons for 25 years, which has allowed me to meet many members of SMSA and help them with their boats.
I believe I possess what it takes to be Rear Commodore – I work well with others and will work with the Social Chairs, the Bar Staff, the Facilities person, program chairs, membership, communications and fellow members to ensure that all is running smoothly. I have taken the TAM class as well so I can step up when needed for the club to open/run the bar when we are shorthanded. I enjoy being at the club with fellow members, be it a Friday night or after races waiting for race results. I also enjoy all the events that the club puts on monthly and always try to assist with set up and/or clean up at these functions because “many hands make light work”.
I’m looking forward, if elected, to help assist in any way with the purchase of the clubhouse property from the current owner.
My wife, Lynn, and I joined SMSA in 2013, after moving to the area and being introduced to the
wonderful sport of sailing. We were late bloomers and can’t believe that we never took up sailing in
Hawaii, my last duty station prior to putting down roots here. We both volunteered for several years
supporting the High School Sailing Programs in St. Mary’s County, on and off the water. Along the way, I
became a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Instructor. I am an avid keelboat and small boat racer. I’ve
owned and raced on several keelboats and small boats since joining the club. Lynn and I currently race
on the Melges 32 “One Trick Pony”, and I race my VX-One in the small boat fleet.
I served as the Bar Manager at SMSA from October 2014 to October 2017 and have volunteered at
numerous club events over the years. For the last two years (2022/2023) I have served as the Vice
Commodore. My focus as Vice Commodore has been to ensure the safety of our members and camp
staff. Additionally, I created a system to account for all club assets and updated all insurance
documentation to ensure the club, its members, and staff are adequately protected. I also created the
billet of Safety Boat Captain, tasked with ensuring the maintenance and upkeep of our safety boat fleet
to ensure availability for our various small boat programs.
I look forward to continuing to support the club in a new capacity and assist in making the vision of
owning our clubhouse a reality.
I have a strong foundation in accounting and a newly developed but genuine passion for our sailing community, and I am enthusiastic about the prospect of serving as the next SMSA Treasurer. I bring over a decade of professional accounting experience and have held my CPA license since 2015. I look forward to putting these qualifications to work, in these important transformational years approaching us in SMSA.
My educational background includes dual Bachelor's degrees in accounting and business administration with a minor in negotiations, as well as a Master's degree in accounting. In my current professional role, I lead a team responsible for monitoring financial health and performance, generating monthly and annual financial statements for a multibillion-dollar NAVAIR division, and acting as a liaison for high-visibility special funding appropriations. This experience equips me with the expertise to handle our club's finances with care and precision.
I've been a proud resident of Solomons since February 2021, and I currently serve as the SMSA Social Program Co-Chair.
If elected as Treasurer, I will diligently manage SMSA finances to ensure the Club’s continued growth and prosperity. Your trust in me will not be misplaced, as I am committed to fostering the financial stability of our Club and enriching the experiences of our members. I look forward to this opportunity to continue to serve SMSA in a manner which fits perfectly with my professional skills and credentials.
I joined SMSA along with my husband Jimmy back in 2004. Since joining I have been active in both the keelboat and smallboat racing programs as both skipper and crew. I have previously served as the Women’s program chair, Social chair, Webmaster, Membership chair, and Secretary; Jimmy and I also volunteered as bar manager, Clew Editor and Junior program chair and have continued to be involved in the Junior program, High School program, small boat race program, facilities team, membership and social committees - we are vested in this club and its future.
I have had the honor of serving as your Treasurer for 5 years and assisting the Treasurer for another 2 years. During this time we have continued to move forward and progress as a club with things like being able to use credit cards at the bar and online membership and program registration and fee payment. We have also as a club grown in both memberships and in financial health, which has allowed us to now be in a position to purchase this property as we have a solid understanding of our finances and employed proven strategies for growth. I wish to thank all the financial advisors, bookkeepers, and accountants we have worked with to ensure our practices are correct and complete. I will continue to strive to promote growth for the club both financially and via participation and expansion in the offered programs and benefits to membership. I welcome you all to join in volunteering as we as members make this club work. I look forward to having the opportunity to serve for another term as your SMSA Treasurer.
Since joining SMSA in 2000, I have served in various capacities, including Secretary, Membership Chair, Social Chair, Small Boat Program Co-Chair, and Clew Editor. I have been an active race participant in the keelboat, small boat and women’s programs and have assisted in the performance of Race Committee for all programs. In 2004, I served as a member of the Capital Planning Committee to explore and report on the feasibility of possible future sites for a clubhouse and supporting facilities for SMSA programs in advance of the anticipated request to vacate the clubhouse at Calvert Marina. In my professional life, I serve as the Corporate Secretary to the Board of Commissioners for the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission, responsible for the completion and publication of all meeting minutes, record retention of various corporate documents, including by-laws, standard policies and procedures, and employee manual. I also assist in the general administration of all permits, code and compliance documents, as required by county, state and federal government. My husband Shawn and I enjoy all the benefits that being members of SMSA provides, and I look forward to continuing my volunteer service and hope that the membership will allow me that privilege.
I joined SMSA two years ago as a family member with my husband, John Herbig. This past year/season I became active as a constant race committee (RC) person and did the electronic recording of finish times in the spreadsheets and sent them to be officially recorded together with Polly. I also supported the small boat program with on-the-water assistance and shore assistance when needed. I took the TAM course and have stepped in many days to open the bar for the members. Due to physical limitations, I cannot sail on a boat in a competition setting but would like to contribute to SMSA in any way that I am able and that works with my schedule. The position of Secretary would fit right in and still allow me to continue assisting with the race committee. I am quite efficient at notetaking and producing electronic copies of said documents. I am very good at record keeping as well. If accepted/voted in, I look forward to doing my best in all aspects of this position.
2 candidates from those listed below will be elected.
I wish to enter my nomination for another term as a Director of SMSA.
I believe it’s important to have experience and continuity on the Board as we go through the next few years, hoping to transition to a permanent home for our club.
I have been a member of SMSA since my first Navy tour at Pax River. I joined SMSA in 1978 and have maintained my membership since then, including the 10 years I was away from Pax and out in the Fleet.
I have been active in SMSA leadership positions since 2002, having served as Treasurer (2.5 yrs), Race Governor (3 yrs), Commodore (2 yrs), and three terms as a Director (9 yrs). I am currently serving in my 5th year as Chairman of our Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Regatta.
I have been a member of SMSA since 1978. Serving in many positions and am twice a Past Commodore. Other Positions that have been served are Delagate, Vice President, and President of PHRF of the Chesapeake. Currently, I'm a Board member of the Boat Foundation at St Marys College of Maryland.
Also the experience of managing and owning Quantum Sails in Solomons will assist in forging the future for SMSA.
Staying active in SMSA programs through my membership will assist my direction. Always active in the sail race programs, principle race officer for Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge starting at its inception and working through many programs should be helpful.
I am enthusiastic about continuing my participation in SMSA
Active member of SMSA since 2003. Volunteering and serving in several positions with the club over the years. Facilities Chair for 2 years; Social committee for several years; Junior Chair for 5 years including managing/directing Youth Summer Sailing Camps and restarted the SMSA High School Sailing Team. Assisted in managing the bar for 3 years. SMSA representative to CBYRA for two years. Sailing experience includes racing/cruising in the Atlantic, Pacific, Great Lakes, inland lakes, and Chesapeake Bay on small boats and keel boats. Co-owner of the J/111, BadCat.
I've been a member of SMSA since 2005. I've volunteered with the junior program, facilities, smallboat and keelboat programs. I've served the club as Junior program chair, adult learn to sail chair, clew editor, rear commodore and commodore.
Currently I'm volunteering as a coach for our high school sailing team.
The success of SMSA is extremely important to me and I have and will continue to contribute hundreds of hours each year to ensure the success of the club.
As we move forward I understand the importance of being a good team member and collaborator. Between my years of experience on the SMSA board, and my many years working with high school students in the classroom I've developed exceptional skills in finding concensus and problem solving skills.
I look forward to continuing to contribute to the club and would be honored to serve as a director on the board.