Nominees for Commodore must have previously served at least two years as Officer or a committee chair.
It is my honor to be nominated for Commodore.
For the last forty-four of her 53 years, SMSA and I have grown up together. My family joined in 1981 when I was in high school. After graduating from Saint Mary’s College with an Economics degree, I served as Treasurer from 1989-1991, 1996-1997, and most recently 2020-2021. During my first terms Yachting Race Week (Screwpile) began, we became a land-based organization, obtained Not-For-Profit status, and adopted By-Laws for club governance. In 1993 I bought Diablo and am the current SMSA high point champion.
I have enjoyed both racing and cruising up and down the east coast on a variety of boats. My family has been involved in SMSA’s summer camp programs; from the time my children were campers through their volunteer and paid positions including Camp Director. I assisted Sailing Center Chesapeake’s (SCC) high school sailing teams as a coach and initiated their annual Gala and other fundraising/organizational events.
SMSA’s founding documents and our corporate charter direct us to be a social club that promotes education, charity, and premiere sailing as a leader in our sport. Purchasing the club’s property secured our home and a future. As Commodore, I aim to revitalize some of our club activities, improve our facility atmosphere and our community presence, to ensure that SMSA remains a valuable social asset on shore and on the water.
Alison has been an active member of SMSA for more than three years, participating in both racing and cruising programs. She is a boat owner with experience on small boats and keelboats and is also the Communications Director for the Solomons Chapter of U.S. Patriot Sailing, where she serves as a racing skipper with the nonprofit that teaches veterans how to sail. Within SMSA, Alison has volunteered her time to support club activities, including helping prepare for the annual Gala, assisting with club clean-up efforts, volunteering as a TAMS to support bar operations, and this year leading the reinvigoration of the Marcy Series Women’s Regatta.
Outside of sailing, Alison has owned and operated a local business for more than 20 years, bringing strong organizational and leadership skills to everything she takes on. She is passionate about building community on the water and supporting the growth of sailing for all.
I am once again humbled having been nominated to another Board position. I have been an active racer with SMSA since moving to Southern Maryland in 1991. I was the race program chair twice in the 2000s. I met my wonderful wife racing on a Schock 35, Hagars. In 2006 we bought our first boat, a New York 36 we christened Cheetah. We had several successful racing seasons while modifying and optimizing the boat for our local weather, culminating in being High Point champions in 2011. In late 2011 we were gifted a modified Mumm 36 which we also christened Cheetah. It has been another never-finished, fixer-upper, project boat that continues to evolve. We were successful in 2013 and once again were awarded High Point Champion in 2013. Our family has supported and participated in racing, social events and summer camps for years while our daughters Shannon, Isabelle and Chloe were growing up. Shannon and Isabelle also both served as camp counsellors with Shannon serving as Camp Director after graduating High School. I was humbled to be nominated for Commodore and elected the winter before COVID caused lockdowns and shutdowns everywhere. As commodore, I learned a lot about all of our ashore and afloat programs. I have been the club’s representative to both PHRF and CBYRA. I look forward to supporting the operations and improvement of all of our on-the-water programs.
I have known that sailing would be an important part of my life ever since surviving my
first full knockdown on a USNA Luders 44 yawl during a fall thunderstorm in 1979.
I have been an active member of SMSA for the past four years (since my retirement
from Government Service), however I have participated in SMSA racing events on and
off throughout my 30 years in Southern Maryland.
I have volunteered in numerous club activities since I became a member and have
decided it was time to step up to help guide the future of our club. I am running for the
Vice Commodore position since it most closely aligns with my current activities.
Keelboat wise, I am currently crewing with Elliot Peterson on Stingray, served as Mark
Boat RC support for several Screwpile regattas, and have been asked to PRO next
year’s Patuxent Pursuit Windward/Leeward course. I am too big to sail Small Boats, so
I have taken over managing the RC for most Small Boat events and acting as Scorer. I
support the Adult Learn to Sail program as the primary Shore Session instructor and as
an on-the-water instructor. I have been an assistant coach for the High School team for
the past two years. I also support the Junior Program as the club’s Safety Boat
Captain, keeping up our fleet of skiffs and RHIBs. The only program under the Vice
Commodore’s purview that I am not currently active in is Cruising. To be honest that is
mostly because I can’t sit and enjoy it without having to constantly tweak sail trim. But
there is always hope.
My goals in this position echo those I have heard from fellow members. I would like to
see us focus on membership, revitalization of some club activities, provide opportunities
for increased new member and community presence with a focus on increased training,
youth small boat racing, and woman-focused racing.
I’m writing to formally submit my candidacy for Rear Commodore of the Southern Maryland Sailing Association. As someone who is often present at the club and actively participating in its programs and operations, I’m excited about the opportunity to support SMSA’s mission by enhancing our off-the-water experience — from facilities and social events to member engagement and retention.
Over the past year, I’ve actively contributed to several areas of club life, including:
Supporting the High School Sailing Program
Assisting with Adult Learn to Sail Program
Providing input on Facilities improvements
Offering Technology support
Participating in Keelboat racing with the crew of T-Bone
These experiences have deepened my appreciation for SMSA’s community and the dedication of its members.
If elected, I will focus on:
Maintaining our clubhouse and grounds to high standards of usability
Build community with social programming to strengthen member connections
Collaborating with the Membership Chair to grow and welcome new members
Launching initiatives to energize participation, including themed events and social opportunities
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I welcome any questions and look forward to the opportunity to serve SMSA in this role.
I first started racing with SMSA in 1999 while still a student at St. Mary's College. I joined the club a few years later after getting a job with NAVAIR and buying a small boat of my own. Along the way I served as small boat chair or co-chair from 2015-2018. Prior to that I also served a year as vice commodore, as well as a partial term filling in for a gapped treasurer position. I appreciate the time and effort it takes to keep an all volunteer organization running. I am currently running for a second term as Rear Commodore and I am happy to do my part to contribute once more.
My name is Erika Danchak. I have been a member of SMSA since 2021. Although I have not served on any committees before this year, I try to support as many events as possible. This year I was part of the Woman’s Regatta committee. I joined SMSA when I started crewing on Cheetah and Patriot for the Patriot program. I have lived here in MD since 2016 and plan to be here for a while. I have three children, ages 25, 20, and 15. I’m also an open book. If there is anything you wish to know, just ask.
As for my experience as a treasurer, I have been the treasurer for my investment club since 2017 and currently hold that position. I was treasurer for my HOA from 2022-2024. I was treasurer of every PTA and PTO that supported the schools my children attended throughout the past 20 years.
I know that every organization is different with rules and regulations that govern it. I do my best to perform my responsibilities as a treasurer with those rules and guidelines in mind at every turn.
I am an Emeritus member. My wife and I joined SMSA in 2004. Over the past 20 years I have
served in multiple Chair positions and Officer Positions. I have served as Club Treasurer, Vice
Commodore, and Commodore. I am currently serving again as Treasurer.
In 2012 I stepped in as the interim Treasurer to fill out the term of the elected Treasure, and was
elected to the Treasurer position in 2013 thru 2015. I served as Vice Commodore in 2016 and
2017, and was elected to Commodore in 2018 and 2019. I retired from Commodore to the
Bar Manager position. I ran for Treasurer again in 2024 and was elected to the position for
2025.
As Club Treasurer I want to simplify and streamline our financial reporting. Now that we own
our Club facility, we will need to provide our investors and membership timely and accurate
financial reporting. I would like to add an assistant Treasurer to the position this year to shadow
my activities and perhaps run to replace me as Treasurer in the future.
I would love the opportunity to be your next SMSA Treasurer. SMSA is a central part of my life and I am dedicated to providing the best service to you as possible. Being obsessed with detail and numbers - the Treasurer role is something that I’m well suited for. We’ve been SMSA members for more than 20 years and working to ensure the success of the club is something I am very passionate about. I’ve previously served as Treasurer for 6 of the past 10 years, manage our family rental business and have been working for the last 25 years as an engineer in addition to the other various SMSA chair and volunteer positions. In that time, I’ve never missed a filing deadline or failed to have any of my books ready for inspection in short notice. I take pride in being open and collaborative. In short, I know my way around Quickbooks, spreadsheets and managing this business. I’m a listener, a problem solver and a team player with the interests of SMSA members first. As your next Treasurer, your trust in me will not be misplaced. I can provide you with the technical expertise and forward vision needed to take this club into the next adventure.
My name is Nicole Foveaux. My husband, Brian, and I joined SMSA a little over a year ago as we began thinking about entering the phase of life with our two children in college. We have been sailing small boats most of this past year and recently started sailing our 35.5 Hunter Legend. Last October I took over as editor of the SMSA Yearbook for the 2025 season. That was a great adventure and helped to meet many people in the club!
2 candidates from those listed below will be elected.
My name is Steven Birchfield. I've chaired the Small boat race program the past four years with SMSA and this past year I volunteered to chair SMSA's newest premier regatta The Patuxent Pursuit. I have also assisted with the highschool sailing program providing mentorship to the youth sailors on the PAX sailing team, and assisted with the adult learn to sail program in past years as an "on the water instructor." Over the past 8 years I have strived to share my love of sailing with friends and new sailors often leading them to becoming boat owners and racers themselves. During SMSA events, you can often find me volunteering to cook, grill, serve drinks at the club bar and help all those around him. I am deeply passionate about sailing and the club, and often take photos of our members in their own element sailing around Solomons or during special events at our club to share with members on social media. Prior to volunteering with SMSA, I served as the committee chair of a local cub scout troop for 4 years, where I conducted meetings, planned events, and helped budget for the program. I am currently employed with the Maryland Environmental Service where I work as the Senior Operations Manager for one of the largest composting operations on the eastern seaboard; managing a $3 million budget with 20 employees; recycling organic waste into nutrient rich compost. I am excited to bring my leadership, experience and love of our sport and club to the table as one of your new directors.
SMSA Director for past 6 years (2 3-year terms).
- Served in leadership role and voting member responsible for club operations.
- Committee involvement in SMSA purchase.
Cruise Leader for 4 years.
- Organized and managed program of 12-15 cruises each year.
Active participation on multiple club cruising and social events.
Fellow SMSA Members: I respectfully request your vote for Director for 2026. I have been a member of SMSA since its inception and have watched our club go from rendezvous gatherings in member back yards, to leasing a site for several years and finally owning the building we presently occupy. I have served on the Board many times in various roles over the years, previously as Commodore in 2008, and most recently, as a Director for the last 6 years. Other committees most recently served include Protest Committee, & Building Fund Research Committee. I am an active participant in many of our programs and have great interest in continuing the forward progress our club has made in purchasing and continuing with future improvements to our facility. I also look forward to supporting the new and exciting events our members have organized, including the Patuxent Pursuit & cruising programs.
My name is Polly Traynham, I joined SMSA in 2014. I am pleased to have been nominated as a director. Most of you know me from Friday nights, plus assisting as scorekeeper on RC for the last 9 years and volunteering for many activities at the club. What you might not know, is that for most of my life I was an active sailor and that I am an avid businesswoman, and owner of Hair It Is Salon and Spa. I am passionate about our club and its future so much that I invested in the purchase of our clubhouse, and I regularly monitor BOD meetings. I look forward to assisting with long-term planning and am excited to bring my business skills to the table; plus use my connections and social skills to help the membership grow and ensure we all have a voice in SMSA’s future.