Outboard Boating Club of San Diego

2027 Election of Officers

2027 OBC Board Candidate Bios

Commodore

Catherine Miller-

I am running to continue serving as OBC Commodore in 2027 and hope to have your support.

I joined OBC in 2005. Over 21 years I have been active in many capacities: Commodore (2010, 2011 and 2014) and Membership Chair many times. I’ve been active in club elections and planning the Commodore’s Dinner many years.

I will run meetings on time, with an established agenda for club business.  I believe that club business should be handled within an hour or hour and half. With that expectation, club members can plan to attend meetings and get home relatively early. Among my priorities in the coming year would be to finish the review and update the Club bylaws, complete the revamp of the website, identify responsible ways to recruit active new members and encourage club-sponsored activities that attract member participation.

As for my background, I began working at 12 years old as a counter clerk at Shelter Island Pier and graduated to summer jobs answering phones and selling tickets on sportfishing boats at H&M Landing.  Beginning in 1972 I studied communications at UCI and UCSD. In 1976 I got called back into family service at H&M Landing.  I spent the next 8 years rebuilding the business in the sportfishing industry, working with Port District, in business operations, marketing and cooperative ventures. I still do some work with that industry.

Professionally, I am mostly retired.  I developed a public relations and special events company.  I’ve owned restaurants and know the joy of hosting and the rigors of business. I initiated the formation and generated funding for the nonprofit San Diego Sportfishing Council for 45+ years. I’ve worked with the nonprofit Bon Temps Social Club since 2001 to develop, fund and produce the nationally acclaimed festival, Gator By The Bay.  I served as a CA Representative for International Game Fish Association from 2005-2025 and a member of the San Diego Working Waterfront since 1995.

I am asking that you trust me with your vote.

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Vice Commodore

Nick Nichols 

I retired from AT&T in 2007 after 38 years of service as Technical Support Manager.

I joined the Outboard Boating Club in 2009. Since then, I have been the OBC webmaster, IT guy, the Google Groups email database administrator, FaceBook admin and secure Webmail Administrator.

I have held the Rear Commodore and Vice Commodore positions.

This last year as Vice Commodore I worked with the OBC Board of directors to develop a more secure banking system to minimize weaknesses in the online account as well as bringing our Bylaws into compliance with current state requirements.  It has been a pleasure to work with our dedicated team of board members and would love to serve again as your Vice Commodore.

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Rear Commodore

Bill Smitko

I have been a member of OBC since 2008.

Over the years I have served multiple times as OBC Vice Commodore and Rear Commodore. I especially enjoy creating events that our members respond to. Traditionally, to open the year, I host a Super Bowl party at OBC followed in May by the Kentucky Derby Pot Luck Party to kick off our Ramp Duty Season. When interest supports it, I host a fishing tournament in the summer. As the duty season closes, I host a popular “End of Ramp Duty / Western Style” party, and I’ve been known to serve Roasted Pig, or Bar-B-Q at these events ‘cuz OBC members like to eat!

I retired from a manager position with Vons more than 30 ago. I am avid fisherman. I lift weights and workout at the gym at least three times a week, as I have since I was 16. I love home cooking, good movies and a nice meal out.

I am focused on good management of the club as a team member of the Board and I would love to continue serving the club as your Rear Commodore. I would much appreciate your vote of confidence.

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Purser

Geraldine (Gerry) Donnelly

I am running for a second term for the board position of Purser. I have been an active member of OBC for 4 years. I enjoy the camaraderie of the club and the special events. With my qualifications and education, I feel and can be of further service to the club as purser.

QUALIFICATIONS:

As a Private Professional Fiduciary, I have administered many large estates for which I was required to be bonded. This included preparing accounts of those estates for approval of the Superior Court of California.

EDUCATION

Registered with the Justice Department as a Professional Fiduciary (SR#05-1 l 56)

Licensed with the State of California (Lic No. 81)

Retired Certified Tax Preparer (1992) (IRS CAF#9006-34225R) State (CTEC# A0l 1365)

National University School of Law Paralegal Studies program (1991)

National University BA degree Business Administration ( emphasis in accounting)

As purser I have managed OBC funds in a prudent, transparent, careful and thoughtful manner. I have accounted monthly and reconstructed the financial records of the year 2025if asked I will be readily available to give a summary account at any time.

Thank you for your consideration.

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Yeoman

Janet Callow

The importance of finishing the work started in 2026 by the OBC BOD is the most important reason that I will stand for reelection as Yeoman in 2027.

The BOD spent hundreds of hours last year updating the Club Bylaws. We have made a successful start this year with the passage of Article II and Article IV.

Article II, a new OBC Mission Statement is representative of our responsibility as a Port Tenant and our lease agreement with the Port.

The Outboard Boating Club of San Diego is a California 501 (c) (4) non-profit corporation. The mission of the Outboard Boating Club of San Diego is to serve the interests of the boating community, to encourage broader public participation in boating within the region served by the Club, to foster a spirit of camaraderie among local boating enthusiasts, and to promote education and awareness of safe boating practices.

I stand behind my service to the OBC and to Port. I serve the interest of the boating community by hosting two events for the nonprofit Ancient Mariners Sailing Society, one of which the OBC has hosted for 15 years. This is a wooden boat club affiliated by Education with the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

I promote education and awareness of safe boating practices by providing many of the signs OBC uses for ramp patrol. This year the signs were updated to lighter and safer signs. I hold with the same key messaging for launch ramp users:
“keep moving” move to the upper parking lot rather than block the ramp or park in the red zone and a trailer safety campaign: two signs – Double Check your Trailer and Check your trailer 1-5-50. Next year I am folding back in the California Boater Card sign, including handouts to educate the boaters.

I foster a spirit of camaraderie by engaging San Diego Marine Exchange to advertise our fishing tournaments and contribute to the event prizes. MX has sponsored the Lobster Tournament for 3 years and next year will sponsor the Salt Water Bass Tournament.

Thank you