NACK’s Annual Awards/Post Holiday Dinner

by Rhonda Moziy

On the evening of Sunday, January 31st 2016, I was proud to be part of NACK’s Annual Awards Holiday Dinner. This year’s gather honored some wonderful NACK members for their outstanding contributions and achievements.

This anticipated event was held in the party room of The Irish Coffee Pub at 131 Carleton Avenue East Islip. Through the elegant French doors and perfect ambiance, we enjoyed a delicious multicourse meal. Oval shaped candle lit tables connected draping the semi-circular feel of the room. We started off with Garden and Caesar Salads. Appetizers included Penne a la Vodka or Cream of potato soup. On the menu was a choice of  king-cut prime rib beef, salmon with champagne lobster sauce or stuffed filet of sole. For desert we had warm apple crumb a la mode or brownie a la mode all served with tea or coffee.

In attendance were Lynne, Bob, Julie, Marty, Matt, Mariann, Troy, Pat, Roy, Steve, Paul, Alan, Rhonda, Leslie, Hal, Paul, Goldene, John and Steve.

Our President John Weickert, Jr. and Awards Chair Steve McDonald were on hand to present and recognize some well-deserved members for their outstanding service and accomplishments.

Robert Horchler was presented with the Distinguished Service Award Trophy for his unending support and dedication to NACK. Bob had helped with an array of administrative tasks, preparing want-ads, paperwork, web modifications and basically helps run the club.

Harold McLaughlin was presented with the Presidents Award for his superb implementation to the NACK newsletter. He always makes sure we are “in the know” with fascinating stories from our members and happenings of our club.

Chris King was presented with two awards. The Directors Award for all his work as Assistant Webmaster and the Life Saving Award for Chris’s timely rescue of a sailor in distress on November 14th, 2016 at Goldstar Battalion Beach in Huntington.

Deborah Horne had several awards. An ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor Award. Debbie has excelled in the position of trip coordinator and the Most Valuable Paddler Award for her Invaluable Dedication in the Operation and Future of Nack as an Organization.

Lynne Basileo was given several awards. The Great Peconic Race Around Shelter Island September 20th, 2015 Award which recognizes Lynne for 1st Place Womens’s 50+ Sea Kayak and 2nd Place Overall Women’s Sea Kayak. The Coastal Kayak Trip Leader Award for becoming an ACA Coastal Kayaking Day-Trip Leader and the Photo Journalist Award for all her great pictures and stories.

Alan Mayors was also presented with the Photo Journalist Award for all his great pictures and stories and The Chariot Award for his land based kayaking at “The Great Jack-O- Lantern Sail” October 24th, 2015.

Paul and Goldene Villano were given the Special Event Award for their Planning and Executing of our 2015 Picnic including a Bike Race & Water Rescue Race. The Polar Bear Award went to Troy Siegel. This award recognizes Troy for his love of cold water.

When it comes to leadership, the following members were given the ACA Coastal Kayaking Day-Trip Leader Award: Paul Villano, Alan Mayors and Lynne Basileo

Some of our other award recipients were recognized for their achievements.  Rhonda Moziy and………

Troy Siegel were given an Improved Paddler Award for embodying the spirit of Nack in the area of personal skills development and who have during the course of the year significantly improved their paddling skills.

Chris King, Troy Siegel, Anthony Jenkins and Jacqueline Tabacco were awarded and recognized for completing an ACA Paddling Assessment with NACK and Achieving ACA Level 2.     Rhonda Moziy and Tom Mulligan were awarded and recognized for completing an ACA Paddling Assessment with NACK and Achieving ACA Level 1.

All of these amazing and selfless members make up the community of NACK. Without their dedication and hard work we could never enjoy this wonderful and fulfilling club.

It was a wonderful evening. Thanks to all of you, our members, for making NACK the great club that it is.