SOS President's Message
I want to use this time of you to remind all of us SOS members that our group remains an important part of the overall Lakeside community. Our members are serving on the Lakeside Waterfront Advisory Group, which was formed to suggest and prioritize long-term capital waterfront improvements, including the eventual repair of the aging dock. The SOS endowment, which now exceeds $200k, is being recognized in Lakeside's financial statements. Lakeside leadership routinely looks to SOS for guidance and suggestions as to how to improve and promote the activities at the Sailing Center.
The repair of the sailboat/kayak/SOP storage racks remains ongoing. We thank Bill Maenner for the work he's done, but he can't do it all. SOS has been given permission to engage a contractor to finish this job, with the expectation that we will work with Lakeside to manage and finance the completion of this project. I am activity looking for contractors for bids. Any suggestions as to whom to contact are welcome.
To promote the community feeling of SOS members while benefiting the waterfront, we are planning to have another SOS pre-season workday during a Saturday in May. The primary goal would be to help the Lakeside waterfront crew get the sailing center ready for the season. Stay tuned for details, and please reach out to Nancy Brucken if you are interested in helping, so she can contact you directly.
We should all be proud of what we've done (and continue to do) to enhance and promote the sailing center activities. I look forward to and fun and eventful 2026. See you on the water!
Mike Haas
150 Oak Avenue
[email protected]
www.societyofoldsalts.com
724-331-6528 (cell and text)
Watercraft Reservation Procedures
The Lakeside registration system used for Rhein Center classes and other activities covers watercraft reservations and usage, as well. This enables us to reserve Lakeside Sunfish, Lasers, kayaks and paddleboards in advance and online, instead of having to go to the Information Center in person.
SOS members are still allowed complimentary watercraft rentals, as described in the SOS Watercraft Usage Rules below. However, you can reserve watercraft online at https://reservecui.active.com/LakesideChautauqua. Please enter your free rental in a single transaction, and use the SOS coupon code LKSDSOS26 at the end of the transaction to bring the total amount due to $0. If you are paying for a second rental in the same time slot, a second transaction will be necessary. Note that you can still reserve and rent watercraft in person; the rental desk has been moved inside of the boathouse. For questions or assistance with reservations, please contact Kathy Mural at [email protected].
Summer 2026 Sailing Calendar
- Season Opener Big Boat Race - Saturday, June 20
- Mouse Island Challenge - all summer
- Kids Setting Sail - Sundays, June 14 - September 6
- August Cup Big Boat Race - Saturday, July 11
- Mouse Island Race - Saturday, July 18
- Sailing with a Champ - Friday, July 24
- Lakeside Sailing Regatta - Saturday, July 25 - Sunday, July 26
- SOS Picnic - Saturday, July 25
- Regatta Awards Ceremony - Sunday, July 26
- Labor Day Weekend Big Boat Race - Saturday, August 29
Kids Set Sailing (KSS) Update
Kids Set Sailing will begin on Sunday, June 14, weather permitting. If you'd like to help out, either on a boat, in the water, or on land, join us at the Sailing Center at 2:15 PM.
2025 was the 23rd year of operation for the Society Of Old Salts' sponsored Kids Setting Sail Program. The program was designed to introduce young people to sailing by means of a short ride on a Sunfish sailboat with an experienced sailor. The program operates on Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30. The availability of over 40 KSS volunteers, with an age range from 14 to 90, worked to make this program possible. In 2025, we took out 591 riders, making a total of 12,123 riders to date!
We are advertised to handle kids ages 5-10, but our age range has been 2-78. The participants in the program are very excited about riding in a Sunfish with an experienced sailor. The sailors and helpers are equally pleased to be able to volunteer their services. The parents and grandparents are the most excited of all to see their little ones out in a sailboat, many for their first time.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS and LAKESIDE SAILING STAFF!
Lakeside's continued support of the SOS and all the volunteers help make the Sailing Center and the KSS Program a continued success.
Renew Your SOS Membership Online!
You can renew your support for SOS now by using our online form, or you can download and print a paper copy and return that to Carolyn Fleischer, the SOS Treasurer.
Each year, all 720 membership contributions go into the Endowment Account, along with all equity earnings (or losses), and are made available for lakefront capital projects. Annual membership dues go into the Restricted Account, which supports the day-to-day needs of the waterfront.
Lakeside Heritage Society Donation
This year this Lakeside Heritage Society (LHS) is doing an extensive renovation of the 150 year-old Heritage Hall Building (238 Maple Avenue) that includes restoring the wooden floors and plaster walls back to the original 1875 condition. Additionally, the exhibits will be refreshed with enhanced graphics and display cases. More information on the renovation can be found on the LHS website:
https://www.lakesideheritagesociety.org/capital-campaign
If you have not seen it, the Heritage Hall Museum has maintained a display dedicated to the Lakeside waterfront, and, in particular, the great work and contributions of SOS.
The LHS solicited SOS for a contribution toward this renovation, and the SOS board agreed to donate $8,000 over the next 3 years, with $6,000 coming from SOS treasury, and $2,000 from a private earmarked donation on behalf of SOS. We see this as an opportunity to support our community and promote visibility of the SOS to the entire community. If you would like to make your own contribution, please visit the LHS website.
2026 Watercraft Usage Rules
- SOS membership levels will remain at $25, $50, $100 and $720 Lifetime Memberships.
- Complimentary watercraft usage begins at the $100 membership level, after a 2-week waiting period for new members.
- $720 Lifetime Members receive complimentary watercraft usage immediately.
- Children of SOS members are covered under their parents' SOS membership until the age of 25.
- $720 Lifetime Membership benefits end when the last family member is no longer eligible due to death or age limit.
- You must use your own watercraft first.
- 1-hour time limit.
- Maximum advance reservation of 1 watercraft at a time.However, Lakeside, at its discretion, may allow up to two watercraft to be used at a time depending, for example, on availability of equipment and staff.
- Special arrangements by approval only.
SOS Membership
2026 SOS Annual Membership forms are available from the SOS website. You can also download one here, or join/renew online!