PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2022

Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club ( IVY Club)

All four clubs continue to move beyond the long-time stereotype of the “old guys’s club,” taking onmembers with the widest range of diversity in age and ethnicity in their history. Reis said 65 percent of new CCP members in the last 18 months were age 35 and younger as the club focused on its family-friendly environment. The current CCP team is one of the best he’s ever worked with in his 25 years in the club industry, said Reis. Many club members are business owners themselves and understand the value of taking care of staff. It also helps that many employees are central Illinois natives who know the community well and support its events, while steering around scheduling conflicts with the latter. Meanwhile, fine dining has returned as a core of club attendance. ILLINOIS VALLEY YACHT AND CANOE CLUB A record Illinois River flood in 2013 didn’t sink the resolve of the Illinois Val ley Yacht and Canoe Club and neither did a pandemic. In celebrating its 115th anniversary, clubmembers continue to promote the international fellowship of boating and sailing with hundreds of representative burgees (flags or pen nants) decorating the clubhouse interior.

CommodoreWendi Ramsay saidmany area families have found a home at the IVY Club as it continues to evolve into a casual and family-friendly atmosphere for all ages. Members don’t even have to be boaters, though many do eventually dip their toes into the sport. While celebrating its traditions, the clubhas brought onboard youngermem bers who can now move up the ranks faster with the lowering of age require ments. Ramsay said central Illinois resi dents sometimes complainabout Peoria’s “limitations” but the community’s size and location offer a perfect combination of resources and natural beauty. A member for 32 years, Rear Commodore Pete Bennett haswitnessed the evolution of the IVY Club, from a timewhen kids grewup there towaning interest to the current surge of younger families. It’s challenging at times to keep awareness about the club afloat but sailing classes in the spring along with an increasing number of radio control model boat enthusiasts have bolstered the fleet of members and guests. TimMangan, vice commodore, noted that the IVYClub is also the only boating club open year-round in central Illinois, with a variety of social activities that keep members connected even when Mother Nature blows cold.

(L to R) Jane Bertolino, 2020-21 commodore, and Wendi Ramsay, 2022 commodore

Camaraderie is key, Ramsay said, with the emphasis on sailing sports manship, no matter the skill level. That trickles down to the youth swim teams. Add to that the celebrations and par ties and the old stiff stereotype of yachting is sailing off into the sunset. The club currently has about 200 members. Ivy Club Fleet Blessing (L to R) Roger Huber, Pete Bennett, rear commodore; Bob Pratt and Al Covington in the background

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