TREASURE COAST BOATING
YACHT CLUBS
According to an appraisal conducted in 1956 by H. M.
Jernigan and L. W. Halbe, the club property and its facilities
were worth a little more than $223,000. Facilities included a
6,603-square-foot social center that had a ballroom with a fireplace,
a cocktail lounge and a dining room overlooking the
water; a dock-master’s home and headquarters and fishing
and docking piers. In 1957, members built a swimming pool,
complete with 60 cabanas, at the east end of the property.
Even with the valuable improvements, the club still had
challenging financial obstacles. Commodore John C. Hallam,
in a member’s meeting recap that appeared in the Dec. 23,
1958, issue of the club’s bi-weekly newsletter, The Scuttlebutt,
commented on the organization’s financial condition. “Now
Ladies and Gentlemen, this club for the past two years has led
a hand-to-mouth existence. I have heard member after member
exclaim that they paid $36 in dues, and the raise to the
asked for amount was unheard of,” he said. “We are asking to
alleviate this tight situation by $4 per member (annual dues).”
Following some discussion, members approved the $40 dues.
The Pelican is an equity-ownership club run by its volunteer
board of directors, committee members and staff. In
1981, the club’s board gave Bob Gladwin a ship’s wheel as a
“thank you” for his volunteer service. “Bob never liked the
limelight and preferred assisting behind the scenes,” says
Roberts. “Bob’s quiet, achieving, unselfish, honest and hilariously
humorous demeanor endeared many.” To commemorate
Gladwin’s memory (he is deceased), Roberts started an
award for members who achieve a lot for the club behind the
scenes. Gladwin’s son, Tommy, gave the ship’s wheel back to
the Pelican where it is passed on in a rotating fashion to those
who are given the Robert Gladwin Award. >>
12 Royal Vero Beach,WE 57
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Serving Boaters on the Waterfront for Over 50 Years
ED DRONDOSKI
The Pelican is run by a loyal staff and a volunteer board of directors. Gary
Roberts, a member, former director and longtime friend of the Gladwin
family, started an award that honors those who serve the club, just as
founding member Bob Gladwin did.
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