A Message from our New Satori President, Past Commodore, Alan McMillan

I’m honored to be the 3rd President of the Pensacola Yacht Club’s Satori Foundation. This 501(c) 3 Not for Profit Foundation has been making incredible contributions to our community for the past six years under the leadership of our first and second Presidents, Denis McKinnon and Tim Burr.
Satori began in 2015 with 4 partners, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Seastars Aquatics (a swim team program for disadvantaged youth), and FSU CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities). We now have 12 different partners and have given 107 outreach sails to 717 community members including STEM training to 64 of those groups.
Of course, we have had challenges, COVID -19 reduced our activities dramatically in 2020 and then Hurricane Sally threw a couple of additional hurdles at Satori. As a result of the hurricane, we were down 2 ½ boats, with no outreach sails in the past year and a half. But with our committed Trustees, Satori Advisory Board, the support of the PYC Board, club members and our growing list of over 128 volunteers, we have used the time over the past year to evaluate our activities and plan for the future.
Integrity, the second sailboat donated by Tom and Carol Patterson, has been fully repaired from Hurricane Sally damage and is already sailing with groups of kids again. Additionally, PYC member Jim Foss, has generously donated his sailboat Delphina, an S-2 7.9, to replace the Tartan-28, Second Wind which was lost in Hurricane Sally. Not only will Delphina soon be available in our rental program, but for the Intro to Sailing Class, which has already started back in full swing under the leadership of Instructors and Captains Bob Kriegel and Chip MacMillan. Delphina will be very busy and thanks to you Jim, for your generosity!
Already we have taken several groups from two outreach partners sailing this year, with a much-anticipated partner to begin soon: front-line COVID nurses and practitioners. This group has had an extraordinarily stressful year and we would like to thank them for their service in the best way we know how – to take them sailing! Additionally, we have awarded nine summer sailing camp scholarships, with one year-round scholarship recipient taking it to the next level.
And the news continues to get even better! I had the privelege of accepting on behalf of Satori, the Jim Kilroy Outstanding Outreach and Inclusion Award from US Sailing. For Satori to receive this high national recognition, with only 6 years as a Foundation, is an incredible achievement. This is the highest recognition for community contributions made by United States Sailing Association (USSA), the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in America. This award represents the level of loyalty, generosity, and commitment the Foundation enjoys from the PYC members, including the generosity of over 128 volunteers giving their time in multiple ways to ensure our mission continues. We would not have been so honored without their help.

Sincerely,

Alan McMillan Alan McMillan