2. Archive Committee Commitment
Sort and save existing assets
Fill in/complete assets
Provide for collection of future assets
Preserve for the long term
Share with members/appropriate persons and organizations
Totem: A Look Back
3. Early Interest
Mrs. Jean Henning and Layton Stalcop June 1955 conversation about boats
and yachting and idea of a yacht club
Announcement ad placed in newspaper and on radio inviting those interested
to a meeting
Totem: A Look Back
4. First Meeting – June 16, 1955
Seventeen attendees
Layton Stalcop acted as chairman and Jean Henning was secretary
Mostly an exchange of ideas
Purpose: Get boating people in southern Commencement Bay together for
social and boating activities
Decision to meet each Thursday at Grace Moore branch of Library
Totem: A Look Back
5. Second Meeting – June 23
Officers were elected
• Kirk Wagner elected first commodore
Club name and burgee agreed to
• Name and design suggested by Virginia Martens
• Why Totem?
Work begun on By-Laws
Totem: A Look Back
8. Totem: A Look Back
Membership
Seventeen at first meeting – June 16, 1955
Charter members – Oct 18, 1955 - 75 members(hips)
175 paid members by year end, including women
Dues – Sept. 1955 – adjusted to $6 annually and $6 initiation
9. Totem: A Look Back
Early Boating Activities
First Rendezvous September 25, 1955 Maury Island sandspit
• Invited clubs: TOA; Tacoma Yacht Club; Day Island Yacht Club
• Attended by 16 boats, 60 persons and one dog
Other 1955 rendezvous was Dockton, October 1955
Occasional day and overnight cruises to waterfront properties owned
by club members
10. Totem: A Look Back
First Rendezvous – Maury Island – September 25, 1955
11. Totem: A Look Back
First Rendezvous – Maury Island – September 25, 1955
12. Totem: A Look Back
Dockton Rendezvous – October 25, 1955
13. Totem: A Look Back
Dockton Rendezvous – October 25, 1955
14. Totem:A Look Back
Early Boating Activities
Totem sponsored races
• First Foul Weather Outboard Race – December, 1955
• First Vashon Island Marathon Race – May, 1956
• Lyle Smith Memorial Marathon
• Predicted log races
Sponsorship of unlimited hydroplane “Miss Rocket;” later the “Coral
Reef”
18. Totem:A Look Back
Cruises Continuing Over the Years
Daffodil Boat Parade
Special People’s Cruise
Dockton Cruise
Fair Harbor Cruise (with RVs)
Blake Island Work Party
19. Totem:A Look Back
Social Activities
Average about 6 dances or parties per year
Annual Spaghetti Feed
Crab Feeds
Annual Fishing Derby
Commodores’ Balls and Officer Dances
Land Cruises
• Ocean Beaches
• Lake Chelan Caravans and Campouts
21. Totem: A Look Back
Announcements about Totem dances and events were a big deal; usually carried on the Society pages
22. Totem:A Look Back
First Clubhouse
Commodore’s member survey regarding new clubhouse features and amenities, February 1956
23. Totem:A Look Back
First Clubhouse
Property purchased in 1957
Except for pilings, all work done by club members
Building exterior completed in 1962
• Christmas party held with members wearing overcoats and mittens
24. Totem:A Look Back
First Clubhouse
The Club’s printed history places the original clubhouse at Ruston Way and Alder Street
25. Totem:A Look Back
First Clubhouse
Another source places the location adjacent to the remnants of the Dickman Lumber Mill. Any historical
documentation of actual location is welcome.
29. Totem:A Look Back
Second Clubhouse
Shoreline development regulations prevented rebuilding
Current property located and purchased in February, 1976
Contractor began construction in second half of 1976
Board held its December, 1976 meeting in the new clubhouse
Property and clubhouse paid in full March, 1977
38. Totem:A Look Back
A remarkable history…
Wonderful memories…
Some great opportunities!
39. Totem:A Look Back
Totem Yacht Club welcomes your questions
and any contributions of data or artifacts
that can add to this history.
Totem Yacht Club
5045 North Highland – Tacoma, Washington 98407
(253) 759-9062