WHO IS GOING TO GET THE LIMES?

BY Greg Gilmartin

            Minutes before the start of the Mudhead Benefit Cup Mega Party, show wrangler Courtney Moore realized one detail had slipped through the hundreds of emails, hours of meetings and dozens of ideas.   “We forgot the limes!” she said. “Who’s going to get the limes?”

            In a cynical world where marketing and advertising bombard our every waking moment with efforts to trick us into behavior to act a certain way or buy a certain product, it was a moment devoid of artificiality.   A seemingly insignificant glitch of a task spawned on a cold February night when the regatta committee gathered to begin the planning for this 4^th annual benefit event for Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut.

            And just 12 hours after the event, I am trying to trust the genuine feelings of goodness that I’m experiencing. The event came off beautifully and at the core was the people who put forth efforts to accomplish the endless list of tasks. Volunteers who put in a couple of hours on Friday and Saturday, and those who have been working on it for years. It was a team like effort that was palpable. It was a party that was the best of my experience. And a day that will set a new benchmark for how yacht clubs are expected to deliver to the hundreds of sailors who turn out for a good cause, but expect a good time from start to finish.

            On the race course, we were blessed again with a sunny day and enough breeze to get off two races for 58 boats, their skippers and crews.   The talent on the Mudhead Race Committee is unmatched on Long Island Sound. (Yeah, Toot! Toot!) Lots of experience, lots of opinions and lots of selfless desire to get it square, make it interesting and in the end, get it right. Mission accomplished and a more detailed story for later.

            On shore, at one point Courtney, Katie Abel and Maura Blaney, the lynchpins of the party, were actually sitting together having a drink while hundreds enjoyed the music, food and friendship all around them.  Unheard of!   Food? Tons of it from dozens of local restaurants. Special shouts to Mohegan Sun and McQuades who stepped up big time. And Sea Swirl, who once again provided all the extras that make it possible to pull this off. Thank you, Dave!

            It’s hard not to gush, because there are so many good stories. And they are all about people stepping up to help the cause.  Hospice partners and Mudhead partners, focused on the cause.  The end result is a memorable experience that goes well beyond how much money we raised. Professional fundraisers might go looking for a few more dollars. That’s their job. We were just having a good time.

Sure, half a dozen boats went the extra mile to raise thousands from their friends through websites and arm twisting. Their intentions and good heart will be remembered. As will the hearts of the winners of the 50/50 Lewmar grinding competition who turned back their meager winnings to Hospice.   And we auctioned off a boat slip at Seaport Marine for $2500. That was one of many good moments.

Not going to thank everyone by name. Not enough time. They know who they are. And if you were at the Mystic Shipyard, our party home,(thanks, Jeff!)  you saw them in action. If not, I sincerely hope your previous engagement on the day was as rewarding as ours. We’ll try to do it again next year and you can join us. 

            So, who did get the limes?   Greg Stoltz, long time Mudhead secretary. Ironically, Greg made lots of phone calls to solicit volunteers in the days before the event. They showed up, they performed and they helped make the MegaParty live up to its name. And now, its reputation.

            Good on you, Mudheads! We know what you’ve done for us lately. The question coming soon is what will we do for you next? Take a look at some of the pictures here