Scott Hicks

Scott Hicks is the 2007 ISC Vice Commodore, President of the Indiana Sailing Foundation and is in charge of Junior Training at ISC. Obviously, he is an integral part of ISC and has made many contributions to the club as well as sailing in Indiana. I asked him a few questions regarding his sailing experiences and contributions to the club; his answers appear below.

How did you get started sailing? I got started at Boy Scout summer camp sailing a Sea Snark! From there we joined the local sailing club (Commodore Decatur Yacht Club). Basically an open pavilion on muddy Lake Decatur with boat parking and docks. I sailed Lasers, Thistles and Lightnings while at CDYC.

What is it about sailing that keeps you involved in the sport? The camaraderie, competition (mental and physical challenges), serenity of a relaxing sail. Perhaps most importantly, it is a great venue for our entire family to relax, play, and compete.

What sailing accomplishment are you most proud of? Over the years, you always remember the tough wins ... I suppose the most rewarding sailing related experience came last summer when the ISF sponsored a foster child from The Villages to ISC summer camp. He was so excited to go he got his foster mom up at 4:00 AM! The opportunity for this little guy to go to sailing camp was a huge positive experience in his life.

What got you involved in sailing camp and junior training at ISC? I asked Barb Spaans if I could run the camp (what was I thinking?). Barb was wondering - what is he thinking? With one of our 3 kids entering sailing camp age, I thought it would be a great way to contribute to the club and be fun for my family. A huge hats off to Barb for her work with the camp. Everything, and I mean everything was in order - all I had to do was keep the momentum going!

What got you involved in the Indiana Sailing Foundation? Several years ago, I heard about a deceased member's estate wanting to give a substantial donation to the club. Unfortunately, the estate needed the benefits of a tax exempt 501(c)3 and, subsequently, the offer was withdrawn. From there the idea for the ISF began to snowball. I engaged Steve Stucky (Ent and Imler CPA Group) and together, we submitted the necessary forms to the IRS seeking permission to start the Indiana Sailing Foundation.

What responsibilities do you have as President of the ISF? As president, I set the agendas for the board meetings, preside at the board meetings, and oversee the day-to-day activities of the foundation. As an aside, I set it up so that I am not a voting member. This helps keeps the board from becoming too ISC top-heavy. The good news, is that the foundation is gaining traction in the sailing community.

What aspects of ISC keep you involved with the club? My focus is always family. As I look around and participate in club activities, I think of ways to improve my families experience at ISC. As we all know, there are many enriching involvement opportunities at ISC.