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2000 Chuck Maschal,Optimist Class, Beach Haven, NJ
John H. Gardiner, Jr. One-Design Award
presented to
Chuck Maschal of Beach Haven, NJ
On behalf of the US SAILING One-Design Class Council, it gives me great pleasure to present to Chuck Maschal the John H. Gardiner, Jr. One-Design Award for distinguished service and exceptional leadership in the promotion of one-design sailing and class organization.
Chuck, now President Emeritus of the Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA), has served as President twice.
In this short time, Chuck has demonstrated impressive leadership style and extraordinary accomplishments for the class.
- Chuck resolved litigation, retained the administration, balanced the budget, and reduced operating expenses. In 1998, when Chuck was first elected as President, the USODA was in turmoil.
- Chuck created the position of USODA Director of Sailing, which has given numerous free training seminars around the country and supporting junior sailing and promoting the Optimist class at a grass roots level. The overwhelmingly positive good will and membership growth from these efforts have confirmed that Chuck’s vision was both creative and sound.
- Chuck began actively communicating with the sustaining members and the national sailing community by publishing two newsletters: In Touch and USODA News.
- Chuck was the "founding father" of the U.S. National Team. The NT has significantly improved the skills of skippers representing the United States in international competition and those skills have been brought back and shared with all Optimist sailors.
- Whenever financial limitations might have prevented a skipper from joining the National Team or competing overseas, Chuck always found a way to make it happen because he is determined that money ahouls never be a bar to participating in Optimist sailing.
- With Chuck at the helm, USODA membership reached an all time record level.
Remarkably, Chuck accomplished all of this while maintaining a relaxed and open style of leadership. For everything he has done for junior sailing and the Optimist class, and for his grace and good humor in both fair weather and foul, Chuck is deserving of the Gardiner Award.