Bird Key Yacht Club leadership looks forward to clubhouse completion

When accepting the role of Bird Key Yacht Club commodore, Saul Landesberg said his father always told him a lucky man can count the number of his close friends on a hand. However, he said it would take both hands, feet, and a bit more to do justice to the genuine friendships he has gained through the club. He especially appreciated the kinship forged with outgoing Commodore Tony Britt.

"Besides being a great commodore, one who has gotten us through a most challenging time, he is an all-around great guy," he said, applauding his capability and tenacity as a leader.

Britt passed the gavel to Landesberg on June 20 at the Art Ovation Hotel, which served as the ceremony venue in lieu of the soon-to-be-rebuilt clubhouse on Bird Key.

Landesberg took the time to thank his predecessor for helping the club navigate life without a clubhouse. He credited Britt with finding innovative programming to ensure members still felt a sense of togetherness, rather than shutting down operations while awaiting the new headquarters.

Landesberg, 70, has spent most of his life in Florida, primarily in Tampa and Miami. He and his wife, Debra Landesberg, raised three children in the bustling cities of the Sunshine State.

But he said he and Debra quickly felt at home in the Bird Key community when they moved to the area 10 years ago.

As he prepared to assume his new role, he and Britt often met for weekly catch-up lunches, and Landesberg said he is glad the former commodore will still be nearby, now serving as leader of the Bird Key Homeowners Association and on other club committees.

Britt said he will always be proud of the work he and his team put into moving the clubhouse project forward. Asked what words of advice he would offer to his successor, Britt emphasized the importance of working hard and humbly toward the club's long-term development goals. But he added that it is equally important to have fun along the way, taking time to enjoy the convivial spirit of this unique group.

From unveiling a time capsule from 2000 to easy-going summer cookouts, members have found ways to remain connected even without a roof.

He also credited staff members, headed by General Manager Tammy Hackney, for their dedication to maintaining high spirits during the transition.

Before passing the gavel, Britt also recognized outgoing board members Colin Wood, Michael Hunter, Bob Keagy and Michael Travis.

Former Commodore Lisa Adams swore in Donna Hillmyer as board governor and new officers Lynne Pettigrew, Dede Moore, Gary Fischman and Donna Hillmyer.

Looking forward, Landesberg said his primary goal is to ensure clubhouse construction stays under budget and on time, with an anticipated completion date at the beginning of 2027.

He brings his experience serving in leadership roles with nonprofits, like the Boys & Girls Clubs, and with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also works part-time as a corporate insurance broker.

The new commodore said he finds it immensely valuable to teach on-the-water safety courses, noting, "When people learn how to boat better, they enjoy boating better."

In the time he gets to spend on the water, he captains the "Floridays," a nod to the studio album by Jimmy Buffett.

While his wife joined him on the stage to celebrate his new title, she also stood in her own capacity as the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs director. So far, she has visited 22 of the 36 member clubs and hopes to complete the roster over the next year or so. Especially as Bird Key charts a new path forward, she said it has been enlightening to connect with fellow clubs.

Lynne Pettigrew, who ascended from the role of rear commodore to replace Landesberg as vice commodore, said she and fellow Bird Key Yacht Club members have every confidence in his ability to carry the baton at this critical juncture in the club's development.

Pettigrew said she is also proud to now be one of the four women on the nine-member board at the club.

"What we try to do is get the best talent we can find, anywhere we can," she said.

Reflecting on Britt's past year of leadership, she said, "Tony really is a one-man band. He is so energetic and has really kept the interest of members."

Landesberg equated Britt's leadership in navigating choppy waters to the club's "Winston Churchill during World War II."

Asked what prompted him to begin ascending through the ranks at the yacht club, Landesberg said he was willing to take on the responsibility in service of a tight-knit group of fascinating people he has come to know well.

"It's just a wonderful group of people from all different backgrounds who just want to be together," he said. "We're very fortunate."

Landesberg acknowledged that, of course, the work doesn't stop once the clubhouse is finished and the ribbon is cut. 

He and Britt said they both certainly look forward to getting to the first moment they will get to take a seat in the waterside clubhouse, reflecting on the journey, and toasting to an exciting new chapter for the club.

As a parting gift, Britt presented Landesberg with a Bird Key Yacht Club-branded hard hat, explaining, "This lets everyone know you are on the job and looking after our interests with this beautiful club to be. I know you are going to take us across the finish line."