Letter to the Editor: The Old Dominion Boat Club Supports the Needs of the Community

Dear Editor:
 
It is amazing that in a Letter to the Editor Nikki Enfield the membership of the Old Dominion Boat Club (ODBC). She refers to them as an "elite group of club owners," whatever that is supposed to mean. The ODBC membership is composed of a large group of middle class, patriotic and caring citizens who have continually supported the needs of the community. Perhaps it would be good for Nikki to get a briefing from the ODBC Board of Governors concerning their charitable work they have performed for the community over the years.
 
The reason the ODBC "has been at the center of all this drama" is that the City has threatened to take their property which they were awarded after a 30-year fight in the courts. The "chain link" fence she references was put there by the City, not by the club. Many attempts have been made by the ODBC to improve the fence around the parking lot. However in each case, their plans have been rejected because the City claimed they didn't own the property.

All of the membership of the ODBC do not live outside of the City - more than half of the membership lives east of Washington Street!
 
Sincerely,
Townsend A. "Van" Van Fleet, a member of the ODBC but the views represented here are my own