Gerry DeBenedetti was voted to Life Membership in the Outrigger Canoe Club at the Annual Meeting on February 8, 2021. Gerry joined the Outrigger in 1975 and has served on committees every year since.
She has served the Swimming Committee as Chair and member since 1975. She continues to do whatever job is necessary to put on swimming events, keep track of records, serve as a timer, pass out T-shirts or write numbers on participants. She has helped with biathlons, triathlons, bicycling and running events as well. Ask her to help and she never fails to show up and do the job.
In 1975, the OCC Swim Committee chaired by Gerry put on what they called the “Second Annual Revival of the Castle Swim” on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and it has continued on the Sunday after Thanksgiving ever since. Gerry has entered or assisted with the swim for the past 45 years.
She served 27 years on the Public Relations Committee, as chair, member, author of the As the Terrace Turns column, writing many articles for the Outrigger magazine, and was assistant editor of the Outrigger magazine for 14 years.
But Gerry has contributed a lot more. She was the one who lobbied the Board of Directors to remove sexist language from the Bylaws and House Rules. She fought for equal amenities in the women’s locker room that the men had for years. She got enough signatures to run for the Board of Directors when women were not being nominated (and served one year). And she made her voice heard about second-hand smoke and ridding our dining rooms and later our entire Club of smoking.
When Senior ‘Riggers was getting started Gerry offered to start a Book Club and she has successfully led a reading group at the Club for more than five years, bringing in authors to discuss their books, and featuring Club member authors as well.
Gerry is always the first to offer her help when a job needs doing. She has been a valuable asset to the Outrigger Canoe Club for the entirety of her membership of 45 years.
Board of Directors
1990 Coordinating Director, Public Relations
Admissions & Membership Committee
1989 Member
House Committee
1987 Member
1995 Member
Public Relations Committee
1980 Member
1981 Member
1982 Member
1983 Member
1984 Chair
1985 Chair
1986 Member
1987 Member
1988 Member
1993 Member
1994 Assistant Editor
1995 Assistant Editor
1996 Assistant Editor
1997 Assistant Editor
1998 Assistant Editor
1999 Assistant Editor
2000 Assistant Editor
2001 Assistant Editor
2002 Assistant Editor
2003 Assistant Editor
2004 Assistant Editor
2005 Assistant Editor
2006 Assistant Editor
2007 Assistant Editor
Judges of Election Committee
2006 Member
2008 Member
2009 Member
2010 Member
2011 Member
2012 Member
2013 Member
2014 Member
2015 Member
2016 Member
Nominating Committee
1993 Member
Running Committee
1998 Member
Sailing Committee
1983 Member
Swimming Committee
1975 Chair
1976 Chair
1977 Chair
1978 Chair
1981 Member
1982 Member
1983 Member
1987 Member
1988 Member
1989 Member
1990 Member
1991 Member
1992 Member
1993 Member
1994 Member
1995 Member
1996 Member
1997 Member
1998 Member
2000 Member
2001 Member
2002 Member
2003 Member
2004 Member
2005 Member
2006 Member
2007 Member
2008 Member
2009 Member
2010 Member
2011 Member
2012 Member
2013 Member
2014 Member
2015 Member
2016 Member
2017 Member
2018 Member
2019 Member
2020 Member
Senior ‘Riggers – Book Club
2016 Chair
2017 Chair
2018 Chair
2019 Chair
2020 Chair
2021 Chair