The Calusa Cruise Club is all about boating, friendship, and fun on the water. With three to four activities each month, members enjoy opportunities to meet new people, share boating experiences, and learn about safe and responsible boating.
We meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the Gulf Harbors Community Center. The second meeting of the month is a relaxed social gathering where members enjoy snacks and good conversation.
We invite you to join us and experience the warm camaraderie of the Calusa Cruise Club family.
Current Bridge
| Commodore | Chet Jasak |
| Vice Commodore | Gary Evans |
| Rear Commodore | Al Alberti |
| Secretary | Marge Engleman |
| Treaurer | Debbie Dunne |
| Past Commodore | Eric Anderson |
| Fishing & Conservation | Jack Hexter |
| Safety | Art Haedike |
| Cruising | Greg Ostergren |
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
| Cruise Master | Greg Ostergren |
| Membership & Storekeeper | Al Alberti |
| Sunshine | Natalie Parker |
| Prop Twister | Stuart Johnson |
| Photographer | |
| Education | Art Haedike |
| Attendance & 50/50 | Susan Burge |
| Historian | |
| Social Team |
Calusa Cruise Club History
A group of businessmen and women of New Port Richey and Port Richey formed the “Calusa Cruise Club” in April 1965. Their first cruise was on May 30, 1965, and their first set of bylaws was adopted on June 16, 1965.
Lorene Miller selected the name “Caloosa Cruise Club” from a list of suggestions submitted by club members. The name was chosen in honor of the Calusa Indians, who were native to this area. However, due to a newspaper misprint, “Caloosa” was spelled “Calusa.” The spelling remained, and the club has been known as the Calusa Cruise Club ever since.
The club’s burgee was designed through the combined efforts of Lorene Miller and Harry Gnad, with Harry drawing the Indian head from a picture found in a child’s coloring book.
The purpose and activities of the Calusa Cruise Club are to promote members’ cruising activities, encourage fishing and conservation, and foster safety on the water.
Because the club’s goal is to promote safe, family-oriented cruising for boats of all sizes, boating enthusiasts are warmly invited to join and enjoy the many rewards of club membership—cruising, swimming, shell gathering, games, good food, and relaxation.
The First Officers of the Calusa Cruise Club
| Commodore | C.A. Johnson |
| Vive Commodore | Tom Edwards |
| Secretary | Paula Odenwald |
| Treasurer | June Buffmeyer |
Charter Members of the Calusa Cruise Club
Erven & Gertrude Moock
C.A. & Aimee Johnson
Matt & Lorene Miller
Grant & June Buffmeyer
Don & Paula Odenwald
Don & Paula Odenwald
Harry & Mary Gnad
Leslie & Ruth Bauer
Thomas & Jayne Edwards
James & Lois Pritchard
James & Elizabeth Grey
John & Cora Sahag
David & Arlene Luikart
Vernon & Sandy Adamek
Kenneth & Helene Abare
Glen & Martha Keys
Sam & Jo Allgood
Robert & Helen Hartzell
John & Maxine Wonning
PAST COMMODORES
1965-66 Chic Johnson
1966-67 Thomas Edwards
1967-68 John Wonning
1968-69 John Wonning
1969-70 Harry Gnad
1970-71 Earl Braaten
1971-72 George Lindsey
1972-73 Edwin Speller
1973-74 Victor Vance
1974-75 John Musson
1975-76 Leonard Oreto
1976-77 Robert Hewes
1977-78 Robert Bushing
1978-79 Leonard Oreto
1979-80 Thomas Crisp
1980-81 Raymond Jockers
1981-82 Ed Dieter
1982-83 Bill Rea
1983-84 Murrell Ewing
1984-85 Al Pfaff
1985-86 Evelyn Ferris
1986-87 Marge Besser
1987-88 Lea Nelson
1988-89 Larry Hansen
1989-90 Larry Hansen
1990-91 Martin Gottel
1991-92 Foster Rutter
1992-93 Les Manuel
1993-94 Bob Allen
1994-95 Don Newton
1995-96 Frank Pfaff
1996-97 Ruth Allen
1997-98 Pat Gorecki
1998-99 Clem Dunkley
1999-00 Dave Evans
1999-00 Dave Evans
2000-01 Dick Keegan
2001-02 Herb Patterson
2002-03 Al Frare
2003-04 Vivian Patterson
2004-05 Ken Roepke
2005-06 Dee Dee Keegan
2006-07 Don Marcopulos
2007-08 Herb Patterson
2008-09 Diane Rodanhisler
2009-10 Jerry Crawford
2010-11 Rima Roeseler
2011-12 Dick Knorr
2012-13 Jack Hexter
2013-14 Jack Hexter
2014-15 Ron Klapperich
2015-16 Ron Klapperich
2016-17 Ed Marsh
2017-18 Ed Marsh
2018-19 Jim Turner
2019-20 Chet Jasak
2020-21 Chet Jasak
2021-22 Blake Allen
2022-23 Blake Allen
2023-24 Eric Anderson
2024-25 Eric Anderson
2025-26 Chet Jasak