The Yachtsman 2017-2018 The Yachtsman 2017-2018 | Page 9

CLUB REPORTS CLUB REPORTS REAR COMMODORE MEMBERSHIP T  To another good year ahead! I appreciate your thoughts, input and our lively discussions Liz de Soyres 12 YA C H T S M A N R PAY C he Club was certainly in a celebratory mood as the 2017- 18 season got underway last September. We were about to turn 150, no mean feat. After all, none of us will have the chance of celebrating a 150th birthday. Our garden party in October 2017 concluded our sesquicentenary celebrations where we remembered and thanked our fore members who had created and played a part in developing the Club we enjoy today. To all our new members, may I wish you another warm welcome! Your membership is important and that’s why your Membership Committee continues to conduct interviews and then touch base with you throughout the first year of your membership. Not only do we get to put a face to a name but we use this opportunity to note your particular areas of interest and expectations from Club membership. Going forward, we will be running our new member welcome parties quarterly in the Edinburgh Bar at Happy Hour on Fridays when you and your partner, proposer and seconder will be invited. Overlooking Pittwater, the bar has a delightful setting and its ambience complete with live music played on the Club’s baby grand piano. Friday Happy Hours are popular with regular Club members and we see this as a good opportunity to make some introductions. As the sailing season got underway and at the request of the Commodore, as part of his Excellence in Sailing project, the Membership Committee took a close look at what 16 other Australian yacht clubs are doing on the membership front. These Yacht Clubs were the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Sandringham Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Perth Yacht Club, Royal Freshwater Yacht Club, Middle Harbour Yacht Club, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, Royal South Australia Yacht Squadron, Newcastle Yacht Club and closer to home: RMYC Broken Bay, Pittwater Aquatic Club and Woody Point Yacht Club. As outlined in the 2018 annual report, our research focussed on membership categories and structures, race entry fees/programs and benefits afforded to Club members. By assembling the data, it helped the Committee articulate our Club’s member benefits and identify some other initiatives which we are working on. Year round sailing programs: • Keel boat racing (including one design) – inshore and offshore on Wednesdays, Saturdays with twilight racing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. • Off the beach centreboard racing. • Club, state and national regattas for keel boat and centreboard racing. • Extensive cruising calendar – on and off the water with local and longer events. • Youth Development programs. • Integrated sailing activities. • Training programmes for all age groups. • Crew register • Comprehensive training for race management volunteers. Yacht club facilities: • Accessible parking during Club visits. • Halyards Bar & Bistro, Edinburgh Bar, Alfred’s Table and Pittwater Room. • Marina, hardstand and club moorings. • Fully serviced boatyard and associated facilities, including a chandlery, rigger, shipwright, electrician, engineer, brokerage and sail makers. • Equipment storage areas. • Tender service. • Recreational moorings in Pittwater and The Lower Hawkesbury River waterways. • Disabled access for boat launching. • Gym. • Shower, laundry and disabled amenities. • Library and Billiards Room. • Children’s playground. • Commercial worm farm – you can now collect the Club’s home-grown fertiliser for use in your garden – please contact the kitchen. Member prices for: • Food & beverage in Halyards Bar & Bistro, Happy Hour in the Edinburgh Bar and at Alfred’s Table. • Race entry fees waived for all full members. • Club functions and other social events. • Function bookings with free room hire. • Slipping and antifoul packages. • Sail training programs run by the Yacht Club and Above & Beyond Boating. • SailFit Fitness Centre membership. • Fuel purchases at RMYC Broken Bay. Other: • Camaraderie, friendship and club spirit. • Complimentary Australia Sailing Membership. • Club functions, such as Speakers Corner, Lunch & Bubbles, Melbourne Cup and New Year parties. • Member accounts billed monthly. • Weekly E-Newsletter, monthly Alfred’s News and Annual Yachtsman magazine. • Birthday voucher for use at Alfred’s Table – we have agreed to extend its validity by issuing the voucher at beginning of the month prior to your birthday month and extending it to the end of the following one. • Reciprocal arrangements with selected yacht clubs worldwide – these are listed on the website. Please the Membership Coordinator, to arrange a letter of introduction from our General Manager. These benefits are a privilege and I hope that you will encourage your non-member crew and guests who access our Clubhouse regularly to consider joining our Club. This year, the Membership Committee has been in touch with resigned members currently on our hibernation list who receive selective Club email communication. The purpose of this policy is to retain contact with those who, due to their commitment to study, travel or family responsibilities have resigned, but indicate they may re-join in the future when circumstances change. We went on to complete our Boat Usage Questionnaire initiative. This was designed to reach out to facility holders who we understood were not actively participating in the organised Club activities. Like our new member follow up calls, our communication was well received and we appreciate the candid feedback. We understand that other commitments and time constraints can preclude regular usage of your boats. Some of you simply wish to sail alone with family and friends. But we are a yacht and sporting club for members and I hope you will continue to enjoy its facilities when you can. The Membership Committee is charged with attracting and retaining members. Listening to members plays an important part in the latter and we are here to help you make the most of our membership. This year the Membership Committee: • Embarked on a review of membership policies and processes. This included reviewing the nomination process to ensure that applications for membership are dealt with as smoothly as possible in accordance with the Constitution. Proposers and seconders will no longer be required to attend an interview. • Club membership documentation review. • Agreed that member 20th, 30th and 40th anniversaries will be recognised going forward. • Conducted a survey of hardstand pricing across 20 yacht Clubs to review our Club pricing and affordability to members. • Reviewed our current hardstand facilities and prepared a draft list of recommended improvements to be discussed with members via focus groups. • Developed a list of environmental initiatives which members can get involved in. • Approval for all race management volunteers to be afforded the same food and beverage voucher in recognition of their efforts. It has been a busy year. If you have more ideas, please feel free to contact me [email protected] Thanks to Ann Asker, Virpi Tuite (Centreboard Liaison), Bob McClung, David Bray (Activities Liaison), David Kennedy, Russell Murphy (Yacht Racing Liaison), Sandy Jacka who supported me in my first year as Rear Commodore Membership with Jim Bullough (Board Liaison.) After the AGM in July, David Kennedy and Bob McClung stepped down for a well earned break. I then welcomed Joanne Glase, Matt Crawford and Toni Fox to the Committee with Simon Grosser (Board Liaison.) I have, and continue to enjoy working with you and I appreciate your thoughts, input and our lively discussions at committee meetings. R PAY C YA C H T S M A N 13