Valcour
Sailing Club
Executive
Committee Meeting
9
February 2004
The
Executive Committee of the Valcour Sailing Club and other interested Club
members met on February 9 at the Inn at Smithfield. A glance around the table
revealed Bob Smith (Commodore), Brian White (Treasurer), Craig Meyerson, Chris
Lanigan, Angie French, Sarah
Tucker (Member-at-Large), Bob Bunnell, William Brockway (Secretary), Rob
McDowell, Brian Dowling (LCPHRF Rater), Phil Gorman (Vice Commodore), Eddie
Trombley, John Trombley, Roland Sherman, John Andrews, and Dan Inhelder (Rear
Commodore).
Bob
Smith (BS) called the meeting to order at 6:30. The Secretary read aloud the
minutes of the December meeting for approval. Brian White motioned to accept the
December minutes, Brian Dowling seconded, and the motion passed.
Copies
of the minutes of the January meeting had been distributed via email, and some
copies were also passed around the table. Phil Gorman motioned to accept the
January minutes, Brian Dowling seconded, and the motion passed.
BS
introduced…
…a
new feature of our agendas.
Craig
Meyerson (CM) had a couple concerns.
1.
Is our insurance coverage adequate to protect us during the Soling North
American Regatta (Soling NAs)?
BW
will investigate. Eddie Trombley (ET) mentioned that the policy was at the Sail
Loft.
2.
Should a requirement for a minimum level of liability insurance be part
of our membership application process (and its program-related activities)?
CM
has surveyed some clubs and found that a minimum of $300,000 coverage is common.
Rob
McDowell (RM) noted that some homeowner’s policies cover boats, but maybe not
boat racing.
Bob
Bunnell (BB) asked what committee should investigate this?
CM
will investigate our options.
BW
asked about our Club liability insurance. ET noted that this simply protects the
Officers of the Club from lawsuits.
Chris
Duley (CD) introduced John Andrews (JA) who had just come from a meeting of the
Plattsburgh Waterfront Oversight Committee.
JA
reported an idea brought up in that meeting.
“VSC
has in the past run a Community Sailing Day. The City is trying to develop a
Community Boating Center. The idea is that the City’s Parks and Rec Department
would support the event, or events, this year.”
CD
noted that last year’s one-night event was covered under the Parks and Rec
insurance.
JA
mentioned that the City would like to get an event on the calendar.
BS
asked whether they envisioned a one-shot deal or a monthly event.
CD
noted that last year’s one-shot worked well.
JA
said it could also be a class or series of lessons that people could sign up
for. JA also noted that Clinton Community College is eager to continue their
annual Regatta and keep their Cup in circulation.
CD
and JA also noted that the date of the CCC Regatta is flexible and may be
changing.
Phil
Gorman (PG) noted that it is scheduled for August 29 on our Schedule.
BS
said the CCC could happen on August 28.
CD
will take this information back to CCC.
BS
masterfully summed up the discussion with this detailed list:
1.
An Intro to Sailing Day
2.
Possible program instruction
3.
CCC Regatta
Chris
Lanigan has drafted an appeal to members for help in housing the contestants
traveling to Plattsburgh for the Soling NAs. The table approved his plan to send
it out.
CD
asked if there were any Soling owners who did not intend to sail the Soling NAs
and who would also be willing to charter their boat to a visiting crew. John
Reynolds (JR), Bob Smith (BS), and Chris Lanigan (CL) made cautiously positive
noises.
JR
asked is there was to be any screening of the crews.
CD
said that was up to the owner and he would not be involved in approving anyone.
He’s just interested in hooking up people who desired to be hooked up.
Brian
White (BW) presented a revised budget for 2004, including adjustments for the
new $250 Regular Membership fee and the revised Soling NAs numbers, all of which
showed our coffers maintaining their modest balance after the year’s
activities subsided. (It’s a wash.)
William
Brockway (WB) motioned to accept the revised budget, Sarah Tucker (ST) seconded.
Discussion
CM
asked if the purchase of the current year’s Rating Book was included for about
$45.
BW
said it was, as a Race Committee expense.
It
was noted that Kjell Dahlen purchased a Rating Book each year for the Mayor’s
Cup and had offered to share it with VSC. PG will follow up.
BD
asked how much it would cost to register VSC’s new Bylaws with the state?
CM
estimated $50 to $60.
BS
called the question, and the motion passed unanimously.
Phil
Gorman (PG) reported that the Race Committee had met two weeks ago and started
working on the Race Handbook. Mike Parsons is going over the book line-by-line.
It’s based largely on CM’s draft. The schedule is good, other than the
question of the CCC Regatta brought up tonight. PG handed out several draft
copies of the Handbook.
We
are planning to have a B-fleet start at each race this year, for the Solings and
any B-fleet boats wanting to race. Where do we make the split between A and B
fleet PHRF numbers? 150? That leaves the Solings and Rhapsody right on the edge.
Discussion was tabled.
BW
asked if the permanent race marks would be in the same places this year. The
feeling was that they should be.
Roland
Sherman (RS) suggested that the North mark, the one by the beach, could usefully
be about 30 yards farther south, away from the shore. RS noted that last year it
was often in the wind shadow of the trees on shore, making for some very tough
mark roundings.
ST
asked about how the Race Committee had picked the ODs listed in the draft,
noting that she was not scheduled for any OD duties.
PG
said the schedule was incomplete and they were still fine tuning it.
BS
asked about the Naked Turtle Regatta.
PG
has talked to Matt, and things are still developing. PG noted that Matt is
willing to put up some money and he wants to get some VT boats involved.
Brian
Dowling (BD) said Marty in VT is setting up the next meeting and he will report
later.
No
Report
CD
noted that he had been searching for a new Committee boat, but that our price
point of around $10,000 was a tough point. We’re looking at a 20- to
25-year-old boat.
Et
has also been looking, but without much success.
RM
asked if we should try a Free Trader or Penny Saver Wanted-To-Buy ad?
The
table thought that this was a good idea and CD said he would pursue.
ST
said she would contact our advertisers this week and try to sell them ads at $50
each, assuming comps for Naked Turtle and PBB ads.
Bylaws
Update
BD
reported that there had been another Bylaw Revision meeting. Though more
sparsely attended than the first one, they made progress. BD has rewritten a
section of the Bylaws, and also found several inconsistencies in the old Bylaws.
BD consulted Robert’s Rules of Order, and other sources, and reworked the
whole document.
BD
formally introduced the new format to the board.
CM
asked for clarification on what was being introduced.
BS
said it was a matter of procedure.
BD
made a motion to send the new format of the Bylaws to the Bylaw Committee for
continued work. PG seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The
next meeting of the Bylaw Committee is on Monday, February 16, 2004 at Clinton
Community College in Room 228 at 6:30 PM. All interested Club members are
invited to attend.
WebMistress
Angie
French is asking for someone to take over the duties of maintaining and updating
the VSC website.
Discussion
ensued about how the race results are collected, calculated, posted, and
forwarded to the Press Republican.
BS
feels that there should be two people involved, one primary and one in training.
Brian
White volunteered to do this!
The
Race Committee will be responsible for calculating the results and forwarding
them via email to BW and WB.
BD
motioned that Robert’s Rules of Order be adopted as the official rules for the
current Board of the VSC. CL seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
BS gave some vague outlines of a fund raising idea proposed by Bruce Carlin. Somewhere in the archives of the City there is a plaque or certificate concerning sailing, which we could auction off to raise funds. More details are to come.
BS
would like to incorporate Soling concerns and needs into our monthly Board
meetings.
ET
noted that the Soling Fleet has been having separate meeting and combining the
two might be tough. It’s probably the right thing to do.
BS
suggested putting a Soling Fleet Report on each meeting’s agenda. Will do.
The
Secretary will remind Board Members that they must pay their dues at the next
meeting or face the wrath of … well, they’d just better pay up.
Dan
Inhelder will report on his progress with planning the VSC Spring Banquet at the
next meeting.
RM
introduced an idea from VT. Jamie Leopold is proposing a benefit Not-for-profit
organization that will raise funds for protecting Lake Champlain. He’s looking
to have a race as part of the effort, on July 24, which is open on our schedule.
The fee would be $250 per boat. And there are also paddling and cruising events.
The money would go to groups supporting the health of Lake Champlain. We will
invite Jamie to our next meeting to give a short presentation.
The
next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on March 16, 2004, at 6:30 at
the Inn at Smithfield. All interested Club members are welcome.
Grounds
Committee – Mike Parsons has things well in hand.
Race
Committee – PG – Mark Gardner will be Principle Race Officer.
Entertainment
Committee – John Trombley – There will be two dinners for everyone, Thursday
night and Saturday night. We might have Saturday’s event at Kjell’s place to
relieve Turtle fatigue.
Promotion
Committee – BS is talking to beer distributors and others about helping out.
PG
motioned to adjourn, BS seconded, and the motioned passed unanimously at around
8:57pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Bill
Brockway
Club
Secretary