Executive Committee Meeting
5
April 2004
Members Present:
William
Brockway, Phil Gorman, Bob Bunnell, Eddie Trombley, Brian Dowling, Brian White,
Chris Duley, Andy Sajor, Sarah Tucker, (Bob Smith, briefly)
Phil Gorman (PG) called the meeting to order at 6:40pm.
Brian
Dowling (BD) made a motion to accept the minutes of last month’s meetings,
Brian White (BW) seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
BW
handed out an updated budget, and asked if he should publish our budget numbers
on the web site.
PG felt
that this was not a good idea.
Paid
memberships so far:
Four Associate members
Thirteen
Regular members
More
still coming in.
BW paid
the insurance bill he got last month. He contacted the company to inform them of
the change in Committee boats, and they will bill us for the difference,
probably around $100.
BW
noted that we had the purchase price of the new boat covered right now, and
still had one pledge of $1,000 outstanding. Should we get that money as a
cushion? And increase our debt burden?
Sarah
Tucker (ST) reported that her sources had told her that to get vinyl graphics
big enough to display on half of one side of the boat (i.e. sponsored ads) would
cost about $200, therefore selling them at $250 wouldn’t be very profitable.
Maybe we could get $500 per ad.
BW
suggested that the advertiser might cover that expense.
BW
motioned to collect the outstanding $1,000, BD seconded, and the motion passed
with all in favor.
BW
showed Promissory Note for the Boat Fund Investors. All thought it looked good.
New Commodore
BD
reported that he had asked Don Duley if he would be willing to serve as
Commodore. Don expressed reservations, having held the post just six years ago,
but told Brian that if no other Club Member stepped forward before this meeting,
he would take the job.
As no
one else has expressed interest, BD made a motion to appoint Don Duley
Commodore. ST seconded.
Discussion:
It was
noted that the job of Commodore at this point in the season need not be too
onerous. Calling and running the monthly meetings of the Executive Committee,
writing the agenda, and being the public face of VSC are the major tasks, and
the other Board members can (and should) help the new Commodore accomplish these
things.
Don’s
tranquil, judicious manner will play well on all fronts, and he’s the perfect
guy to offer the welcoming handshake to visiting skippers and crews for the
Soling NAs in September.
It was
suggested that the Commodore, as Chair of the House Committee, would be
responsible for the Committee Boat upkeep, but Bob Bunnell (BB) consulted his
ever-handy copy of the current bylaws and discovered that that job is
specifically assigned to the Race Committee. Back to you, Phil!
The
vote was called, and the motion to appoint Don Duley as Commodore carried
unanimously.
PG
reported that the Race Book was re-written, and is now being read by several
people. It will be ready by the Spring Banquet, or shortly thereafter.
BD
noted that the renewal forms for PHRF ratings were going out soon via email. The
data from last year is already filled in. If nothing has changed, the skipper
can just sign the form and return it. If any changes occurred, simply note them
on the form, and the Committee will make a decision regarding whether or not to
change the rating.
Ed
Trombley (ET) reported that we’d do this pretty much as we did last year –
Thursday evenings, as needed, with Eddie rounding up the dis-interested parties
to hear protests.
The
question of joining a Regional Sailing Association (RSA) was raised again. After
some discussion about how (or whether) this would affect our chances of gaining
access to the US Sailing Appeals process, ET agreed to investigate which RSA we
should join.
Fundraising
PG
suggested that we re-establish the Committee Boat Committee, and task them with
several duties, namely:
A Fundraising (Ads on boat? Raffle? Tee-shirts?…)
B Scheduled Maintenance on boat
C Emergency Maintenance on boat
D
Teaching people how to operate the boat SAFELY
PG will
draft an email seeking members of this committee.
William
Brockway (WB) volunteered to be on the Committee Boat Committee.
BD
reported that the next Bylaw Changes meeting would take place on April 12, at
6:30pm, in Room 228 at Clinton Community College.
Kjell Dahlen informed PG that he had been contacted by the Sunfish Organization asking if we would be interested in running the Regional Qualifier Regatta for the Sunfish Worlds this summer. The guy is going to contact PG soon so we will soon know more.
They
want a two-day Regatta.
Chris
Duley’s eyes lit up at this announcement and he offered to help with this. He
feels it could be a moneymaker for us.
It was
suggested that Bill Arthur and Bill Cash might also help.
ET
noted that we night need an official race official – someone with training and
certification and everything. If one of us got qualified, we could run other
Regattas, too.
It was
also noted that the Sunfish people might bring their own pro.
BW has
Fed and NYS applications for tax-exempt status. Will pursue. Don Buhr might have
advice on this matter.
The
next meeting of the Executive Committee will tentatively be on Thursday, May 6
at 6:30pm, with location to be determined, pending Don Duley’s input.
ST made
a motion to adjourn, BD seconded, and the motion carried, with all in favor, at
8:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Brockway
Club Secretary