Greetings to all!Increased
daylight and warmer days portend the arrival of the (too short) sailing season.
The Board of Governors (BOG) has been working diligently over the winter to make
2004 another great year. We hope to build on our many successes and to continue
to make improvements to the club and our programs.
The 2003 fiscal
year presented unique challenges to the club. The club experienced significant
(for SBYC) operating and capital budget deficits that strained our limited
financial resources. The deficits were approximately 10°/a of our annual
operating budget. The significant number of members who did not renew their
memberships and an equally significant number of boat owners who did not launch
their boats were the primary factors impacting revenues. The club also
experienced an unusual number of unplanned and increased operational expenses.
The BOG analyzed several years of operating budget trends and concluded that
2003 was an aberration. In the capital budget, the club planned to draw down
reserves to cover the locker roof and dishwasher projects. Prudent planning by
previous Boards provided the reserves necessary to meet both the operating and
capital deficits.
The BOG
approached the 2004 budget with more conservative revenue and expense
assumptions. We anticipated continued double digit growth in expenses in several
areas (e.g. insurances, fuel) over which we have no control. The BOG also
reviewed our insurance policies and increased the coverage where necessary to
ensure complete property replacement in the event of loss. The increases in dues
and boat fees reflect both the inflationary increases in expenses and the
super-inflationary increases in expenses. I assure you, the BOG made and will
continue to make every effort to keep our dues and fees reasonable and to
control our expenses without adversely impacting the level of services and
quality of programs. Once again, we rely heavily on your volunteer efforts in
support of the club and its programs.
With the frank
financial discussion behind us, let's also recognize our successes and the
opportunities ahead of us. We are building on several years of recent,
substantive renovations to the club's buildings, docks, boats, crane, and
infrastructure. The club looks great! On behalf of the BOG, I want to express
our appreciation for the dedication and hard work you provide to preserve the
distinctive nature of our club.
Ned Jeffries, our
vice-commodore and fleet captain, is working on a number of projects. Ned has
invigorated our financial and fiduciary planning with a professional approach
(asset preservation (e.g. lease), risk management (e.g. insurance), treasury
(e.g. bookkeeping, reporting) and budgeting (e.g. operating and capital budgets)
while maintaining the integrity of the traditional SBYC spirit and low-key
approach.
Frank Hassler and
the House Committee's primary focus will be to maintain our existing physical
plant and track several capital projects. The most significant and exciting
activity pertains to the planned kitchen renovation and ladies room relocation.
I encourage you to review the House Committee report and to volunteer to
participate on the review subcommittee. If all goes well, you will hear more
about the planned renovation at the July and August meetings.
The 2004 social
calendar started last weekend with the SBYC ski trip in North Conway, NH. More
than twenty, hearty souls enjoyed the camaraderie. It was a great start to the
year! Pam Jacobson and Beth Leahy have a full slate of activities planned for
the year. I encourage you to mark your calendars and reserve the dates for these
activities.
Leslie Cooney and
her Membership Committee plan a robust spring and summer member recruiting
season. New members keep our sailing exciting, foster new friendships, and are
essential to the future of the club. Recruiting new members and maintaining
existing members will be one of the critical activities for the upcoming year.
Look for promotional materials and several events that will invite and encourage
prospective members to join us. Your help is essential!
Jim Lidington and
the Race Committee will continue the great racing we have had in recent years.
In the spirit of prudent fiscal management, we will continue the practice of
race committee volunteerism.
Bill McKinney is
the BOG's primary contact with the Junior Yacht Club and Sailing Program. Bill
also volunteered to chair a subcommittee that will review and revise the club's
by-laws. Bill plans to present the proposed revisions for your initial review at
the July meeting. We tentatively plan to vote on the proposal at the annual
meeting.
The BOG is
excited that Liz Fiumara will return as our Sailing Program director. Liz has
had a busy winter (new Optimists are on the dock) and she is currently hiring
her staff for the summer.
Ed Desmarais,
Commodore
Treasurer -
Last year was a poor one from a financial point of view. This was caused by
income from dues and fees not meeting the budget projection together with
expenses exceeding projections. Thanks to the foresight by the Board in previous
years, there were sufficient funds in the Capital Fund to close the Operating
Fund at a zero balance at the end of the year. To eliminate the problem in the
coming year, selected income items will be increased and no club improvements
are planned. Every attempt is being made to replenish and increase the capital
fund reserves.
House
Committee - Current activities: The facilities and equipment are in good
shape for the coming season by virtue of the efforts of the club members and
leadership over the last several years. There is, however, a significant list of
items that should be undertaken in the next several years. Unfortunately this
year, the budget constraints preclude our pursuing most of the projects.
The aged ice
machine and the freezer are the two items most in need of replacement. The
estimated costs of the ice machine and freezer are $2,000 and $500 respectively.
A fund has been established for those club members who are inclined to make a
contribution toward the purchase of these items.
Within our
operating budget, we must rehabilitate our floats and make minor improvements to
the main hoist. Budget permitting, we will build a new bicycle rack and benches
with storage for the sailing program.
Work Day. Please
reserve Saturday, May 15, as the tentative work day for the club. We will begin
at 8:30 and serve lunch to all of our volunteers. May 22 is the rain date.
Activities currently planned are:
-
Sand and varnish
rockers,
-
Painting (e.g.
trim on the front of the club, the eaves under the lockers),
-
Repairing club
floats,
-
Minor woodworking
projects (e.g. bicycle rack),
-
Cleaning the
deck,
-
Updating plant
and equipment inventory for capital budgeting process,
-
Miscellaneous
start of the season activities.
Club Upgrade. A
potential future club project includes adding a full dormer on the rear roof of
the building, adding a porch similar to the front, and reconfiguring the rest
rooms and snack bar. The footprint of the proposed porch will be identical to
the area under the awning. We have formed a review committee of interested club
members to assist with preparing a design and construction package suitable for
sending out to bid, a list of the applicable codes, a design conforming to the
codes, a model, floor plans, elevations, mechanical and electrical drawings,
construction drawings, specifications, equipment lists, budget and construction
schedule. We also invite any interested members to assist the House Committee
with overseeing this project.
Please feel free
to contact me if you have any suggestions for additional House Committee
projects.
Frank Hassler
SBYC Fleet
Captain - As always, dock space continues to be a challenge at SBYC. Members
with boats who would like to be considered for dock space should contact their
fleet captain or me prior to May 1. The lottery is scheduled to be held on the
Work Day (Saturday, May 15) at the club. Dock spaces are allocated according to
the standing Dock Space Policy, excerpts of which were published in the 2002
Spring Newsletter, available on the SBYC web-site.
This year the
club is hosting three regattas, and we ask for members' help and cooperation to
ensure that they go smoothly. The 2004 regattas include the Ned Hay (July
17-18), the Bullseye Nationals (July 24-25), and the Flying Scot District
Championship (July 31 Aug. 1). Dry-sailing skippers from non-regatta fleets are
asked to remove their boats and trailers by noon on Friday of these weekends.
Those interested in leaving their boats in the water for these weekends should
check with Ron.
Ned Jeffries
Membership
- The Membership Committee is looking for
ways to open up membership to more families and adult
members. We plan to host an Open House early in the season to introduce our
facilities and programs to the community. As our snowbirds and snow lovers are
trickling back to Rockport a little later than usual, a major planning meeting
is in the works for May 2"d at 11 am at the club.
In addition to the Open House, the
membership cocktail party and grill-time, we will showcase Sandy Bay Yacht Club
in a new brochure, thanks to the efforts and artistry of Beth Leahy, talented
graphic artist and new member of the Board: We hope that the brochure and Open
House will bring exposure and new members. If you know any potential members,
please let us know so that we can add them to our mailing list.
Stay warm and healthy. We look
forward to a great season both on and off the water. Leslie Cooney
(978-546-5105)
Social
- With the frigid weather we've been experiencing,
it's great to be thinking ahead to the summer that will come eventually. The
last couple of years the social committee has been led by a wonderful and
tireless Leslie Cooney!! We thank you, Leslie!!
We will kick off the SBYC 2004 year
with our Annual Spring Dinner at Brackett's Ocean View Restaurant on May 2"d. In
order to have all the seating in the main dining room; we are limited to 90
people. So send in your reservation early! What a
terrific opportunity to invite a new member to join you. We look forward to
seeing you there.
The highly successful pancake
breakfast is back! Mark your calendars for Monday,
May 31, and join us at the club to help raise the funds needed to purchase more
new tables and chairs. Volunteers are always welcome to come and help out.
SBYC will be a bee-hive of activity
this summer, with several fleets hosting big regattas, so we have incorporated a
couple of our family cook-outs in between these events. Also keep your eye on
the social bulletin board for Family Open Grill Nights.
Sunday morning coffees have become
an important tradition to the life of the SBYC. Your help is needed to make
these a success. Gather a few of your friends and sign up on the bulletin board
inside the club to host one of the Sunday coffees.
All the events require a lot of
planning and on-site manual labor. We always welcome anyone who is willing to
roll up their sleeves and work together to create a fun and memorable time for
everyone. Beth and Pam are only a phone call away to volunteer your time in any
way you can.
Pam Jacobson (978-546-1099)
Beth Leahy (978-546-6571)
Junior Yacht Club
- After going through a difficult winter,
the Junior Yacht Club is hoping that our summer activities will heat things up.
Working with Liz Fiumara, our resourceful Sailing Director is always exciting.
Our first activity will be to plan and execute how we will represent the Junior
Yacht Club in the annual Fourth of July Parade, and we would appreciate your
thoughts and involvement. We also want to continue our tradition of having our
two cookouts at Cape Hedge Beach - one during the first
session in July and one in August during the second session. Since our Labor Day
events were so successful, we would also like to have JYC members and their
families participate to the fullest extent. All those who are involved in the
junior sailing program become members at registration when dues are paid, and
they should plan on participating as much as possible. Check the bulletin board
at the Clubhouse for the dates and times of upcoming events or to contact the
officers with your questions and suggestions.
Matthew McKinney,
Junior Commodore
2004 Sailing
Program - We are truly fortunate to have a Sailing Director who not only
grew up sailing and racing at SBYC, but is also a member of the Rockport
education community. Liz Fiumara brings her unique experience into every aspect
of maintaining a first-rate program, and she will infuse the program with her singular leadership style. Those
students who are returning to the program will see familiar faces in the
instructional staff and the program is essentially the same. Unless we
experience another blizzard, which would affect the public school calendar, the
following dates should be noted:
-
Saturday, May 8
Registration for junior sailors
-
Monday, June 21
First session starts for both juniors and adults
Detailed
information will be found in the sailing program brochure that you should
receive shortly.
The adult classes
are again in the capable hands of Olaf Aprans. Adults with an interest in
learning how to sail or a desire to further their skills are encouraged to
register. Adult registration can be done by mail. If you do not receive a
Sailing Program brochure, call, and one will be mailed to you.
Bill McKinney
|
THE REGULAR JULY MEETING OF THE SANDY BAY YACHT CLUB
MEMBERSHIP WILL BE HELD AT THE CLUBHOUSE AT 8:00 PM ON
FRIDAY, JULY
9, 2004.
A WINE SOCIAL WILL FOLLOW.
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND.
ELLIE STEVENS
SECRETARY |
Race Committee
- I'm happy to report that Andrew Greely will be returning as our full-time
PRO for the 2004 racing season. He will be joined on
the committee boat by volunteers from the fleets, continuing the very successful
approach introduced by Steve Fritch two seasons ago. The mark boat will remain
in the capable hands of Ron Petoff. Andrew and Ron are a proven team that will
continue the tradition of superior race management that we enjoy here at Sandy
Bay.
Details of the
race schedule including three regattas hosted at
SBYC are shown on the 2004 Race Schedule listing on page 7.
In April, I will
be in touch with the fleet captains to receive their scoring system details and
race format preferences, so please have these ready. We'll kick off the season
with a Skippers' and Crew meeting at NOON on Saturday, May 29th (Memorial Day
Weekend).
In response to
feedback from the fleets, we plan to vary the race format a bit more this year
in order to take full advantage of what is arguably the best sailboat racing
venue in New England. So get your boats tuned up there's going to be a whole lot
of great racing going on in 2004!
Jim Lidington
Web Site
Update - Several changes have been made to the club's web site over the last
few months. Due to recurring problems with the previous web host's servers, the
site needed to be moved to a new server with a new web host. The photo section
has been updated and expanded with a lot of great photos from the 2003 season; a
new Message Board with a much nicer format has been implemented; a new Site
Search function improves upon the older one; and a new Weather Center has been
created providing local conditions and forecasts.
Future plans
include a weather station at the club, which would provide real-time conditions
at SBYC, and a "Harbor Cam" which would show frequently updated photos of
Rockport Harbor. However, because of fiscal constraints and project priorities,
we will need to rely upon donations for the equipment needed to employ these
features.
If you haven't
seen our web site, take a look at:
http://www.sandybay.org/
Rockport
Harbormaster - The Rockport Harbormasters would like you to think safety as
you put your boats together for the 2004 season. Check all safety gear, radios,
rigging, engines, and make sure all are in order when you launch your boat.
Prior to launching, check or have checked your mooring gear, mark your
regulation mooring ball with a blue stripe, your name and the length of the
boat. This identification is mandatory for proper identification of your boat
and mooring equipment.
The Rockport
Harbor Department has office hours every Thursday night at the Harbor Office on
T-Wharf from 7 pm - 8:30 pm. Check out the web page for the North Shore
Harbormasters at www.harbormasters.org.
There are 28 North Shore communities represented on this site.
Rockport
Harbormasters
Rosemary Lesch, Scott Story, Ron Petoff, Story Reed
ANNUAL SPRING
DINNER
SUNDAY MAY 2, 2004
Brackett's
Oceanview Restaurant
29 Main Street
Rockport, Massachusetts
6pm - Social
Hour
Dinner served at 7pm
MENU
FRESH FRUIT CUP
BAKED STUFFED CHICKEN WITH SUPREME SAUCE
OR
SCROD & SCALLOP CASSEROLE
OVEN ROASTED
POTATOES
GARDEN SALAD
ICE CREAM PUFF
COFFEE OR TEA
BYOB --- SET-UPS WILL BE PROVIDED
Reservation
Deadline: Tuesday April 27, 2004
Baked Stuffed
Chicken dinner(s) @ $30.00
Baked Scrod & Scallop dinner(s) @ $30.00
(Prices include tax and gratuity)
Please make
checks payable to Sandy Bay Yacht Club.
Send to Pamela Jacobson, 3 Briarstone Rd, Rockport, MA 01966
Seating is
limited to ninety, so be sure to make your reservations early.
