December 09 Committee

Highlights from our meeting on 7th December.  At each meeting we concentrate on a small number of key items, including any member comments, then work through each committee member's activities not covered earlier.

Main theme for the evening was planning and organising for 2010.

Key Items

• Laying up supper: A great evening all round.  Congrats all round to Penny and Jim.  Fresh look at trophies for next year, to reflect racing activities and so members know what they're competing for, involving youth members more.  'Thank you volunteers' session welcome
• Weed: a strategy of 'cutting and scooping' is emerging, to be decided on at next WHSA Exec meeting.  Treatment due to start late Feb.  Who will operate cutting and at what cost needs to be determined. Substantial fundraising needed, it won't be cheap.
  
• Power/Safety boat: First refresher course successful and found useful .  Next time look at separating theory from practice so more time on rescue practice.  New RYA method of getting people out of the water noted.  Start planning for 2010 courses
• Members Points: Committee Minutes (Ray) – decided not to mail to all members, but make available online and DR to do bullet summary for members 

2010 - background

David  & Philippa had attended the RYA regional clubs and coaches conference.  Notes have lots of useful info for club development.  The RYA sees the next 3 years seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity for sailing clubs with the Olympics in 2012 and Sport England funding for adult sailing development to 2013.  Seahorse is one of 25 clubs in Thames Valley region receiving RYA development support, starting with the weekend's race coaching.

SSC in 2010 - brief summary

• Offshore: full programme of 8-9 monthly events, inc some long weekend trips and Round the Island race - 2 boats maybe a third
• Sailing: race coaching and intermediates main focus, look at fleets and incentives
• Training: programme inc courses based on ‘pathway’ prepared for RYA support
• Membership: clarify part year fees, further tweak welcome pack, involve newer members more as volunteers
• Social: interest/briefing evenings for Jan Mar - offshore, tall ships, shanties, training etc, Penny willing to take on club clothingfor 2010
  
• Bar: continue with 'non-rotas' for Sat pm
• Bosun: youth boat refurb programme under way with Toppers and Mirrors, start to look at longer term fleet replacement plan
• Administrator: Kitchen, electrics, fire risk, asbestos, interior décor, outside. frontage: Lots to do, plan to get more members involved
• Treasurer: funds OK, can consider 1-2 boat replacements for 2010(depending on weed funding)
  
• WHSA: contribute to Welsh Harp 175th anniversary in 2010,clarify new method proposed for calculating per capita charges
  
• AGM 11 March: agree to announce and invite interest earlier, in Jan 

Next Meeting: 11 Jan 2010