Toni Vander Veer, Commodore 603-742-3210 / 207-594-4258
Charles Faulkingham, Vice Commodore 596-0874
Gary Cran, Rear Commodore 594-9435
Mike Sodano, Secretary 549-5013
Arthur Frieder, Treasurer 372-6326
Diane Hebert, Membership Chair 594-7004
RYC Website: www.rocklandyc.org
From the Commodore's Heated Stateroom:
With the rapid development of Rockland Harbor over the last few years, it has become very apparent that our window of opportunity to guarantee access to the harbor at a reasonable cost to the membership is closing rapidly. The decision you must help make for the future of our Club is now at hand.
The "New Home" committee has developed a concrete proposal that offers us a place where all of our goals can be met-water access, dinghy storage, club meeting facilities and an opportunity to continue the development of our social, cruising and racing programs and activities. I hope all of you will make a special effort to attend our Club meeting on February 25. If you can't attend, please send in your proxy ballot to let us know how you wish the Club to proceed.
Also, we are looking for those members who are mooring their boats in Rockland Harbor to take advantage of the proposed dinghy float and club facilities by making plans to move to the mooring area close to the Atlantic Challenge Dock now under construction and expected to completed in June. Please let us know of your intentions by answering the survey enclosed.
The Executive committee and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Neil Woodside and his "New Home" committee for all their efforts over the past years searching for a place we can call "home". This newsletter includes the information that we will be voting on at this upcoming February 25th meeting to make financial decisions to commit to a home for our Club.
Hope you all have read the new Points East, our involvement in the Rotary Club Regatta this summer and the award given to Charles Faulkingham were mentioned.
Toni Vander Veer Commodore
MARCH MEETING AND AUCTION:
The March RYC dinner-auction, hosted by the world renowned Ginnie Torney, is scheduled for St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17. Set good stuff aside for donation! The location will be the Navigator Metting Room, as in past years.
JANUARY MEETING MINUTES:
The meeting was held at the Owl's Head Transportation Museum. Commodore Toni called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. All officers and about 33 other members were present.
The secretary's report was accepted as printed in the January Newsletter. Arthur Frieder, Treasurer, reported that the Club has over $17,000 in operating and reserve accounts and that a dues increase would be required if the Club approves the new home proposal described elsewhere in this newsletter. His report was accepted.
Rear Commodore and Club Historian had assembled an archive of Club photo albums from a 'tub of old photos' and other memorabilia at the back of the room and invited members to make corrections and additions. He also had information on display for the Great RYC 2002 British Virgin Islands Cruise (anyone interested in participating should contact him). Gary continued that of the RYC new home options, the best is the Atlantic Challenge property proposal described in detail elsewhere in this newsletter. In the discussion that followed, it was reported that the Harbormaster would give preference to the RYC for mooring spots off the Atlantic Challenge pier on the other side of the channel and that about 100 sites were available. There would be a $50 fee for moving moorings. Bill Keegan proposed, seconded by Dick Noyes that a straw vote be taken to determine if there was enough support to present the project formally to the Club at the February meeting. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative.
Program Chair, Jean Keegan described the program for the February meeting which is that Nathan Lipfert Maine Maritime Museum in Bath will narrate a slide presentation of the four-masted steel bark, Kenilworth's 1907 voyage around Cape Horn. He will also describe the exploits of Captain Jabez A. Amsbury, its controversial skipper.
Commodore Toni displayed and described the line of RYC logowear, including hats and shirts that the Club will sell to members. They will be done locally so turnaround time should be quick. Look for an order form in the March Newsletter.
The March meeting, the dinner-auction, hosted by the world renowned Ginnie Torney, is scheduled for St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17. Set stuff aside. The location will be in the next Newsletter.
Finally, Dick Noyes announced that he and Shirley will be cruising the Chesapeake Bay beginning September 1. Those wishing to join them are welcome but must provide their own boat.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30.
Afterwards Bill and Jody Cowan did a very interesting slide show on their cruise from San Francisco to the Philippines via Hawaii aboard an old, steel hulled, topsail schooner.
Following the Cowan's presentation we all enjoyed a delicious potluck supper and a few of us were given a tour of the Transportation Museum.
Respectfully Submitted, Mike Sodano, secretary.
NEW HOME PROJECT PROPOSAL:
For several years the Yacht Club has been searching for a means to secure adequate meeting facilities and access to Rockland Harbor at a reasonable cost to members. There is currently an opportunity to achieve these goals.
The Atlantic Challenge Foundation (ACF) is renovating its property in Rockland and has offered to rent office and meeting space to the Yacht Club and allow us to attach a dinghy dock to their new dock space. Specifically, we would have:
1.. use of a meeting room of sufficient size to hold most of the club meetings and functions except the larger ones such as the lobster bake and Christmas Party (the room is a classroom designed to hold 70 students)
2.. exclusive use of a small office
3.. use of lavatory facilities
4.. Use of kitchen facilities
5.. Access to available parking on site
6.. A place to install a small storage shed
7.. Use of an onsite launching ramp
8.. The right to attach an RYC owned floating dock approximately 12 x 30 feet in size to their floating dock for use as dinghy tie-up and storage
9.. Use of the ACF dock by member's boats for short periods in order to load supplies and change crews as long as no ACF function is in progress
10.. Use of potable water available at the ACF dock
The rental cost will be $8,640 per year discounted to $5,000 in the first year and escalating to $8,640 over a four-year period. Utility costs (except phone) will be paid by ACF. In addition, there will be a one-time cost of approximately $10,000 for purchase of the dinghy dock and other capital investments.
Our plan is to pay for the dinghy dock and capital investments by drawing on the available reserves in the Yacht Club treasury, and generating additional income to cover the rent and additional operating costs by: (1) charging fees to members for dinghy storage and, (2) raising dues, beginning in 2002, to $100 for family membership, $80 for individual membership, and $25 for associate membership. No special assessment of members is planned.
Due to the use of the reserve funds and the planned dues rate change, a vote of the members is required. That vote will be taken at the regular February meeting. A quorum of members will be required to vote so please plan to attend the meeting.
RESOLVED, That the Officers of the Rockland Yacht Club are directed to negotiate a lease agreement with the Atlantic Challenge Foundation for use of office, meeting, and dock spaces at an annual lease rate not greater than $5,000 in the first year, $6,000 in the second year, $7,200 in the third year and $8,640 in the fourth year. Funding shall be from either the operating or reserve accounts as needed.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Officers of the Rockland Yacht Club are directed to arrange the purchase and installation of a dinghy dock and other capital investments costing approximately $10,000.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Officers of the Rockland Yacht Club are directed to fund the dinghy dock and capital investment costs from existing Yacht Club funds from either the operating or reserve accounts as needed.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Officers of the Rockland Yacht Club are directed to increase dues beginning in the year 2002 to $100 for family membership, $80 for individual membership, and $25 for associate membership.
MARCH MEETING AND AUCTION:
The March RYC dinner-auction, hosted by the world renowned Ginnie Torney, is scheduled for St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17. Set good stuff aside for donation! The location will be the Navigator Metting Room, as in past years.
