CYC Home
February, 2009
A committee of CYC directors and others interested in bringing more new people into the club will be reaching out to existing Corinthians over the next few weeks, seeking input and ideas on how to grow membership and promote the sport of sailing.
The group met on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Shilshole clubhouse, before the annual open house, currently the club's focal point for bringing in new members. In 2001, CYC had 312 S2, full-dues-paying members. Currently, there are about 270, and some fear that that number will dwindle further as a result of the recession.
photo: Bruce Sherman
Among those attending a meeting to discuss ways to grow CYC's membership were, clockwise from lower left, Rusty Lhamon, Michael Cenname, Remmert Wolters, Chris Roberts, Joel Thornton and John Fry.
Board Member John Fry argued that CYC needs answers to three important questions before mounting a successful membership drive.
"Why do people join, why do they stay and why do they leave?," Fry asked.
In an effort to find answers, Board Member Rusty Lhamon has prepared a survey in which members are asked to rate the importance of club races, cruises and other events and programs. They also are asked what needs improvement. The survey is being circulated on line and on paper.
Chris Roberts said crewmembers are an obvious and largely untapped source for new associate members.
"There are people we know who have been crewmembers for 15 - 20 years and have never joined," Roberts said. "Many of them really enjoy the club, but they have never been asked to join. Every time people come into the clubhouse after an event or go online to see the race results, we should be welcoming then and explaining the benefits that come with membership."
Roberts plans to set up a booth at the Puget Sound Spring Regatta to solicit associate memberships. He also suggested that as an incentive to join, non-members could be charged more for drinks at the CYC bar.
Fry said CYC's fleets are a key to building membership, and plans to meet with fleet captains to see how the club leadership could facilitate fleet growth.
Fleet Captain Race Jerry Diercks said CYC could build partnerships with yacht brokers, and groups like Sail Sand Point, Windworks and the Seattle Sailing Club to funnel new members to the club.
Others attending the meeting were Commodore Bruce Sherman, Fleet Captain Cruise Bill Mains, Secretary Suzette Connolly, Treasurer Remmert Wolters, Directors Lisa Dodd, who heads membership, and Michael Cenname, and Assistant Manager Joel Thornton.