CYC Home
May, 2009
By John Rahn
CYC Vice Commodore
This is just a note to let everyone know that, with the perspective of two years as a Director plus last year as Rear Commodore, I am not bored now. In fact, as Vice Commodore this year, I am extremely pleased with our 2009 CYC Board and how it has been working under the leadership of Commodore Bruce Sherman. The meetings typically last from 6:30 to 9:30 or even later, once a month, but there is no fat and remarkably little fluff in the agenda, and the discussions have been informed, smart, and action-oriented. We are getting a lot done pretty efficiently.
Jerry Diercks is doing a marvelous job as Fleet Captain Race. Jerry brought Nojan Moshiri (from the J24 fleet) to the May 11 meeting, who presented a masterful, professional draft master systems plan for managing our current and future sponsorships, from soup to nuts. With the level of collaboration and intelligence, things are looking up for CYC in the future.
Meanwhile, Rusty Lhamon has started up a new CYC Team Race initiative. I attended the first of the tactics talks, which was the best I've ever seen on the subject, with an All-American sailor lecturing around a very good video about the elements of team race tactics, to good attendance. There will be further chalk talks, and a summer of team race practicing and regattas based at Sand Point on FJ dinghies, followed perhaps by CYC team participation at regional and national team race events.
Michael Cenname has brought a new level of organizational expertise and experience to CYC efforts to have our own Junior program, always cooperating with others in the area such as Sail Sand Point and SYC. Michael and Rusty have been working to leverage the dinghy expertise of some of the team race group to enhance the Junior program, as part of a CYC drive to provide more junior and family-oriented activities and value. Also part of this is the renewed Social programs, such as the Trivia Night and Kelly O'Neil/80s party, as well as the Cruising social events and cruises and the other educational events, such as the J24 Fleet coaching session with Ron Rosenberg.
Of course, our communications with CYC membership have improved dramatically now that Commodore Sherman has taken this task under his wing.
Many challenges do face the club in this unprecedented economic climate. So far, our actual 2009 financial figures are tracking the 2009 budget we worked so hard on last year. However, we have to work harder than usual in this time to retain existing members, attract new members, run our existing programs really well, renew former programs that may have fallen fallow, and add new initiatives, all to add to the value of CYC membership and make our members happy and proud to be here. Your comments and ideas for initiatives will be very welcome; just communicate with any member of the Board.