By Commodore Wayne Baslsiger

The club’s long-range planning committee is considering a proposal to establish a cruising category of membership that would bring more cruisers and race-boat crewmembers into CYC.

Currently, cruisers pay full membership dues, in spite of the fact that many of them do not race their boats. Under a proposal before the committee, Cruising members would pay less than full membership dues but would not have access to the racing program.

For race-boat crewmembers who own their own boats, as many do, the only current option is full-dues-paying membership. That’s because under the club bylaws, the lower-priced “Associate” category is not available to boat owners.  To remedy that, crew could become a Cruising member who own boats but do not race their own boat.  This category would cost less than the full membership dues.

An alternative is to adjust the dues / race fee ratio.  The race fees do not cover the full costs of racing. Adjusting the ratio can help attract and retain both members that race as well as cruising members and crew that own boats but don’t race their own boat.

We are also looking at adjusting the membership categories for those below the age of 30, eliminating overlapping categories to eliminate confusion.

Establishing any changes to the membership categories would require a change in the club bylaws. If recommended by the planning committee and approved by the CYC board, the changes would be put to a vote of the general membership.

The planning committee is also delving into other areas, including ways to improve pride in the club, encourage people to volunteer, and get more people involved in running the club. They also expect to recommend that CYC hold more social and educational events.  A membership drive is coming soon.  Let us know your thoughts on these topics.  Our contact information is on the contacts page of the web-site.  The committee members are Ken Johnson, Bruce Vandeventer, Remmert Wolters, Bruce Sherman, John Rahn and me, Wayne Balsiger.

Sponsorship Slots Available
Please forward to me or the club office any suggestions for companies that might want to sponsor our races. We have a number of sponsorship slots available, and we will be looking more toward sponsorship this year as a way to support the club.

Keep Those Junior Donations Coming
The junior instructional program is now accepting sign-ups through the CYC website, but we still are raising money to cover the startup costs. Those include the cost of purchasing 16 Optimist dinghies and a second inflatable boat and motor. We also want to purchase a fleet of 420’s to promote youth and young adult sailing and membership.  We also might have to purchase another motor, as the one on our current inflatable is failing.  If your company wants to sponsor the rib, let us know.  Microsoft and Boeing are matching their employees’ contributions to our junior program. For information on how to give, call the CYC office at 206-789-1919. A sincere and public thank you to everyone who has donated to the junior program so far.  We greatly appreciate your donations and dedication to Corinthian Yacht Club.

Another Junior Clinic Planned
May 13, 14 and 15 CYC Seattle will host its second Advanced Optimist Racing Camp of 2011.  This sold out event will be sponsored by West Coast Sailing and Quantum Sails.

Participants from Bermuda, Canada, San Francisco, Arizona and CYC will participate in the three day event which culminates in a day of racing Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Sunday One-Design Spring Series.