The last issue of the “Leadline” newsletter was published in November 2008.

As part of an effort to improve communications with members and build on CYC’s sense of community, the club plans to resurrect the Leadline newsletter as an on-line publication and, possibly, in print.

Club Secretary Lydia Volberding and member Peggy Johnson are leading the Leadline project.

The club’s longtime printed newsletter was eliminated several years ago to save money, and CYC shifted to a communications strategy based on its web site supported by periodic email newsletters.

Commodore-elect Ken Johnson has long argued that many older members and some younger ones aren’t comfortable with getting their club news through the internet and have become distanced from the club since the Leadline was eliminated.

At a minimum, according to Johnson, the club needs a newsletter that members can print from their computers. Better yet, he thinks the club should once again distribute a printed newsletter to the entire membership by mail.

Volberding said the she and Peggy Johnson (not related to Ken) are looking at examples from other clubs and have some ideas about layout and what to include in the new Leadline.  She said they hope to “assemble” the newsletter, not personally write the articles.

“I feel very strongly that this should not become a big production in terms of a monthly print format newsletter, although we would try to accommodate those members who specifically request it,” Volberding wrote in an email about the project to the CYC board.

Members will be asked for articles, photos and information about their cruising adventures, racing experiences, celebrations, fleet news and other subjects. Volberding said she expects the newsletter to be available on the club website in PDF format. Archived copies also would be available.

Volberding and Peggy Johnson hope to begin producing the newsletter soon after the first of the year.