FROM THE QUARTERDECK DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017 THE YEAR AHEAD Our assets, particularly our facilities, have been well-managed by Dixon Cole, who has served FBYC I am honored and grateful to exceptionally well over the past 12 years. Change, have the opportunity to serve however, is inevitable and often necessary to re-focus, as FBYC’s Commodore in 2017. re-energize and recommit to a common cause. Dixon will While my family and I do not reduce his schedule in 2017, but continue to serve the have nearly as long tradition of Club as Maintenance Supervisor. Dixon is a master at membership as many of you, fixing things big and small; we are fortunate to have his we have been fortunate to raise dedication and expertise and all should thank him for his our children on Fishing Bay and continued service. to benefit from the Club’s world class junior program, cameraderie and facilities. Other changes are in store for the coming year. Earlier in 2016, former Commodore David Hinckle led a Long- As in each previous year, we have new incoming Board Range Planning Committee in examining the management and Committee members who have volunteered to be structure of the Club. FBYC is unique in that it relies heavily stewards of the Club’s assets. This year’s Board is quite on many volunteers to run events, maintain its facilities different from past Boards: we have eight new members, and oversee our financial well-being. The time has come more women (14 in total) than in the recent past, and to allow members to enjoy the Club to the fullest. We interests that scan the entire spectrum of Club activities. will still rely on volunteers and continue to be a laid- When you see one of these Board or Committee members, back beautiful Club on a sleepy part of the Chesapeake please thank them for their service. They spend countless Bay. We will still be governed by a volunteer Board and hours throughout the year ensuring we all have a great Committee members. But going forward, we will have the experience and ample opportunity to enjoy a lifelong time and talent of a General Manager to help us attract sport we love. Their names and positions are included in new members, and to add value so we retain existing this edition of the Log. members. We have lots of plans for this person, but we welcome your suggestions as to how to improve our Most of you have by now heard about the proposal to Club and the role that a new General Manager can play replace our East dock with a new floating dock. Many of in accomplishing this goal. A search committee has been you have attended the Club’s three “town hall” meetings hard at work since September, and we expect to fill the held over the summer and into the fall. The Flag has position in the coming weeks. Look for more news about listened to your many comments (in person and by email), this on the Club website and in the next issue of the Log. and a number of revisions have been made to the plan. Based on sound reasoning and the desire to upgrade our Meanwhile, many volunteers have been busy working docks to the caliber of the rest of our top-notch facilities on various winter-time projects: finalizing our 2017 and programs, the Flag is in favor of moving forward, with budget, planning the upcoming sailing season, forming caution and due diligence, with this plan. Please read the membership initiative subcommittees and preparing to enclosed article written by Member-At-Large Ted Bennett. publish our Sailing Events and Yearbook – and of course We hope that members will understand that the docks are planning various winter events, including the Bermuda an asset of the entire membership, and we will have to High party. David Lennarz - Commodore use Club resources to maintain and improve them. December 2016 / January 2017 • www.fbyc.net • page 2 MINUTES - November 2016 FISHING BAY YACHT CLUB - BOARD MEETING LONG RANGE PLANNING – Search for the General Preliminary Minutes – November 10, 2016 Manager continues with more than 60 resumes having been received. The interview process will begin next week. SECRETARY – Minutes: Recommended amendment to the minutes: WEB MASTER – 1. FLEET CAPTAIN – Reported that the Coast Guard 1. New Registration System: We dropped the Legacy contacted him to confirm that the Club is holding races Zope Registration in October for Django registration, according to the schedule. and it is working well. The payment system, Stripe, 2. Under New Business: is showing some delay on the buyer’s side (up to two • Added “officers and” to indemnification provision weeks) for refunds. However, on vendor side, Stripe • Removed “volunteers” from indemnification provision sends money every few days, which may enable more • Edited motion to: A motion was made to approve real-time accounting for FBYC bookkeeping between and recommend to members the amendment and credit card receipts and cash revenue. restatement of the Articles of Incorporation per the 2. Technology Developments: Anthony Burton, an FBYC attached resolutions. The Amended and Restated member who lives in Charlottesville and sails a Laser Articles approved by the Board will be sent out to and crews with David Clark, has been a member of the members who have a yacht enrolled with the club for web committee since it started. He has come forward their vote: Proxy, Resolution and Articles. and asked if he can do programming for the FBYC website. Strother has permission from the Flag to hire TREASURER – Asked all members to get all expected him and the cost will come out of the website budget. reimbursements for the year as soon as possible so that He has been given a website design problem to solve. 2016 can be closed out. Today, if you look at new.fbyc.net on a narrow screen HOUSE CHAIR – Reported the following: Minor repairs to like a iPhone - all you see at the top is WHITE SPACE and Fannie’s exterior (roofing, screens, siding) – not to exceed the “hamburger” menu. $5,000 (and may be much less) YAM CHAIR –Events for 2017 are already in the works. DOCKS CHAIR – Received revised pricing for the ONE DESIGN DIV. CDR. – Reported that the final Laser replacement of the eight whalers: $10,920 (vinyl coated); event had 10 boats participating. Awards will be mailed $8,400 (non-vinyl coated). Flag inspected and approves the out. He is pleased with the innovation of the Laser Race work. After some discussion, a motion was made to accept Committee which experimented with “no race committee” the quote of $10,920 for the vinyl coated whalers; motion and an “end of dock” race committee. Also made a motion was seconded and approved. Also, depending on the to remove the Front Runners from probation due to their weather, the water to the docks will be turned off November increased participation. This motion was seconded and 21st or 28th. approved. Suggestions for 2017 include new possible fleets SOCIAL CHAIR – 154 dinners have been sold for the be looked at and the Flying Scot fleet needs to be fostered. Commodore’s Ball. Costs will be reviewed after the event Jon was thanked for all his hard work over the years on the for next year. Board. GROUNDS CHAIR – CRUISING DIV LT. CDR. – Reported that the Closing Dinner 1. Grounds: The sod/parking project will provide was well-attended. The Cruising Division is already well into temporary storage along the east side pool fence. The planning the 2017 season and they look forward to working project will begin soon. November will include trimming with the Adult Sailing Program/Karen Soule on various the hedge in front of Fannie’s, over-seed the campus and overlapping workshops and events. limb removal. The dumpster privacy doors need some JUNIOR DIV. CDR – attention. The backing on the rear of the two doors is 1. Race Teams and Development Teams: Various junior in poor shape and need to be replaced. Winterization sailors continue to participate in 2016 fall/winter USODA of the East Bathhouse is scheduled for November. Fall racing activities up and down East Coast including: cleanup was scheduled for Saturday, November 19th, • November: SCYC Optimist Team Race Invitational with a backup date of Saturday, December 3rd. – Guthrie Braun, Thomas Sitzmann and John Vail; 2. Barn: One gate has been installed; the second has USODA Midwinter Championship, Southern Yacht been delivered and is awaiting installation. Club – Guthrie Braun, Joshua Bendura 3. Pool and Pavilion: Covers have been installed on the • December: Orange Bowl, Miami – Josh Bendura, pools Madeline Amthor, Reese Bragg, Reed McAllister December 2016 / January 2017 • www.fbyc.net • page 3 MINUTES and Jordan Bendura 2. Awards: Junior Awards Committee completed selection process. Nine awards to be presented at Commodores Ball. 3. 2017 Planning: • Partnering with head of CBYRA Junior Division to optimize Junior Regatta schedule • Continued planning for 2017 racing season SOUTHERN BAY RACING including; refinement of expected participants, UPCOMING SEMINARS AND CLINICS identification of key volunteers, identification of coaches US SAILING ONE DAY RACE • Continued planning for Junior Week and Opti Kids MANAGEMENT SEMINAR TROPHIES – All set for the Awards Ceremony at the Saturday, January 21, 2017 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Commodore’s Ball. There will be a number of actual Hosted by Fishing Bay Yacht Club perpetuals on display like last year and the same slide show Meets seminar requirement for new/renewal will be shown. A photographer has been hired for the event. US Sailing Club Race Officer Certification He added that there is enough inventory for half of 2017.