Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes
November 10, 2001
A Regular
Board of Directors Meeting was held on November 10, 2001 at the Chicago Yacht
Club, Illinois. The Commodore and Secretary were present. A quorum being
present, the meeting was called to order at 9:35 AM. The minutes of the
previous meeting were approved as recorded.
A Balance
Sheet Previous Year Comparison and Profit & Loss Previous Year Comparison
were provided and the treasurer’s report showed a balance on hand of
$53,262.43. It was reported that the publication of the Reaches and the
Reporter incurred additional expenses compared to the previous year.
Bob Biwer
motioned to approve the Treasure’s Report and the Treasure’s Report
was approved.
ECESA
George
Welch Jr. reported there are 5 fleets. Of the boats that participate, 5 are
newer than 1997. Chautauqua has 10 boats, Hopatcong has 8-10 boats (all
Johnson’s), the Bay has 17 boats, Little Egg Harbor 17 boats are typical,
Lower Bays about 15 boats. On
average, 26 boats participate in the Eastern Regatta.
MESA
Terry
Moorman reported the oldest boats in the organization (1990’s vintage and
greater) come from this region.
Carlisle has seen the greatest growth. MESA does not weigh boats, and when weighed it is very
informal.
ILYA
Bob Biwer
reports 63 boats attended the ILYA Invitational Regatta. There were 60 boats at Pewaukee and
approximately 20 (+/-) participate every weekend. Pewaukee is stable and the largest fleet in the country with
33 registered. The ILYA is competitive and most have new equipment. There are
some 1980 and 1990 vintage boats.
Tom Burton
reports concern that Mendota and Delevan are not keeping up with newer boats.
People can’t always attend both the ILYA and National regattas in the
same year. This year approximately
50 participated in the ILYA Championship Regatta.
Not many
new people are joining the E Fleet.
Terry Moorman reports being active with youth training, but
there’s still a growing concern that new E Fleet members are not being
generated. George Welch Jr.
reported that 5-6 people under 30 have recently joined the E Fleet. Bob Biwer commented that many
participants are going to Pewaukee from other lakes for the competition
provided from a larger fleet to sail against.
WMYA
Doug McNeil
reports gradual growth in the Torch Lake fleet. 29 boats participated in the Invite and 17 in the
Championship. Half the boats are
1990 vintage or better. Charley
Turk won the WMYA Invitational and Tom Monroe won the Championship
Regatta. Art Brereton commented
that the top ten in a major regatta are always the same boats.
This ended
the Regional Representatives reports.
Dave
Gorwitz, Mendota Regatta Co-Chairman, reported there would be a Hotel conflict
with the 2002 Mendota Nationals. He’s looking to find a commitment for
accommodations from a single location and making arrangements for the annual
meeting and dinner. To facilitate
the regatta committee in best meeting our needs, they have requested the board
provide lodging and social desires in writing. Sandra Zak agreed to send Dave G. a copy of the
Rule/Yearbook where those guidelines are written.
Martin Ford
was invited to be the 2002 Nationals PRO and has responded that he needs time
to consider. Steve Suhr made
notice of the availability of 3 certified Mendota judges, if needed, for Pete
Price’s consideration.
George
Welch Sr. requested that Rulebook updates and corrections be sent via email
(georgewel77eaol.com) and he will insure the changes.
Sandra Zak
reported the publication of the Reporter and Reaches were major expenses that
did not occur last year. However,
the budget remains in good standing. Bob Zak requested George Welch Sr. to
change the wording of the Rulebook Finance Committee to read ‘A. It shall
consist of the Secretary/Treasure ‘as’ Chairman and several members
as needed, …’. George
Welch agreed to make the change.
Reporter
and Reaches - Steve Anderson was unable to attend and prepared a report for
review at the Board of Director’s Meeting. The Board discussed the use of Ads in the reporter and the
Board supports Steve’s proposal to search for advertising. The board considered changing the role
of Rear Commodore to be actively involved in the publications committee. The Board agreed that future
consideration would be given to having the role of Rear Commodore change to
support the publications committee as needed.
No report.
Regatta
Schedule Committee
The
schedule was updated and will be published as usual.
Dierk
Polzin reported the web site has quicktime video and it’s been a
success. Links available for
Melges and sail makers. He
requested that reports for website publication should be sent to the committee
chairperson who will submit a website version to Dierk for website
posting. All agreed Dierk keeps
our website interesting and up to date. It’s greatly appreciated.
No report.
Jack
Lampman was unable to attend. No report was given.
Buzz
Reynolds was unable to attend. He
provided a report that Ted Biwer presented in summary. Buzz Reynolds developed and submitted an experimental boats
request form. He recommended using
this form for requesting experimental projects. The Board accepted the form.
Bob Zak
reported the past year resulted in some boats having un-serialized sails due to
Manufacture oversight. It was
suggested that the E Royalty tags carry the sail serial number. Bob Zak agreed to look into it.
This
completed all Committee Reports.
Bob Zak
opened discussion of Unfinished Business.
It was
discussed that carrying class sanctioned merchandize risks tying up cash flow
in inventory and the organization would not want to impact regatta Host club
revenue. The board did agree to look into licensing the E National logo for use
by merchandize companies such as Layline, Lands End, etc. Bob Zak agreed to pursue.
The Board
agreed not to standardize trophies.
It was
requested to change rulebook wording of Part IV to update Article VIII to add
boat weighing procedure and sail measuring procedure, and Part VIII the NCESA
will provide $2,500 for trophies (not actually provide all the trophies). The
Board agreed and the Rules Chairperson will make the changes.
This
completed Unfinished Business
Chautauqua
submitted a formal request to Host the 2003 Nationals. Eastport expressed
interest, however, the Board did not receive a formal request. Bob Zak agreed to request Eastport to
submit a formal request for future consideration.
Bob Biwer
motioned to accept Chautauqua as the 2003 National Regatta Host Site. The Board unanimously approved
Chautauqua as the 2003 National Regatta Host.
The general consensus was that changing the starting procedure would generate a feeling of being rushed and potential confusion. It was discussed that rule 26 allow using a starting procedure similar to what’s done to day. Steve Suhr motioned to leave the starting procedure rule as is (no Rule 26). Motion was carried unanimously.
Discussion
that shortening the race changes the strategy of the race this would change
race results. No motion was made.
Not shortening the race remains as is.
Discussion was that older boats don’t finish in the current 30 minute time limit, changing to a percentage of the maximum time allowed or 45 minutes would give then an opportunity to finish or take an average.
Tom Burton
motioned to change to a 45 minute DNF Time Limit. Motion was carried
unanimously. This change requires an update to the Sailing Instructions in the
Year/Rule Book.
It was
discussed that communicating NCESA recommendations to the Race Committee has
been difficult. These
recommendations have always been informally provided to the PRO prior to the
Regatta. The Board discussed
including NCESA recommendations in the Rule/Year Book as Guidelines only. Tom
Burton motioned to add to section 8 of the Rule/Year Book any NCESA
Recommendations, as guidelines, provided by the Judicial Chairperson. Motion was unanimously carried.
Bob Zak opened discussion on identifying a Regatta Reporter who would be charged with submitting pre/post regatta information for website publication. Tom Burton motioned to add Regatta Reporter identification to the Host Club timetable. Motion was carried unanimously. This change requires updating Part VIII of the Year/Rule Book rule.
Terry Moorman opened discussion on recommending National Social Events would start later in the evening to allow sailors time between racing and social event. Rick Turner made a motion to add to NCESA recommendations that the Host Club would give consideration to the time needed between race completion and beginning of social event. Motion was carried unanimously. This change requires updating Part VIII of the Year/Rule Book rule.
Terry
Moorman wanted to set conditions that would allow for canceling races due to
wind and waves. No action was
taken.
Pete Price
proposed to allow crew drop and adds at will. It was discussed that the
difficulty of finding crew is not supportive of add and drop. No action was
taken.
At the
annual meeting a member requested that that board require time allowance to go
ashore between races. The Board has overlooked that they had previously agreed
to include in the Regatta Host Requirements that either a head boat be provided
or allow time to return to shore between races. It was agreed to make the
change in the Rule/Yearbook.
The Board
discussed scheduling the number of races per day. No change was made.
Because the
Board recognizes the need of female participation in the NCESA, they discussed
mandating regional female director nominations. The Board agreed this was not the approach to take, for many
reasons, and will continue to encourage female participation.
Bob Zak
requested a motion to approve the Committee Changes as submitted (See
attachment). Bob Biwer made a motion to approve the Committee Changes. Motion carried unanimously.
The Board
suggested that Bob Zak review procedures for retiring the trophies for
Individual Race Winners.
Buzz
Reynolds developed an Experimental Projects Request Form to be used to present
a proposal for an experimental project to the rules committee. The Board
approved the form and it will be added the Year/Rule Book.
Bob Zak
proposed that the Backstay Mast Intersect Location and Jib Halyard Material
recommendations of the Rules Committee be approved (see Rules Committee
Minutes). Rick Turner made a motion to approve the Rules Committee
recommendations. Motion was
carried unanimously. There are not changes to the Backstay Mast Intersect
Location and the Board will submit a ballot to the members for approval on the
Jib Halyard Material.
Harry
Melges presented samples of Foil Shaped Rudders and costs of retro fitting
existing boats. (See attached price list). There was much discussion in favor
of making the change immediately.
Safety and sufficient testing were the main issues. Others on the board felt the testing
was insufficient and their regions would not approve the change.
The Rules
Committee recommended that ten applicants, with consideration given to older
boats and those from the middle of the fleet, should be accepted to participate
in another year of testing and scow sailors who would like to participate in
the experiment should contact the Rules Committee.
Bob Biwer
made a motion to accept the Rules Committee Recommendation. The motion was amended to allow the ten
experimental boats to count at sponsored regattas. The motion was seconded and
carried by a vote of 1 against and 12 for.
Rules
Committee recommended terminating the Melges Asymmetrical Spinnaker experiment
and not accepting O’Keefe and Suhr experiments. Bob Biwer made a motion to accept the Rules Committee recommendation.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Art
Brereton presented an idea to make the E Scow easier to sail. The Board asked questions and requested
Art Brereton to submit request for experiment through the proper procedures.
The meeting
was adjourned at 3:00 PM.