Annual Fleet Meeting October 14^th, 2009

6:00 pm in the PYC Captain’s Room

Fleet Boats represented at meeting: Denali, Flying Chicken, Second Chance, Pit Party, Al, Mr. Hankey, Returns, Wabi Sabi, Trick Or Treat, Steve, Draco, and Bad Apple

1. Budget/Treasurers Report-Shelly 5 minutes

Shelly presented the Fleet 43 Budget and Profit /Loss. The Fleet currently has a balance of $4,685 compared to a balance of $4,794 in October of 2008. We are $170 in the black based on the budget for the 2009 season but we have year-end awards in November. Areas where money was spent were on the new fleet scale for $378 and on ribbon to create fleet merchandise such as belts, leashes etc. which was $585 but we have enough to supply us with 3 to 4 years of merchandise.

2. Fleet Officers (Nominations will be sent out ahead) 5 min-There were no new nominations or objections to the current slate of officers so they were voted to remain the same for the 2010 season. Molly White-Fleet Captain, Shelly Paules-Treasurer, Stephanie Helms-Race, Tony Jessen-Fleet Historian, Nick Dambrie-Travel Coordinator, and Mark Klein-Photographer.

* Note that Tony is working on Fleet 43 history as well as a Downeast History. Please forward him any information such as results. (Bill Newberry and Stephanie Helms are great resources for this.)

3. 2009 Fleet Awards /Party-November 11^th 5 minutes- At White’s House, Start time 6:30. It will be a potluck. An Evite will go out to sign up for items, please share date with your crews-all are welcome.

4. Food/Dues for 2010 10 minutes-Discussion was held regarding food options. The idea of each boat supplying a nights worth of food was brought up but tabled due to fleet size and equity. A similar program to last years was voted on and passed. There will be soup, salad, and bread for those who choose the food option. The price should be somewhat similar to last years but a meeting with Shawn will solidify that price. Boats can opt out of the food option if they choose and just pay the fleet dues and Wednesday night entry. Shelly offered to allow people to pay in installments if that would make it easier for some. It is important to not have to chase people down for the money.

*Once Molly has met with Shawn regarding food the dues will be set.

* Rich Ketchum will look into continuing the Sailor Jerry Rum Sponsorship

5. Trophies-Weekly, Series, and Season 5 minutes-The question was put out, “Do we want to continue with Wednesday Night glasses?” The group voted to keep the glasses and add a “Race Committees Choice” award-where the RC would award to a boat of their choice, using some of the past t-shirts and glasses we have accumulated. We will continue to award Series and Season trophies.

* If you are a person that has a box of old Downeast shirts in your basement please let Molly know.

6. Rules Seminar-Dick Rose/or other option 10 minutes- It was discussed at the summer meeting that a rules seminar would benefit the sailing of fleet 43 as well as contribute to the Casco Bay sailing community. The fleet has agreed to organize and run a rules seminar, hiring an outside presenter. Hopefully we can get enough attendance so that it would also act as a fundraiser for the fleet. With high attendance we would look to use a USM classroom or Nick suggested a conference room at the Stadium. Emily has contacted Dick Rose who is interested in coming and would charge $600 for a three-hour evening seminar. We will be looking for fleet volunteers as well as fleet participation in this event.

* It was also mentioned that this event will promote the fleet in regard to membership and sponsorship.

7. Race Committee and Seminar 10 minutes-There is a chance that the PYC Race Committee will be hosting another Race Management Seminar. It was proposed and agreed upon that the fleet would offer volunteers to help organize and run this event in order to give back to the Yacht club and lessen the load of work this event takes. It is hoped that the fleet members will also attend the seminar to help improve the quality of racing in our own fleet.

8. Tonini Series-Finalize NOR and races to be included 5 min We looked again at which races would be included in this series as well as the scoring. For the 2010 season the Tonini Series will consist of: Wednesday Night Series 1, Wednesday Night Series 2, The Pilot Race both Days (as a fleet we will work together to get 5 or more boats on the line), the Doublehanded, and the Downeast Regatta. Each race will be scored individually and there will be a 20% throw-out.

9. 2010 Calendar 5 minutes- District Dates May 22 & 23, Downeast September 11 & 12, Nationals September 18 & 19. Fleet launch will follow Districts. The fleet 43 season will begin on May 26^th with an RC clinic and tune up-social event (no racing). The Wednesday Night Series will begin the following Wednesday, June 2^nd and run through September 8^th. The last two Wednesdays of the season (September 1^st and the 8^th will begin promptly at 5:30.)

*There was a lot of discussion around the early start. We will be looking closely at the number of races we sail on those nights this season. We will also being starting promptly at 5:30, whether or not all the boats are there.

10. Regatta Promotions Contract-Carter 5 minutes The Regatta Promotions contract was explained, looked over, and discussed as a fleet. It was voted to continue to use Regatta Promotion’s services for the 2010 season.

11. Sponsorship-Carter 5 minutes The fleet needs to increase sponsorship for the 2010 season, not only to prepare for the 25^th Annual Downeast but to help build the fleet savings. In addition to Regatta Promotion’s work in this area it is advantageous for fleet members to recruit sponsors. Money brought in by fleet members keeps an additional 10% of the money in the fleet. We will also have a “Friends of Fleet 43” page linked to our website for those wanting to contribute $200 or less. Tony brought up that it is important to have our fleet members visible as sponsors and so far we have done a good job of that.

12. Downeast 25^th Annual 15 minutes Thoughts on 25^th ideas and increased participation. Have individual fleet members target boats from away and personally invite and communicate with them. Possible change up jobs for the event. Molly White is looking for a co-chair in the event, if interested please contact her. There will be a Downeast Committee formed, if interested in being on that committee please let Molly know.

13. PYC Update/News and Rules/Policies 5 minutes-Tony

Club rules:

-Can't be at the Club without a member "sponsor" present.

-PYC Member or PYC staff must be on board LL.

-No smoking on Club property.

-When bar closes, the bar is closed.

-No parking without a pass.

-Smile, you're having fun

14. Fleet Membership-How to maintain and increase 5 min -Get word out to other clubs, invite J24 owners to pot luck/awards or another social event.

15. Other Business Send marks back to get repaired and put fleet 43 marks back in our own mark box. Look into capital investments for 2010-Steph does not feel any marks need to be replaced but we may want to invest in a different color for the pin or change mark.