Minutes of the Hobie Division 16 Fall Meeting
Sunday, November 22, 2009
In Attendance: Mark Amico (Fleet 295 & Youth Rep), Sue Bennett (CMOR), Daniel Burns (Fleet 119), Mark Gibson, Marie Gibson, Rob Jerry, Bruce Krupke (Fleet 204), Neil McNeil (Fleet 183), Gail Tinker-Stiemsma (Division 10), Theresa (Fluffy) White.
Voting Members Absent: Representative for Fleet 238, Women’s Rep
Division Financial Report – Although we remain well into the black, we again operated at a modest loss ($79.00) for regatta year 2009.
Division Racing Equipment Report – A new mark was not purchased, as one of the old ones was found. A checklist was implemented to inventory materials. Request approved to buy missing flags and new golf bag.
HCA AGM Report –
o Meeting was long, but not contentious, as the poor telephone connection meant that many people couldn’t hear each other.
o Although HCA membership levels increased by nearly 20% in 2009, attendance at regattas has remained on the steady decline, and is down 40% from 2004. The number of Hobie 16s made and sold has been level for 6 years, but those years have seen both the introduction and elimination of several other boats within the Hobie family. The Hobie Social Network has over 1000 members, yet mobilizing and using this wide base of people to support Hobie racing remains elusive.
o Three proposals were considered: to pay the Hotline editor $500/issue, the F-18 proposal, and the NA’s reimbursement proposal. Only the first (to pay the Hotline editor) passed. All others were tabled, to be discussed by conference call ASAP.
o All officers were elected to serve again for the coming year.
o It was reported that the Youth Boat for the US Sailing Multi-Hull Championships (mid-April, in Houston) will be the Spinnakered Hobie 16.
Renovation of our website – Brian Allston is doing an excellent job of maintaining our website, but he needs copy! Send him stories, pictures, and news!
o
Suggested by Bill Jeffers,
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I looked at the division rules and I think we
can get rid of 12.6 completely. The new point system
makes this unnecessary. The Division Board agrees, and voted to eliminate
Bylaw 12.6.
o Suggested by Bill Jeffers, September, 2009.
As far as I remember, only the Division Championships have a race minimum. To be a legitimate Divisional we need (3) races I believe (everyone correct me if I am wrong). I believe the three race minimum we have for the divisional is also unique to Division 16 and not in the Hobie by-laws, (once again… someone correct me). This year, Fleet 295 (Hamlin Beach) is the divisional race and we have no backup plan due to the lack of a regatta at Sacandaga. The suggestion made by the Division Board is that we designate another regatta as an “alternate” for the Divisional race. In the event that the alternate actually occurs before the Divisional, the alternate event’s points automatically count at the Divisional Level. Bylaw language will be written and circulated prior to the Spring Meeting to this end for official consideration and voting.
o Suggested by Board of Directors, November, 2009.
We should eliminate C-Fleet. In practice, most regattas do not have enough boats to fill this class, and we should have our bylaws reflect our practices. Bylaw language will be written and circulated prior to the Spring Meeting to this end for official consideration and voting.
Regatta Survey Results - attached to this document. Most important to note is that one of the main reason for reasons for not attending regattas last year was other life events, and that lowering fees would not alter the number of regattas attended for most people.
o Context: Attendance was low at every regatta this year: Madcatter had 55 boats, Port Burwell 17 boats, and Toronto, Buffalo, and Rochester each had 23 boats.
o Fleet 204’s Madcatter will be May 21,22, & 23.
o Port Burwell (previously split between Divisions 10 and 16) will not be on our schedule for 2010. Division 10 is hoping for a replacement regatta to take place on Austin Lake in a similar (early June) time frame.
o Toronto (Fleet 183) is currently asking for June 12 & 13, but Austin Lake would like that date. Because Neil had to leave the meeting early, we are not certain whether July 10 & 11 would be possible for him or not. Although it conflicts with Rock Hall in Division 11, our survey suggested that Division 16 people seldom travel to that event.
o Rochester (Fleet 295) and Buffalo (Fleet 119) are tired of giving a party that few people attend. They aren’t losing money, but they are losing enthusiasm. Neither fleet is certain that they will host an event this year.
o The F-18 proposal, set for discussion by the HCA Board on 11/24/09 raised considerable enthusiasm for the Rochester and Buffalo fleets. Rob Jerry gave us details of the proposal, and how it would potentially affect our events. We would not have to make anything definite until the NOR went out.
o If Buffalo hosts a regatta, the regatta chair will not have “Burns” or “Grisko” as a last name. Further, they would choose the date of July 23, 24 & 25. Danielle will let the Division know of their decision by the beginning of 2010.
o If Rochester hosts a regatta, they would choose the dates of August 7 & 8. They would like to request the Northeastern Championships again, in order to increase attendance. Mark will let the Division know of their decision by the beginning of 2010.
o No word was given from the Sacandaga fleet (Fleet 238) prior to the meeting, although they have hosted a fun race, rather than a regatta, for the past 2 years. A somewhat cryptic e-mail was received after the Division meeting, indicating that they would like to again host a points regatta. Follow-up will be made to investigate this possibility. If they did host an event, the dates of August 28 & 29 would be best for the Division.
o The Canadaigua Yacht Club’s CMOR will request the ability to award Hobie points this year through a petition to the HCA. This will entail a separate start for the Hobies that show up, providing that there is at least 5 of each kind of boat that wants to race for points. Those choosing to do so can still race in the mass start that we have previously enjoyed at Canadaigua. Discussion was made of whether or not to also make this event an Alter Cup (Area B) qualifier, but whether that is possible remains to be seen. The dates for the CMOR will be September 18 & 19.
o Booklet. Although the Division Chair is willing to again send Postcards with the regatta schedule on it, an online booklet must be made available with NORs in it. In the past, Brian Allston (our webmaster) has stepped up for the booklet. As he was not present at the meeting, we hope that he will do it again, but if not the question remains of who’s doing the booklet.
o Scoring. Billy Jeffers did an excellent job with this task last year, and we hope he’ll do it again. Given that he wasn’t at the next meeting, though, we’re not sure.
o No nominations have come forward of people willing to take on the positions of Youth Rep or Women’s Rep. As such, the Board proposed the elimination of those two positions. The decision was made to elicit commentary and if appropriate volunteers could not be located by the Spring meeting, the positions should be eliminated.
The spring meeting will not be held in Syracuse at the Madcatter for 2010, given that people have too much trouble focusing when a killer party is in the next room. So, we’ve decided to give “Gotomeeting.com” a shot. More details on the virtual meeting will be available in the spring.