Many hands makes light work

Introduction:

For more than 75 years, Taylor Pond Yacht Club’s members have voluntarily shared the work necessary to the successful operation of the Club. This volunteer service has kept dues and lesson fees low, and made many friendships as members to get to know other members while pitching in.

The Board unanimously supports continuing this approach to maintaining the Club and strengthening the bonds among its members and urges all members to participate without need for penalties.

Policy:

To maintain good standing, each member shall, not later than April 1 of the calendar year, volunteer to assist with the work of the club by joining and helping with the tasks assigned to one or more committees or subcommittees. It will be sufficient if one member of a family complies with the committee assignment requirement, although all able-bodied members, young and old, are expected to help when called. The Board may excuse participation, but for good cause only. Each new member must volunteer to serve on a committee before approval of membership.

The Board will appoint a chair for each committee and subcommittee. Each committee and subcommittee shall concisely report its activities and recommendations to the Board of Governors in writing annually before the annual meeting. Reports shall include a recommended budget for the new year, and a list of members who helped when called.

Each committee or subcommittee will be primarily responsible for recruiting new and additional members as needed to accomplish its responsibilities. If more volunteers are needed, the Board will do additional recruiting.

Committees & Subcommittees of Taylor Pond Yacht Club

When called upon to do so, please refer to this list of Committees & Subcommittees to find the best committees to sign up for, choose more than one, as ranked choices will help committee and subcommittee chairs select the people they need.

• Finance Committee:
  
• • Chaired by Purser; to assist Purser with bookkeeping, accounting, tax preparation.
• Planning Committee:
  
• • Thinks ahead and advise the Board about how to to be the best we can be. Some experience as a member, knowledge of Club history helpful here. Meet once or twice a year, or at the call of the Commodore for special projects. Appointed by the Commodore with approval of the Board.
• Membership Committee:
  
• • show club to potential new members; provide them information including by-laws, house and grounds rules and the Many Hands Make Light Work policy. Submit completed applications to the Board for approval. Make sure new members are signed up for a committee. One dedicated member has done this for years. A couple of assistants would help.
• Communications Committee:
  
• • Maintain website with materials approved by the Board of Governors; maintain and update the club Mailchimp account including adding new and archiving resigned members, send regular email notifications including but not limited to notices of upcoming events to members to encourage participation. Manage social media accounts (as of 2022 this includes Facebook and Instagram). Coordinate with membership to update and publish the member list. Solicit, collect, and publish images from members for use in social media, email, and on club website. Coordinate with Supercargo and Commodore to publish password protected board minutes on TPYC Google drive. Respond to member inquiries through social media and email. Folks with website management, social media, marketing, graphic design, and communication experience helpful here.
• Social committee:
  
• • Promote participation in Club social gatherings and events. Plan, publicize and execute social events including weekend get togethers for adults, family activities, Fourth of July, and Labor Day celebrations. If you are a party person, this is your committee.
• Race Committee:
  
• • Promote participation in sailboat racing and other organized activities of watercraft. Plan and conduct racing including weekly and special regattas; procure and award trophies; maintain buoys, flags and other equipment used in conducting races. Train prospective new members in race administration. Sponsor instruction in racing rules, tactics, and other subjects of interest to sailors. Anyone interested in sailing or enjoying going on the lake afloat can help here.
• Lesson Committee:
  
• • plan and budget lesson programs. Recommend budget, schedule and hiring of program instruction staff for approval of Board. Promote participation in lesson programs by members and non-members. Promote participation by sailing students in open club racing run by the Race Committee. Folks experienced and/or interested in planning and executing youth sailing and other training programs helpful here.
• Junior Yacht Club Advisory Committee:
  
• • promote and supervise election of officers and activities planned and executed by Junior Yacht Club (members under 18). Help our kids learn to lead themselves and contribute to the club that supports their favorite activities.
• Bosun Committee:
  
• • The co-bosuns are responsible for care and upkeep of all our club property. They cannot do it all. The idea is to divide the work into specific subjects and turn each over to a subcommittee that will take ownership and make their responsibility an asset to the club. Co-bosuns shall appoint and supervise the following subcommittees, and such others as may be necessary. Each subcommittee will submit an annual report to the co- bosuns and to the Board.
• Bosun subcommittees:
  
• • Bosun shacks subcommittee:
  • • Organize storage of tools and equipment in the two bosun shacks. Periodically weed out stuff that collects. Any neat freaks here?
  • Clubhouse subcommittee:
  • • maintenance, cleaning, painting, decoration. Open in spring and close in fall. Arrange for periodic cleaning in summer. Organize hoisting and lowering flags each day of operation. If you can swing a hammer, or a screwdriver, or a paintbrush, or a broom, there’s room for you here.
  • Junior Clubhouse subcommittee:
  • • maintenance, cleaning, painting, decoration. Open in spring and close in fall. Same skills as for clubhouse. Junior members should be active here.
  • Docks subcommittee:
  • • maintenance, cleaning, launching of docks and swim floats in spring and storage ashore in fall. Some knowledge of simple mechanics helps.
  • Grounds subcommittee:
  • • upkeep and improvement of grounds, including arrangements for and supervision of mowing, trash removal; landscaping Organization of boat and equipment storage areas. If you have an eye for landscape, or a green thumb, this is your committee.
  • Forest subcommittee:
  • • husbandry of wooded areas, trail maintenance:
  • Road subcommittee:
  • • plan and supervise annual road maintenance; maintenance of sign and gate. A little experience with maintaining a gravel road helps here.
  • Tennis subcommittee:
  • • maintenance of courts and lighting; open in spring and close in fall (nets and windscreens). No experience required.
  • Beach subcommittee:
  • • cleaning, maintenance of beach, safety equipment and furniture used on beach and adjacent children ’s swing and jungle gym equipment.
  • Harbormaster subcommittee:
  • • place, maintain, assign, and collect rental for club moorings. This subcommittee needs a small number of handy individuals and someone to do the bookkeeping.
  • Boat maintenance subcommittee:
  • • TPYC owns over 20 watercrafts used in the lesson program, races and regattas on weekends, and waterfront equipment maintenance. Each boat will be assigned to a particular volunteer or volunteers to perform or oversee spring maintenance - clean, prep, launch and test ready for service; repairs as needed during the summer; inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and storage (ready for service ) in the fall. Members with boat maintenance experience please volunteer here. Folk who would like to learn are welcome.
  • Softball field subcommittee: 
  • • Maintain and promote use of the field. Plan, publicize and conduct annual Junior Yacht Club v. Senior Yacht Club softball game. Where’s Yogi when we need him?