Social Events-Lack of Support.

[djskinner]

Through very hard work by the dedicated few we have struggled to get over 100 to our Annual Summer Party (This coming Saturday).This event in years past was a highlight of our Social Calendar and a sell out.I can well remember when we had 550 to our Centenary Ball preceeded the evening before by 350 to a Fruits de Mer (Yes and we raced in a Regatta over that weekend!) That was of course special in 1992.Why do we now have such a struggle?Our Membership is up.We even have many younger than me and I can still "take to the floor".Opinions please.What do YOU want?

[John Welling]

Hi David & All! We went cruising the southern Irish coast this year & had fantastic welcomes everywhere - especially at Dunmore East SC. A small club with smaller facilities than ours but with fantastic support. They organise twice weekly BBQs through the season & rarely serve less than 100 meals prepared & cooked by volunteers. In my opinion, SYC needs a big development effort to dispell complacency & draw in the new members teetering on the edge of committment. We will all benefit!

[djskinner]

Thank you for that John.Glad to hear you had such a great time cruising Ireland.
Its only taken 7 weeks to raise some blood!Agree with your points re "complacency & teetering on the edge of committment".Come forward you silent majority and turn your teetering into active committment.Hopefully the St Valery Rally will see a good turnout.Lets show the Dinghy Section that we of the larger boats can also do it in large numbers.If you arent in a crew get in touch with those looking.I am still one short despite every effort.If a Channel crossing is not your thing dont forget that we start the second series of Pursuit Races in the very near future.Once again many will be short of crew.

[Robin Stevenson]

I predict changing times ahead, your comment "complacency & teetering on the edge of commitment" May be accurate but you could have stopped at "complacency".  For some time now I have expressed concerns that we fail to take care and support our club officers. Indeed, some even get ridiculed and criticised by senior members who should know better.  One day we will walk into our club to find a new sign over the door.  Sussex Marina & Boat Yard.  With a sub text "all club functions cancelled due to lack of volunteer helpers and member support"  The mighty SYC needs to take a look at it's self me thinks.

[djskinner]

Robin,
   Ouch!!! Well said,
 In Sailing,David.

[robin]

When a senior member with his finger as firmly on the pulse of SYC as Robin S has recourse to such gloomy prognostications, we all have to take it seriously.  Yes, some social events have been poorly attended; yes, just three SYC boats contesting the Pactolus was a disappointment; yes, Robin, you are going to be a tough act to follow when you relinquish the reins of the Keelboat committee, but we might have hoped for more candidates to come forward than have done.

You are on safe grounds when you predict "changing times ahead", but I suspect that the roots of the perceived malaise lie in the rapidity of the changes behind us: the expansion of the club membership, Sailability, lottery funding, CASC status all add up to developments which the club is still digesting.

On the credit side, however, we have just had a splendid rally in St Valéry, with a well-attended dinner and a general pleasant ambience.  We can do it.

So we do have to ask what we could have done better.  We do need to support those who give of their time voluntarily.  In the process, let's not lose sight of when we get it right!

[Brett]

....Opinions please.What do YOU want?

David,
Although I live in Brighton, I'm away most of the week and most weekends.  Because of this I haven't visited Shoreham Clubhouse since New Years Eve.  Consequently I'm not aware of what social events are going on.
I know that the main ones are in the fixture card but, of course, that tends to get filed in a safe place.
I can't say that I would attend often but if the events were promoted by email or even on this forum, myself and others who are not local to Shoreham may be prompted to change our arrangements and attend one or two.
This also raises the question of distance.  What proportion of members live in Shoreham and what proportion are out of the area?  The Shoreham members probably are "the converted" who attend functions because it's easy to do so, what with drink driving laws and all, whereas it is the out of town members like myself that you need to fill more seats.
Any idea what percentage of members live within say 3 miles and how many are beyond that?  If it's the case that a large proportion of members are not regular visitors, so that they are unable to read the notice board, then the marketing is at fault.
Brett

[robin]

Brett,

the social events are generally advertised on the main website.  Currently, for example, the Laying-up Supper and the Keelboat Prizegiving are in preparation.

[Brett]

... the social events are generally advertised on the main website.  Currently, for example, the Laying-up Supper and the Keelboat Prizegiving are in preparation.

I know that, but my point is that whereas local members will look at the website to see what is going on in their area, absent members are busy socialising in the area in which they live so probably don't check the SYC website when they are planning an evening out.
I would be more likely to see notices posted on this site as I am a regular visitor because it keeps me in touch with SYC.
Email or snail mail notices may prompt a trip to the Club.  I'm afraid that in these days of social responsibility, re drink driving for example, it is not an automatic choice to drive to Shoreham for an evening out or to see what's going on.
I know that there are members who live as far away as Uckfield and socialise regularly at Shoreham, but think these are probably exceptional.

[djskinner]

A glimmer on the horizon.A "Boutique Hotel" could be built on the old Parcel Force site a few yards from the Club.Sleeping amongst the uinderwear and objet d`art would have its attractions in the right company!Any social event at SYC is the poorer for your absence Brett.See you under the counter!
I do take your point regarding distance and the law.I belong to other Clubs where I do not attend social functions for the same reasons

[robin]

Bags I the 'objets d'art' !

 

[Brett]

A glimmer on the horizon.A "Boutique Hotel" could be built on the old Parcel Force site a few yards from the Club......

If it's like this one David, it could be the solution.
http://www.expedia.co.uk/pub/agent.dll/ ... htid=18352