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I belong to the Cherokee Lake Sailing Club, its a fairly laid back group with few if any "rules" Its a good group but as I look at them I see the average age is somewhere North of 60. There are no programs to attract new members or younger members. There is another group in Knoxville, about 40 miles from us but I don't really know what they do since there is almost no interaction between the groups. I am fearful that the group will eventually become unsustainable due to attrition of the membership. Do any of you belong to a sailing club and if so what do you do to increase membership?

Thanks
Norman

Norman:

when i moved to CO i joined the Lake Dillon Yacht Club. i had thought this would be a good setup as the clubhouse is at the head of the dock i keep the boat.

i know the LDYC had a strong racer culture. what i didn't expect was they have no focus at all in welcoming new members. no socials, no introductions (i kinda forced this at the meetings i did attend), ... really nothing to make you connect with the group. after two years of trying to make it work i passed on renewing my membership.

a rule in keeping and building a club is welcoming new members and assisting them in making connections.

a contact i made thought the now defunct Lake Havasu event got me in contact with another group in the greater Denver area - the Salty Dog Sailing Club -

http://www.saltydog.org/

this group is cruiser & day sailing focused and doesn't even host a race during the sailing season.

new members are welcomed at each meeting and introductions are made. the 'culture' is a lot like at a church where members stand up and introduce themselves to people they don't know.

to attract new members the club has a system where boat owners host new members without boats during sailing events. this means membership includes both boat owners and non-owners - but everyone LOVES sailboats. in addition boat owners get cash to assist in covering costs when they host non-boat members on a sail.

the club attends the Denver Boat show to gather new members (best recruitment tool).

the club posts events on the www-site MeetUp -

http://www.meetup.com/Salty-Dog-Sailing-Club-Denver/


there is also a Twitter feed and Facebook page.

for me the best thing about my my staying in the club is they actively work at welcoming new members so they make connections. make connections and people stay around.

wdscobie wrote:Norman:

when i moved to CO i joined the Lake Dillon Yacht Club. i had thought this would be a good setup as the clubhouse is at the head of the dock i keep the boat.

i know the LDYC had a strong racer culture. what i didn't expect was they have no focus at all in welcoming new members. no socials, no introductions (i kinda forced this at the meetings i did attend), ... really nothing to make you connect with the group. after two years of trying to make it work i passed on renewing my membership.

a rule in keeping and building a club is welcoming new members and assisting them in making connections.

a contact i made thought the now defunct Lake Havasu event got me in contact with another group in the greater Denver area - the Salty Dog Sailing Club -

http://www.saltydog.org/

this group is cruiser & day sailing focused and doesn't even host a race during the sailing season.

new members are welcomed at each meeting and introductions are made. the 'culture' is a lot like at a church where members stand up and introduce themselves to people they don't know.

to attract new members the club has a system where boat owners host new members without boats during sailing events. this means membership includes both boat owners and non-owners - but everyone LOVES sailboats. in addition boat owners get cash to assist in covering costs when they host non-boat members on a sail.

the club attends the Denver Boat show to gather new members (best recruitment tool).

the club posts events on the www-site MeetUp -

http://www.meetup.com/Salty-Dog-Sailing-Club-Denver/


there is also a Twitter feed and Facebook page.

for me the best thing about my my staying in the club is they actively work at welcoming new members so they make connections. make connections and people stay around.

Thanks Dave
The only thing I can say good about this group is the dues are cheap, $75.00 per year. They hold 10 races a year, five spring and five fall but they are always the same 4 or 5 skippers (I usually crew on one of the boats)

I don't know, I am seriously considering not renewing my membership this year. There is no downside, the marina host the club but club membership is not a prerequisite to maintaining a slip (paying the rental fees counts but that's about all). I could still go to the events, I just won't get fed, a major consideration!! I would hate to insult the club by quitting, especially for such a small some of money but I can't see where I am getting anything out of this. There is no club house to have club meetings so there are no meet and greets (there was a club house at one time but the members sold it to a restaurant that has changed hands 3 times in the three years I have been there, each time getting a little worse for the change.

Don't get me wrong, they are not a stand off bunch and most will help you in a heart beat. They do welcome everyone who wanders down to the dock and will help you find or set up your boat if you wish. I think they are all sailors but they are OLD sailors and don't have the energy to try to build up the membership.

Oh well, the lake is beautiful and entertaining. The water is clean and clear and attracts an abundance of wild life. The last time I went out it was crystal clear with a good breeze blowing. The bow cutting through the water turning back the waves made it look like I was slicing through solid silver. That, regardless of what Josh might say, was magic!!

Thanks for the input.

Norman

The sailing club near us gives beginning sailing classes twice a year to interest new members. They also have get togethers, races, and cruises. They have a clubhouse with a dock, pool, ice machine and dingys members can use. We'd like to join, but it is a bit pricey. One of the biggest perks is reciprocal arrangements with other sailing clubs, you might ask if your club has that. If you're ever traveling with the LustySlogger she'd have a place to stay.

Belonged to the Navy Point Yacht Club when we were up at Sackets Harbor, NY. Good group that was non-competative and had a few very well attended breakfasts at the marina. Occasionally a "race" but not often. No clubhouse or maintenence or manditory bar fees.

At Finger Lakes Marine on Cayuga Lake, NY we were with the other sailboats out on the Jetty (electric but no potable water and not much else for services). No dues, and the membership requirements were easy. I think it had to do with having a beer in at leat one hand at all times. Not much of a group (but a great location - we arrived and cast off ASAP).

in the 1980's we belonged to the Whitney Point Sailing Association. That was small, no dues kind of varied group of a dozen 20 to 40ish age small boat sailors that got together twice a year for a picnic and a "round the bouys race". We had a corner of a county park launch area with tables that was unofficially ours most weekends by virtue of possession (first there grabbed the four picnic tables under the trees). We had a core group of three couples that would trailer down to the Chesakeake Bay every Easter (three teachers in the group with the break) for a week of eating shellfish and sailing. Unfortunately we kind of drifted off (or died) and it is now defunct. My wife (THE ADMIRAL) and I were the youngsters.

That lake is were we now take our Mud Hen 17. May try and gather a few new recruits to the concept. We have come full circle.

One question I would ask of any clubs is "do they have a youth program". I am part of the Hoofer Sailing Club in Madison, Wisconsin. This sailing club is the second largest in the U.S. and is part of the University of Wisconsin Outdoor Programs. We are located on the campus waterfront which does have substantial advantages. Our sailing classes cover dinghys to sloops to keel boats, youth on up. Here is a wrap-up video for our past year that was created by our Head of Instruction, enjoy:

http://youtu.be/4tCZbrfOeaE

You may have to copy and paste this link.

Vipersdad

I'm with everyone who said to have open socials and a youth program. Lake Murray, SC has 3 very strong sailing clubs. Among other reasons, we decided against one club because it doesn't have a youth program even though we don't have kids that age. The club we chose has a strong youth program and is very involved in racing. We don't race, but that will help keep a club strong. One of the big reasons we joined, among many others, is the strong social aspect of our club. www.lmsc.org
Good luck!

I grew up in Ocean City NJ.. while I never joined the yacht club there, they have an extensive youth program. I always enjoyed watching their "younglings" mix it up in sunfish around the buoys.. they looked quite deadly

Well, I renewed my membership. I am planning, on my own, to organize a cruise to one of the larger islands in the lake. I also would like to do a "Bull and Oyster Roast" during the summer. The club won't stand in my way for doing either (with my own money of course) and who knows, if its successful maybe it will attract others into the club.

You know the best way to attract a great bunch of boaters, get people involved and new people interested is to do what you are planning. Just take action on your own. I have to confess that is how Sail Oklahoma began, as a way to get people to come sail with Mike and share his passion. It is amazing what has happened but do not tell me that one person cannot make a a difference, they can if they try.

Sail Havasu was such an event, the most successful groups that go on for years in our little world are like that. No officers, no membership committees, no boards of directors. The one I love is BOOTS, the Lake Texoma, TX-OK group where whoever shows up for breakfast at the marina restaurant on Sunday is on the "board" and determines next events dates.

We have hundreds of members in Sail Oklahoma but no officers. I find it much easier to be a dictator!

Love, Jackie Monies