NBYC - Optimist NE Championships -- members input requested

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NBYC has been asked to host the 2006 Optimist NE Championships.  It would be a great event to have at the club!  It would show great support of the sport and should be an inspiration to our kids.  The tough part is that it takes a lot of resources and that’s where you come in.  We have not committed to do this and need to get a sense of the level of support of the membership and the town.  We would expect over 250 boats along with parents, coaches, staff, etc.  We recognize that we do not have enough room at the club and would look for help from the town and other town groups to use some of their facilities.  We feel that this event could be done and done well with that support.  We are having discussions with the town leaders involved and will not go ahead unless we know we have their support and facilities.

 

We feel that enough of the activity will be run from non-club locations that, while it will be an inconvenience to regular activities at the club, it will not shut the club down for members who wish to use it.  We also feel that the event will be financially self supporting.  We have looked at a lot of specific logistic details and feel we have a good handle on them (if we get the support we are looking for as mentioned above)  -  everything from parking to porta-poties.  This email would be way too long to go into detail on all that.

 

Besides these facilities we will need the help of a LOT of club members.  We will need people to help with registration, cooking and meals (we would be supplying breakfast and lunch), social events, race committee, etc.  About 60 to 75 volunteers would be needed.  We may be able to get some help from surrounding clubs but the primary helpers will need to be NBYC people.  Dates are not final but will probably include arrival and registration on Sunday, Aug 6^th, with racing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug 7, 8, 9.  Volunteers will have to be available during the day on M-T-W so if you’re working you’ll have to take vacation days.

 

We need to make a quick decision on this as if we say yes we have a lot of work to do.  And if we say no the Optimist Assoc has to find another host.  While we are talking with town officials we also want to gather your feedback as to your willingness to help.  We are not looking for firm commitments but we need a sense of whether we have the membership’s support or not and in enough numbers.

 

If you would be willing to take 4 days of your summer to help out with this event please get back to me ASAP.   The Sailing Committee and flag officers are going to meet Monday, Dec 5^th, to formulate a recommendation to the Board.  We will need to know the clubs feelings by then.  Just hit reply or send an email to mailto:harlan.fredericksen@dittman-greer.com.