Commodores update 23rd November 2020
Published 16:28 on 1 Dec 2020
Dear Members
Hello, since my last message, the Flag Officers and I have been working hard to respond to the ever-changing national situation and as a result we wanted to update you with our latest thinking. As we find our way through, I just wanted to give you a quick update with regards to the Club's situation in this latest wave of COVID 19 restrictions.
Despite real progress being made with the reintroduction of house events in October we once again find our activities restricted due to the lockdown and sadly the Club House is closed again. However, work behind the scenes continues in earnest to ensure that we're in a position to get going again and to safely and responsibly open the Club at the first opportunity.
We are in regular communication with other clubs through the RYA and sharing information with our sister clubs along the South Coast. We are not alone in the difficulty faced with regard to the responsible continuation of club activity. In this respect the RYA are providing useful guidance for issues such as clubhouse opening, indoor facilities as well as on water activities.
In this context, it would be remiss of me not to be open about our greatest challenge; the financial stability of our Club next year. BSC is being carefully directed to ensure sustainability throughout the next decade and beyond but we must understand that BSC is not immune to the financial pressures resulting from this year's reduced income. Whilst this challenge is not insurmountable it does mean that, unfortunately right now, we are not in a position to offer any financial dispensations to members or to promise events or changes that require significant financial investment. However, as mentioned in my last message we have decided to freeze membership fees this year and we are committed to innovation, efficiency and resourcefulness to ensure an exciting 12 months ahead.
I am really pleased that we have been able to engage in recent weeks with so many members and have received some really useful feedback. We have a wonderful community and we are working hard to ensure that BSC is the club that you want it to be, whether the focus for you is racing, on the water activity, training, our social programme, or all of the above. Having listened to lots of your input we will start with some new member recruitment initiatives alongside new exciting benefits and activities for existing members that we hope to announce over the winter months.
BSC is a wonderful, community led club and now is the moment to pull together. The Flag Officers and I are grateful for your continued support and have appreciated the offers that we've already received from members to go the extra mile. We are always open to ideas so please do get in touch if you have any clever plans to help us get through this next tricky phase.
Our club is filled with potential we will do all in our power to harness this potential and get us through the next few months and I promise to be in touch to outline some initiatives for next year shortly.
Thank you for all your support and sticking with us. I hope that you and your families are staying safe.
Paddy Mirams
Commodore
commodore@boshamsailingclub.comLast updated 11:51 on 12 March 2024
