Dear {{firstname}},

Because to the amount of Club information to pass to you all, one newsletter this week was just not enough so here is a little more.

Firstly, a message from RC House:

Christmas Staff Fund

As you know gratuities for staff are not a tradition in the Club. For a little while the Flag Officers have been considering whether we should set up some form of staff fund, so Members can show their appreciation to staff. Given the Christmas festive period is a time when such gestures are appropriate, we propose to trial a Christmas Staff Fund.

This will enable Members to show our gratitude to all our employed staff, whether on the water, in the Bar, in the Restaurant or in the Office.

From 15 December 2017 to 7 January 2018, if you so wish, you will be able to contribute to this fund. The following methods are available: Cash or cheque left at the office or cheque posted to the office, in each case in an envelope addressed to the Club Secretary Steve Shaw; cheques should be payable to the Club and marked “Christmas Staff Fund” on the back. You may use a debit or credit card - please do so only through Steve Shaw – contact him by ‘phone or email to make arrangements.

After 7 January 2018, we will calculate the total amount received and divide it equally among our currently employed staff (except for Steve Shaw, who has requested he should not participate and for who The Flag Officer’s will make arrangements). The fund will be distributed to staff with the first pay packet after 7 January. We intend to provide anonymity for all contributions.

The Flag Officers believe this fund is a good way of recognizing, at the festive season, the significant contribution that our employed staff make to the life of the Club.

In addition:

Data Protection

You will receive an email in the next few days which will explain about the new Data Protection changes affecting the Club. Please look out for this email as it is extremely important and you MUST respond.

Bar Hours

Woops! We made a mistake in the newsletter earlier this week. Please check the website shortly for hours of opening and our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

RYA Day Skipper Course

Following the success of last year’s course, we will be running this shore based RYA theory course on Tuesday evenings from the New Year.

The course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day, as well as includes a basic knowledge of lights for night cruising. The course topics include: the basics of seamanship, the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting and meteorology, tides, collision regulations, and emergency and safety procedures.  

The plan is run the course on the series of 12 Tuesday evenings from January 9^th and finishing before Easter on March 28^th; each evening would start at 18.30 and finish before 22.00. The cost for the tuition and RYA course materials will be £280. Because we will need a minimum number of people to make this course viable, please contact the Office by email no later than the 23^rd December to confirm your place.

Invoicing for membership subscriptions and services

This year we are going to try something a little different, your invoices will be going out early in January rather than before Christmas. The Flag Officers consider that there are no timing issues here as most members paying by Direct Debit or otherwise, pay by the 1^st February.

New Member of Staff

We would like to welcome Jo Salmon to the Office Team who is taking over all the accounts and bookkeeping. Mandy will be remaining until mid January to work alongside her and provide a comprehensive handover.

Kindest Regards

The Office Team