Let the season begin!! The snow has disappeared, it is warming up here in New England, and winter covers are coming off. And we just met for our Annual Meeting And Dinner at Bristol YC in Bristol, RI. It was another wonderful evening. Bristol YC and Chris Healy, BYC steward, were again gracious hosts. Drinks at the bar were followed by a delicious catered buffet. We met old friends, laughed a lot, and dreamed about the summer coming. The Annual Meeting followed. Carter brought everyone up to speed about the health of the SSA (good) and about assorted issues (SS23 class rules and Narragansett Bay racing plans). And, of course, awards were given out.
Details are below in the official minutes of the evening. Unfortunately we have no pictures, for our resident photographer Bob Rude was out of town. You will just have to imagine the fun, the camaraderie, and the many smiles.
Have a great summer, everyone!!
Minutes
Sea Sprite Association 2015 Annual Meeting And Dinner
April 10, 2015
Bristol YC
Welcome
The 2015 Annual Meeting was held at Bristol YC on Friday, April 10, 2015. Drinks at the bar were followed by a delicious buffet dinner catered by Morin Fine Catering. The meeting was then opened with welcoming remarks by Carter.
Old Business
State of the organization
Financial:
The SSA is in excellent financial condition. Net balance grew last year from $1169 to $2673. Administrative costs remained low at approximately $300. For 2016 that number will be closer to $500 as initial deals expire.We are approaching our goal of securing 6 years worth of administrative costs should at any time the SSA become leaderless for a spell.
Membership
Active dues paying members rose from 55 to 77 for 2015. 98 members have joined during the past 2 years.. Sea Sprites are spread across the US, with 21 states represented up from 14 in 2013. Dues will remain at $25 for 2016.
Organization
The SSA remains well structured and financially secure. The website is active and continues fully accessible to all visitors. 75 visitors a day access the site, with 400 to 500 pages visited each day. Numerous rehab projects were placed as story lines on the website. Classifieds are growing, with a total of 22 boats listed for sale in 2014 and 16 sold.
Advertising
Members receive 10% off Jamestown Distributors products. Racing and cruising sails ordered by members from Thurston Sails are also 10% reduced. Fine Art prints by Will Sofrin generate for the SSA 10% of his sales of this print.
Plans For 2015
Taxes
We will spend in 2016 a one time cost of $400 to the IRS for our determination as a federally recognized tax-exempt organization. We are already exempt from state taxes.
SS23 Class Rules
A Rules Committee has been formed by the BOD to formulate a set of class rules. A draft was formulated, and circulated for review and input. The initial set of rules will be in place by the end of May.
Race Committee (Narragansett Bay)
An ad hoc race committee has been formed to review issues raised as the SSA considers running some of its own races on Narragansett Bay this summer. The committee will review liability issues, number and location of races, type of races, promotion of races, etc.
New Business
BOD
Resigning: Chad Brown, Herb Browne
Remaining: Dana Menillo, Bob Catani, Dejan Radeka, Carter Hall
Proposed: Paul Sollito, Jonathon Goff
Those in attendance voted unanimously to retain the remaining members of the Board and to elect the proposed new members to the Board.
Bylaw Changes requested by the BOD:
“A treasurer shall be added to the SSA organization. The treasurer shall be responsible for the financial operations. He/she will work closely with the Coordinator regarding the daily financial operations and reporting requirements of the SAA, and shall be a member of the BOD.”
“Upon dissolution of the SSA under the direction of the BOD, the SSA’s assets shall be distributed to a sailing non-profit organization.”
Those in attendance voted unanimously to adopt the above changes to the
by-laws.
Awards
Skip Mattos won the 2015 SS23 Regatta. It was a wild and windy day last summer with close racing.Bob Catani won the Mr. Hog trophy for being the winner of the 2015 ‘Round The Hog, and for the 2nd year in a row accepted the trophy agreeing to keep Mr. Hog on his fireplace mantle at home.
The Amon Trophy, donated by Harold Tucker last year, goes to the winner of the Bristol YC SS23 Wednesday evening series. It, too, was close racing. Bob Catani emerged the winner.
The Nancy Belle award is given to the best SS23 racer on Narragansett Bay. Originally given to the Fleet in 1972 by Gil Thorpe, it is a lovely half-model of an SS23. The decision on the winner was done by the BOD reviewing all the SS23 races on the Bay. Racing in 2014 was extremely close. Skip Mattos narrowly beat out George Cochran.
The Denise trophy was originally constructed in 2002 to be given to the winner of an around Prudence Island race. It languished for almost a decade, and in 2012 was returned to be given to a member of the organization who has contributed greatly to the SSA. It was presented to Carter this year.
The Browne Cup is donated this year to the SSA by Herb Browne to be given to an individual for “Sportsmanship And Contribution”. Herb selected Carter to receive the award this year.
Meeting was then adjourned.
