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“We need someone to...” Join in, it’s all part of the fun.  “Of course I’ll be on that committee—How much does it pay?” Ha, if that were the case there would be no yacht clubs. All clubs are run by volunteers; from the commodore down to the chair stackers. Actually, except for a few of the more affluent yacht clubs, most everyone in a club is an “after the meeting” chair stacker. Yacht clubs, boating clubs, sailing clubs, are formed by people who enjoy a common interest, sailing or powerboating, and take pleasure in being with others who share their enthusiasm and passion for being on the water. But getting a bunch of folks together requires someone to organize things, and so begins the “we need someone to...” process. The variety of activities in a club increase with the number of members. There are those who just want to cruise, those who just want to race and those who want to do both. Now it’s getting a bit more complicated, because in each one of those categories there are probably a couple sub-groups that also need organizing, and believe me, it’s not always an easy job. Anyhow, you get the picture. Basically you have a small business made up of people who work for free. One of the great joys of sailing is the freedom. We head out on the water, masters of our own vessels, going whereever the four winds blow. Granted, those four winds may only be blowing us to Port Ludlow or Blake Island, but for those few hours we’re like Captain Cook, Dennis Connor, or Captain Jack Sparrow, “Bring me that horizon!” So, sometimes organizing a group of sailors can be like herding cats. On the other hand, we’ve found that sailors are more often than not, generous folk, willing and eager to give a helping hand to their fellows. Aha, now we’re getting somewhere. Speaking of getting somewhere, where am I going with this? This is the time of year when many clubs are already getting ready for the next year; planning events and selecting dates. But nothing happens unless there’s someone to do it, from the largest regatta to the centerpieces at the Christmas party. For new members, this is a terrific way to meet your new mates. Many hands make easy work, so don’t just watch and hope someone else does it. Join in, you’ll find that it’s actually all part of the fun and you’ll be highly paid with smiles and laughter. |
