Committee members met at Hayling Island SC, the venue for next year’s 60^th National Championships to discuss a variety of topics relating to the running and future success of the Class.

The mission of the class  “To be universally recognised as the class to aspire to, and which enables the highest possible number of sailors to reach that aspiration” was proposed, and with some amendment to the precise wording agreed in principle.  Work groups were formed to consider in detail each of the topics as follows: -

Publicity                                                          Will Rainey, Alex Jackson and Lawrence Tosh

Regions and Training                                    Rob Wilder, Richard Whitworth, Steve Watson and Andy Jones

Membership and Recruitment                      Demelza Mitchell, Mike Anslow and Judith Massey

60^th Anniversary                                            Pat Blake, William Warren and Graham Williamson

Each work group reported back to the full committee and plans of action were devised.

A.       PUBLICITY Work Group observations

Our main means of publicity are: -

Magazine    -           goes to all members, our main contact with the membership.

Various issues already discussed at this morning’s committee meeting, see Committee meeting minutes

Action:            GW and WR to discuss with RB

Website        -           gets to the people we don’t already know, a key recruitment tool.

Website needs: -                       New Home Page

                                                News

Details of availability of new boats and kit from Winders, Linton? Lawrie? and Jacko? With links to their web sites.

                                                Events details

                                                Reports and results

                                                List of contacts – particularly regional reps and key clubs

Clubs – centres of excellence where potential members can be drawn into the organisation and converted to members.

Possibility of a members’ area was discussed, but concerns raised that it might not achieve what we would hope it to.  However having technical information, tuning and training info in such an area might be seen as a benefit to members – otherwise, what benefit is there, as far as the website is concerned in being a member?  A members’ area would need good quality content to show a real benefit.  If it were to happen, there should be a six-month lead in to allow the necessary content to be prepared in advance of members’ area going live.

Could we have a structure for people to advertise on the website?

The website is getting 3000 hits a day, but the site is tired and needs revamping. 

Serious concerns that the volume of work is too great for the required timescale. Would committee consider paying for computing time to help Magnus Smith develop the site, or could others in the fleet help do the work?  Top priority for this to be done.

Dinghy Exhibition

The spring issue of the magazine should tie in with features on the Show

Large map showing Merlin Rocket clubs

Table football competition on the stand to attract further interest

The price of the stand had gone up, but we would only have 2 frontages rather than 3, as previously

Display a Winder boat on the stand – perhaps no second boat, as we will be short of space.

Action:            LT/Alex J

B.       REGIONS AND TRAINING Work Group Observations

Concept letter to Area Reps and club contacts (class captains)

One centre of excellence not enough for each Region.  Centres of excellence suggested: -

                        South West      -           Parkstone and Starcross

                        South East        -           Whitstable, Shoreham, Hampton and Tamesis

                        Midlands          -           Midland and Blithfield

                        North               -           Hollingworth

Details in Year Book and on website

Don’t give away all training information (members’ area on website, with password and membership number)

More formal information

Focused training before sea meeting or river open

More masterclasses at Champs and Salcombe, etc.

DVD of Salcombe Week – add commentary – training and promotional

Framework needs to be in place via Regional Reps to capture training needs

C.        MEMBERSHIP AND RECRUITMENT Work Group observations

Losing members           -           who are too old            }          offering

-                     having kids                   }          Associate Membership

-                     “boat not for them”

What would make the biggest impact in our attempts to retain and grow the membership?          - targeting those club Merlin sailors who are not yet members

This is a crucial area for Regional Reps and (club) class captains.  A job specification would achieve Consistency.  We need to generate enthusiasm at club level – as has been done at Starcross,

Parkstone and Whitstable.

We need to define the Regions and the clubs within them.

This information should go in the Yearbook.

An updated membership list (split into Regions) should go to each of the Area Reps.

What can we offer new members?

                                    Vouchers for free training

                                    Vouchers for discounted insurance

                                    Training DVD to sell to members

Other actions

Extract a list of boat owning non-members from website Forum enquiries and write encouraging them to join.   

Action:            MA/DM

All committee members to encourage new owners / existing owners to join.

Membership Article in magazine.   

Action:            DM

“Second-hand man” to advise Demelza Mitchell of boat sales.

The Design Guide is not doing what we want it to do.  Some users expect it to tell them how to set up and sail their boat.  The Guide needs updating.

D.       60^TH ANNIVERSARY Work Group observations

The programme for 2006

• should include a Silver Tiller at Ranelagh at the start of the year
• might include a Tideway Race  Action:  Pat Blake to check out possibilities
• possibly a visit to Scotland (for the Inland Champs?) – the Clyde Quaich was originally for a north/south challenge.            Action:            GW to speak to Colin Brockbank

Award new Life Memberships – consider one or two.

Possibly a raffle to win a new Merlin – 1000 tickets at £10 each.          

Action:            GW to check out details

Boat charter scheme to allow non-Merlin sailors to charter one to sail at the Champs – also a list of older boats available.  This idea would not necessarily be year-specific.

DECISIONS AND ACTION POINTS

Prepare and send concept letter to class captains at all the clubs so that they all understand the way the Centres of Excellence structure is intended to work.

Verify as far as possible who class captain is at each club

Action:            Andy Jones

Prepare job description for Regional Reps that describes the Regional support process, and strengthens the links with our training activities, so that each Region provides the same support, guidance and opportunities to members, new and existing to join in with MROA activities

Action:            Judith Massey and Regional Reps

Define Regions

Action:            Andy Jones and other Regional Reps

Decide on centres of excellence and Regional boundaries by 14^th January 2005 ready for inclusion in Year Book.  Present the membership list by region so that Regional Reps know who is in their region to call on for help with organising training etc in conjunction with Rob Wilder.

Action:            Judith Massey and Regional Reps

Update and assemble training information for website and the Area Reps

Action:            Dan Alsop

Training / promotional DVD

Action:            Rob Wilder to speak to his contacts who offered to complete the project

Arrange and get speakers for masterclasses at Salcombe Week, as well as providing the opportunity for one to one expert commentary on the races

Action:            Rob Wilder

New Member benefits – design voucher for “a day’s race training”

Action:            Judith Massey

New Member benefits - arrange insurance discount scheme and design voucher

Action:            Demelza Mitchell

Second-hand boat sales information to go to Demelza Mitchell

Action:            Chris Martin

Update website

Action:            Will Rainey and Graham Williamson to discuss with Magnus Smith

Table football at Dinghy Exhibition – measure stand to see if table will fit

Action:            Lawrence Tosh

Revamp Design Guide and present information cross referenced by designer, design, age and price so that newcomers can find the information they want more easily.

Action:            Chris Martin and Alex Jackson