GENERAL MANAGER

Michael Sassella General Manager

Firstly, I would like to thank the Commodore and Management Committee for having confidence in my capabilities to take the helm of SoPYC and provide direction and leadership to our team. Since my arrival in January 2023, I have been well-supported by our fabulous staff. Without mentioning names, we have some superstars on staff who are every bit as committed to the success of the Club as our very loyal members. I am very happy to be here and look forward to assisting with SoPYC becoming the standard-bearer for sporting associations and a role model for our local community.

Those of you who know me will be aware of my history in the hospitality industry, which includes management of a membership-based sporting association. Coupled with my background in Accounting, and Work, Health, and Safety,

I believe I am adequately prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

The Commodore and Management Committee have been very accepting of my progression along the learning curve, and the huge number of volunteers who assist me and the staff are nothing short of amazing. Again, not mentioning names, but the effort of some members to assist the smooth operation of SoPYC is nothing short of spectacular. The amount of time some members contribute to SoPYC indicates the special place this Club holds in members’ lives.

To support the Club’s volunteering spirit, I have signed up to undertake the RST and SBO courses over the coming months. I hope this will not only assist with the available pool of on-water volunteers but will also inspire members who are novices to get involved in the Club. To paraphrase, it’s not what the Club can do for you but what you can do for the Club.

Since my arrival, I have had the pleasure of viewing several events from our Club’s shores: The 125 Dinghy and O’pen Skiffs Championships in January, the Youth and Ladies State Keelboat Championships in April, and the CPYA Time Trial State heat in May. The notable takeaway for me was how well SoPYC organizes and executes these events. With many more upcoming Championships, I look forward to assisting where required.

I would also like to highlight those participants and volunteers who week in and week out take part in Club races. Without these stalwarts, our core mission of promoting sailing and leaving behind the legacy of an operational yacht Club for future generations to enjoy would not be possible.

So, where to from here? After six months of managing a few legacy projects, analyzing our procedures and practices, we have identified a few initial areas for improvement. Our team is keen on progress but urges patience for change.

One area earmarked for improvement is our communication with members. We are aiming to better inform the membership about what’s happening around the Club, particularly with regards to planned and ongoing works. This is a great initiative proposed by our Works Committee and will be an addition to the Coffee Pointers Newsletter shortly.

With this in mind, upcoming slated projects include minor refurbishments of both the Ballroom and Wardroom, and an upgrade to the Centreboards’ alfresco area. We have commenced the Jetty 1 wave attenuator replacement, and the asbestos roof repairs program is set to commence this winter.

Our Food and Beverage team is working in conjunction with the Functions Committee to inspire fabulous events and are currently examining some exciting proposals such as a Winter Dining Series. The challenge has gone out to our team to propose some memorable experiences for members.

As a yacht Club, we have an ethical responsibility to our local environment. We are currently reviewing means to further improve our recycling practices, appraising a zero-food waste policy, implementing the use of environmentally-friendly chemicals where possible, and assessing the feasibility of a solar power installation.

Finally, we have a magnificent Club, the legacy of all those who came before. My obligation to preserve this legacy is to remind staff that we are all ambassadors of SoPYC; the way we express our opinions, values, attitudes, and beliefs reflects our Club’s culture. As such, I ask all to be mindful and respectful of how we deliver our shared sense of mission and shared goals.

Please feel free to drop into the office and say hi.

Michael Sassella General Manager

WAfter a tough couple of years with lockdowns, COVID restrictions, employee shortages, and general uncertainty, 2022-2023 has seen some very positive outlooks for Club Membership.

The appointment of Nicole Taylor as our Club’s fulltime ‘Member Engagement Officer’ has been like a breath of fresh air for all things relating to membership and members’ participation. Nicole’s enthusiasm, coupled with her warm, friendly nature, has opened a pathway for new members to get quickly oriented with the Club and the activities available to them. It has also allowed seasoned members easier access to sorting out any issues they may have, as well as helping them get better access to our Club activity options.

We have some outstanding staff at our Club who are always willing to assist. Many of us who have been here longer than a couple of years may well know who to contact directly for assistance in particular areas. But for those who don’t, or if you are having trouble ‘connecting the dots’, Nicole is available for members to make contact with for assistance.

Having been in the role for about a year, it has been a rewarding experience learning about so many facets of the Club and how they relate to our members. The committee I engage with is continuously passionate and enthusiastic about making membership pathways easier and enjoyable, not only for new members but also for all members of the Club. Our Membership Committee has a great mix of longterm member experience, coupled with enthusiastic new members casting fresh eyes over possibly long-standing issues. Their passion for the Club is reflected in new member inductions and new member cocktail parties, creating a very welcoming and engaging atmosphere for those new members.

Their enthusiasm and dedication, along with Nicole’s role as Member Engagement Officer, have also had a very positive impact on new member participation. As mentioned, after a tough couple of years, this team has successfully motivated new members to get involved in water activities as well as social events. The Power Boat Time Trial Training Session and the start of this year’s Time Trialing Season have had a notable spike in new members participating. Nicole has also reported a significant number of new members – particularly Social Members – inquiring about sailing activities. Through assistance from ‘Die Hard’ Members like Bruce Uren, Nicole has been able to fulfill many requests for new members to experience sailing. Bruce immediately matches up the request with willing skippers and a good number have enjoyed the ‘Keelboat’ experience on Wednesday afternoons and weekends. Some have led to becoming crew members, and others are keen to gain more experience and also follow the crew pathway.

Another underrated avenue for creating active new members is the ladies on the committee of our Monthly Ladies Lunches. This dedicated committee focuses on a monthly lunch for ladies at the Club (both members and non-members) with some very interesting themes and some outstanding Guest Speakers. They support the Club through their constant bookings but have also created a successful conversion rate of non-member visitors becoming Club members. Awesome work, ladies! It doesn’t go unnoticed!

To finish off, a few statistics: Our system showed approximately 2,300 members listed. After a long-overdue thorough cleanup of our records, where a number of past members who were still listed as active were removed, we can accurately say that we are a Club with 2,145 active members. This includes 232 new members this year to date (July 1st, 2022 to May 25th, 2023). It is part of our monthly induction, where we advise new member attendees that our Club cannot survive without our volunteers – both on and off the water. We have approximately 20 committees at the Club, ranging from Management, the various boating sections through to Sponsorship, Functions, Ladies Lunches, and the Bosuns Club. Collectively, these committees contain about 170 positions, with a number of those positions having one volunteer sitting on two or more committees. In essence, that is less than 80 members out of 2,145 at the Club carrying the load. Not a great percentage. I urge ALL MEMBERS to think about their participation at the Club and ask for your help. Please inquire about joining one of our committees. Most only meet once a month and they are usually contained to no more than 1.5-hour meetings. A small commitment that can have a huge impact.

David Markham Chair of Membership