General Manager's Report

David Harries

General Manager

Agreat deal of work has been going on behind the scenes in recent months in addition to the Club’s usual activities. Committees have been working on the Strategic Plan and reviewing the Rules and Bylaws which require amendments and updates. A Special General Meeting is proposed in July to bring the changes to members for adoption. More information will be circulated before the meeting. Updating policies and converting pre 2019 Bylaws into policies is continuing. A review of our communications software requirements is underway. And, finally, the commencement of the Quarterdeck kitchen extension on 8th June 2021.

Members dining will move back into the Ballroom over winter in response to its popularity during the last year’s pandemic restrictions. There are some Club functions, including the combined SoPYC - Fremantle Sailing Club Mess Night and the Kindred Clubs’ evening in July which will result in dining moving up to the Ward Room.

Safe WA

It's necessary for members to continue signing into the club via the Safe WA App or manual recording sheets when in the clubhouse and attending meetings. QR codes and manual forms are placed in meeting rooms and club entries.

Staff Changes

There have been a number of changes to staff. In finance, Kirstie Beveridge (Finance & Administration Manager) and Alex Vacca (Assistant Accountant) are holding the seats of Lauren and Ciara who are on maternity leave. Ashleigh Damore has taken on Pens & Moorings support and is sharing the Membership role with Jen Davies who is also Club Secretary. Christina Heydon is supporting the On Water Group while recruiting an administration assistant/ OTB administrator. “the next bit is more difficult - open your wallet and donate, you will feel better afterwards.”

Environmental News, Maintenance and Safety

Unfortunately, Green Batch, who SoPYC and partner Rotary Club of Melville engaged for the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) and recycling activities has gone into receivership. We are looking at alternative outlets and suppliers. In the meantime, please continue using the purple bins located around the premises. Another contractor is filling the gap until we source another CDS supplier and recycling waste generated by members and contractors.

A maintenance email has been established so members can report maintenance issues directly to the facilities team. Attaching a photo with the email will be of great benefit to the team. Please add maintenance@ sopyc.com.au to your contacts. There are also red and white stickers placed at strategic locations around the club to assist members communicate maintenance matters to staff. All maintenance notifications are logged in our asset and maintenance data base and allocated a job number.

Also, a reminder from the Pens and Moorings Chairman about the annual tagging of shore power and other extension cords having to be tagged by the end of June.

Australian Sports Foundation St Ayles Skiff Project

The tax deductable donations scheme has been registered with the Australian Sports Foundation. With the end of the financial year approaching, members can donate to the project to construct two St Ayles Skiffs and receive a tax deduction this year. Details can be found at sportsfoundation.org.au. To access the site, click on Donate, then Clubs, Organisations and explore Projects. As the commodore suggested,

Annual Subscription and Pen Fees

At about the same time as Soundings hits your letter box, there will be communications from the Club about the 2021-2022 Subscriptions and Pen Fees. The Half Yearly Meeting was adjourned due to COVID restrictions and held on 12th May. Subscriptions and Pen Fees were adopted unanimously by the members present at the meeting. We will be requesting that changes to members’ contact details be updated through the Members Portal. We will be calling for other information updates through a specific email. Members will be asked to opt in for the frequency they wish to be charged for vouchers - annually or quarterly - noting that unspent quarterly vouchers expire each quarter and annual voucher charges expire on 30 June.

Boat owners will be asked to provide insurance and registration renewal dates as many members have changed boats and insurance providers since last year. Members will receive renewal reminders about insurance and rego as the dates supplied are flagged in the database. Provision of insurance and registration information to SoPYC is mandatory irrespective of type or size of vessel owned.

75th Anniversary Commemorative Pins

Commemorative pins recognising our 75th Anniversary are available. Members attending the 75th Anniversary celebration evening received pins on arrival at the function. For those members who have not received pins, they will be distributed with membership cards and windscreen stickers.