The Club board will be refocused, following the election of officers at the AGM, to allocate specific responsibility for tasks such as house, communications, marketing and commercial to Committee members. Commodore David Roache will be implementing the changes to ensure activity is focused around the key actions needed to meet the Club’s goals and ensure its financial security. Nominations for the board close on Monday 24 January.

Commenting on the change, David said: “Our strategic challenge is to progress towards our goal of 1500 members by 2015 and reach a position of sustainable financial security. Communications and marketing are vital to enable us to do this, as are our commercial activities, and the management of our clubhouse assets presents us with specific challenges at present. In addition to the familiar Flag Officer positions I want to have officers on the Board who focus on these tasks specifically.”

Although some Board members will have different areas of focus, the overall structure of the Board will not change and can be accommodated without a rule change. Alongside the Board responsibilities, David wants to encourage more ordinary members to get involved: “I want to send a message, loud and clear, to all our members that we need help from everyone to join teams engaged in this work.

“Apart from the well-known truth that ‘Many hands make light work’, it can be fun and very satisfying to join in efforts to ensure the secure future and prosperity of the Club.

“We need volunteers - particularly with skills in IT, marketing, buildings & property maintenance, finance – to join sub-committees of the board. I know we have a wealth of talent and knowledge among our members – please come forward to join in and contribute your expertise.”

Following the AGM, it is intended that the Board will comprise:
Commodore
Two Vice Commodores
Rear Commodore Membership
Rear Commodore Sail & Power (assisted by Fleet Captains for East and South coasts)
Rear Commodore Training
Communications & Marketing officer
House officer(s); (possibly two of them)
Social officer
Commercial officer
Plus committee members without portfolio
Plus Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Solicitor

The Communications & Marketing officer will head up all of the Club's communications with members and external audiences and will ensure that the other Flag Officers have the information they need to market their particular function.

It is possible that one of the Vice Commodore positions may be left vacant. The idea of the Vice Commodore role is to be largely without portfolio in order to focus on tasks as they arise and assist the Commodore as needed.

The AGM will be held on 8 March 2011. Nominations for election or re-election of Officers and the Board must be received in the Club office by 17.00 Monday 24 January 2011. Details of the meeting and officers who are standing for re-election here. You can download nomination and proxy forms here.