Manalapan Yacht Club Officers’ Meeting
December 30, 2023
The Officers met at The Little Club. Commodore Allan Kaulbach presided. In
attendance were VC Jim Schelter, RC’s Sherman Neff and Alex Berry, FC Platt
Johnson, and PC’s George Petersen and Ron Shipka. RC Bill Harsh attended by
telephone.
Treasurer’s Report
RC/Treasurer Neff presented the November Treasurer’s report. He stated that some
members are still paying by check and that a few members haven’t paid their 2023-24
dues. The Officers agreed that RC Neff and FC Johnson will work with members to
complete the transition to on-line bill payment. Club officers will contact members who
have not paid their dues to either secure payment or terminate their memberships.
The club has not received 2024 Yachting Club of America membership cards. The
Officers discussed whether MYC members receive sufficient benefits to justify the $500
annual Yachting Club fee. The Officers also discussed the fact that since MYC has
indicated that it does not offer reciprocal rights some clubs will not honor the Yachting
Club card. The Officers decided to offer reciprocal rights to Yachting Club members
who wish to attend MYC events with the understanding that reciprocal members will be
sponsored by an MYC member. If a Yachting Club member asks to attend an MYC
event then MYC has the option to confirm that the Yachting Club member is in good
standing at his or her club. RC Neff will contact the Yachting Club to change MYC from
a club not offering reciprocal rights to a club offering reciprocal rights and to inquire as
to the status of the 2024 Yachting Club membership cards.
Website Issues
The Officers discussed whether requiring reservations to be made via the club website
is deterring members from attending events. Attendance is down year over year at the
first two MYC events this season. After discussion, the Officer agreed to continue to
urge members to use the website and to send a simplified set of instructions for making
reservations on the website via an email blast. FC Johnson urged sponsors not to
assist members in making reservations but rather to direct them to him so that he can
determine what aspects of the web-based reservation process are frustrating members
so that those aspects can be addressed.
Upcoming Events:
Wine and Wickets
To date 45 members have made reservations, and most of them have signed up for
croquet. This is significantly less than the number of participants at past Wine and
Wickets events. Unless more members attend the event the cost per members will
increase since fixed costs will be allocated to fewer members. RC Shelter said that 20
percent of the members who made reservations called him directly. This has increased
his workload as an event sponsor and, if not addressed, will add work for future event
sponsors. FC Johnson will send a Last Call blast to the members and the club will send
simplified instructions for making a reservation via the website to all members in an
email blast.
Day at the Races
Commodore Kaulbach will contact PC Bucher to transfer her knowledge about contacts
for this and other events to the event sponsors. RC Berry will contact Gulfstream Park
and the bus operator to make arrangements and an email blast will be sent to members
shortly after the Wine and Wickets events.
Annual Meeting
The club has secured sufficient accommodations at KLAC to allow the officers to stay
onsite. This year members will have the option to arrive a day early to take advantage
of fishing, golf, and other activities at KLAC and the Ocean Reef Club on Tuesday, May
7. Commodore Kaulbach will contact KLAC and Ocean Reef to determine what pre-
meeting activities will be available and how members can make arrangements. The
regular schedule for the Annual Meeting will start with the opening cocktail party on
Wednesday, May 8 with games on Thursday and Friday and check out on Saturday.
Ship Store
RC Berry has updated the inventory. Some remaining items will be used as prizes at
upcoming events and others will be offered for sale at the golf tournament in March.
Going forward, members will be able to order club items directly from the suppliers via
the club website.
Membership
The Officers approved providing membership applications to Dennis and Martha Perry.
Marti and Morgan Gerhold, and Richard and Barbara Couch.
Next Commodore’s Blast
In the next Commodore’s blast, Commodore Kaulback will urge members to make room
reservations for the Annual Meeting and will provide information concerning procedures
for making arrangements for pre-meeting activities.
Old/New Business
PC Shipka asked that the club announce a memorial service for Laverne Shipka
will be held on Monday, January 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 188
South Swinton Avenue in Delray Beach, with lunch to follow the service.
Next Meeting. The next meeting will be held at noon on January 27, 2024.