The Commodore's Newsletter March 2020

Dear Members

As always, we hope you are keeping well, the safety of all our staff and members is absolutely at the foremost of our minds, when we discuss and agree the actions that need to be in place to ensure that safety.

Clearly last night’s announcements mean very significant changes to the actions so far taken to try to protect you and our NHS.

With immediate effect:

• No member shall visit the club.
• The haul out programme is suspended as are all boat movements of members. You cannot return your dinghy to the club.
• No contractors are allowed on site.
• Mark Fulton will be on site during working hours as will, where possible, our yard staff. Their immediate role is to secure the club assets and carry out any “mothballing” that is necessary. This will ensure that when we reopen, our club will have been well cared for and an absolute pleasure to visit and enjoy once more.
• If there is a critical issue with your boat, then please contact Mark and the yard staff will try to resolve the issue where they can.
• We are reviewing site security and examining the options available to us. From today the double front gates and the side gate to Hamworthy Park will be locked shut

Your management team are reviewing the information we are receiving daily, and I know you are fully aware of the fast-moving situation that confronts us. We will continue to post bulletins as frequently as we need to. We are determined to keep you as well informed as possible as to the actions we need to take.

On behalf of your management team please keep safe, work with us, look after each other. We all have a responsibility to follow the government’s guidance and accept that nothing we do with our boats can be classified as “essential”.

We hope that everyone is keeping well and positive. We will be coming out of this situation. Please enjoy your boats and go sailing, great for personal wellbeing!

The information below is in addition to our last bulletin, Bulletin 1.

All club organised sailing activities on and off the water, youth events, social events and meetings are suspended with immediate effect and until further notice. There are no exceptions and the Sunday series will not be completed.

The club safety boats will not be available for use until further notice.

The changing rooms remain open but please do not use the communal showers in the men’s changing room.

The scheduled haul out continues, please keep your distance from the yard team. If you are anticipating going into self-isolation, please advise the Club Office by phone or email and cancel any haul outs scheduled during this period.

We will be making a decision early next week about dinghies coming back to the yard and this will be communicated in our next bulletin.

We are also considering what service, if any, we might offer members who are on swinging moorings. Again, advice will follow.

All the above decisions have been taken by your Flag Officers and General Manager. We talk regularly, currently daily, using video conferencing. Your General Committee will continue to meet and function using the same method.

The Postal vote for the election of Flag Officers and General Committee members has exceeded the quorum required and I can confirm that the new Commodore, Flag Officers and General Committee Members will take up their posts on the 28th March 2020.

Please remember to use the Club Office as your point of contact for any queries and questions you may have; if Mark/Lorna cannot answer them, they will find someone who can. genmgr@pooleyc.co.uk 01202 672687

• Postal vote for election of Flag Officers and General Committee members.
• Bar and Catering to close from this afternoon
• Clubhouse to close but office remains manned
• Changing rooms to remain open
• Haul out schedule continues as per normal
• Owners have access to work on boats and go sailing as they wish
• Youth: The preseason meeting of March 25th will be cancelled and further advices re Youth activity will be made as soon as possible
• Club organised non youth training activities: decisions on hold and advices will follow
• Advices to members will be made through social media, email and the Club website

Last night your General Committee met to discuss and agree how we best manage the very difficult situation which we are all facing and which we are told will rapidly become more serious.

The Committee voted unanimously to ratify the Flag Officers decision to postpone the Club AGM.

The Committee voted unanimously to agree to give members a postal vote in order to elect the new Flag Officers and General Committee members. This is necessary in our rules in order that the proposed Flag Officers and vacant General Committee members can take up their posts from the 28th March 2020.

You will receive by email shortly with a request to agree to the unopposed election of the Committee members and Officers as listed. Please respond to the email asap so that Club business can continue and that we can ensure our rules are correctly followed.

The third agenda item related to how we manage the Covid-19 epidemic as a Club; best protecting both our employees and our members. We must show a community responsibility to the crisis and take decisions based on facts and informed guidance.

The General Committee has set up a “Covid-19 Response Group” This initially consists of the Flag Officers and the General Manager, Chaired by the Commodore. This will be the decision-making team. It will be advised by additional members who have expertise and skills to help inform the decision-making process and help implement decisions reached.

This morning I took specific advice from medical practitioners in our area as to what actions we should be taking now.

This team will also be responsible for keeping members informed on a regular basis of all decisions and actions regarding our Club.

Some decisions have already been taken:

• From tonight Tuesday 17th March 2020 the Bar and Catering will be closed and the staff have been sent home. Some staff will be attending the Club to ensure that both areas are well maintained and kept cleaned and sterile for when we will reopen.
• The Office staff, where possible, will work from home. The Office will be manned and Mark will manage the Office to ensure continuity of business and maintain a point of contact for membership.
• The main Clubhouse will be closed but the changing rooms will remain open and kept as well cleaned as possible.
• Members will continue to be able to work on their boats, visit their berths and go sailing.
• Club Organised racing is under review
• Decisions on this Sunday’s Cruiser Racing will be taken by Saturday 21/03/20.
• The Yard Staff will continue their work.
• The haul out will continue as per normal for the time being. Please do not contact the Office and try to change your haul out schedule.
• Bringing dinghies down to the Club on 28/03/20; this decision will be reviewed in the light of the changing circumstances over the next two weeks and members advised.

All the decisions taken are under review and will be changed/amended as we receive further information. We will keep you informed with any and all information as it becomes necessary. The decisions taken so far should have very little impact on members as no member should be planning to visit the bar or catering facilities.

Please bear with us as we try to manage our staff and members wellbeing; I am sorry if there is some inconvenience, but we are all in this and need to work together for the benefit of the Club.

Stay healthy, stay positive

Please remember to use the Club Office as your point of contact for any queries and questions you may have; if Mark/Lorna cannot answer them, they will find someone who can. genmgr@pooleyc.co.uk 01202 672687