NOTES FROM THE DISTRICT SECRETARY

While I still have the pulpit, I might as well use it.

VOTE DUE DEC 10th

Active members should have received their annual ballots.

I'm ashamed to say that our district has had very very very poor voting in past years.

Fleet captains -- it is your responsibility to make sure your active and life members vote.

online references:

        http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish/article_84.shtml

        http://www.starclass.org/2003ballot.pdf

        http://www.starclass.org/2003ballot-resolutions.pdf

        http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish/article_61.shtml

FYI (and it may not be my position to say anything, but I’m going to say it anyway): 

I am voting no on all of the resolutions.  I think 10 & 15 are trivial if not unimportant.  I think 11 and 12 will be grossly abused, I think 13 needs further review, and I'm ambivalent on 16. 

But that's my opinion. Definitely vote your own, and feel free to convince me otherwise.

BUT PLEASE VOTE

If you don't vote, don't complain.

WEBSITE

We have a new website, and a new webmaster

http://www.starclass.org/d1/index.html

Thanks to David Bolles for rising to the challenge to be our new webmaster, and thanks to the Star Class for the space.

Thanks to John Fox for providing us with his expert webmastering services the past few years.

He and Nancy are now in Florida basking in the sunshine.  When you see them at the Masters and Bacardi, feel free to buy them a free Bacardi for me.

If any fleet wants basic free website hosting, read here:

http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish/article_77.shtml

2004 SCHEDULE

Preliminary schedule is here: 

http://www.starclass.org/d1/index_files/2004schedule.htm

The biggies which are in stone are the

Districts, July 16-18 on Long Island

NAs, August 21-26 at Boston Harbor

Please send me or the next DS your desired regatta dates.

If I’m not mistaken, we need to find a host & date for the Masters.  Whose turn?  Any takers?

I'll let the next administration schedule the Winter Meeting

2005 SCHEDULE

Districts --  Newport (still have faint hope)  BH?

Masters?

2003 RESULTS

New England Sloop Championship:      Vince Porter, John Mulcahy, Harvard

Tri-District Series:                                 John MacCausland, Brad Nichol

Nash Trophy:                                       John MacCausland, Brad Nichol

Nutmegs:                                              John MacCausland, Brad Nichol

Bedford Pitcher:                                   Ben Cesare, Peter Manion

Burtis Masters:                                     Tom Price, Will Wagner

Secretary's Cup:                                   Cindy Olsen, Steve Braverman

New England Championship:                Doug Schofield, Bob Schofield

Blue Star:                                             Jake Fiumara, Joe Chambers

Green Star:                                           Mike Kailin, Greg Dolan

MacDonald Brothers:                           Peter Costa, Sergey Leonidov

Junior Districts:                                     Andrew Greely, John Safford

Ned Hay:                                             Jake Fiumara, Joe Chambers

Arms White:                                         Doug Schofield, Bob Schofield

Congrats to trophy winners, and congrats to all of the participants who came out in numbers this year.

Full results are here:

http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=search&search_by=organizer&search_value=District%201

MY TIME IS UP, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT

Thanks for all of your support and your efforts during my term as DS.

The new administration will deserve equal if not better support. 

I will continue to be an active participant in the district, as I’m not going anywhere.

Moving Forward:

-- One of my personal highlights for 2003 was seeing 30+ stars wow the crowd in Marblehead.  Big thanks to those who made the effort, especially those who got new star sailors into their boat for this event.  I would like to see a multi-class regatta every two or three years.  If not Larchmont in 05 or 06, then I will gladly try rally Marblehead again.

-- Collegiate -- Fran Charles has done a wonderful job getting these hotshots into boats.  It is all of our jobs to continue.  Big thanks to those who made the efforts to get these kids into boats.  Lets keep this going!

-- Half of our trophies were won by district 2.  Glad they came to join us, and welcome them back.  what can we do to pick up the pace?

We have the top district in the world, in terms of truly active membership, racing, and respect for the boat, the class, and the people.

Let's keep it going.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all.

See you on the water.

s.