Royal Forth Yacht Club
House Committee minutes
Wednesday 4 May 2016
Present
Apologies
Patrick Carnie (Convener) PKC
Fiona Angier FA
Anthony Tait AT
Hillary Sillitto HS
Ian Lindsay IL
Susan Peakman SP
Minutes of previous meeting
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Approved. There were no matters arising.
Social events
Past events
 Plenty of bacon remains.
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Racers social evening #2 – curry shop ordering on the night worked much better. For round 3,
drop “Racers” from title, and consider cocktails (eg Chardonnay & Casis, or Vermouth based).
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Winter talks – Granton History, David King; Sail fast, Lewis Smith; Film festival; and Race
programme all worked well.
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Lift-in/funeral same week – thanks to volunteers including the Fourmans and Caroline Carnie.
Upcoming events
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Summer events etc – plan to be drawn up for volunteers
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Opening Regatta 7 May – Laurna will be on hand with bar.
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Open Day 21 May – Website advises: “Food and refreshments will be available. Eat, drink and
enjoy the lovely views from the comfortable bar and clubhouse.” – Agreed a BBQ, bar open, and
plenty of soft drinks & snacks in stock. Volunteers to advise Cdre. Marketing support needed.
Action: IL and PKC, All
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Royal Eastern Regatta 4 June - AT agreed to run a BBQ after the racing; PKC agreed to provide
pastries for coffee (around 11am). AT will do email to go out and on website (HS). Request
Laurna be available until 8pm, as racers will only get ashore about 6:30.
Action: AT, HS, PKC
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Edinburgh Regatta (15) 16, 17 July
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Edinburgh Schools Sports Ambassadors – Danny is investigating possibility of bringing along to a
Cruise in Company. Would need bacon rolls if confirmed. Date etc tbc.
Action: next mtg
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Festival series (10-12 Aug) PR – HS produced poster to boost numbers. Link to Edinburgh
Festival itself to be established. Buffet etc to be planned next meeting
Action: next mtg
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Comedy night: Offer made from professional team to be followed up.
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Poss future events: Wedding (23 Sept) (Westerly owners assoc AGM going elsewhere).
Action: PKC ASAP
Action: IL
Royal Forth Yacht Club
House fabric
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IL has fitted two coat hooks fitted in kitchen, and blanked off the lounge roof vents so its much
warmer now. Bar fridge lamp has been replaced before but it may be an electrical issue.
Caroline Carnie has donated two Club-branded aprons for use by kitchen volunteers. Sandra has
appointed a new cleaner, Eva, after Jolla received an offer of full time employment.
 Issues to be resolved
o Replacing cups etc – someone needs to review how many chairs, cups & cutlery settings are
needed, and Sandra will buy them to match.
Action: tbc
o Dilapidations report by Landlord’s surveyor: minor actions. Request Sandra arrange
Action: PKC
o Replace or repair blinds either side of bar.
Action: tbc
o Club chairs – (anonymous donation) enables refurbishment of lounge chairs.
Action: FA
o TV licence – Clubs pay £145.50 (see here1). Agreed that the cost is modest, to enable use of
laptops etc, and for occasionally showing civilised events. Request Sandra arrange.
Action: PKC
o Cameras & Wifi: PKC has asked John Lane to install booster for WiFi, in the lounge. CCTV
camera still awaits John Lane action. If new Pontoons are built, it may also be useful to add
2nd webcam and PIR/light for security.
Action: PKC/JL
o Electrical survey of clubhouse may be useful.
Action: volunteer required
Operations
Novel Income sources
 Developments, including those relating to Edinburgh Festival venue hire, have come up against
issues with the scope of commercial activities we can undertake that are not directly related to
sailing. Alternatively, RFYC might sponsor commercial activity offsite (eg a film festival), possibly
through a trading arm. These development ideas will have to wait for improved relationships
with the landlord, and require a review of the lease. Lessons may be learned from Craigmillar
Golf Club. Details to be taken into Strategy Review.
Action: IL/PKC
Bar & Catering
 Laurna has started again, and joined the Hon Sec to provide a refresher for bar volunteers.
 For Thursday evening races and cruising open evenings, bar to be open but no point having
Laurna there on those evenings. So volunteers to be sought from the active sailing community,
to open bar on arrival.
Action: AT
 Bar volunteers are needed for key events.
Action: PKC to issue request.
 Racers should be asked what post-race food they would like for 2016, at the pre-season
meeting. More broadly, what catering do we want and when, to match members needs? All
members are asked to talk to other members about this and feed back.
Action: All
Marketing
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1
Yearbook: completed and delivered to the club. Feedback very positive.
Distribution – Deliveries have been made to Westwoods gym (Fettes), David Lloyd gym
(Newhaven), Loch Fyne resto (Newhaven), Climbing centre (Newhaven) by PKC. FA will deliver
to Port & Fi (Newhaven). AT will deliver to SCO, Baillie Gifford, Royal Terrace area, Findhorn,
Edinburgh Sports Club, Largs marina. HS will deliver to Inverness, Mallaig and Arbroath areas.
PKC will post a few to RY Britannia and Rathbones. Deliveries still required more widely in
Edinburgh and further afield (Len Lothian, Bosuns Locker, Edinburgh cafes, restaurants, hotels,
surgeries, etc).
Action: All
PR for events: see “Future events” above and Facebook page.
Club branded goods: info about old stuff to be removed from website, and replaced with
instructions on buying club branded goods – in hand.
Action: HS
Club branded goods: up to date
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/business-and-organisations/clubs-and-community-groups-aud10#
Royal Forth Yacht Club
Standing Actions on all House ctee members
1. Social media: Event organiser/lead to send reminders / email re events to HS, MW & Sandra.
Longer term action summary
Who, when
Edinburgh Regatta - House
ctee rep, Jul 2016
East Coast Sailing festival
Helgoland House ctee rep, for
2017
Action
Action to be placed to take a Regatta stock baseline (prizes, glasses,
t-shirts, etc) before, on delivery, and after.
Who knows????!!!!!
Members should be encouraged to take part in the events, which
will require PR.
Forward plan for meetings (usually 7:30pm – 9:30pm)
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Next House ctee meeting dates & venues:
o Wednesday 7th June, RFYC Clubhouse
o (tbc) Monday 11th July, RFYC Clubhouse
o (tbc) Monday 22nd August, RFYC Clubhouse
Distribution
House Committee, Commodore, Council, Sandra Cameron, Members section of website