The Annual Corporate Meeting of the American Sail Training Association (dba Tall Ships America) is scheduled for
Friday, February 6, 2015, during the service of the midday meal. The Annual Meeting will take place during the
2015 Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships, in Philadelphia, PA. All members are encouraged to attend, but
if you are unable to do so, please complete and return this proxy to: Dr. Eric Shaw, c/o Tall Ships America, PO Box
1459, Newport, RI 02840 or fax: 401-849-5400 before January 29, 2015. The Meeting will hear several reports, and
will act upon the following items:
The following slate of nominees has been developed by the Nominating Committee, and presented to the Board
for its recommendations to the voters at the Annual Meeting, i.e., the membership of Tall Ships America. Tall Ships
America’s Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of these nominees.
For election to officer positions, for a term beginning at the Annual Meeting in 2015, and extending to the same
in 2018: As President (and Chair): Michael J. Rauworth (MA)
For Election to the Board of Directors, for a term to expire in 2018: Austin Becker (RI); Jennifer Haddock (MA);
Michael Jehle (CT); Gordon Laco (Ontario, Canada); David Niebuhr (LA); David Reed (RI); James Spurr (MI); Barclay
“Tim” Warburton IV (RI); Art Tanner (RI)*
To fill a vacancy in the class of 2016: David Thalman (RI)*
*New to Board of Directors (see attached bio’s)
NO VOTE REQUIRED
The following officers are serving terms expiring in 2016:
Treasurer: Dexter Donham (MA)
Vice Chair/Vice President: Caleb Pifer (PA)
The following officers are serving terms expiring in 2017:
Secretary: Chris Rowsom (MD)
Vice Chair/Vice President: Eric Shaw (RI)
The following members will continue to serve three-year terms expiring during respective Class year (no vote
required)
Class of 2017:
Jonathan Boulware (CT); James Kerr (NY); Keith Raisch (FL); Dan Stetson (CA); Charles “Chip” Swicker (VA); Gail
Thacher (RI): Alix Thorne (ME)
Class of 2016:
Ray Ashley (CA); Anne Beaumont (NY); Robert Frost (NY); Richard Hawkins (MA); Deborah Hayes (RI);
Eric Jones (VA); Jonathan Kabak (NY); Meghan Wren Briggs (NJ)
Current Commodores Council (Commodores are persons who have previously served as Chairs of the Board of
Directors): Henry H. Anderson Jr. (CT); Bartlett S. Dunbar (RI); Nancy Richardson (CA); Christopher Rowsom (MD);
Thomas Weschler (CT); David V.V. Wood (RI)
Current Advisory Board:
Richard Bailey (MA); Hal Barstow (CA); Beth Bonds (SC); Alice Cochran (CA); Chuck Fowler (WA), Chris Freeman
(CT); Thomas Gochberg (NY); Andy Hammond (MA); Perry Lewis (RI); James Lyons (VA); Jeffrey Parker (VA); Jed
Pearsall (RI); Nigel Rowe (United Kingdom); Walter Rybka (PA); Chris Sinnett (CT); Howard Slotnick (FL)
PROXY – For those NOT attending the February 6th, 2015 Annual Meeting
Please return to: Dr. Eric Shaw, c/o Tall Ships America, PO Box 1459, Newport, RI 02840 USA
or fax +1 401-849-5400
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Members of the American Sail
Training Association (dba Tall Ships America), and hereby appoints Dr. Eric Shaw, Chairman of the Nominating
Committee (or in his absence, Captain Christopher Rowsom, Secretary) with power of substitution and proxy to
act, represent and vote on behalf of the undersigned, who will be absent from the aforementioned meeting, with
regard to any and all matters which may properly come before the meeting.
Signature: _______________________________________
Date: _____/_____/ 2015
Name Printed: ________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________________
Art Tanner
Sailed on VIRGINIA with Tall Ships America this summer. Lead in small sailing non-profit on Thames River for
disadvantaged youth. Principal, Noank Consulting Group 2011-Present. Specializes in working with not-for-profits
with the following needs: Strategic Planning, Long Range Financial Planning, Governance Issues and organizations
under stress. Prior 40 years as Chair and CFO, Standard-Knapp - manufacturer of packing machinery for a variety of
industries including beverage, food, household chemicals, personal care, and automotive.
David Thalman
CFO at Aquidneck Land Trust. Treasurer, Potter League for Animals. Benefactor, Newport Historic Preservation
Society. Active, Friends of Ballard Park, Newport. After a 30-year professional career in corporate banking and
leverage finance based in New York City moved to Newport RI. Now a fine art photographer, often with maritime
subjects.