ERIENCE - Sandringham Yacht Club

CENTENARYJohn Bertrand, Simon McKeon &Ross Lloyd speak at the 25 YearPlus Members’ LunchThe Unveiling of the TimeCapsule plaqueClub MarineCentenary RegattaMatt Allen and the OfficalParty on Opening DayPast Commodores' &Life Members' DinnerOpening Day 2011 saw theconclusion of the year longprogram of Centenary Year events.It was 12 months in planning.It was 12 months of celebrations.In October 2009, Commodore Philip Burn discussed theformation of a Centenary Year Planning Committee to planand co-ordinate a program of events to be held during 2011.A committee comprising the Vice Commodore SteveRichards (now Commodore), Past Commodore andLife Member Kevin Wood, Kate Mitchell (now RearCommodore), Treasurer David Lynch, Life Member and ClubHistorian Graeme Disney and the Club’s Event CoordinatorNaomi Smith, subsequently replaced by Tevany Patten,was approved by the General Committee to proceed withplanning the Centenary Year to Celebrate 100 years ofboating at Sandringham. Other members were co-opted forspecial events.The Planning Committee commenced meeting inDecember 2009.A draft program was drawn up with a preliminary budget.It was also agreed to publish a book on the history ofSandringham Yacht Club.To cover the cost of publishing the book it was proposedthat all members would be charged for a copy of the bookand invoiced in advance. This was approved at an OrdinaryGeneral Meeting of members in 2010.General Committee allocated $ 40,000 in support of theprogram of events including the book.The draft program of Centenary Year Events was finalisedwith a detailed budget including the book and submitted tothe Club’s General Committee for approval.A short list of authors for writing the book were interviewed.An author was appointed who commenced research andmember interviews to obtain past data and establish otherfacts and information. Owing to the considerable loss ofclub records over the years as a result of fires and the lackof appreciation as to their historical relevance for the future,it has been a difficult and time consuming exercise.To ensure that club records are retained for the informationof future generations it was recommended to the GeneralCommittee that electronic archive records be established.Throughout 2010 the Planning Committee met regularly.The development of the various events was advanced witha time table implemented to ensure that they were deliveredas planned and within budget. A distinctive Centenary Yearlogo was adopted for use in branding all events includingflags, signage, stationery and club merchandise. In January2011, we received advice from the New York Yacht Clubthat we had infringed upon the registered trademark of theirclub burgee, which was the design of the second burgeeadopted by our club in 1925. They requested we removeit immediately from the Centenary Year logo. After somecorrespondence they subsequently agreed that we couldcontinue with its use for the period of the Centenary Yearcelebrations. Agreement was reached with the HamptonStreet Traders Association for Centenary Year flags to beflown at each end of the shopping precinct.To keep members advised on the planned activities in thebuild-up to the Centenary Year and throughout 2011, aregular column was maintained in the Club’s bi-monthlynewsletter In and Around. An active web site page was alsoestablished.In November 2010, members received a CentenaryYear program of events brochure and an accompanyingmerchandise brochure. Specially selected Shiraz andChardonnay wines were chosen with a label depictingthe original clubhouse in 1911, taken from the paintingcommissioned by a group of Past Commodores anddonated to the Club at the time of the opening of the newclubhouse.26Summer 2011 | syc off the wind