To keep membership costs at a low level, the Club has a long history of relying on volunteer labour for all projects as well as ongoing maintenance. It takes considerable time and effort to operate and maintain the Club.
The following shows what is required from the general membership, and is by no means exhaustive. Please do your share to make our club run smoothly. Be sure to apply any special skills you have. And, if you are uncertain about how or where you can help out, be sure to ask any member of the Board.
Season Opening/Closing
At the beginning and end of the season, a work day (or two) is needed to:
- Raise or lower the steel docks with wood decking – cranks & poles have to be installed/removed
- Tidy up the grounds (may require tree trimming and removal of debris to the transfer station)
- Setting up/taking down the Club sailboats and crash boats (all boats must be checked for repairs and missing parts – and required items listed and purchased). Smaller boats are winter stored indoors
- Start (drain) the water system. At season end, the system must be thoroughly drained and antifreeze put in the toilets to prevent breakage during the winter
- The upper and lower Club houses should be thoroughly cleaned (floors swept/washed, cupboards and counters washed to eliminate any food crumbs, all garbage and recycling removed and rodent bait placed
- Lower area toilets should be swept, thoroughly cleaned and antifreeze put in the toilets
- All mowers and boat motors should be appropriately winterized (change engine oil and lower end outboard oil; and drain tanks and run engines until fuel all used from in the carburetors – in the fall) and checked and serviced carefully at season opening.
- Club boat sails must be stored dry and properly folded in the storage building. All centerboards, rudders and spars should be checked to ensure they are still in satisfactory condition, properly identified and labeled
- All garbage must be put in the cage for pickup by parks & recyclables removed
- At season end, all buildings must be properly secured (windows closed, doors locked)
Lawn & Grounds
Members are responsible for trimming/mowing & keeping their boat spots tidy. The power push mower and gas trimmer are available for this.
The lawn area needs to be cut once a week during the spring and summer when the grass is growing quickly and less often later in the season. The riding mower is available and usable for most of the area. A thorough job will take about 4 hours. The lawn should not be cut when weekend racing, learn to sail classes or other events which require use of the grounds are underway.
Mowing has been an issue. A sign-up board will be posted in the Club house at the beginning of the season. Members are asked to sign up for a turn mowing the lawn during the season. It is anticipated that each member family will need to mow once during the season. In the event of inclement weather, the member should sign up for a subsequent day if one is available. Otherwise, assistance could be offered to the person mowing the following weekend. If not able/available for mowing, a $25 contribution should be remitted to the Treasurer. Monies contributed will be deposited in the Club’s general account.
Weekend arrival and departure
At the beginning/end of a weekend, the Club house(s) should be swept, toilets checked for supplies and swept as needed, counters wiped down, hot water heater in both the lower and upper clubs turned off, garbage removed to the garbage cage, windows closed and all doors (including storage sheds) locked. Recycling should be taken to the recycling depot regularly. If you see that cleaning and paper supplies are low, please advise the House Chair.
Please help keep the club facilities tidy. Members are asked not to store/leave gear/sails/personal items in the Clubhouse or sail storage building
Weekend Racing
Each race day marks need to be set and retrieved. You can learn how to do this by asking the Race Chairman, or other members experienced with the boat and course layout relative to the wind. Marks may need to be inflated prior to setting a course. Gas/oil for the Club boat can be purchased on account at the Marina as may be needed. (please ensure you sign the invoice) (Note: only those members with a valid Pleasure Craft Operator’s card may operate the crash boat). Marks should be retrieved immediately following the races.
Club Crash Boats:
Ensure they are properly moored/stored at all times, safe from potential wave and wind damage. Do maintenance during the season, as needed, and operate them carefully to minimize wear, tear and damage.
Only those members with a valid Pleasure Craft Operator’s card may operate a crash boat
Even if you have experience operating motor boats, please participate in one of the FYC motorboat training sessions, to learn about the quirks of operating our boats and using boat docks. If you miss those session, please ask an experienced member to show you the details of operating the boats. We are safer if many members know how to run the boats, so they can go help quickly when someone is in trouble out on the lake.
Club Sail Boats:
The boats are available for members to use. Get a demonstration of how to rig any boat you are interested in using, and be sure to report any damage or missing parts after you have used the boat. Be sure to put sails away dry and properly folded. All rigging should be put away as it was found.
Repair and replace needed items at the beginning of the season. Also maintain them during the season, as needed.
Facilities Repairs and Maintenance:
On an unscheduled but frequent members have to do basic repairs as required, to fix things before they cause more problems.
Improvement Projects
Each year, the membership establishes improvement project priorities which may include building, repairs or other significant endeavors which require technical expertise, equipment and manual labour. Members will be asked to contribute expertise and labour to undertake projects in a cost effective timely manner.
Participating on the Executive
At each Annual General Meeting, a group of people are elected for the various positions on the FYC Board– for that list see the Club Board page.
The Club Board is charged with managing the ongoing operations of the Club in accordance with its charter and by-laws. The Board is responsible for the fiscal management of the Club and the preservation of its assets. A range of skills are needed to provide overall good governance. Board members serve a 2 year term and may be re-elected to serve more than 1 term. See the Club Bylaws page for a description of the responsibilities for each position.
Fund Raising Grants
We occasionally have the opportunity to raise funds for eligible projects through grants. It takes members time and effort to apply for the grants, manage the expenditures, and report back. It is a great help for expensive projects that improve the facilities or programs at the club.