Executive Meeting May 12th, 2026

Executive Meeting

May 12th, 2026 

1.     Present: Aaron Holland, Chris Murphy, Paul Cone, Wheeler Sutton, Dave Hudson, and

         Warren Duckworth (non-voting member)

        Parliamentarian: Joy Martin

        Secretary: Dianne Duckworth 

        Treasurer: Sarah Paisley

2.     Meeting called to order at 8:02 PM ET
3.     Minutes: April minutes- motioned, seconded and approved
4.     Secretary’s Report: Dianne Duckworth

1. Membership
   1. Membership Numbers: March 2026-426 and April 2026- 497 (+71)

                                          April 2024- 411 and April 2025- 419 (+78 since last year)

1. 40 Associate Memberships (2025-37 total and 2024- 46 total)

1. Chevrons have been sent
2. Trophies
   1. Sent 2025 trophy winners list to Chris with emails and phone numbers
   2. Plaques have been mailed and delivered
   3. Finalizing pewter trophy order

5.     Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Paisley

1.  April 2026 P&L: Total Income- $2,575.60; Total Expenses-$11,474.94; Net Income:$-8,899.34

                April 2026  Balance Sheet: Total Assets $158,260.24

1.  October 2025- April 2026 P&L: Total Income: $58,077.84; Total Expenses: $42,938.40; Net Income: $15,139.54
2. Operating Account Balance  $126,558.38, G&P Account Balance $35,493.12 $2,000 is Endowment

Thistle Class Association_Profit and LossApril2026Operating.pdf BalanceSheetApril2026.pdf Thistle Class Association_Profit and LossOct-April26Operating.pdf Thistle Class Association_Profit and LossOct-April26G&P.pdf ProfitandLoss Oct-April26.pdf

1. Checking account balance is significantly higher than normal because $100,000 of endowment funds has been moved to the operating account to be ready to transfer to the endowment.  Everything is ready to be transferred, but the investment co won’t initiate the transfer until we show a copy of the articles of incorporation or gov’t issued business license.  I have not been able to track down either of those yet, please let me know if you have ideas on where to find either of those.  
2. Expenses are somewhat high for April b/c there was a bagpipe printed, and the insurance premium was paid 

6.     First VP.s Report: Chris Murphy

1. Nationals Update 
   1. Chautauqua Out, Craig verifying North Cape for 2027
   2. Talking to Raleigh fleet re: Blackbeard (NC) & Fairhope YC (AL) about 2028
   3. Will convene RVPs shortly to get site ideas
   4. Will send out Nats trophy email soon, Diane sent all the info I need

7.     Second VP.s Report: Paul Cone

1. Bagpipe
   1. May/June issue PDF out.  Waiting for a mailed copy.
   2. FabricCraft dropping ad due to no business
2. TCA Event Practices
   1. Have a watermark, but need help with header/letterhead.-Warren will send a copy of our letterhead.
   2. Links need review to make sure they are permanent and pointing to the correct documents.
3. Builder Committee Met on 4/26/26- Communication with new potential builders is going well.  Planning for the first hull.

8.     Third VP.s Report: Wheeler Sutton

1. 2 U26 reimbursements from SEC – 1 processed, still waiting on receipt from 1
2. Will send reminder emails about U26 to regatta organizers for ACC, PCC, and Great Lakes to remind young sailors in their regions
3. Work on promotion / social media for upcoming regattas
4. Matching up sailors with double stack trailers and sailors wanting to sail with no way to get their boat there

9.     Chief Measurer’s Report: Dave Hudson

1. Conducted a successful DRMC meeting over Zoom. There were a few comments from email after the meeting which I will be responding to and sharing with the DRMC committee if they have not already seen them.
2. I’ll be having a discussion with former CM Eric Gesner regarding mast measurement this weekend.
3. I’ll be going to Allen Boat in Buffalo June 1st to look at the first two masts. I’ll also discuss building Thistles.

10. Past President’s Report: Warren Duckworth

1. Endowment Committee 
   1. Fund management is requiring the TCA articles of incorporation or business license before allowing investments.
   2. The team will be sending a note to the ExCom looking for input on funding from the Endowment. The hope would be to provide feedback by June 2nd, which is the team’s next meeting.
2. Thistle Next Generation Committee

1. We have not met as a team since the last ExCom, but we have had some one-on-one conversations.
2. Warren is working to register both boats and trailers in Ohio
3. We have not had any interest in taking a loan of the Lake Erie boat (3517) yet. For the first regatta we received the statement that they have hulls for people to use, just not enough interested sailors. We will continue to try and promote the use of the boat.
4. Mike Ingham is working to get the 3846 out of storage, he hopes to have the boat available in June.

1. Membership promotion phone calls have not started. Hopefully, I will have a report for next month 
2. Nominating Committee- I will contact all ExCom one-to-one to discuss intentions for next year.

11. President’s Report: Aaron Holland

1. Strategic Initiative
   1. I will get a Strategic Initiative list out and ask for prioritization from ExCom
   2. Looking to establish  long term planning committee for 
2. Ventura email sent to competitors

12. Old Business 

1. Bagpipe Financial Impact
   1.  Require opt in for print copies via email to Dianne
   2. Phased approach – keep settings until July
   3. Inform membership of change
   4. Incorporate DG’s for information distribution
2.  Use of AI for meeting notes- Tabled for now to let Paul Cone time to research
   1. Need to develop AI Use statement
3. KEMP watermark update- still researching
4. 2026 Budget has been approved with 19 Affirmative (needed 17)

13. New Business: No report
14.   Next ExCom Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 8:00 PM (ET)
15.   Adjourn: 9:33 PM EST