Executive Meeting Minutes May 13, 2025

Executive Meeting

May 13, 2025

Present: Warren Duckworth, Aaron Holland, Paul Cone, Lloyd Kitchin, Bob White, and Nicole Shedden (non-voting member)

Secretary: Dianne Duckworth

Absent: Treasurer, Sarah Paisley

Guest Speaker: Mike Ingham

RVP and DG: None present

Meeting called to order: 8:03 PM

• Mike Ingham– Clean Initiative: Would like to expand Clean Regattas to include Clean Fleets
• April meeting minutes: Motioned and approved
• Secretary’s Report: Dianne Duckworth
  1. 2025 March membership 400; and April membership: 414
  2. Chevrons have been mailed-
  3. Website link needs to be added to 2025 Membership Letter
• Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Paisley
  41. January to April 2025 P&L: Total Income- $31,041.80, Net Income- $12,600.91
  42. April 2025 Balance Sheet: Total Assets $158,272.17
• First VP’s Report: Aaron Holland
  1. NATIONALS
     1. 2025 Sandusky
        • Sandusky is working on details for the photographer. The TCA will contribute $2,000 to the photographer from G&P funds.
        • Vakaros team is working on a memorandum of understanding with Vakaros
        • TCA to cover cost of RaceSense, $1600 contribution from Sandusky
     2. Future Nationals – Reported by Paul Cone
        1. 2026 Eugene Nationals- Trying to connect with Marty re: Eugene Nationals
     3. INTERDISTRICTS
        1. Central Southern Interdistricts scheduled for July 12/13 in Little Rock, AK

• Second VP’s Report: Paul Cone
  1. Brought up the idea of possibly sending a hard copy of the Bagpipe to all fleets to help to promote the class
  2. Continuing discussions about improving Bagpipe and website cross-pollination.  Updating website to fix broken content and add new. Dan Winchester’s information on rigging has been added to the website.
  3. Still working with potential new boat builder on becoming a boat builder for the class
  4. Warren is working with Beacon Composites to purchase Thistle mold inventory.
     1. Alex is asking for $10,000.00 for the molds.
     2. The Thistle Class will need an itemized list of Alex’s Thistle Boat molds before payment

• Will need work out the transfer and storage of the molds.

• Third VP’s Report: Lloyd Kitchin
  1. Paul Abdullah has asked Lloyd if the TCA would be interested in testing out new sail designs. He talked to Chris Pollak about the earlier time TCA tested new sails and Chris doesn’t feel it would be worth it.
  2. Planning to talk with Matt Fisher about Boat Grant Program
• Chief Measurer: Bob White
  1. The items to be measured at National’s has been posted
  2. RaceSense software check and mounting will be done at Measurement
• Past President’s Report: Nicole Shedden
  1. Membership marketing campaign: Started drafting a poster to promote TCA membership, particularly associate.
  2. MWE trophy deeds: TCA has the deed for and owns both crew trophies (forward and middle). I asked Craig Smith if he could send the rest of his old TCA paperwork in hopes it has more deeds (or other helpful info).
  3. Sailing at districts is the qualifier: I think it’s important to put more coverage on this decision in the Bagpipe. The  addition to the published meeting minutes included just enough, but we should have an article that goes through the decision-making process (why this came up at MWE 2024 in the first place, the ExCom having to decide if sailing another district qualified someone, overview of Doug’s document, general pro and con arguments, why the “any districts” decision was made, etc.).
  4. MWW follow-up: Is there a plan to have a debrief meeting with the MWW organizers to see if they were happy to have the regatta in 2024 and would like to continue?
• President Report: Warren Duckworth
  1. The GB Draft meeting minutes to be posted on the website and the Bagpipe
  2. Vakaros devices will be provided for the Women’s and Jr’s Nationals
  3. The Endowment Fund- John Howell is working on getting it under management
  4. Strategic Initiatives
     1. Asking ExCom for ideas for promoting Endowment Fund donations
     2. Boat Grant Program
        • TCA Boat has been assigned to Riley Read for 2025
        • TCA email went to all Fleet Captains about the Fleet Boat Program- 2 fleets have responded
     3. Boats and Parts – Doug Labor has completed the sale of his mast business to Alan Boat Co. TCA will be asking Allen Boat Co. to produce a mast so that it can be measured.

• Old Business
  1. Financial proposal document being updated with some more ideas after the Governing Board Meeting. Document is live and ExCom has access.
  2. Key Event Management Plan: Remove section on Regional and it can be published with a watermark.
• New Business:
  1. Days for MWE 2025 – Tommy Glenn would like our input. Recommended March 5-8, 2026
  2. Recommendation – Regatta Thursday – Sunday, with coaching Wednesday.
• Next ExCom Meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 8:00 PM (ET)
• Adjourned 9:43 PM (EST)