Executive Meeting Minutes November 11, 2025

Executive Meeting

November 11, 2025

Present: Aaron Holland, Chris Murphy, Paul Cone, Wheeler Sutton, Dave Hudson, and Warren Duckworth,  (non-voting member)

Parliamentarian: Joy Martin

Secretary: Dianne Duckworth

Absent: Treasurer, Sarah Paisley

• Meeting called to order: 8:02 PM ET

• October minutes: Motioned and approved 

• Secretary’s Report: Dianne Duckworth

1. 1. 1. September 2025, 516; October 2025, 517 (+1) and October 2024 the membership was 574
      2. District Reports are done and will be sent this week, the reports have 2025 members and 2021-2024 members of each fleet
      3. Requested to have membership numbers since 2020 and send to ExCom by email

• Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Paisley -Reported by Aaron Holland

1. 1. 1. Discussed the 2026 Budget
      2. Aaron requested that Sarah run the P&L numbers for operating expenses only-no G&P
      3. Aaron moved to have the 2026 Budget approved, seconded by Dave Hudson. 2026 Budget- Motion passes

• First VP’s Report: Chris Murphy 

1. 1. 1. MWW – attended meeting, things seem to be coming together
      2. MWE – attended meeting, all seems to be going well
         1. For both MWW and MWE, photographer and social media funding from the class has come up and would like to know how much will be contributed
      3. Nationals 2026 – no updates. Will send email to follow up.
      4. Nationals 2027 – need to connect with Craig Koschalk on a formal proposal and reconvene the site selection committee to review.
      5. Interdistricts 2026: I need to follow up with RVPs.
      6. Districts 2026: Need to follow up with RVPs to make sure they are following up with DGs.

• Second VP’s Report: Paul Cone

1. 1. 1. December/January 2026 Bagpipe still in production and will go out the week of November 17, 2025
      2. Need to edit the website to allow for multiple surveys and update menu for clarity
      3. Builder committee- 
         1. Boat builder survey will be based on feedback and coordinate timing of release with Aaron
         2. Met on 10/22/25, 11/6/25
         3. John Howell joined 11/6 meeting and offered input on our process
         4. Both sets of molds are now in dry storage
      4. Marketing conversations
         1. Connected with Aaron and Wheeler about social media and photography for MWE, MWW and Nationals.
         2. Working with Stan on marketing for the Ventura series to lead into MWW.
      5. MWW planning
         1. Race committee and meal planning coming together.
         2. Dave Perry, to be speaker at no cost in the works.
      6. KEMP watermark

• Third VP’s Report: Wheeler Sutton

1. 1. 1. Connected with Aaron and Paul on social media/ Initiatives done up to the Ventura Regatta
         1. Got access to TCA Meta accounts (Facebook / Instagram) from Paul and will work on a plan to move forward
         2. Reached out to Nicole for social media teams initiative deck
      2. Goals for this coming month
         1. Reach out to social media teams from 2019/2020 that Nicole put together to see if they’re still interested
         2. Define proposal for usage of growth and promotion funds going forward and will follow up with Lloyd Kitchin

• Chief Measurer Report: Dave Hudson

1. 1. 1. Attended Builder Committee meetings.
         1.  Answered questions about the status of mast/boom builds and about past unresolved issues.
         2. Specifically, wall thickness of the extrusions, quality of aluminum castings, like the butt casting and mast steps as well as long-term supply issues for tangs and hounds, many of which come from Racelite, who is closing their business.
      2. Attended Emergency GB meeting concerning CMR 78 exception. 
         1. I will work on the Digital Race Management Commission and call for a meeting soon and will coordinate with Paul for Zoom set-up.
      3. Corresponded with an owner about a rail delamination issue and possible fixes
      4. Emailed and spoke with Eric at Allen Boat Company regarding spars. 
         1. He is in the process of building a mast and has received inquiries for mast parts, but no masts yet. He agreed to contact me in early 2026 about a site visit to measure their first mast.
      5. I need to review past Nationals measurement sheets and consider a more efficient process for measuring sails

• Past President’s Report: Warren Duckworth

1. 1. 1. The Endowment Committee met in October and had discussions about managing and using the endowment funds.
      2. Next meeting is planned for Tuesday, November 18th

• President Report: Aaron Holland

1. 1. 1. Seeking RVP for Atlantic Coast region, Corinne Sackett new RVP for Great Lakes
      2. Vakaros Survey sent to membership by email and Google Groups
      3. Special GB meeting called for Nov 5th to vote on exception to CMR 78
         1. More on this
      4. Endowment Committee is making progress to get into a managed fund
      5. Digital Race Management Commission positions are filled. Members are David Hudson (Chair), Judy Gesner, Greg Griffin, and Phil Gordon.
      6. Working on Coach TCA rebrand
      7. Talked with Wheeler and Paul re: marketing and engagement goals
      8. Eligible Nationals keeper trophies identified

• Old Business

1. 1. 1. Suggest setting price of hubcap resale at $50 blank, $75 engraved
      2. Aaron moved for hubcap plaque resale to be set at $50.00, seconded by Chris Murphy-motion passes

• New Business

1. 1. 1. Suggest increasing price of pennants to exceed cost incurred by TCA
         1. Small
            1. Current sale price = $35
            2. Cost = $32.25Sale price proposed = $40
            3. Sale price proposed = $40, $50.00
         2. Large
            1. Current sale price = $78
            2. Cost = $82
            3. Sale price proposed = $90, $100.00
         3. Aaron moved for the price increase for the TCA pennant/flags to $50 (small) and $100 (large), motion seconded- motion passed
      2. Change default Bagpipe delivery to electronic for all
         1. Require opt for print copies via email to Dianne
         2. Phased approach – keep settings until July
         3. Inform membership of change
         4. Incorporate DGs for information distribution
      3. Use of AI for meeting notes 
         1. Discussion on permission/ notification when in use
      4. Update Bylaws on website
         1. New clarifying language, “any” districts is the qualifier
      5. Aaron announced available dates from North Cape for the 2027 Nationals: Dates will be August 10-14, 2027, with grounds available starting 8/6/27. Seeking official bid.
      6. Review what we charge boat builders to pay for obtaining boat numbers for Thistles and determine what boat numbers have been sold and built
   2. Next ExCom Meeting: Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, at 8:00 PM (ET)

• Adjourned 9:49 pm (ET)