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Draft Governing Board Minutes August 4, 2025

Governing Board Minutes 

Monday, August 4, 2025

  1. Meeting called to order at 7:38 PM (ET)
  2. Roll Call: 26/26 voting members – Quorum is made. (2/3 per Constitutional Article XII.3.h)

Present:

  1. ExCom: Warren Duckworth, Aaron Holland, Paul Cone, Bob White, Lloyd Kitchin, Nicole Shedden (6 votes)

   Treasurer: Sarah Paisley

  Secretary: Dianne Duckworth

  1. RVPs: In person: Craig Koschalk (GL), Tommy Glenn (SE), Blair Dryden (CS), Via Zoom: Phil Gordon (PC)

Dave Hansen (AC) Proxy, Nicole Shedden (5 votes)

  1. DGs: In person: Paul Abdullah (FLA), Phil Christman (LM), Corrine Sackett (LE), Adam Young (SA), Scott Meyer (NF), Mark Udell (MICH), Tom Lawton (LIS), Ted Lischer (MA), Via Zoom: Stan Smith (SCAL), John Gilmour (CA), Brian Bauman (NCAL), Scott Vogel (NE), Marty Parisien (PNW)

Proxy: Douglas Kitchin (NJ) Llyod Kitchin, Kevin Sheenan (C) Tommy Glen (15 votes).

  1. Minutes from the Governing Board meeting minutes on March 10, 2024, at Fort Walton: Approved
  2. Secretary, Dianne Duckworth
    1. Membership: July 2023: 573 memberships; July 2024 membership: 559 (-14) July 2025- 501 (-58)
    2. Chevrons were sent to any District or Interdistrict regatta that was listed on the website calendar
    3. Working on District and Fleets. An email will be sent to ask all RVP, DG, and FC to review membership.
  3. Treasurer, Sarah Paisley
    1. January to June 2025 P&L: Total Income- $35,267.60, Net Income- $1,712.92
    2. June 2025 Balance Sheet: Total Assets $147,384.18
    3. We are still working with a deficit budget, and it will be discussed in Old Business.
  4. First Vice President, Aaron Holland
    1. Great Lakes 2026 in Chicago
    2. MWW 2026 in San Diego: January 29-February 1 (including the Larry Klein Memorial)
    3. MWE 2026 in Pensacola: March 4-8
    4. Nationals 2026 Eugene July 26-31st Report from Marty Parisien
      1. Eugene Yacht Club will have camping for tents and RV’s
    5. Second Vice President, Paul Cone
      1. Set up a TCA Zoom account, and it is up and running
      2. Coordinating discussions with new potential Thistle builder.  More on this later!
    6. Third Vice President, Lloyd Kitchin
      1. There were 2 requests made for the U26 program. One was made just prior to the event and the other was made on the last day of the event. Both received refunds of their registration fees.
    7. Chief Measurer, Bob White
      1. Nationals 20205
        1. Measurement at Nationals went well
        2. Thanked Paul Kreitler and Noah Craciun
      2. CMR Voting
        1. Adding to article X of the Bylaws

A boat shall not add nor remove a reef after she starts the race. Reefing between races is allowed.

The purpose of this change is to not allow a competitive advantage by adding or removing a reef during a race. Between races the reef may be changed.

  1. Motioned, seconded and discussed
  • Voted and motion failed

 

  1. Article X specifications and Chief Measurements Rulings

Mark the existing as item #1.

Add this ruling as #2. This will be a CMR

For purposes of reefing the following are allowed:

a clew to boom strap or attachment

a tack to mast strap or attachment

a secondary reefing outhaul.

 

This specifies what is legal.  Removes future questions.  Without these changes, the reefed mainsail becomes a loose footed sail and will benefit from these options.

  1. Motioned, seconded and discussed
  2. Voted and approved
  1. Past President, Nicole Shedden
    1. 2026 Officer’s Slate
      1. President: Aaron Holland
      2. 1st Vice President: Chris Murphy
      3. 2nd Vice President: Paul Cone
      4. 3rd Vice President: Wheeler Sutton
      5. Chief Measurer: Dave Hudson
    2. Starting a Membership Marketing Campaign to follow
      1. Will work with Dianne to get the information out to RVPs. DG’s and Fleet Captains
      2. Brian Bauman suggested an option of a Gift Membership
  • MWE Trophy Deeds
    1. Thank you to Craig Smith for bringing more TCA material
    2. Will work with Dianne on reviewing all new material
    3. National Loan Debrief: working well
      1. Will touch base with Sandusky to get their viewpoint and will report back to ExCom
      2. Sandusky has already paid back TC.
    4. President, Warren Duckworth
      1. Strategy Updates
        1. Endowment Committee – John Howell is stepping down from lead of this committee, I will be working with the committee to identify a new lead. Please let me know if you are interested in assisting with the Endowment Committee.
        2. Boat Grant Committee – Matt Fisher and John Howell are stepping down from this committee, I will be working to identify new members of this committee. Please let me know if you are interested in assisting with the Boat Grant Committee.
      2. Summary Losing personal touch with fleets
        1. We have lost the personal touch from Fleet Captains to members. My goal is to reach out to all fleets to identify members that have not renewed over the past few years as well as to track hull ownership.
        2. I am requesting that the fleets that have fallen below the 3-member threshold not be suspended this year to allow time for the outreach identified above.
        3. Fleet suspension – We are being asked to suspend Fleet #72 – Memphis TN as their lake has been drained because of dam issues with no timeline set for repairs. They are in the process of selling their assets and once complete will be splitting the proceeds between the Thistle and Lightning Class. Thank you to Fleet #72 for their generous gift.
        4. Fleet suspension, motioned, seconded, and approved with no additional discussion.
  • Nationals Trophies
    1. We have made the mini hubcap (Carin) trophies, which we plan to present to the top 5 Nationals Championship winners and crew.
    2. While we have not worked out a price yet, these trophies will also be made available to purchase by past winners.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Aaron made a motion to increase some class membership due to a deficit with operating expenses for the Thistle Class.
      1. Seconded and Discussed
        1. Active $65
        2. Family $75
        3. Associate $30
        4. Contributing $100
        5. Sustaining $200
        6. Sandy Douglass $500
      2. Voted and approved
    2. Beacon Composite is no longer building Thistles- researching new leads and will follow-up with ExCom.
    3. We are working to place NWOD molds with a possible builder in the NW Region.
  2. New Business-None
  3. Adjourned at 9:32 PM CT
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