I am the Rear Commodore for Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association. We recently had a summit for our member clubs' officers where one common issue amongst about 90% of the clubs was declining membership due to aging members and not enough incoming members to boost membership numbers.
I'd really love feedback from those SailNetters who do NOT belong to boating clubs/associations, etc. about what prevents you from joining.
The sailing club I belong to is $35/year for two of us so in my case, the cost of joining wasn't an issue. I joined to learn how to sail. I didn't buy my first boat until a year after joining. I maintained my membership over 20 years in order to give back to the club my time in various officer positions because the members gave me so much when I needed it (and still do). John and I went from crossing the lake to crossing the Atlantic in our time as members.
Our club is mostly made up of lake sailors. John and I along with one other couple keep our boats on the bay. A couple who sail in Europe and the Caribbean joined a few years ago. Our membership has dwindled steadily since I joined.
When I teach boating classes (USCGAUX) and students ask "What next?" I always encourage them to find a local club to join because it's a great way to learn on a variety of boats. I don't know how many actually do.
Every so often we (OK, I) think about joining a yacht club but John knows that if he waits long enough I'll talk myself out of it and he breathes again. We may join another virtual club that has a lot of social events within walking distance of our boat and although they keep their boats in Rock Hall, MD, most members live near-ish us in SE Pennsylvania.
I realize that some people just aren't joiners. But what else prevents you?
Very curious.
I'd really love feedback from those SailNetters who do NOT belong to boating clubs/associations, etc. about what prevents you from joining.
The sailing club I belong to is $35/year for two of us so in my case, the cost of joining wasn't an issue. I joined to learn how to sail. I didn't buy my first boat until a year after joining. I maintained my membership over 20 years in order to give back to the club my time in various officer positions because the members gave me so much when I needed it (and still do). John and I went from crossing the lake to crossing the Atlantic in our time as members.
Our club is mostly made up of lake sailors. John and I along with one other couple keep our boats on the bay. A couple who sail in Europe and the Caribbean joined a few years ago. Our membership has dwindled steadily since I joined.
When I teach boating classes (USCGAUX) and students ask "What next?" I always encourage them to find a local club to join because it's a great way to learn on a variety of boats. I don't know how many actually do.
Every so often we (OK, I) think about joining a yacht club but John knows that if he waits long enough I'll talk myself out of it and he breathes again. We may join another virtual club that has a lot of social events within walking distance of our boat and although they keep their boats in Rock Hall, MD, most members live near-ish us in SE Pennsylvania.
I realize that some people just aren't joiners. But what else prevents you?
Very curious.