Playground
I'm reminded of a story about a little boy that didn't get his way on the playground so he stomped off shouting "I'll get you!" or somesuch nonsense. Then, he stands at the sidelines and criticises every dribble and pass made by the kids still playing the game.Again, Randy was right: Sheesh, get a life.If you want to be taken seriously, engage in the dialogue seriously. If you're a PAYING MEMBER and don't participate, don't blame those that do for your lack of participation. There is not anything standing in your way. If you don't want to participate in the forum and don't go to the races that you're entitled to attend, why are you a member? The MAINSHEET? I'd guess Catalina would send you one directly if you asked. Why do you send money to somebody that you so obviously don't want to be around?You're exactly right, the association is largely the forum. That is what I want from the association. I pay the dues to support that. I recognize many do not and that's OK with me. Frankly, I don't know what else the association could do for me. I don't race and am essentially a daysailer. The only criteria for racing in the Nationals, as far as I understand it, is to own a C25/250 or Capri (next year) and pay your own way to race. There is nothing sinister about it. The previous board of officers practically begged for volunteers to host the next one.Fleet formation is up to those that want one. On my dock, there are 4 or 5 C25s and my 250. None of us has ever expressed an interest in calling ourselves a "fleet" We don't sail together. We hardly see one another. Others, in San Diego, for example decided that "Fleet" designation was important to them and they did what it takes to form one. There's another group in Tennessee that recently brought up interest in the idea. I would suggest that there is only a handful of boats that go to the "nationals" is a function of the limited number of C/25/250 owners that want to race. Face it, it isn't a racing boat. A C25 racing advocate (who will remain nameless here) has described the C25 racing experience as like racing a Winnebago at LeMans. I'd guess that the OVERWHELMING majority of C25 owners, let alone members, are not serious sail racers. If you have actually been "observing" the forum recently, you'll recall that there has been (admittedly limited) discussion about regionalizing the racing events. Also, it is an expensive proposition. In my case, as an example, it would require the purchase of an vehicle big enough to trailer my boat. Only the C25 Swing keel and the C250 Water Ballast are truly trailerable boats. The others, including my wing keel, are transportable by trailer but not a trailer-sailer in any practical sense. As to the reference Arlyn made. I would suggest that what happened was the Association simply exercised a simple rule of organizations. The membership decided to remove the leadership that wasn't serving them. The fact that it "re-located" on the web is incidental. I'd suggest that the organization is essentially the same and the officers were "democratically" removed because the membership didn't want to follow what they saw as bad ideas. (It just occurred to me that you may one of those "removed" officers. That would explain the vitriole.) So, the question still remains: What could the association DO TODAY to make YOUR sailing experience better?