Our club, second oldest in the country, does not have issues getting new members. As of right now we have an approximate 5-7 year wait list of vetted prospective new members. If we did not vet our members we'd have a 20+ year wait list...Our process is pretty straight forward.
#1 You need to be a
boater, we do not allow social memberships or new members without boats
#2 You need to be nominated by two or more current members and those members need to pen recommendation letters.
#3 You need to fill out the application in full and actually write something other than "
we like boating"
#4 If you show an interest in
volunteering, and specify an area of interest, this certainly does not hurt
#5 The membership application and recommendation letters are evaluated by the Membership Officer & his/her committee
#6 Your new membership application is then presented in front of the board and voted on to move it to the members
#7 The prospective new club members are then introduced to all members and a comment period is opened
#8 If a member has a concern with the prospective new member/s it goes back to membership for more discussion/vetting
#9 When you proceed through all this you are placed on the waiting list
For what you get for your $ around here our club is an absolute steal. The house & grounds are stunning, we have three beautiful launches (one of them built by Hinckley), expert launch drivers who respect your vessel and don't slam into it as they approach, a very, very strong junior sailing program (for members and non-members kids), very strong race program (just hosted J-24 US Nationals three weeks ago) a large parking lot with two parking passes per membership, kayak, paddle-board and dinghy storage racks, a beautiful well designed boat launch ramp, an amazing dining-room with world class food and we're right at the doorstep to some of the most coveted cruising grounds in the entire US. Best of all the members are not at all
snooty they are just like the rest of us and enjoy boating to the core. Our members vary widely from a former US President to a lowly marine electrician (grin) and everywhere in-between. Our vetting process just helps to ensure we all have a common goal/theme and that theme is
boating.
Quintessential Maine...