General Committee:

What does it do?

The General Committee (GC) is responsible for the management of the Sailing Club.  Although the Club has a Manager and employees, all authority is delegated from the GC.

Committee Members become Directors of Draycote Water Sailing Club and carry the legal responsibility for this role.

GC members have multiple roles: to vote on Club decisions, each member has an equal vote; to assist with the work of the Club; and to act as ambassadors for the Club.

The GC is elected at the AGM in November and disbands at the AGM the following year.  They meet 11 times per year, on the second Tuesday of each month, excluding November.

Who does what?

The Committee has five ‘Flag Officers’ who have specific responsibilities.

• The Commodore has overall lead of the Committee and the Club; they also line manage the Club Manager. They chair the Committee meetings and take on other responsibilities where they have particular strengths and interests.
• The Vice Commodore is second in command and deputises for the Commodore; they are allocated other responsibilities by agreement and to make best use their skills.
• The Rear Commodore Sail is responsible for all activities on the water and water-linked land activities (for example: training, safety). They also arrange and chair fleet captain meetings.
• The Rear Commodore House is responsible for the Club House and the activity on the land (for example: boat park, car parks, and open areas).
• The Treasurer is responsible for finance.

The Committee also has general members who support various aspects of the running of the Club; they will take on tasks from the responsibilities shown below.

GC responsibilities: Agenda and minutes for Committee meetings; racing paperwork; OOD instructions and training; Draycote Dash and Club regatta; Club pursuit race series; marketing and communications; health and safety; risk assessments; grants; policies and procedures.

Although the above may look onerous, there are the Club Manager, Chief Instructor, administrator and bosuns who carry out many of the tasks and activities. The Manager attends committee meetings and reports back to the GC. The Club president also attends meetings in an advisory role.

How can I help?

Although the role is voluntary and there is no remuneration, membership of the GC does have its merits. As a committee member you support the club, share your enthusiasm for sailing and use your strengths and expertise to ensure the long term viability of DWSC.  By joining the committee you can share your skills for the long term benefit of the Club and its members.

Committee members are covered by directors’ liability insurance.

The more members involved, the lighter the load overall.

Please consider standing for the General Committee.

If you would like to know more about what being on the Committee involves, please talk to a Committee member or Dave Rowe, Club Manager.

If you would like to join the Committee, the main way is to stand for election at the AGM in November. To do this you need to complete a nomination form with a proposer and seconder. This needs to be completed and handed to the Club Manager at least 14 days before the AGM. At other times of the year, the Committee may co-opt members.