I know I'm being a pita, but we need to do this. Things just have a way of falling apart when left unattended, that would include the class.

If nothing else we need to select the next party site! I really like this multi-day stuff. Can we get together for a 5 day thingey? 3 day?

Somebody speak up! Where, when, how long?

When you go to the F16 members forum , you will get your answer on the progress.

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=197467#Post197467

I told you so! If we'd had a meeting, elected new officers, we'd be all set to petition these guys.

Anyone besides Karl and me interested, assuming we can wrangle an invite?

Sure, come to the Merritt Island, Kelly Park river regatta for Memorial weekend. This will be a three day event - Sat., Sun. and Monday. All F-16's must attend! We also want F-18's, H-16's, etc. The more the merrier!

I'm in for that, but thought there was interest in going into new territory as well.

What's it like up there in August? Camping weather? Bugs?

WE'VE BEEN DISSED!

"There will be no F16's at Racine during the Nacra and NAF-18 Championship in 2010. Sorry, but that is the way it is, don't start another thread. Of course the weekend regatta prior to the big event is open to F16's."

Seriously, it's their party they can invite whom ever they choose. But for now that leaves GYC as sponsor for a Nationals type event.

This incident emphasizes the need to get our own house in order: elect (or re-elect) officers, iron out the last measurement issues and establish a class schedule.

At this time, there are no stand alone F16 events*. That needs to change.

*Alter Cup is USS, the GC is international. There are no US F16 class events.

You are correct...


I was hoping to get a few people together over the GC, but I had my plate full with stuff....


So, how do we need to accomplish the goals that you have just set?

Right here, right now. Since Chris Amador was awol from GC, I nominate him for Commodore. Seriously.

Who wants to host the first F16 National?

I'll host it here at my house, I know a couple of people on the City Council, we might get them to support it and you can all stay at the Sunset Motel on the south side of the lake, all we need is wind...

For that we need to have it any time but May-October.

Maybe this is just a northern boy fear, don't your lakes have gators? Don't gators eat skinny yankee's?

Not especially. You don't have to be faster than the gator... you only have to be faster than the guy next to you.

I wanted to chime in on the US F16 class restructuring as I had a small part in getting it organized a few years ago and I carry most of the blame for not keeping it moving forward.

There is an organization charter (approved by the members t the time) that defines how the class will be managed (Board Member position descriptions), how representatives are elected and some minor organizational rules (bad behavior expulsion, etc.). It was fairly simple and was expected to grow with the class. I can get a copy of the document to whoever is leading the restructuring efforts.

All members of the local associations actually join through the International Association – then the International Association passes the money through to the local association on a per member basis. This centralizes the worldwide membership roster and fosters communication between the local and international associations.

Steps to restructuring:
1. Contact the international association for a current membership roster
2. Contact those members about the restructuring effort
3. Propose a slate of Board Members after gaining interest in the positions
4. Hold voting to ratify the new Board Members
5. Transfer local treasury/past transactions and gain access to funds being handled by the International Association (they are ready for distribution, I believe)
6. Update US Sailing contact information
7. Update the www.formula16.net contact information
8. The new Board Members will set strategic goals for the next 3/5/10 years (establishing a US National event, hosting more GC’s, etc.)
9. In January, renew the US Sailing Class membership – if deemed appropriate
10. Everyone has a lot of fun and the class continues to grow

I am sure there are some things I left out, but this might be a good start.

I hope this helps in getting the class association back to what the F16 sailors need.

As an outsider who very occasionally sails an F16, I hope someone takes up the effort, as Tom suggests above, to better organize the class and tighten up the rules. I know there has been backlash from owners when this has been suggested in the past, and I'm not posting for the purpose of drawing fire. I like the boat and I like the people that own and build them, but I don't see there being continued growth and market penetration without some sustained effort being expended on the part of the owners. For example, the NAF18 class worked for a couple of years to bring an event to Racine. There seems to be resentment that F16s couldn't jump on the wagon after a weekend chat. It takes time and effort; the F18s are booked out through 2012, and we're already looking at 2013. GYC and Fun in the Sun have given the US F16 class a terrific jumping-off point, and Tom's organizational work, along with several others, has formed a good foundation. I hope the class continues gaining ground in the next couple of years.

Meant respectfully -

Thanks Tom. Happy Thanksgiving.

If there are no objections, I'll start working this list right after lunch. If someone else would like to do it, please feel free.

The effort requires a sprinter to get it started and then a marathoner to keep it moving. I am a better sprinter (maybe ADHD??)....

Anyhow, setting up the leadership roles and getting people participating is fairly straight forward. It is a good time to restructure because the GC registration probably captured most US F16 contact information.

#8 should consume the most time as it will have the best payoff. It will require a group effort with enthusiasm and vision. Time spent together in discussion is a "must" to map the strategy while coming up with a communications plan for the general membership. I always struggled in the value the association added - I think that value can be defined by what comes out of the strategy sessions. At least it should.

As with all volunteer organizations, the toughest challenge is maintaining momentum.

I found it amusing that it was actually entertained as an option in some minds. The Racine event is a NACRA sponsored event. NACRA builds and promotes F18 (among others) - so they have a reason to support open F18 racing (more F18 racers = more potential buyers). They don't have any positives (potential profits) for promoting F16 sailing.

No resentment on my part, purely a business decision.

F16s have embraced the notion of not having a large manufacturer dictate rules, competition or the playing field (my opinion - but may not necessarily be true to all individuals). If F16 sailors want big events, then it is up to the owners to act collectively. The GC was an impressive amount of effort by a few individuals and was a great success (in my opinion). It is a good example of what could happen with the class if it had strong leadership full time.

I love the F16 boat and the people who sail them. I just wish I had the energy, time and money to help realize the potential of the class.

No resentment on my part! The boats are fine, we just need to do a little more work on the class itself.

I know a fun way to help the class: sail as much as possible and show up at even more events!

Tom,

I may have missed how this thread got started, but I think the way it went down was CRAW pentitioned to host the F18s nationals in Racine. At our last regatta in Sept. they announced that it was confirmed, and simply asked us F16 guys if the F16 fleet would like to join in.

There was supposed to be a conversation about it at GC, and I guess that never happened.

Pete, where did you get that official sounding language saying F16 would not be involved?