Hi Folks -

Finalizing the agenda and slate for the October meeting in Phoenix (Saturday, October 23, 1PM-3PM). Some news:

1. It is my intention to step down as the Council Chair, even if there is not a replacement.

2. Golden Anchor membership just got a lot easier! Visit the new Member Partner website and select the Multihull Council as your "Club." Save money and time!

3. If you have nominations or items you want on the agenda, send them to me quick.

Here's the current roster:

Chairman (2005-2010): John Williams

Vice-Chair: Position Vacant

Secretary: Bert Rice

Area A (ME, RI, VT, MA, NH): Chris Titcomb

Area B (CT, NY): Position Vacant

Area C (MD, VA, PA, DE, NJ): Position Vacant

Area D (FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, TN, MS, LA, AR): David Ingram

Area E (WV, OH, KY, East-MI, East-IN): Mark Batchelor

Area F (TX, OK, NM, KS, CO, SoNE): Aaron McCulley

Area G (NorCal, NorNV): Position Vacant

Area H (HI): Position Vacant

Area J (SoCal, SoNV, AZ, UT): Scott Miller

Area K (West-MI, West-IN, IL, WI, MO, IA, MN, ND, SD, NorNE): Kurt Korte

Area L (WA, OR, ID, MT): Position Vacant

Thanks for the information, John. Sorry to hear you are stepping down.

John has put more time and energy into that council than anyone in many recent years. I applaud the efforts, the programs, and the legacy JW has built within. He deserves a break.

Now, it's time for someone to pick up the torch. And there are a lot of areas that are lacking representation. You can make a difference on this council. If you see a need for it, you can affect change (quite easily) or have a great positive impact on the things that are already in motion. Please think about it.

Over my limited time involved with the politics of cat sailing I have witnessed a feeling that we need to organize from the outside to have our way. NOT TRUE. All we need to do is participate on the wide open inside. The car is running, who's in?

"All we need to do is participate on the wide open inside." You lost me, I'm a little slow sometimes.

He's saying there are lots of -wide open- positions unfilled, and if we filled them, we would have more of a voice in US Sailing.

Jake, I nominate YOU to take over for JW, now, who can we get to fill all those vacant positions? I'm shocked there are so many vacant positions, especially up around the CT, NY, MD, VA areas. I thought there were LOTS of cat sailors up there?

I'll write more later - headed out the door. What Jake means, I think, aligns with what I have been saying (and what was said to me years ago); we can work very effectively from within the national organization to represent and advocate for the niche discipline that is multihull sailing. Jamie Diamond said it well - with five solid volunteers, we could take over the place. Matt Bounds is up to his neck with One Design, as am I with the MHC and ISAF. I have come to believe that because I have been Chair for so long, there is a perception that the job is getting done and nobody else is needed. I think my staying on is an impediment - I'm happy to move into another role, but it is long past time for someone else to be the Chair. Besides - anyone who loves being in charge so much that he or she isn't willing to give it up is a problem. Term limits are a good thing in a representative role.

I still plan to volunteer for the Council - I have promised the Area J Rep a well-deserved break after I step down as the Chair.

congrats on your efforts John.. Take a bow you deserve it

John thanks for the time and service you put in for the rest of us.

What's involved with bieng an area rep? Maybe if more knew they would be more willing to volunteer.

Hi Rich -

Thanks for the interest. You can find a description for the position HERE. The main thing is to commit to being a representative for your fleets, and schedule an Area event so that your fleets are represented at the Multihull Championship.

We have posted the draft agenda for the meeting in Phoenix. Please feel free to phone, e-mail, PM or Skype me with additional items, nominations, ideas, or whatever...

So far, Dave Ingram, Deb Schaeffer, and Bert Rice have confirmed attendance.

"or whatever"

1. Scrap the travel plans and conduct the meeting via skype.
2. Add a discussion of the Catamaran handicapping system. At least call for a vote/no vote of confidence in the portsmouth system.

Dude! You issued the invitation and I commend you for it! Make the system as transparent and democractic as possible. You won't necessarily get any more participation, but you'll get fewer complaints.

You get a C- for reading comprehension; see item 1B under "Unfinished Business."

One of the most important things for the Council is the face time with the rest of the Association. Without it, it becomes far too easy to disregard the whole discipline. Come to a meeting and I'll show you what I mean. Tax deductible!

And fewer complaints? Pete, I guarantee that no matter how things are done, someone is going to complain.

"1. Portsmouth Committee status.
A. 2010 ratings.
B. Ad Hoc report on alternate ratings systems for beach cats."

Reading a report into the record doesn't necessarily imply a discussion, question or vote.

I've attended any number of business conventions; and attended the MHC meeting in St. Pete. Still, I'm sure I could learn a lot from you. It's just that my view of a business meeting is far different than yours. In my view each of your agenda items should be allocated three to five minutes for discussion, a question called and vote taken. Fact finding, debate, and general "politicking" should be completed long before the meeting.

And, yes, people always complain. But once debate has concluded and a decision made you would have that process as answer to the complaints.

What I see is a fractious question being buried in committee. It may well be that the culture of USS has become that of being "enamoured of the process". At least it seems that way to me. If that is the case, remaking the organization will be a monumental task. One that I surely don't want any part of.

John, you work hard and I appreciate your efforts. It just seems there should be more results.

Thanks again, enjoy Phoenix.

Pete, you are still trying to make it into something it isn't. It is not hard to make a proposal, make the case for why you want it that way, and get the votes you want. That isn't cryptic or difficult to understand.

Let me go crazy with an analogy; You're standing in a forest at night in Zimbabwe, and you have decided that you think UL standardization of 110 AC in new construction for homes in Topeka is a good idea... then wondering why they haven't taken your good advice, shaking your head and chalking it up to oppression of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.

You're the leader of a Class that carries a vote in the MHC. You keep saying you think something should be voted on. Bring a motion, Sunshine; like it or not, you are "them."

I'm confused, your selling houses in Zimbabwe?

Yes. Yes I am.

While personal presence IS important, I believe the use of teleconferences tends to grow. Corporate bylaws allowing shareholders to assist and vote through their computers are legal in some countries.

No, sounds like he's badmouthing Topeka, and that's a bit close for me!
You're right John...nobody's happy

US SAILING to Draft Multihull Rule
for 34th America’s Cup
Competition details for the 34th America’s Cup were announced during Monday’s press conference in Valencia, Spain. The extremely fast AC72 wingsail America’s Cup catamaran has been tagged as the chosen boat for the 2013 race. US SAILING, in partnership with Morrelli & Melvin Design & Engineering, is the neutral party responsible for managing the development of the multihull rule. Learn more about how and why US SAILING became involved with this process from US SAILING's Offshore Director Dan Nowlan. Watch Part 2 of this interview with Dan Nowlan.