“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”
– Sherry Anderson
The Arizona Yacht Club is a member-run club. This means that each member plays a vital role in keeping us afloat.
Please take a few minutes to review the broad scope of opportunities for YOU to participate in. You may only have time to help with one event during the year, or maybe you can commit to some longer term roles. You decide, but AYC needs you and all you have to offer.
Adopt a Boat Coordinator
The Coordinator position is necessary to keep this program operational and running smoothly. Read more about the Adopt a Boat program. If interested in learning more or helping with the Adopt a Boat program contact us here.
Birthday Regatta
This is our largest annual event. The Regatta Chair has traditionally been the Jr. Staff Commodore, but others have stepped in to learn the ropes and contribute their time and organizing skills to this event. Whether racing or helping as shore crew, this event takes many people. Help is needed in several areas: Chair, co-chair, fundraising, auction, race committee, marketing and publicity, on-site shore volunteers, communications, and more.
Learn more here.
Contact the current Regatta Chair
Fundraising Items – We also need donations for our Birthday Regatta raffle. Our fundraisers solicit potential sponsors and in-kind donations: gift cards, products, experiences, etc.
Board of Directors
The AYC Board of Directors is a “hands-on” board made up of 11 members elected by their peers. Read more about the board duties in our Bylaws Article 8.0: Directors and Officers. Contact the Commodore or any of the officers to learn more about these board positions. An aerial view summary of the board positions is on the “How AYC Works” page.
Communications – Social Media
Member Submissions – We would like to hear about your experience as a sailor. If you enjoy writing, consider submitting something on one of the topics below. Be creative and have fun with it! Submissions should be sent to communications@arizonayachtclub.org.
- Your experience as a new sailor…or as an old one.
- Local, national, or world Regatta you participated in.
- Sharing about a new boat purchase.
- A story about sailing or your boat and its meaning to your life.
- Cruising vacation stories – destination, itinerary, great restaurants, areas to visit, mishaps, recipes.
- How being a sailor changed you – for the better, we hope!
- You get the idea – be creative. You needn’t be a wordsmith to submit articles; we can help.
Event Coverage – Do you enjoy writing? Maybe you have experience in public relations, communications, copywriting, or journalism. Consider submitting a write-up from a race day, regatta, or special event. You would work, as needed, with the Racing Captain, event chair, or the Info Team (Vice Commodore and the Web Content Manager).
Web Content Manager – We utilize WordPress for our website, and this role is one of the longer-term positions in our club. WordPress is easy to navigate, and the time commitment is event-driven. Currently filled: Joanne Aspinall
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram – You will post pics of recent events, help market future events, and share other sailing news of interest to our members.
Current Instagram Contributors: Position Open
Current Facebook Contributors: Joanne Aspinall. Need more contributors
Equipment Maintenance
Lake Captain: The Lake Captain oversees the maintenance and upkeep of our race committee boats and supplies. During the racing season, they ensure the gas tanks are full, race marks, anchors, etc., are in good condition, and the boats are up and running.
Current LP Lake Captain: David Newland
Current TTL Lake Captain: George Sheller
Boat Maintenance & Cleaning: Occasionally, we have work days on special projects that the Lake Captain identifies and for which volunteers are needed. No experience is necessary for these volunteer opportunities – the more, the merrier. Watch for opportunities on the website or in the newsletter.
ASF Boats: We also need people to help clean and repair the Adopt a Boats owned by the Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF). Are you interested in messing about with boats?
Contact ASF Equipment Maintenance Lead: John Tapernoux
Green Team
This team cares about the health and well-being of our planet. They are Earth Citizens passionate about reducing our footprint while we co-exist. Volunteers on this team implement “Clean Regattas” as defined by Sailors for the Sea. They also manage and recruit volunteers for our Adopt a Highway clean-up once or twice a year.
Position Open
Greeter: Monthly Meetings
We encourage all our members to meet and greet new faces at the meetings: invite others to sit with you, chat with new folks before and after the program, and help new folks network with other members.
Specifically, a greeter welcomes people as they come in the door at our monthly meetings; they are the folks who can help answer questions or direct people to someone who can. They distribute nametags and the occasional raffle ticket, gather guest names, and identify new members for introductions. If interested in joining this team, let us know. > CONTACT FORM
Current greeters: Position Open
Marketing & Publicity
Ideally, someone with a background in this area would help AYC get noticed more. This might be through a community event, the news media, networking, or other avenues. Many people come to the valley without knowing that a yacht club exists here. Members with these skills can also be instrumental in helping raise awareness and money for our annual Birthday Regatta fundraising.
There is room for volunteers who are experienced with marketing and also for members who have, perhaps, informal connections to media or other venues that could spread the word about our club and its activities and events.
Position Open
Merchandise Acquisition and/or Design
The merchandise liaison will stay abreast of special sales at our official online merchandise store, CRS Apparel, acquire gift cards for special events or raffles, and explore specialty items we may want to promote.
Do you know a great local vendor that makes specialty merchandise? Do you have a knack for design work or dabble in graphic arts? Occasionally, we need unique shirts or gear for our Regattas/special events or race awards, so you may be asked to work with a local vendor to get these items. The person in this position will work directly with one of the board members as assigned or with an event chair.
Position Open Contact us if you are interested in helping in this area. > CONTACT FORM
New Member Navigator
The role of a Navigator is designed to help welcome and engage new members. Even newer members can volunteer for this role. You agree to stay in contact with a new member to assist them in “navigating” their way through the club for their first 4-6 months. This might be a phone call, sitting with them at a meeting, introducing them to others, or just being a source of information. Contact the Membership Directors if interested.
Photographer
Do you enjoy being behind the lens and capturing key moments? We appreciate having a photographer at our various events throughout the year. During the racing season, we sit a little taller, try to perfect our sail trim, and smile more when our picture is being taken.
The photos are used in our publications and shared through our SmugMug account. In 2020, a member photo was submitted to the Tempe Instagrammys and won. Read about it here. Check out our photo-sharing page.
Contact communications@arizonayachtclub.org if you can help in this area.
Race Committee (RC)
During our fall and spring series racing, we always need people to support the racers by serving on Race Committee. We also have several other Lake Pleasant Regattas through the year that require the same support, but these are always held at Lake Pleasant. You can receive real time Race Committee training by joining in with more experienced RC members. If you have experience serving on RC or want to learn more, message us. > CONTACT FORM
AYC Safety Committee
Our Bylaws 12.1.3 supports a standing Safety Committee to ensure a continuing focus on water safety for club events.
The Safety Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Commodore, the Racing Captain, and the Cruising Captain on the safe and orderly operation of Club vessels and shall maintain and communicate Emergency Action Plans for club cruising and racing events. At the direction of the Commodore, Racing Captain, or Cruising Captain, the Safety Committee shall investigate safety incidents and provide a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
If you have expertise or a general interest in boating and water safety and are interested in serving on this Committee, please email Bob Naylor.
Social Events
Guest Speakers – Our agenda includes a guest speaker at most monthly membership meetings. The Rear Commodore is responsible for securing these guests and could use some help identifying people who can present a sailing-related topic of interest. If you know someone in the sailing world who can present a fun or interesting topic get in touch so we can secure them as a speaker for a future meeting.
Opening Day – Held on the first Lake Pleasant fall race day, we always need a shore crew to help organize, plan, and implement the day’s festivities and cookout at Lake Pleasant. With the right help, this can be one of our larger and most fun outdoor social gatherings!
Event Organizers and Helpers – Checklists, phone calls, scheduling, and planning come easily to those who like to organize events. Is this you? Watch for event sign-ups in the newsletter and on our website. Volunteering at events is an easy way to get to know others in the club.
Contact our Rear Commodore or any event leads to identify where you can help with these social events.
Teaching and Coaching with the Arizona Sailing Foundation
The Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF) has many opportunities for your involvement. If you like to teach and coach new sailors, this is where you belong.
ASF, a 501c3 nonprofit, was established in 2002 as a community sailing school. Supporting funds are raised through donations and class fees, and AYC members volunteer to serve on the ASF Board of Directors, as US Sailing certified instructors and as coaches for the classes offered to adult and junior sailors.
To contact the ASF Board, call/text (480) 269-2699 or email ArizonaSailingFoundation@gmail.com.