“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 of the roles that need a longer-term commitment. You decide, but AYC needs you and all you have to offer. (List is alphabetical)
Adopt a Boat Coordinator
ASF is currently reworking the boat borrowing fees. The Adopt a Boat Coordinator position is open.
Audio Visual Support
Testing, testing, testing. Audio-visual volunteers commit to setting up the AV equipment at our monthly membership meetings and any special event we might need AV equipment for. For monthly meetings, you would arrive early to get the equipment set up and tested. A self-managing team of 2-3 would be ideal so we are not reliant on one person. People in this role work directly with the Commodore and Rear Commodore.
Current support group: Open for volunteers
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 volunteers, communications, and more.
Current Regatta Chair: Joanne Aspinall
Fundraising Items – We need donations for our Birthday Regatta auction. Our fundraisers solicit in-kind donations: gift cards, products, experiences, etc., and these can bring in up to half of our funds raised. And we all get to bid on some great items too.
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. A brief summary of the board positions is described on the “How AYC Works” page.
Communications – Social Media
Member Submissions – We 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.
Editing & Event Coverage – Do you enjoy writing? Maybe you have experience in public relations, communications, copywriting, or journalism. We’re not trying to win the Pulitzer Prize, and mainly, you help other contributors look good – in print. You can also contribute by summarizing a race day, monthly meeting, regatta, or special event. You would work, as needed, with the Vice Commodore, Commodore, and Web Content Manager.
Web Content Manager – We utilize Word Press for our website; this role is one of the longer-term positions in our club. WordPress is an easy platform to navigate, and the time commitment is event-driven. Current Content Manager: Deb Heisler
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: Open
Current Facebook Contributors: Deb Heisler
Equipment Maintenance
Lake Captain: The Lake Captain oversees the maintenance and upkeep of 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 Lake Captain: David Newland
Green Team
This team cares about the health and well-being of our planet. They are Earth Citizens who are 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
The people in this role welcome people as they come in the door at our monthly meetings. This can be a self-managing team of 2-3 people that determines their own schedule for coverage. You are the smiling face that directs folks to check their name on the roster, hand out a nametag, and the occasional raffle ticket, gather guest names, and identify new members for introductions.
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 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.
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.
Position Open Contact the AYC Commodore if interested in helping in this area.
New Member Navigator
The role of a Navigator is designed to help welcome and engage new members. 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
Enjoy being behind the lens, 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 a photographer is present.
The photos are used in our publications and are shared with members in 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
During our fall and spring series racing, the fleets rotate for Race Committee duties. However, we have special Regattas throughout the year when additional RC volunteers are needed. If you have experience in serving on RC or are interested in learning more, contact our Racing Captain, Mike Ferring.
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 Racing and Cruising Captains 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 get in touch with Junior Staff Commodore Bob Naylor by phone/text: (623) 296-9699 or email: junior.staff.commodore@arizonayachtclub.org
Social Events
Guest Speakers – At most of our monthly membership meetings, our agenda includes a guest speaker. The Rear Commodore is responsible for securing these guests and could use some help identifying people that can present a sailing-related topic of interest.
Opening Day – Most yacht clubs celebrate the beginning of their racing season with “Opening Day” activities. Our event is very casual compared to the larger coastal clubs, but we still like to gather and celebrate the thing that brings so many members together on the water – racing. A shore crew is needed to help organize, plan, and implement the day’s festivities and cookout. This event is held at Lake Pleasant.
Event Organizers – Checklists, phone calls, scheduling, and planning come easily to those who like to organize events. Is this you?
Contact our Rear Commodore if you can help out with social activities.
Teaching & 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 send an email to ArizonaSailingFoundation@gmail.com.