2024 BPYC Commodore’s Letter
May 1, 2024
Dear Members,
Happy spring! I know this was a tough winter for everyone associated with Biddeford Pool, as well as all residents of the southern Maine coast. However, soon we will be enjoying the gentle breezes and lapping waves of summer that make it all worth it. I hope you will find the below information helpful in making BPYC an important part of your summer in 2024.
I also would like to apologize for the tardiness of this letter. One thing I’ve learned from my decades of involvement with BPYC is that there is a unique beauty paired with a certain fragility when it comes to volunteer-run organizations. The sense of accomplishment when things get done is so powerful because of its communal rather than commercial qualities… on the other hand, capitalism is awfully productive! As BPYC voyages into our tenth decade, you may notice a theme of balancing tradition with transition as we address our operational needs – and indeed our physical existence – for the next 100 years.
2024 Flag Officers & Committee Chairs – I’m pleased to share that the full slate of 2023 Officers has been reelected – Mike Massey as Vice Commodore, Adrian Mott as Rear Commodore, Taylor Barstow as Treasurer, and Daisey Carroll as Secretary. All Committee Chairs have also volunteered to remain in their positions for 2024 – their names and roles can be found on the BPYC website here. Many thanks to all for signing up for another tour! And, thanks to all Committee members and Chairs old and new – BPYC is only as strong as our volunteers. Please send me an email at [email protected] to get involved.
On the topic of Committees, I would also like to announce the formation of the Next 100 Committee. This group will convene to gather input and shape a strategy to address the changing environmental realities and operational needs of the Club as we prepare to enter our second century. The storms of the last two winters have demonstrated to us that we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right so that our Club can stand the test of time and tide. Therefore, we are pausing the improvement efforts alluded to in recent Commodore’s Letters and taking stock, with the intention of breaking ground on an evolved plan in 2-3 years. Gathering input from Membership will be a large part of this undertaking, and we encourage Members to join the Committee. Please reach out to me directly if you are interested, and we will post the names of all Committee members on the website soon.
BPYC Management & Staff – John Hennedy will return for his tenth season, rounding out a full decade as our stellar General Manager! It’s hard to imagine BPYC now without John’s steady hand at the tiller throughout the season – please stop by and say hello and thank you this summer. Mike Massey, Dave Houle, Lee Kimball and Pat Donaghue will return as part-time launch drivers. Chris Dakers and Jack Webb will also be returning as junior launch drivers, both having obtained their six-pack launch driver’s licenses.
2024 Calendar and Social Events – This year, Opening Day is Saturday, June 8th and Closing Day is Sunday, September 15th. Events this season include:
Sunday, July 7: Fourth of July Pig Roast
Saturday, August 3: Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 17: Commodore’s Social and “Next 100” Launch Event
Sunday, September 1: Chowder Luncheon
Note that we will be replacing the July and August cocktail parties with one event on August 17th. This event will serve as the launch of our Next 100 effort. We aim for this to be an impactful evening, featuring special programming and a chance to learn more about how everyone can get involved in shaping the future of the Club. Please mark it on your calendars! Our famous Tuesday Night BBQs begin on Tuesday, June 11th. Finally, please remember to join us for the Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 3rd.
BPYC Junior Sailing Program – We’re looking forward to a great summer of junior sailing at BPYC! The BPYC JSP is dedicated to promoting and teaching seamanship and sportsmanship in a safe and fun environment. Our goal is to teach the basics of recreational sailing and racing while instilling a life-long love of sailing. The planned BPYC Junior Sailing Program Calendar is available on the website here. Olivia Hennedy will be following up with her letter in the coming days with details, but for the time being please take note that the JSP registration deadline for 2024 is Friday, June 7th.
We are fortunate to be welcoming back Emma Jones as our Program Director, however, the Sailing Program is still searching for additional instructors for the 2024 season. We will be sending a separate note on this topic to all members shortly.
Membership Update – BPYC enters the 2024 season with a robust membership. We do not currently have a waiting list – if you know of anyone who is interested in joining, please contact myself, John Hennedy, or David Millet. All junior members under the age of 35 as of June 14, 2023 will continue to receive a 50% discount on their annual dues, and children of members in good standing will continue to be eligible to join with no initiation the year they turn 26. We encourage any young prospective members who qualify for automatic entry to take advantage of it – if you are the parent of one, please make sure they are aware of it!
Financial Update and 2024 Budget – The Club achieved strong financial results in 2023. Revenues reached similar levels to 2022, totaling approximately $359,400. This includes $255,000 in Membership dues ($14,300 of which were first-year premiums), $43,300 in Junior Sailing fees, and $37,600 in additional Club services.
Total expenses were $323,950 – an increase over the prior year that reflects trends in the overall economy as well as in Maine specifically, with maintenance costs on the rise due in part to increasingly damaging seasonal storms. This resulted in a net operating revenue of $35,460.
Additionally, the Club earned net revenue from investment activities totaling $13,540, leading to total net revenue of $34,700 excluding first-year premiums. For 2024, the Trustees have approved a budget of approximately $346,000 that is projected to net just over $20,000.
An analysis of the last 5 years of financial performance shows that, on average, the Club has contributed roughly $27,000 to the Capital fund every year (not including first-year premiums and depreciation) despite numerous challenges, including COVID, unfavorable interest rates, and costly repairs due to weather events. Still, through the good work of the Finance and Investment Committee and our Goldenrod Fund, we have significantly grown our Capital account every year. As such, we are confident that we are adequately fulfilling our primary duty to the Club (namely, fiscal responsibility), and can avoid raising dues in 2024.
Member Dues and Fees – The Board voted to hold dues steady this season despite an inflationary environment. As we take this year to establish a clear vision for our Club’s next 100 years, we are confident that our ability to assess and predict financial needs will soon be greatly improved, at which time we will reassess dues levels.
You will receive an invoice directly via email to pay your dues online in the coming days (this is a new process). This invoice will include a button to pay via credit card, streamlining the process from recent years as no login will be required. We appreciate you handling dues payment online, as this greatly diminishes our administrative burden. However, you may also print the invoice and mail a check if you so choose. You will receive a separate email with detailed instructions on this process, as well as information about updating your Member Profile. Please email [email protected] or reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Capital Budgeting and Upcoming Projects – As mentioned above in the introduction to the Next 100 Committee, in our efforts to shape a viable long-term plan for our Clubhouse and grounds the Board has elected not to move forward with previously planned improvements. These improvements principally involved raising the Clubhouse by 3 feet on pilings and shoring up the existing riprap wall. Based on the winter weather events of the last two years, we are no longer confident that this approach will 1) protect us for as long as we would expect for a capital expenditure of $750,000+, and 2) best meet the evolving needs of the Club and its Members. The Next 100 project is designed to create alignment and support significant capital raising and allocating decisions.
Forward Looking - There are several key objectives that continue to guide our efforts for the Club including Sustainability, Physical and Financial Health, Community, Affordability, and Professionalism. Your Officers and Trustees remain dedicated to making progress against each of these goals, and we ask for your partnership in the coming months and years as we strive to maintain BPYC as an accessible and enduring resource that contributes to a thriving community for many generations to come.
I want to thank our Officers, Trustees, Committees, and the entire Membership for their many contributions to the Club. A special thank you goes out to John and the BPYC Staff as well as every Member who volunteered their time to support the Club last year – you are the ones who keep us afloat. See you on the water!