January 2020 Newsletter

January 27, 2020 Off By Oban Sailing Club

Dear Members

2020 got off to a superb start for Oban Sailing Club. Last Saturday night the team who run Monday Mayhem for the club were the winners of RYA Scotland Volunteers of the Year Award. This is an absolutely brilliant accolade for the vision, time and commitment they have put into creating a unique experience for all those wanting to have fun on and around the water. They have been running sessions through the winter (most recently a trip around the “Isle of Mull” ferry) and will start on the water once spring comes around. Well done to Monday Mayhem (volunteers, kids, parents, helpers, ….) from everyone at OSC.

Training is also underway. Andy McPherson (our Club Secretary) is running RYA theory courses over a few weekends this winter. The Club has successfully added RYA Start Racing and RYA Safety Boats to the approved courses we are able to deliver. We’re also developing a training program for 2020 which we will share with you very soon. Linked to the training are the Club boats – dinghies and safety boats. Thanks to the Bosun team (led by Andy Lockwood) who have been working away keeping these boats safe over the winter and starting to prep them for the spring. Those walking past Dungallan Park may have also noticed that we have pulled out some of the older/damaged boats and we’re hoping to clear these from the Park to make the place less of an eyesore and to make more space.

Members are also working hard in a couple of other areas as well. First is the bar which is a super asset for a Club of our size. We’re hoping to run the bar in a way that is least effort for volunteers and most sociable for members. If you’d like to help occasionally behind the bar please contact Andrew Petrie:

petrie120@gmail.com

The other area where there has been plenty of activity over the last few months is communications. We’re close to releasing a new website and we’re active on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/obansailingclub1935

Twitter: @ObanClub

Instagram: @Oban.Sailing.Club

Like/follow these sites to keep abreast of news and announcements from the Club. For those not plugged into social media we will of course continue to send out important information to everyone by email.

Do you want to help OSC?

OSC is fortunate that we have many people who help out, often quietly behind the scenes. We’re always on the look out for more volunteer support and there are various ways you can do this. An easy way is to keep an eye out for emails announcements where we’re looking for people to support particular events. However, we’re in need of people to help in particular ways (and you don’t need to sit in committee meetings)……

Training Program: We’re looking for someone to help with some of the basic administration of our training courses. Sending/receiving/replying to emails. Sending out information prior to events. Ensuring payments have been made. It might be about 1-2 hours contribution per week in the summer when we run most of our courses. If you’re handy with spreadsheets, email, etc then please let us know at osc@obansailingclub.org

Fund Raising: There are many funding opportunities that come and go each year. OSC has been very successful in the past to win grants to buy dinghies, safety equipment, wetsuits, etc. It’s a role that take a bit of knowledge and flair in writing grants but we have a great story to tell and lots of success stories. Let us know if you would like to help us in this way at osc@obansailingclub.org

Social Events: Would you like to help organise some of the social events at OSC? Quiz nights? BBQs? Dinners? If you would like to help us put together events and/or have a good idea for social events then get in touch at osc@obansailingclub.org

That’s all for now and don’t forget to renew your membership for 2020.

More later and thanks from the OSC committee.

Finlo Cottier 

Commodore