Cowan
2006 Strategic
Planning Committee: Tim B=
lack
(Chair), Mike Brock, John Eilers,
CLSA Strategic
Planning
![3D"*"](3D"CLSA2006StrategicPlan_files/image001.gif")
Our strategic plan is intended to set overall
direction and provide goals for a continually shifting CLSA leadership
team. It is focused on seven =
areas:
racing programs, training programs,
social programs, memberships, facilities/equipment/vessels, external relati=
ons,
and administration – as
described in the following sections of this document. Our plan was organized around these
areas of primary concern in 2001, and we are hereby revising and updating it
(in 2006.) We expect progress
toward our goals in each area to be reviewed annually by the CLSA Board of
Governors and by the broader CLSA leadership team, revised as needed, and
thoroughly revisited again in 2010 or 2011.
The Cowan
Founded in 1954, the Cowan Lake Sailing Association is=
based
on a 700 acre lake in
competitive one design sailboat racing programs, including weekly
races every Sunday from late April through October, plus various weekend
regattas,
enjoyable sailing-oriented social programs, including both on-the-water day sailing events=
and
off-the-water events, and
excellent training
programs for new and experienced adult and junior sailors.
To provide these programs, CLSA:
offers several types of low-cost annual memberships for individuals and
families,
owns and&nb=
sp;
maintains 9 acres of facili=
ties
at Cowan Lake, leases a waterfront area from the State of Ohio, maintains a
number of race and safety vessels<=
/b>,
and
promotes sailing and one design sailboat
racing locally, regionally and
nationally, through external relat=
ions
with sailing organizations, government organizations, and the press.
The CLSA Phil=
osophy
CLSA is a “do-it-yourself”
organization. We run our prog=
rams
and maintain our facilities and vessels almost exclusively through voluntary
committees and annual work party obligations for all members. This approach not only minimizes t=
he
cost of CLSA membership, but we strongly believe that it also promotes stro=
nger
feelings of club ownership and enhances camaraderie among our members.
CLSA membership is open to all sailors and
aspiring sailors. Our members=
hip
process is non-selective. We
currently have about 130 member families from Cincinnati, Dayton, and
throughout southwestern Ohio. Our
only common denominators are a passion for sailing and sailboats, and a
willingness to work with each other to further our participation and enjoym=
ent.
CLSA is family-oriented. We take particular pride in our ex=
cellent
junior training and racing programs, encourage family overnight camping at =
our
facility, and actively promote family participation at all of our social
events.
Racing Progra=
ms:
&= nbsp; For many of our members, the most compelling reason for joining CLSA is to participate in our one-design racing programs. Continuing to offer an excellent p= rogram of weekly Sunday races, holiday weekend “club regattas”, and an= nual class specific regattas that attract visiting sailors is a critical strateg= ic objective for CLSA. To accomp= lish this, we need to work toward the following goals:
Provide Race Committee and Safety Committee
training for all members.
Increase participation by CLSA members in
off-lake regattas and US Sailing National Championship events.
Conduct excellent, safe regattas that draw
increasing numbers of entrants from other lakes and sailing clubs.
Review and upgrade our racing programs on an
annual basis, including our sailing instructions, scoring procedures, annual
racing schedule, and Race/Safety Committee processes -- to better meet memb=
er
desires.
Social Progra=
ms:
&= nbsp; For other members, the most compelling reason for joining CLSA is to participat= e in enjoyable social activities with other sailors. While we believe that our current program of parties and social events is excellent, we also believe that enlarging our social program to include more non-race-oriented events is important. Our social program= goals are as follows:
Continue to hold an annual mid-winter dinner
which features an affordable dinner, a cocktail reception, and a sailing
oriented entertainment program.
Continue to hold three summer parties on the
in-season holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.)
Institute a program of non-racing social eve=
nts
at the lake during the season, to include such events as Saturday dinner
cruises and/or inter-fleet picnics.
Sponsor more off-lake get-togethers, such as
informal weekday lunches for members, member sailing trips, and member
non-sailing outings or trips.
Engage non-racing CLSA members more thorough=
ly
in social event planning.
Training Prog=
rams:
&nbs= p; Adult training is critical as a recruitment tool to bring new sailors into the sp= ort and into the CLSA. It is also= a valuable tool to enhance member sailing skills and thus to support our raci= ng programs. Youth training is critical for recruiting and retaining families into CLSA membership, and for giving young people a lifelong desire to participate in sailing activities. Our current youth training program has been widely cited for its excellence. While maintaining that excellence,= we need to focus on greatly expanding our adult training activities.
Adult Trainin=
g:
Maintain certified sailing instructors within
the CLSA membership.
Continue our participation in the Red Cross
Sailing Program.
Develop and offer a fee-based learn-to-sail
program for the public.
Establish a sailing skills enhancement progr=
am
for CLSA members.
Establish a learn-to-race program for CLSA
members.
Acquire and maintain additional club owned
sailboats if/when member demand warrants doing so.
Engage competent instructional staff, with
compensated instructors readily available to work with prospective and curr=
ent
members.
Youth Trainin=
g:
Maintain certified sailing instructors within
the CLSA membership.
Maintain club boats for youth without their =
own
vessels.
Provide both learn-to-sail and learn-to-race
instruction for youth of all ages.
Provide sailing centered activities that are=
not
strictly race oriented.
Provide better support, encouragement, and
resources to CLSA youth who are interested in participating in competitive
regional and national sailing events.
Membership Pr=
ograms:
&= nbsp; Unfortunately, national participation in sailing has declined significantly over the past = two decades, and we now need to launch an enhanced recruitment program to build= and maintain a healthy membership. This program needs to focus on the elements that draw new CLSA members. These are (1) the pleasures of day-sailing and one-design sailboat racing, (2) camaraderie with CLSA membe= rs and guests, and (3) access to our extensive facilities. Our specific goals include:
Create a new and exciting promotional brochu=
re.
Aggressively increase our existing publicity=
and
promotional efforts (more participation in boat shows, more press releases =
to
local and regional media, more open-house events for prospective members at=
the
club, etc.)
Strongly encourage each CLSA member to bring=
at
least one non-member family, friend, or co-worker to the club sometime duri=
ng
each sailing season.
Consider new CLSA membership structure.
Make at least two follow-up personal contacts
with anyone who has specifically expressed an interest in CLSA.
Continue to poll members regularly regarding=
new
ideas and programs in order to ensure that CLSA leadership is meeting member
desires as much as possible.
Facilities/Eq=
uipment/Vessels:
&nbs=
p; All
current CLSA facilities/equipment/vessels are located at our 9 acre
“campus”, which provides more than adequate space to support al=
l of
our existing and contemplated activities.&=
nbsp;
We own two recently renovated and mortgage-free club buildings and a
fleet of power vessels adequate for running races, providing safety/rescue
services for our members and other Sunday users of
Maintain the clubhouse, shelter house, main
parking lot, and all existing club-owned power vessels to at least their 20=
06
conditions. Repair our drivew=
ay and
maintain it in pothole-free condition.
Enhance and maintain our camping facilities =
to
provide additional, reliable electric service for vehicle camping and a fre=
shly
mown grassy surface every weekend for tent camping.
Continue our program of landscaping improvem=
ents
as the annual budget permits.
Upgrade the dry storage lot surface (the
“boneyard”) as the annual budget permits.
Work actively and co-operatively with the St=
ate
of Ohio to improve the utility, beauty, and safety of our leased waterfront
area. Emphasize backfilling t=
he
seawall, improving the walkway around the shoreline, and minimizing vehicul=
ar
traffic in known muddy areas.
Actively promote CLSA Training, Inc. as a me=
ans
by which sailors can contribute boats, equipment, and money for the benefit=
of
CLSA -- on a tax deductible basis.
Commit no CLSA funding to projects for new or
greatly expanded facilities or equipment.
External Rela= tions:
Building and maintaining e= ffective collaborative relationships with external sailing organizations, the State = of Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the media, is vital to the long-term success of our programs and quality of our facilities. We have not focused sufficiently on these activities in the past, and we need to begin doing a much better job.= Our goals include:
Appoint a CLSA Liaison Officer, who should s=
erve
at least a three year term, to take a leadership role in improving our exte=
rnal
relationships, and to enlist other CLSA members in the activities below.
Monitor DNR activities relevant to Lake Cowa=
n,
accurately identify key DNR senior decision makers, and visit them at least
once each year to discuss our programs and invite them to our social events=
.
Meet with the Park Ranger at least twice each
year to promote joint planning and joint maintenance of our leased waterfro=
nt
area.
Continue providing our primary Safety vessel
(the “Pink Lady’) as a safety/rescue boat for all users of Lake
Cowan, whenever she is out on the lake.
Communicate regularly with other Ohio sailing
clubs and with national sailing organizations, and work with them to promote
sailing and sailboat racing.
Meet with, and build collaborative relations=
hips
with, other key users of Lake Cowan, including at least the marina operator,
fishermen’s organizations, and water pollution authorities, to promote
(1) safe boating, (2) providing the best possible programs for all users of
Lake Cowan, and (3) equitable sharing of risks/rewards for all parties.
Administratio=
n:
&= nbsp; In order to better achieve the various goals outlined above, we need to:
Re-align our administrative structure to ens=
ure
that all CLSA committees report through a member of the Board of Governors =
who
oversees our progress in one of the 7 areas addressed by this plan (the six
main program and resource areas above, plus this section regarding more
efficient administration.)
Go to electronic communication whenever
possible, both for existing members and potential members (website and mass
emails, not regular mail.)
Continue to enhance the attractiveness and
functionality of the CLSA website, including regular publication of our
“electronic” newsletter - the
Jibsheet.