Message from the Chair re IOCA Committee
Published 6th Juy 2024
Dear Oppy Parent
As we ramp up towards our busy season it’s great to see two of our top teams currently away, the Europeans Team are in Italy finishing their regatta today, the Worlds Team are training in Cascais and, next week, sees the North American Team fly to Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile at home, whilst summer hasn’t quite made a proper appearance, Oppy sailors across the country are out in force at open meetings and home clubs. The Nationals in Pwllheli are just around the corner, with 228 sailors currently signed up.
Whilst we all have busy lives and are struggling with commitments - work, other children, your own sailing and everything else that goes with it - we need you to help run our class. This is a parent-led sport and if you want to change things or make them better for the future, this is your chance.
This year, it is planned that the AGM will be held on the Monday of the Nationals meaning that now is the time to step forward to volunteer for the IOCA Committee for the coming year. The ideal progression would be helping at your local club, helping to organise your region and then on to joining the IOCA Committee. This means as your children move up, you gain experience within the class too and help at different levels. However this most certainly isn’t a prerequisite. Parents with all levels of experience are welcome on the Committee.
All the IOCA Committee positions are up for re-election at the AGM: there are a number of different roles to suit different personalities and skill sets. Details of each of the roles and responsibilities are set out in the class website.
Meanwhile at home, whilst summer hasn’t quite made a proper appearance, Oppy sailors across the country are out in force at open meetings and home clubs. The Nationals in Pwllheli are just around the corner, with 228 sailors currently signed up.
Whilst we all have busy lives and are struggling with commitments - work, other children, your own sailing and everything else that goes with it - we need you to help run our class. This is a parent-led sport and if you want to change things or make them better for the future, this is your chance.
This year, it is planned that the AGM will be held on the Monday of the Nationals meaning that now is the time to step forward to volunteer for the IOCA Committee for the coming year. The ideal progression would be helping at your local club, helping to organise your region and then on to joining the IOCA Committee. This means as your children move up, you gain experience within the class too and help at different levels. However this most certainly isn’t a prerequisite. Parents with all levels of experience are welcome on the Committee.
All the IOCA Committee positions are up for re-election at the AGM: there are a number of different roles to suit different personalities and skill sets. Details of each of the roles and responsibilities are set out in the class website.
We are very lucky to have a number of incumbent members in key roles who are willing to stand again BUT we also have a number of important roles to fill!
The Secretary, Vice-Chair and
The Secretary's role is ideally suited to a lawyer or somebody with appropriate experience in that world but could also be picked-up by anyone with good business administration skills.
With our current Sailing Secretary looking to stand for the Teams Officer role, we are also importantly looking for a new Sailing Secretary.
Our Marketing & Comms Officer will also be moving on and we need someone to stand - this role doesn't require significant sailing / class experience.
The different roles carry different responsibilities and time commitments but all are equally important to fill. Being on the Committee gives a unique insight into how the Class functions, as well as the challenges and opportunities. Its all very interesting and it's possible to make a real diference at many levels. Please do consider standing, your class needs you!
If you feel able to offer your time in support of the class by standing for a Committee role for 2024/25, please let David (secretary@optimist.org.uk) know by midday on Tuesday, 9 July.
If you have any questions, please contact Stephen, David or me.
Sarah Gosling
Chair, IOCA(UK)
