You are Officially Invited to Attend US SAILING’s Yacht Club Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800 


PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (January 24, 2011) – Flag officers, general managers, and committee chairpersons of yacht clubs and community sailing organizations of all sizes from around the country are encouraged to participate in US SAILING's 2011 Yacht Club Summit at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, Ill. on April 2-3, 2011.

A number of topics, speakers, and panelist contributors have been confirmed for this first-time event. The summit, moderated by US SAILING President Gary Jobson and a host of industry leaders, features a number of informative panels and breakout sessions on the following topics:

Communications Signature Events Refurbishment of Club Information Technology

Long Range Planning Community Access Financial Stability Regatta Management Yacht Club Branding

Junior Programs Sailing Around the World Membership Yacht Club Foundation Waterfront Management

Club Owned Fleet Increase Race Participation Insurance Recruiting Governance

"It is essential that our yacht clubs provide excellent service to their members and the sailing community at-large," explained Jobson. "The weekend summit will bring together the best innovative thinking across the country and a wide variety of topics. Any yacht club planning on redefining their mission, attract new members, understand how to complete a major renovation, or become relevant in their community will want to participate in this ground-breaking event."

America's Cup icon Ted Turner will be issuing the keynote address. Additional speakers and panelists have been also been confirmed. Below is the roster of experts scheduled to participate:

Tom Atkins: President, Sail Sheboygan Dean Brenner: Chairman, Olympic Sailing Committee / President, Latimer Group George Brengle: Marketing Director, Sperry NOOD Regattas Dan Cooney: Development Director/Assoc. Executive Director, US SAILING John Craig: Race Manager, St. Francis Yacht Club Clay Deutsch: CEO and President, Boston Private Financial Holdings Randy Draftz: Race Director, Charleston Race Week Tom Duggan: ISAF International Race Officer / US SAILING National Race Office

Tom Ehman: Director and Member, America's Cup Committee David Elwell: Commodore, New York Yacht Club (2009-10) Jack Gierhart: Executive Director, US SAILING Nancy Glover: Treasurer, Chicago Yacht Club Carter Gowrie: Founder, Gowrie Group Insurance Sally Helme: Group Publisher, Sailing Company Stan Honey: Co-founder, Sportvision / Volvo Ocean Race and Jules Verne Trophy Navigator Bob James: Former Chair, McCann Erickson / Past Commodore, New York Yacht Club (1997-98) Gary Jobson: President, US SAILING

Jeff Johnstone: Vice President, J/Boats, Inc. Stuart Johnstone: Business Development Chair, J/Boats, Inc. Leslie Keller: Treasurer, US SAILING Lud Kimbrough: Long Range Planning Chair, Fishing Bay Yacht Club (Va.) Charlie Leighton: Former Executive Director, US SAILING / Past Commodore, New York Yacht Club (1993-94) Geoff Mason: Executive Producer, ESPN / Former America's Cup Crew Steve McInnis: Chair, Sail Newport Nominating Committee John McNeill: Member, International Council of Yacht Clubs Greg Miarecki: Secretary, Chicago Yacht Club / Past Chair, Mackinac Race David Pensky: Board of Governors member, Annapolis Yacht Club

Dave Perry: Racing tactics and rules expert Brad Read: Executive Director, Sail Newport Dawn Riley: CEO and Captain of America True / Former President of the Women's Sports Foundation Phil Smith: Commodore, Eastern Yacht Club (Mass.) Michael Spark: Head Junior Sailing Instructor, Mantoloking Yacht Club (N.J.) Kurt Stocker: Principal / CCO & Senior Partner, Story Trading / Past Commodore, Chicago Yacht Club Bill Stump: Past Commodore, California Yacht Club Ken Taylor: Founder, Regatta Network Don Wilson: Founder, Chicago Match Race Center

This two-day event is just over two months away. To learn more about US SAILING's 2011 Yacht Club Summit, including registration, travel and planning, and summit schedule, please visit the event website at http://media.ussailing.org/Special_Events/YC_Summit.htm.