Dear Members,
What a difference 10 days can make. All of us are having to adapt to new routines, new restrictions, and not insignificant anxiety over our health, and "what's next and how long will this last?".
We are glad to see that our members are taking COVID-19 very seriously, and we are all hopeful that Canada can avoid the high human cost that is being paid in some other countries.
Your board is also dealing with the changes, and the uncertainty, and today's update includes
content from all the board members
with respect to their areas of responsibility. Your volunteer board all signed on expecting high water, but COVID is an unwelcome bonus, and the Commodore wishes to thank all of the board for sticking with it. For your information,
the board has doubled its meeting schedule
(all virtual!), and phone conversations are happening daily or hourly as we deal with the evolving situation.
1) Safe and Healthy First
As mentioned in the News Flash Sunday,
we've locked down washroom facilities and closed the playground
at our club, in keeping with current best practices. We don't have automatic faucets or soap dispensers or doors, and while it's great to watch children playing at this time, children from different families playing together, or 15 minutes after another child was on the same monkey bars, is not safe right now.
As mentioned in yesterday's flash news, and now reinforced with new government messages, please follow all guidelines (which may change very rapidly) if you
choose to come down to the club to work on your boat
. We recommend deferring until at least April 6, but understand that some may have larger projects in progress. Outdoor and building water and washrooms won't be accessible until further notice, so bring your own hand sanitizer!
REMEMBER:
- if you are returning from US or international travel, follow government rules, self isolate, and STAY HOME for TWO WEEKS.
- If you are feeling unwell, follow government rules, and STAY HOME.
- If you are at heightened risk from this virus, STAY HOME. If we will be launching before it's safe for you to come to the club, we'll ensure you get the help you need in prepping or launching your boat.
2) Potential Office Shutdown
As this was being drafted, we got the Ontario announcement about non-essential businesses being shutdown, but without any details yet. We will determine exactly how this applies to us and
if and how working-from-home can fit with our operation
.
Please do NOT visit, phone, or email the office on Tuesday.
They are busy preparing for a possible interruption. We'll be back to some kind of normal very soon, and will send an update on what that looks like and how can you reach the office very soon.
3) Launch DELAYED - new date TBD
After today's announcements,
launch will have to be rescheduled. We will give everyone at least two full weeks warning.
We are planning for three different scenarios:
- Restrictions are removed completely ... we launch the way we have in the past, on a new date. We may need to make some minor changes to handle increasing water levels, and the teams are considering that already.
- Restrictions are reduced again, allowing us to open, but maintaining some distancing and limits on group sizes ... we split launch into smaller chunks over more days, with much smaller teams, using different techniques where needed (e.g. electric winches used on railway). The crane and railway committees are developing detailed plans.
- Restrictions are not relaxed by mid-summer... cancelling launch for 2020. It's the last scenario for a reason ... nobody wants us to get there. Our club exists for one purpose: to Advance the Sport of Yachting in all its Forms, and we don't do that by staying ashore.
4) Docks Project
The contractor and equipment for piling removal arrived on-site Saturday afternoon. They anticipate the last piling removed by the end of day tomorrow Tuesday. When we get back to installation in hopefully a few weeks, the pilings will be out of the way.
New docks and the main spine anchors have started arriving in the parking lot outside. Design and planning for electrical is unfortunately going to have to be paused, and as such electrical won't be ready for some number of weeks after the new floating red dock is installed. Contingency plan is temporary power strung along the new dock, using equipment similar to what we use in the winter in the yard.
5) High Water
Last Friday's 30-day forecast includes a 9" rise in Lake Ontario (
here
), which will have water lapping at the top of the wall along Coatsworth Cut. The beginning of March 6-month forecast (
here
) has the very top of the potential range exceeding record levels for May/June/July.
We continue to plan for the worst, and hope for the best. Work on white wall's raised boardwalk has progressed well, as have upgrades to electrical systems.
There remains work to move leftover dock sections from Red to fixed fingers, docks, and walls that were lowest last year, and plans for raising the parts of fixed Green that were awash.
6) Work at the Club
Only work permitted under the evolving rules and guidelines will continue, and only with board approval. Anything we can defer is being deferred. Please refer any questions to the responsible Vice-Commodore.
7) Upcoming Meetings, Events, Activities, and Programs
We had penciled-in a town-hall meeting in mid-April to share plans for Phase 2 of the docks project. We also have a scheduled General Meeting in late April. If restrictions are removed in time, we will continue, but it is very likely these will be postponed. We have a bylaw requirement to meet in the second quarter to approve financials and auditors, but that is more than 90 days away. Virtual meetings are also being considered.
As you know, all socials have been postponed until restrictions change. Planning for regattas and racing continues, but if restrictions don't change or launch is delayed, these will of course be impacted. Some events may have to be cancelled for 2020; the board is managing to ensure that event-related fixed costs are minimized.
Adult and Junior sailing school classes and race teams won't start until we get an all-clear. We are considering running our classroom-only Basic Navigation course online, stay tuned for more information.
8) Invoices, Financials, Hiring
The Spring invoice has gone out, and assumes launch will occur at some point. If the worst case scenario happens, and we cancel the season, we will determine what we can do at that time. Please note that even without any activities, there are substantial fixed costs that must be born by all members, even when the club is virtually shut down.
The board has already started taking a very conservative approach to cash management, and non-urgent operational and capital expenses will be delayed.
All seasonal hiring is now contingent on operations starting (yard staff, sailing schools, etc.).
9) Ongoing Updates and Communications
Expect updates
at least weekly
or as soon as we have more information, or the situation changes. We have received a number of individual email questions; please accept that the board is working extra hours at this time, and if there are non-urgent questions that other members would have an interest in, we may wait until the next communications to answer.
10) Life goes On
A lot of things are on pause now, but some things run on their own clocks. On Thursday, the first day of Spring, VC Marine Chris Pappas became a grandfather to Olivia Mary. Smiles have been exchanged on Facetime. Congratulations to mom Denise, dad Evan, grandparents, and all involved, and a big welcome to Olivia herself!
Thank you
for supporting your club, the staff, and the board during this time. There are going to be more changes and challenges ahead, and we appreciate your patience and willingness to assist.
Paul Brennan
Commodore
