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Westsail Greeters

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  • April 18, 2011 4:20 AM
    Quote
    Message # 572700
    Anonymous member
    We have a suggestion and I would like to hear what other WOA members have to say about it.

    An anonymous member suggested that we should create a new service called Westsail Greeters.  Briefly, WOA members who live near cruising  waters would volunteer to host cruising Westsailors who are passing by.  The goal would be to promote acquaintances among members.  It might compliment rendezvous.

    I think we could learn from the experience of a sister organization.  SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Association) has a similar service they call Cruising Stations.  Below is some text (in red) from SSCA's web site about Cruising Stations. I'm not suggesting that we need to copy everything SSCA does.  Still their experience is instructive.

    The SSCA Cruising Station Program was developed in the 1970s, with an emphasis on camaraderie and a “One World” philosophy. Since then over 150 volunteer Cruising Station Hosts worldwide (and growing in numbers each month) welcome our members to ports near and far, promoting the cruising tradition of world class hospitality. If you’re sailing to one of our CS locations, contact them in advance to take maximum advantage of local knowledge and the warmest of welcomes. 

      

    [Below are some of the services offered.  Of course, not all cruising stations offer all the services.]

    Anchorage, Marina, Water, International airport  Marine haul-out, WiFi, Wireless internet, Access to cash, Marine parts, Book Exchange, Car rental, Transportation/Car loans, Marine repairs , Dinghy landing, Medical services, Laundry, Electricity, Provisioning, Mooring, Mail drop, Private dockage, E-mail address, Restaurant/Bar, Fuel, (cruising club, yacht club, etc.), Customs, Immigration, Public transportation , Volunteer Opportunities, Government dockage (municipal), Shower, HAM radio contact, Marine SSB radio contact, Internet, VHF radio contact, 

    So, please speak up.  What do you think?  Might you like to volunteer as a host.  Would you like to be a guest?   Please post your responses here.
  • April 18, 2011 10:27 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 572933 on 572700
    Anonymous member
    I would be happy to participate. There are not too many Westsailors passing by my town on the Tennessee River, I suspect, but if any are in the Decatur/Huntsville area, I would love to meet them as they pass through.

    Frank
  • April 18, 2011 10:48 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 572941 on 572700
    Anonymous
    This idea has come up before, but it really never got off the ground.  I've offered to help a couple times to folks I knew were going to be passing through the Los Angeles area, but nothing ever came of it.

    It's not a bad idea at all, just doesn't seem to be much interest.
  • April 18, 2011 10:48 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 572942 on 572700
    Anonymous member
    We would be happy to be a participating station. We can raft another Westsail up at our dock for a few days, and there is OK provisioning nearby. Water, electricity, good restaurants.

    Cheers,
    Aaron
  • April 21, 2011 5:33 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 574581 on 572700
    Anonymous member
    I see that a number of members would be glad to volunteer.   Maybe we could ultimate get a dozen or more.   Alas, that's not enough to create a database or other special initiatives.  After all, WOA is still an enthusiastic but very small organization.

    I wonder if our volunteer hosts and eager guests might not be better served by simply joining SSCA and participating in SSCA's cruising stations service.   After all, is  it owning the same brand of hull, or is it the camaraderie shared by love of the cruising life that is the real appeal?    

    I'm reminded of the wonderful video that Bud Taplin showed at a rendezvous last year.  It was the marketing pitch for Westsails in the 1970s  (By the way, if you haven't seen that video, do so. It is GREAT.) Anyhow, the message was clear, they weren't marketing hulls, they were marketing the cruising life style.  I think that's the real metaphor for WOA.

    p.s. I expect that most WOA members actively cruising are already members of SSCA.  I support SSCA because of its large scale and effective lobbying efforts in support of boaters.  SSCA and BoatUS are the only two organizations who lobby for us.   We need it.  EPA is right now considering a host of new rules establishing "good management practices" for boaters. Imagine 25,000 government employees furiously scribbling new regulations that you and I must understand and follow.
     
  • April 21, 2011 10:26 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 574770 on 574581
    Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Dick Mills wrote: I see that a number of members would be glad to volunteer.   Maybe we could ultimate get a dozen or more.   Alas, that's not enough to create a database or other special initiatives.  After all, WOA is still an enthusiastic but very small organization.

    I wonder if our volunteer hosts and eager guests might not be better served by simply joining SSCA and participating in SSCA's cruising stations service.   After all, is  it owning the same brand of hull, or is it the camaraderie shared by love of the cruising life that is the real appeal?    

    I'm reminded of the wonderful video that Bud Taplin showed at a rendezvous last year.  It was the marketing pitch for Westsails in the 1970s  (By the way, if you haven't seen that video, do so. It is GREAT.) Anyhow, the message was clear, they weren't marketing hulls, they were marketing the cruising life style.  I think that's the real metaphor for WOA.

    p.s. I expect that most WOA members actively cruising are already members of SSCA.  I support SSCA because of its large scale and effective lobbying efforts in support of boaters.  SSCA and BoatUS are the only two organizations who lobby for us.   We need it.  EPA is right now considering a host of new rules establishing "good management practices" for boaters. Imagine 25,000 government employees furiously scribbling new regulations that you and I must understand and follow.
     

    I think Dick is talking about The Cruising Life - which is in two parts on our youtube site. - it's interesting. Bill Crealock narrates.

    Also we could use our westsail.org email to forward emails to ie NorthernCA@westsail.org or PacificNorWest@westsail.org for instance and that would go to the local contact.

    Dicks suggestion of joining/infiltrating the SSCA is also a good idea.

    jay

    Last modified: April 21, 2011 10:26 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • April 22, 2011 3:36 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 575687 on 572700
    Anonymous member
    I agree wholeheartedly that we should support the organizations that lobby for the interests of sailors and boaters in general. I would add a couple of other organizations that are worthy of support. The United States Sail and Power Squadrons, and the American Sailing Association.

    Regarding the original subject of greeters, would it be possible overlay the membership (name and phone number) of the WOA onto a map, like Google Maps, to which members could refer when cruising? Better yet, maybe someone could write a WOA app for the iPhone...?

    Frank
  • April 22, 2011 4:39 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 575717 on 572700
    Anonymous
    The whole greeter thing has me thinking about the WalMart people who stand at the door when you enter...... :)

    I would be happy to run someone around and lend tools etc to a westsailor who pulls into Brookings. Last year we had 3 or so Westsails that stopped for a few days. Its was interesting and fun to meet the owners.
    Last modified: April 22, 2011 4:39 PM | Anonymous
  • April 23, 2011 7:28 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 576447 on 572700
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    How about I add the fields necessary to support a member saying YES to assistance in then members home/port area to Westsailors?  Then add a lookup on the members only area so a search reveals who to call/contact by area. 

    Jay

    Last modified: April 23, 2011 7:28 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • April 24, 2011 7:45 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 576713 on 572700
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    As an illustration of my idea - I've added a Crew list type lookup in the member only area.  The idea is that someone who needs crew assistance can lookup a member and then contact them via email.

    Jay
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