GMM Minutes: May 31, 2026

Type of Meeting:Voting 

Agenda 

A. Voting Items

1. Ex Comm Officer elections/appointments

B. Reports from Officers

Minutes

1. Voting Items

2. Ex Comm Officer elections/appointments

1. Preliminary item: Is anyone contesting any of these positions? NO

2. Vote: Does the general membership vote to reappoint the current roster of Ex Comm members to their roles? YES (No Quorum)

3. Ex Comm: Does Ex Comm vote to affirm that and reappoint the current roster of Ex Comm members to their roles? YES

2. Reports from Officers

• Commodore: Shreyas Chand

1. Emergency Contact Information: We are requiring this moving forward to improve safety and prevent unnecessary emergency calls. For new members, it is an easy change - it’s a mandatory field during sign up. For existing members, we have decided to enforce the change by blocking dinghy and windsurf signouts if you don’t have this in your member profile. 

2. Lease Negotiations with City of Berkeley: 

1. We have a temporary license for the bowling alley! We’re going to be paying an additional $250/month for that space.

2. We are required to demolish the workshop and modify several structures to address building inspector concerns before further negotiation can continue.

3. Negotiation on the rest of the terms is ongoing so won’t share more details here, but the current offer on the table from the city is to increase rent to inflation-adjusted amount and include extra square footage cost. We are requesting a non square footage based approach to valuation and insisting on some parking passes to be included.

3. Yard Projects:

1. We have an imminent plan to demolish the workshop and make significant modifications to the wetsuits/laser shed, sailing side changing booths, PFD/foulies area, and the foiling board/board hospital area. The modification plans have been approved by the Parks Department and we have submitted a permit application for this work. The city has set a deadline to complete this work by June 6th. 

2. The demolition project will include the creation of some new temporary storage. After this initial large project is done, we’ll also be looking at taking on additional work to reconfigure the yard to take advantage of the new additional space.

4. Parking

1. Paid parking, that was approved last year, is being implemented in the next few months

2. Draft Ferry Parking Plan released - proposes changes intended to go into effect when Ferry starts operation (~2029 at earliest) and to protect recreation users from commuters. Unfortunately, changes are devastatingly bad for us and indicate a significant lack of understanding of sailing and windsurfing.

• Vice Commodore (Open Houses): Isha Mishra, Dennis Tai

1. Open House Details

1. Attendance: 346 total guests

2. Youth Participation: 68

3. Record Achievement: Highest attendance record since 2017

4. Boat Sign-In/Out Reminder: Volunteering skippers must sign out their boat before the open house and sign in afterward.

2.  Operational and Safety Updates

1. Capsize Incident: One capsize, first of this year. Skipper recovered and brought all guests back to dock. Handled well with a positive guest response. A debrief was conducted.

2. Operational Changes:

1. Implementation of a new digital system for guest waivers, speeds up the signing procedure and reduces paper use and storage.

2. New club ambassador role during open house to give more information about the club, classes, and sign-up information. Moving forward we will have at least one ambassador stationed at the clubhouse to free up day-leader’s time.

3. Introduction of a harbor master role to track dinghy assignment

4. Bump in volunteer headcount to handle more guests

3. Community Engagement and Feedback

1. Feedback and Training: Members encouraged to provide feedback and sign up for the coordinator trainee program.

2. Volunteer Opportunity: Stay after the GMM to assist with kitchen breakdown and cleanup.

3. Community Promotion: Promote the club and open house through:

1. Engagement with community groups.

2. Distribution of postcards available at the club for local spots.

• First Vice Commodore (Dinghies): Robert Spark, Memo Gunay

We have added several new boats to the fleet (a Laser and 2 c420's)

Thanks to all the volunteers that came to the repair clinic, your help keeps our fleet running. 

Always remember to check out boats before leaving the dock and check them in when returning. The check-in procedure now has an optional step to note any new (or existing) damage to the boat. This makes it easy to enter this information quickly without having to log on to the website and finding the appropriate page to do so.  Remember that you are responsible for damage that happens while you sail - either fix it yourself or find someone who can show you how to fix it.

Next up we're ordering new sails and tillers, stay tuned.

• Second Vice Commodore (Windsurfing): Sofien Sehiri, Ted DeBonis

What’s new since Feb GMM

• Our windsurfing equipment is in a good standing however junior board are taking a big hit. Breaking equipment is part of the game but please be more careful and if you break a board take the initiative to repairing it.

• We received 10 new cambered sails ranging  form 5.8 to 6.7 

• We created a racing chair position for windsurfing run by Anton Serputko, now we have a speed challenge and weekly races. Take the written test for racing to participate.

• Our newest Senior Tinne Aerts her senior project consisted of creating a guide  for wind foiling  and updated the relative written test 

• As you may know  we gained some extra square footage in the back and we got approved to start using it June 1st, that will instantly  give us some extra yard space for lessons and rigging once we move the junior boards and kayaks over there.

• The sign out sheet now only accepts equipment that is in the inventory. That requires entering the correct ID, if something isn’t in the inventory, the day leader may have to guess if it’s just an oversight or if somebody needs to be rescued.

• Third Vice Commodore (Keelboats):  Ryan Alder

• The new electric outboard is on Meritorious.  We're finishing up securing everything and running the wiring and we will soon send out instructions and ask skippers to do some testing for us, particularly on range.

• J/80 will be getting hauled out soon for bottom job, new standing rigging, and fixing the gudgeon that has had it DNS'd for some time.  We can't do it properly in the water.

• Daisy had the motor mount shear off, thank you Greg for having another made from scratch.  Not a simple repair to tackle.

• Digital signout coming soon.

• Rear Commodore (Teaching): John Bongiovanni/Stephanie Evans (sailing), Randi Shapiro/David Gadarian (windsurfing)

1. Sailing

Hi all - I’m Stephanie Evans and co-Rear Commodore of Sailing instruction. I’ve been a member of the club since 2011 and moved back to the bay recently. 

We’re kicking off Advanced Dinghy as of a few weeks ago, big thanks to Scott Snow for organizing!

We wrapped our Senior Study group - thanks to all the instructors for their theoretical and practical sessions ranging from sail trim to on the water motoring! 

We have more womens+ programming to look forward to this summer, including dinghy-repair clinics (first one next Saturday at 9:30am–no experience required.)

We’ve rolled out online tracking of lessons - this will help us more easily see student/teacher volume. Please remember to sign out your boat. 

As we mentioned in February at last GMM, we’ve been working on evolving our sailing instruction and curriculum to be more holistic, rather than task-oriented, especially in fast-tracks.

We’ve come up with 5-levels that serve as a learning progression, moving from basics of upwind sailing to more advanced high wind sailing. 

• This was to address a common issue we were seeing on junior tests of students & teachers thinking they were ready but needing to lock down some key basics, like good upwind sail trim. 

• And students thinking junior was a check list of skills, rather than developing into a well-rounded sailor with good communication and decision-making as part of their skills. 

• We tested the levels in May and are refining it based on feedback and trying it again in June. Next, we’re going to explore what it looks like to pilot it during regular lessons. 

• Speaking of fast-track, big thanks to Leo and Katelyn for organizing May and Sam and Lea for organizing June!

We’re working on a junior testing rubric to try and calibrate across the club on what a good junior looks like so our students, junior testers, and seniors can all be working towards a shared understanding. 

Regarding test requests, if you’re looking for a rigging test or junior test, please put in your request online under test requests under ratings. 

And finally in bittersweet news, John Bongiovanni will be stepping down as co-rear commodore of sailing as of today. He has served an incredible 10 years and done so much for the club. He’s out of town this week but we’ll plan a party to celebrate his over 2400 teaching hours later in the next month or so! I’m reading this note on his behalf:

It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with all of you in this role for the past ten years. I want to thank the many members who have helped me, not only as Rear Commodore, but also in my own sailing development. I look forward to continuing to instruct at the club and working with other instructors on improving our program. I am continually impressed by the newer members each year who not only teach a lot, but come up with better ways to do it. And I am delighted that Stephanie has stepped into this role. As you have heard, she is already having an incredible impact.

Feel free to come chat to me about any of this or email or slack me.

2. Windsurfing

Congratulations to our 52 Novices, 7 Juniors, 1 J+, and our new senior Tinne!

The good news: Despite the challenging tides schedule limiting morning lessons every other weekend, we've run 27 windsurfing classes since we kicked off the season on April 18, getting creative with some small afternoon sessions to try to get Novices out on the water despite losing our usual friendlier wind slot.

Year-to-date, we're only ~3% off of our 5-year average of new Novices, and we're ~one Junior off our 5-year average. 

That being said, we're 20 Novices lower than our banner May of 2024! We've run only one less Novice 1 class this year, but in 2024 we were able to run Novice 1 classes every weekend, and I wonder whether the every other week cadence is breaking people's momentum from idea to execution. Or maybe we just had a ton of word-of-mouth in May 2024?

We ran another successful WIPA certification course, with 7 students completing the intermediate planing windsurfing instructional course with Dave. We are scheduling another WIPA Level 1 certification for teaching beginning windsurfing in June or July, look out for that if you're a windsurfer.

We're also experimenting with Windsurfing Fast Tracks this season, emulating our sailing siblings and ABK windsurfing camp. Eric Lee is running a weekday intensive for intermediate windsurfers June 15-19, and I'm attempting to run a Novice intensive on our last quite bad tide weekend, June 6/7, where we'll try to get in three land lessons and three water sessions across the weekend. If these experiments go well, we'll try to repeat later in the season.

As always, big thanks to our enthusiastic crew of volunteer instructors who make our program functional AND fun!

• Port Captain: Birk Huber, Audrey Yen

• The summer schedule is set and we are in a good place as far as staffing goes.

• Please sign out your equipment and sign it back in promptly when you are back. The signouts do tell day leaders what should be on the water -- and squaring that with reality can burn a lot of cycles.

• Please do not store stuff in the clubhouse when you  aren't sailing (especially wet clothes and shoes).

• Secretary: Sara Zimmerman, Marco Falconi

Recent Rule changes recap: we have clarified the requirements for cruising skipper. They now explicitly call for one of the qualifying cruises to include sailing and docking at night.  The ORs have been updated to reflect this.

• Treasurer: Scott Snow, Peter Kuhn, not present, report provided below

The treasurer reminded the members that our financial statements, EOY 4/30/2026 annual financials and EOY 4/30/2027 annual budget, on our website and shared that we had the highest income ($343,672) in 5 years, except for a COVID related anomaly in 2022.

The treasurer committed to find out if and when we could get a newer fridge.

Annual Statement of Financial Condition May 1 2026

As of May 1st Cal Sailing Club had $45,410 in its bank accounts, and its property was worth $350,655 (depreciated book value). The club expects DBW* to reimburse us about $20,000 for items that we’ve already paid for.  Bank balance was up $32,605 from 5/1/25, property was down $18,444. This statement was prepared without an audit from the club’s books.  

Income and spending follows for the fiscal year 5/1/2025 - 4/30/2026.  Regular dues income was 7% higher than the amount expected in preparing the budget for the fiscal year.  Overall, the actual income was about $10,000 higher than expectations, and actual spending was about $35,000 lower than the total approved spending.  

*DBW is the State of California Parks and Recreation Department, Division of Boating and Waterways, which funds equipment and instructor training for teaching safe boating and windsurfing.

Income 5/1/25- 4/30/26

Regular membership dues $261,094

DBW grant -- reimbursements for windsurf instructor training (2024 grant) and for novice windsurf boards and sails, dayleader radios, dayleader wages at Open Houses, windsurf instructor training, used Club 420 dinghy sailboat, foul weather gear, and lifejackets (2025 grant). $32,295

Donations (big thanks!) $21,565

Electric Outboard Grants (Rose Foundation, Ava Community -- big thanks to Ale and Steph for applying!) $8,500

Interest on Savings Account, credit card rewards $2,232

Surplus equipment sales (2 Laser road trailers) $1,000

Windsurf locker membership dues (thank you lockerers!) $12,950

UC workstudy reimbursement $4,037

Total Income $343,672

Spending 5/1/25- 4/30/26

Dinghies-- Venture dolly, used International 420 sailboat, two used Club 420 sailboats (DBW grant) and van rental gas lunch for purchase, dinghy sails and covers, bungee, padeyes, dinghy line meter, shroud adjusters, line, clip, rudder hardware, loctite, bolts, stainless steel sheet, heli-coils, fasteners, cleats, shackles, dolly nosewheel, cable ties, blocks, Laser mast fittings, epoxy, sanding discs, coveralls, gloves, chainplates, drainplugs, seals, tire and inner tubes, bow bumpers, rectangular aluminum tubing, laser straps, hiking stick universals,  storage bags, spraypaint, furler drum, trap cleats, rings, filler, eyestrap, spinny repair tape, paddles,  tubing, scrubber, RS500 rudderblade, solvent, bobbles,  trapeze handles, rivets, caulk,  cotter rings, shrouds, repairs to trapeze harnesses,  carbon rods carbon rods, eyebolts, spreader brackets, carabiners, footstraps, masthead floats,  plastic tube, cinder blocks, t-bar fittings, cam cleats and rebuild kits,  Toura crossbeams, duralac, sail lube, sail repair tape and needles, pizza and coffee for dinghy repair clinic, sail repairs $42,873

Dayleader wages and taxes, payroll processing, gift cards for dayleaders who helped with member medical emergency, dayleader gear, boatercard fees $96,809

Windsurf-- Eight boards, 30 sails (20 on DBW grant), footstraps, harness lines, epoxy putty, masks, brushes, paint, fiberglass cloth, denatured alcohol, glue, gloves, pigment, brushes,  windsurf simulator supplies, epoxy, sanding discs, boom clamp spacers, sail repair tape and supplies, pizza and drinks for windsurf cleanup party $30,398

Clubhouse and Yard -- portapotty service, garbage service, propane, hasp, electrical covers, plugs and cords and outlets, floor cleaner, mop, paper towels,  hoist water valves, wd40, fire extinguishers and signs and mounting brackets, garden  hoses and fittings, soap, toolbox, primer, chafing dishes & Sterno, sink water heater repair supplies, brooms and dustpans, wetsuit and PFD and foul weather jacket hangers, yellowjacket trap, oil, straps, loctite, propane showerhead and hose, propane showerhead and hose, printer paper and toner,  sharpies, knife, brushes, cableties, disposable plates cups bowls utensils lunchbags, stair edging,  tape, wirenuts, compression sleeves, doorknob, trashbags, marker, rope, contact cement, hinges, tap and die, bit set, washers, BBQ ignitor, wetsuit glue, plastic chicken wire for wetsuit hanger prototype, wiring connectors, battery, project board, storage boxes, solar light, acrylic sheet, chain, eyebolt, keyboard for clubhouse computer, webcams and lenses and cable, stickers, tire pressure gage, whiteboard, pouches, magnets, funnel, umbrella canopy and cord, gas stabilizer, WD40, sheet metal $10,726

Insurance--commercial property and general and marine liability insurance 4/14/26- 4/14/27, directors and officers insurance, workers comp deposit and premiums $29,655

Activities--food for Open Houses and General Membership Meetings and parties and womens sailing socials, van rental gas tolls for windsurf cruises, docking fees for keelboat cruises, CSC pint glasses for holiday/GMM events, copies, trashbags, decorations, GMM room rentals, racing whistles and marks and anchors and Ollie repair parts  $11,170

Keelboats -- Merit mainsail, drifter sail, electric outboard and battery and charger and wiring parts, Commander stem fittings, booms deposit, keelboat engine parts and oil, swivel fairlead and cleat, line, bail, spacers, rubber sheet, thimbles, bearings, hose fitting,  caulk, fasteners, winch repair kit, blocks, bungee cord, eyestraps, shackles, tiller extension and universal joints, clips, latch, electrical plugs cords outlets, nav light and LEDs, battens, hog rings, sail lube, needles, paddle, snaps, rivets, wiring connectors, anchor chain and shackle, hose clamps, tubing clip, parts and anodizing Sea Horse portlight frames, dehumidifiers, padlocks, heatshrink tubing, bearings, nylon webbing, acrylic and neoprene sheet, crew overboard parts, battery, acetone, paint, outboard maintenance pdf, fiberglass cloth tape, lighter, fast pin, bilge pump kit, sail repairs $23,464

City of Berkeley--rent on clubhouse and yard space $12,763

Use tax on wholesale purchases, sales tax, DMV registration, Berkeley business license, property taxes on boats and yard space possessory interest and streetlight assessment $8,514

Safety Equipment: 20 sets foul weather jackets and bib overalls (DBW grant), 24 wetsuits (DBW grant), 30 basic lifejackets for Open Houses etc. (DBW grant), propeller guard (DBW grant), wetsuit repair supplies, sunscreen, first aid kit supplies, dayleader VHF radios (DBW grant) and antennas and power supplies, lifejacket hangers, fire extinguisher brackets $11,745

Bank--credit card processing, bank fees $6,682

Rescue skiffs-- 371 gallons gas, motor repair and service parts, propellers and propeller guards (DBW grant), anchor chain and shackles, fuel hose, remote control, carabiners, zipties, starter switch, paint, glue, fasteners, cleaner, cotter pins, brackets, lock washers, Loctite $3,239

Teaching Expenses -- food for Fast Track dinners, fees for windsurf and powerboat instructor training (DBW reimbursed), fees for 1st aid training less member copays, food for seminars and repair classes,  instructor hats, room rentals for cruising skipper study groups and 1st aid training, US Sailing membership, customizing test software for Sr tests, copying $19,233

Tools -- electrical testers, cord, saw blades, wrench, steel bar, pliers, rotary tool, sanding disks, cutoff wheels, bolt extractors, tap and die, transfer pump, dremel bits, screwdrivers, rope cutter and blades, shears, drill bits, scissors, knives, oil, sockets, cutoff wheels, awl, sandpaper, tape, mixing cups and syringes, gloves, ratchet drives, rivet nut setter and tool parts $801

Communications -- website software subscriptions, internet service fees, email service fees, USSailing and J/80 class memberships for CSC, postage and shipping fees, fees for DBW meeting, lunch for Erin Diehm sail, coffee for windsurf commodore meeting, condolence fruit basket, postage and shipping, copying, printing flyers, SIM card for keelboat signout $2,996

Total Spending $311,068

Budget for Next Fiscal Year

The club’s Executive Committee adopted the following budget for the 5/1/2026 – 4/30/2027 fiscal year and authorized spending up to the amounts shown.  

Expected Income

Memberships (Regular and windsurf locker) $259,000

DBW reimbursement $37,000

UC Work-Study Reimbursement $6,000

Donations, surplus sales, interest, etc. $14,000

      Total Income $316,000

Authorized Spending

Category Total DBW component 

Club activities $17,500

Dinghies $40,700 $3,200 

Windsurfing $32,729 $8,700 

Keelboats $24,600

Dayleaders & rescue skiffs $111,000

Clubhouse and Yard $9,500

Teaching Expenses $22,000 $5,000 

Insurance $30,000

Safety Equipment $1,000

General Overhead $37,000

     Total Spending $326,029 $16,900 

Big thanks to everyone who worked hard for the club!

3. Member Comments/Questions

1. A member requested clarification on double volunteer hours. ExComm to follow-up and clarify the rules around this

2. A member requested care when demolishing the tool shed to ensure that any salvageable materials be set aside for new construction

3. A member recognized the effort of ExComm to keep things going, dealing with the city and regulatory bodies (thank you)

4. A member mentioned if we could engage with the media to raise awareness of club activities and raise our profile with the city

5. A member recalled how different the club looked 30 years ago in terms of diversity and inclusion (hint: it looks better now, but we need to continue pushing)