DATES TO REMEMBER

2023 COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT

Contact: Mark Marosits communications@newportyachtclub.org

Each year, the Newport Yacht Club prepares a Community Benefit Plan (CBP) to identify, plan and measure the Club’s positive impact on the Newport community. This is a report on our success with the 2023 plan in its four areas of impact:

• Maritime Community and Economy
• Youth and Adult Education
• Environmental Stewardship
• Civic Collaboration

Each objective cited below was MET. Many thanks to all the staff and members who made this achievement possible!

IMPACT AREA 1.0: MARITIME COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY

The Newport Yacht Club seeks to preserve and continually enhance its role in serving the maritime community and ensuring its ongoing contribution to the local economy and quality of life.

Impact Objective: Hosting/Supporting Sailing Events

• Bermuda One-Two
• New England Solo/Twin Race
• Gold Star Sailing

Impact Objective: Hosting/Supporting Recreational Sailing

• Frostbite Racing
• Mitchell Memorial Day Regatta
• Tuesday Night One Design Summer Series
• Wednesday Night PHRF/Cruising Class Summer Series
• Columbus Day Race Date

Impact Objective: Operating an Exceptional Destination Marina

• To PROVIDE well maintained dockage and amenities for transient boaters and to host 500 non-member and 150 member transient boaters, and to assist them with having a highly positive “Newport experience.”
• To meet or exceed the criteria which earn the Club Boaters Choice Awards, Platinum Club Awards and other objective measures of marina quality.

Impact Objective: Supporting Community and Tourism Events

To PROVIDE a facility that supports community-wide events, including:

• Harborwalk access
• Fireworks viewing
• Summer boat parade viewing
• Newport International Boat Show support
• Newport Illuminated Boat Parade viewing
• City guest reception, e.g. Sister City program

Impact Objective: Strengthening Community Infrastructure

To MAINTAIN seawalls, bulkheads, tidal surge abatement dock and waterfront amenities that benefit boaters. The following projects are anticipated subject to approved budget:

• Ongoing routine maintenance of seawall and other structures
• Water outflow management and reporting
• Installation of fire protection system for property
• Relocation and upgrade of dockside pump out station

To PROVIDE infrastructure and other assistance to the Newport Harbormaster, its vessels and personnel, including:

• Ongoing access to facilities including parking, workshop, lifts, berthing

GOAL AREA 2.0: YOUTH AND ADULT EDUCATION

 The Newport Yacht Club seeks to preserve and enhance its role in providing education on such topics as introduction to boating, boating safety, maritime careers and more for youth and adults, including those who may not have had prior exposure to these experiences.

Impact Objective: Youth Sailing

• To CONDUCT a youth sailing program serving up to 130 youth during the 2023 season.
• To CREATE funding for and provide up to 25 scholarships for Newport youth during the 2023 season.

Impact Objective: Youth and Adult Boating Safety and Environmental Awareness

To FACILITATE Coast Guard Vessel Safety Checks, DEM boating safety education classes and other activities that promote safety during the boating season for members for the Newport boating community.

• Better Bay Alliance Intro to Boating Safety Course
• State Boating Safety Certificate Course
• Paddlecraft Safety Courses
• Vessel Safety Checks/DEM Head Inspections

Impact Objective: Maritime Jobs/Careers

To CONDUCT one or more maritime career events in collaboration with RIMTA, IYRS and/or Chamber of Commerce.

To CONTINUE the ongoing program of taking Newport youth on harbor tours and creating awareness of opportunities for recreation and careers.

GOAL AREA 3.0: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

The Newport Yacht Club seeks to preserve and enhance its role as an environmental steward through a comprehensive sustainability program where we will lead by example for members, residents of Newport and visiting boaters from RI, U.S. and around the world.

Impact Objective: Sustainability Plan 

The development of a comprehensive sustainability plan is underway at the club which includes the following goals:

• Reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
• Reduce waste from plastic
• Reduce the club’s long-term operating costs through reduction of energy use
• Promote sustainability among members and demonstrate the benefits of sustainable practices
• Prepare the club for the impacts of sea level rise from climate change

This will be achieved through a combination of operating practices and capital investments. The club is committed to incorporate a sustainability review into all future capital improvements/projects and will explore partnerships with local organizations in order to accomplish these goals.

Impact Objective: Clean Marina

To MAINTAIN “Clean Marina” Environmental Certification, having been the first yacht club in Rhode Island to achieve this certification, the criteria for which addresses:

• Site Management
• Training and Education
• Waste Management-Recycling and Trash
• Hazardous Waste
• Water Resources-Stormwater, Grey Water and Wastewater
• Air Quality/Pollution
• Fuel Management

To MAINTAIN collaborative relationships with DEM, CRMC and other relevant agencies.

To MAINTAIN environmental emergency readiness and response, spanning training and equipment.

GOAL AREA 4.0: CIVIC COLLABORATION

The Newport Yacht Club seeks to preserve and enhance its role supporting the City and its departments and our local non-profit community.

Impact Objective: City of Newport Services and Infrastructure

See prior action items related to harbormaster, seawalls and bulkheads, harborwalk and event hosting.

Impact Objective: Update Community and Nonprofit Needs Assessment

To UPDATE the Newport Yacht Club’s understanding of the needs and interests of key Newport agencies and nonprofits, with an emphasis on those that are youth-serving with regard to boating and other on-water recreation and to identify potential areas of collaboration.

Impact Objective: Nonprofit Engagement

To CONTINUE support of nonprofits with which the Club engages, including but not limited to:

• Better Bay Alliance-boating safety
• American Canoe and Kayak Association
• Gold Star Sailing-a program for children of fallen military members
• Warrior Sailing- a program for veterans
• Martin Luther King Jr. Center- a multi-service community organization
• Newport Schools- Provide up to 20 scholarships for students from Newport elementary and middle schools who have never sailed before.

To MAKE AVAILABLE Club facilities when possible for use by marine-related service/nonprofit organizations at no charge during the off season.

REGATTA COMMITTEE

It may be a bit cold out there, but we’re not hibernating and would like to air a few thoughts:

We’d like to increase the number of mid-week racers and will be looking for suggestions, which might include the future addition of a small one-design fleet for informal self-directed racing as a “league” mainly by our younger people, both members and non-members.

We would also like to solicit support for additional participation in parallel running a third-party scoring system as it seems that the “perfect” system we have now is just too complicated – just saying!

More fun for the Committee is generally called for, and we’re planning a series of fun on the water training / familiarization sessions using “Volunteer” to improve involvement and backup for our driver / PRO members.

Please give us your thoughts / suggestions – at amrenfrew@earthlink.net

Alan Renfrew Chair, Regatta Committee

OFFSHORE COMMITTEE

Registration is open for the Offshore 160 and the New England Solo/Twin.

Dates:

2 March – Skipper’s Forum/Shore Party

12-14 July – Offshore 160

26-27 July – New England Solo/Twin

Roy Guay Chair, Offshore Committee

JUNIOR SAILING

In the midst of January winter weather it seems a little early to think about summer sailing. However, your Junior Sailing committee is already hard at work preparing for the 2024 Junior Sailing Marine Adventure Camp.  Registration will open on Tuesday February 6.

In the coming weeks we’ll begin recruiting staff, assess the fleet and begin preparing the fleet for the summer season. Once again we anticipate a full program with 130 young sailors and providing 10-20 scholarships for local youths.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to support your Junior Sailing Program.

Junior Sailing Committee – Michael, Al & Aedan

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The following are pending actions of the Membership Committee, posted as per our Bylaws.

Thank you.

Scott Walker Chair, Membership Committee