1. Category 10: Membership Development
Paying Entrance Fees Through Service to the Club
SERVE TO SAIL MEMBERSHIPS
David Brightling
General Manager & CEO
416.934.4401
david.brightling@rcyc.ca
ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
141 St. George Street • Toronto, Ontario M5R 2L8
p. 416.967.7245 f.416.967.5710
www.rcyc.ca
In an effort to attract keen sailors, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club developed a special program that enabled
them to pay their Entrance Fees through service to the Club. This provides 60 new Members – who would
not otherwise have joined – with a cost effective way to join and to become immediately engaged, while
providing valuable services beyond what the operating budget could support.
GOALS:
• To attract keen sailors who otherwise could not afford to join
• To attract younger Members to the Club
• To strengthen Annual Fees revenues
• To increase engagement among new Members
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Serve to Sail Membership is capped at 60, with 15 admitted in a given year
• Candidates commit to providing 40 hours of service per year over four years to pay their Entrance Fee
• After four years they “graduate” from the category, thereby freeing-up 15 new vacancies
• Eligible services include:
* Specialized boat repair services (fibreglass, electrical, mechanical)
* Seasonal launching and maintenance of Club-owned boats
* Race Officer, mark boat and safety boat duties
* Regatta management assistance/sailing event organization
* Coaching of Junior sailors
• Serve to Sail Members are a tightly knit social group with spin-off benefits in terms of participation in events
and other aspects of Club life
• Many volunteer well in access of their 40 hours per season and continue to do so after their S2S obligations
have been fulfilled
Now in its fourth year, the program has, to date, brought in 60 new
Members (average age of 37), $255,987 in new Annual Fees while
saving the Club some $400,000 in costs. A true success by every
measure!
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club