Hi again. Here is info about houseboat rentals on Lake of the Woods for L. It looks like it would cost around $ 1,000 per person, plus food, gas, and rental of an emergency boat, etc. Sleeping conditions would be tight, and bathrooms would be shared. https://www.houseboating.org/Lake-of-the-Woods-Houseboats-for-Rent

 

From: Emily McGrath <windwardemily@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 9:45 PM
To: membership@lists.wyc.org <membership@lists.wyc.org>, Tracy Maisomati <maisotracy@gmail.com>, Jenn Holm <jenn@doyoga4you.com>, eringrealy@gmail.com <eringrealy@gmail.com>
Subject: Minutes: Nov 5 Membership commitee

It was fun to see everyone and meet the new members tonight. Here are the meeting minutes. Thanks for participating and volunteering. I highlighted the names of people who are leading efforts we discussed. Emily

 

WYC Membership Committee Meeting

November 5, 2025

 

WELCOME BACK!

    • Committee members: – Barb, Emily, Lisa, Leanna, Kelly, Jill, Maria, Lida, Teresa, Bob, David, Tom, Andy, Tom, Jim

                                                              i.      Nov. 5 Attendees: Barb, Tom, Tracy, Emily, Bob, Erin, Jenn, Leanna, Lisa, Kelly, Maria, Lida, Jim, Jill

                                                            ii.      Committee changes – Welcome, Tracy, Erin and Jenn!

NOTES

·         Emily took notes

 

BUSINESS CARDS

    • Everyone grab some! 😊

NEW INITIATIVES/IDEAS

    • Chili/Cornbread Cook-off!

                                                              i.      Saturday at 4 pm on Jan 17 – Kelly will reserve the clubhouse

    • Feature short bio/photo on new members in the weathermark or at Wanderlust

                                                              i.      Bob will think about how we could highlight new members and railmeets

    • Reach out to WS to get connected to their trainings

                                                              i.      Tom will meet with Matt to inform adult members about WYC, so they know where they can sail – Make a poster?

    • Idea to welcome new members during winter at events with no fee until they sail 3xs

                                                              i.      Welcome new members to off-season events

                                                            ii.      Costs of membership decreases after the certain dates

                                                          iii.      Barb will check in with board to see what is possible

    • Other winter ideas – Leanna, Maria, Lida, Tom winter funday subcommittee

                                                              i.      Leanna will coordinate: Fat tire bike (Andy Spence Parsons), family ice skating, mobile sauna, snowga (Jenn is a teacher) – snow kites? Possibly Feb 21

    • CHAMBER OUTREACH – Tom to send group monthly calendars to consider networking opportunities

                                                              i.      What’s up for November to consider? Chili open? – Jill, Kelly, and Tracy to coordinate with chamber

                                                            ii.      Who can submit events (ie. Wanderlust, movie night, etc) for their calendar?

WANDERLUST

    • send photos to Jill, info to Dinwoody for Facebook
    • Presentations potentially in the works:
      1. Saturday, January 24 at 4pm – Lida:  Tall ship world voyage aboard the Barque Picton Castle – Arne
      2. Thursday, February 26th at 7pm– LOWISA – Erin Grealy (+ possibly Tom Brown and others?) Emily to look into houseboats first week in August
      1. March ?: Bayfield – don’t know that much – Andy, rich baker, etc. Bob and Jim will reach out

                                                            ii.      Minnetonka members – months at sea aboard a Norwegian wooden ship (Barb)

                                                          iii.      Giovanni DeCarli – adventures at sea for 3+ months Barb reaching out

                                                          iv.      Recap from Dan Turk part 2 – Jill reaching out

    • Other ideas

                                                              i.      Leech Lake – Ross Luken, etc – Maybe next year

                                                            ii.      Chicago to Mac – Moxie (all woman crew)

                                                          iii.      Lake of the Woods Association

                                                          iv.      Blind sailing

                                                            v.      ??

HAPPY HOURS (Kelly/Jill/Maria, ??) – 5-8pm on the 2nd Thursday monthly, December through April (door prizes, gift cards, table reserve signage)

    • Dec 11 – Lago Taco’s, Plymouth, two gift cards – LOCKED IN
    • Jan 8 – American Legion on Hwy 55 – party room has food to buy – To be confirmed
    • Feb 12 – Montego Blu - To be confirmed
    • Mar 12 – Birches - To be confirmed
    • Apr 9 – Flechers - To be confirmed

MOVIE NIGHTS - 1-2/winter

    • Jim has the list and access to movies; recommending to show Coyote (the Mike Plant story) again – Feb?
    • Cayote – partnership with the WS – Jan 10 at 6pm at either WYC or WS, pot luck and byo bevs
    • Weekend Sailor – Date tbd

 

RAIL MEETS –

                                                              i.      Bob and Jim will present to the Board proposed for December

                                                            ii.      Bob will reach out to Jill about presence at the banquet

                                                          iii.      February or March, get railmeets folks here, or coordinate with another event – percolate that!

                                                          iv.      Requested $300 for 2026 software fees

                                                            v.      Postponed chalk talks until January with software developers, John and Marco

                                                          vi.      Request testimonials – send via FB or listserves or list of those on RailMeets?

                                                         vii.      QR code signage at banquet? HH’s, movie nights, etc.

                                                       viii.      Jill create google doc for RM suggestions

BRANDED MERCHANDISE – stickers, headbands, cozies, bandanas, stickers, sunglass holders,  etc?

 

 

 

We couldn’t wrangle the whole agenda…. More to talk about next month – 7 pm December 3 at WYC

WINTER COMMUNICATION RE-VISIT – Jill

    • Event calendar

                                                              i.      Scrolling marquee on website starting before EOM – Jonathan dropping off jump drive

                                                            ii.      Post flyers at the clubhouse

                                                          iii.      Send out via Weathermark, FB’s, listserves

NEW MEMBER INITIATIVES

    • Onboarding process - Any changes, ideas, etc?
    • End of year new member survey – review what we sent out last year (Emily)

                                                              i.      Jill F. to provide list before EOY

    • New member analysis year over year (growth, referral sources, etc)– Jill F. to provide in January
    • Should we have a goal for % increase annually?
    • Discounts for skippers to bring aboard new crew?

MISC.

    • MEMBERSHIP FEES – no matter when you join in the year, you pay again for the new season
    • WEATHERMARK – any articles to submit?
    • WEBSITE – any changes?
    • MEMBER FEEDBACK – anything on the radar? 
    • BOARD - anything to share with board?

                                                              i.      Proposed same budgets as 2025 + new branded merchandise

                                                            ii.      Can we incentivize members to recruit new members?

FUTURE EVENTS….

    • MEET & GREET (late April)
    • JUST TRY IT (early June)
    • BOAT LIGHT PARADE (late June) - Tom
    • SWAPMEET (early June)? - Lisa