Mission
The Charleston Yacht Club is a welcoming place for members, their families, and guests. Our goal is to promote the sports of sailing, boating, on-the-water activities. We enjoy a lifestyle that appreciates the beauty and unique nature of the Lowcountry.
Vision
The Charleston Yacht Club strives to be a vibrant, viable, waterfront facility meeting the members’ expectations by providing highly valued services with a broad scope of amenities to an active, engaged boating population.
Goals
The Charleston Yacht Club, in this pivotal time of growth potential in our unique and beautiful Charleston, has the opportunity to re-invent itself for the future.
Our strong membership base is positioned to grow to 500 multi-generational, diverse members who enjoy the Low Country lifestyle through water-oriented activities, riverfront dining as well as a broad spectrum of events which brings members, families and friends together.
Membership recruitment, activation and retention programs shall be developed that will attract and engage people of all races, ages and genders to join, participate and remain with the Charleston Yacht Club to sustain it for generations to come.
The Club is an active participant in the Charleston maritime community and supports junior boating programs, various regattas, tournaments and major sailing events around the Charleston Harbor. Amending and augmenting the social/recreational calendar to include cultural, charitable and off-site activities will provide the members with new ways to build relationships and be engaged participants.
The Clubhouse, docks, boat lift and boat storage yard offer an attractive, welcoming facility for boating in all its forms. Renovating and refreshing the facilities in response to the growth and demographics of the membership will keep the Clubhouse relevant and appealing as we work to achieve the Mission.
All aspects of the Yacht Club’s life are based on its financial health. Regular monitoring of the budget as well as keeping pace with the changing interests and growth in the membership and events, will provide a solid fiscal foundation. The budget, based on fiscally affordable and sustainable pricing, can deliver programs, menus and services that encourage member participation. Moving forward, endowment programs, legacy giving, room rentals and other fund-raising activities will be enhanced to provide additional and continuing income streams for the Club.
Objectives
In order to implement this Vision, the Long-Range Planning Committee offers the following measurable objectives to propel us into the future.
Membership
- The Membership committee shall develop and implement a Recruit/Activate/Retain Program that welcomes everyone interested in boating while increasing the membership to 500, results in less than 8% attrition per year, engages new members in Club life and inspires existing members to re-engage in order to sustain the Club’s vitality.
- Marketing should accentuate ChYC’s unique characteristics such as: (1) open to all people with a passion for on-the-water activities (2) downtown facility and location on the Ashley River ideal for hosting a multitude of social and recreational events plus (3) fabulous sunset views.
- All aspects of Club planning and decision-making should be member-centric so it stimulates enthusiasm, participation and full utilization of the Club as it fulfills its mission.
Social and Recreation
- Provide a broad, expanded array of well-organized social events both on and off-site including dining, cultural and entertainment venues for members to share new experiences.
- Invest in ways to make the Club attractive to younger members, especially those with families. This includes making all ages feel welcome and important, developing a user supported child care program and developing ways to make children want to be at the club (sailing activities, opportunities to crew, game nights, etc.). They are the Club members of tomorrow.
- Bring more boating activities to the Yacht Club to make the ChYC THE PLACE for sailors, boaters and fishermen to hang out when not out on the harbor. This requires facilities that support food and beverage and docks that support boats of all sizes.
- See addendum attached for detailed activity suggestions.
Facilities
- Obtain a long-term lease from the City which allows for the necessary investments in expanding and improving the Club to keep pace with the growing membership and list of activities.
- Bi-annually evaluate our facility, location, parking, amenities and budget to confirm that they continue to appropriately serve our mission.
- Maximize the waterfront to be more accessible for member’s boats, accommodate more ChYC on-the-water events and welcome visitors from reciprocating yacht clubs.
Financial
- Budget for financial stability, affordability and sustainability utilizing the talents of Club officers, staff and members in order to fund programs, events and facilities that will effectively implement the Club’s mission.
- Annually evaluate the Budget in order to keep pace with growth in membership, programs, and events.
- The Budget Committee shall actively monitor financial operations for accuracy, accountability and adherence to standard accounting practices including regular reviews and annual audits. Quarterly Financial Statements shall be forwarded to the membership.
- Annually assess the room rental opportunities for members and others at a pace that enhances our bottom line without diminishing access for member usage and activities.
- Investigate endowment programs, legacy giving and other fund raising to create additional and continuing income streams for the Club.
Vision Statement Addendum
Schedule 6-8 small boat racing competitions per year among Club members of diverse age groups.
Schedule 4-6 cruises for sailors, boaters and land-based members.
Annually sponsor 2-3 youth sailors to compete on behalf of the ChYC in regional and national regattas.
Expand the ChYC Big Boat Regatta to include more competition over several days of racing.
Annually sponsor a sanctioned regional/national regatta.
Arrange an annual ChYC Club J24 sailing championship series.
Advocate for and participate in an annual Low Country Yacht Club sailing championship.
Annually schedule 2 fishing tournaments for Club members.
Collaborate with the Power Squadron, CORA and others to provide 2-3 seminars annually related to on the water activities.
Participate in 2-3 activities that enrich, protect, or enhance the beauty of the Low Country maritime environment.
Arrange monthly events that include card or board games or games of chance.
Strive to make the lower back deck a useable space for outdoor activities regardless of the weather.
Utilize the back deck and pier for outdoor recreational activities for diverse age groups, such as movies, relay foot races, corn-hole, croquet, bocce or moonlight dancing.
Schedule an annual ChYC member trip to a regional tourist destination.
Arrange 2-3 annual Club member gatherings at local sports events, i.e., tennis, baseball, soccer, or hockey.
Facilitate 2-3 annual Club member outings to cultural events, i.e., concert or play.