The J/30 Southern New England District is holding its annual meeting and social at Bristol Yacht Club. An Evite Invitation was sent out to owners in the SNE District. Please reply to the Evite Invitation so we can plan the right amount of food & drink.

Here are the details:
Southern New England District (Chatham, MA to & including Mystic, CT)
**Date & Time: Friday 16 January 2009, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

**Location: Bristol Yacht Club, 101 Poppasquash Road (Bristol, RI)

Directions are here: http://www.bristolyc.com/visitors/visiting_yachts.php

Meeting Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions – Bill Kneller & Mark Rotsky
2. Treasurer's Report – John Howell
3. Class Membership Discussion – Bill Kneller
4. Report from J/30 Governors Meeting held 18 Sept 2008 – Bill Kneller
5. Narragansett Bay 2009 J/30 One Design & PHRF opportunities – Charlie Stoddard
6. Overview of 2009 Buzzards Bay Regatta – Ken Van Colen
7. Discussion on 2009 J/30 North American Championship – Bill Kneller
8. Elections (SNE District Governor, Fleet Measurer, Secretary, Treasurer) – Bill Kneller
9. Presentation, Questions and Open Discussion
10. Raffle & Prizes – Kathy Rotsky
11. Adjourn & Socialize (Pizza will be provided and the bar will be open (not to be confused with an "open bar")

Please join us! RSVP via return e-mail or phone Bill Kneller 401.683.4032 at home. When you RSVP please provide the following:
1. The number of people if you plan to attend to plan for Pizza
2. If you are interested in being considered for any of the elected positions

If you know of other J/30s that I have missed from this list, please let me know so the owners can be contacted.

Thanks!

Minutes from the 16 January SNE Annual Meeting held at Bristol YC

Attendees:
Arbella Hull #465 - Bill Saltonstall
Blitz Hull #357 - Chris & Katy Healey
Breezin Hull #409 - Bruce & Hazel Underhill
Brou Ha Ha Hull #419 - Steve Clark
Falcon Hull #229 - Charlie Stoddard
Fireball Hull #334 - Butch Joy
Good News Hull #175 - John Howell
Grits Hull #430 - Mike Campbell
Jeanie Hull #63 - Bob Cullen
Karinosa Hull #342 - Steve Adkins
Moody Blue Hull #40 - Ken "KC" Van Colen
Nemesis Hull #435 - Mark & Kathy Rotsky
No Quarter Given Hull #46 - Mark Thornhill
Rhapsody Hull #348 - Bill & Cindy Kneller, Warren McAuliffe
Sheila C. Hull #30 - Arthur Smith & Janine Deveau
TBD - was Mary's Prayer Hull #323 - Dwight McMillan
Valkyrie Hull #425 - Bruce Miller
Waltzing Matilda Hull #456 - Bill Veno

Election Results:

• District Governor - Bill Kneller (Rhapsody #348)
• Secretary - Kathy Rotsky (Nemesis #435)
• Treasurer - John Howell (Good News #175)
• Fleet Measurer - Charlie Stoddard (Falcon #229)

Treasurers Report
SNE District account was increased ~$800 from the 2008 J/30 North Americans. Expenses were $24,557.88 and receipts were $25,412.50. District dues remain at $0 for 2009.

Presentations & Recognitions
Jackets were presented to the people who helped organize and run the J/30 NAs. A half-hull model and framed 2008 J/30 NA poster was presented to Bristol YC as a thank you for being the host for the event. Receiving on behalf of Bristol YC were Peter Canzone, Commodore and his wife Lisa.

Report from 18 September Board of Governors Meeting
A summary of the topics discussed and votes taken was provided. Individuals desiring more detailed information were directed to the posting on the forum with the meeting minutes, and the subsequent posting with the researched information Charlie Stoddard provided.

Cruising Discussion

• Bill Kneller proposed J/30 meet-up at Block Island for Thursday 23 July through Monday 27 July.
• Bill Saltonstall proposed a Penbscott Bay cruise
• Steve Clark proposed a Cuttyhunk rendezvous

It was decided that people would make information available in the Cruising section of the J/30 Forum so people could coordinate details

Racing
Charlie Stoddard reviewed the tentative NBYA schedule that is still being finalized and should be firm by 1 March. There are a number of J/30 one design events proposed for the SNE district.

• 5-6 June: RI Leukemia Cup (1 day race only) Host NYYC in Newport
• 18 July: East Greenwich YC Centennial Regatta
• 15-16 August: NBYA Topgun Regatta at Halfway Rock

Charlie also covered additional race opportunities such as Off Soundings and the Twenty Hundred Club.

KC Van Colen provide an overview of the Buzzards Bay Regatta being held 7-9 August. Brochures were passed out and this was described as a low cost entry for some great racing and parties, with low cost moorings. We'd like to get enough J/30s for a OD class start.

2009 J/30 North Americans
This will be held at CPYC in Westport, CT. Bill Kneller encouraged SNE District boats to participate and provide a strong presence for the district. The trip from Newport to CPYC is about 17 hours. A preplanned route from Newport to CPYC has been prepared and posted on the forum. Bill Kneller is planning to depart on Friday 25 September at either 9am or 9pm to catch favorable currents, and suggested that people may want to convoy and deliver boats the weekend before. Based on previous years, mooring were complementary. A quick poll indicated that 6 SNE district boats were candidates for participating in the 2009 North Americans.

Class Website and Forum
Bill Kneller encouraged everyone to check out the J/30 Class Website at j30.org as the key to J/30 information. The recent upgrade to the J/30 Forum was also discussed. The forum can be found off the main menu on the J/30 Class Website. The new J/30 Marketplace was also discussed - people can now make their own posts to buy and sell things.

J/30 Class Association Membership & Dues
Everyone was reminded that class support is encouraged through membership and dues. Annual dues are $50. Bill Kneller indicated that the registration process for membership is done on-line and that and email would be sent out with class membership information to all owners in a few weeks.

Raffle & Socialize
There were various items raffled off - everyone was a winner! Pizza & salad were served and beverages were served in J/30 North American acrylic tumblers that everyone got to keep.

It was great to see so many new faces and have the opportunity to meet!