LBT strategic plan discussion with committee members past & present

Saturday 2 May 2009

LBT Shed Franklin

Past committee members were invited to a discussion and dinner at the LBT shed and the present committee catered with a fantastic curry meal. There were 2 hours of very useful discussion before the aroma of rice and curry proved too much and a very enjoyable meal was had with further discourse ensuing.

A brief overview of On the Water Programme was given especially detailing recent insurance developments and considerable discussion ensued.

Public liability has jumped sixfold due to increase in members, bit of a problem as we have been successfully increasing membership over the last year. It seems we also have to have hull insurance on each of our boats (and pontoon) in order to carry full public liability, and it is this aspect that has caused an unexpected blow out. We had anticipated an increase of up to $4000 (from $1500), but the hull insurance (third party only) adds another $4000.

Discussion around creating membership categories, e.g. an active group of volunteers and boat users, possibly a long haul group, where people put up 5- 10 years membership up front, and inactive groups who may be called supporters, crew, friends of LBT, etc and who are not counted as full members.

Lack of corporate members noted,? should be called sponsors

Contradiction between grant applications which favour more members and insurance

Excellent suggestions to check with Wildcare or the Huon Valley Council to check if we could fit under another’s liability insurance umbrella.

Need to be more proactive seeking donations (and grants)

Workshop

Continuing inability to provide enough capital to allow the employment of someone at the LBT shed on a permanent basis.

The workshop is seen as always being an area potentially untidy and hazardous and concerns were expressed that should any accident/injury happen there then we would be in a very difficult place with regard to insurance.

All favoured shed renovations and applauded efforts to do so. Especially if redesign was aimed at increased safety and productivity.

Problems noted with evolving multipurpose use of shed, conflicts around it being a work and repair area with use of hazardous tools , toxic chemicals and dust and teaching requirements, meeting areas, work area, storage of sailing and rowing equipment.

Recommended that we set goals and work through them step by step. Probably need another evening or two just like this to address the shed’s future.

Renovations include plans for a member’s area mezzanine with access to an outdoor deck overlooking the river. Also included was the previous application for a verandah around the building. It was explained that this permit had lapsed but that we had communicated with HVC and they were happy with us to continue and would reduce building application fees.

Some sort of soundproofed machine shop should also be considered so that wood work could be done at any time of the day without disturbing residents. A wood storage area was also necessary.

There was also a need to build at least one shower and there is a suggestion to make showers and toilets accessible from the outside so that marina guests could be services. This would enable us some leverage when dealing with WBC and water rights

Shed renovation plans would go to community associations to inform local community and get their suggestions about any changes to a significant foreshore building. Progress Association and local community approval would give our building application extra weight

The shed is in a prime position, discussion about possibilities to have coffee or meals available on the deck and mezzanine area. Consensus view was that probably would not disrupt local businesses as there are no tea or coffee houses in our area of town. It certainly is an area that receives a great number of visitors through the WBC and selling refreshments, especially from a place with a view over the water would be a success.

Agreed that we have to have someone in the building to allow boat hire business to improve.

Need to co-operate with WBC; suggestion to deliver presentation to new students starting at WBC in order t have them familiar with us and what we do, may even get new members

Discussion around offering courses which do not compete with WBC. Problem with building boats with volunteers is that there may be difficulties selling them, they need to be of a very high standard. This can limit volunteer involvement. Best to have a customer before starting a boat.

Discussion on offering weekend courses, evening courses. Good suggestion to offer dinghy restoration courses, short courses preferable topic to be decided on what needs to be done to a particular project, eg replacing a plank, replacing ribs, scraping caulking and painting, assessing a wooden boat, etc.

Evaporator factory owner is apparently about to sell leases soon. Expected price is way out of our league. Discussion about approaching owner and seeing if we can get better access to ramp and foreshore as part of the pre sale process. Complex tenure at that site, freehold, crown lease and crown licence.

See the developing plan document