MINUTES OF ITCA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

January 17, 1998

The meeting was called to order at the Corinthian YC - Leschi Park facility by President John Monk. The meeting agenda followed the outline published in the November 1997 issue of ITCA's Thunderbird Sailing newsletter. Total attendance was 20, including 15 ITCA voting members (boat owners). Life Member George Trusk was present for part of the meeting. Members in attendance represented the following fleets: Tacoma #1, Seattle #2 and Nanaimo, BC Canada #24.

1. Minutes of the January 1997 ITCA AGM meeting, as published in the May 1997 newsletter, were approved.
2. President's Report (John Monk):

   a. E-mail has become a frequently-used means of communication between ITCA Board of Governors (BOG) members, and for T-Bird owners around the world to contact ITCA.

   b. The ITCA Internet web site, managed by Chris Reil of Toronto Fleet #10, has had several thousand "hits" (contacts) since it's inception. The ITCA web site may be contacted at http://home.istar.ca/~itca. Comment was made that the web site should be reviewed and updated on a more regular basis to keep information current.

   c. ITCA BOG coordination among widely varying time zones (four hours from western U.S. to eastern Canada) has been a problem. E-mail has helped to reduce the coordination problems.

   d. The ITCA International Championship, sponsored by Seattle Fleet #2 in July 1998, was a big success with 42 entries representing all active fleets in the U.S., as well as Canada (three fleets) and Australia (Geelong). Results and commentary were published in the November 1997 newsletter.

   e. The measurement issue of lead in the keel was resolved by the Measurement Committee . Also approved were a new sail material and longer battens for the working jib. (See Measurement Committee report below).

   f. Items to be brought up for later discussion under New Business (see report below) included greater representation of ITCA membership through regional Vice-Presidents; and measurement of boats by owners/builders when measurement through organized fleets is not practical due to geographical considerations.

3. Measurement Committee Report (Garth Wilcox):

   a. The issue of lead in the keel was resolved by requiring that all materials must have a density no greater than that of cast iron or steel as required by the plans and specifications.

   b. Pentex, a new sailcloth material similar to Dacron, was allowed.

   c. Longer battens in the working jib are permitted in accordance with specifications published in 1996 for a ballot issue presented at the January 1997 ITCA AGM meeting.

   d. Measurement certificates were approved for two existing boats.

   e. A revision to the ITCA Black Book is in progress, to update information to include all approved changes to date. This effort is almost complete.

   f. The AutoCad plans for T-Bird (34 pages on 11"x17" format plus a 57-page spiral-bound booklet on tips for construction) have been reviewed and are nearly final. Costs for reproduction by two different methods were reviewed. The existing stock of "old style" T-Bird plans is nearly depleted, so publication of the new plan format is timely. Garth Wilcox, Bill Hurley, Bill Hayden and Tracy McFarlane are commended for their efforts in assembling this new information.

4. Fleet Reports by Dan White (Tacoma #1) and Craig Burnell (Seattle Fleet #2) were read at the meeting. Reports from other fleets (Victoria, Vancouver, Geelong, Perth, Boston) were handed out at the meeting, and will be summarized in an upcoming issue of the ITCA newsletter.
5. ITCA Pacific Northwest Regional Championship: Ken Lott of Nanaimo Fleet #24 presented their fleet's request for ITCA sanction of the championship series at Nanaimo, BC on July 4-5, 1998. A Friday evening margarita/hot rum party and Sabot dinghy race will set the pace for the T-Bird races on the following days (2-3 races per day). Details were provided at the meeting for posting in local T-Bird fleet newsletters.
6. ITCA International Championship: Following the withdrawal of the proposal by Geelong Fleet #15 (Australia) to host the 1999 championship, Victoria Fleet #4 offered to host the event, now scheduled for July 18-24, 1999 at Victoria, BC (Royal Victoria YC). Details will be published in future issues of the ITCA newsletter.
7. New Business:

   a. A discussion was held on increasing participation of ITCA members around the world (e.g., U.S., Canada and Australia) by having increased representation on the ITCA BOG in the form of regional Vice-Presidents. At least two and perhaps three V-Ps were proposed. The proposal was supported by ITCA members in Geelong and Perth, Australia. A straw vote for further consideration of this proposal by the ITCA BOG was unanimous among members at the meeting. Since the issue requires changes to the ITCA Constitution, this matter was referred to the incoming BOG. It was noted that participation of BOG members would have to be revised, since not all members could be present at one time owing to time zone differences. E-mail could serve as a means of coordinating on items requiring BOG concurrence.

   b. A proposal for "self-certification" of measurement by owners or builders who are located distant from major T-Bird fleet regions was discussed. The proposal could apply mostly to new and existing wood boats; most fiberglass boats are built from approved molds, although certain measurements must still be made. However, questions were raised about the accuracy of measurements; and whether measurements were really necessary if the boat was not raced in sanctioned T-Bird events, or participation in local events was only on handicap basis. It was suggested that owners obtain a keel weight when new boats are built, or when older boats are rebuilt; other measurements can be made at a major sanctioned event such as the International Championship. The proposal was subsequently tabled.

8. Election of ITCA Officers:

   a. President - Hugh Townsend of Seattle Fleet #2 (owner of former International Champion #333 Hulujimama) was proclaimed new President by acclamation.

   b. Treasurer - Stuart Burnell of Seattle Fleet #2 (crew on #22 Kiwa) was proclaimed new Treasurer by acclamation. The position of ITCA Treasurer was vacant for 1997.

   c. Measurement Committee - Mark Harang will move up to Chairman of this committee, replacing "retiring" member Garth Wilcox. Vidas Stukas of Victoria Fleet #4 will join the committee as a new member; and Dave Buetow of Seattle Fleet #2 will continue as a member of the committee.

   Respectfully submitted,
   John Rose (Secretary pro-tem while Jeff Wallace was out of town on "business.")
   john.rose@apawood.org
   (business e-mail address)