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WBYC News

Jim Smith Retires from ILYA Post

wbyc_news ILYA News November 14, 2015

Jim Smith was presented with a buoy and a "golden anchor" by his pals at  Lake Geneva to mark his retirement from the ILYA position of Executive Secretary after 37 years.
Jim Smith was presented with a buoy and a “golden anchor” by his pals at Lake Geneva to mark his retirement from the ILYA position of Executive Secretary after 37 years.

Jim Smith, Executive Secretary of the ILYA will be retiring at the end of this year.  Jim did an outstanding job for the ILYA for 37 years, serving with nearly 20 different Commodores in that stretch. Thanks to Candace Porter (Beulah Yacht Club) and Beth Wyman (Oshkosh Yacht Club) for organizing an incredible party for Jim last weekend in Madison!

The ILYA Board has formed a hiring committee and is now ready to accept applications for his replacement.  Below you will find the job description and instructions for applicants.  Please feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested or qualified.  Thank you for your efforts in helping us find an excellent replacement for the ILYA.

Executive Director
Inland Lake Yachting Association

The Inland Lake Yachting Association formed in 1897, when representatives from 10 Upper Midwest sailing clubs met at White Bear Lake, Minnesota, during an interlake-challenge regatta.  The purpose of the meeting was made clear in a resolution passed that afternoon: “to encourage and promote yachting and interlake racing on the inland lakes of the Middle West under uniform rules of measurement, classification, racing and sailing”.  That purpose is still the same today.  Tradition is the key of the ILYA whether it be in the families that have sailed for generations, the local club races or annual championship regattas that have been held since the ILYA origin.  The organization has mirrored the changing times but never lost sight of the camaraderie which make the organization so unique. 

Today the ILYA serves over fifty member clubs and nine one-design fleets.  The mission is the same today as it was in 1897, to encourage, develop, promote and foster amateur one-design yachting and yacht racing on the inland lakes of the Middle West of the United States; to conduct yacht races and regattas; to establish and enforce rules and regulations for the government of races and for the construction, design and rigging of sailing yachts, while supporting our member clubs through education and knowledge.

Position:  Executive Director
Qualifications:  Experienced, take charge professional with ability to manage administration and logistics in support of a three pronged position comprised of: 

  1. Executive Secretary Duties (Day to day business operations and support of Board), 
  2. Regatta and Fleet Coordination, and 
  3. Strategic Promotions Coordination

Must be able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, meet deadlines with little supervision, and be willing to work an average of 40 hours per week with more required hours during the summer months.

The Executive Director should have a love for sailing, be an enthusiastic professional who is able to promote the organization through various channels and who is able to develop a conduit of communication between Sailing Fleets, Member Clubs, Member Sailors, Regatta Sponsors and the Board of Directors. 
 
Executive Secretary: 

  • Coordinates various office support service.  Duties may include fielding telephone call and e-mails, maintaining organization records.
  • Provides financial information to Board by performing general accounting tasks.  Duties may include disbursements, expense vouchers, receipts, account payable and account receivable.  Enters data into computer system using QuickBooks or similar program. Uses this information to provide support documentation for the organization.
  • Provide the critical role of Secretary for the organization by fostering communication and diligence through proper management and utilization of important records such as meeting minutes and organization’s bylaws.   
  • Communicates and engages with Club Delegate to ensure club involvement.
  • Performs administrative tasks related to membership.  Duties may include payment processing, coordinating of membership renewals and producing membership reports.  
Regatta and Fleet Coordinator: 
  • Advise, administer and follow up on regatta planning tasks from host clubs and regatta chair people.
  • Receive and publicize, through various promotion opportunities, all regatta information for the current season regattas.
  • Coordinate, update and make accurate the regatta participation list in Event Managing Software (currently using Regatta Network).  
  • Manage, at different responsibility levels, the ILYA Championship regatta dependent on the venue and location.
Strategic Promotions Coordinator:   
  • Promote the club through innovative and creative media content across social media platforms.
  • Manage Organization Publications
  • Use a measureable strategic approach for promotion to include a daily/weekly/yearly plan for all forms of media
  • Coordinate with fleet captains to ensure consistency among fleets.
Qualifications: 
  • Excellent communication skill, including writing and social media experience
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and work assignments
  • Excellent interpersonal skills both in person and by phone/e-mail with high professionalism
  • Ability to accomplish projects with little supervision
  • Fantastic customer service ethic with little supervision
  • Proficient at using Office computer programs, Accounting Software, Social Media and Website Modifications

The perfect candidate is one who rather than filling a “one-size-fits-all” job description brings a unique skill set which will protect the history of the organization while keeping it fluid and moving it forward.  We’re looking for a self-starter who will meet the needs of this organization through strong organizational and multi-tiered communication skills.    Experience with the organization and knowledge of sailing is not mandatory but is preferred.  Salary will be commensurate with experience and skill set.

If interested, please send your Résumé to Beth Wyman: eawyman55@gmail.com

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