To help its new members get acclimated, the Chicago Yacht Club (CYC) assigns a “Navigator” from among its existing membership to show them the ropes, so to speak.
“We have great diversity in the ways that our members enjoy boating—there are power boaters, racing sailors, and cruising sailors. So we marry a similar type of Navigator to the new member,” explains Jim Clark, General Manager. “The Navigator helps to get the new member engaged, and thereby start to build relationships with other members.”
CYC goes one step further in helping to match up new members with current ones.
The club recognizes new members by placing a “Pineapple Burgee” on their table when they are dining. “Display of club officers’ flags has long been a tradition in yacht clubs when they dine, and recognizing our most valuable asset—a new member—is also important,” says Clark.
The Pineapple flag signals new members to their fellow members and encourages them to extend a special welcome. “It’s the building of relationships that makes new members stay for the long term,” says Clark.
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