Author: Kerim Baran

Important Update: Streamlining Our San Diego Argonauts Email Groups


Dear Argonauts Members and Enthusiasts,

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve communication and streamline club operations, we’re making some updates to the San Diego Argonauts Email Groups. These changes aim to simplify how members connect, share updates, and stay informed while keeping our existing email-based communication system intact.

What’s Changing?

Clearer Organization & Simplified Categories
We’ve refined the structure of our email groups to make them easier to use and understand:

– News Group – For official club announcements, regatta notices, and important updates. For club-to-individual one-directional updates.
– Sail Group – Focused on discussions, race coordination, and event details for sailing enthusiasts. Member-to-member interactions.
– Scale Group – A dedicated space for scale boat builders and hobbyists to share insights, projects, and events. Member-to-member interactions.
– Members Group – An open forum for general club-related discussions, member-to-member interactions, and classifieds.

Automatic Group Assignments for Members
To ensure that active members receive relevant updates, we are implementing automatic group assignments based on membership status:

– Current paying members will automatically be added to their respective division groups (Sail, Scale, and Members) based on their interests and participation.
– Non-paying former members and all outside subscribers will be placed in the News Group only, where they can continue receiving general club updates.

Retirement of the Power Group
Due to relatively low activity and member count, the Power Group will be temporarily retired. Paying Power Division Members will be automatically added to the Members Group, which remains open for general discussions across all divisions.

What You Need to Do

– Review the updated Email Groups page to familiarize yourself with the new structure.
– Haven’t paid your 2025 dues yet? Now is the perfect time to renew your membership so you’re included in your division’s email group!
– Have questions or suggestions? We’d love your input! Let us know if there are any additional improvements that would enhance communication for you.

Next Steps

These changes will go into effect during the first quarter of 2025.

Thank you for being a part of this great community!

Best regards,
Kerim Baran, Secretary
San Diego Argonauts

SD Argonauts – General Membership Meeting (Feb 8, 2025)

San Diego Argonauts hosted their annual General Membership Meeting on Feb 8, 2025 at the San Diego Model Boat Pond. The meeting was attended by 21 members from all three divisions.

Lifetime members Bob Williams, Rich Rogers, and Jeff Sparksworthy were honored for their contributions.

Updates were provided on the pond water level issue, with the city acknowledging infrastructure problems but delaying major repairs due to budget constraints, while a temporary solution is being implemented.

The club’s financial status remains strong, with a new system for proportionally distributing membership dues across divisions. Website updates were discussed, including improvements in design, navigation, and email communication, with the new site expected to launch by the end of February.

Ideas for attracting new members were shared, such as outreach to scouting groups and organizing joint sailing events.

Additional discussions covered benefits of AMYA membership, the introduction of annual RC sailing races in honor of community legends, and the return of a long-absent member.

You can reach the Minutes of this Meeting under the Membership page of this website. And also via this direct link.

San Diego Argonauts Awards Ceremony Banquet Dinner – A Night to Remember

On Saturday, January 25, 2025, the San Diego Argonauts came together for a memorable evening to celebrate another successful year of RC boating and camaraderie. The event, organized and hosted by our new and enthusiastic Top Gun Commodore, Pat Nevitt, who brings fresh energy and vision to the club, set the tone for an exciting year ahead. It took place at the cozy and welcoming Pizza Nova in Point Loma, where members gathered to enjoy great food, good company, and well-deserved recognition for their contributions to the club.

The night kicked off with a warm welcome from the board, followed by a delicious meal that featured Pizza Nova’s signature dishes. Members reminisced about the highlights of the year, including regattas and scale sessions, and enjoyed a funny, touching, and beautifully crafted video by Tom Warren, our Staff Commodore, full of the rich history of the club.

One of the evening’s highlights was the Awards Ceremony, where standout members were recognized for their achievements and contributions.

A particularly special moment of the night was the recognition of Bob Williams for his many years of selfless contributions to the club. Bob has been a cornerstone of the San Diego Argonauts, dedicating his time, effort, and expertise to the growth and success of the club. In honor of his outstanding service, the board proudly awarded Bob with a Lifetime Membership, a heartfelt gesture of gratitude for all he has done. Rich Rogers and Jeff Sparksworthy were also awarded Lifetime Memberships.

The awards, beautifully hand-crafted by Gil Jansky, were met with applause, laughter, and heartfelt words, reflecting the strong bond shared by everyone in the club.

A big thank you to all who attended and made the event so special. Your dedication and enthusiasm continue to make the San Diego Argonauts a vibrant and welcoming community.

Here’s to another year of RC boating, friendship, and fun!

San Diego Argonauts Annual General Membership Meeting

Fellow Argonauts,

We’re excited to announce the rescheduled date for our Annual General Membership Meeting. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 8, at 10:30 AM, taking place at the pond.

The 10:30 AM start time ensures that our Scale members can join us after their session. Following the meeting, we’ll jump right into the Points Races for Soling 50 and ODOM classes.

Bring a chair and come prepared to hear updates on a variety of club-related topics. We’ll also open the floor for a discussion, so feel free to share any ideas, suggestions, or questions you may have.

Your participation is vital to the continued success and growth of our club. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you would like to review our recent Board Meeting Minutes before this meeting, you can read them here on our Membership page (at the bottom).

See you at the pond!

– The San Diego Argonauts Board

November 16th Points… IOM & DF95

Fall is here in San Diego! Temperatures in the mid-60’s, plenty of sun, but WEIRD winds. Plenty of breeze from (mostly) the west, but monster shifts and a few cavernous holes made for VERY tough sailing conditions. Gerry Wold was our Race Director Du Jour for both the IOM’s and the DF95’s. Gerry chose a combination of standard Medium and Long courses for both classes. Tacks and downwind lines were chosen at great peril. Often, skippers found themselves becalmed as boats sailed past them on both sides within a mere few feet!