Volunteering at BYRA
Fuelled by volunteersAt BYRA, an elected Committee manages the club on behalf of the members. This is a group of people chosen from the members, by the members. The broader membership base actively helps the Committee deliver the selected BYRA initiatives. Therefore, unlike at a commercial club, at BYRA, there are no staff and members; there is only the BYRA team. The 2025-2026 Season Committee (but not everyone!) is shown below. From Left to Right: Shane Greaves, Ian Urban, Paul Chudleigh, Ian Ward, Barry Warlum, Leah Singer, Brian Kierle, Gavin Jones, Henry Zylmans. A number of key Committee positions are currently empty. |
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Options to ContributeBelow is a detailed description of all volunteering roles, including the Committee positions. Please browse to find examples of how you can contribute in a way that works for you. We even have options for 'job-sharing'! |
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The BYRA CommitteeThe BYRA Committee is essentially the club’s Bridge and Engine Room. NSW Fair Trading governs its function, and it meets approximately once a month. The BYRA Commodore leads the Committee and chairs the committee meetings. The Committee is reelected every July. While the overall responsibilities of committee positions are generally fixed, specific duties can generally be renegotiated by each new committee as required and agreed upon by that committee. Below are the specific committee roles and their associated levels of commitment. If you would like more information, just email Commodore@byra.com.au. Executive OfficersClub PatronThe Club Patron is responsible for promoting BYRA internally & externally – they can be called upon for wisdom and advice. The current Club Patron Is Geoff Jenkinson. Club CommodoreThe Commodore is responsible for the overall leadership & management of BYRA, including club governance and official representation. The time investment required for this role ultimately depends on the support, in action, of the broader BYRA committee and membership base. At a minimum, the role requires taking the time to understand BYRA's legal obligations, strategy and basic operational requirements. On-going requirements include preparing for and chairing committee meetings, addressing conflicts and complaints, and ensuring the wider BYRA team performs to the required standard. This is a significant and ongoing commitment, but a rewarding one. The current Club Commodore is Leah Singer. Vice CommodoreThe Vice Commodore is responsible for designing and safely delivering all [non-training related] sailing activities. This includes Sunday racing, Tuesday Twilight Yacht Racing, and Adventure Sailing. They also assist and cover for the Commodore as required and play a key role in organising and overseeing regattas and the Peter Loft Marathon. The required commitment ramps up and down throughout the membership year and draws heavily from the broader membership base for delivery. It is also highly rewarding as it directly interacts with sailors and their personal sailing aspirations, as well as the other sailing clubs in Pittwater. The current Vice Commodore is Ian Ward Rear CommodoreThe Rear Commodore is responsible for designing and safely delivering all BYRA training programmes, both on and off the water. They ensure appropriate coaching and training are in place and delivered to the required standards. This may mean liaising with an Australian sailing-certified instructor for a Learn-to-Sail course or a provider such as the Red Cross for a first aid course. The required commitment varies across the membership year but is predominantly associated with establishing and resourcing a training schedule at the commencement of each season [September and January]. The Rear Commodore then draws from third-party providers and the broader membership base for delivery. It is a highly rewarding role as it directly interfaces with members and their personal learning aspirations, plus facilitates significant knowledge transfer within BYRA itself. The current Rear Commodore is Shane Greaves. SecretaryThe Club Secretary oversees BYRA’s overall legal administration and compliance. They are also the designated NSW Fair Trading Public Officer and are responsible for NSW Fair Trading obligations such as preparing for the AGM, record keeping & annual filing. This is not a time-heavy position but requires a high level of conscientiousness due to the legal and compliance aspects of the role. The crucial work is done directly before and after the new Committee is elected each year. This requires calling the AGM, various filings with NSW Fair Trading, and re-establishing an array of permissions with various government departments ahead of the next season. All this takes only a few dedicated hours across July and August. After that, the Secretary assists with the Committee meeting agendas and minutes, which take only 2 - 3 hours per month and are within flexible timeframes. The current Club Secretary is Gavin Jones. TreasurerThe Treasurer is responsible for BYRA’s financial management and accounting requirements. They reconcile payments made through the BYRA website or bank transfer, issue invoices and pay bills. Most importantly, they advise the wider committee on BYRA's financial health and identify risks and opportunities related to BYRA's operating costs. BYRA uses RevSPORT and Xero to manage its finances. This role is suitable for a numbers person who is happy to chip away at it in their own time from home. It will ramp up or down in response to membership renewals, training programme registrations and special events, but averages 2 - 3 hours a week. The timing of most actions is not critical, but it requires a high level of conscientiousness. The current Treasurer is Paul Chudleigh. Assistant TreasurerAssists and covers for the Treasurer as required. The position of Assistant Treasurer is currently vacant. Club CaptainThe Club Captain is responsible for all of BYRA's assets - the clubhouse, the safety boats, and the BYRA-owned dinghies. This involves ensuring that the clubhouse and all boats are properly maintained, and identifying and organising any required maintenance and repairs. This role requires a dedicated and vigilant approach. Maintaining the building is a requirement under our Northern Beaches Council lease, and unless it is continually monitored and any issues addressed, the to-do list can quickly get out of control. Meanwhile, safety boats and dinghies are regularly used - breakages are inevitable and ongoing. This role suits a practically minded person who likes spending time at the club. They do not need to do all repairs themselves, but can draw on suitably qualified and experienced members to assist and advise. This is a vital role within the club, with a regular time commitment of 2 - 3 hours a week plus whatever is dedicated to DIY. The workload is significantly reduced when members respect BYRA assets, wash and properly put equipment away, and report any breakages or issues. The current Club Captain is Henry Zylmans. Club Vice CaptainAssists the Club Captain as requested. The current Club Vice Captain is Andrew Sim. Committee MembersMembership ManagerThe Membership Manager is responsible for all membership administration. This includes adding members to our WhatsApp group, inducting new club members, and providing ongoing communication and support. This role is crucial in helping members navigate how to get the most out of their membership while also contributing in a way that works for them. The current Membership Management Team is Cai Kjaer & Scott Wallace. Publicity OfficerThe Publicity Officer is responsible for promoting the club in general, including member benefits, programmes, and events. This involves communicating with members through email and WhatsApp channels, writing News articles for the website, contacting local papers for exposure, and even designing and distributing posters to local businesses and organisations - basically, using all available channels to communicate that we are here and what we offer. This role can be as little or as large as the volunteer makes it, with the need to communicate the key events notwithstanding! Either way, it is not a significant time commitment and can be done from home around other personal and professional obligations. The position of Publicity Officer is currently vacant. Hospitality ManagerThe Hospitality Manager is responsible for all aspects of running the BYRA Canteen and the BYRA Bar. The time commitment ebbs and flows with both Sunday Sailing and our events calendar - approximately 4 key events per year. It requires a member to do stocktakes, plan and organise appropriate stock for events, and establish and manage a staff roster for Sundays and events. The current Hospitality Manager is Ian Urban. Ian is also our Liquor Licensee & Chief RSA. Grants ManagerThe Grants Manager works closely with the Treasurer and identifies and applies for relevant grants. This is fast becoming a key role as we need to upgrade multiple areas of the clubhouse. A related function is sponsorship liaison - described below. The current Grants Manager is Valerio Corniani. Hall Hire Manager - Liaison with Boardwalk CateringHall Hire is a crucial aspect of BYRA operations. It requires prompt, professional, and often extensive communication with members of the public, as well as the management of finances and contracts. To ensure we consistently deliver, we are in a Strategic Partnership with a third party - Boardwalk Catering - who manage all aspects of the hall hire life cycle. The BYRA Hall Hire Manager is the Boardwalk point of contact within the club. They also manage enquiries for member hires. This position is currently empty, with Ian Ward covering in the interim. General Committee MembersOur General Committee members round out the BYRA Committee. These folks play a key role in covering and supporting others. The current General Committee Members are Barry Warlum & Briam Kierle. Key Supporting RolesThe Committee is responsible for huge and vital workstreams that keep BYRA's doors open. In addition to the empty positions noted above, members not currently on the Committee can also help as follows:
Event RolesWhen we run on-water events, we always need the following:
Please do not be afraid to try a role - we will support you through the learning process and ensure you are sufficiently confident and equipped. Supporting BYRA CoursesWhen we run sailing courses, we always need the following:
For any further information on these roles or to suggest another way you could assist, please do not hesitate to get in touch via Commodore@byra.com.au!
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Previous CommitteesWe'd like to thank all those from previous years who have generously given their time to be on the BYRA Committee and kept the club going. The 2024-2025 Season Committee.
All other positions were vacant. |
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