COVID-Compliant Member Engagement 
By Colin Morehead, Admiral
Royal Cork Yacht Club

When I was elected Admiral of the Royal Cork in January 2020, the membership and I were looking forward to a significant diary of events to mark the yacht club’s tricentenary year. I had my first tricentenary meeting in 2012 and for the next eight years of discussions, I don’t think I ever heard any suggestions of a global pandemic as something to consider in our contingency plans! 

But as we all know, COVID-19 changed everything and still continues to affect how we operate our respective clubs.

As a result of COVID-19, many of our tricentenary events were cancelled, the club was closed for considerable periods as we went from lockdown to lockdown, and thoughts quickly turned to the financial impact on the club. Traditionally, we sent a digital weekly newsletter, occasional updates posted by mail, and updates on social media channels. Member events largely consisted of physical gatherings at the club, which normally included a dining option. 

What became crystal clear was that all members needed to be aware of the value their membership provided to them, especially at a time when they could not physically experience the club infrastructure, such as the bar, restaurant and other facilities. 

So, here’s what we did…