Do you have a product or service that is not available in the general marketplace that would be exclusive to the 42,000 members of US SAILING? We are always interested in new ideas that could be included as a member benefit. We would like to hear from you.

We strive to make the introduction and approval as easy as possible, though we do have stringent reviews and monitoring to assure both member satisfaction and product quality. We do wish to provide a roadmap, if you will, to help you successfully launch a new member benefit program:

1. The process involves your dealing with Volunteers (who are savvy business people and sailors to boot) and the Professional Staff of US SAILING. It is important to keep this in mind as they are different components to satisfy. One oversees the approval process of products and services, while the other must deal with the day to day management of the program.

2. Prerequisite: Your product or service must be unique in the marketplace and offered only to US SAILING and its membership.

3. The first step is to introduce yourself and product or service to the General Services Chair, Ruth Creighton.

Suggestion -

If you are offering a service, for example, that makes Race Committee’s 1% more efficient, work directly with Ruth Creighton. If you are offering a service that will have impact on all 42,000 members, make arrangements to make your presentation to Executive Director Nick Craw and President Janet Baxter in addition to General Services Committee Chair Ruth Creighton, let Ruth Creighton council you here. In addition, there is a Staff Director who will be responsible to oversee your product or service, giving them your full attention is advisable. Ruth Creighton will steer you to the appropriate staff member.

4. Ruth Creighton may recommend that you present your product or service to the General Services Committee members, either via e-mail or in person at one of the twice a year meetings (March or October).

5. Ruth Creighton may guide you to other committees if your product or service is committee specific or if your product or service has to go through further review prior to presentation to the General Services Committee.

6. The General Services Committee must have time to review the product or service, then they must have a majority vote. At this point, either you will be directed to draft an agreement and negotiate details with the Executive Director Nick Craw, or if the impact of this new program is big, it will be forwarded to the 47 member Board of Directors. Should this program go to the Board of Directors, at least by sharing it with the Executive Director and President in Step 3, you will find pre-support for your endeavor.

7. Constantly ask, who else should I present this to? The more you spread your message around, the more support you can garnish for the successful implementation of your program.