Greetings Fleet Society Members: I want to advise you of a new initiative recently undertaken by the 1715 Fleet Society Board of Directors designed to allow for greater member participation in the Society’s business. The issue of member participation in what the Society will be doing as we advance has been of great concern to the Board of Directors. With 179 members it is not feasible to conduct periodic meetings using Zoom or some other platform as the sheer number of participants in different time zones would make any meaningful engagement an impossibility. The Board has on occasion entertained suggestions on how to reach out across the country and get members to feel included in what we are doing and planning for the future. Presently, we have members from 27 U. S. states, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, and Nova Scotia. So, the Board has come up with a solution that we think will work, allowing for greater membership participation and exchange of ideas.
Below is a map of the U.S. which has been divided into 6 regions: Western, Central, Great Lakes and Northeast, Southern, Florida Treasure Coast (which includes Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties), and Greater Florida (all the rest of Florida). Each Region will have a Regional Director and an Assistant Director. The Regional Director will conduct periodic phone conferences, likely implementing Zoom, with members from each Region that wish to participate.
Members per Region are as follows:
Western: 21
Central: 13
Great Lakes and Northeast: 36
Southern: 17
Florida Treasure Coast: 45
Greater Florida: 47
The selection of Regional Directors and Assistant Directors is in progress. Once these choices are made an e-mail will be sent out accordingly.
Ben Costello
President, 1715 Fleet Society
