Why do we need a Fireside New Member Orientation?

Published 6:39pm on 13 Nov 2025

Why do we need a Fireside New Member Orientation?

What do you like about sailing? How do you know? The wind is invisible and so much happens under the waterline, so the question of why you sail is multi-layered.

For the 4th and final Fireside of 2025 we took the time to consider why we sail, and where we want to go. Part of the agenda is goals and how to get the skills to achieve your goals.

The next questions we tackle are learning about the fundamentals of sailing: racing, cruising, knots, and networking. It takes a lot of introspection to form a sailing goal. It's best to keep your sailing goals to one or two per year; it's arduous to do more than that at a time.

The other objective for the Fireside is to learn how to support your club. The support you give is part of achieving your goals. Even though there is solo sailing, you can't learn it on your own. As I often say "This club don't run itself!" Think about how you can support your club. Maybe not now, but next year. Maybe try a few things out and see what you enjoy.

These last four years have been wonderful! Next year, 2026, we will change up how Firesides work. We have had Firesides at the OWSA dock, in the parking lot of the river ramps, at club houses, and bars, and even grocery store mezzanines. Next year, we're looking at smaller Fireside gatherings at members' homes. Consider hosting a Fireside! I'm looking for a Fireside Guppy! If interested, please write to me at fireside@owsa.net

- Carisa Bohus, Fireside Coordinator