Spring Into Giving!, DSC Race Meeting & Social Tonight, Bluegrass Fund Raising Event and March Member Social, Fleet & Facilities Update, and Social Committee Happy Hour!

Where does the money go? The money is already budgeted for 2013 and goes towards all the costs we incur to bring you, our members and participants, a variety of enriching and engaging opportunities through sailing. Here are a few examples:

How about the life-changing experiences we bring to at-risk youth and individuals with disabilities - aren't they worthy of your support?
Did you know we will spend over $62,000 maintaining our fleet of boats this year?
It takes staff members to plan and implement all of your sailing, cruising and racing activities.
As a responsibly managed organization, we must have adequate property and liability insurance to protect our assets.
Just like you, we need to pay for rent and utilities.

In short, it goes back to the community sailing center that you love.

Join a DSC Annual Giving Circle!

Our goal is to increase and demonstrate the support we receive from individuals to leverage more support from corporations and foundations.

Joining an Annual Giving Circle is the perfect way to help us achieve that goal.

$50+ Life Jacket Giving Circle

$75+ First Aid Giving Circle

$100+ Volunteer Giving Circle

$250+ Dinghy Giving Circle

$500+ Safety Giving Circle

$1,000+ Keelboat Giving Circle

The DSC will gladly accept donations in any dollar amount, however, the "Giving Circle," donors will be recognized with gifts in excess of $50.

By donating in one of the above amounts you will be part of a DSC Annual Giving Circle which will be featured on our website at the end of the campaign and in our annual report for 2013.

Just click on the annual giving campaign under the "Donate"button on our website (top right hand side of each page,) and put in your amount. It's that easy!

We ask you to stretch as much as you can and be as generous as possible. Please know that we honor, value and genuinely appreciate every single donation - no matter how much you are able to give.

The Downtown Sailing Center, Inc. (DSC) is a 501(c)(3) organization - donations to which are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of the current financial statement of the DSC is available by writing to 1425 Key Highway, Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21230 or by calling 410.727.0722. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401

DSC Race Skipper/Crew Social Tonight

Come one and come all. Tonight is the race crew and skipper social where we will be pairing skippers with potential crew. It will be tonight at 7:00PM in the Liberty Room (third floor of the DSC). It will be a great chance for every interested participant to join the DSC racing program.

March DSC Member Social
@ Bluegrass Tavern in Federal Hill

~ Sunday, March 24, 2013
DSC Brunch Gathering 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Each month, Bluegrass Tavern chooses a charity or organization to support by donating 10% of their total gross earnings for one day.

The Downtown Sailing Center is enormously grateful to be selected for the "Charity of the Month," in March.

We invite all of the DSC Members, Supporters, Friends, and Volunteers to pour through the doors of Bluegrass for Brunch, Lunch, or Supper, on March 24th. Sample the venue's succulent and noteworthy menu options, impressive wine offerings and pairings, and smooth bourbons. Click Here to let us know you'll be joining us for brunch!

Information about Bluegrass can be found on their website.

While this is not a "typical" DSC Member Social, by attending and your purchase of food and beverage from the venue will result in a donation to the DSC. It is a terrific way to spend a spring day, visiting with your sailing friends and knowing you are contributing to a favorite cause.

Mark your calendars, and share with everyone in your contact list - Sunday, March 24, 2013. There will also be Door Prizes!

We're absolutely excited and hope everyone will join us for brunch (or supper) at Bluegrass Tavern!

Bluegrass Tavern

1500 South Hanover Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

Fleet & Facilities Update

"Shipshape Snapshot!"

Key to above graphic which will be updated weekly illustrating progress on Fleet Maintenance:

Boats to the right of the, "finish line," are shipshape and ready for the launch of the DSC Sailing Season, commencing April 2013.

Green Boats: Access Dinghies

Blue Boats: Sonars

Yellow Boats: J/22s.

Gray Boats: Cruising Fleet

Fleet and Facilities Update

It's hot, it's cold, it's dry, and it's wet! Regardless of good or bad weather, the fleet is looking sharp.

OJ, Jester, Jetstream, and Scooby are over at TideWater along with the cruisers Ithaca and Big Indian.

Volunteer extraordinaire Kevin Leidenheim repaired a J/22 tiller and Ben Harris is re-varnishing half-a-dozen tillers for the J/22 fleet. Carl Anderson has taken on the electronic restoration of the two Access Liberties and the systems are looking good.

Meanwhile, the girl's sailing team from Old Fields School has been hard at work cleaning, buffing, and polishing the Access Dinghies and last week Gareth Morgan led a group of volunteers who replaced the steering mechanisms on the access dinghies.

We are still looking for volunteers to sand rudders, clean and paint rudders, and get the boats clean and shiny for the season. We also need to replace fraying dock lines, replace expiring flares, clean up our facility, organize the sail container, clean and paint the containers, and wash, compound, and wax the SeaHunt 'Hoss'. As temperatures rise, we also need to bend the mainsails back onto the booms and perform a detailed inventory of the sails in our fleet.

Work Parties continue this Saturday. The weather may be a factor this Saturday but we are looking at warmer temps in the coming days. Daylight Savings Time has arrived so if you are interested in taking on a volunteer role during the week. Don't forget to register online for Saturday's event, and please contact jared@downtownsailing.org if you are interested in volunteering during the week. We only have three Saturdays left in March, so we need to pull together to get our fleet and facility ready for our April 6 kickoff.

A special thanks to everyone who has volunteered this season! Thank you for not only keeping this place afloat but making it shine!

DSC Cruising Update

For those who missed the Cruising Kick-Off, the DSC is pleased to announce we will be hosting US Sailing Cruising Certification Courses with Captain Phil Schnering and The Pintita. Captain Phil has a long connection with the DSC and has logged years of sea time on the Chesapeake Bay. We are excited to offer Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, and a Cruising Combo Course and we are glad to welcome Phil back to the DSC!

Also, Work Parties continue at the DSC. Please register online and remember that the Cruising Program relies on volunteers like you to keep the program running. If you have any questions please send us an email via cruising@downtownsailing.org.

Ithaca and Big Indian are on the Hard and Frolic is headed over to TideWater on Friday. Please dress for the conditions and don't forget to bring your tools!

Party Planner du Jour?

The Downtown Sailing Center "Social Committee" is meeting at Little Havana's on Monday, March 18th from 6:00 PM for tasty snacks and libations while whipping up plans for the 2013 DSC Member Socials.

If you have any party planning experience and are interested in the management side of our Member Socials, such as set up

(themed events!), having the role as a "Grill Master," or helping to pack up at the end of the event, please let us know.

Attend the event, or send an email message to Traci Mead or Mike McNamara (Social Committee Chair).

Please RSVP so we can secure seating (or in the least a stretch of bar....)

Renew Your DSC Membership & Family Discounts Available

DSC Member Sailing Season is quickly approaching and the DSC is preparing our boats for the best year yet.

Renew your membership now to make sure you don't miss any of the action, including the Saturday FrostBite Racing and our DSC Member Socials.

Remember, we offer a generous FAMILY DISCOUNT: renew now as the primary member and all other family members will receive 30%
off their memberships. (Applies to Skipper and Crew Level Memberships equal to the level of the Primary Member's Paid Level, i.e.; Skipper primary, Crew or Skipper level secondary, or Crew to Crew, etc. Unmarried couples who share the same address will also be permitted the discount. Proof of residency will be requested.)

The DSC already has 127 renewed crew and skipper members, help the DSC hit 200 by March 1st!

Downtown Sailing Center

Mission Statement

"The Downtown Sailing Center provides quality educational and life enriching programs that promote self-esteem and teamwork through the joy of sailing. The Downtown Sailing Center is committed to promoting an environment of inclusiveness and accessibility, especially to youth, persons with disabilities, and those with limited opportunity."