Membership

OVERVIEW
The Sea Cliff Yacht Club is one of Long Island’s oldest and friendliest year-round clubs. Situated on Hempstead Harbor, we offer sailing opportunities and services for all sailors -- from novices right up to the most experienced of sailors. In addition, we offer many of the typical sailing and non-sailing services associated with private social clubs.

Services include:
* Year-round social activities,
* Dining, with water views and spectacular sunsets all year, an outdoor setting in the summer, and a roaring wood-burning fireplace in the winter,
* Private bar,
* Sailing programs and support (including mooring and free launch service) for boat owners,
* Ideal 18 sailing and sailing classes on Club-owned boats,
* Private beach,
* A.A.U. competition swimming pool (and kiddie pool),
* Winter season trap shooting,
* Junior Sailing Program,
* Swim Team (with a recently undefeated, championship team!),
* Summer Program for Children offered at a remarkably low cost,
* Reciprocal services and dining opportunities at dozens of clubs, in magnificent locations, throughout Long Island Sound,
* Access to the Club for private parties, and…
…much, much, more.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
The Club holds a series of Membership Open Houses each year. These events are an ideal opportunity to tour the Club, meet current members and learn about all of our programs. You can also contact us at any time by emailing membership@seacliffyc.org or by calling (516) 671-7374.

Membership Classes at the Club are based on the age of the member and the number of people who will be using the Club. Costs vary, depending on Membership Class. When contacting us about membership opportunities, please specify the Membership Class that meets your need. Our current classes are:
* Intermediate (Age 18 by September 1)
* Associate Single (Age 24 by September 1)
* Associate Family (Age 24 by September 1)
* Senior Single (Age 31 by September 1)
* Senior Family (Age 31 by September 1)
* Flag Single (Age 65 by September 1)
* Flag Family (Age 65 by September 1)

COSTS OF MEMBERSHIP
The annual cost of membership is made up of fees charged in the following categories:
* A one-time Initiation Fee,
* Annual Dues,
* Restaurant Minimum,
* Capital Improvement Fund, and
* Capital Note (for the first five years of membership only).

In the first year of membership, charges will be billed as follows:
* The Initiation Fee is payable upon application.
* The Annual Dues will be billed in five (5) equal monthly installments, beginning with your first month of membership.
* Food and Beverage charges will be billed in twelve (12) monthly installments. Depending on your use of these services, your actual monthly billing may exceed the Restaurant Minimum.
* Capital Improvement Fund Charges will be billed in twelve (12) monthly installments.
* Capital Note charges will be billed in four (4) monthly installments, over five (5) years, beginning with your first month of membership.

In the second and all subsequent years of membership, Annual Dues and Capital charges will be billed in five (5) equal installments from December through April. All Food and Beverage charges (which, again, may exceed the minimum, depending on your use of these services) will be billed monthly.

Club billings and billing practices are reviewed by the board annually, and are changed as deemed necessary to support Club expenses and programs.

Charges for participation in other programs, such as the Children’s Summer Program, Swim Team and Junior Sailing, are separate charges and are billed in accordance with use.

You will be required to provide the Club with credit card information, and your monthly bills will be automatically charged to your credit card.

Occasionally, usually for personal reasons, members seek to withdraw from the Club midyear. Because we are a relatively small club, we depend on anticipated revenues in planning our annual budget. Therefore, in the event of midyear withdrawal, annual obligations must be paid in full and are not prorated.

For information on the current cost of membership, please contact us via membership@seacliffyc.org.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Once a prospective member has decided to join the Club, they will be sent an application for membership. That application should be completed in full and returned to the Club with a check for the Initiation Fee. The Initiation Fee check will not be cashed until the membership application is approved.

Applications are reviewed by the Club’s board at least once per month, though often more frequently than that. When an application is initially approved, new members receive “First Reading” approval and are issued a membership number. At this point, the check for the Initiation Fee is cashed, an account is established for the new member (who can immediately begin using the Club) and a six-month probationary membership period commences.

Approximately one month later, the application is re-reviewed by the board. If the application is approved again, “Second Reading” status is granted. And finally, after six months of membership, the probationary period ends and a final approval of membership is granted.

Committee participation is expected of all members of the Club, and new members will be asked to select a committee on which to work at the time their application is approved.