WhatsApp

As we had a growing number of “unofficial” WhatsApp groups organically created that are actively used by sub-groups to coordinate their activities, we have introduced a WhatsApp Community. 

The groups that can be found on WhatsApp include (but not limited to);

• Thursday Social Sailing

• Women on Water

• Model Yacht Enthusiasts

• Open Water Swimming

• Dam Management Group

• Instructors 🔐(only people invited can join)

Other groups

• Announcements (only allow admin/committee members to post)

• General (all members are allowed to post)

• For Sale (potential new group to coincide with newsletter posts)

• NSSA 2025 (potential new group to coordinate parents of children attending this year's regatta)

Requesting access

We want to prevent non-members or juniors from joining the WhatsApp group so have set the community to be invite-only. Members who wish to be added to the group can email admin@cmyc.co.uk or contact one of the committee members.

Three options to add people / members:

1. If you have their number in your phone, go into the group and find the "Add member". This will either add them directly or send them an invite, depending on their set-up; or

2. Share a link created by Admin - they can click that to add themselves; or

3. If they're already a member of the CMYC WhatsApp community, anyone can see the groups and join. (Some groups like Instructors are set to only allow "request to join", and we can change that as necessary).

Accessing WhatsApp

If you prefer to use a computer to access WhatsApp, if you've already signed up on your phone, you can visit this site to access it via your web browser: https://web.whatsapp.com/

You will be presented with a QR code to scan from your phone app to log in.

Considerations

Increase in administration

The WhatsApp community will need to be cultivated, much like other channels (Instagram/Facebook/Newsletter).

Alienation of non-WhatsApp users

We should not remove any existing communication channels (primarily email from WebCollect).

Safe-guarding

At this time we will be restricting the community for adults-only.

Benefits of creating a WhatsApp Community

Improved privacy

Member phone numbers are only visible to the community admins or other members who already have your number. You can’t see numbers of other members you don’t already ‘known’.

https://faq.whatsapp.com/458610306367976 

Improved discoverability

Someone joining the WhatsApp community can immediately see 

Push notifications - “Announcements”

As standard a WhatsApp Community has an “Announcements” channel that the committee could use for key notifications, alongside the existing WebCollect emails.

Easy to invite new members

Within the WhatsApp community you can copy a “Share” link that can be shared with members in our email notifications (we should not share on the website as we don’t want random people joining the community).

https://faq.whatsapp.com/664523651672109/?helpref=hc_fnav&cms_platform=web 

Learn more about WhatsApp communities

https://faq.whatsapp.com/495856382464992/?helpref=hc_fnav 

Guide on Use

1. Keep it club-related. Sailing, social events, volunteering, boat maintenance, weather chat, club admin. No politics, religion, or unrelated promotions.

2. Be respectful. Disagreements happen — keep them civil. No arguing, name-calling, or airing personal grievances in the group.

3. Right group, right purpose. e.g. main community vs. racing vs. buying/selling, post in the one it belongs to.

4. No spam or solicitation. No unsolicited selling, fundraising for outside causes, or forwarding chain messages, unless cleared with admins first.

5. Urgent matters go by phone, not WhatsApp. Don't rely on the group for anything safety-critical or time-sensitive — not everyone sees messages promptly.

6. Think before you send. Once it's sent, it's seen — and it can be screenshotted and shared outside the group. No content you wouldn't be happy with the whole club reading.

7. Photos need consent. Don't post photos of others (especially children) without their okay, particularly anything identifying minors.

8. Admins can remove content or members. Posts that break these rules may be deleted, and repeated breaches can mean removal from the group, at admin discretion.

9. This isn't the official record. Club decisions, policies, and formal notices come via email/noticeboard/AGM — WhatsApp is for informal chat, not governance.