To review, my goal is for the boatyard operations and activities to be organized as a Stakeholder Cooperative* that is owned and managed by the people who use them or are supported by them. Under this model, the real estate could be purchased from me in shares by the Stakeholders, or put into a separate Perpetual Purpose Trust**. On the one hand, we are preserving John Peck’s legacy of integrity and hard work; on the other hand, we are developing the kind of local, energized, regenerative organizational system that we need to face the cultural shift that is upon us.

To be sustainable, Stakeholder participation should be enjoyable. We want to create an atmosphere that attracts people while reducing the boatyard’s expenses and diversifying sources of income. We need to provide space and opportunities for experienced workers to pass on knowledge and skills to the next generations. We need to support smart, talented, honest service workers who want to stay because they are invested in the property and the cooperative mission — and because it’s a great place to work! Creating a structure to hold our cooperative venture will take participation, patience, and communication. As the Boatyard Co-op Project Focalizer, and property owner, I will depend on your feedback to grow in a way that meets our community’s needs.

To help encourage Stakeholder participation and create a model that other service providers can follow, Ormonde O’Carroll will continue to offer discounts on service work through Peck’s Boats, Inc. (PBI). I will continue to handle scheduling and administrative duties for PBI as Peck’s Maritime Collaborative LLC (PMCLLC). Simultaneously, PMCLLC will track participation and integrate other service contractors into the fabric of the pre-nascent cooperative. 

To start organizing a cooperative structure, we will be using a system based on “Participation Points.” An hour of basic participation — such as covering the marine store and office — will be valued at 10 Participation Points (PP). More difficult work will earn more PP’s per hour, whereas attending a sponsored social event or general meeting will earn fewer. By earning at least 40 PP per month, PMA members receive Peck’s Maritime Collaborative (PMC) discounts and privileges. 

To participate in the cooperative development process and earn basic discounts from PBI, you can still just pay a membership fee of $50.00 to join Peck’s Maritime Association Ltd. (PMA).   I have set up PMA as a non-profit Massachusetts Civic Association that can operate separately as a communications network. It will need officers and organizers who can work remotely to send out emails and other communications in response to the members’ needs. PMA has the potential to give its members a voice about policies and issues beyond the formation of a cooperative at the boatyard, and I hope some folks will step forward to expand its potential. PMA officers and organizers will earn full PMC discounts for the 2026 hauling season, and for as long as the organization functions.

For the launching season, until September 1, 2026, PMA Members will receive full PMC Discounts without participating in co-op development projects. In the fall, only PMA members who have met a minimum of 40 Participation Points per month between June 1 and the service date will receive the larger PMC discount. Discounts are listed on the PBI 2026 Pricelist: https://pecksboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026_Pricing_For_Boat_Services_2.pdf

PMC discounts thereafter will be earned based on participation prior to the date of the service requested. Participation Points will never expire, so taking on a large project could cover several years. Further discounts and privileges, including voting rights, will be established for participation above 40 PP per month. We will need Board Members and a Steering Committee, as well as other help that can be done remotely. Attending my monthly PMC meetings will earn 10 Participation Points. In addition to meetings and offerings posted online, you can also propose projects and jobs that support the cooperative mission, the boatyard, or other members of the Collaborative. 

We want the Boatyard to be a great place to hang out, as well as a hub for needed services. You can help build an organization and destination that suits you and your needs by participating fully in their development. If we have enough participation to develop a sustainable organizational system this year, we can create by-laws for incorporation as a Cooperative over the 2026-27 Winter season. Here’s hoping!

I will hold monthly PMC Zoom meetings, usually on the last Thursday of the month, from 6:00 – 7:30, to discuss how things are going and get feedback. Remember, attending a meeting will earn 10 Participation Points. The first meeting will be Thursday, April 30, 2026.  That meeting will also be the first meeting for PMA as a registered non-profit.  I hope to elect a PMA staff at that meeting, or at the May meeting. For future PMA meetings, PMA  can “piggy-back” on my PMC monthly meeting, or hold their own.

Please join me to help to create meaningful forms of cooperative participation that are enjoyable within the context of the Boatyard community.

In Cooperation,

Laura C. Opie
Focalizer, Peck’s Maritime Collaborative, LLC
(508) 280-8749

*For an example of a Stakeholder Cooperative, see Mad River Glen ski area: https://www.madriverglen.com/about-the-co-op/

**For more information on Stewardship Models and Perpetual Purpose Trusts see: https://www.purpose-us.com/writing/top-10-faqs-on-stewardship-models