Date: Saturday, February 15th, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – Noon
Location: IYRS School of Technology and Trades – 449 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840 (founded as the International Yacht Restoration School in 1993)
Cost: $25 per person, paid with your registration; student interns are invited free.
Coordinator: David Pedrick ’70, moc.thcaYkcirdeP@divaD. David was a founding officer of IYRS in 1993, a former Board Chair in 2003-2005, and remains as a Chairman Emeritus.

You are invited to attend the annual regional meeting of alumni and interns, with a change in venue this year to Newport. In addition to the usual purposes of social gathering and presentations about Webb, it’s being held in the attractive setting of IYRS, a foremost experiential school for yacht restoration and contemporary trades.

Please come to enjoy the camaraderie of the Webb community, learning about what’s happening at the institute, visiting IYRS, and having fun in Newport.

Morning Agenda:

• 9:30 AM:  Start your day with a guided tour of IYRS’s campus and workshops, led by its president and senior staff.
• 10:30 AM: Main meeting convenes in Restoration Hall, including a brief presentation about IYRS’s programs, followed by updates about Webb from institute representatives.
• 12:00 PM: Optional Dutch Treat lunch at a nearby restaurant for continued visiting with fellow alumni, interns and companions.

Afternoon – Enjoy Newport at your leisure. Cars may be left at IYRS for the day.

Parking: There is a large lot at IYRS. Parking is complimentary. DO NOT PAY for the normal paid parking. A day pass will be issued upon event registration inside the entry door to the brick Restoration Hall. It will let you stay in the lot all day as IYRS’s guests.

Arrival: I encourage you to go on the optional Guided Tour. It’s a special opportunity. Please arrive in advance of 9:30 so you can register and put your day pass in your car prior to the start of a tour.

Tour of IYRS: The tour will be given by IYRS president Kern Maas and dean/head instructor Bill Kenyon. It will last until about 10:15. The shops include Restoration Hall (Boatbuilding and Restoration) and the new Brooks Building that houses contemporary programs. These are Marine Systems (engines, hydraulics, piping and electrical); modern Composites Technology (including carbon fiber); and Digital Modeling and Fabrication (DMF) for CNC manufacturing and 3D printing. All in one place! It will conclude in IYRS’s yachting library in the top of the stone mill building, with a few models and a nice harbor view.

Note that the IYRS campus is ADA accessible except for the mezzanine of Restoration Hall.

Meeting Rendezvous: If not on the tour, please arrive in the 10:00 to 10:15 range. We will gather in the left (south) end of Restoration Hall. Please, if you’re able, go up the stairs from registration to the mezzanine that overlooks the active boatbuilding work on the floor of the hall. The mezzanine will lead to the south end of the shop floor. Please do not enter the shop floor itself until advised at the end of the meeting. You’ll see it all morning long from the meeting space.

Refreshments and Meeting: Morning beverages and pick-up pastries for self-serve will be available before 10:00 for open meet and greet time. The meeting welcome will be called at 10:45. IYRS presentations and the Webb Alumni meeting will follow until about 11:30.

Optional Lunch: Dutch treat lunch is offered after 12:00 right next door to Restoration Hall at The Reef restaurant. Individual checks will be per person (or couple), choosing from their regular menu.

Learn more about IYRS here.