Education. Recreation. Stewardship. Competition

1. ACA History & Organizational Facts June 16, 2012 Education. Recreation. Stewardship. Competition

2. History ACA History & Organizational Facts • Founded August 3rd, 1880 by 23 notable canoeists on Lake George, New York • William Alden - first Commodore ( New York Canoe Club & New York Times Editor) • Nathaniel Bishop - first Secretary (corresponded with canoeist in Forest & Stream Magazine) he was a Rushton Canoe enthusiast and he suggested a common organization of American canoe clubs • Rushton ( renowned canoe designer) was among the founding members

3. Nathaniel Holmes Bishop ACA History & Organizational Facts • Explorer, canoeist, writer, horticulturist, philanthropist • ACA visionary Secretary: 1880-1886 • Author: • 1869: The Pampas and Andes: A Thousand Miles Across South America $45-50 (http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/nhb/pampas.htm) • 1878: The Voyage of the Paper Canoe - 2,500 miles from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico (http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/nhb/paperc/intro.html) • 1879: Four Months in a Sneak Box -2,600 miles down the Ohio, Mississippi and around the Gulf of Mexico (http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/nhb/SB.HTM) • Horticulturist - owned and operated sixty properties producing cranberries • Philanthropist: 1902 funded a public library - Dover N.J.

4. Nathaniel Holmes Bishop ACA History & Organizational Facts

5. Sneak Box ACA History & Organizational Facts

6. Hatteras Crossing ACA History & Organizational Facts

7. Hatteras Crossing ACA History & Organizational Facts

8. Hatteras Crossing ACA History & Organizational Facts

9. Nathaniel Holmes Bishop ACA History & Organizational Facts

10. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

11. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

12. History ACA History & Organizational Facts • The original objectives were little different from those of today's organization, namely to 'unite all persons interested in the use of canoes and kayaks for the purpose of pleasure, health, or exploration, by means of meetings for business; by camping, paddling, sailing and racing; by keeping details, drawings and dimensions of hulls and rigs, collection of maps, charts, books and photographs; and by cooperating with other organizations sponsoring canoeing programs and water sports.’ • ACA was instrumental in the formation of the IRK in 1924 in Copenhagen which became the ICF

13. History ACA History & Organizational Facts • In 1903 the Association purchased Sugar Island (officially St. Lawrence Island), a 38-acre island in the Thousand Islands three miles offshore from Gananoque, Ontario, Canada, and with only one exception the Annual Meets have been held there continuously ever since. • Open to all members, Sugar Island is a very unique primitive, undeveloped island • ACA incorporated in 1927 in New York

14. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

15. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

16. ACA Membership Form ACA History & Organizational Facts

17. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

18. ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts • Among nation’s oldest sporting organizations • Nation’s oldest recreation based waterway conservation organization • Nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit paddlesport organization • ACA Instruction Program began in 1972 • ACA granted 501 c 3 nonprofit status in 1977 • Governed by 21 member National Board of Directors • 12 regional divisions of the ACA • HQ in Fredericksburg VA

19. ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts • ACA plans to build a “National Paddlesports Center” on Rappahannock River in near future • ACA full time staff of 10-12 • National Governing Body of paddlesport - sanctions 1,200+ events per year • Safety Education & Instruction - the “gold standard” the only national certifying body recognized by the USCG • SEI - works with USCG, NASBLA, American Red Cross, Safe Boating Council, BSA

20. ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts • Rapid Media - affiliated with ACA, member choice of four publications - Canoe Roots & Family Camping, Kayak Angler, Rapid - The Whitewater Magazine, Adventure Kayak • Major advocate of paddlers rights - works with NASBLA & USCG on governmental issues affecting human powered craft • Leader in paddlesport standards & best practices • Water trails - leader in database guides

21. ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts • Corporate sponsors - Subaru, L.L.Bean, Tilley Endurables etc. • 4,000 certified instructors - 850,000 & instructional contacts per year • SEI - professional arm • SEIC - volunteer arm

22. ACA Certifying Disciplines ACA History & Organizational Facts • Certifying disciplines include: Flatwater canoeing, Canoe sailing, Touring canoeing, Freestyle canoeing, River canoeing, Whitewater canoeing, Standup Paddle Board - newest! • Flatwater kayak, Coastal kayak, River kayak, Whitewater kayak, Surf kayak • Rafting - Moving water, Whitewater • Adaptive - instruction for the physically challenged • Safety & Rescue - Flatwater, Moving water, Whitewater • Standup Paddle Board (SUP)

23. ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts • ACA - major recipient of USCG safety education grants 60k to 600k from 2000-2009 • Since 1995 - Clean Water Act enforcement, prevailed in 24+ cases to date, litigated by David Bookbinder (worked under Jeff Yeager former ED “ The Ultimate Cheapskate”) - Bookbinder is now a Senior Attorney with the Sierra Club • National Governing Body for the USOC • USCK - partnering agreements

24. ACA Strategic Plan Tenets ACA History & Organizational Facts • Education & Instruction • Recreation & Competition • Stewardship & Conservation

25. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

26. Contact Information The ACA & YOU! ACA Canoe • Kayak • SUP • Raft • Rescue 108 Hanover St. Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-907-4460 888-229-3792 [fax] aca@americancanoe.org www.americancanoe.org