NEWS RELEASE

November 30, 2009

Restructuring to our Strengths
ACA Announces New Leadership

The Board of Directors of the American Canoe Association has appointed Chief Financial Officer, Wade Blackwood, as the fifth Executive Director of the ACA.

Founded in 1880, the ACA is a member-based nonprofit organization that promotes fun and responsible canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. The ACA actively advocates paddlesports education as well as recreational access to and stewardship of America’s vast water trails. ACA is also dedicated to providing people of all abilities the opportunity to paddle on America’s waterways. Under Blackwood’s leadership and with the support of regional and local volunteers, the entire ACA national staff will continue to diligently represent the interests of over 50 million people in the U.S. who kayak, canoe and raft annually.

Blackwood is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras and earned an MBA from William and Mary’s Mason School of Business.

“These are challenging times for nonprofit organizations and we are excited to have someone with such a strong financial background as Wade Blackwood step in as acting Executive Director. Wade and the ACA team are eager to continue the 130 year ACA tradition of making the world a better place to paddle." – Board President, Dr. Kirk Havens

In addition, long time ACA volunteer, life member, instructor trainer educator, and current staff member Christopher Stec has been named as the ACA’s Chief Operating Officer. Stec joins senior staff Paul Sanford, General Counsel and Director of Stewardship and Public Policy; Melissa Upp, Director of Information Technology; Anne Vetterlein, Membership Director; and Jeremy Oyen, Director of Safety Education and Instruction.

“We have dedicated, passionate and talented employees, volunteers, and members who all have something valuable to offer, and I intend to harness their passion into products and services that will help make the world a better place to paddle. As the ACA’s Executive Director, I will ensure that in the midst of this challenging economic climate we will seek creative opportunities to sustainably grow the organization.”

To learn more about how the ACA makes a positive impact on paddlesports education, stewardship, recreation and competition across the country, please visit: www.americancanoe.org

Contact Information:
Wade Blackwood
Executive Director
American Canoe Association
1340 Central Park Blvd. Suite 210
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-907-4460
wblackwood@americancanoe.org

Marty Bartels

On behalf of the members of the ACA, we would like to thank Martin Bartels for his vision and service. His hours of dedication and insights have guided the ACA through a transitional period and has allowed the association to continue to restructure to its strengths.

Board President Kirk Havens commented, “We appreciate Marty's service to the ACA over the last two years. His work on the ACA mission was very helpful and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The ACA will continue to provide value to the 50 million American’s who canoe, kayak, and raft in the core areas of paddlesports education, stewardship, recreation and competition.

We wish Marty and his family all the best and look forward to seeing them out on the water.

The ACA National Office Staff

Give Thanks & Paddle Locally

Can you remember who initially introduced you to paddling?

• Was it canoeing on the lake at Boy Scout camp?
• Was it learning to whitewater kayak through your college outing club?
• Was it a family rafting trip one summer?
• Did you join a club to tour a section of your local creek via kayak?

As this season of thanks is upon us, consider introducing a family member to the joys and beauty associated with exploring your local waterway. The inherent value of spending time afloat on our natural resources is tremendous.

An appreciation for nature, combined with a healthy active outdoor lifestyle, now that's a combination that is hard to beat.

For more information about paddling opportinuties in your area, contact a local paddling club.

Remember, wear your lifejacket and enjoy part of your Thanksgiving holiday out on the water, we'll see you there.

The ACA National Office Staff

An Opportunity to Win!

The “Wear It” campaign is currently conducting a survey of boaters to assess the impact and awareness of the North American Safe Boating Campaign’s “Wear It!” message and help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the annual campaign.

The ACA is requesting that all paddlers take a minute to complete it.

NSBC plans to offer three levels of gift certificate awards based on drawings of survey participants.

• First prize - $1,000 gift certificate


• Second prize - $500 gift card


• Third prize - $200 gift card.

The survey will conclude in mid-December. The survey can be found here
http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/09survey.htm

Thanks for you time and your continued support of boating safety.

The National Safe Boating Council

Governor Kaine

VA Governor Kaine canoes with his wife on the James River.

In a canoe in the James River, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine made an easy paddle stroke and recalled how he landed in Richmond. In the mid-1980s, Kaine and his wife-to-be, decided to settle here to be close to her family. Kaine said he was amazed to see paddlers, anglers and great blue herons.

"I couldn't believe this was in the heart of Richmond. That set the hook pretty deep."

The couple moved to Richmond in 1984 and plan to remain after Kaine leaves office in January.

Kaine and Holton spoke of their attraction to the James and to nature in general during a 3½-mile paddling trip Saturday that included some mild, but cold, white water.

Their party of 16 gathered shortly before 9 a.m. at Riverside Outfitters near Pony Pasture Rapids in South Richmond. The air temperature was about 40, the water temperature about 50.

Notice, the Governor is wearing an

ACA hat!

Read the full article

See you on the river!

Kirk Havens, President
American Canoe Association

Public Service Recognized

The Public Service Award from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

ACA member Chuck Sutherland received this award for promoting safe boating through more than 25 years of service to boaters in researching, writing and instructing about the risks of cold water immersion, and its effects on the ability to survive.

Chuck has been running Cold Water Workshops for sea kayakers in the northeast US and is the author of the brochure Cold Water Boating, Cold Shock and Hypothermia
His website is www.enter.net/~skimmer/coldwater

This prestigious award was presented by Al Johnson, Recreational Boating Safety Commander, U.S. Coast Guard New England District; NY State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Brian Kempf; and Rose-Anne Woodward, Education specialist, NY State Parks, Marine Services Unit .

Congratulations!

Marilyn Vogel

Sugar Island Trustee

MA Legislation for Kayakers

Recently proposed legislation in Massachusetts relating to kayaks and safety were brought to the attention of the American Canoe Association. The ACA National Office has authored a response letter and has submitted copies to 11 individuals in the MA legislature detailing the ACA position on the proposed bill.

Please follow this link to the proposed legislation:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st00/st00974.htm

The MA Legislative Committee that will be acting on the bill is:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/h52.htm

Staff informed the ACA that action will take place by the end of the month. Note that the SENATE BILL S.974 is now before a HOUSE committee because it passed the Senate. There is also a HOUSE BILL that relates to Kayaks but is less comprehensive. That bill passed the HOUSE at about the same time, and is now before a Senate committee - http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/s29.htmm/s29.htm. The ACA has not prepared comments on this yet as this bill is less inclusive, but comment may be warranted and is currently under consideration.

If you are interested in taking action / commenting on this matter, please use the link above to the MA Committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling. Having letters from individuals associated with clubs and other outdoor organizations may be beneficial.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to respond to one of the individuals below:

Martin Bartels – ACA Executive Director
Paul Sanford – ACA Director of Stewardship & Public Policy / Legal Counsel
Jeremy Oyen – ACA Director of Safety Education and Instruction