ACA Virtual Conference - Session Recordings - ACA
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Nov 3, 2020

ACA Virtual Conference – Session Recordings

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Thursday, October 22nd

Strategic Plan and Staff Meet & Greet
ACA’s Board Chair, Robin Pope, and Executive Director, Beth Spilman, introduced ACA’s new strategic plan including updated mission, vision, values, and priorities. During this session we also introduced ACA’s national office staff who answered questions from the audience.

Hosting Events & Teaching Classes in a COVID-19 World
This session featured a panel discussion on lessons learned from hosting events and teaching paddling classes in a world changed by COVID-19. Panelists included renowned ACA Instructor Trainer Educators Robin Pope, Jeremy Oyen, Janet Cowie, John Browning, and Ivan Bartha.

Friday, October 23rd

 

Stewardship & Public Policy: National and Local Success Stories
ACA’s Public Policy Chief, Brett Mayer, lead this session which which included an address by Adam Cramer, the Executive Director of Outdoor Alliance. Adam provided a brief overview of the current national public policy landscape, and highlighted two amazing public policy successes of 2020 – the passage of the Land and Water Conservation Act and the Great American Outdoors Act – and what these victories mean for paddlers. Additionally, two passionate ACA members, Robert Levin and Norm Gaume, shared their local and regional accomplishments in the realm of waterway conservation. They also discussed tools and strategies you can utilize to be a positive influence on the waterways in your community.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Listening Session
ACA certified instructors, Gerry James and Erin Jones-Avni, along with SEI Manager, Kelsey Bracewell, will moderate this listening session. As members of a recently formed ACA working group tasked with addressing the lack of racial diversity in our organization, they invite everyone to attend this session to lend their voices, ideas, and perspectives towards the ultimate goal of improving access, equity, and opportunities for all paddlers in all communities. This session is an opportunity to join the DEI discussion and help determine ACA’s future direction and priorities.

  • Video Recording (Youtube)
  • DEI Session Follow Up Call From Nov 2, 2020 (Youtube / Download)
  • To get involved with the current working group, please click here.

Best Practices for Club Management
Join several ACA club leaders and organizers who run large, successful clubs to learn about some of their best practices. After a general opening session, participants will be divided into competition- and recreation-focused breakout rooms to have discussions about how ACA can better support clubs and their goals.

Saturday, October 24th

State Directors Meeting
ACA State Directors, Andrea White of Tennessee and Andrea Vaillancourt-Alder of New York, will lead an information sharing and planning session for the ACA State Directors. Due to a lack of resources, our State Director program has languished over the past few years, but Andrea and Andrea have generously offered to help us reimagine this effort. Even if you are not currently a State Director, you are welcome to attend.

ACA Olympic and Paralympic Programs Update
Rok Sribar, ACA’s General Manager of High-Performance Programs, will be joined by colleagues from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as well as ACA coaches to provide an update on our Olympic and Paralympic sprint, slalom and paracanoe programs. Rok will share his vision for our elite programs as described in the quadrennial High Performance Plan he recently submitted to the USOPC. Parents of aspiring elite athletes are particularly encouraged to attend this session.

Awards Ceremony, Membership Meeting, and Voting for New Board Members
Join the ACA Board of Directors and staff for our annual awards ceremony and membership meeting. In addition to celebrating our award winners, we will announce the slate of nominees for the new Board of Directors roles, and allow current ACA members to cast their votes for those positions.