Community
About Us
The American Canoe Association was founded in 1880 and is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the broader paddling public by providing educational programs, supporting stewardship initiatives that affect paddlers, and offering competition opportunities to athletes of all abilities.
The ACA has over 15,000 members and 300 paddling clubs and affiliated organizations. The ACA provides insurance to hundreds of events and races every year. The ACA education program has an estimated reach of over 800,000 people per year. ACA members reside in all 50 states and over 35 countries worldwide.
Since 2017 the ACA has served as the National Governing Body for paddlesports (Sprint, Slalom and Paracanoe) for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and as the U.S. National Federation to the International Canoe Federation.
The heart of the ACA is the people who paddle, cherish and protect the rivers, lakes, streams, bays and oceans of the United States and beyond.
Our Mission
We build inclusive paddling communities, support excellence, and foster safety and stewardship through paddlesports education, competition, and recreation.
Vision
To engage millions of paddlers with safe and healthy opportunities for challenge, learning, service and enjoyment.
Core Values
Every paddler has the right to define their path on the water, from close-to-home recreation to remote exploration, and from entry-level to high-performance activities. To that end, we share these core values:
Enjoyment: We develop programs, events, and education that provide satisfying, and rewarding experiences.
Safety: We create programs, policies, and procedures to ensure that safety is a top priority for all paddlers.
Inclusion: We promote a culture and atmosphere of integrity and camaraderie. We maintain an environment of respect, fairness, and kindness and embrace the value of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Teamwork: We work collaboratively with our members, clubs and partner organizations. We nurture connections throughout the paddlesport community.
Excellence: We enthusiastically support the pursuit of excellence at the individual, club, team, and organizational levels. We strive to provide our members and the paddling community with the best possible service.
Governance
A member-elected Board of Directors governs the American Canoe Association. The 15 directors have a wide range of skills and expertise, including legal, financial, environmental and boating safety, and live throughout the United States. Directors are elected for a 2-year term. Elections take place in the early fall, electronically and as part of the Annual Membership Meeting.
In addition to the Board of Directors, the Safety Education & Instruction Council, the Competition Council, and other standing and ad hoc committees and working groups serve in advisory role to the Board and can make policy recommendations for the Board to consider.
The Competition members of the ACA elect a Representative and Alternate Representative to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Advisory Council. The representatives serve a 4-year term.
ACA members have general powers and authority to vote on and conduct certain affairs of the association as described in the Bylaws including changes to the Bylaws. All ACA members are encouraged to participate in the Annual Membership Meeting each fall.
- Executive Committee
- Board Members
- Board Meeting Minutes
- Financial
- Important Board Policies
- President – David Lumian (California)
- Vice President – Bev Cosslett (South Carolina)
- Treasurer – Suzanne Britt (Washington)
- Secretary – Robert Kauffman (Maryland)
- Athlete Representative – Jack Wallace (Tennessee)
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- Beverly Cosslett (South Carolina – 2024)
- Hunter Branstetter (Tennessee – 2024)
- David Lumian (California – 2025)
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- Suzanne Britt (Washington – 2025)
- Robert Kauffman (Maryland – 2024)
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- Risa Shimoda (Maryland – 2025)
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- Anna Levesque (North Carolina – 2024)
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- Slalom – Zach Lokken (Colorado – 2024)
- Sprint – Thom Crockett (North Carolina – 2024)
- Paracanoe – Jack Wallace (Tennessee 2024)
- USOPC Athlete Commission Representative – Kenny Kasperbauer (Washington – 2024)
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- Vacated by Robin Pope (North Carolina – 2024)
- Appointed to the Board in lieu of Immediate Past President – Andrea White (Georgia – 2024)
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- Beth Spilman- ACA Executive Director (Virginia)
- December 21, 2022
- November 16, 2022
- October 19, 2022
- October 7, 2022
- August 22, 2022
- July 20,2022
- June 15, 2022
- April 20, 2022
- March 16, 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 4, 2021
- November 17, 2021
- November 3, 2021
- October 21, 2021
- September 15, 2021
- August 18, 2021
- July 21, 2021
- July 7, 2021
- June 16, 2021
- June 2, 2021
- May 19, 2021
- March 17, 2021
- February 28, 2021
- February 17, 2021
- January 21, 2021
- November 18, 2020
- October 24, 2020
- September 16, 2020
- August 19, 2020
- July 15, 2020
- June 17, 2020
- May 20, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- February 22, 2020
- January 15, 2020
- December 19, 2018
- November 10-11, 2018
- October 17, 2018
- October 3, 2018
- August 15, 2018
- May 16, 2018
- March 3-4, 2018
- February 7, 2018
- January 4, 2018
*Terms expire on December 31 of the year listed
At-Large Directors
Independent Directors
Competition Council
Safety Education & Instruction Council
Elite Athlete Directors
Immediate Past President
Liaison Members (non-voting)
Ex-Officio (non-voting)
2023 Meeting Minutes
2022 Meeting Minutes
2021 Meeting Minutes
2020 Meeting Minutes
2019 Meeting Minutes
2018 Meeting Minutes
2017 Meeting Minutes
2016 Meeting Minutes
Strategic Plan
As both a national non-profit organization and the National Governing Body for Olympic Sport in the U.S., the ACA is uniquely positioned to advance paddlesports. The overarching purpose of this strategic plan and our work over the next five years is to promote the fun of paddling,
include all who are interested, build community, support excellence in instruction and competition, foster stewardship, and save lives.
Land Acknowledgement
The ACA National Office is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. We honor the Fredericksburg land itself, the water of the local Rappahannock river, the Indigenous peoples who shaped it for millennia, their continued care today, and into the future. The ACA shares the city of Fredericksburg with the Patawomek, Manahoac, and Rappahannock tribal lands. These tribes steward this region with history and practices which benefit our shared ecosystems. Inclusion of this knowledge can build resilience across communities.