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

2. 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 History ACA History & Organizational Facts

3. 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)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)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)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. Nathaniel Holmes Bishop ACA History & Organizational Facts

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. 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 History ACA History & Organizational Facts

13. 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 History ACA History & Organizational Facts

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. 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 ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts

19. 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 ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts

20. 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 ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts

21. 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 ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts

22. 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) ACA Certifying Disciplines ACA History & Organizational Facts

23. 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 ACA Facts ACA History & Organizational Facts

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

25. ACA Origins ACA History & Organizational Facts

26. 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 Contact Information The ACA & YOU!