This crisis has arisen in part because of poor communications skills, and perhaps in part because for personal reasons. I believe the attempt by the Atlantic Division to take the first steps in forming an incorporated Division have been interpreted as a threat by National.   Shame on all of those who refuse to sit down and try to resolve our differences. 

Fact:     In 1996 the NBoD, in signing off on our Divisional bylaws, implicitly authorized continuation of fifty years of Divisional management of ACA Camp.  This document provided authorization and a method of procedure for camp management and management of a trust fund in accordance with  National Bylaws. 

Fact:     The ink was hardly dry when the Delaware Valley Division carved out a good part of our membership. 

Fact:     In 1997 National demanded that we name members to a National Property Board of Trustees “to comply with the ACA bylaws”.  On review of the bylaws our leadership learned that this National Board would thereby replace the local Camp Committee with a Nationally Elected and in alternate years Nationally nominated management agency. 

Fact:     When our Division declined National withheld our three percent dues rebate as a means of pressuring us to comply.

Fact:     In early 1999, despite repeated requests from our leadership and from the PIPC,  National withheld the President’s signature from the ACA Camp permit, our lease agreement with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.  This action put the camp at risk.

Fact:     Changes in language of the Atlantic Division bylaws were approved by 2/3 of the Atlantic Division members voting in well publicized referenda in 1997 and 1998 and sent for National approval in early 1998 and early 1999.  National failed to act.  I am unaware of any communication from them.

attempt to embarrass the Atlantic Division leadership.

Fact:     To increase the pressure on the Division, National has remanded the entire Atlantic Division Charter and Bylaws to the National Judicial Committee.  Their recommendation was to abolish all Divisional charters and bylaws and establish a “boiler plate” document that will apply to all divisions.  As far as I know we are the only Division that manages a camp or has a trust fund.  The Sugar Island trust fund was confiscated by National several years ago.  I have not seen an accounting.

Fact:     I started my tenure by trying to establish a dialog to discuss issues of mutual interest.  Local control of ACA Camp was of primary concern. After a series of phone calls and letters, the reserve fund trustees  to open the books to the auditor of National’s choice was rejected.  . Instead the NBoD passed a resolution requiring that all ACA funds must show Mr. Yeager as a signatory by October first or the ACA would initiate a lawsuit on October 2^nd.

The statement above outlines the Chair’s comments to the annual meeting on October 4^th.

            After failing to get a quorum at the October 4^th board meeting I polled the board again via email and phone.  They did not support my request.  Thus, we have the question on the ballot.  Please cast your ballot for the positions and officers that you think will serve the Atlantic Division best in the year and years to come.

            Notwithstanding the differences between the Division and National, the money in the Atlantic Division Reserve and Endowment Fund has been protected from taxes since the 1930’s and support the addition of Jeff Yeager as a signatory.  I am uncomfortable doing so, but I believe that is a matter of honor for me, and I cannot behave in what I perceive as an inappropriate manner just because I suspect National’s motives.

My personal opinion concerning the future is that both the ACA and the Atlantic Division can both win if they enter into negotiations on the transition to an incorporated Division as permitted by the bylaws.

WILSON

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Alluding to expenditures from the Fund for outrigger canoeing, white water open canoe, slalom, canoe sailing, dragon boat racing, young paddlers, and the newsletter as “serious misappropriations,” he threatened action by the National Board. Referring to the Atlantic Division as a “rogue organization,” he insisted that the National Organization had to become a signatory on the Fund’s accounts, in order to investigate the above matters.

At the Annual Meeting, Lake Sebago leaders revealed that they have been negotiating with Wilson on Lake Sebago issues since this summer. He visited Lake Sebago at the invitation of the Camp Director at that time.

Referring to it as “one of the stupider things we ever did,” Wilson publicly admitted for the first time that the American Canoe Association had refused to sign the Permit for Lake Sebago in 1998. Now, however, he insists that the American Canoe Association loves the camp, calling it “another Lake Placid.”

He expressed openness to changes in National Bylaws, so that Lake Sebago could be run one day as a local entity. However, he ruled that out for the time being, since it was too late for this year’s bylaws amendments. He clearly subscribes to the view that current bylaws require it to be managed as a National Property. This would mean that 2003 would the earliest for any implementation of any local control.

Referring to the upcoming National Board Meeting in November, he darkly threatened that it was “not going to be good” for the Atlantic Division.