Welcome to ASN Member Services
The AbleSailNetwork (ASN) is a cooperative association of operators of accessible sailing programs (ASP) across Canada. ASN provides a forum for Operators to identify, discuss and address common operating issues and challenges. Members of ASN are committed to promoting and developing the sport/recreation of sailing, by making it accessible to Canadians with a disability. If you're reading this now, you have REGISTERED to participate in our Member Services projects and Forums and I welcome your participation.
ASN is an idea that Kathy Campbell (Vancouver) encouraged us to pursue, when she was Chair of the Canadian Yachting Association’s (CYA) Accessible Sailing Committee, as far back as 1999. We've talked about the potential value of organizing more formally for a long time now. A national survey of program operators across Canada revealed renewed interest to revisit this concept.Here we are at last, ready to get at it.
Some of you have asked: Why a network? Where does ASN fit with respect to CYA and the Provincial Sailing Associations? ASN is intended to compliment CYA/PSA's roles and not compete with them. ASN supports CYA as the National Sport Governing body for the sport of sailing and its vital role of regulating sailing in Canada, and addressing the technical aspect of the sport and competition, including certification of sailors, instructors and coaches. Our vision for ASN is to become:
- a resource for accessible sailing program operators, a way to collaborate and share information on the full range of “best practices.”
- a place to meet together 'electronically'; a conduit for communications pertaining to the burning issues of operations and the world of sailing for people with disabilities.
- a collaborative way to reliably raise the funds required to operate each season - the number one challenge for every program.; ASN will coordinate fund-raising for DSA/ASPs at a national level, with a focus on funding on-water activity (sailing sessions) not capital expenses.
Within CYA there are precedents for similar groups and relationships, for example the Council of Commodores and the Class Associations work hand in hand with CYA but focus on the interests of a specific group of stakeholders. Collaboration and a focus on best practices is what will make the ASN a success.
The Network will identify and support the full range of boats and equipment options that are available to sailors and operators. We recognize that there are a variety of reasons that an individual or operator will make specific equipment choices including but not limited to: intended use; program size; physical location; sailing conditions; sailors experience;cost; need for adaptations; and range of adaptations etc.
We have designed AbleSailNetwork.ca will facilitate sharing and collaboration, by hosting our projects and forums and providing a permanent library to archive shared documents and resources for ASN members.
Right now, AbleSailNetwork.ca is not very pretty and it doesn't need to be. We want you to know that both AbleSailNetwork and AbleSailNetwork.ca are "under construction". We're focused on figuring out what tools we need to support our ASN Projects and get the job done. As it develops, AbleSailNetwork.ca will add information and resources and, in time, I am certain that it will become the backbone of ASN.
I encourage you to check out our first Project and get involved!
At this point we're just getting started and there's a lot of work to do. But I am excited.
Doug Nutting
Chairman, 2006 ASN Fundraising Project
