Dear marathon paddler,

In early December 2002, a nominations ballot was mailed to all USA Canoe/Kayak Marathon Sports Division members in order to fill positions that are required by the Administrative and Operating Procedures of the Marathon Sports Division (MSD) of USACK. If you have received this ballot you are listed as a "marathon " paddler and are eligible to serve and vote in this election. If the term of your membership has ended or will soon end, please renew so that you will be eligible to participate in this election.

You may recall that a similar ballot was sent out earlier in the year, but unfortunately, no one volunteered to serve and we are trying a second time. Please be aware that unless we fill the vacant positions, the MSD is in violation of our Administrative and Operating Procedures.

The mailout also included a complete list of 111 MSD members in order to aid voters in selecting representatives to run for the Geographic Regional and Athlete Representatives positions.

Please be aware that to nominate a person to serve, you must confirm that they will be willing to serve. Also, each nominee must prepare a 50-word statement highlighting qualification and willingness and motivation to serve.

During the past 2 years or so, the activities and operation of the Division has fallen on Lee Deviney and myself. This has included support from the program office, which has been a big help, however, we have not had the volunteer support that is needed. Our efforts have included the coordination of division activities, selecting a marathon team, assisting in the application process and making arrangements to send a team to the World Championship, etc. With all the commitments, we cannot continue to administer all these activities without more help. Also, you should be aware that the USACK Board has held up approval of the 2003 marathon budget until we fill the positions and comply with the MSD procedures. So, I hope you understand that unless we fill most, if not all, the vacant positions, we could loose our division status, our funding and our ability to compete in sanctioned ICF World competition since we have to be supported by the National Governing Body, USACK.

Thank you for your interest in marathon paddling and your consideration of this important matter. I hope you can serve and /or nominate someone else to.

 

Sincerely,

Robert W.(Bob) Spain

USACK Non-Olympic Sports Board Member

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

To the USA Canoe/Kayak Marathon Sports Division

The Marathon Racing Committee (MRC) of the USACK Marathon Sports Division (MSD) is soliciting nominations to fill vacancies. This committee is the administrative group that is responsible for operating the MSD. The committee is currently made up of one USACK NON-Olympic Sports Board Member, Bob Spain, and the USCA Marathon Coordinator, Lee Deviney, that was appointed by the United States Canoe Association. Currently the MRC is soliciting nominations for:

Geographic Regional Representatives (six positions available)

ICF Marathon Coordinator (one position available)

Athlete representatives for Marathon (three positions available)

Each representative will serve for a two-year term and should show an active interest in the areas they are representing. Each nominee will be required to fill out a signed statement of qualifications. (Approximately 50 words) and indicate their willingness to serve if elected. Statements will be published on the web site and/or in an issue of the Canoe/Kayak Racing News Insider.

The Marathon Racing Committee is responsible for the selection of a Marathon Team to represent the US in ICF Marathon canoe and kayak competition in World Cup and World Championships. Participants of this committee are a very important part of the USA Canoe/Kayak organization. It is a privilege to be nominated to the committee; please give his serious consideration. This is an opportunity to have input into the direction of USA Canoe/Kayak marathon racing for the next biennium and to participate in the various decisions and actions taken by the Marathon Sports Division that affect all marathon racing in the United States.

All committee members are required to attend two Marathon Racing Committee meetings held each year. While two meetings are required, one would need to be in the latter half of the year, and the committee will try to schedule meetings to coincide with the Marathon Team Trials or USCA Nationals. Meetings can be held by telephone, fax, or email.

Travel to and from meetings, meals and accommodation is the responsibility of each committee member. Any compensation to committee members to hold the Marathon Trials or travel to World Cup competition will be decided during the budget approval process each year.

Instructions for Nominating:

  1. General Instructions: Per section 2.01 of the USA Canoe/Kayak Bylaws, all current members are eligible for nomination providing they qualify for one of the open positions. Marathon Sports Division members can nominate themselves, or they need to contact the prospective nominee and ask them to serve. The nominee must be actively involved in the area they are agreeing to represent and must understand that they will be serving for a two-year term. Further, the nominee agrees to send to the USACK office a 50 word signed statement highlighting that qualifications and describing their, motivation and willingness to serve. The nominee understands that this statement may be published on the website and/or in an issue of the Canoe/Kayak Racing News Insider.

  2. Geographic Regional Representatives may be any person who is a current member of USACK and has resided in one of the regions described below for at least 3 years. One representative will be selected from each region. Marathon Sports Division members may nominate one person from the geographic region they reside in, e.g. if you live in Region 1 you may nominate yourself or another person from Region 1, but you may not nominate a person in Region 3.

Region #1: Guam, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico

Region #2: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas

Region #3 Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan

Region #4 Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, and ocher U.S. Territories.

Region #5 New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine,

Region #6 North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida

 
  1. The ICF Coordinator may be any member of the USACK and must have a minimum of three years involvement with the ICF Marathon activities before the time of appointment. A Marathon Sports Division member may nominate any person who is eligible to serve as the ICF Marathon Coordinator.
  2. The Athlete Representative for marathon must be a current member of USACK, and must be an athlete who has been selected and competed as a member of the canoe and kayak team representing the US in ICF sanctioned Marathon World Championships within the past 6 years and/or who has finished in the top half of the competitors in at least one marathon distance at the USCA National Championships within the past four years. Not less than one athlete member of the MRC shall be qualified through USACK participation as described herein. Only "athletes" may nominate an athlete representative from any region.