Sailing To Win, Sailing for Life

by CYA on 9 Dec 2009 The Canadian Yachting Association concluded its annual conference and AGM on November 21st with stakeholders present agreeing to work together to create a stronger, more vibrant sport in Canada.

The four days of meetings focused on developing a clear strategy for the sport of sailing for the future and the CYA Board will now work to finalize the strategy and communicate it to all the stakeholders.

The facilitator assisted agenda allowed for strong interaction and many good ideas were generated.

The participants strongly endorsed the Long Term Sailing Development model and are aware of the challenge ahead in implementing the program.

The key priorities identified for sailing in Canada were:

• New vision for Canadian sailing: sailing to win – sailing for life
• Strategic plan – timeline - accountability
• Leadership + action + effective implementation
• Working together to develop, grow sport of sailing
• Achieve success – winning culture
• Clear roles and responsibilities – common programs, services, targets
• Get the boat pointing in the same direction
• Work together in partnership

The Conference agreed on definite timelines for the next steps in the strategy and the CYA Board are charged with not only developing the strategy, but also clearly communicating it frequently and regularly to the membership.

Next Steps

The CYA Board will now agree on a process to complete and produce the draft strategic plan, and develop the stakeholder communication strategy with PSAs.
Over the next few months, but no later than April 2010, the CYA will:

• Finalize LTSD and implementation model
• Review organizational capacity to deliver transformation and changes
• Consult with key stakeholders
• Produce strategic plan
• Develop operational, business + communication plan
• Agree implementation + alignment plan with PSAs
• Commence implementation of strategic and operational plan

New Board Members Elected

Also at the AGM, two new CYA board members, Christine Searle (ON) and John Kerr (ON) were elected to replace retiring members John Abel (BC) and Dave Thomas (BC)

Chair of the Nominating Committee and Chair of the Election of Directors, Jim Dike, declared President Gerry Giffin elected by acclamation, as there were no other candidates.

In advance of the election of Directors, the CYA membership passed a proposed bylaw change increasing from one to two athlete directors on the Board of Directors.

In a process as outlined in the CYA By-Laws, the currently carded Canadian sailing team members elected Nikola Girke as the second Athlete Director to the Board of Directors.

The CYA Board of Directors for 2009/2010 are:

President
Gerry Giffin (2011) – Nova Scotia

Directors at Large
Alan Lombard (2011) – Quebec
Todd Irving (2010) – Ontario
Kevin Stewart (2010) – Manitoba
Gillian Thomson(2011) – British Columbia
Christine Searle (2012) – Ontario
John Kerr (2012) – Ontario
Athlete Directors
Ben Remocker – British Columbia
Nikola Girke – British Columbia

( ) Indicates year term expires