There has been a lot of talk since the ACA Executive Director tendered her resignation about whether or not the ACA should return to the USAC as a sanctioning body and have the ACA be the local association. I believe there is a time and a place for everything, including returning to the federation but that time is NOT right now.
It is inevitable that someday the ACA will be forced to return to USAC. This is not solely to keep the members happy but is a true necessity in the current insurance market. With rising costs of primary insurance, more racers are hitting the start line without it and relying on the secondary policy that the ACA and USAC offer. The ACA pays in a small fraction of what USAC pays into their policy yet we're getting almost the same benefits. In 2008 the ACA will pass on the per rider, per day insurance surchaerge increase that was received in 2007. The ACA managed to pay that increase for the promoters in 2007. Unless there is a dramatic change in the insurance industry standards, the ACA should expect to see their rates continue to rise into the foreseeable future. At some point the benefits that the ACA provides will no longer outweigh the additional cost of insurance surcharges and promoters will be forced to permit through USAC. It is my best guess that this will happen within the next 3-5 years.
Despite the need to eventually become a USAC Local Association it would be a mistake to do so at this stage in the associations development. The transition to USAC should be at least a year long process to ensure that promoter and racer benefits from ACA are not compromised during the move. Additionally, the ACA should use its current financial strengths to improve it's members benefits prior to reintegration. These could include, but are not be limited to, a new website for even faster results and points tabulations, online license sales, online race registration, race kit improvements, improved executive transparency and more detailed documents on the operation of the association. By striving to offer more benefits to members while maintaining its focus on grassroots racing and junior development the ACA would increase the value of the association in the eyes of the USAC. If lines of communication between the organizations were open during the solidification of ACA improvements it would ensure a smooth and positive transition to the USAC when the time is right at some point in the next 1-3 years. If developed and executed correctly the ACA could become the standard by which all other Local Associations are evaluated.
I encourage everyone to support the Executive Committee in an effort to appoint an interim Executive Director to ensure a smooth transition on October 22nd. Obviously this is not a position that can be transitioned overnight. Also encourage them to conduct a thorough search for applicants to review in order to find the best candidate for Executive Director. That candidate should be committed to work for the ACA and it's Executive Committee with goals to improve benefits, maintain a focus of grassroots junior development, and establish open communication with USAC in an effort to become the Local Association within 1-3 years.
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5 comments:
The time is NOW!
USAC Website - Has Online License Renewal & Online Permit Applications. Do we need to make a website to handle this just for a year or two.
Going USAC will free up the E.D. of Insurance hassels. It will free up the District Rep. of Membership paperwork.
True, notice I did not mention online permit apps. ACA would still need an online application to accept memberships in the local association. Just like the old days of BRAC, when you had to be a annual member of BRAC to compete in BAR/BAT. If we went back to the feds now you would still have build a new website to integrate with the USAC rider and event databases.
You're correct about the insurance (other than claims already in progress) and paperwork. Unfortunately, it would not make up for the immediate loss of income and volunteers that would result from an abrupt return to USAC. If done slowly and correctly there would be almost no need for an ED under USAC. This would also provide time for directors to be found for various ACA programs.
"ACA would still need an online application to accept memberships in the local association. Just like the old days of BRAC, when you had to be a annual member of BRAC to compete in BAR/BAT."
Why? USAC already has this online capability, so why duplicate it? I would suggest that every resident of CO who joins USAC is automatically registered for ACA, and the ACA (or BRAC) would then just get its list of registered riders from the USAC.
I think for lists of registered riders, clubs, publishing results, etc., ACA/BRAC could just feed off the USAC databases to publish on its site. You could even have online race permit application on the site, basically a front end loading directly to USAC's back end. There's no reason to duplicate and over-complicate the technical aspects.
I agree, however, that we shouldn't just flip the swtich tomorrow. However, I think it would be wise to make the decision soon, and then just make the transition happen over the next year.
-Fonk
Ryan, you're right using using USAC as automatatic registration is one option the clubs will have to decide on. Personally I would rather see ACA require an additional membership above and beyond a USAC license to participate in an program. If you just want to race, now worries. If you want compete in BAR/BAT, go to a junior camp, use the race kit, etc., you would have to be a member of ACA. THis would create another small source of revenue for the association to opreate its programs. Again you're right on with using the USAC database for all of ACA's needs, the additional membership dues would be solely for funding programs.
If anything I'm getting WAY to far ahead where our focus needs to be, providing feedback to the board and helping them steer the association where the members want it to go.
Ah, I see. That's a great idea, actually. Like you said though, I suppose we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves! What I look forward to though is the possibility that we can now at least be open to the idea of rejoining USAC, even if not making any actual commitments. Perhaps now we, as an organization, can have constructive dialogues with them, as opposed to heated, emotional shouting matches.
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