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Brett Morris
NSW
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 11:55 am
   
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There seems to be some confusion of what the AWA does...here is a quick breakdown.
1-Organize the Nationals Public Insurance Liability policy for it's members (State associations) - This allows events to be legally organized with councils etc.
2-Maintain a Sail number registry. One "AUS" number per member.
3-Organize the National Calendar so that events don't clash.
4-Maintain a AWA web site, with as much information as possible.
5-Provide a voice for each state to communicate via their State Rep.
The AWA has fulfilled all the above tasks for over 30yrs now.
There has been Nationals in Wavesailing, Formula, Slalom, Race-boards and WOD every year despite the fact that many windsurfers have refused to support either their State or Nationals, even when they are local, ie live down the road.
State Committee's develop and grow the aspects of windsurfing in their region as per the energy/motivation and experience dictates. E.G. If there is no interested Wave committee member in SA, you can hardly expect a Speed or Formula sailor to promote and organize Wave events.
Windsurfing is a fantastically diverse sport, and the best and easiest way to help it grow is to support your local club/state and or getting active with your state association.
If you love wave sailing then help develop wave sailing in your area, if you love Formula or slalom racing then do the same. The great thing about this sport is there is generally no politics, you help will be welcome with open arms at any club or state level. www.windsurfing.org
Become part of the solution, not part of the problem, is the message for anyone frustrated by how our sport is under preforming.
Brett Morris
AWA President. |
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Crash Landing
NSW
Australia
1017 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 12:26 pm
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Brett, well put.
I'm a keen member of the NSWWA and look forward to all of the events for a number of reasons and it's also a great way to meet people who share your passion for specific disciplines.
Nothing annoys me more than when people b*tch about the Associations but do nothing about it. People put a lot of time and effort into running the Associations -the least they deserve is some support and encouragement.
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Gestalt
QLD
Australia
6935 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 12:31 pm
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agree completely also,
all of my dealings with the AWA and it's reps have been very successful.
you guys do a fantastic job.
those that whinge should get off their butts and do something themselves. then they can find out exactly what it takes to make an event happen and how it won't happen without the insurances etc in place or the efforts the national association puts in.
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Mobydisc
NSW
Australia
2314 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 1:01 pm
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I whinge a lot but never about windsurfing assocations. As I do not compete in races or events, except for the GPS Challenge, is there any point for me to join an association?
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JayBee
NSW
Australia
567 Posts |
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FormulaNova
NSW
Australia
880 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 1:38 pm
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One thing that I have been asked before is; "why would you get insurance that doesn't cover other sailors?". It seems from the policy that if the other sailor is also a member of the same insurance, then they aren't covered.
Is that correct? |
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Mobydisc
NSW
Australia
2314 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 2:00 pm
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Do you join the AWA directly or join a club?
There aren't any clubs for the places I go sailing and I am not really interested in organised racing, especially on longboards or formula. Most of the NSW clubs seem to be focussed on this, which is fair enough given our wind strengths (except for right now )
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Gestalt
QLD
Australia
6935 Posts |
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JayBee
NSW
Australia
567 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 2:43 pm
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Brett is the man for these questions, but being a person who never knows when to butt out...
I understand you have to be a member of a club, which is affiliated to Windsurfing NSW. Club members are then covered by the 3rd party insurance policy.
From www.windsurfingnsw.com "The cover is not restricted to organised or sanctioned events. It is available to members 24 hours a day and, in some cases, covers sailing overseas."
I also understand that AWA and WindsurfingNSW are administrative bodies i.e. you cannot join them like a club, but I expect you would be welcomed if you wanted to assist with the admin work.
I futher understand that the 3rd party policy excludes member to member liability, it only protects 3rd parties. Ask your own insurer to provide you with a quote for 3rd party insurance, then you will see what incredible value it represents.
FormulaNova - the answer to that question would become obvious when you hit a bystander or swimmer. Some cover will always be better then none at all. Again, people could get their own insurance policies and request cover for damage to other participants. Windsurfers can judge and accept risk because we understand our own sport, 3rd parties may us in dangerous situations because they dont understand. That is why we need to protect ourselves from that situation, insurance does that.
In the future (hopefully never) if windsurfers were ever exposed to issues wrt liability (as the kitesurfers are finding now), we may expose ourselves to a situation like PWC's whereby we would have to apply for licences to operate our watercraft, and cary proof of insurance. We wouldnt want that would we?
TGIF
JB |
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Brett Morris
NSW
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 3:45 pm
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Insurance is public liability only.
Does not cover A Windsurfer to Windsurfer liability.
We are required to have public liability insurance to run any organized event in Australia.
To participant in any organized event in Australia you must be registered with the AWA via their State Association.
Insurance cost + sail registration is included when every you join a Windsurfing Club in Australia for an incredibly cheap price.
Personal insurance is totally separate....
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ka222
VIC
Australia
258 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 3:59 pm
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Brett is there any sort of liability coverage for individuals who run an event under the banner of AWA or their state body???
Regards |
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DAM71
QLD
Australia
204 Posts |
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Chris 249
NSW
Australia
323 Posts |
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Wineman
NSW
Australia
758 Posts |
Posted 13/06/2008, 10:04 pm
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| C'mon Moby....have a go |
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Muzza12
SA
Australia
509 Posts |
Posted 14/06/2008, 8:51 am
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Hi Brett,
So if people have their own agenda to fill, they become committee members? ie Someone who does slalom and is a committee member just looks after slalom and doesn't promote and grow the sport across all disciplines?
If you want people who are intersted in the sport to become members/committee members, perhaps those who have no interest should give up their position and do something they are interested in.
It's fine if you want to label me a whinger without knowing what I do and have done for windsurfing over the years, I can live with that.
I still think its time for change for the better of the sport.
But you do look after insurance... for competitions.
Thanks,
Muzza |
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Chris 249
NSW
Australia
323 Posts |
Posted 14/06/2008, 11:45 pm
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Muzza;
In my experience with Windsurfing NSW, Brett has been extremely supportive of all disciplines. He's been working to get everyone to work together and it's been working well; as well as you can expect given that human nature means that we all tend to think "our" discipline of the moment is the best. In fact, at committee level there's ten times more respect for other disciplines, and a lot more concern for the sport as a whole, than you get down at the average beach (in my experience).
I don't think there's anyone on any committee who is not interested in helping the sport....they are all probably quite willing to give up their position for someone with the right attitude. Changes can be for the better, if they are based on reality. |
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aus005
TAS
Australia
98 Posts |
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Brett Morris
NSW
Australia
382 Posts |
Posted 15/06/2008, 8:15 am
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Muzza... Nobody being labeled. Actually i want to thank you for instilling some passion in your posts. The sport has so many people over the last 30yrs who have put in so much, that generally goes unnoticed, but that is the sole reason windsurfing is it still alive on so many levels.
I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to put something back into the sport so that others in the future (my kids, hopefully) can experience similar joys. i just wish i had more time to dedicate to it...
I couldn't agree with you more that a fresh look is required, but that does not mean throwing the baby out with the bath water. The AWA and State associations are far from perfect. We try and keep the structure of the AWA the same for stability, but let the States develop as per the energy driving them. An example is the SA Speed series....Windsurfing QLD are also restructure the association so that different people are empowered to grow the disipline of the sport they care about, eg Sean O'Brien AUS-120 is encouraged to grow Formula/Slalom (the 2 areas of windsurfing that are close to his heart.)
There is soo much room for improvement, eg fun, social events, and I know the passion exists to help drive it. It is just that at the end of the day, we are an amateur sport run by like minded people, who are doing there best....Frustrating I know...Happy to talk directly on brettm@gfigfoup.com.au
Regards
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Muzza12
SA
Australia
509 Posts |
Posted 16/06/2008, 12:10 pm
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Hi Brett,
Thanks for your reply. It sounds like the association in NSW is in good shape. Maybe some of the other states are too.
I know the guys are doing a good job in SA with the speed/slalom series.
Unfortunately I haven't seen the passion from the association in SA to prevent the clubs/associations in SA from falling apart i.e. SAWSA.
I would also think that the AWA would keep in contact with the different state associations to at least know what was happening with the National Titles etc.If none of the states were planning on doing something then the AWA could put the call out to the states to nominate themselves for holding the Nationals. That way we would always have a 'next' National Titles and could plan, get sponsors in place etc, etc.
Finally, back to my original question, do you know when and/or where the National Wavesailing Titles are being held or are the titles now finished.
Thanks again,
Muzza |
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AUS007
SA
Australia
20 Posts |
Posted 25/06/2008, 11:11 pm
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muzza,
You can't blame WindsurfingSA without blaming the wavesailors for not intereacting with the association (historically SAWSA have not wanted to be connected with windsurfingSA).
WindsurfingSA has no wavesailors in its committee or organising team. So change that and become a member. We need a wavesailing rep to assist with national wavesailing decisions,etc.
How many members does the sa wavesailing association have? Who's on the organising committee? etc.
By the way, the next wavesailing nationals will be @ Marrawah, Tas in Feb 2009
John |
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