"Jean Pudl" wrote

I do wonder how autonomous the "commercial" sail training committee is.
The impression I've had (based on little real evidence) was that it was
created by and for one group of schools because they didn't want to pay
ASA for an "official" piece of paper.

Correct. It started with three school in the SF Bay area. The Training
Chairman owns one of these schools. He has several of the IT's on
his staff and in his back pocket. He pays there expenses and owns
their votes. One of them should be fired from his position as an IT
on ethics charges.

I have some hope the Training Chair will implement some changes.
However, nearly everything I've discussed with him has been brushed
off. I am unwilling to travel to their event at my expense just to be
ignored after I'm gone.

I dropped my membership and asked for my certification money back.
Which reminds me, I need to write them about that again. I'll have to
send it certified mail this time. They gave me a "screw you" on the
telephone when last I called them.

Does this make any difference to the student? Does it make any difference
to the charter companies?

Nope.

Actually, it seems it only makes a difference to the instructors who have
to go through the process of being certified by one or the other, or both.
Just curious, when someone pays $400 for a basic keelboat course, how much
of that goes back to ASA or USSa?

Schools pay a flat rate for membership. They have to join to be competitive
now that the "Certification" paper is what they are selling. Students feel
the paper means something and don't understand it is the skills that are
important and the paper is meaningless.

Student fees include book costs, tests, and the log book. I'll can only
guess what the total is.

Insurance is a muddy issue. Instructor are forced to pay for insurance.
This is a scam since the schools already have insurance. bogUS Sailing
both claims this fee is both insurance and not for insurance, but insists
instructors pay it anyway to be recertified. I lost my cool over this
last year. How can they say it is and that it isn't for insurance? What
hogwash! I want a written answer on this one.

When I signed up the only requirement for recertification was up to date
First Aid and CPR certifications. Now a bogus insurance fee is attached.
Again, they say it is not for insurance, but that is what it pays for--so
that
is what it is. Try to get a straight answer out of them on that one. And
they won't put and answer down on paper either!


As to the "governing body" issue, this is a byproduct of the Olympic
Committee process, where one and only one group (and I assume it must be
non-profit) must be designated as the governing body for each sport, and
is responsible for the Olympic and Pan-American teams, plus certain other
functions. For better or worse, USSailing is the organization the fits
this role.

I don't think it is perfect, but it works, and you get something for your
money--race committees. However, I refuse to take a Safety at Sea
seminar from someone who knows less about it than I, when I know
the reason they won't place people out of such things is because of
the profits they make on these courses. I'd prefer to race unofficially
and display a "Boycott USSailing.org" decal on my boat, and offer to
take only it off if they pay me.

Did you know someone recently proposed raising the grievance fee
to raise more money at US Sailing? How could they even consider
such a thing. In the spirit of fairness there should not be any fee
associated with filing a grievance! Screw them. What a bunch of
asshole. It is clear US Sailing is all about money, not about improving
the sport.

I agree with Doug that there is an appearance that they support
and recognize certain sailor that are "in". Those can do no wrong.
The more awards the heap on them, the more valuable they are to
the organization. It's like blowing up a balloon. There is little to
back it up but what was already there.

All of the behind the scenes ego trips, back stabbing, conflicts of
interest, power plays, pseudo-scandals, etc. seem to be par for the course
with large (or small) non-profits. As opposed to for-profits which have
the same mishigas, but its called "business."

I disagree. Such an organization should have a standard of excellence.

I'd prefer to see US Sailing have delegates that actually represent
members. If I can sign up 1000 members I could then represent them
and fight their agendas. Does anyone want to be first to sign my list?
I'd love to battle US Sailing in their den. I'd love to fight to make them
change the ridiculous way they operate. They are so inept.