Help needed for NAMSA
NAMSA is working quickly to fill a void in the multihull sailing community and need some new, fresh-thinking, caring sailors to help. It is amazing that those of us that love sailing multihulls so much come from such a vast background. We have experts from A to Z.
So, now we need to draw from that expertise to preserve and grow our sport. Committees that are in need of help:
Youth Sailing Committee: This committee was formed to advance youth sailing in North America, to get acceptance of multihulls in events around North America, offer training and camps for youth, and the list goes on. At this point multihulls are not allowed to participate in the US Sailing's Youth events, nor the Orange Bowl. This should not be and we need a strong leader to get something done about those problems.
At present, Sean McQuilken is the Youth Advisor to the Youth Committee, but we need a Chairman and other committee members.
Chapter Committee: This is probably the most important committee of NAMSA. It will be responsible for organizing all of the NAMSA Chapters, who will all be part of the committee. This committee will be responsible for Interfacing with other Chapter Members, Resolving issues between Chapters, Making suggestions for event locations and dates, Making suggestions for rules changes, advising NAMSA toward improvements in its overall purpose, Soliciting national and international event locations.
This committee obviously will be the most major influence on the direction of NAMSA.
Regions Committee: This committee has the job of setting up and forming Regions, their officers and their goals, helping with scheduling of events, etc. At this point, NAMSA has no regions, but we must work toward setting up a strong infrastructure for North America.
Events Committee: This committee, in addition to helping work on coordinating dates and locations of events, should oversee such things as scoring of events. At this point SailWave is the software of choice.., hands down. However, we need someone to work with Colin for improvements and someone that can put together a simple brochure or booklet on exactly how to best use the program.., and to offer tech support.
And that committee will come up with NAMSA suggested forms for NORs, SIs, Course Stickers, and find an outlet for Marks, Flags, and other RC materials, etc.
Newsletter Editor: No doubt this is one of the biggest jobs. It is the glue that will hold the parts together. Every month we will need up-to-date, edited info and news for the NAMSA News which will be published in Catamaran Sailor Magazine.
Miniature RC Multihull Committee: We are preparing to set up a Committee for the F-48 R/C Multihulls (miniature and radio controlled) as they have been wanting to join NAMSA for over a year now. Strangely enough they get the same treatment from monohull RC boaters as we do in the real cats.
Sanctioning Committee: I have just set up a Sanctioning Committee with Eric Arbogast Chairing that group. He is whipping up a Sanctioning Package for the Chapters or other event organizers that will tell them what we will do for them; what we suggest they do to make a good event; and what they need to do. I believe the insurance is pretty well set, but don't want to speak prematurely.
Your help is very much needed. Please do not hesitate to jump in and help not only save multihull sailing, but help make it prosper.
Thanks,
Rick
Plug me in where you need me. My greatest interest is chapter committee.
Great, Pete.
So far we do not have a Chairman for the committee, and you are at present a committee of one. 
I am going to setup your User Name on the Forum so you can get into the NAMSA Board Forum. Should be able to do so in a couple of hours.
At that time, you will see the NAMSA Forum and the Board Forum under the same classification.
Thanks, Pete,
Rick
Rick,
A bit of action up here in Western NY state. Hobie 295 had a meeting last week and there was much talk about NAMSA. This is a bit new to me so fill me in. If there are things I can do from up here in this 'frozen wasteland', as Dr. Schuh used to call it, please give me some hints. Loose cannons are a mighty dangerous thing sometimes. I am leaving tomorrow morning for 2 weeks of cat sailing in the BVI's, so will look forward to catching up when I return.
Still, anxious, willing and ready to help whatever needs to be done.
Sue
Shark Fleet #1
Canandaigua NY
Hi Sue,
Have a great time in BVI.
While we are still looking and in the interim, I would like to have you take over as News Editor. I know when I was Secretary of the Shark Class and the Tornado Class, I was mainly the Newsletter Publisher.
So, at least for the time being, we have that hole plugged.
OK with you?
Rick
Rick,
Gus here in Titusville. I would be happy to help in any way I can. I don't have much experience at this type of thing, but I do have a willingness to help, and a love of the sport. I've been a sailor since the age of 8, including an H14, H16 and now a Wave. Just let me know.
gus
I am willing help as a committee member, Rick. No experience in racing nor running fleets, though.
Sorry for delay in answering, but I was swamped with three seminars in a row, and then tons of computer problems that are hopefully now repaired.
Chuck and Gus, what of the list positions do you feel you would best suited to help. I really don't experience is the big thing.., rather desire to see this thing rise to the top.
Let me know,
Rick
Rick - I'm a totally new to multihull sailing person, but many years in monohulls and local racing. I am surprised that I see no more e-mails here on this since May, and just wonder how it is going and if help is still needed in any areas. I'm very unimpressed with the new rules for regattas that seem to arrogantly exclude all that don't buy just their kind of boat (you can probably tell I'm sailing a Nacra, 5.2 for me). Anyway - let me know if there is still any focus or work going on here, or if it has been overtaken by time.
Dick Cline 
HI Dick,
We have another closed Forum for Board Members Only where we hold most discussions.
Right now we are trying to get our first Newsletter out in the July Issue of Catamaran Sailor Magazine.
Some areas that definitely need filled would be:
Youth Sailing Committee: This committee was formed to advance youth sailing in North America, to get acceptance of multihulls in events around North America, offer training and camps for youth, and the list goes on. At this point multihulls are not allowed to participate in the US Sailing's Youth events, nor the Orange Bowl. This should not be and we need a strong leader to get something done about those problems.
At present, Sean McQuilken is the Youth Advisor to the Youth Committee, but we need a Chairman and other committee members.
Chapter Committee: This is probably the most important committee of NAMSA. It will be responsible for organizing all of the NAMSA Chapters, who will all be part of the committee. This committee will be responsible for Interfacing with other Chapter Members, Resolving issues between Chapters, Making suggestions for event locations and dates, Making suggestions for rules changes, advising NAMSA toward improvements in its overall purpose, Soliciting national and international event locations.
This committee obviously will be the most major influence on the direction of NAMSA.
Events Committee: This committee, in addition to helping work on coordinating dates and locations of events, should oversee such things as scoring of events. At this point SailWave is the software of choice.., hands down. However, we need someone to work with Colin for improvements and someone that can put together a simple brochure or booklet on exactly how to best use the program.., and to offer tech support.
And that committee will come up with NAMSA suggested forms for NORs, SIs, Course Stickers, and find an outlet for Marks, Flags, and other RC materials, etc.
Newsletter Editor: No doubt this is one of the biggest jobs. It is the glue that will hold the parts together. Every month we will need up-to-date, edited info and news for the NAMSA News which will be published in Catamaran Sailor Magazine.
Miniature RC Multihull Committee: We are preparing to set up a Committee for the F-48 R/C Multihulls (miniature and radio controlled) as they have been wanting to join NAMSA for over a year now. Strangely enough they get the same treatment from monohull RC boaters as we do in the real cats.
Hope you find something there of interest. So far we have not found anyone to fill these voids.
Rick
I'm almost scared to send this reply not really knowing if I'd be getting in too deep - but - I have written an published the local sailing club newsletter for over 10 years. I have Pagemaker 6.5 on my machine for use, and yes, I do know R/C - I've flown r/c planes for 50 years and have just started some sailing club members on sailing r/c sailboats. So - I'm landlocked in middle Alabama, but go to P'cola and the coast regularly, and am retired enough that I could probably give some time to help, if you think I have any skills you could use. If you are looking for any insight of a totally new to multihulls, I'm the best at that, having a total of one race under my belt!
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Dick
Great to hear from you.
Hmmmm! Let's see, does that mean you are volunteering to do the newsletter monthly? Hope so.
Really not that big of a deal. I just did this month's in very short order -- perhaps an hour or so.
It was simple, I just copied and pasted from the Forum and from emails from several board members, and then did a bit of fine tuning editing.
What do you think? Interested? BY the way, all you need is a word processing program of any kind. PM is great, but not necessary.
Thanks,
Rick
Rick - yes that is the volunteer statement. I'm best in PM and would feel best at generating the documents using it and then putting it into a PDF file if that is easier for you to work with.
I will be away from any computers until Aug 18th, but after that am able to help whenever or however you feel best. Just let me know what you want -
Dick