News
ACA Directors and Senior Staff Recommend Becoming USAC’s Local Association for Colorado and Eastern Wyoming
November 21, 2011
The ACA Board of Directors and senior staff recommend that the ACA serve as the Local Association of USACycling for 2012.This recommendation is based on new information, clarification of policy, and successful conversations with USAC leadership in the last three weeks. The board and staff understand that this is a significant change from recommendations that have been made over the past six months, when the idea of partnering with USAC became a focal point for the organization. In this time, we have worked hundreds of hours to build an agreement with USAC that serves the Colorado cycling community in the best possible way. Be assured that this was not an easy decision, but one that has been made with the best interests of our membership as a whole and for the betterment of cycling in Colorado.
The Mission of the ACA is to expand and develop the sport of amateur bicycle racing in the Rocky Mountain region while ensuring quality experiences for all involved. Since 2007, the ACA board has held the following position:
1- that cycling in the United States is too small a sport to be fractured into separate sanctioning bodies, and
2- that ACA reintegration with USAC is a matter of "when" not "if."
Based upon the 2011 Club Survey, it is clear that our current membership is not opposed to the idea of serving as the Local Association for Colorado. The majority of our members have issues with the details of this partnership, but not the idea of partnering. This is an important distinction, and one that is very different from the situation 10 years ago.
In 2011, the ACA is at our best and strongest ever position. Our membership, officials, clubs, promoters, races, financial position, sponsors, partners, staff and committed board are all working together for the benefit of the sport. The ACA is having real conversations and dialogue with USAC for the first time in 15 years. Right now we have an opportunity to unify the sport in Colorado and remain a dynamic organization that can shape and support our great sport. We must seize this opportunity before it is gone. The ACA will continue to work for the betterment of Colorado bicycle racing by being an efficient, professional organization that is responsive to its members, sets high local racing standards, structures the racing calendar in a way that supports promoters, clubs, officials and racers, and helps grow the sport in Colorado and Southeast Wyoming. This is what we have done in the past, and with proper planning and a strong board, staff and membership, we can continue to achieve these goals in the future and remain one of the best grassroots organizations in the country.
The Board of Directors and staff of the ACA urge our member club representatives to attend the 2011 Club Council Meeting with an open mind, with respect for ideas that may be different from your own, and to consider what is appropriate and best for the future of the sport.
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