Annual National Sailing Programs Symposium In Long Beach Jan. 18-22

AZBW NEWS SERVICE — US SAILING will hold its annual symposium for sailing program organizers in Long Beach Jan. 18-22.

The 2006 National Sailing Programs Symposium, presented by Vanguard Sailboats, is suitable for those involved at any level in sailing programs, US SAILING said.

The purpose of the annual symposium is to network with other organizers and to share ideas on what it takes to run a successful sailing program.

The five-day event will address a wide range of topics including safety, building a staff and keeping it strong, program insurance, creative teaching techniques and products, fund raising and grant-writing tips, getting the word out (creative and effective marketing tools), sailing into science (learning is fun on the water with a proven science curriculum), maximizing volunteers while minimizing risk, and what's new in US SAILING instructor training plus tours of a several local sailing schools, and community and yacht club programs

Each day there will be a morning and afternoon keynote speaker followed by workshops dedicated to four different tracks: youth, community, keelboat, and general sailing.

Featured speakers include: Dawn Riley, CEO of America True, who was the first woman to manage an America's Cup team and to race on two America's Cup teams, and two Whitbread Round-the-World teams; Tom Leweck, who is known by many sailors as the creator and editor of the sailing Scuttlebutt newsletter; Tim Herzog, who teaches an undergraduate class in sport and exercise psychology, and Michael Leneman, founder of Marine Tech and Multi Marine.

Held annually since 1983, the symposiums have over the years brought together thousands of sailing program organizers, US SAILING said.

The $150 registration free for the seminar, which is scheduled at the Long Beach Marriott, includes lunches, coffee breaks, cocktail parties, access to all workshops and seminars, as well as a comprehensive event binder.

Online registration is available at www.ussailing.org/training/nsps/2006/index.htm.