Bearings May 2017 - ASA Affiliate & Instructor Newsletter

ASA Bearings Newsletter

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We have completed the initial phase of our new certification & membership system.

This work allows schools to submit and process their certifications, and instructors and members to log into their accounts in order to pay, view member benefits or see certifications earned. This represents over 90% of the functionality of the entire project. If you have not yet logged in you may do so by using your instructor number and existing password from the old system. There is a “forgot password” link that allows you a secure method to access your account and change your password.

Work on phase two has begun and should be completed by summer. This will build out the IQC interface to restore and greatly enhance the functionality for Clinics. While ASA can enter and process clinics and candidates internally, the new web interface that will allow Instructor Evaluators to view schedules and candidates and Instructor Candidates to search and enroll in Clinics is under construction.

Phase two will also be used to complete work on the student surveys. In the new system, students need to log into their online accounts to complete surveys rather than follow a link to an isolated survey. The benefit of this approach is that any survey that has not been completed remains in their account as a flag until they open it. This should increase student survey participation substantially versus a single email that might be missed or deleted.

ASA greatly appreciates your patience during this challenging transition to our new system. Once the system is fully completed including full Clinic functionality, we will be in a position to continue to add and improve features quickly. More importantly, this will allow us to be in a position to look at all our internal systems for processing and mailing to improve customer service and decrease processing times.

Quick Links

The fastest most reliable way to access our new system is to use these direct links.

Instructors

members.asa.com

Affiliates

affiliates.asa.com

Attention All Instructors - Fame Awaits!

ASA currently runs a two page spread in the national magazine Sailing called Winds & Currents and we want to feature interesting people and stories from the ASA collective. If you have a tale or know a person you feel would interest a large national audience, please send the idea our way and we’ll write it up and include it in an upcoming issue. Please send us an email today!

ASA INSTRUCTOR TIP

Do I need a license to teach sailing?

by Harry Munns

Instructors often ask whether ASA instructor certification has any impact on Coast Guard license requirements. The short answer is no. As a matter of policy, ASA has refrained from interpreting laws, statutes and regulations. The best way to get accurate information on those things is to go to the source, in many cases it would be the U. S. Coast Guard.

Government agencies don’t always make it easy to get to the information you need. Here are a few tips that might make it a little easier.

Determine what agency regulates the waterway on which you teach. The Coast Guard will probably control coastal waters, large lakes and rivers.

If you need to deal with the Coast Guard, determine which of the eight districts covers your area. Find your district >>

If the Coast Guard does not control your waterway, you will just need to knock on doors of local authorities until you get the answers you need.

Within the Coast Guard districts, you will need to find the Regional Exam Center (REC).

The biggest impediment to qualifying for a CG license is often the sea time requirement. Higher-level licenses require 360, 720 or more days at sea.

There are two licenses that may allow you to get around those requirements. Find the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections (OCMI) at the REC. Ask whether you qualify for a Limited or Restricted Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel license (OUPV).

In short, Limited and Restricted OUPV licenses will narrowly define activity and geographic area within which the license can be used. It’s a simple compromise. You sacrifice the ability to operate in a larger geographic area but you get a chance to come into compliance with prevailing regulations without the need to document extensive sea time. The examination will probably also be less stringent.

Failure to comply with license requirements can result in citation, fines or worse. Most instructors would agree, it’s worth a few phone calls to determine whether you need a license and what you need to get legal. Do it today!

Check out the USCG web site for more information.

In his 20 year career at ASA, Harry Munns trained hundreds of instructors around the world, wrote or contributed to many boating publications including his popular book, Cruising Fundamentals.

Harry was one of the original authors of the NASBLA National Education Standards that were developed at the behest of the Coast Guard and funded by a series of USCG grants.

He holds a USCG Master, 100 Gross Ton License as well as an American Sailing Association Offshore Passagemaking Instructor Evaluator rating. He continues to sail, lecture and write whenever time allows.

Sailing Fun!!

Are you doing kids' programs this summer? Don’t forget that ASA has a great little booklet explaining the basics for youth sailors. It was written by Peter Isler and has fun colorful diagrams on terminology and sailing skills.

The “Sailing Fun” booklets are available for $4.95 each and can ordered by emailing Niecy at nj@asa.com or calling ASA directly at (310) 822 7171.

How to use ASA’s Sailing Challenge as a Teaching Aid

The app was designed to be used by ASA instructors

while teaching the ASA 101 course.

School Ordering Reminder

ASA is headed into our busy season and so are many of our schools. It is important to plan ahead when ordering textbook materials, etc. While ASA is often able to fulfill the orders quickly we do have times where it takes us longer. Keep this in mind and order early!

Orders can be placed by calling ASA at (310) 822-7171 or online in the Affiliate Store.

FOR SALE : ASA First 22 Sailboat

Lenny Shabes, Founder of the ASA and its current Chairman would like to sell his ASA 22 demo. The ASA 22 was designed by Beneteau’s Naval Architects, Finot-Conq, and modified by Lenny and a group of ASA’s very knowledgeable sailing instructors. The goal was to create a boat that is fun to sail, easy to maintain, and a great boat for teaching ASA 101. Its extended cockpit provides room for an instructor and four students making it a profitable boat for instruction. Lenny’s boat is in excellent condition and has been used primarily for advertising, marketing and the launch of GO SAILING. It is featured in almost every picture and video of the ASA First 22 online or in print. It has bottom paint and a cool Beneteau spinnaker with all its gear. The swing keel allows the boat to be put on a low trailer for easy transport. Lenny is asking $23,995 OBO. The boat is currently located in Marina del Rey, CA. Learn more about the ASA First 22 >>

Contact Lenny at info@asa.com if you are interested in buying the boat.

Useful links for Instructors & Affiliates

www.ASA.com