>>Rules have probably changed. But once it was stipulated on the number of "states" competing to classify as a "national"..

If this is true that they must allow a growth membership or something. No class just suddenly materializes to the required size.

>>This may be important as it was how the state associations used to grant class association money for holding a title & sending boats to titles. Even if its only a $500-1500..

I would like to see programs like these in writing

>>Perhaps YA/AYF may still grant monies to associations to hold events.. Also being "National" helps in obtaining grant monies from "health" departments.. The Javs used to get a few thousand each year from "Sun Smart".. Worth thinking about..

If this is the case than by all means. But I would like to see a cost - (likelyhood of) expected benefit analyses of this.


>>>Also look at the "ownership" that "national" status brings.. It once stated all TV and marketing rights of "National & International" were the property of YA/AYF and Sailing org. Again not a huge problem unless your hoping to get the class on TV at 3:30 am between home shopping and the breakfast shows.. But thing that slot is rerserved for the 18teens..

AYF can never lay claim to this UNLESS you sign away rights to these by becoming a member of AYF. It is the same with ISAF. They are effectively private organisations subject to the same laws applicable to persons such as you and me. I can not lay claim to words like "sailboat" nor can they lay claim to "national or international" . This is a common misconception. This is also the reason why they go after the possible participants of rebel classes and not after the rebelious class organisation. It is the same tacktic as used by shady characters in both criminal and secret service organisations.

This is why I want a throurough and in depth discussion on this topic. I see no reason to sign away our unalienable rights for no returning benefits (3 am TV coverage if we ever grow big enough to warrant that) and pay for that "taking away of rights" as well.

Wouter