Rolf is correct. Never underestimate the power of a 'real' letter. Someone will read it. Airmail is about $1-$3, tops.

You're saying there WAS an e-mail campaign to IOC? So what is that e-mail address?

AND they don't publish their e-mail addresses because they don't want to hear what people are saying? Then why do they hold office in that organization?

As far as showing how much we care, I don't send snailmail letters any more even to my closest friends and relatives. Even if somebody is born or somebody dies.

Mary, I am not trying to provoke you or be otherwise nasty and I agree that not being reachable by modern communication is a problem for everybody. Just to make that clear.
I dont think the IOC see it as their responsibility to hear what people think. The following is pasted from their FAQ


http://www.olympic.org/

On this issue, my understanding is that the IOC does not want to hear directly from anyone other than the ISAF and its representitives. It feels that the ISAF represents sailing and therefore our aurguement is with ISAF and not with the IOC. I know the boarders have set up there own organization, but I do not know how they fit in with the IOC. I am hoping that one of the reasons for the formation of the IMC is to get a stronger presence and coordinated vioce worldwide and be able to approach the IOC that way.

Thanks Rex I'll send a polite factual snailmail to them all it will be interesting to see if I get a reply, it might even come by e-mail <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
regards

Yea, you're right - somebody born can't read and somebody.....

It might also validate that they are out of touch with the outside world.

A possible e-solution is to write the email, then use your FAX function and fax directly from your computer.

Your ISAF Executive Committee to the IOC:
Who is who? Who is the Tornado sailor?

Is there a Tornado sailor on the picture??

My letter to the IOC is written, and I will send it later today.

Rex

Would you care to share the text with us who dont have english as our primary language?

For those of you who are not from the UK, Australia and France (who's MNAs have already written to ISAF) could you please push your MNA to write to ISAF against the vote asap.

I realise that for the US this may not be as easy as it sounds.

The US Multihull Council is working on this for next week's meeting in Newport; however, additional letters from individual sailors to the Board of Directors don't hurt. Just please remember to be respectful of these volunteers who truly believe they are doing what is best for the US.

Okay, so we should not write to the IOC (which I think is obvious), because they expect to get their input on sailing from ISAF. And we should not write to ISAF (which I think is obvious), because they expect to get input from the National Authorities.

SO, it sounds like we should be writing to our US Sailing people -- and they DO have e-mail addresses -- AND we should be writing to John Williams because he can pass our messages along to the International Multihull Council, which is going to be our lobbying group with ISAF.

Is that right, John? I just want to know where to send messages that are going to count for something. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Left to Right:
(unknown)
David KELLETT (AUS)- Keelboat sailor
Göran PETERSSON (SWE) President - lawyer, E-mail: goran.petersson@vinge.se (that's his work e-mail)
David IRISH (USA)- Keelboat sailor, Michigan - owns Irish Boat Works in Charlevoix
Fiona BARRON (GBR)- Europe Dinghy
Teresa LARA (VEN)- president of the Venezuelan Sailing Assoc.
Teo Ping LOW (SIN)- president of Singapore Sailing Federation, Email: teo-ping.low@singaporesailing.org.sg
George ANDREADIS (GRE)- president of the Greek Olympians Association, Farr 40 sailor
(unknown)
Not shown - Nucci Novi CEPPELLINI (ITA) - died of cancer 2/15/08 - Obituary

This took less than 15 minutes on Google.
Why am I not surprised that the vast majority of these people are well-heeled keelboat sailors?

Sorry, John, we crossed posts there. So you think that we should be sending e-mails to the US Sailing board of directors between now and next week when? By this weekend?

And are you going to that meeting? Long way across the country for you! I don't know how you volunteers do it. But, thank you all. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Because, Matt - like me you understand that the vast majority of sailing in the world is done by well-heeled keelboat sailors. Accepting that we are a minority discipline within sailing and acting like we have a place at the table aren't mutually exclusive positions, right folks? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Right! It has certainly worked well for women. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Not 'urgent'...
The ISAF Executive Committee noted letters received from three ISAF MNAs regarding the selection of the events for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. Whilst not formal submissions, the letters suggested that ISAF could reconsider the decision on the events at the forthcoming 2008 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting through the submission process.

The ISAF Regulations govern submissions which may be considered at the Mid-Year Meeting and state that only "urgent" submissions can be put forward and considered. The ISAF Executive Committee has the sole responsibility to determine whether a submission is "urgent" or otherwise.

The Executive Committee has decided that submissions for re-addressing the decisions on events for 2012 in the mid-year are not urgent and should be dealt with in November 2008.

The Executive Committee recognizes that some ISAF MNAs do not agree with the Council decision taken in November 2007 on the ten events for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. This position, which has been formally notified to ISAF by a few ISAF MNAs, should not enable the valid Council decision to be reviewed at the 2008 Mid-Year Meeting.

The decision on the equipment to be used for each of the ten events will be made at the 2008 November Conference. At the upcoming 2008 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting, the ISAF Council will make a list of the equipment it considers may possibly be appropriate for selection at the 2008 November Conference. ISAF has invited all ISAF Classes and MNAs to put forward submissions on equipment for the 2008 Mid-Year Meeting, which must be received by 15 March. The list Council makes at the 2008 Mid-Year Meeting shall include all equipment which has been the subject of a valid submission.

The Executive Committee has approved that 'urgent' submissions will be considered at the 2008 Mid-Year meeting dealing with the process of selecting equipment for the Women's Keelboat (match racing) event at the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. Firstly, to consider whether the equipment selected should have achieved ISAF Class status before the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. The second, to allow ISAF to defer a decision on the equipment for the women's match racing event until a date later than November 2008, in order that ISAF can select the most appropriate equipment for this new event and ensure that the timing of announcing the decision will be equitable for ISAF MNAs. This is in line with the current practice of match racing events.