Thank you for this opportunity to introduce you to our new Indiana Paddlesports Alliance
organization. In the year and a half since eight of us first met at the Peru Library and in spite of the pandemic preventing our later gatherings, we have obtained a financial grant from the Greenways Foundation and progressed the legal formation to the point where we have incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws prepared. Now we are ready to initiate the more interesting objectives that we care about as paddlers. What would that be? Broadly, it is to provide a single strong voice in Indiana to promote the interests of the paddling community.
Have you paddled in Michigan and then reflecting on your experience wondered “Why couldn’t
Indiana be more supportive of paddling like Michigan is?” Wouldn’t that be great! This is the way to make that happen.
I recently read about Governor Holcomb’s “Next Level Trails” program that is spending $150
million dollars to improve and expand trails in the state. Do you know how many water trails are part of that program? ZERO! In fact, water trail advocates need not apply! At an average cost of $80,000 dollars per mile, non-motorized bike and pedestrian trails are being built, but there is no accommodation for the much less expensive water trails. Why? I propose that the reason is that there is no advocate for the paddlers to make known our interests. We can change that.
Now I think the paddling agenda has a place in our lives. I’m also reasonable and believe it is
somewhere below dealing with the pandemic, human dignity issues, food and housing but it has a place in our priorities and no one else will care if we don’t care.
Thanks for listening. You will be hearing more about the Indiana Paddlesports Alliance in the
near future and we ask for your support of our efforts. Thank you.