I wanted to convey the following information:
1. Discussions are still underway with Crandon Park regarding ways of maintaining kiteboarding access into the future at the Park. Kevin Kirwin, the park manager WANTS to work to maintain access.
2. AKA insurance coverage for individual kiteboarders and kiteboarding events is NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND IS NOT anticipated to be available in the near future.
Repeating:
THERE IS NO AKA INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR KITEBOARDERS
3. It is not known what approach will be worked out to continue to ride off Crandon Park at this time. Hopefully a plan will be formulated and a general meeting of riders will be scheduled within a week or so at Crandon Park to discuss future access provisions at the Park. Please stay tuned for updates in this regard.
4. Riders who are recorded as having paid for *CURRENT* AKA, FKA membership and Crandon Park access and would like a prorated refund of these fees, please email <flkitesurfer@hotmail.com> providing this request along with your full name and phone number or send a letter including this information with a request for a refund prior to May 1, 2005 to:
FKA
PO Box 4471
Boynton Beach 33424
voice mail line 561-734-5722
A prorated refund of the $15. FKA and $15. Crandon access fees from the date of non-renewal of our insurance, May 1, 2004 will be made to recorded, current paid members. A request for a prorated refund of the AKA $30. membership fee from May 1, 2004 will be forwarded to the AKA on your behalf to xd@aka.kite.org for direct reimbursement if you desire. Otherwise you will still enjoy all the other membership benefits of the AKA including the publication, "Kiting". Riders that have sent in applications and fees around and after May 1, 2004 will be contacted individually by phone in this regard.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN NEW APPLICATIONS AND FEES TO THE FKA FOR CRANDON PARK ACCESS AT THIS TIME.
It is not known what role the FKA and membership will play in continued access to Crandon Park and it would not be fair to request new paid membership to facilitate that access until final arrangements have been made with Park Management. It is possible that current membership may or may not figure in future access.
Naturally, if you would like to join the FKA as a paid member, that is always welcome.
I apologize for this situation but the good news is that Kevin Kirwin would like to work something out to continue to permit access. More to come on this subject in the near future. In the meantime PLEASE be on your best behavior at the park and comply with the rules so as not to jeopardize potential future access.
Good winds and be careful out there.