The Canadian ASL Association

The primary mission of the CASLA is to make it possible to hold the Canadian ASL Open (CASLO) each year. We have been doing that for twenty years.

There are several reasons to join CASLA. First, you think that an annual, reliable, well run Canadian ASL tournament, that you can plan to attend months ahead of time, is a good thing. Second, you would like that tournament to sometimes be in your city. Third, you would like to have a say in the format of the tournament and in which city the tournament will be held.

Our tournament is a sort of “plug ‘n play” tournament. We have a documented and well established tournament format that makes every round important and gives all participants a final ranking of their performance in relation to other participants.

When you pay the membership fee to join the CASLA, you are eligible to vote on where the next Canadian ASL Open will be held, and to propose changes to the tournament format. As well, you are eligible to submit a proposal to bring the CASLO to your Canadian city. Running the CASLO sometimes takes more money than we can obtain through tournament registration fees; the CASLA membership fees exist to have a cash reserve to pay for excess tournament expenses when the registration fees do not cover all the expenses. Being a paid member also entitles one to a five dollar discount on registration for the Canadian ASL Open. Foreign players may join the CASLA, but the tournament must be held in a Canadian city.

To submit a proposal to host the Canadian ASL Open, you need to be able to reserve a hotel meeting room of at least 800 square feet (more is better) on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The hotel should have a restaurant and bar, or be within easy walking distance of restaurants. Usually, the member submitting the successful proposal also becomes the tournament director that year, but that is not a requirement. The tournament director and his staff find the location, make the scenario selections and put together the scenario packages for participants, and a few other things.

To date, this tournament has been held in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg. Winnipeg is the default location if no member makes a successful proposal to bring the tournament to their city.

The CASLA membership fee is ten dollars per fiscal year, which runs from July 1^st to June 30^th.

Our membership drive deadline is August 1. Immediately following the membership drive, we will hold our annual virtual meeting by email. People may join after August 1, but the meeting may be already in progress.

(originally published Nov. 2002)

Canadian ASL players have long been united by a game, yet separated by geography. This has been a long standing problem that needed addressing. Through the formation of a Canadian ASL Association, we hope to rectify this situation. jimmcloud

Founded in March of 1997 by myself, the Canadian ASL Association (CASLA) was created to put Canadian ASL players in touch with each other through a player directory and the CASLA News-Journal, the “Maple Leaf Route.” This endeavour has been a success to a degree.

Beginning 2002 Nov 02, the CASLA has officially entered a new era in it’s existence. In the past, the CASLA members were names on a player directory and the Canadian ASL Open was run on the whim of the CASLA director. As of now, the CASLA is comprised of both Charter and Associate Members and has an elected Executive who perform certain functions within the CASLA.

Charter Members (CM’s) have paid to become CM’s. They have a vote on matters regarding the CASLA and they may serve on the CASLA Executive. All other non-Charter CASLA members are Associate Members who, while still members of the CASLA, do not have the the same priviledges as the CM’s. Currently, there are CM’s from Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.

The election of the Executive was held during our first “Virtual Meeting” (VM). This VM was a week long discussion by the CM’s of Proposals on a VM Agenda . As far as I know, this is the first time an ASL group has met in this manner. Having seen the VM function, I can safely say that it is indeed a viable means for the CM’s to meet and discuss matters regarding the CASLA. Separation by geography is no longer a problem in this regard.

How the CASLA and the CASLO function is defined in the CASLA Charter. This document will evolve over time.

The primary function of the CASLA is the sponsoring and running of the Canadian ASL Open Tournament. This is where all of the CM’s membership fees will be directed.

Another important decision by the CM’s during this VM was to allow the CASLO to move from city to city within Canada. In doing so, the CASLA hopes to increase national participation in the CASLO.

Why Join?

From the late Jim McLeod