Since 2008, WESA has been a proud member of International Pride Softball. With over 17,000 members, iPride Softball organizes the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) each year and brings together 54 participating cities and over 5,000 participants and fans.
Until recently, iPride Softball was known as N.A.G.A.A.A. or the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance. In 2023, the organization started the process of rebranding itself as International Pride Softball or iPride Softball. Canadian cities that are part of iPride Softball are Vancouver (WESA), Hamilton, and Toronto.
Click here to view the PDF of the iPride Softball/NAGAAA Governing Manual
Twice a year, iPride Softball league delegates come together in the city hosting the Gay Softball World Series to collaborate and learn from one another on common topics and challenges including:
- Player skills ratings
- Marketing
- Sponsorship
- Ethics
- League Governance
2025 Houston Winter Meetings
Vancouver presented a motion to instruct to the Board of iPride Softball, supported by Toronto and Hamilton, as follows:
"Motion to Instruct the Board of iPride to explore the value of creating a Board position filled by an International non-US based member. As iPride is an international organization, the value of structuring the board where there is a guaranteed non-USA voice and representation in all contributions and decisions being made is essential."
Rationale:
As iPride moves forward toward a greater international footprint, we would do well do set ourselves up for success by committing to an International representative on the board of directors. An international, non-USA, based voice will bring an essential perspective to the work, partnerships, decisions, and growth of International Pride Softball.
This is an inclusion issue. By committing to an international representative on the board of directors, iPride will send a clear message to prospective expansion cities in Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Canada, and Mexico that the organization is committed to a diversity of perspectives and an equitable approach to shaping our future.
NAGAAA was served well by the volunteerism by US-based members over these many years. Let’s look to the future and plan for success growing International Pride Softball.
View the "A Day in the life of a WESA iPride Delegate" on Instagram here.
The above pic features the Canada Caucus delegates and supporters for iPride Softball at the 2024 Summer Meetings in Las Vegas. Toronto/Hamilton/Vancouver
The above pic features the Canadian delegates and representatives at the iPride/NAGAAA Winter Meetings in 2023. WESA's Vancouver delegate and League Commissioner, Seán, posing for a post-discussion pic with the other Canadian delegates from Hamilton and Toronto. The iPride leagues meet twice a year over a weekend to discuss ratings, ethics & governance as well as break-out groups on fincance, sponsorship, marketing, and more.
NAGAAA Hall of Fame
In 2022, at the Dallas GSWS, WESA member Art Gullett was inducted into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame. Art has made numerous contributions to WESA and Gay+ softball in Vancouver. As a multi-year Coach, a Commissioner, a leader, and a co-founder of the WESA Pageant, we are proud to call Art one of our own.
Dusty Bag 'iPride Softball' Related Articles:
20 October 2024 - SUMMARY FROM THE 2024 iPRIDE SUMMER MEETINGS IN LAS VEGAS
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