I like several of Dooley's ideas, he had some really good ideas... as well as others... like churches, and schools... I taught environmental education with the Cahaba River Society taking school groups on day trips. Where they went tandem, and we did minimal instruction, and just got them down (easy but flowing flat water). There was a lot of interest generated this way. Simple - fun instruction - no scare tactics - we were more interested in showing, this is your drinking water - protect it trips.
I also agree with the post a couple pages back (2lazy2 look it up) it's a different day and age... we grew up banging off of, falling out of, and slamming into... most everyone did. Today it's extremes. There's the sit at a console crowd (oh-large steaming pile of dog doo) with their wii's, and the skateboard-xgame crowd. The timid do not want any part, and the less than timid... want more. If I was a kid looking at a canoe or a kayak. It'd be a no brain'er. Saw this with my nephews, right away. Like hey, I want one of those. I'm merely pacifying them, by saying learn to paddle one of these, and then paddling one of those things will be easy (and it's better - to do both).
We need to been seen doing canoe moves... running clean, stomping some big drop, and styling the same move as a deckboat (but better because it's done open). That's why we canoe. Because maybe we perceive it as one upping the others, that not just anyone can do it. Or maybe it's just the challenge, of seeing how far you can really progress. No matter how cool we (some) think it looks to go flip over in a hole, and imitate kayak moves... it's just ain't so
**. A canoe that looks like a kayak, pulling off kayak moves, really just perpetuates a why do they do it ...
** instead of a "I want to do that". Mark my word someone is going to take offense, and say I got into the sport because of this... Just think global first-this is not about you or the three others... I'm talking big picture, as in how many look at this and go oH-Boy that's me. The day's of there being more open canoes on whitewater is gone. It's too easy to learn in a kayak, and over the years have even gotten easier (for instance - a sweep is an optional play move). The time commitment is less and rewards almost immediate. As much as I chide the use of electric pumps, they certainly make the sport more attractive to those who gave up because of constant dumping.
However to grow the sport - We need to become less of the we are better boaters, and more of the you can do it too. I believe we ought to draw more from the ranks of your average kayaker. The learning curve was always, canoe then kayak... if maybe a kayak then canoe idea could be fostered. There's the guy who's maxed out, and not wanting to run OMG-Creek. The guy who might find it enjoyable to test himself again, without risk life-or-limb. And maybe just find something challenging in his backyard, instead of a thousand miles away. The cost savings alone would pay for the boat.
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**((sorry to slam some peoples hard work and efforts, but it's a big sport and some feel this way)... wishing all of you luck, but there are always varying opinions in life). I stopped rodeo when it stopped doing canoe moves, I canoe and don't turn over on purpose... it just happens. I play hard (surfs-spins), and make it look fun (tell'em it's easy) , and get deckboaters trying it all the time... how many kayakers ever just jump in and attempt throwing-ends in a canoe... it's usually causes the opposite reaction w/the inevitable don't you get tired of dumping. 
