ChileRelleno 0 #1 July 2, 2003 Just wondering how some of my fellow jumpers feel about USPA. I myself wholly support USPA and am thankful for the wonderful job they do keeping me jumping. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #2 July 2, 2003 I am right there with you!!! Without the uspa, it is true local and state governments without true knowledge of skydiving would probably regulate us jumpers to death. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesNahikian 0 #3 July 2, 2003 I appreciate USPA, but would love to see them outsource the content and production of Parachutist to the folks at Skydiving Magazine. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #4 July 2, 2003 yes I am there witcha. I donate to the funds everytime I renew alsoMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #5 July 2, 2003 My mixture of answers might be kind of odd. I think USPA costs a little too much, but just barely. I think USPA HELPS keep jumpers jumping. The AAD fund helps keeps SOME dropzones open, however there seems to be a cronyistic method of applying it. USPA is an overbearing, restrictive bureaucracy in some regards, but not in others. I like and support USPA but think we would also be just fine without them. The thing you didn't mention is the Group Member program. If the commercial interests in skydiving would get out of our (the jumpers') organization and back into PIA where they "fit", I think everyone would see improvement. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #6 July 2, 2003 I debated as to whether or not to poll on this subject, and chose not to at this time. If you haven't already, then please read "Support GM Program" in the Letters and Viewpoints column of the current July issue of Parachutist. MR.Buchanan has some very good points to make about the GM program. As you may suppose I support the GM program but will just as easily jump at a non-USPA GM Dz if I feel the aircrat are airworthy and the enviroment is overall safe, this goes for GM dz's as well. there is more good than bad in the GM Program IMO. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #7 July 2, 2003 bump "SWEET" ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
174fps 1 #8 July 2, 2003 I'm a USPA member to get the magazine. USPA uses the 34000 member figure often. I'd be interested to know how many of their members are not US residents and have joined just to get the magazine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #9 July 2, 2003 USPA is as good and as imperfect as any other member organization. I've found them annoying at times, but I'm certain we'd have been outlawed and grounded years ago without them. As individualistic as we are, we can't hope to stay in the air without them. Voting and donating money does make a difference too. There have been a number of controversial Directors with very strong opinions who have been voted in or out of office (or in AND out of office). There have even been Directors who have publicly criticized the Board and/or other individual Directors. Which is all good in a democracy, it's certainly kept up the debate on the hot issues (just look at the current wing loading controversy, now there's one healthy debate). Who was it, Ben Franklin who said we'd all hang together, or seperately ? Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #10 July 2, 2003 Quoteplease read "Support GM Program" in the Letters and Viewpoints column of the current June issue of Parachutist. Huh? I couldn't find this in my June issue. Did you mean the July issue? (I dont' have that one yet). I; think USPA is overpriced for what we get, think they are overbearing, and do like and support them.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #11 July 2, 2003 Bump "SWEET" ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #12 July 3, 2003 bump ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #13 September 9, 2008 Recent experiences with the USPA have made me lose faith in most of them (as individuals). They care more about themselves, and little about what exactly their members want. Personally I feel there's too much 'old blood' with far too many political agendas. As an organization I see it's necessity - just time to change the people. Far too many run unopposed in various regions. I'd like to see a limit that a person can hold a position (2 terms or something). edit: Holy crap this is an old thread. Whoops Ian Performance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #14 September 9, 2008 Quote edit: Holy crap this is an old thread. Whoops True, but there's a new elections forum that you (and others) could post to. It's kind of quiet over there right now. Since yesterday was the deadline for those who submitted letters of intent to submit their official candidate paperwork, I suppose the election season has officially begun. (Of course, the Nominations and Elections Committee still has to do their work to ensure that the candidates each met the filing requirements and are each eligible to appear on the ballot in November's Parachutist.)"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #15 September 9, 2008 Quote As an organization I see it's necessity - just time to change the people. Far too many run unopposed in various regions. I'd like to see a limit that a person can hold a position (2 terms or something). Now THAT'S not a bad idea.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sickandtwisted 0 #16 September 9, 2008 QuoteMy mixture of answers might be kind of odd. I think USPA costs a little too much, but just barely. I think USPA HELPS keep jumpers jumping. The AAD fund helps keeps SOME dropzones open, however there seems to be a cronyistic method of applying it. USPA is an overbearing, restrictive bureaucracy in some regards, but not in others. I like and support USPA but think we would also be just fine without them. The thing you didn't mention is the Group Member program. If the commercial interests in skydiving would get out of our (the jumpers') organization and back into PIA where they "fit", I think everyone would see improvement. Blues, Dave What he said. In 2003!Skymama stalker #69!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sickandtwisted 0 #17 September 9, 2008 Wow, Ian. That is an old thread.Skymama stalker #69!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #18 September 9, 2008 You folks put too much faith in new blood turning things around. I remember when B.J. Worth first ran in the early days. His campaign motto was, "Burn the muther down!" And look at him now, he's frigging Dick Cheney . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #19 September 9, 2008 Quote Recent experiences with the USPA have made me lose faith in most of them (as individuals). They care more about themselves, and little about what exactly their members want. Personally I feel there's too much 'old blood' with far too many political agendas. As an organization I see it's necessity - just time to change the people. Far too many run unopposed in various regions. I'd like to see a limit that a person can hold a position (2 terms or something). edit: Holy crap this is an old thread. Whoops Ian Yeah, but old is new. History repeats.... Still reeling after sending my RD a couple of email and two snail mail requests, plus a few phone calls. There are so few on there worth salvaging... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #20 September 9, 2008 Quote Quote As an organization I see it's necessity - just time to change the people. Far too many run unopposed in various regions. I'd like to see a limit that a person can hold a position (2 terms or something). Now THAT'S not a bad idea. It can be a very bad idea if the reason they run unopposed is that no one will stand for the job. Being totally unrepresented is not a better option. Many many organisations like the USPA, APF BPA etc... are run by a very small contingent of people, because a very large contingent are uninterested, to lazy, to scared (fill in any other lame reason) to work for their organisations.You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #21 September 10, 2008 Quote You folks put too much faith in new blood turning things around. I remember when B.J. Worth first ran in the early days. His campaign motto was, "Burn the muther down!" And look at him now, he's frigging Dick Cheney . . . NickD Wow! Talk about a blast from the pastNow that made me LOL ^^^ Anyone here remember the OP (me)? Been a loooooong time since I popped in here ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #22 September 10, 2008 Quote Quote You folks put too much faith in new blood turning things around. I remember when B.J. Worth first ran in the early days. His campaign motto was, "Burn the muther down!" And look at him now, he's frigging Dick Cheney . . . NickD Wow! Talk about a blast from the pastNow that made me LOL ^^^ Anyone here remember the OP (me)? Been a loooooong time since I popped in here Howdy truck driving man You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdlike 0 #23 September 10, 2008 "Without USPA the local, state and federal authorities would regulate us to death." Just the same as what would happen without an AOPA or an NRA or an ACLU. Who is so foolish to believe that we'd be fine without watchdogs and mouthpieces to represent us to the bureaucracies in government, and the petty dictators at all levels? WE SEE IT HAPPEN EVEN [I]WITH[/I] THE WATCHDOGS! How can anyone believe we'd be fine without them?! Spirits fly on dangerous missions Imaginations on fire Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #24 September 10, 2008 A representative organization is necessary. A well-run representative organization is essential. Right now, we have one and not the other.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdlike 0 #25 September 10, 2008 Honestly, I really have never kept track of what USPA does/is supposed to do on the "protect skydiving" front. I value the educational and safety programs and efforts, and I love the magazine. I never got into the politics of it, or who's on the board, stuff like that, and I'm glad. So I am not qualified to say, really, whether it is well-run, poorly run, horribly run... But I am glad it exists and I would never for a moment question whether it should exist. To me, the fact that it should is beyond doubt.Spirits fly on dangerous missions Imaginations on fire Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
