How About that Winter USPA Board Meeeting?

[SmartGuy 0]

It seems that lots of folks either attended the meeting or have an impression of it from the posts and video feeds. What do you think now about the board and the process?

The Internet - Full of Tough, Handsome Guys and Cute, Witty Girls, all protected from PAs by the Moderator - SmartGuy, 2008

[diablopilot 2]

The humor of this Poll aside, I had a great time at the BOD meeting. I learned lot, and gained some new insights as to what happens within the workings of the USPA.

I went not only through a motivation arisen from recent political issues, but because of desire to see where my dues and votes for the last 9 years were going. I felt like if I was going to complain about "The USPA", I should at least get involved. And in doing so my passion with which I was willing to denounce the "evil BOD" began to wane.

They are not all scaly green ogres. Really.

Now I don't profess to have gone all gushy and fallen in love with the members of the BOD, but I will say I admire each of them in some way. The do a difficult job and I do believe that they are each doing what they think is right for their sport. I still disagree with some of the BOD members, their interests, and opinions. Some of them I REALLY disagree with.

My advice to anyone, if you find your self truly annoyed at "The BOD" or any of its members, call them. Write to them. Then if they ignore you, bitch about them. But lumping them together as a group is a shame, as there are some very hard working and dedicated people on the Board.

I found many of the BOD members, and the committees receptive to input from the gallery, and patient with questions.

So I offer an apology and a challenge to the entire BOD.

First I'll apologize for "dehumanizing" you when I would think of the BOD. Not fair, so I'll change.

Second, I challenge the BOD members to be more pro-actively communicative with the members. There is most definitely an apathy among the USPA membership regarding involvement in the governance of the USPA, and a large portion of the blame for that lies with the individual members.

I mean you can't force a horse to drink.

You can, however, lead that horse to water.
I believe some of that apathy can be mitigated with more public communication from the members BOD. If there is a hotbed issue discussed in a public forum (like this one) then address it. Even if legal situations restrict you to only saying "We see you're talking, and we want you to know we hear you, we're prevented from saying anymore."

At that point people know you're listening, and you've connected with the membership. That goes miles with peoples' impressions. I mentioned this theory to some of the BOD members I met, and overwhelmingly received the same sort of response. It was thought that public exposure just brought an onslaught of ridicule and dissatisfied e-mail.

That's probably so, but those types are going to talk anyway. What may show up as well is support, ideas, other issues, change....all good things, and sometimes we can learn from where other's dissatisfaction lies.

There are other methods of engaging the interest of the membership. Blogs. How about one on the USPA website that the BOD members can contribute to? What about besides posting the cut and dry minutes, someone sums up the discussions involved, so it doesn't seem so clinical?

No doubt about it, members need to do their part, too. If you want to complain, get involved. First off, Vote. Second, attend a meeting, send a letter, talk to your S&TA, and ask them to send a letter. If you have questions, e-mail your RD, or an ND.

I found the weekend exciting. It felt good to be learning something new, and getting involved. I'm already planning my trip to the Summer Meeting in July. Hope the weather isn't too muggy.
All that said, I'm putting my money where my mouth is: I plan to put myself on the next ballot for National Director. If nothing else it should be a great learning experience, and I hope to get a better feeling of what the people who make up this great sport feel about how it's being governed.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[popsjumper 2]

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...I mentioned this theory to some of the BOD members I met, and overwhelmingly received the same sort of response. It was thought that public exposure just brought an onslaught of ridicule and dissatisfied e-mail.

Hmmmmm...let's see now...If I open up publicly, I'll get an onslaught of ridicule and dissatisfied e-mail. So, I'll just avoid hearing/reading that.
Hmmmmm...just the kind of thought process that I would vote against.


Maybe there's a reason for the ridicule and dissatisfied e-mails?

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That's probably so, but those types are going to talk anyway.

Nice. Label dissenters as "those types". Nice.

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What may show up as well is support, ideas, other issues, change....all good things, and sometimes we can learn from where other's dissatisfaction lies.

Bingo!

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What about besides posting the cut and dry minutes, someone sums up the discussions involved, so it doesn't seem so clinical?

Video is even better. You get the vocal intonations and the body language.

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No doubt about it, members need to do their part, too. If you want to complain, get involved. First off, Vote. Second, attend a meeting, send a letter, talk to your S&TA, and ask them to send a letter. If you have questions, e-mail your RD, or an ND.

Good stuff...now, it's just a simple matter of getting off the ass, blowing off the apathy and doing it.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[popsjumper 2]

I most appreciated the video posted. Thanks to those who put them up.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[diablopilot 2]

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Nice. Label dissenters as "those types". Nice.

Sorry about that, not my intent to label anyone, more to make the point that communication can and does diffuse the hostility of someone with a dissenting opinion, and instead start a dialog the may or may not lead to understanding.

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Hmmmmm...let's see now...If I open up publicly, I'll get an onslaught of ridicule and dissatisfied e-mail. So, I'll just avoid hearing/reading that.
Hmmmmm...just the kind of thought process that I would vote against.


Maybe there's a reason for the ridicule and dissatisfied e-mails?

Without justifying anyone's feelings on the matter, you can probably see that most people wouldn't willingly walk into a room where people were belittling them. And that's often what occurs on this forum. I'm guilty of it as well.

In the written form dialogs often seem to carry even more negative emotion than in the verbal, and grandstanding seems to be more popular. When confronted with that, and feeling that nothing constructive can come from a public dialog, I can see where a person might choose to pass on involvement.

I think otherwise however. Even if a dialog brings some negative attention, it usually does good. It expresses ideas, people begin to talk and think about the subject more than the emotion, they share ideas, and sometime there is even a resolution.

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Good stuff...now, it's just a simple matter of getting off the ass, blowing off the apathy and doing it.

Yes. But there can be help with that. Obviously I've commented on what the BOD members can do, but I extend that to everyone who's a part of the USPA. As an Instructor I realize I may not have been doing my part to foster involvement among members. I tell people the have to join when a student, but other than the tangible benefits, I could be doing a much better job of letting people know what the USPA can do for them, and how to get involved.

How many people think of their S&TA just as the guy or girl not to screw up in front of? IMO they are the first method of face to face contact a person has with the USPA governance.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[NWFlyer 2]

Beautifully stated, JP, and I share most of the sentiments. Even though I didn't stay as engaged through the entire weekend as you (I did sneak off to skydive) I came away with many of the same opinions ... and the same plans.

It's easy to bitch and moan. It's a lot harder to do something about it. But it's also a lot more fun. I'm really glad I went.

"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

[chaoskitty 0]

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I plan to put myself on the next ballot for National Director.

I'm really glad to hear you say this! I was going to talk you in to it, if you hadn't decided on your own.

I haven't posted my own thoughts on the meeting, mostly because you, Krisanne, and Laura have already said what I would have said. I only knew the majority of the board by reputation before attending these meetings. My perspective has completely changed, in some cases.. and has been "enlightened" in others.

The meetings were very interesting. I didn't go with an agenda. I went with an open mind and a desire to learn how the BOD affects the operations of the USPA, which affects the operations of DZ, and essentially regulates when, where, and how I am granted the priviledge of participating in this sport.
I intend to stay in this sport, so I intend to stay involved, and become further involved as my experience grows.

If anyone wants to talk to me in more detail about my opinions, I'll be happy to. Otherwise, I'll be talking to a LOT of you as the elections get closer.

[Amazon 7]

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If anyone wants to talk to me in more detail about my opinions, I'll be happy to. Otherwise, I'll be talking to a LOT of you as the elections get closer.

I for one will ALSO be talking to a LOT of new people and since I travel to a few DZ's I will give them MY impressions of this particualr BOD.. so that changes can and will be made....

If hundreds of Parachutists ballots need to be ripped out of their places... it will be done to send a loud and clear message to the "POWERS" that be.

[chaoskitty 0]

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If hundreds of Parachutists ballots need to be ripped out of their places... it will be done to send a loud and clear message to the "POWERS" that be.

In all fairness.. the BOD has not voted on that yet. But I agree.. IF it needs to be done, it will.
Now is the time to write to the N&E committee and your Regional Director to voice your opinion.

[denete 3]

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Hmmmmm...let's see now...If I open up publicly, I'll get an onslaught of ridicule and dissatisfied e-mail. So, I'll just avoid hearing/reading that.
Hmmmmm...just the kind of thought process that I would vote against.


Maybe there's a reason for the ridicule and dissatisfied e-mails?

Without justifying anyone's feelings on the matter, you can probably see that most people wouldn't willingly walk into a room where people were belittling them. And that's often what occurs on this forum. I'm guilty of it as well.

A good leader who speaks the truth would walk into that room. And more than likely, they would garner support from members by being willing to speak directly to concerns in a public dialogue. Refusing to answer e-mails, pretending that dz.com is a bad thing, and giving "talk to our lawyer" responses is the wrong way to do business. Just tell the truth, and be willing to put your ego aside. You don't need a prepared press release in order to converse with the people you represent. The worst thing to do is to ignore issues and pretend that they don't exist.

Stephen Covey (although I've never read his books) describes, standing for a moment in another's shoes and seeing the world through their eyes, is something everyone is capable of, but most of us rarely (if ever) deliberately do.

If you're in a position to run USPA and you start to hear grumblings about a situation, just stop for a minute and try to see things how the "grumblers" see them. Communicate if you understand the point of their grumblings, and then address their concerns. It doesn't mean that you can make everything in the organization work perfectly for everyone, but you can at least help members understand why the organization does or does not take action.

SCR #14809

"our attitude is the thing most capable of keeping us safe"
(look, grab, look, grab, peel, punch, punch, arch)

[diablopilot 2]

Agreed.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.