MikeTJumps 4 #1 February 9, 2008 Committee meetings were being held today. I sat in on the Safety and Training Committee as usual (I'm an advisor to the committee). Several items are currently being discussed but nothing has been resolved that is reportable yet. The Nominations and Elections committee determined that it was not in the best tradition of the USPA to limit the terms of elected representatives. The next USPA BOD meeting is scheduled for July in the general area of the USPA offices but may even be in Alexandria for the potential convenience of transportation of the BOD from the Reagan International Airport. Nothing is set in stone at this time. Here is some information about next year's events: The USPA will co-locate its February 2009 meeting with the PIA symposium in Reno, NV. PIA Symposium Monday 2/9- Friday 2./13 PIA meeting Friday 2/6- Sunday, 2/8 USPA BOD Friday, 2/6 – Sunday, 2/8 with the DZO conference meeting that Monday, 2/9.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #2 February 10, 2008 Quote ...The Nominations and Elections committee determined that it was not in the best tradition of the USPA to limit the terms of elected representatives. I'm disappointed. So, no matter what the circumstances that got us into the "good ol' boy" bog-down, we carry on business as usual. Elections, people...participate in the elections process.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
MikeTJumps 4 #3 February 10, 2008 There is only one legitimate way to change things and that is by getting a massive participation in the election process. With reporduced ballots that could potentially be questioned under scruitiny, you may see a serielized ballot system put into place and/or an electronic balloting system run by an independent business entity that can ensure compliance with the election rules. Imagine, if you will, each member getting a ballot that has a number on it correlated to their membership number (but of course different from it) so that it can't be "abducted" by others. (In the case of a lost ballot, HQ could issue another special ballot to a requestor.) Then, either electronic balloting or use of only the ballot originally sent in the Parachutist magazine would be held as valid. More paperwork, more cost, and a lower voter turnout will probably be the result, but the integrity of the process would be assured. As a person who has repeatedly attempted to be elected and gotten very low vote counts for "lack of popularity" reasons, I've given up on trying to get onto the BOD and have resolved myself to just being an advisor to the S&T committee. I will continue to participate in this function as long as I am able to do so.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
denete 3 #4 February 11, 2008 How did the BPA do theirs electronically? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeTJumps 4 #5 February 11, 2008 I have no knowledge of that, but B. J. Worth and Jan Meyer looked into two different electronic voting systems. Perhaps you might give them a nudge in the direction of the BPA's system?Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lauraliscious 0 #6 February 11, 2008 Quote As a person who has repeatedly attempted to be elected and gotten very low vote counts for "lack of popularity" reasons, I've given up on trying to get onto the BOD and have resolved myself to just being an advisor to the S&T committee. I will continue to participate in this function as long as I am able to do so. I know you think you're unelectable, but if you were to run again I'd vote for you! I think it's comendable that you have attended those meetings every year, without actually being on the board. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeTJumps 4 #7 February 11, 2008 Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I can tell you that with a consistent last or next to last place finish, the only reason why I ran the last time was a promise to Bill Ottley that I would do it one more time before he died. Not being on the BOD does not saddle me with their responsibilities nor target me the way they are targeted. I will continue to be an advisor to the Safety and Training Committee as long as I can afford to. My 30 years of jump experience with 28 of them being instructional does serve a purpose. However, other priorities have taken over (such as commanding a Civil Air Patrol Squadron in Houston), so as I said a couple of years ago in a Parachutist article, Staff Longevity is affected by a number of decisions and this is one reason why I have backed out of the instructional corp at this time.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cpoxon 0 #8 February 11, 2008 QuoteHow did the BPA do theirs electronically? Electoral Reform Services (in conjunction with a postal ballot, which was actually more popular)Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnA123 0 #9 February 11, 2008 seen a lot of posts about the BOD meetings this one and some others It looks like people are starting to figure out what Stratostar has been trying to tell everyone for a while is true. Been to them had serious complaints problems BSR violations dangerous stuff and more all the BOD did was to turn their head didn't want to hear any bad things Got my asss handed to me and my friends ETC......... So I fly and pull as low as possible under the radar Revolt now people!!!"been around, seen some things, slept in dumpsters got high with kings KR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #10 February 11, 2008 Is anyone who doesn't work for USPA going to write an article on this for Parachutist?"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,119 #11 February 11, 2008 I've tried. They tend to be either too long or "have too much math" (per the editors.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lauraliscious 0 #12 February 11, 2008 Too much math??????? Has anyone tried writing an article about this for Skydiving magazine? Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,119 #13 February 11, 2008 > Too much math? The problem statement was "the distance you will get between groups is the speed of the aircraft plus the speed of the winds at opening altitude, multiplied by the time you leave between groups." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #14 February 12, 2008 QuoteIt looks like people are starting to figure out what Stratostar has been trying to tell everyone for a while is true. You know thats all made pot stiring just to yank peoples chains, read about in a book somewhere, titled fiction.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #15 February 12, 2008 Quote> Too much math? The problem statement was "the distance you will get between groups is the speed of the aircraft plus the speed of the winds at opening altitude, multiplied by the time you leave between groups." Sounds like witchcraft to me."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erroll 80 #16 February 12, 2008 Quote Quote > Too much math? The problem statement was "the distance you will get between groups is the speed of the aircraft plus the speed of the winds at opening altitude, multiplied by the time you leave between groups." Sounds like witchcraft to me. Indeed. Surely a much simpler statement would be " Wait until the departed group is at a 45 degree angle to you..."? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,119 #17 February 12, 2008 >" Wait until the departed group is at a 45 degree angle to you..."? Or just take Kallend's dog and a tractor with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #18 February 12, 2008 Quote > Too much math? The problem statement was "the distance you will get between groups is the speed of the aircraft plus the speed of the winds at opening altitude, multiplied by the time you leave between groups." Well, I can see why that would present a problem.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #19 February 12, 2008 Quote Quote > Too much math? The problem statement was "the distance you will get between groups is the speed of the aircraft plus the speed of the winds at opening altitude, multiplied by the time you leave between groups." Well, I can see why that would present a problem. Why? We just keep a rope with knots tied onto it and let it trail out behind the plane. When the previous group passes the correct number of knots then it's time to go."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #20 February 12, 2008 We just keep a rope with knots tied onto it and let it trail out behind the plane... Quote You Do Knot. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
