If on the ballot how would you vote?

[stratostar 5]

With some of the other USPA threads going on and a lot of heart felt views on some topics, I was just wondering what the numbers are on some key issues, honest answers please and USPA members only, Please. Thanks
(yes I know some of you don't have a RD right now, just vote your feelings)

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[AggieDave 6]

They tried to change the 10% rule and other things a while back. Not enough members would vote for (or even against) the proxy. Simply put not enough people even voted. I do blame the USPA in that regard in not explaining the purpose and point of the proxy in enough detail to enough of the population.

The only exposure I really had about the proxy at the time was the then RD at the DZ badgering people to vote. When asked what it was she simply said "its a good thing, vote for it." I threw the ballot she handed me in the trash.

Maybe the BOD will try again in the future and maybe (hopefully) it will be well advertised and explained to give positive change a chance.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[stratostar 5]

I remember that and I know how I voted, thanks for your input and vote Dave.

And it would or should be just pay your 50 bucks and get on the ballot, IMHO

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[BillyVance 35]

Glad to see I share the same sentiments with the majority of those who have voted so far.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[rushmc 23]

You may have started something.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[stratostar 5]

If one person dose it, they'll think hes nuts and won't take him.......if two people do it, they'll think your both fags and won't take ya........AND if Three people do it.............

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[skydived19006 4]

The requirement to gather 3,000 to 4,000 signatures to get on a ballot as a National Director for an election that only sees 1000 votes does seem a bit ridiculous, and makes it a bit hard to replace any of the incumbents.

It will require some sort of grass roots campaign, but damn if the internet just could prove to be the tool to get it done.

We'll also have to beat the uninformed "name recognition" votes. 'OH! Glen Bangs, I've heard that name (check), BJ Worth, I've heard of him somewhere or another (check)'

Yes, just like something out of an Arlo Guthrie song, it could just come to pass.

Martin

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

The requirement to gather 3,000 to 4,000 signatures to get on a ballot as a National Director for an election that only sees 1000 votes does seem a bit ridiculous, and makes it a bit hard to replace any of the incumbents.

There is no signature requirement for National Director.

From the Governance Manual:

Quote

SECTION 1: ELECTION SCHEDULE
Biennial election of the BOD will be held every even
numbered year as follows, with at least one month
between each phase of the election:
October—Nomination of candidates
November—Publication of names of nominees
December—Ballot election by mail
January—Announcement and seating of new USPA
Board of Directors
SECTION 2: CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
A nominating committee composed of no fewer than three
current BOD Members appointed by the current BOD will
nominate candidates for USPA National Director. USPA
Regional Directors will be nominated for election to the
BOD by obtaining a written petition signed by a minimum
of ten percent of the current members of their region as of
1 June of the election year. Incumbent USPA Regional
Directors need only submit their intent in writing.
SECTION 3: ELECTION OF NATIONAL DIRECTORS
A slate of candidates for USPA National Director will be
presented to the membership for vote. All members may
vote for any number up to eight of the proposed candidates
for USPA National Director. The eight candidates receiving
the highest number of votes shall be certified as USPA
National Directors for the ensuing two years.
SECTION 4: ELECTION OF REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Petitions for USPA Regional Director will be accepted by
the USPA Executive Director and the names of those
candidates placed on the ballot. No limitation is placed on
the number of candidates in any one region. However,
members may vote for only one USPA Regional Director
candidate. Members, other than those currently living or
serving overseas, may not vote for a USPA Regional
Director candidate outside the voting member’s region.
The candidate in each region receiving the largest number
of votes shall be certified as USPA Regional Director for
the ensuing two years.

And later, from the detailed section on elections:

Quote

3-1.4 RESPONSIBILITIES

C. June 1 by close of business: All candidates, new and
incumbent, must submit to headquarters, a letter of
intent to run for the board, stating whether the
candidacy is for regional or national director.
1. Letters of intent must be signed.
a. Emails with a signature attached are
acceptable.
b. Faxed letters of intent are acceptable.
2. Letters received after this date will be returned
to the candidate with a form statement of
rejection, citing this section as authority.
D. June 20 or before
1. Headquarters will send each candidate a letter
by certified mail, return receipt requested,
acknowledging receipt of the letter of intent and
provide a copy of the Governance Manual,
drawing the candidate’s attention to the
procedures established in Section 3-1.
2. The Nominations & Elections Committee will
be provided a list of names of candidates to
include the date their letter was received.
E. Monday following Labor Day by close of business:
1. All candidates must return to headquarters:
a. a Director Biography Form (Governance
Manual, Section 3-2)
b. a suitable current portrait-style
photograph
(1) Photos are to be provided in either
electronic or physical media and in a
format usable by headquarters.
(2) Headquarters is not responsible for
the procurement, storage, return of
photos for incumbent or nonincumbent
candidates, or the
suitability for publishing of any
photograph submitted after the
deadline, although candidates may
pre-submit photos for evaluation.
c. where applicable, completed petition
forms
d. a filing fee of $50, made payable to USPA,
which is refundable to any candidate who
withdraws in time to have his or her
biographic statement pulled prior to
publication

2. Petition form
a. Each non-incumbent candidate for
regional director must provide a written
petition nominating him or her as a
candidate.
b. The petition must be signed by a
minimum of ten percent of the current
members of his or her region as of June 1
of the year in which balloting takes place
(1) The signatures must be of members
whose membership was current on
June 1 of the current election year,
regardless of when the petition was
signed.
(2) Only residents of the region can
sign a petition, making foreign
members’ signatures illegal.
c. No limitation is placed on the number of
petitions any region member may sign.
d. Validation of signatures by headquarters
can begin upon receipt.

"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

[Andy_Copland 0]

Meh. I'll carry om jumping and giving a false ID.

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[DSE 5]

Quote

SECTION 2: CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
A nominating committee composed of no fewer than three current BOD Members appointed by the current BOD will nominate candidates for USPA National Director.

And therein lies part of the heart of the problem.

[JerryBaumchen 1,468]

Hi Flyer,

And this is the part that I have always opposed:

A nominating committee composed of no fewer than three
current BOD Members appointed by the current BOD will
nominate candidates for USPA National Director.


JerryBaumchen

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

Quote

SECTION 2: CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
A nominating committee composed of no fewer than three current BOD Members appointed by the current BOD will nominate candidates for USPA National Director.

And therein lies part of the heart of the problem.

Well, I am not sure, but I believe that the Nominations and Elections committee may be that committee. I understand also that there are a maximum of 20? 22? (drawing a blank on the exact number) nominees for the board and I recall hearing that it is rare that the committee has more candidates than slots. Again, given my limited history in the sport this is all hearsay recollection - perhaps those with more years than I can chime in.

Nominations & Elections

Regional Directors
Chair: BJ Worth
Members: Ed Dixon, Jan Meyer, Chris Quaintance

Perhaps one of the three members of that committee who regularly or occasionally post here on DZ.com would clarify that detail for us (Ed is EDYDO, we all know Jan by now, and Chris is ccq). I don't believe I've ever seen BJ post here).

"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

[JerryBaumchen 1,468]

Damn,

A day late & a dollar short; the story of my life.

JerryBaumchen

[EDYDO 0]

Ok, I received your PM asking me to chime in here. I am the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and I am one of the members of the Nominations and Elections Committee. I am the newest member and probably the least qualified concerning the history. I asked to be assigned to this committee because I immensely dislike our election process and want an opportunity to participate in change.

There are several constitutional changes that need to be made, as listed in some of the posts above. These changes require a 10% vote of the total membership. We all know that at present this is impossible.

AOPA and a number of other similar membership organizations have a proxy written into their membership application, they get quite good response and are able to make the necessary changes when needed. We need to do that. What happens is that protocol gets in the way. That has to be handled by the Constitution and By Laws Committee chaired by Mike Mullins. I am hopeful that will be done soon. The entire board is and has been distracted from their duties by a number of issues that simply cannot be ignored. I wish they would go away so that we could move on with important business.

Right now our Committee is daily working on the process, testing, costs and possible providers of electronic voting. BJ and Jan both have possible systems under consideration.

Concerning the list of names on the Committee, please also know that Larry Bagley is a staff advisor to the Committee.

Jerry, (Jerry and I have a lot in common.) please know that I will be in the room during any nominations procedure and will be paying attention.

Martin, I have read a number of your posts and man you really need a briefing from your RD. GIGO

I have a hesitation about posting on internet forums where the words are forever public record and can be taken out of context for any particular future purpose. I have held back some of what I might like to say for that reason. Please know that because some of us rarely post, that does not mean we are not paying attention to the wishes of the membership.

If you have questions on history or procedure, Jan is the one to ask.

Blue Skies, Ed

[stratostar 5]

Your both correct in pointing out this. I was (for the record) talking about.....

RD's

Quote

b. The petition must be signed by a
minimum of ten percent of the current
members of his or her region as of June 1
of the year in which balloting takes place
(1) The signatures must be of members
whose membership was current on
June 1 of the current election year,
regardless of when the petition was
signed.

I think we need to do away with needing members to sign something saying someone can run, who cares if Joe Member wants to spend the 50 bucks and get thier name on the ballot we should let them, maybe more people would run!

On another note, the numbers are interesting. Kind of an oxymoron though, on one hand people want to disband the GM program, yet are calling for dz inspections.

Seems kind of silly to kick out the GM dz's and then seek to inspect them, don't you think? Wouldn't it be better to keep member DZ's and inspect them as part of being a member, if people really want an inspected dz.

It's quite clear that the majority wants to see major change at the top.

Please keep your votes coming and answer honestly please.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

If you have questions on history or procedure, Jan is the one to ask.

Thanks, Ed ... thought I'd ask another committee member for a change since Jan's probably weary of chiming in of late. I appreciate your viewpoint and hope that your committee and the board can get past the distractions and on to the good stuff soon, too.

"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

[peckerhead 0]

>>>>I think we need to do away with needing members to sign something saying someone can run, who cares if Joe Member wants to spend the 50 bucks and get thier name on the ballot we should let them, maybe more people would run!

There is a flaw in your system Strat.

Under your senario anyone with 50 bucks is in. So....
If you jump at a big Drop zone and your jump buddies will vote for you then you get a seat.

Fuck the fact that you will never travel your region and talk to other skydivers. You got friends and you are in.

I think regional directors should not be DZ owners and should travel the region and jump and talk to the people they represent.

$50 bucks?

Give me a fucking break! It takes at least $6000 to do this job. (Out of your own pocket)

And no matter what some fucking shitheel is going to jump Your ass and say you are not good enough.

50 fucking bucks.....



If that is all it takes then every idiot with a wallet will sign up even if they don't fucking care.


You should HAVE to campaign and get signitures.

Do you even know how hard it is to get 10% of your region? Have you ever tried?

I agree with you on many things but don't fucking piss on my leg and tell me it is raining.


You SHOULD Have to go out and beat the bush and show an interest.

If you don't have the balls to go do that then you should not even be considered.

Talk is fucking cheap... And that is all I hear on this board.

[stratostar 5]

Ok fair point of view, I have no set in stone idea, I do think more people would run if all they had to do was shell out money. Yes your right it could turn in to "You got friends and you are in." like it's not that way already in some cases.

I'm not interested in setting policy, myself, but I would like to know how close my views are with others. I have heard others express these changes they would like to see happen, so I posted the questions to see how many people agree.

I totally understand the numbers are skewed, there will always guys like phreezone who vote all fucked up just to mess up the poll and you have to take that in to account.


(just making sure your awake)

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

If one person dose it, they'll think hes nuts and won't take him.......if two people do it, they'll think your both fags and won't take ya........AND if Three people do it.............

Was that you sittin' there on the Group W bench with me?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[stratostar 5]

We had fun playin with the pencils & the papers till the sargent walked in and said........KID!

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[JerryBaumchen 1,468]

Hi peckerhead/Scott,

I, for one, would rather have five doofus's running, who paid their $50, than just one. At least I would have a choice.

I have been a PCA/USPA member since summer '64 and I cannot remember there ever being more than one person on the ballot for RD.

One year a write-in candidate beat the sitting RD, though. But that was because he was from the biggest dz in Seattle and the RD was from waay out in the boonies of eastern Washington.

Put me down as advocating getting rid of the 10% signature 'thingy.' The more the merrier and may the best person win.

JerryBaumchen