MikeTJumps 4 #1 July 15, 2006 Here are my notes as of this afternoon: USPA BOD Meeting - July 14-16, 2006 Vice President Mike Perry called the meeting to order in the absence of Glenn Bangs (due to medical problems with his wife). Mike Mullins will also not be here due to a scheduling conflict. Jim Jenkins is also not here (reason unknown). Nineteen BOD members were in attendance. Mike Turoff (S&T Committee Advisor) was present. Minutes and agenda items were approved. Introductions of the BOD and gallery were made. Mike Turoff is now wearing the hat of the official PIA representative to the USPA BOD. Interim actions of the executive committee were discussed and approved. Executive Director’s Report by Chris Needles: Major objectives for the year: • Rejuvenate membership growth • Complete HQA relocation • Implement Membership Service Center (MSC) • Complete association software upgrade • Reduce fatalities and accidents • Lower member insurance rates • Complete instructional rating hierarchy • Implement the state and national records program • Keep pressure to preserve airport/airspace access • Revitalize brand (competition for new symbol) • Increase non-dues revenue • Keep skydiving fun and friendships strong Membership at mid-year is 31,078. This is dropping slowly. Net worth has gone up with the relocation. $2.2M Seventeen people needed to staff up. We have fifteen at this time. Treasurer’s Report: Reserve fund up $46,187 to $2,126,875. USPT Trust Fund gained $20,765 to $435,200. Insurance prospects will be examined to determine if partial self-insurance will assist us with conserving funds. Nominations and Elections: There are fourteen candidates for the eight National Director positions. Three people submitted letters of intent for the Mountain Region but one withdrew. The Southeast Region has no candidate through the letter of intent process. No candidates will be informed of the progress of their petition process until after the deadline of the petition process. Thus, if they are short of signatures, they will not be informed of that until they are truly disqualified from being posted on the ballot. This is consistent with previous practices and with the Constitution and Bylaws. Safety and Training: Tandem Wind Limits: This was discussed in detail and will be left up to the Tandem Instructor to use prudent judgment. AIC: Rob Laidlaw has continued to refine his course presentation and there have been a few people certified and several are in “the wings.” Rob has certified Jay Stokes and Ernie Long as AIC CDs. It is being suggested that effective with the publication of the next IRM (September 2006) that all future/new Course Director Candidates be required to attend an AIC as part of their certification process. A letter has been issued after the previous BOD meeting to all existing AFF CDs that they attend an AIC by publication of the September 2006 IRM as part of maintaining their appointment as CDs. The deadline for that requirement will be extended to allow all AFF CDs adequate time to attend an AIC. Student Tandem Harness: USPA and the equipment manufacturers are taking a very serious look at the current state of equipment in light of the recent “fall-out of harness” accidents that have led to two fatalities. There are four tandem manufacturer programs and a USPA program that need to have a bit more coordination to work on some training standards and equipment standards to share information to prevent the recurrence of such incidents again. Ask the manufacturers of regular harnesses if they feel they should be involved in the training program of students or instructors of those students, specifically harness adjustment protocols. Should there be body profile standards? Should there be specific procedures for physically impaired passengers? PIA: Is there any motivation to perform test jumps with dual square out without releasing any toggles so that we can document this for a possible SIM change? Membership Services: Airport access issues and ATC coordination were discussed. NPRM for 180 day repack cycle needs continuous pressure to succeed. Ed Scott is working hard on the FAA Handbook coordination. A special magazine for first time jumpers was discussed. DZs need to be polled for ways of increasing jumper retention. Sport Promotion and Membership Marketing: Objective: To expand the membership to 35,000 by the end of 2007, and 40,000 by the year 2011. ASSUMPTIONS: • Most recreational skydivers A-license and above belong to the USPA, therefore more A-license qualified skydivers will result in more members, all else being equal. • Economic downwind pressures, particularly brought about by rising fuel prices, will continue for the foreseeable future. • Third party liability insurance will continue to consume a disproportionate part of membership dollars. Things to work on: Sport Promotion Sport Retention Member Recruiting Member Retention Develop and enhanced Public Relations Capability Increase skydiving exposure Survey potential and new skydivers Assist drop zones with PR Think about approaching the military jump schools and academy jump schools about USPA memberships. Regional Directors Meeting: State records are going to be recorded by the USPA. Wings awards: Do we need a place for a signature by an S&TA when they are sent to the regional director. Incident Reports: Still having great difficulty in getting people to submit incident reports. Many DZs simply don’t bother sending them in due to fear of liability. Perhaps having the individual report their own incidents may help.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 July 16, 2006 Quote State records are going to be recorded by the USPA. At the inception of this, will all previous records be wiped? If not, how will the USPA verify the record jump actually took place? Quote Incident Reports: Still having great difficulty in getting people to submit incident reports. Many DZs simply don’t bother sending them in due to fear of liability. Perhaps having the individual report their own incidents may help. I can see how this might work with experienced jumpers, but how could this possibly work for inexperienced jumpers?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeTJumps 4 #3 July 16, 2006 I don't know the answer, Paul. I'll ask the folks tomorrow.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #4 July 16, 2006 As a military jumper from a military team, I can attest that near all of us are members of USPA already. Is the BOD asking to silicite the studenst at the Jump school? If you get the Magazine in the AAFES system you'll grab a few subsriptions and new members that way But since Army Regulations have the smaller Teams following the USPA rules (including Membership) and I am sure the other services are simular this may not be a high retirn for the effort. If USPA helped to re-open the Sport Parachute Activities then it would probably add 1000's of new members a year or if USPA activley campained around Military Instalations with DZ's you could grab a whole new membership! I know the DZ near us that just re-openned is working on just that.An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeTJumps 4 #5 July 16, 2006 All records in the past that can be substantiated will be accepted for recording! That is great news for many groups.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeTJumps 4 #6 July 16, 2006 Here are the balance of my notes on the July BOD meeting: Sunday, July 16, 2006 Plenary Session – Committee Reports Tom Sanders is being awarded the USPA 2005 Meritorious Service award. Competition Committee: The Skydivers Competition Manual’s rules are being rewritten to comply with the IPC’s rules. The 2007 Nationals were awarded to Skydive Chicago. The 2007 Collegiates were awarded to Skydive Arizona. The Sport Accuracy event will not be continued at the national competition level due to lack of interest and participation. However, it is still very feasible at the collegiate competition level and as such, it will be continued there. Past State Records that can be certified with proper documentation will be accepted for certification under the new State Record program as outlined in the USPA Skydiver’s Competition Manual, Section 12-3 and 12-4. The application form is going to be revised in the near future for the next printing of the SCM. Nothing has changed in the Competition and Bylaws committee. Nominations and Elections Committee: There are fourteen people who have filed for a National Director position. No one has filed for the Southeast Region position. As the election process has already started, no changes to the election process are allowed at this time. Group Membership Committee: HQ is being encouraged to continue progress on an FAA handbook/manual for ATC in regards to dealing with jump operations. HQ is working on a special Parachutist issue directed towards a first time jumper. Safety and Training Committee: 1. No Tandem Wind Limits will be imposed at this time. It will remain at the DZ level for risk mitigation. 2. Three individuals are already certified to conduct this course and five more are in the path to complete their certification as course directors. 3. Tandem Student Harness potential problems in light of the two recent “fall-out” fatalities and other “close calls” that are being reported recently are being investigated by multiple resources. 4. Eleven motions for amendments and corrections to SIM and IRM sections have been put forward and were accepted.Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
javajunkie 0 #7 July 16, 2006 QuoteThere are fourteen people who have filed for a National Director position. No one has filed for the Southeast Region position. As the election process has already started, no changes to the election process are allowed at this time. Does this mean the Southeast Region won't have a regional director? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutingstar 1 #8 July 17, 2006 Quote***Does this mean the Southeast Region won't have a regional director? No, it means there won't be a name on the ballot. Whoever has the most "write-in" votes will be the Southeast Regional Director. MikeChutingStar.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpnrandy 0 #9 July 17, 2006 QuoteQuote***Does this mean the Southeast Region won't have a regional director? No, it means there won't be a name on the ballot. Whoever has the most "write-in" votes will be the Southeast Regional Director. Mike Are you looking to be written in? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutingstar 1 #10 July 17, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuote***Does this mean the Southeast Region won't have a regional director? No, it means there won't be a name on the ballot. Whoever has the most "write-in" votes will be the Southeast Regional Director. Mike Are you looking to be written in? After sitting through a good portion of this last USPA board meeting, I'm definitely interested in contributing to the process. But I'm not sure I could effectively represent the Florida members/DZs since I spend most of my time in Georgia...and don't get down to Florida as often as I used to. MikeChutingStar.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
