chriswelker 0 #1 June 4, 2004 I have been a USPA member for 8 consecutive years. The 3 biggest reasons I keep my membership are as follows: 1) I am a USPA rated instructor and must join to keep my ratings. 2) 3rd party liability insurance. 3) Most DZ's require USPA membership to jump or instruct; however my home DZ is not a GM DZ and does not require it to jump there but does to instruct. What motivates you to keep your membership? Blue Ones, Chris Welker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmcd308 0 #2 June 4, 2004 The magazine. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #3 June 4, 2004 QuoteI have been a USPA member for 8 consecutive years. The 3 biggest reasons I keep my membership are as follows: 1) I am a USPA rated instructor and must join to keep my ratings. 2) 3rd party liability insurance. 3) Most DZ's require USPA membership to jump or instruct; however my home DZ is not a GM DZ and does not require it to jump there but does to instruct. What motivates you to keep your membership? Blue Ones, Chris Welker I'm no longer motivated to keep my membership, aftr 20 plus years in spite of the fact that all DZ's in the area are GMDZ's or require USPA membership. So I'm retired Trying to change USPA thru the voting process is like voting for Ralph Nader. IMO ain't going to happen, The larger GMDZ's can control the voting process/BOD etc thru their groupies and the apathy of the general membership. If your instructing the way the system is set up now you have to belong to USPA, period. Some instructor's TM, Video, folks feel their underpaid. IMO It's because you all don't have your own organization. You part of USPA which is run by the GMDZ'O who set your pay scale. Without rated instructor's the GMDZO would be a very busy fellow. The riggers and gear people have the PIA The GMDZO's have the USPA the membership which pays the lions share of USPA's operating budget gets very litttle from USPA. Quade feel free to respond but I'm not required to respond to you. My lack of response is not a sign of approval, I'm not going to argue with you. Reference last USPA thread R.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #4 June 4, 2004 All other issues notwithstanding, I believe that skydiving would die a bureaucratic death at the hands of the FAA if USPA did not exist. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #5 June 4, 2004 QuoteThe magazine. I'd like the option to not have to pay extra on my dues for a magazine I don't read. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #6 June 4, 2004 QuoteQuoteThe magazine. I'd like the option to not have to pay extra on my dues for a magazine I don't read. Same here. I only want an issue of the magazine if I just got a new license. I mean, if I just got a new license three months ago. The reason I belong to groups like this is for special-interest negotiation / lobbying. I think groups like the USPA are beneficial in "conspicuously reminding" policymakers that meatbombs are airport/airway users, too. Just because I'm an ugly glider doesn't mean I shouldn't get to fly! -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #7 June 4, 2004 No. What has USPA done for me lately? Other than force people to get ratings they earned 1000 jumps ago to do things they've been doing for 1000 jumps, making us pay ridiculous fees for a worthless card with a pretty blue parachute symbol on it, and publishing a magazine that only includes USPA dropzone/activities, what have they done? Oh, and by the way, Skydive: The Mag is 10 times higher quality than Parachutist. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 June 4, 2004 Quote What has USPA done for me lately? When was the last time you traveled with your rig on an airline?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #9 June 4, 2004 QuoteQuote What has USPA done for me lately? When was the last time you traveled with your rig on an airline? Aha, on that you have a very good point. However, you don't need to be a USPA member to get on an airline flight with your rig. You only need your Cypres card. Actually, every time I've traveled with my rig, I've never once needed to show that either. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #10 June 4, 2004 That's not the point he was making. The USPA worked with the TSA and DOD before that to get rigs approved by all airlines. Personally if I wasn't "forced" to join I probably still would. There's a lot I don't like about USPA, but as long as the FAA believes they're in control, skydiving will remain relatively cheap and widely available. The yearly fee is basically nothing compared to the POTENTIAL benefit we could get from them. I mean, I have no idea how much lobbying power they have in DC. Probably very little. But a situation could easily come up where changing one person's mind could have huge consequences for all of us. I'm also an AOPA and EAA member for the same reasons. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John4455 0 #11 June 4, 2004 A group of us traveled with rigs just last weekend. When going through security the TSA people knew instantly that rigs were allowed on. They had already been briefed on parachute rigs. I am sure USPA was behind this. How do ya like it Johnny? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #12 June 4, 2004 I would probably join. mainly for the magazine, to keep my rating, and because if we don't have USPA, then the FAA will regulate us. I don't want that. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EDYDO 0 #13 June 4, 2004 Quote because if we don't have USPA, then the FAA will regulate us. I don't want that. Thank you!!! Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #14 June 5, 2004 I'd keep my membership only because of my instructor rating. Otherwise no. But it did make me feel cool to be a member, back when I was a brand new jumper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmsmith 1 #15 June 9, 2004 Yes, I would still join the USPA. However, the compulsory membership imposed by the GM-DZO program tends to diminish the pride of membership that should be the real motivation for joining and renewing, IMHO. Apathy is the null-vote cast by a captive membership. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PrairieDoug 0 #16 June 9, 2004 We are fortunate to have as professional & dedicated an organization as USPA representing us. In addition to group/member services, I love the mag. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
