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Hi Paul, I believe that we each march to our own drummer. And, I do thank you for your thoughts. I first joined PCA in the Summer of 1964, and I was a member for 50+ yrs. I am not a member now & no longer have a dog in this fight. However, I am of the opinion that this 'so-called' museum is & has been a complete and total waste of the member's money. One only has to look at the track record of broken promises, wasted money, etc, etc to see this. Now, back to your regular scheduled programming, Jerry Baumchen D-1543

i have one question, just one. how is it possible that if there is one paid position at 25k a year, to spend over 300k a year? in my experience, money in the bank usually pays you, not you paying to keep money in the bank. i do not have experience with large fundraising projects yet, and was just curious. i got all the numbers from this thread, so they may not be correct. i am getting ready to start a large fundraising project and need to know any possible issues beforehand if possible.

To be clear, the Museum trustees have a definite timeline to break ground by March, 2021. This was announced July, 2019, on their website. Yes, it has been a long time coming. The reason is, not enough money raised. Now, there is about $5.5 million raised. As I write, the Museum officials are looking at about 5 building sites in the Orlando area. This, along with other plans, was presented to the USPA Board last weekend. The USPA does not own or control the operation or plans for the Museum. The Board voted to contribute money toward this project, about $25,000 a year for about 5 years. Many other organizations and individuals have contributed much much more. These are the facts, not opinion, not conjecture. Baronn and myself view this differently, and are in opposite corners on this issue. He does not like or agree with the USPA Board decision. I stand with the USPA Board, and the Board stands together. Personally, I believe this is a potentially magnificent project, with far reaching advantages...if it succeeds. He thinks it is a money pit, a boondoggle, and a waste of money. In a few years, one of us will be right, one will be wrong. Time will tell. Again, to be clear, the Museum officials were only given 10 minutes to make their presentation with no questions during the Board meeting, because of our very full schedule. However, their representative stayed all that afternoon, that night, and the next day to answer any and all questions. I talked to him myself for 1/2 hour during breakfast the next morning. They have always been completely transparent and forthcoming in their answers. Nobody is hiding anything. They have answered every question. I have contributed personally to the Museum. I will continue to support it. The USPA Board has made a promise and commitment, and we will honor that promise.. I keep my word, the USPA will keep its word. If you don’t want to support this effort, then don’t. If you are so offended that you don’t want a couple of dollars per year of your membership money going to the Museum, send me an email and I will personally refund your portion of your membership dues that has gone toward the Museum. I made a promise to support USPA, I serve on the Board. USPA has made a promise to support the Museum. The USPA Board will keep its promise. If the membership of the USPA Southern disagrees with me, they are free to vote me off the USPA Board in the next election. “You” and I may not agree on this, but this is how I stand. If anyone wishes to express their view on this forum, feel free. If anyone wishes to contact me personally, my personal email and cell number is in the front of every Parachutist magazine. I answer my email, I answer my cell, I answer text. Ask Baronn, he has called me, texted me, and emailed me several times. I just wanted to be upfront and forthcoming with everyone, whether they agree or disagree with me. This is my stance on the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame. Paul Gholson, USPA Board of Directors, Southern Regional Director .

I ditto the firebolt. They have amazing openings..

Hi Jerry, thanks for clarifying the point I was trying to make. And while we still have some problems with modern day nazis, I want to correct that the sad killings of american soldiers in the 70's where commited by a leftist terrorist group called the RAF. Who were actually supported by the east german government, what we found out after the wall fell in 89.

Thanks for the update. Cude you disclose the plan for the museum you were shown? Last I heard was the idea of building it with the wind tunnel. Since IFly has stepped out, that leaves limited players. A vertical and horizontal? That really narrows it down. 13 months to buy or lease property and submit bldg plans AND get approval is ambitious. If not completely unrealistic. But, who knows, maybe they can pull a rabbit out of their hat. Be the 1st time in 48 yrs but, its possible. These special funds for competition and airport access. Is the USPA using members dues to fund those? Only thing I have ever seen is the ad for donations to them.

Trump is the personification of the “fuck you, I’ve got mine” attitude that is a large part of our national problem, as well as an example of reveling in it, using it, and not trying to even pay lip service to “draining the swamp.” Wendy P.

To answer Baronn’s questions: My personal conversation with Museum rep was just reinforcement of the Museum’s previous statements and plans, no super secret plan “Yes, we said we would do this, we are going to do it” No questions were asked because the Board only gave him 10 minutes to speak, he hung around for 2 days after to answer questions. Yes, 5 (I think) locations in the Orlando area. Yes, there was a building plan shown. Yes, I believed him. Yes, they have a plan. They have expressed this in pretty detailed terms several times. You are correct, their words will need to be transformed into actions. Time will tell. The USPA does support competition teams through a special trust funded by donations. The USPA does support local clubs with airport issues, through a special fund and a dedicated employee for government relations. In my personal opinion, this staff member is one of the most valuable assets USPA has. Yes, I was voted in to represent members interest, not my own. I gain nothing financially being on the Board. As I have mentioned, being on the Board actually COSTS me money. And I am happy to do it. And I believe I am no different from any other Board member. To answer sfzombie13: Funds are spent based on member input and issues as they present themselves. It is an open process. Every topic to be discussed is posted on the USPA website weeks before the meeting, the meetings are open, and the detailed minutes of every Board meeting are available for download on the USPA website. If you want an issue presented, put it on the agenda, we do it every meeting. The USPA Board operates like a republic. The membership votes us in, and we vote on the issues at hand. If the members don’t like the way we vote, then you can vote us out next election. A member has direct representation through his Regional Director. Personally, I usually get several texts, emails and calls every week with different members issues or problems. A member also can contact USPA directly, just call them during business hours. Your call will be answered by a human, not an automated menu. And yes, Baronn has been refunded his $5.83 so he no longer has the burden of supporting the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame. Paul Gholson, USPA Southern Regional Director

Nice fucking headline - with one major problem. Your grandparents were directly involved in the killing of six million jews and millions of your own who did not salute the fuhrer. Don't even try to make some associative comment of what's going on now - here; with what went on then - there.

i was wondering a similar thought, how do they know what we want to do with our funds? is there an open process or do we have to come to a meeting? if that is the case, it seems a bit exclusionary. i don't recall ever having been given the option in 22 years of choosing anything the bod votes on. shouldn't there be some sort of ballot or letter of issues circulated so that we can make a choice, rather than reading about it? if there is one, why have i never received it? is there a place where we can go look at minutes of meetings and see a list of issues?

No. I inferred that his personal interest is not why he was voted in. Now, if the majority of those in his area DO support this, then he is. If they don't, he isn't. Since they or any members didn't have a voice in this, we don't know. I and many others don't support it.

Let's throw 1 more thing out there. Both you and Mike Mullins have stated that you both are willing to personally pay for any members portion of their dues that you both have committed to this. You can show all us how much of a wise investment this is by simply paying the entire 150K yourselves. For Mike, that represents about half the rebuild cost on just 1 his planes motors. If you split it, it's only 75K each. A mere pittance!

Government doesn't pay for anything. They simply redistribute our money. You're only on the tit if you aren't a functioning member of the society that produces the money the government redistributes. Something liberals seem to have a difficult time understanding.

OK. Since yer feeling like you need to be so forthright and transparent, why don't you share what McCormick said in your half hr conversation? Or perhaps tell us why not a single question was asked during his presentation? 5 locations around Orlando? Was there a bldg plan shown? You believed him when he said they are still planning to break ground by March 2021? Clearly nobody has any idea what the permit process is like in a heavily commercialized area like that. 1st step is to actually have a plan. Simple question: were you told they do? And if so, what is it? If yer gonna claim to be transparent and open about this then do it. Words are meaningless without action that backs it. In 48 yrs, that's all we've gotten. Rather than using members funds for helping hard working competitors to attend competitions, helping DZ's stay open and have access to airports (3 that I know of) or any of the other many issues facing us, you choose to ignore those and continue to support this. And seem Proud to do so. Shameful. Keep pounding that "Proud to support the USPA pedestal". Clearly yer not seeing that I'm not the only 1 voicing their displeasure with these decisions. Saying if you don't like what I do you can vote me out is a cop out. You were voted in to look out for your MEMBERS interests, not your own. I have taken my own time to look this stuff up. I have yet to see a single BOD do the same. Yer rite about 1 thing. 1 of us will be rite about this. So far, that's been me. I wish it wasn't. I am sure many, like me, wish it was open and available for us to all see and be part of. Unless this current path is changed, it will continue to be that way. I wish it wasn't. And yes, you can refund my $5.83 that you and the rest of those on the BOD are Choosing to spend to support this. plskypetey@gmail.com is my PP acct I continue to appreciate your input. You are the ONLY BOD member that has. Thanks

Maybe next century we will finally have a building, i cant believe its taking this long to not even have a location

I still miss Pops. It's nice to see him "immortalized" in this place even if it is the boobies thread. Every once in a while I go through some of my old posts for shits and giggles and to take inventory on how my perspective has changed from posts written in my 20s till now in my 40s. It always makes me smile when I hear from Pops again when stumbling upon one of his posts unexpectedly. . .

Firebolt main from Parachute Labs in DeLand Florida. It's the softest opening canopy I've ever jumped. Call them (386)734-JUMP (5867).

Turtle, you make too many assumptions. Excepting piece rate TI's and packers I doubt SDHV has drawn any businesses to the Airport. Further, paying tens of thousands to the airport over 15 years does not confer cash cow status. It's nothing money that doesn't dent the operating costs must less the construction costs. I own an Airport. There is nothing cheap about it. Just sealcoating a 3000' runway is $25K and that lasts 2-3 years. Paving repairs, general upkeep, property taxes and on and on add a hell of a lot more to the bill. Simply, you need to not factor in construction costs and all ongoing operating costs not to mention the opportunity cost of not using that value in a more profitable investment. Only governments do that. So no, you and Brent are both wrong. It's a huge subsidy. Understand, I'm not opposed to the subsidy at all. I believe the government is smart to support GA in America. But just because someones conservative values make admitting that impossible does not make it false.

February 4, 1990. I was sitting in a Cessna 182 and this guy told me to get out. So I did. Then he told me to let go. So I did. And there it began. There have been so many changes and advancements in skydiving since my first jump. There were pretty much four disciplines back then (five if you count instructing) - RW, CRW, freestyle, and style and accuracy. We all flew big slow F111 mains. Some of us still had round reserves. A 180 to final was okay. So were big S turns on final. AAD's were for sissies. Audible altimeters had one beep. If we wore a helmet, it was a leather "frap hat" because only students wore hard helmets. Swooping was what you did in freefall to get to the formation (don't you ever swoop my slot again!). A case of beer was a case of beer, not a 12 pack. Very few dz's flew turbines. Most students did their first jumps on a static line out of a Cessna. USPA D license numbers were in the low 10,000's. And look at the sport now. Tunnels and coaches and turbines and modern gear and canopy education and GoPros and so many different things to do in the air. Jumpers today have more skills at 200 jumps than lots of us dinosaurs had at 500, 600,1000 jumps. Makes me wonder what skydiving will look like in 2050 (not that I expect to be around to see it). Just like I couldn't have imagined what skydiving would be today, I can't even imagine what it will look like by then. It's been an awesome thirty years for me. Thanks to everyone that has been a part of it.

Lots of legal battles have been fought over similar scenarios. Four cancer charities were taken to court in 2015 for misappropriating donations. Government officials have also found themselves in deep water for the same. So you don't have to steal money or be a thief for the act to meet that definition, only misuse it. In this particular scenario, we have seen $87,000+ go into a project that has produced absolutely nothing over a long time period. If the USPA isn't misusing these funds by blindly giving them to another organization to build something that has yet to materialize since 1999, where is the proof? The BOD has kept largely mum about the accountability of those monies. And then come the comments about the USPA not being responsible for donated funds. Wrong. Take a gander on a reputable, legal website and you'll find a plethora of examples where organizations were grilled about where their money went. I've led large organizations for most of my professional life and money is something you must be careful with or people will grow suspicious and start pointing fingers. At the very least, this situation amounts to a bad optic with disastrous potential. Why not spend that money on something that will actually benefit skydivers? Like efforts to reduce canopy-related deaths or fighting to keep dropzones open at airports who have suddenly terminated their leases? Our sport just saw yet another canopy-related death (see parachutist). And several dropzones have been given the hook this year by their host airports. Yes, there is money going into related counter-efforts, but not enough. The USPA also has a mandate to "promote our sport." A museum that hasn't broken ground after five years and tens of thousands dollars isn't in keeping with that mandate. I'd go one step further to say that most skydivers neither give a hoot about a museum, nor want one. Our sport isn't on par with the likes of the NFL or NBA and much discussion about including several of our disciplines in the Olympics has thus far been for not. We need to be more realistic about our sport's goals. Why not promote it by funding AFF programs for college students - like I saw at one DZ a few years back - or something similar for service veterans with jump ratings to transfer to a civilian license after separation or retirement? I've witnessed DZ's funding such programs in the past, but what about the USPA funding something similar on a larger scale? Thoughts? Let's actually have a discussion about it rather than label one another. As far as my vernacular goes; yes, I feel I've chosen the correct word in light of the known facts. Having said that, I'm open-minded to any proof (facts) anyone might have to the contrary. -JD-