chutejump

I think it does. Of course things can and have gone wrong at even the best DZs. We all should know skydiving isn't safe. Rhetorical questions: Do you go to board certified doctors for surgery or let your friend do it for $20? Think of the money you'd save! Do you choose to drive the most pothole riddled road to your destination or the one that was recently paved given the choice? Accidents can and do happen on either. I guessing you know what I mean. Your comment regarding stone cold new DZO notwithstanding in the least, I still believe it would be a big step in the right direction. The biggest problem I forsee with such a program is it staying the proper size and not pissing off DZOs. I suggest it stay as a simple report (eg. items that anyone can observe), inspections done by an instructionally rated member (higher than coach), have no report card type of grade (ie. just the facts), and (most importantly) be available but not otherwise published in a magazine (USPA website?).*** Very difficult to do, you couldn't use locals, the old bud system is alive and well at DZs across America, and whom would want their home to receive a poor score on a report? and by sending one in against the DZ you frequent, would leave the agent in a very poor position with management and other jumpers. I noticed that you are a rotorcraft pilot? Do you think the continous inspections and maintainence on the aircraft is solely for safety of operations? Yes! I agree that a percentage is, but the bulk, is to cover Liability for the Manufacture, and mandated by the Insurance carriers of said aircraft, Someone will be forced to except responsibility, if the bird goes down, the inspections if performed and current, relieves the Manufacture and Insurer of many aspects of possible cause, and will ultimately lower the cost of the action by a great extent if either the Manufacture or the Insurer were found to bear some financial responsibility..

I guess what I am looking for in the responses from persons whom support a DZ inspection program, is the benefit? Having a DZ meet spacific standards, of maintainence, equipment , landing area, staff ratings, etc. does not in reality make this approved DZ a safer place? It may give you peace of mind as to what you believe will improve your odds, but the reality is that things can and will go poorly in even the best organized and controlled situations. I am not saying to the same numbers or extent, but in this sanario if the DZ is "Approved" and the accident is the same as the DZ down the road with no approval from USPA what light does this shed upon the inspection program? A stone cold new DZO with very little experience can kill you very quickly with his decisions and methods of operation even if he has all of the required aminities as the inspection program would require, the key which everyone continues to overlook is good judgement, and decision making qualities from the management of the operation. Unfortunately this usually only comes from time and experience! and an onsite inspection will not replace this very critical element. We are attempting to replace knowledge skill and good decision making by DZ operators with an inspection program? sound alot like many of the current programs offered by the government? If your economy is poor, borrow money from China, refund it to the public whom will in turn spend it to purchase products produced by China? How does this address the problem? it is only a temperory bandaid, in my opinion just like an inspection program would be. We need to address the root issue and problem! Safety! and this is only offered through knowledge experience, and sound business decisions.

It might be easier than you think!!! You could get Skyride to sell the pig a Tandem certificate, Then when the pig arrived at a DZ for his jump you could get USPA to intervene on behalf of the DZ and say that this was not a sanctioned sale under the current GM program, and while the 2 factions were on the phone hashing out their conflict, you could pounce on the confused pig, put the wristwatch on, and tell the pig that Skyride and USPA made a settlement agreement that stated the only way the pig would be allowed to make his tandem jump would be if he met the stipulation that he learn how to read the watch!!! He would than be forced to learn or forfeit the $230.00 charge on his credit card!!! See!! there is always a solution if you use all of the players and opportunities to your advantage!!!

Of uspa? No DZO on the face of the planet will sign a waiver that allows someone or an entity the ability to judge their business without recourse. Cowboy up!!! come on down and do your inspection!! from your posts I would doubt if you could verify a violation if one bit you in the ass! In your world? Maybe? doesn't make a ping on the screen of my radar. No Information??? to educate yourself with???? BRS's? FAR's? State Laws, Federal Laws? Are you really that lazy??? If I lead you to the waters of knowledge and hold your head uder long enough for you to get informed, your ass will drown in knowledge!!!! Again! All of the information is out there!!! Are you that lazy!!! Do your homework!! Become a responsible individual and contribute to the action, and give up the parasite activity. The world is full of takers, why is it the responsibility of all others to drag the inept along. You claim to be a base jumper? so you are saying that you only jump areas and structures that have been used before? If so you are a follower and not a leader! Pussy! Until you brake new ground, your opinion is very limited! Derek

You as a member understand what "you believe" uspa to stand for! to the average joe looking for a tandem it just another alphabet organization that they must research for find any credibility? Who will pay for the law suits that will follow against uspa when a DZ gets a less than stellar rating? This is the same bull shit that got uspa sued in the first place! Listen "You cannot state, print, or offer opinions that would control or curtail the ability for a business to pursue the free enterprise system" It is a federal free trade law and you will lose your ass if you cross that line, or in the very least go broke attempting to defend your actions. And you still believe in Santa Clause and the easter Bunny? Thank You! you supported my point of view! and it would mean exactly the same thing with the inspection, only it would take more time cost more money, and open the organization up to liability for their actions. Why! are you so hell bent to shelter and save the people the activity of educating themselves? Sounds like 90% of the rest of the everday bull shit that is shoved down our throats! Drive your car! Wear a seat belt! Ride your bike! Wear a helmet! Use your skate board! Wear your pads, Make a jump! You gotta have an AAD! Freedom is the ability to look at things and make a decision that suits your needs, yes! it comes with consequences, as it should! You can kill yourself in any way or fashion that you wish! I don't care! just don't leave me to pay the bills. I don't care how much you attempt to spend to make decisions for people! they are going to go out and fuck it up on their own even with your assistance, if we start to weed our own yards we wouldn't have time to comment about the neighbors lawn. Let Darwin do his job! He doesn't need your help! Derek

OK! Notice how you are the only person standing in the room? Hummm? Let's see we lower the qualification standards for the AFF courses, We created a new basically unusable rating, (coach) We tell GMs whom can and cannot jump at their DZs, We don't enforce the GM pledge (except on a selective basis), we say we are in support of all DZ with and airport access fund, (if you happen to be one of the few chosen for select funding) We decide that there is a problem with high performance landings and we force the responsibility, risk, enforcement upon GMs with their renewal signature. and we do all of this in the name of the members. Because both items will offer the same value! Hummm? you must have been looking at the map upside down! If the average jumper visits a DZ and can not make a decision as to the standards, safety, aircraft, and staff whom work there, than they need more training. They need to learn to assume some responsibility for making their own personal decisions. I see your approach as just another way to lower the bar to lead in more sheep. I am OK with that! at least you would know whom the players are, and you wouldn't need to refer to a web site to make your decisions! Hummm? I have a great relationship with the FAA for many years! I would dare to say that if you are having difficulties in dealing with them you are fucking up! Hummm? status quo? OH! you mean like we have now with uspa? and their current ethical behavior?? And of course we "seen" how that worked out! Let see? with consideration that their operations are subsidized with government money I see it only prudent to protect a business investment in the transportation industry. That would weed out the lesser operations very quickly! with the law suits and fatalities! Works for me! See my last statement! Last time I checked, Part 91 general aviation rules are very much the honor system, they state you must have an annual inspection on your aircraft, but are not required to nore make it policy to come by your home yearly to check your paperwork? Did you miss a meeting? Last time I checked most of the operations inspectors said that they visit the carriers half as much as they use to because of budget cuts by the government to save money? Sure they do! It is much easier to place blame and responsibility after an accident upon someone else if you are not required to assume responsibility and make a decision for yourself, it is the very basic premise that the legal system uses to fuel all of the unnecessary and unfounded lawsuit that we see weekly in the court system! Did we say Status Quo earlier? Again! See my last statement! Whom chooses what a DZ deserves, or if they can be trusted? the membership, uspa? Was there an election that I missed that now empowers outside entities to make business decisions with regard to commerce? Oh! Yea! uspa already did that one and got sued for it! They catch much less with free meals and cash bribes! seems to be Status Quo!!! Derek

??? You actually believe that jumpers would less likely to jump at a DZ with lower scores? I would lay serious cash that if I were to operate a DZ with the lowest inspection score, but! I were to offer the aminities, and cheap lift tickets, that I would be as busy as I wanted to be! A USPA inspection score will never outweigh what jumpers want, CHEAP ALTITUDE! Sure! I dare you to find support from DZOs that would welcome a random, inspection program administered by USPA So I take it that you actually believe everything you read on the internet? and make decisions with regard to safety by what you read??? I guess they sell those penis enlargement pills to somebody??? Hummm? and a blurb on a USPA web site would solve safety concerns? and make the DZ better and safer from the inspection? So after your inspection you as the DZO know you are safe for a reasonable time in the future, and you dial back on the less safety orientated uspa DZ, the uspa blurb sayes you are OK! or do you ask the jumpers to rat out the DZO inspection offenders? Hummm? so now no one trusts no one, kind of like it is with uspa now? and I am sure that uspa would never be named in a major lawsuit should a fatality occur at a DZ that just recently passed a inspection???? It would be easier and cheaper to just hang a target around the organizations neck! I said it already, there are 300 plus DZs in the US, find support for a program like you are offering! If you think uspa is having problems now with membership, and the GM program, than convence uspa to implement an inspection program like this, members and GM DZs will become scarce! Kind of like the city you live in having the power to randomly inspecting your home for living conditions, or health care violations, etc, the public wants less big brother, not to sign a GM pledge which allows uspa to walk through "your house" when ever they please.

As far as the DZ Inspection Program goes, what use would it be if there were no teeth behind it? If they inspected me, didn’t like what they found, and tried to discipline me in any way, I’d sue!!! They’d end up giving me a bunch of money, a lifetime membership, mailing out “apologies” to every individual member, etc. As an outcome of the emotional reaction of the BOD, Ben and Cary affectively cut the nuts out of the USPA GM Program. I’m just imagining a set of glass testicles engraved with “USPA” hanging from the “rearview mirror” of every ASC airplane. Wouldn’t surprise me if the USPA members even paid for these trinkets as part of the settlement. You hit the proverbial nail on the head! "The you can't do that" law suit door has been opened to the world!! Hence the current actions by the organization. Now that I have decided to not renew! I plan on taking the renewal money saved and having my testicles polished (with consideration that DZOs whom stay GM members will have the new glass ones) and Tattooed with not uspa's! I wouldn't want to feel left out by my non renewal decision! I Know! I Know! why not go for the trick new glass one's like all the remaining GM DZO's! I've grown attached to them over the years and we have shared some very memorable times together and I just can't bring myself to let them go to support the current administration. Call it a "Ethical" decision!

Re: [chutejump] Group Member Program Pros/Cons [In reply to] Quote | Reply Quote Because DZO's don't want it and DZO's run USPA. OK! I'll give you that one! Quote Exactly why it shoud be implemented, so that DZO's get their act together and meet the minumum saftey stabdards. And how would you enforce this action? If there were no GM program? Do you form the USPA Drop Zone Police Agency? And If they didn't pass do you fime them? Remember this is an membership organization! You can make them be a member or comply! Quote A couple of people were trained as inspectors. You hire them. USPA will save money by dropping the GM, apply those funds to the Inspection Program. Suppliment it with membership fess and now the membership is actually getting something for their money that they can use. Hummm? Ok! let say you charge $400.00 to each DZ for a inspection X 300 DZs thats $120,000.00 WOW!, and you split the responsibility between each inspector, 150 DZs per employee, thats 3 DZs per week they visit, 50 weeks per year to inspect! Hummm? a descent inspection and travel time with report would take at least 3 days minimum! that make 9 day weeks?, Travel cost per DZ if you preplan by air $350.00, Rental car $65.00 a day, Food and beverage $50.00 a day, Room $70.00 a day, Communication, (cell, E-mail I-phone etc.) $20.00 a day, and lets say you can inspect in 2 days with one travel day, so the average cost per inspection would be $830.00. You charge $400.00 so you are only $430.00 in the hole and you haven't considered paying the inspectors yet! Sounds reasonable with USPA's current business decisions. Quote The answer is YES to all the above. If you don't do the 100-hour on the airplane, you know that the Inspector will probably find that out and that will be in their report and jumpers will be able to see it. Currently, how do jumpers know if a DZ they go to is doing the things they should be doing? DZO's can and do get away with anything since no one checks up on them. Most jumpers wouldn't ask to see a report! Most don't care what the FAA says, they are interested in altitude, and only if the aircraft gets them there, what happens after they exit is none of their concern! If you are a club with unpaid pilots you operate under part 91, and most do not do 100 hour inspections! Most jumpers don't know or care if the DZ they are at is doing things right! The programs, equipment, aircraft and staff are a ethics decision made by the DZO, they only get away with nything until something goes wrong! Than during the FAA investigation the shit hits the fan! And everybody knows what they "Were" getting away with! Again great idea! But you can't sell or fund it! and most people don't want it! Derek Think

The DZ inspection program does not and will not work! It was created many years ago, and to date USPA has not been able to get it off of the ground! Why you ask? First let my say there are very few that could pass the requirements of the original draft! Next it would be very time consuming and costly! Whom do you hire! (and pay) to run the program? travel, perform the inspections? Some said let the DZOs pay (sure why not! we pay for everything else!) yea! like I'am going to pay several hundred dollars to an organization to come and point out all the deficencies they feel exists in my operation, the benefit? a sticker, or post in the mag, that says I passed this year? Does this bring me more customers? Does this let me charge a higher rate? Does this make my operation better? Does this make my operation safer? The answer is NO to all of the above! Good idea, if it were free, but this dog won't hunt!

Martin I have struggled with the GM program for some time! I dropped my membership a few years ago, but found myself with the decision to either pass along the non GM fine of $600.00 after a ratings course, or accept the loss myself by renewing my GM, I chose to renew under duress, (a $200.00 loss as opposed to a $600.00 loss) I sent a letter to all the Board members with my complaint and renewal under duress, and a couple replied (which is normal) with the I had no idea explanation. Benefits to be a GM? I don't see many! Advertisement in Parachutist? Sure! I get a Fuck load of new students, and jumpers whom read Parachutist! The ability to advertise to experienced jumpers is no service or benefit to me! Negative factors! They take my membership money, piss it away on poor decisions with law suits as a result. Create limitations of whom can jump at, and how I can operate my business, etc. I receive the same support with reference to government relations, and the other services the organization gives with my individual membership! I should not be required to may extra money for the same service, and the organization the ability to exercise control or limitations to my operation. In short there should be "NO GM MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM" I know this will not happen, as it was explained to me the first order of an organization is to make certain the ability for it to survive! The EC that runs the GM program will not give this up! Canceling the GM program would eliminate the need for a EC group to control the GMs.

Stratostar - "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." Tom Dolphin 08 And remember the clean end is "Always" the other end! Tom, SkydiveMRVS

Well yea, it's knowing what the clean end is, thats the trick.... I think I have a new sig line. I appreciate that you find my view of political correctness entertaining! I, like Martin plan to keep my individual membership so I can vote! on the completely new BOD we need next year! I plan to throw all of my support behind Alfred E. Newman as he has been my signing representative to uspa for GM renewal for many years! (He is a very ethical individual!) They didn't fool him than! and sure can't now! Tom, SkydiveMRVS

Just received a few PM's with concern for my decision! "Let me state this!" I have no political agenda! I support the sport and the jumpers whom support it also! and have a very pointed position with regard to political correctness! "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." "Nuff said" Tom, SkydiveMRVS

I agree fully! If they voted to support the action they are guilty by association and should stand for the same action! Jan Meyer may have been the driving force behind the removal of Individual, and Group Memberships, but it is a "Board of Directors" not a Kingdom, were it a Kingdom Glen Bangs would have to be considered the Anointed. If impeachment is how “we're” going to "hold people responsible" everyone who voted to remove the memberships should be facing impeachment. I'd suggest as well that if one is "convicted", all should be convicted. Then I'd suppose (I don't know the bylaws well enough) King Glen I is afforded the privilege of appointing replacements. If they Impeach her I sure she should arrange counsel on her behalf and file suit against USPA for their actions! Also, as I understand Glen Bangs is the only member of the BOD privileged to the detales of the “Skyride settlement”, and he has chosen not to share this information with the rest of the BOD. My regional director has related to me that there are often items/issues to which he as a member of the BOD is not privileged. Maybe it is a Kingdom? This "STINKS" to high heaven! Why shouldn't the membership know? Because if you were informed you would be so pissed at the agreement and amount of your (our) money that was lost from their emotional action that there would soon be new persons running the USPA! To my knowledge, Jan’s primary “infraction” is that she’s willing to talk with, and discuss issues with the lowly peasants (aka members), the nerve!!! Last time I checked Freedom of speech was one of the few rights that we still had control of, seems as if USPA is committed to see this one removed also! Don't think so? Than read the ethics mumbo jumbo they have produced! I did write my opinions to the BOD, cc to my RD, and cc to a drop zone owners email list. In that letter, I informed that If Ms. Meyer is removed from “OUR” BOD, I will remove my drop zone from the list of USPA Group Members, and make it known that Individual Membership is no longer required at my DZ. I will forward my opinion, to the BOD an have already spoken to my RD, and "I"LL do you one better" As of now I will state that "I WILL NOT" renew my uspa group membership! I have grown sick and tired of incompetent decisions, complacency, lack of support, lack of enforcement, and the rest the the half assed actions of USPA! They say we are "Professionals" it would be much easier to do if we were to find ourselves following "Professional leadership!" OH! by the way! Now! "You don't need no stinking USPA membership to jump at my place" Tom Dolphin, SkydiveMRVS

"And there I was skydiving hard, and someone tried to shove a planet up my ass!" "Don't jump in the rain! It is painful! If you ever look at a rain drop it is round on the bottom and pointed on top and you always hit on the pointed side! "Don't jump in clouds! You have to land on on top of them by the time you repack to jump off the side again you are to far away to make it back to the DZ!"

Statement to student buring briefing: "Did you notice when you arrived that this place didn't look like an amusement park?" Statement at Manifest: Did you see golden arches? Do I have orange hair and a red rubber noise? Than "NO" you don't get it the way you want it! "High Speed Dirt Kills slow speed people" "Blue Skies Black Death" "If you are on my back as we track away and you see my pilot chute consider that to be my brake lights" "If you need to think about the fact that you might have made a mistake! You already have!" "Two words you are not allowed to use in the same sentence! Skydiving and Safe" "What color is your main? Response: If I had to look at it long enough to tell you what color it was I would have to cut it away!" "The difference between and experienced jumper and a student is they both fuck-up the same amount, it's just that the experenced jumper is better at covering it up!"

QuoteTommy, With regard to the USPA v Skyride Boys suit, what are you upset about? The fact that they acted on emotion in the first place trying to pacify the membership, or that they didn't break the bank fighting the suit? Martin My problem is that this action is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of poor decisions that uspa has been making for some time. Did you know that there is a chance that the 180 repack NPRN may fail because uspa neglected to inform the membership of it's existence to post your support, and that the FAA only received around 300 responses to a rule change that we have cried was needed because everyone supported it! 300 responses does not constitute a statement of support. Talk about dropping the ball! I do not see a firm need for the GM program, as I stated before, I don't believe they have the position to dictate how and whom I should allow to jump at my DZ, they are a membership organization not a business organization. Hell uspa can not effectively administer the programs they offer now, they would rather bring offenders in under their wing as opposed to sending them packing for violations. We are dealing with adult children here, just like children when you yell and they know that this is the extent of the punishment, they could give a shit, but if the recourse after the yell is a kick in the ass they start to step and fetch! People say that I am too harsh in my approach to dealing with persons whom fuck up or do not follow the rules, I have attempted to be nice over the years but have learned that the public will not allow the nice approach, they will not even hear your request, and to get their attention you must foam at the mouth and kick butt at the DZ to get their attention. USPA is the toothless barking dog! no threat! I already have, City, County, State, and Federal agencies, Oil companies, Insurance Companies, and the legal System attempting to dictate to me how I operate my business, I do not need the added help of uspa. AS I stated before I believe that we need uspa as a membership organization, with regard to access, State and federal laws, and as the leaders of a self policing sport! but I also believe they should get out of the DZ business and clean their own house. And if you would consider the cost of the updated SIM and IRM you can purchase them for half the cost of GM renewal! and buy beer with the savings!

A very well stated position coming from someone actually 'on the front lines'...thank you. And I for one totally agree with you that the BSR's are merely a minimum standard to be observed...that being said, would you agree that the 'free market' system of competition is actually a better tool to insure that operating standards at a DZ are kept to a point that is beneficial to both the general membership as well as the general consumer...aka first time student? I also beleive that the free market system would be much better, it would improve training and services by DZs that were progressive and were intent on being the icon Dzs in their area, this competition could improve and stabilize costs. and would alienate poorly run or operated DZs as they would be left to address their lack of service or enabilities to the faction that holds the highest power over any business the customer.

While it is still fresh on my mind some more of my opinion! Several years ago I dropped my GM for all of the reasons that I previously listed. I had persons at my DZ request a Coach/J/M course to get their ratings, ( I have conducted courses yearly for over 20 plus years) I contacted uspa and requested the proper authorization and paper work to conduct the course. The course was offered and conducted by uspa standards with all sections of the training and evaluation controlled and completed with current uspa members whom were current and rated in all disciplines that they were training. Once completed I sent in the documents and after action report with payment for the ratings, I was contacted and informed to process the paper work for the members by uspa that an additional fee of $600.00 was required as the course was held at a non uspa GM DZ. I asked why this fee was so extreme, and was informed that it was paper work cost for a non GM member, and it was unfair to the GM DZs to allow a course to be conducted at a non GM site. I inquired whom they considered should bare the burden of this cost and was told to pass it along to the course attendees, as that they could have attended a course at a GM DZ and removed this additional cost. My question than was why are uspa members being punished for attending a uspa rating course, and was informed, that it is not punishment just the cost of processing paper work for non GM DZs. I was unwilling to pass this cost along to the persons whom attended the course, and personally took the loss to complete the course as I had offered it. The next year I rejoined the uspa GM program under duress, so I could continue to offer the course to train staff for the DZ operation. The following year I was late on my GM renewal (cash flow is low when the snow is blowing) I received notice from uspa, that if I did not renew soon that I would be fined $100.00 for late renewal? This action caused me to question the motives of uspa, when and how can you threaten to fine a member or affiate for not renewing a membership in a membership organization? Did I miss something? or is this the actual thought process of the organization? Fine me for not being a member? USPA takes the GM pledge very seriously! Do you believe this? If you do than why was I able to send my GM renewal in yearly for an extended amount of years with the renewal pledge being signed and authorized on the DZs behalf by ALFRED E. NEWMAN! (the goof ball on mad magazine for you young bucks) they even sent all the yearly renewal paperwork to Mr. NEWMAN C/O of the DZ! I am not saying that it couldn't have slipped by as a mistake once or twice! but yearly? didn't they check to see if they had a member in the data base with this name? or were they more interested in the enclosed check? Hummm? I am not promoting deception in dealing with the organization, but the inability for the office staff to recognize my small attempt at humor for years at a time causes me to question the actual ability for the organization to represent me and the sport on a world wide basis. I have more rants, but it will not effect the fact that I believe uspa should drop the GM program.

Well let me see?? Hummm Yes! I do know what they do all day! You ask me how? 30 F**king years as a member and DZO, J/M and I in all disciplines, Course Conductor, Tandem Examiner, Master rigger, DPRE, Pilot, A&P Mechanic, Pro rated and all that other shit!! I made no statement or referrals that Skyride was USPA's highest function! Maybe you need to hit that pipe stem again and get back with the discussion and question? As someone with clearly a better take on the situation than most of us, what are YOUR opnions on the program....from your point of view, worth keeping or not....and why? OK! My opinion! For many years I thought that the program was necessary to maintain a standard of operations, programs, and recourse if uspa found a problem. But for some time this has not proven to be the case. Enforced application of the GM pledge and requirements from DZ to DZ seems to be selective at best! As a DZO I am required to spend money to support the GM program with the promise of the returned benefits of membership. I started to question what these perks were? a listing in the mag as a GM DZ? Sure all of my potential student business reads the mag to find me! Listing in the uspa GM web site? I have many skydiving sites that list my DZ for free! I don't have a need to bid to host the nationals or any other major event, so I guess I'am not part of the good-oldboy process? USPA with the use of the GM tool now has a position in the methods and the decisions that I must make to operate my DZ. If uspa is a "membership" organization then why are they dictating to some extent how I should operate my DZ? Whom I should allow to jump and whom I should not? and force membership to be allowed to pursue the sport at my DZ? This is part of the problem that they got themselves into with the Skyride debacle, They say the airport defense fund is a perk, this is also offered on a very selective basis, I can name 2 DZs whom didn't receive assistance with a request to every 1 that did, we are all members then why do we not all get the same support with the GM pledge? People say that the BSRs are important and are the standard of how DZs should operate! I see the BSRs as the bottom of the barrel the line that you should start from as you operate and make plans to offer your services, why do people think that they are more than they are? Every DZ should look to rise above the uspa requirements and BSRs to improve their operations. If you wish to protect yourself in a law suit all you need show is that your rules and standards of operations are higher that the recognized standard (USPA). I think uspa has a very valid position in government relations, state and federal laws that pertain to the sport, and should remain the body recognized by the FAA as a self policing organization. I also think they should not be in the DZ operations business and that every DZ should stand alone on their own merit and business platform. I get the same support with my individual membership that everyone else receives, and firmly believe that should be the limit of uspa's involvement, represent me and the sport to the rest of the world, don't control how I interact, or provide services to the rest of the membership.

Well let me see?? Hummm Yes! I do know what they do all day! You ask me how? 30 F**king years as a member and DZO, J/M and I in all disciplines, Course Conductor, Tandem Examiner, Master rigger, DPRE, Pilot, A&P Mechanic, Pro rated and all that other shit!! I made no statement or referrals that Skyride was USPA's highest function! Maybe you need to hit that pipe stem again and get back with the discussion and question?

We have read and heard all of the opinions of the GM programs Pro's and Con's. No one is pleased with USPAs failure against Skyride! So let us cut to the chase! As a DZO no need to devulge your affiliation just place your vote. If we do not state to USPA what our likes or dislikes are, they will never consider our opinions went they make future changes. We complain about everything USPA does as an organization, but we as it's membership never take the time to vote! Apathy is not a position you are allowed to complain from! So take a stance, Put your ink on a line! Now untwist your panties! pull out and arrange your sack! And Vote!

It appears that most people agree that the GM program is not wanted, that by it's existance it can place USPA in a very undersireable position if they make decisions that could violate government free trade laws. If USPA were able to control the program and get all of the GM DZs to comply with the pledge, the program would become more useful and sound, but we all know that this will never happen, it is always controlled with profit and politics. We also know that even when we as the membership state our dissatisfaction, the board will do what is the best for themselves, this means that we would probabbly be unable to complain enough to get the GM program resended. Maybe the DZs themselves can get this job done? We all know USPA reads these threads, them someone should start a list of all the DZs whom do not plan to renew their GM for the 2008 season, and allow the DZs to place their vote also.

No it is not a National Holiday! It is an INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY! it is not common knowledge, but the real reason for the end of the cold war with Russia, was due to the fact that the Russians were not allowed by their government to attend! There was such an outcry from the public with riots, and car bombings that they decided that the Nuclear Arms Race was pale in comparrison to the international companionship shared at this event! It's not difficult to believe that Coed showers, Blue bottles, naked skydives, and a chicken pooper contest would quell this world problem!