Skymonkey2

No problem, John and I would love to see you back at the dz. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

The nature of the skydive was posted by John Hart on another thread, so I am not going to re-write it. Fact: I did an underage tandem. Fact: When the pictures were release, I call the President and notified him theat I did the jump, and offered my resignation so that this type of BS would not happen. The President told me that it was not necessary and I should full fill my obligation to the BOD. I also called up other members of the BOD and some called me. I never denied do the jump, nor did I try to submit false paper work. Fact: The President called me and ask if I would give a verbal ok to start the proceedings with out sending me a formal letter, and I said yes. Fact: A certain member of the EC did the investigation and at the proceedings bowed out from voting or making any comments. From what I was told from another member of the EC, one of the members of the EC stated the 90 days is what a normal member would get and that was sufficient. Once the EC gave me my punishment, the President called me and asked if I wanted to appeal it, and told him no. I accepted! Fact: General Members new my punishment before the BOD, because at least two members were running their mouth. And this was proven by the phone calls I received from AirOhio jumpers and some out west, and one at our dz. Thats pretty un-professional. And I was told that your dz already had signatures on a petition before I had resigned (?). Fact: If members of this region want to know what is going on, they should contact me, it is not my responsibility to contact everyone in the region, nor is it the right thing to do to post it here on the site. I can't tell you what I wasn't doing. I can tell you that there is no 'power struggle' going on. I have no alterior motives. As I stated I have no personal feelings toward Kip, good or bad. Fact: This is BS, on a earlier post (months ago) you posted that you and I have had several conversations. You made a lot of un-true comments. I have only been to your dz twice. The first time was with my wife and friend. We made two jumps and left. We did not really talk to anyone other the your dzo. The second time was for the AIC. And I did not talk to anyone because the dz was closed. I don't even know who you are, other then what people have told me. However, given that I'm required to be a member to jump at any of my local DZs, I'm certainly going to speak up when I see actions unbecoming of a representative of the organization that appear to not have been delt with in a proper manner. Fact: most of this is true, but there was a fatality last month or in Nov, and the jumper was not a current USPA member, and I don't see anything happening. You should speak out, but, you should speak out on all matters not ones that effect you personally or your home dz. After the fact, the man was a liability to the organization. The credibility of the USPA, and in turn skydiving in general rides on the actions and reputations of our elected officials. These are the people that we as a group have pushed to the front of the class as the best we have to offer. Fact: The student was over 5 foot tall and over 200lbs, there were no safety issues. Also what is the DZO going to sue himself? If something were to happen USPA would not be sued, everyone else would, and sense all the other players knew. This was strictly a paper work issue with USPA. People that know me, that this is not common practice for me, and I am very safety oriented. So until you want to call me and talk to me like a man one on one, this all you will know With this incident on his record, he no longer has the credibility or the reputation to fulfill his seat. In the case of any future incidents that he may have been a part of, his history would reflect very poorly on him in the case of litigation, but it would also reflect very badly on the face of the USPA, for initially having such a person in a position of authority, and for allowing him to retain his seat after the first incident. Fact: One of your EC members was sent a letter by the manufacture and a tandem examiner, 3 years ago requesting the suspension of a tandem I for having a Cypress fire and several other incidents. Your ND and EC member and the BOD did nothing. This is more of a problem, this was a safety issue, not paper work. Fact: One thing I have learned working with the BOD is that DZO's and Course Directors should not be on the BOD at all, it is a conflict of interest. If look at all the motions that have been voted on, you will see a lot of obtainments because it is a conflict of interest. Fact: I will post anything else about this matter, if you want to talk to me about this please feel free to call me. Fact: This thread should be used to find a good replacement, not bash people with out knowing all the facts. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

Yes, I did a under age tandem, but I did not try to submit paperwork after the fact. John Hart submitted a thread a while ago talking about the issue. Between managing a new dz, conducting courses and the politics of USPA have decided that I will step down. Just like this statement that was made, the facts are not out there and it is the way the EC conducts business. And I don't want to be part of it. If you want to talk about it call me. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

Mike it was awsome working with you, and watching everything un-fold have fun working with students. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

You are right, again I had courses to handle. SGC and this dz have worked together on several occasions. when our plane was down they sent theirs over to help. I wish that all the dz's would do the same. But no one can play the guessing game. I can't help unless someone tells me. The cool thing about are dz is we have jumpers from the three big dz's and no one brings up the past, we all have looked past it and just have fun. So in agreeance with you why can't all the dz's do this? It would be cool for everyone to just get along. This forum is a prime example of people stiring up Chit and not wanting to change. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

No, last year Skydive Tecumseh in MI had a 20% completion rate, and we have a high rate, not as high as Tecumseh. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

If my teaching style is at question, please come and watch me teach, I promise you it is not military. I invite anyone to come and check it out. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

I am not a dzo, and I have paid out of my pocket $88.00 to get a load up for one of my students one afternoon during the week. Again if you want to talk about it please call me. Or email me... AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

It was a coach and tandem cert course.... AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

Your right, I should have, I had a course going on. I run course on skydivers schedules, I had two people come out from out of state, because this was the only time they had. We were not competing with the boogie, our jumpers asked us to do something so we did. We did not bring any specialty aircraft. And no one new the dinner was free, and there was barely 15 people here for the christian rock band. Oh yea one of our skydivers is the drummer for the band. The helicopter we had is based here. I have been to the Richmond Boogie twice and loved it, it is a good time and I recommend it to anyone. I have been in this region for four years and have not seen one director come to any of the events that I have been too, I am not talking bad about anyone, I know people are busy. If anyone has any guestions you can email me our call me. I don't like posting on dz.com. Kip AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

AirRage designed the current, and we are in the middle of coming up with a new and better design. You should see our walk around harness. They are great. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

At the current time you don't have to renew with UPT and for strong once you recieve your strong rating you don't have to renew with them eighter, as long as you stay current you are current with strong. There was talk about that at the BOD meeting. And I can't remember what the out come was, I believe they are working with manufactures on that as we speak. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

There was a meeting with the manufactures in FL a month or so ago, and this is one of the things that was agreed on. Jay and Todd Spillers attended the meeting, so they have better understanding then I. From what I know is that the manufactures and USPA are trying to get on the same sheet of music. Sorry I don't have more info then that. I am sure you will see more things come out of this in the future. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

Jay and I sub-stained from this vote. I offered to help get people up to speed. As a matter of fact we sub-stained from a lot of the votes. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

I disagree with you, it depends on who is running the course, I have had a couple of Skydive U coaches attend my USPA Coach course and says it was better, so again it is who is teaching it. USPA Should not be involved with SDU. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

The up jumpers greet new jumpers and students, the staff is friendly and willing to jump with all levels of jumpers. Nice RV park, and landing area. Great place to jump and learn.

If you come to Start Skydiving for your ratings, we have excellent facilities, you will not be bothered by outside distractions, and you will get a discount for coming here. Contact Kip at the Start Skydiving DZ. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

I don't post much on here, but I have reading this thread now for a while and IT TEARS ME UP, SM1 and myself (SM2) created an atmosphere that had not been in the club for many years. We made the activity some place where skydivers could come and hang out learn about skydiving. It is a crying shame to all the members and former Activity Mangers that put there blood swet into it. All that great history that SM1,Greg O, and myself went out to find and hang up is all gone. Here to all the SKYMONKEY'S PAST AND PRESENT THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND TIME TO MAKE THE GB CLUB ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LEARN SKYDIVING AND ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO JUST HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.... SM2 AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

Its like every else in life if you want something you make time to do it, if some one wants to work with younger skydivers, they will find a way to get there ratings and if they want to donate there time they have the option. But just to give someone the right to work with students, with out showing they have a vested interest is wrong......... AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

In the IRM, it states that a coach or Instructor should but it is not required to supervise the student in the plane and in freefall. It is to help the student with spotting, load orginizing, which is the proper seperation between groups, ect. I just talked to a dz in Green Bay WI that is a 1 cessna dz and they totally disagree with the BOD on the two subjects in this forum. And they will not let non-rated people work with students. If there is anything I can help you with just drop a line........

Cat E on page 63, states " A USPA Instructor in your discipline may clear you to jump without supervision in freefall. Key word here is Instructor. Cat F, page 73, To begin while supervising your self in freefall, you practice the basic delta position, the firts step toward a flat track. ect.......... In the IRM there is more detail. AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

When I travel to conduct courses I sleep at the dz to save money for the candidates, I have slept on a couch in a non heated room for 10 day in the winter in Northern CA, there is one more thing I want to add, I am dontating my time and two brand new Sigma tandem systems to raise money for MS at a small cessna dz in WI, DONATE no fees, so on that note I will not carry this conversation on with you....... AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

I was not at the last BOD. There have been many conversations about free coaching and I may have made the statement the everyones time is worth something, you can ask anyone that I have worked with that I would never have made that statement. who are you. I just held a AFF pre-course about two weeks ago, and in the intrem I am working with a full time staff members who does not have the money to pay for practice dives before the course. I am charging him slot plus pack jobs. Figure the odds AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well

the criteria by which we're evaluating the skills and readiness to teach of potential coaches is not stringent enough or 2) the course directors who are evaluating the skills and readiness to teach of potential coaches aren't applying those criteria or 3) some combination of both? Let me help with this, First I am an AFF, Tandem, Coach, S/L and IAD Course Director and in the old days a BIC Course Director. The coach course is a combination of the old BIC and an education in the ISP and a basic evaluation of some ones communication and flying skills. The candidates are supposed to learn how to teach, and understand how people learn, and if the course director is doing his job teach or introduce how to conduct body scanning. And then they are evaluated on basic flying skills. We are checking to see if they can stay close to a student that is attempting basic RW skills and body scanning, (remember, they are jumping with students that have anywhere 9 jumps to 16 jumps. Not 5 or 6 jumps. And have proven stability by back loops, barrel rolls.). All the candidates’ are supposed to be taught the proper techniques for docking, swooping, fall rate, break off procedures, and tracking. These are basic RW skills. I remember when was a student and after my initial training I was released to the wolves, I had to learn this from who ever was available, I received so much different information based on individuals knowledge and preferences. The ISP was developed to teach young skydivers the basic survival skill in RW. I have been on many RW dives where young skydivers have not made the formation, or have taken it out. One problem we have is what you have stated, course directors are not doing there jobs, either because they don’t understand what they are teaching or because they are lazy. I have witnessed such courses. This is why the AIC has been developed. I have seen coach course directors hold a 1 ½ to 2 day coach course, I know form experience that this is not possible. The ISP is excellent program I have watch small and medium DZs use it and love it. There are many coach and aff candidates learn about the program and wish that when they were learning to skydive that they used the program. USPA is stepping backwards in their education of coaches and instructors, buy letting D license skydivers jump with students who have not proven that they can teach, this is a crime to our students. Are students are paying for a service, either buy slots or coaching. And letting a coach jump with students is not smart. They are not experienced and have not had a chance to mature in the sport. People in this forum have stated the old system, well in the old system the jumpmaster had to attend a JCC, and were not allowed to teach a FJC, and had to be a JM for a year before attending ICC, and then had to prove they could do the job of an instructor. But in the old days the Static-line JM’s and Instructors were not evaluated on there flying skills. Now in the S/L and IAD course they have to have there flying skill evaluated. When the first coach course was held there were two S/L instructors with over a thousand jumps that attended, and failed the air evaluations. So I guess to answer your question I believe it is a combination of both. www.airrageskydivingservices.com AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well