mjosparky

I received my renewal notice from USPA last week and will mailing it back in the morning. I printed VOID across it in bold red letters. I enclosed a letter outlining what I see as USPA’s transition from a member organization to a Trade Organization representing DZO’s. (Around one third of the BOD is DZO’s or their representative) Their decisions and actions are geared toward the interest of the “Group Members” and not the average jumper. USPA has made available to ”Group Members” a data base where they can go on line and check the status of any individual member. They can check to see what if any ratings you hold or if your membership is in good standing. But as an individual member you have no way of checking on the status of a “Group Member.” They are required to complete and submit an Aircraft Form on each plane they operated. http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/GM_MailingAircraftStatusForm.pdf Why is this information not available to the individual member? Now they come up with this latest plan to form a Demo team to compete against other demo teams who are USPA members. This convinced me that the USPA BOD has become what people have called them for years. Why are their areas of the USPA web site that can only be accessed by “Group Member”? How many of you believe the action taken by USPA against USPA members involved with Sky Ride was in the interest of the individual member or to protect the “Group Members”? When the BOD actions got our ass suited why did the BOD have the settlement sealed? Again was this in the interest of the individual members or to protect the “Group Members”? This is the mission statement from USPA web site. No where does it mention businesses, LLC or DZO’s. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is a voluntary membership organization of individuals who enjoy and support the sport of skydiving. The association is incorporated in New York and follows the constitution and by-laws contained in the USPA Governance Manual. The purpose of USPA is three-fold: to promote safe skydiving through training, licensing, and instructor qualification programs; to ensure skydiving’s rightful place on airports and in the airspace system, and to promote competition and record-setting programs. After almost 36 years I am done. I can no longer support an organization the does not support me. I know my action will have no affect on the BOD attitude but it will make feel better and save me $55 a year. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

It's only about 10% that would use "external factors" as an excuse to rip people off. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

The complexity of rigs has gotten so bad that owners manual that used to be maybe 30/40 pages are now up around 85 pages. Since most skydivers don't bother to read the manual the added complexity in the name of safety puts the uninformed jumper farther behind the power curve. With out a steady supply of batteries many jumpers wouldn't last a season. Sparky- My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

In the post I responded to you made no mention of "complacency or lack of integrity". [reply]half-assed rating No you are not perfect, none of are. In this sport and what you do for a living you had better learn from the mistakes of others because you won't live long enough to make them all yourself. You make damn sure you are doing it right up until the time you do it wrong. And it will happen. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Something like jumpers who will do a demo for free. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Here are a couple of pictures of Steve at Elsinore Oct. 22nd. Sparky http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/343.jpg http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/70.jpg My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/4line1.jpg http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/4line2.jpg http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/4line3-1.jpg Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Did you talk with him face to face? If not how did you find out about the rig? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Tell him to go check, he is the one asking. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Steve had real class. He will be missed. Spark My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

i don't feel the need to justify my history as a medic or a rigger to you. Your arrogance tells me a great deal about you. You look at the world as black or white, no shades of gray. If you claim you have never made a mistake you are lying to yourself, me or both. You roll on multiple vehicle TC with trauma victims scattered all over and its 6 to 10 minutes before the next unit arrives. You are going to make mistakes and and cut corners. But you are going to bust your ass to try and save those you can. So get off you high horse, you're not God, you are human just like everyone else. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

I am going to call bull shit on your post. I think you are just parroting what you have heard others say. With you experience level and time in the sport you couldn’t possibly know the sight picture for a 270 on any canopy much less one that is sub 150. Posting something in a manner that indicates you know it to be fact can lead to problems. You can come to believe you do in fact have the knowledge and skills you post about. Don’t take this as a flame but as a well meaning warning. Don’t let knowing the words convince you that you have the skills. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

I hate it when you sugar coat things. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

I don’t know how long you have been a medic but I spent 15 years as one and 30 years on a fair sized fire department. Medics, nurses and yes Doctors kill people every day. It’s not because of carelessness of lack of training or education. It’s because they are human and make mistakes. Some of those mistakes can kill people. Why do you think you are trained to check medication 3 times before administering? It is one way of reducing mistakes. If you unwilling to accept this you are in the wrong business. A good rigger will do the same thing. They will establish a routine, or QA points, that will check critical evolutions 2 or 3 times. This too is a method of catching errors. But mistakes will and do get made. If you can’t accept this you are in the wrong sport. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Just in the last few years. 1. Joe Crotwell 2. Steve Fielding 3. Gary Doris 4. Bill Edwards 5. Bad Spot Bill 6. Claude 7. Raymond "Pelon" Gerrero 8. Harry Leicher 9. Paul Gorman 10. Bill Stage 11. Lou Paproski 12. John Kelly – JP 13. Chuck Sweeny 14. Al Frisby 15. Don Henderson 16. Phil Christman 17. Denny “Bear” Gaynor 18. Kevin Donnelly 19. Steve VanCleave 20. Jim Fee 21. Audrey Jackman Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

And the more steps involved in any operation increases the chances of one of those steps not being done or being done wrong. Reducing variables is one way of achieving a desired result. Reserves are packed by people not computer directed machines. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Just about enough for one of these. Sparky http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Helmetcovers.jpg My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

The Skyhook adds one more level of complexity to the system. A standard RSL adds an increased level of safety with the use of a very simple device. While the Skyhook might save you at 300 feet and then it might not. You can die using either on. My opinion is to go with what you feel you need to have but don't rely on it. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Long time jumper Steve VanCleave died of a heart attack after making a skydive today in Idaho. Steve was an all around good guy. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Seems like a good thought. Maybe you should be the one to do it. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Impostor syndrome. Sparky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Real men wear a Frap Hat. Sparky http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Skydiving/NightHoop.jpg My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

It's yellow. Sparky http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/2000WG.jpg My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

FIFY I was jumping a piglet when I got my SCR The shadow-box idea is excellent. Get a big enough one for future awards and such. Or a really nice album.

The medication only works if you take it every day (everyday?). Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals