lauraliscious

For the past few years I get a boogie where I get to hang out and jump with all my friends on my 1/2 birthday! They must not love you as much as they love me. Last year I even got an extra special 1/2 bday present...his name is John. My 1/2 bday has always been much better than my real bday. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I would hope they would send them to either all GM DZ's, or all DZ's (GM or not) that requested them. As for the explanation, I think it really helped to be at the meeting. Although maybe with the new website they are talking about they could do some sort of newsletter or briefing regarding decisions like this. I don't really want a brief about all the Competition committee decisions though, there are just way too many! I'm not sure how detailed the minutes write-up will be, but maybe one could glean some explanations from that if you really care about the why's behind some of these decisions. The Nominations and Elections committee discussed this issue during the little bit of that committee break-out session that I sat in on. One concern (and it sounded like something like this has actually happened in the past) was, say they get a bunch of identical ballots at the same time. Say they are all marked with green ink down the left side, and signed with blue ink. All the USPA numbers are written in red ink. This would appear to be a case of ballot stuffing, but if all the signatures and USPA numbers are different there is no way to PROVE that those ballots are not valid. So they have to err on the side of counting all the valid votes, even though it seems highly likely that the same person submitted all of them. Another potential concern seemed to be write-in candidates photocopying a bunch of ballots, writing their names in on all of them, and distributing them while asking people to vote for them. I guess that would be similar to people already on the ballot pre-marking photocopied ballots and handing them out to people while campaigning. This is kind of a gray area I guess, not sure if that really counts as voter fraud or not. The 1st example doesn't sound so bad, but the 2nd one sounds like it would be a big concern. But in reality they are the same thing. This whole issue did not seem to me to be about the BOD trying to limit their competition. It seemed to be legitimately about preventing voter fraud. And I guess both of those examples could happen with mailed out "official" ballots as well as photocopied ones. Hopefully once the electronic voting gets implemented this won't be such an issue.... Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Come on, that's ridiculous. I would NEVER rely on my cell phone to pull for me. It just is a very useful tool IF you land off/get injured/whatever. I would never plan to land off or be less cautious just because I have a cell phone on me. Most the times I'm jumping I forget I even have it with me until I'm actually back on the ground. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Yeah, I'd heard all that. I think I can picture who he is, but an actual picture would really help. Maybe one will turn up. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Yeah, we were wondering where you were!!! Although between you and Oren, I think you have convinced us to come back to Zhills and play with you guys more often. Hopefully you won't have to work next time we're out there. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

It can be. It happened to me. Well, that sucks, but I only leave it in my car when I'm camping. Usually park right next to my tent. Not much else I can do with it, and I feel like that's the safest place for it. Skymama had a good point, if I'm staying at a hotel I take it into the room. Always. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

The Jameson Inn in Thomaston is where I stay when I get a hotel down there. It's pretty decent.

I put mine in my jumpsuit pocket, which has it sit around my midsection, off to one side. Below my chest strap. Even if I have a bad landing, I don't really see how it could injure me. Yeah, I guess there's a slim chance it might break but I think the risk is worth it. Edited to add: I'm not sure if the guy at Spaceland who landed off the DZ and got out of his harness but was otherwise too injured to seek help had a cell phone. I bet he didn't, and the outcome of that might have been much different if he had been able to place a call. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I usually pack my main as soon as I land. Then set it near my gear bag until I jump again. NEVER leave it out overnight, I always lock it in the car if I'm not going home. I suppose it still could be stolen from the car, but it's far less likely. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

That totally explains it! Hi Oren, I like your froggie. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I'm not a mod or anything, but I'm pretty sure you can call the bastard that killed your son a bastard on these forums. I don't think that's against the forum rules. I know Lee sure would have called him a bastard. I think of you guys and Brandy a lot. I can't imagine what you all are going through, and how painful it must be. I hope they make an arrest soon. Sending love and hugs!!!! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Ummmm, I think I felt some rain drops on my neck during exit on one of our jumps. Not sure where it was coming from though, as I didn't see any clouds. Only industrial haze. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Wow, that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing! Although that also means that it won't be my 1/2 bday on St. Patricks Day this year. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I just realized we'll probably pass each other on I-75 at some point. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I know you think you're unelectable, but if you were to run again I'd vote for you! I think it's comendable that you have attended those meetings every year, without actually being on the board. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Well said, I agree. I actually kind of enjoyed the closed door session, gave a group of us a chance to have a long lunch and generated some good discussion. One of the most interesting discussions I was involved in during the meetings anyway, with a group of other USPA general members who cared enough to show up to the board meeting. I was sorry I didn't see you back at the meeting Sunday, the close-out plenary session had some good discussion & information too. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

During this discussion one of the board members (I *think* it was John DeSantis, but I could be mistaken) mentioned something about the USPA sending extra copies of "official" ballots to DZO's to hand out at their DZ's. Not photocopied ballots, but the ones that they actually put in the magazine. Maybe on special paper with a USPA seal?? Not sure if this has actually been done or not, it was kind of hard to hear in there. This sounds like a great alternative to photocopied ballots to me. But as for the question, the only election during which I have been a USPA member, I did use the actual ballot from Parachutist. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Thanks MikeT, DSE, and diablopilot for keeping everyone who wasn't able to make it informed about what was going on. It was great meeting all of you.

I've started taking mine on regular "on-DZ" jumps too. There was one time at the Farm where a large group was going to do a cross-country (full altitude Hop & Pop). One guy had a mal, tried to deal with it all the way down to about 4K where he chopped. Almost the whole group landed with him and one of them had a cell phone. Those of us on the ground at the DZ were wondering why they were all landing miles away. They called me and we picked them all up. I had a tracking dive with a similar story (we tracked the wrong way ) and none of us had a cell phone. Had to hitchhike back to the DZ in the dark. Although those were special cases, you just never know. It's a good idea to have a phone with you, especially because it's so easy to do these days. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I'm sorry for all my friends at the Farm who knew Richard and are hurting because of this. Although I do call The Farm my home DZ, I haven't been around all that much lately, and I'm sorry to say that I'm not entirely sure I know who Richard was. Does anyone have a pic they want to post? Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

No wonder you didn't make it to Z-hills with us on Saturday. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I miss you too! Hope you and Hottie had fun this past weekend.

1:3:? 1st interesting USPA BOD meeting attended. Not sure if I owe beer for that or not, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. 3 great jumps with NWFlyer, Chaoskitty, Okalb, and LauraS at Z-hills. Met some great people and we will be back!!! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Happy belated Birthday Spence!!! Hope you had a great day yesterday.

My $$ would be on Rick in that bet too. But I bet johndh1 could drink Rick under the table!!! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091