lauraliscious

I have a question about the process of adding things to the GM pledge. When does the new addition (or change to the pledge) apply to the DZ's that are Group Members since it wasn't in the pledge when they initially signed it? When they renew their membership each year? I hate to keep bringing up Skyride as an example, but I *heard* that because the statement about ethics was added to the GM pledge after the "Skyride" DZ's had signed the pledge, that the expectation of GM DZ's to conduct their business in an "ethical manner" did not apply retroactively. I would love to hear that this is misinformation, and that the USPA expects the Skyride DZ's to conduct business in an ethical manner, since they have been reinstated, indicated by the Group Member Pledge. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

That's awesome! Nice job, whoever did it. Any word on when will they be available and how to order them? Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

The USPA did not terminate Skyride's membership, because Skyride never had a USPA membership. The USPA terminated the memberships of the individuals who own Skyride and the Group Memberships of the DZ's they also own. Those individuals in turn sued the USPA in the anti-trust lawsuit. If the GM program did not exist in the 1st place, Skyride probably could never have brought an anti-trust lawsuit. As J has stated, in forming the GM program the USPA seems to be acting more as a Trade Organization instead of a non-profit organization. ***Disclaimer: I don't know much about trade organizations and non-profit organizations. I know I am not the most informed person making statements about this topic but I am trying to learn more. DSE, I think your last statement in that post was excellent and I agree whole-heartedly. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Nope, I never said anything of the sort, I am not making any blanket statements for or against jumping while pregnant. I think it should be an individual decision, and not up to an outsider to judge the situation. Just pointing out that a pregnant woman HAS had a terrible landing and the baby was fine. Not that the baby would be fine in every situation, because obviously that is not true. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I get the shot every year, otherwise I get pretty sick when it goes around and it knocks me out for a week or so. My BF didn't get the shot. He had some flu-like thing pretty bad right around Christmas. I haven't been sick yet this winter...

Nice catch, Phree. I hadn't been checking the USPA website for updates. Does anyone know what that means? Can they remove Jan for Just Cause without going through the impeachment process and therefore without having 2/3rds of the BOD's vote? I plan to read everything relevant that I can prior to going to Orlando. Including the list divnswoop mentioned, as well as the USPA Governance Manual. The meetings should be interesting, at any rate. And for the record, I did vote in the last election. I probably wasn't as informed as I could have been (and plan to be next time), but at least I did vote. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Yay, a forum for things we're not supposed to talk about!!!! Glad you got the website back up, Spence! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I can think of one highly publicized incident where a pregnant woman had a terrible malfunction on BOTH her main and reserve, spun into the ground, and landed in a parking lot. And her baby came out just fine. If you consider having Shayna Richardson as your mother being fine. But yes, it would be a sad day if the worst happened. That being said, I've thought about this and will probably skydive as safely as I can if and when I ever get pregnant. Of course, it will be a joint decision with my partner and our doctor. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

The Amazing Race, duh!!! I mean, what other show pays you to travel the world and possibly skydive??? Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Is that a PA??? Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

JohnRich and DSE...of course I realize I can e-mail the whole board by their individual e-mail addresses. I was being ironic to make a point. I probably will e-mail them at some point. The removal of that group address just makes the process slightly more difficult. An e-mail address being done away with on it's own really is not that big of a deal. But it could be indicative of larger issues, and that is a cause of concern to me. Right now I'm still trying to get enough information to figure out exactly what the issues are, and to figure out exactly what I would like to ask my representatives about. And I do trust my RD, so I'm going to talk to him first. This is about gathering information in order to make informed decisions for me. Who and what to believe has to be an individual decision, based on levels of trust and information gathered, whatever the source. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Okay, so I applied for the Amazing Race a few years ago. Which is not even near the same category as Cheaters (or the Moment of Truth, for that matter). If I didn't think I could handle it, I wouldn't have applied. I agree with Sartre, it is sad that people get enjoyment out of other people's misery. But I really don't feel sorry for the people that chose to air out all their relationship woes on TV. Or over the internet, for that matter. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Don't forget about that coaches rating! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Thank you. I have looked at a lot of them already, I should have been bookmarking them, would have made the job easier. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

A BOD member willing to come on here and publicly make this statement is not enough of a trustworthy source??? Why don't I just send an e-mail to the whole board and ask them what the reason was, maybe they'll all give us the same legitimate reason why that e-mail address was removed. Oh, wait, I can't. What, in your opinion, would be a source that was trustworthy enough to make a determination if that above statment is true or not? I am inclined to believe it to be true, considering the source. But I am also going to ask my RD about it. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Ha ha, between that, and CNN.com reporting the aiport had gotten a total of 0.4" of snow at midnight, and nothing but rain thereafter, why am I not surprised that schools were closed in 12 counties due to the snow. Blues, Dave It was a the great GA blizzard of '08!!! That's why so many schools were closed! It was almost as exciting as the great GA blizzard of '07 when there was a rush on bread and milk at the store and then.... ...nothing happened. No snow, no ice, no rain, nada. I cried when I woke up and looked out the window and realized my office would not be closed for the day. Seriously, I think all the schools that were closed are in the mountains. They might have gotten some legitimate snow up there. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

J - You stated earlier in this thread that you have posted the link to the Skyride vs. USPA lawsuit in the Skyride thread. As there are MULTIPLE skyride threads and I don't really have the time or inclination to wade through them again, could you please provide a link in this thread to that post??? Pretty please??? I am still trying to learn all I can before I go to the meetings....and I would like to be well-informed rather than jump to conclusions. I like the discussion going on here, the devil's advocate and everything. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Regardless of the outcome, I'd like to know which way each board member votes. Does anyone know if BOD members voting records are public information and published anywhere? From previous meeting minutes, they don't say who voted which way on an issue, just that a motion passed or not with the record (ie. Previous meeting minutes adopted, 19-0) or something to that effect. I have a feeling that the impeachment discussion might go into a closed session, since it apparently involves Skyride and the lawsuit settlement is not public information. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Wow, I can't believe how much this thread has exploded since I left work yesterday!!! I'm really excited. I definitely think it's time for a "Take Back the USPA" movement! Someone asked where you get the No Skyride shirts. I'll check with my source and see where we can get some more. Apparently no official business ever gets accomplished at the General Membership Meeting anyway, because they never have the required "quorum" of 10% of membership present (3000 people). I am looking into this "by proxy" thing. If we can get 300 people to go to this meeting (probably won't happen this year, but maybe next year) and each of those people can get 10 other members to give them their proxy vote, maybe the general membership can actually get something accomplished. Or 150 people, with 20 proxies. As for the person asking about involvement, I am going to my 1st BOD meeting this year. I have not read the entirety of the lawsuit, but I am familiar with what it says. I also have a question that goes along with that, have you read the USPA governance manual or the GM pledge? I speak to my RD often, and generated an excellent discussion with him at the DZ last month, with a bunch of people in attendance, including several of us who are going to the meeting. I do vote in the elections. Hopefully the electronic voting option gets approved and that way more people will vote and have their voices heard. I can't believe they discontinued the USPA e-mail that goes to the entire BOD because they didn't want to hear from the members. That is disheartening. I have just started getting involved, but the more I learn the more disturbed I am with the current system. I think the more people that get excited and get involved, and TALK to others at their DZ about these issues is what is needed. Healthy discussion can't do anything but help. Edited to add: thanks for the links Krisanne. i think I'm gonna order a copy of Robert's Rules. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I met my BF at the Dublin boogie last year. He swooped me up because he WASN'T a skygod. While the skygod mentality may impress whuffo girls or tandem students who hang out at the DZ, it's my experience that it doesn't usually impress female jumpers. But maybe that's just me. Anyway, what set him apart was that he came and steam rollered me in my tent but didn't try to take advantage of me. At least not at first. It also helped that we have a mutual friend who had always spoken very highly about him. He was just himself and I liked that.

Chance, what chance???? Kitty, glad it went well and that you can see!!!

Just bring 'em out to the DZ for the ash dive! I'm bringing my mom, they can all hang out together. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Sad? Are you kidding me?!!!!! You can *bet* that I'm gonna catch an episode or two of that show! Walt If people are so desperate for their 15 minutes of fame to subject themselves to that, then you can't really feel sorry for them. I mean, they'd have to know what they're getting into, right?! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

I've been told that ALL the meetings are open to members, unless they decide to go into a "closed session" at some point during the meeting. But the majority of the meetings should be open for members to attend. Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

Just don't brake on ice!!!! Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091