stratostar

Looks like it's another DZO or the left nut of a DZO will be the choices for the BOD to make. Should be an interesting vote with some BOD members having, yet again, some conflict of interest, IMHO, (no surprise there) with both parties who have expressed an interest in this hot seat. And Kip, while you maybe known as a "safety guy" I think it is safe to say, you still knew the rules and you were elected to up hold the rules, you decided the rules didn't apply to you and you took a underage tandem without the proper paperwork on file, regardless of the fact that you assume MAYBE the BOD would have waved the age issue and given you a waver to do the jump, you choose to bypass the rules and procedural guide lines and you did the jump, knowing full well you were busting a BSR's that you were to be upholding as the RD. This is all fact, is it not? So all the BOD members who were sent the photos of you doing the jump are all out to just "get you" Butcher, Bangs, Meyer's, Mullins, Worth, and the rest of the BOD are all full of shit lier's and out to hang you over a some paperwork along with the other area DZO's and membership that called for your removal. That is paperwork you as a chair holding member of the S&TA committee, RD, S&TA, I/E, TDM-CD, AFF-CD, S/L-CD, IAD-CD and the rest of your glory awards, YOU clearly knew was wrong and you can't play the stupid card, here! (while I do think many of the named BOD members are in fact full of shit and liers, in this case I don't think so, photos don't lie.) Yet we as members are to beleive that your getting railroaded here and you did nothing wrong is total bullshit and to expect the membership to "call you up like a man" and get your side of the story is also a ton of bullshit, "did ya ever hear, don't do the crime if you can't do the time", why don't you man up and admit you fucked up and got busted doing something you knew better as a sitting BOD member and chair on the safety and training committee, so now you need to take your lumps and quit your crying about it already , your lucky to be leaving with your ratings and course director ratings intact. Some members think you should be striped of your ratings. After all you ran around the region asking to be voted in to office and you knew the people who voted you in expected you to follow the rules, did you not? Watching you and your buddys try to sugar coat this is funny as hell and you guys should get a award for the best comedy of the year. You know sometimes when you try to blow smoke up someones ass, they fart and you end up getting shit on your face. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I'm pretty sure that was to hold the sheep for Villy Baaaaaaance. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

No but Hans is giving everyone a lap dance @ registration. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Well that seems to be the million dollar question. And your asking the wrong person, I'm only polling and asking Q's of what I see people calling for as they storm the gates of USPA. I can tell you, as a new board member and the rest of the freshman seat holders, that yes in fact our system is broken and the reason you see so many people asking for what seems to many to be outlandish and stupid requests.......is because in fact there are dropzone operators who have been proven to, and suspect still, of doing the many "sign off's, write off's, afro engineering, fake STC's, and long list of other FAR and BSR violations, causing the USPA to ban for life these operators and at great expense to the membership I might add, but then wouldn't release the information to the public or skydiving community. Each and every topic being talked about here these operators were quilty of doing for a number of years and knew what they were doing was wrong, many on the full Board knew they were doing this stuff and turned a blind eye to it, till it was shoved in to thier face by members in good standing and the FAA. Many of those members were in turn tar'd and feathered by the BOD and the operators were quitely shuned in public and few non discript stories in parachutist came out about what to look for in shitty operations, one or two of those little write ups and then right back to the standard ego stroking BS each month. For every Martin and Tom Dolphin dzo out there doing it right and spending the money it takes, there is the last few oldtime "my way or the highway" I use duck tape and bale'n wire if I want to operator who wears every hat on the DZ, it's their lie, airplane, rigs, staff, property, logbooks, tools, hanger etc, and their name is the one signed or even yes "Capt'n Koolaid" still stops by to sign off the logbook because good old bubba would never hang and sign off a rotten R-985 or sign off the king air nose gear X-rays without having been to the special class @ beechcraft, now would he. Most the time you will find them on Private property and NEVER on public property and for a reason, when dealing with the FAA. Many of you "insiders" don;t like it when people talk bad about your buddys, cuz you guys have a great time when you see each other at PIA or other big industry circle jerks slapping each other on the back and talking about how hot the skirts are. Yea most everyone knows what kind of BS their doing it's the hushed up little dirty secret and has been for years, and you don't really know if what people in their region are saying is true or are they just making shit up, your extent of "looking in to it" is to ask them and then take their word for it or in the case of the BOD, send out "one of the good old boys". What many of the high up players forget is there are other pilots and A&P's and I/E and even skydivers who are real pro pilots who see the bullshit going on and are NOT fooled for a minute by the shady operators nor are they going to believe the BS stories from those DZO's or their industry friends. The really sad part is, because of people like this in the industry, guys like Martin & Tom who strive to go by the book and play by the rules with princpals and morles, are forced to deal with the extra BS in order to combat or rid the industry of the rotten apples by using the same rule books, because those in the USPA have in the past, refuse to name names and print the documentation of the facts, after all some there are still friends or do business with said offenders or they might need one their planes for the next record attempt. Having seen many of the voilations with my own eyes at many dz's accross the us, poping a cloud once and a while is one thing, asking a uncurrent, hadn't jumped in 5 years former military, non tandem rating holder (first time wearing the rig) to take a paying passanger so they could get it all in one load, is another thing altogether. (yes there is video) So what are "WE" inspecting, not a damn thing and you know as well as I do that after 9-11 the FAA has way bigger things to worrie about then skydiving and if you want to be a corner cutting cheat, right now is a great time to be one because there is not the funding or staff to go around looking for BAD APPLES in the skydiving world. If your stupid enough to get on that POS and it crashes, sorry about your luck! You people nuts anyway jumping out of an airplane. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Thanks Jerry & Tom and others. I'm just trying to look at the facts I have not made up my mind one way or the other, I have not even voted in this poll, yet. There are many things that need to be thought out on these topics. All sides need to looked at before action is taken or a vote held. I can say I see what looks to be more people who agree with my views, looking at the poll numbers. The only thing is the number are not broken down enough. I bet the age for those calling for no inspections and no GM's are the new kids and the ones voating clean up gm;s and inspections are the old farts. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I have a large collection and pack them once a year, sometimes twice a season. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

For me the first question is , why are people asking to do away with the GM program, but yet want inspections. And yes I was seeking a "snap shot in time" due to the current amount of threads on these topics. I'm also trying to keep an open mind and understand other peoples point of view that I may or may not agree with, so I can make up my mind as to how I would vote and why. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

In my other on going poll here the numbers are showing 21% or 64, of the vote is for doing away with the GM program. And 5% or 15, Voting to keep it. And 11% or 34 votes for an inspection program and 7% or 22 votes for NO inspection program. However the numbers don't jive IMO, we can say it is safe to assume most DZO's 75% or more would not want an inspection program. See Pros & Cons thread and have you looked There are equal strong feelings on both sides of this issue A lot of points of views out there, just wondering here, those of you who voted for the removal of the GM program, why and did you also vote for inspections? Those of you who voted to have inspections, Why? and what is your expection /idea of an inspection? And by whom? Did you vote to disband the GM program? Those who voted to keep the GM program, Why? Did you vote for inspections? you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

(in best chong voice) OH naw man we just like hook it right there, man. Look at most 182's and p206's and you'll see the S/L attachment point is the seat belt attachment, very common and could be said to be part of the "structural support"m depending on how you look at it. The S/L's I've done out of caravans and totters were just using the cargo attachment points in the rear to hook the S/L. IAD's were a cake walk on both those ac's you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

We had fun playin with the pencils & the papers till the sargent walked in and said........KID! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Ok fair point of view, I have no set in stone idea, I do think more people would run if all they had to do was shell out money. Yes your right it could turn in to "You got friends and you are in." like it's not that way already in some cases. I'm not interested in setting policy, myself, but I would like to know how close my views are with others. I have heard others express these changes they would like to see happen, so I posted the questions to see how many people agree. I totally understand the numbers are skewed, there will always guys like phreezone who vote all fucked up just to mess up the poll and you have to take that in to account. (just making sure your awake) you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Your both correct in pointing out this. I was (for the record) talking about..... RD's I think we need to do away with needing members to sign something saying someone can run, who cares if Joe Member wants to spend the 50 bucks and get thier name on the ballot we should let them, maybe more people would run! On another note, the numbers are interesting. Kind of an oxymoron though, on one hand people want to disband the GM program, yet are calling for dz inspections. Seems kind of silly to kick out the GM dz's and then seek to inspect them, don't you think? Wouldn't it be better to keep member DZ's and inspect them as part of being a member, if people really want an inspected dz. It's quite clear that the majority wants to see major change at the top. Please keep your votes coming and answer honestly please.

Drive Fast, Take chances, & Date your riggers wife. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

If one person dose it, they'll think hes nuts and won't take him.......if two people do it, they'll think your both fags and won't take ya........AND if Three people do it............. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I remember that and I know how I voted, thanks for your input and vote Dave. And it would or should be just pay your 50 bucks and get on the ballot, IMHO you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

With some of the other USPA threads going on and a lot of heart felt views on some topics, I was just wondering what the numbers are on some key issues, honest answers please and USPA members only, Please. Thanks

The hard part is not teaching the pig how to read the wristwatch, it's catching the pig to put the wristwatch on. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

DING DING DING DING DING! Weeeeeeeeee have a winner here folks! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

"I'm not sure my Double ply Nomex is good enough" There fixed it for you. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Brian Hay (Sp) you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

God love him. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Look out mouse turd ahead. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

http://MakeItHappen.com/jumps/review/cedartown.html http://funjumper.com/skyride/ Well I don't know her, she maybe the biggest rage'n bitch on the planet for all I know, however I find it somewhat chicken shit (read cowardly) that the FULL BOD was all on board with the "public service announcement" and even stated in print October 2004 Parachutist Capitol Commentary the views of the USPA on the skyride scam. After more review of the websites owned and made up by Jan, she has done a good job of pointing out and backing up the facts of how misleading and fake websites are set up to "fool the public", we all know the the real deal here! As a member of USPA in good standing for over 15 years, I find that she is just the type of person we need on the bod, even if she is a rage'n bitch, or not! I would much rather have someone to take a stand on fake ripoff con artist, then a long standing member of the "GK good old boy" network who sends out a bullshit investigator to look into membership complaints and remain the only one who's "privy" to the written report (I see a track record here) and then because he didn't like what the report said, it was destroyed and that "big midwest investigation" (an all expense paid skydive vacation for one Mr. Tom Welgos to skydive with his old army buddies and kiss ass on behalf of Mr. Bangs to a few DZO's) was paid for out of "our" dues. And people wonder why the GM DZ inspection didn't work. (It's called the lack of honesty with in the BOD & HQ with the long term names for the last 20 years!) You know as one of the persons named in the report that Mr.Bangs choose to destroy and not produce for the membership to see, (and the membership had a right to know) after wasting their money. I can tell you as a member in good standing of the USPA, that it's a good thing that Mr. Bangs didn't release the "false report" because myself and the other named parties would have sued the living shit out of the USPA and I would still do so today in a heart beat, if I could get a copy of what "was reported". I would also support Jan in doing the same if need be. Mr Bangs has a history of being a self centered fuck nut who will jump right on board the bandwagon as long as it's stroking his ego and those of his buddies and for gods sake good thing we've had to put up with all his bullshit all these years because we'd all still be jumping rocks. His has proven beyond a shadow of doubt to many of us he will stab you in the back as you walk away, if he don't like what you have to say about his buddy, regardless of the truth and he will do his best to sweep it under the rug and keep it "under wraps" unless there is a good person to hang out. IMHO! The EC, Bangs, Stokes, Butcher, Doc Lee, Mr.Smith, & Worth now need an escape route, I mean the official stance in Oct. 04 was no more out of line then Jan's website, hell those sites live in cyberspace and didn't get mailed to 25 thousand people to read, you have to go look for it! All of the names above On the EC have an agenda, well maybe not Scott, IDK, the rest of them all have an agenda. Do I know what those agendas are? No I don't, but I bet, Stokes, well that is an easy one. Doc Lee who the fuck knows, but I bet it's an upper crust ego stroke and keeping those skyride dollars rolling in to his bank account, other wise he would have dropped them or stepped down. Mr. Smith, don't know shit about him, so I can't say. Worth, anything that keeps him looking good in the "hollywood spotlight" and as Mr. World record L.O. guy is good for his pocketbook and ego and there for good for skydiving. Bangs, who the fuck really knows, pretty sure I've covered my thoughts of him in detail. Ms. Butcher, well another DZO and that is a agenda all on it's own. I really don't know what make out of her interest in serving "US", I have known her for a number of years in passing and she has always seemed to be by the book. However the way she came to office has a direct tie to the "midwest report" Bangs destroyed and she was given the RD seat when the crooked RD the membership turned in, was proven to be a fake and a fraud and "puppet" for one regional dzo. So she was put in the seat, the same as we will now have a new replacement for one Kip Lowmiller now that he has done the right thing stepped down and a person will need to be found to fill his seat. One can only guess as to who Mr. Bangs & Stokes will be pulling for along with Ms. butcher, all of whom clearly supported Mr. Lowmiller and now have egg on their face. The rest of the BOD, Mr. Hills agenda is how to keep his world class dz a "hole in the fence" operation and keeping the city off his back and making Skyride go away and keeping the nationals coming back to his DZ. Mike Mullins, Not sure his agenda other flying his KA, I like him and I voted for him each time, he has always been good to me, however he is a DZO and that is the one strike. I don't know and can't say much about the others, other then they have been on board awhile now along with Farrington, Laughlin, Goswiz DeSantis, and one of them is a DZO. Peek, I never met with, but I have talked with him a number of times, he seem to be above board and by the book, I consider him one of the good ones. The freshman BOD members I have no problem with (not counting Kip) over all, but they are RD's so that has little impact on me over all. One of the good ones has expressed to me he will not seek the seat again and may not fill out the term due to being sick of the bullshit and the bullshitters, and thats the southeast region's memberships loss. It is long past time that the USPA get back to being about skydivers, all skydivers! Not just the ex-military whoopee doos and team bullshit coupled with the interest of the DZO's sitting on the BOD, just look at all of them. 6 out of 22 seats and 3 of those in the big seats. Hill-DZO Mullins-DZO Butcher-DZO Spillers-DZO Farrington-DZO Doc Lee-DZO When you take the time to look at the info contained in the sites by Jan it is clear that it was put out with as much known documentation and facts and yes even copies the fake websites and photos. Kicking her off because they folded is wrong IMO. Now kicking out all of them and starting over fresh with a new set of people who make NO MONEY at all from jumping and own NO DZ's or Companies that do business in the skydiving industry, would be the best for all. Regardless of how any of you feel about Jan's actions in regards to skyride scam and her posts and websites, she has really done very little to hurt USPA when compared to the damage that letting back in the scumbags of Cary & Ben will do in the long run. It sould be quite clear to the masses that it is way past time for a major change from the top down and even tho I like and have voted and would still support some of those DZO's as friends, I can no longer support them as an elected BOD member and I will be voting for all new ND's in a sweep and hope many of you do the same. If it's time for Jan to go, then it's time for all of them to GO! Then again as my wife said when talking about all this, "What difference dose it make, USPA is a joke, anyway!" See ya @ the polls........ you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Tunnel time? you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo