3331 126 #1 November 5, 2018 Some expected, some surprise, some disappointments. https://uspa.org/Information/News/uspa-board-elections-conclude?fbclid=IwAR2Z0TOMWHfYtyuHyOUxYsL3Pkes1EgtODIuJw1XppMaxJeM_Kt_OrHz8KsI Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwrl 56 #2 November 6, 2018 It would be an interesting piece of information to see the last time all of these folks jumped. For some, I think it's been a while...Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 406 #3 November 6, 2018 SkwrlIt would be an interesting piece of information to see the last time all of these folks jumped. For some, I think it's been a while... I made 250 +/- in the last year. Typical for me. Most on the board are very current jumpers. A few only make an occassional hop, and one I believe hasn't jumped in more than 20 years.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #4 November 6, 2018 QuoteI made 250 +/- in the last year. Typical for me. I see your posts for Chuck Ways every week, and have seen the videos. Maybe, some day... Congrats on your selection. Alix Hubbard from the Southeast is also very, very current.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 406 #5 November 6, 2018 flyhiQuoteI made 250 +/- in the last year. Typical for me. I see your posts for Chuck Ways every week, and have seen the videos. Maybe, some day... Congrats on your selection. Alix Hubbard from the Southeast is also very, very current. Thanks! I do hope you join us for some hops! Looking forward to serving with Alix. She has attended the past couple board meetings and seems to be a great lady.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lasharp 4 #6 November 6, 2018 If you look in the Election Issue (October issue) of Parachutist, each board member's bio includes a line for jumps in the past year. Some chose not to answer, but most did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baronn 111 #7 November 6, 2018 Certainly something to consider but, I'm not sure how much it really matters. be better to have people involved in the sport but, I wude rather see BOD members that are putting members 1st. Sherry Butcher and Mike Mullins have both strongly supported using members money to fund the debacle known as the National skydive museum. Hoping both will listen to what the members are saying here and make some better decisions in the future. You both want it built? No problem, pay for it yourself or find another way to fund it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,659 #8 November 6, 2018 QuoteI wude rather see BOD members that are putting members 1st. Sherry Butcher and Mike Mullins have both strongly supported using members money to fund the debacle known as the National skydive museum. It is quite possible that the majority of the membership wants the museum, and thus Butcher/Mullins ARE putting the membership ahead of a vocal minority who want it defunded. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catfishhunter 2 #9 November 6, 2018 Wish we had a like button :) Not often me and Billy agree but on this I agree 100% it needs to be built IMO :) MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sedsquare 14 #10 November 6, 2018 QuoteIt is quite possible that the majority of the membership wants the museum, and thus Butcher/Mullins ARE putting the membership ahead of a vocal minority who want it defunded. +1 We have representatives because polling the entire USPA for every issue isn't feasible. Personally, I'm in favor of funding the museum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raftman 12 #11 November 6, 2018 Since we are funding the museum, will USPA members get free admission when/if it is built? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 20 #12 November 7, 2018 billvonIt is quite possible that the majority of the membership wants the museum, and thus Butcher/Mullins ARE putting the membership ahead of a vocal minority who want it defunded. Bill, I'm not so sure about this. How are we learning about the opinions of a "vocal minority"? If you are refering to those who post on dropzone.com, well, yes, they are vocal because they are comfortable using dropzone.com. But there may be many others that are against USPA donating to the museum, but are not comfortable talking about it in public. I would think that there is no way to really know. People don't always tell us what they are really thinking. I realize that I am saying that there is a problem, but that I am not providing a solution. I can't think of one short of holding a gun to everyone's head and forcing them to vote their opinion on it or something like that. . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeeroyJenkins 2 #13 November 7, 2018 peek***It is quite possible that the majority of the membership wants the museum, and thus Butcher/Mullins ARE putting the membership ahead of a vocal minority who want it defunded. Bill, I'm not so sure about this. How are we learning about the opinions of a "vocal minority"? If you are refering to those who post on dropzone.com, well, yes, they are vocal because they are comfortable using dropzone.com. But there may be many others that are against USPA donating to the museum, but are not comfortable talking about it in public. I would think that there is no way to really know. People don't always tell us what they are really thinking. I realize that I am saying that there is a problem, but that I am not providing a solution. I can't think of one short of holding a gun to everyone's head and forcing them to vote their opinion on it or something like that. . I would bet money that most USPA members don't know anything about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,659 #14 November 7, 2018 QuoteBut there may be many others that are against USPA donating to the museum, but are not comfortable talking about it in public. Of course. As there may be people who want USPA to support the museum, but is uncomfortable talking about it because of all the vitriol. I think it's a bad idea personally. But from the one poll here, feelings are fairly divided about it. And given that, board members may be supporting what they believe the membership wants. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topdocker 0 #15 November 7, 2018 billvonQuoteBut there may be many others that are against USPA donating to the museum, but are not comfortable talking about it in public. Of course. As there may be people who want USPA to support the museum, but is uncomfortable talking about it because of all the vitriol. I think it's a bad idea personally. But from the one poll here, feelings are fairly divided about it. And given that, board members may be supporting what they believe the membership wants. The BOD is not supposed to do what the members want, but what is good for the organization. I don't see how this museum arrangement is going to be good for the organization financially. We took an arrangement that had no cost to USPA (land donated and the building to be built with donations) and made it a large financial commitment for years to come with little to no benefit to the organization. topJump more, post less! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,659 #16 November 7, 2018 >The BOD is not supposed to do what the members want, but what is good for the >organization. OK. Several people here apparently disagree. >I don't see how this museum arrangement is going to be good for the >organization financially. I suspect many people think museum -> more popularity of skydiving -> more members -> better for the organization. (I don't think a museum will do that much, but it will probably have a small effect.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #17 November 8, 2018 QuoteI suspect many people think museum -> more popularity of skydiving -> more members -> better for the organization. (I don't think a museum will do that much, but it will probably have a small effect.) I don’t know what impact a museum in FL would have on promoting skydiving. From the museum’s web site; “Saturday, March 28, 2015 - 21:01 The Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame is pleased to announce it is collaborating with Skyventure iFly to co-locate the Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame with a 16-foot iFly wind tunnel in North Orlando, Florida. The museum is currently working with a leading design firm to combine building space and functions and iFly is actively searching for a suitable piece of property as a venue for the combined facility. The co-venture is expected to open its doors in 2018.” I emailed the museum and got this response; “Good morning, as soon I answer your question, I will be wrong. However the best estimate we can give you is that we are three-four years from opening the doors. However, if iFLY accelerates their timeline, we will move sooner.” My concern is USPA donating a large amount of money to a project that still has an expected opening of 2018 on it’s web site, but is at least 3-4 years from that now and that is only a guess at best. What happens to all that money if the project never gets built? Derek V Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,659 #18 November 8, 2018 >I don’t know what impact a museum in FL would have on promoting skydiving. Probably not much. But I can see people _thinking_ that it would increase student starts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeeroyJenkins 2 #19 November 8, 2018 So the USPA will have a total financial burden of just under 300k$. with over half being contributed over the next 6 years. At the end of 2017 there was about 39k USPA members. Soooo....yeah, I'm ok with the USPA taking ~1.25$ of my dues every year (total averaged 6y) to help promote skydiving over the long term. Really since 112,200$ has already been spent I am 100% OK with the USPA using ~ 0.75$ of my membership fee (66) each year for 6 more years to go towards the museum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #20 November 8, 2018 What is the membership getting for their $ and when will they get it? Derek V Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SethInMI 156 #21 November 8, 2018 HooknswoopWhat is the membership getting for their $ and when will they get it? Derek V Personally I am fine with the USPA chipping in a little bit for this museum, but I am with grimme, I would like to see the presentation. Hopefully it will answer the obvious question for me: "How can the museum backers be sure that this $ ask is the last time they will come to USPA with hat in hand?" I don't want to set a precedent that now the USPA is financial backer of the museum, with potential further support required. As for what I expect to get out of it? I expect it to get built, so that one day I can go and see the memorabilia. That's it for me. I don't care about growing the sport or whatever other greater societal good people are thinking of. Just let me check out the gear, look at the trophies and what not. SethIt's flare not flair, brakes not breaks, bridle not bridal, "could NOT care less" not "could care less". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CygnusX-1 42 #22 November 8, 2018 I'm a USPA member and am all for the Museum. But mostly because: Hooknswoop ...Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame with a 16-foot iFly wind tunnel in North Orlando, Florida. So, it is not a case of NIMBY, but YPIMBY (Yes, Please In My Back Yard). Fund away and get this built now! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AtrusBatleth 0 #23 November 8, 2018 LeeroyJenkinsSo the USPA will have a total financial burden of just under 300k$. with over half being contributed over the next 6 years. At the end of 2017 there was about 39k USPA members. Soooo....yeah, I'm ok with the USPA taking ~1.25$ of my dues every year (total averaged 6y) to help promote skydiving over the long term. Really since 112,200$ has already been spent I am 100% OK with the USPA using ~ 0.75$ of my membership fee (66) each year for 6 more years to go towards the museum. Yes, this. It's hard to get too worked up about whether they are wasting a few cents per month. Even the entire membership dues are about half of what I pay for Netflix or Hulu. I'm sure someone will make a "slippery slope" argument that in the future I'll be paying thousands of dollars, and when membership dues grow much larger then I will care more. But I just cant find the justification to care about $66/year, for which I get a nice monthly magazine and lobbyists in DC to fight for our sport. But to answer the question about whether members will get free admission, how about you get your $4.50 discount to cover your personal share of the museum investment. Would that satisfy you?Max Peck What's the point of having top secret code names, fellas, if we ain't gonna use 'em? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ufk22 32 #24 November 9, 2018 it’s bad enough that every USPA thread turns into a “those worthless jerks do things I don’t like” slugfest, but do they also have to turn into museum bitch sessions? I love watching the same people argue that USPA SHOULD be the drop zone cop about almost everything, but shouldn’t require my buddy to pass a flight medical to do tandems.This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #25 November 9, 2018 QuoteI love watching the same people argue that USPA SHOULD be the drop zone cop about almost everything, but shouldn’t require my buddy to pass a flight medical to do tandems. you mean.... SHUDE, lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites