MikeTJumps

As long as they were in compliance with all of the other requirements, the two of those affected are to be on the ballot. That is Gary Peek and Randy Schroeder. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Sunday, August 05, 2012 Plenary Session: Continuing the report out of the S&T Committee, a motion was put forward to include a request for an opinion poll to the entire skydiving community as part of the election ballot as to whether or not we should adopt a Wingsuit Rating Program. Naturally, there was some resistance to the language of the proposal but the intent was to provide full disclosure of what was being intended. The question of whether it should be a USPA administered program or should it be an independently administered program is part of the discussion. There was still much divisiveness amongst the BOD members on this issue. However, after much further discussion, the vote was 10 in favor, 8 opposed and 2 abstained in the vote for putting a poll out to the general membership with a link to the program proposed by Douglas Spotted Eagle to determine if the USPA should adopt the attached Wingsuit training program. There will be a retroactive change to the governance manual such that to be considered as a candidate for being placed on the election ballot, the membership requirement will be for a two year period rather than continuous membership. Regional Directors: There is still concern on the part of HQ that incident reports are not being submitted for all incidents and sometimes not even for fatalities. These reports are destroyed once they are summarized for educational information and group member dropzones will be encouraged to implement a process where incident reports are submitted and their original copies are destroyed in an appropriate timeframe. Nominations for various awards were made. The gallery was not allowed to sit in on this discussion. That is all that I have as I had to leave to catch an airline flight. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

There are quite a few books available to educate you as to the sport and the training programs. You can get a copy from your local library or you can buy one on many of the retail outlets or dropzone bookstores. I encourage you to read one of them before you go out to a dropzone. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

You are not correct in your assertions. Many cards have been incorrectly filled out and when it comes time for moving from one DZ to another, they are not valid if they are not correct. It is not a matter of getting money, it is a matter of getting things done right. Educating the signers of the cards is needed. Don't be so quick to judge the situation until you have seen the data and/or talked with the HQ personnel about the issues, which I would encourage you to do! Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Randy was in the hospital undergoing emergency surgery and was waiting for a reply from HQ on his rating renewal when he became incapacitated. As such, his request merited special consideration. Gary's renewal was received in the mail one day after his membership expired and as such, the interpretation of the wording for eligibility was realized to not specify any "hours" of not being a current member. As such, since his membership was renewed the very next day after it was expired, he was considered a continuous member. The committee interpreted the rules correctly but as stated above, the "currency" issue was resolved by the fact that it did not state "expires at midnight" on the last day of his current membership. Other potential candidates for inclusion on the ballot were days out of the filing deadline or currency of membership and as such, did not merit a change of their status. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Here are my notes from today's activities and meetings. I have tried to be accurate in my notes but if I made an error, I apologize in advance. As always, the official version will be what the USPA secretary writes up and issues on the USPA's website. Please note that any discussion on wingsuits will be held tomorrow. Executive Director Meeting Saturday: I was not privy to this meeting as compensation was to be discussed. Only active directors and USPA staff are allowed to attend closed sessions. Safety & Training, Saturday morning session: Opening altitudes for students were discussed. No changes have been proposed to be accepted. Canopy proficiency card: some minor changes will be made to include changing the order of items in the card. Practice flairs with open and closed eyes will not be removed. Front riser turns will be removed from jump #2. Jumps 3 & 4 will be switched. Practicing stalls should be practiced before brake turns are practiced. Cross wind landings will remain in jump #4. The card may suggest an order of performing these actions but the order will not be mandatory. A-stamped license card: There will be a 60 day limit to the use of the card as a current license. After that period, there must be an officially issued license (the card must be submitted to USPA HQ for authentication and issuance of a valid A-license) with the appropriate license fee. If a person does not submit the application for the license within the 60 day period, they can always submit it later with the fee but the card will not be treated as a valid/official license once the 60 day time period has expired. People can always file for either the A or B license when they so desire. A problem has been that some of the A-license cards have not been filled out properly, so by submitting the card for an official license, USPA HQ will be able to verify that the card is filled out correctly or return it to the participant for the card to be completed correctly.   Wingsuit program: More debate concerning this program occurred. Each camp has strong opinions that were put forward. A motion was made and passed to implement a Wingsuit Rating Program and the motion will be brought up to the full board for further discussion with details to be worked out if the motion is passed by the full board. Nominations and Elections: There were five potential BOD candidates who did not meet the letter of the rules in getting their names eligible for listing on the upcoming ballot. Each individual’s case was listened to and considerations were give for each of the special circumstances listed as reasons as to why they did not meet the letter of the rules for the process. The decision of the committee was to put the issue of the two members that they felt merited additional consideration before the full BOD but of the remaining three potential candidates, one withdrew their request for consideration and the other two were to be notified that the committee did not agree with their extenuating circumstances but as such, they could run as write-in candidates. Plenary Session Saturday: The first hour of this was a closed session, dealing with disciplinary issues and as such, the gallery was not allowed to be present. Finance and Budget: Doc Lee reported out. The audit was clean and in full compliance with the purpose of the association. The motion to accept the audit for 2011 was approved. Nominations and Election Committee: Both Randy Schroeder’s and Gary Peek’s eligibility for candidacy for the upcoming election were confirmed. The other two petitioner’s requests were not approved and one petitioner withdrew their request for a waiver to the existing rules. Of course, these other people always have the ability to conduct a write-in campaign to be considered for election to the BOD. However, the eligibility requirements for any person elected by a write-in ballot must be verified in accordance with the Bylaws in order for them to be seated on the BOD. Safety and Training: Instructional rating course pre-requisites: No action resulted for any change to those pre-requisites. USPA License Requests: The A-license card will be required to be sent in for authentication with an appropriate license fee. There will be a 60 day limit to the validity of a stamped license card. After that 60 day period, a formal A-license must be applied for and issued to be considered a valid A-license with a number. A non-validated license card will not be accepted as a valid license past that 60 day period. The problem has been that the cards are sometimes not completed correctly, therefore by formally causing the processing the card for an A-license, that will ensure proper completion of the card or returning of the card for proper authentication of the training record of that student. People that have already proceeded to the B-license will not be required to submit their A-license cards as they already have a license above that grade of the A-license. FAI skydiving licenses that are not Certificates of Proficiency are not considered as valid licenses. Therefore, for anyone to get a USPA instructional rating, the applicant must have a USPA license. This will be effective as of December 31, 2011. Wind Tunnel survey results: No wind tunnel time will be allowed to be considered as freefall time for the purpose of obtaining a USPA rating. Age requirement: The previous motion referencing the age requirements for jumping requested by the equipment manufacturers’ representative was deleted and as such, no reference to the age requirements for use of a manufacturer’s equipment will be referenced in the USPA’s documentation. Randy Schroeder’s request for waiving the jump requirements to renew his ratings of record was approved. This is because Randy is capable of conducting first jump courses and evaluations as a course examiner but is physically medically unable to jump anymore at this time. George Rivera’s request for a similar waiver was granted but it was noted that while he is capable of jumping, he has chosen not to jump because he is too busy to do so at this time. Canopy Piloting Proficiency card: Certain changes to the Canopy Piloting Proficiency card as mentioned earlier in this report were motioned to be approved. (Details can be obtained in the official USPA minutes when they are available.) Corresponding language in the SIM will also need to be amended accordingly. FAA medical: No action was supported to change the requirements as stated in our doctrine. I/Es should have access to information necessary for them to authenticate a candidate’s eligibility for a rating. US Naval Academy: These jumpers will have the same provisional D-license and provisional Pro rating issuance to allow them to jump on their own Naval Academy campus. Constitution and Bylaws: The date for amending the Competition Manual is deleted. The reference to “member’s dues” is going to be removed from the documentation with regards to membership termination. Group membership: A new group membership designation of a “Foreign Affiliate” member is being created for all non-US based dropzones. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Todd is aware of your post. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

I will bring your comments to Todd Spillers' attention. All I can say is that Taya Weiss presented an impromptu survey that was very much against yet another ratings program. I don't know how this will all end up. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Mike Turoff reporting here. I took these notes while in attendance at the 2012 Fall BOD meeting. I tried to make them as accurate as possible, but if I make a mistake, I apologize in advance. Summer 2013 meeting location selection: The vote for the location is to meet in Fredericksburg, VA. It will be from July 26-28, Safety and Training Committee: Credential information of prospective candidates will be made available to Instructor Examiners for the purpose of verifying credentials prior to course attendance/completion. Wing suit instructor ratings program suggestion: This was bantered back and forth and various people made passionate arguments both for and against it. Nothing was decided at the first session. A-License cards: Many are not being filled out correctly and there is no way for HQ to track A licenses that are just stamped cards that are never sent in for validation. Further discussion will be held on this matter to determine just how we want to proceed on this issue. Wind Tunnel Time as a substitute for actual freefall time for AFF ratings: The on-line poll results were presented. 821 said leave actual freefall time requirement as it is. 141 said an hour should count for an hour as specific training. 96 said allow two hours of tunnel time as freefall time. As it stands now, there will be no change to the existing requirements for the rating. Examiner version of Instructional Rating Manual: There is a suggestion of creating a document for course examiners/directors to assist them in emphasizing aspects of the instruction that appear to be lacking in current practice. It is thought that this document will be somewhat like an S&TA guidebook in thickness rather than duplicating the IRM with additions. Age Requirement BSR Discussion: USPA’s attorney stated that putting the language of requiring all jumps to be done in compliance with a manufacturer’s age requirement would put the association in a more libelous position. The formerly approved motion for applying age requirements for jumping is therefore defeated and there will be no formal statement in the USPA’s documentation as to that matter. Further removal of any age reference/requirement for any type of jumping (e.g. Tandem) will be considered upon consultation with the USPA’s attorney. The manufacturers will therefore become the regulating authorities on the use of their equipment. FAI equivalent licenses: These are not the equivalent of a COP (Certificate of Proficiency). This has created a problem for course directors in the field approving ratings when there was not a true COP from that foreign skydiver’s country. A way to rectify this situation is to mandate that the foreign applicant for a USPA rating get a USPA membership and a USPA D license to ensure their credentials are correct according to USPA’s document requirements if they do not have a proper COP from the foreign candidate’s country. Randy Schroeder’s waiver request for being allowed to continue as an IE in his other disciplines which are Static Line, IAD and Coach is going to be granted for ground instruction. As a waiver was granted previously for his AFF rating, this is going to be allowed. (Randy is essentially wheel chair bound with very little prospect for a useful recovery.) Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Yes, by all means. Call up the USPA HQ, ask for Ed Scott, the Executive Director and ask him specifically for the information. Then feel free to post it back here. If that doesn't satisfy you, call up the Treasurer: SW Region director, Doc. Lee Schlichtemier (sp?) and ask him. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

I got my cost information directly from the staff of the USPA. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Nope. I very specifically testified as to the Pilot's operation of the aircraft. I said nothing about the DZ's policy. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Jan, I don't want to get into a pissing contest with you on this forum but you have mis-represented several things in relation to my testimony. 1. I did not testify against the DZ, I testified against the pilot who by the national and international standards that I had access to, did not comply with reasonable and prudent procedures for the operation of the aircraft. This information was confirmed by at least five other high time MEL Jump Pilots, some of which are either on the BOD of the USPA or on the staff. 2. You have failed to mention (due to your lack of knowledge) the seven cases where I defended DZs whether I was hired by the Plaintiff's attorney or the DZ as a defendant. 3. You have openly stated that your conversation with Bill Dause led you to the belief that my testimony was ripped apart in cross and that my testimony was the reason why he won the case. That is not the view of the Jury's report or the attorney for which I was working. Quite the contrary, the Jury originally was split on a decision, wanting to give the defendant something for his injuries but in the end, they decided (without ever having seen or being presented the waiver in evidence) that the plaintiff had the assumption of risk. So, the waiver held up even though it wasn't presented in evidence (which was a total surprise to me). I will continue to tell the truth as it is known to me. Bill Dause should be elated that the decision went in his favor despite the expense that he went through. I'm sure that I have become his number one enemy for life because of my testimony against him. I had no knowledge of the damages being requested unitl the trial was over and done with. I will continue to do my best on behalf of whoever hires me and I will adhere to the highest standards of ethics in my presentations. I wish you luck in your case against Skyride, an organization that (in my opinion) should be brought to justice. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

I know about these things because I attended the attorney's presention of the case at the PIA meeting and the USPA meeting. The point is that the waiver was thrown out as invalid and a less than age of majoritiy's waiver will also be thrown out as they can't sign a binding contract nor can their parents sign the waiver for them. That is the whole crux of the problem. I'll call you tomorrow to fill you in on more details. 107.5 radio. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

The system of paper ballots will remain in place until such time as it is demonstrated that electronic ballots will be truly representative of the voting population. If I recall correctly, they will be submitted to a third party for verification or after verification by HQ and entering into the electronic data base. The first legitimate vote, electronic or paper, to be entered for the member will be the one that is counted by the third party. If duplicates show up, only the first one entered will be counted. Electronic system will prevent accidental voting for more than 8 national directors. Also, elctronic vote ballots will prevent a member from voting out of their region due to the software that is being set up for such a purpose. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Perhaps you are unaware that Sunpath lost a major lawsuit by an adult lady who had Mark Schaltter (dec.) lie on the stand about a defect in their equipment. She also lied on the stand about how her position during the deployment of her reserve. If the waiver can be completely ignored for an adult, it certainly can be completely ignored for an underage person. If you have any need for more information, I'll give you the contact information for the PIA's attorney and he will be happy to educate you on the subject matter. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Someone made a comment on the order of "If people knew what the electronic voting option would cost, they would probably have not voted YES on the proxy." (I wish I could find that original post!) Well folks, I have been informed that our current paper ballot only elections have consistently run up costs of over $20,000 every other year. By going to an electronic ballot system, that cost will be amortized over many elections without repeated huge initial costs to set up the system. Thus, electronic balloting will be a cost savings! Furthermore, let's look into the possibility of electronic voting to extend the election cycle to three years to make BOD procedures even more efficient. Your organization (and mind you, I am not a BOD member) consistently looks for cost savings and income producing measures. Doc Lee has guided the USPA investments to far exceed the returns of all of the major stock market indicators. For those of you who want to learn more about the inner workings of the BOD, come to Reno next February and attend the meeting while the PIA symposium is also there. Or, come to Denver, CO in July 2011 and attend that meeting! Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

You are right in that the strategy of withholding votes was flawed. Our national election likewise has too small a percentage of eligible voters going to the polls because they think their vote won't be meaningful. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

There was a deaf AFF I at the original Spaceland named Fred Goebels. I will alert him to your request. I also have a fully typed out course that I could send you if you want it for AFF L1. E-mail me back and I'll scan it in and send it to you. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

What makes you suspicious that any votes didn't get counted. The staff have the highest level of integrity. Why don't yo volunteer to help out with a count if you want to allay your suspicions? FYI: The proxies will be maintained in a safe place at HQ until March of next year. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Your reply ignores the liability issues that our litigatious society uses to shut down businesses. The PIA is concerned that one underage fatality could put manufacturers out of business in the current legal climate. They are also concerned that the USPA could be named in a lawsuit and also be driven out of existence. If that happens, none of us will have new equipment to jump or an organization to represent us. Don't shoot the messenger. Weigh in with your opinion to your regional director! Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

The age of legal majority (no one younger than 18 in 47 states and in other states, 19 and 21. This can be a major problem for some exisiting operations. It has been taken under advisement. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook is an excellent resource for answers to your asked and yet to be asked questions. You can get it from a library or your local dropzone. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

The BOD is currently meeting in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Nashua, NH. Many topics are being discussed and today, the topic of minimum age limits was brought up by representatives of the Parachute Industry Association. The USPA BOD is going to defer action on this topic until consultation with USPA's legal representation has the opportunity to review the presentation of and consult with PIA's lead representative on the subject matter, Robert Feldman. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Ron was one of the originators of the NSCSA hoop dive. An excellent relative worker and organizer. Few will ever be as good as he. He will be missed. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook