MakeItHappen

Every time we have an earthquake, I think of Gus. Hey, it's not what you are thinking. Gus followed me to a tranny shop in Sacto, so that I could drop off my truck. We were driving back to Skydance when the Loma Prieta quake hit. I was driving the DZ van and it swerved all on its own on one of the overpasses near downtown. I dropped him off at the Plainfield Station bar so he could watch the world series. Back at the DZ I learned that we just had a big earthquake. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

This is exactly the problem. The BOD will not be making changes at the BOD mtg. The members will be making the changes at the GMM, if there is a quorum. There has to be a motion that says: 'Amend Section ... by striking '.....' and inserting '....' If you do not provide that ahead of time, then no one can debate the changes. Remember that 'fast one' that Bagley pulled on the changes to Section 3 that was rescinded at the next meeting? I want online voting too. But I want a system that cannot be compromised. I was part of the testers of the program USPA intends to go with. I was able to vote for other people very easily. One director never received his invitation to vote. USPA only 'tested' the proposed vendor with BOD & staff members. This is not a good sample set because they all know how the election process works. There are also other methods that would be able to reduce the cost significantly. One is to use an opt-in method of voter registration. This means that the cost of the online part of the election is based on how many people vote online and not based on the entire membership roster. This would lower the cost of online voting to about $8000, not the current estimate of $15-20,000. I have asked you several times how you are going to reconcile multiple ballots submitted, especially one paper and one online. You have not answered that question. I have asked you several times how you are going to do a recount. There is no electronic recount feature, nor mirrored server, to establish integrity of the online votes. You said there will be some clerk somewhere entering data from the paper ballots. There's bound to be data entry errors. Can this system find them via a rechecking of the paper ballot with the online ballot? How will those votes be distinguished from a member directly voting online? IOW, how do you cross check the paper ballot entries done by a clerk during a recount? Will a member be able to log back in and verify their vote? This should be a requirement because someone could submit a vote and not know if it got recorded because of a power failure, dropped wireless connection, accident on the information superhighway or Windoze locking up etc, etc. Another issue is when the online poll will close? Will it be the same as the paper ballots? This is something needs to be addressed in the GM changes and verified with the vendor. USPA should provide the proposed amendments now. Or do you expect the amendments to magically appear at the GMM? . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Please do not send in a proxy to USPA. As a card carrying member of the National Association of Parliamentarians, I can tell you that proxies used in a deliberative assembly give away your fundamental right to debate a question. Here is a quote from Robert's Rules of Order, 10th Edition that applies to USPA: In a nutshell RONR prohibits proxy voting, but the bylaws may allow it or the state laws may require it. NY state law does not require proxy voting. The USPA bylaws do allow proxy voting. What USPA should be doing is putting a measure/referendum on the ballot, that specifically states the changes to the bylaws, eg Amend Section abc as follows, strike '.....' and insert '.....' I have asked several people several times, including at the last BOD mtg to provide this information. All of them said (paraphrased) 'Well, we don't know the exact text right now.' They also do not have answers to important questions about recounts and duplicate ballots via both means of voting. There are several issues about how members would obtain their username and password to login to vote. One person told me they were going to use birthday as the password. Well, DZOs have that info. Anyone ever organizing a world record has that info. Facebook has that info. The path for compromise exists. Not saying anyone would actually do that, but the path should not be open. Just say no to this proxy. Or better yet send me a proxy & I'll make a motion of "Amend Section 1-1, Article II, Section 1 General Membership Meetings as follows: Strike 'either' and 'or by proxy at the meeting.'" The final sentence would read: 'Regular members are entitled to vote in person.' This will force USPA to make amendments to the bylaws that pertain to the "to size, composition, and election of the USPA Board of Directors" in a proper manner by putting the exact changes on the ballot. USPA will then stop wasting membership money on these stupid proxy initiatives. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Paul, traffic in Thailand and Russia is more chaotic than what we have here. All 3 places have congestion, at least we have some semblance of order here. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

I would suggest hollywood/Anahiem beachs first couple of days LV then Bryce, Zion Nat'l parks, then North rim of Grand Canyon. Back track to Cali and hit King's Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite parks on the way to SF. Then take PCH south back to LA. There is a camp ground (Jacob's lake or something like that) about 10-20 miles outside the North entrance of Grand Canyon that you can stay at and then get a day pass for the park. The north rim is less commercialized than the south rim and is higher too. And get a AAA membership to get maps and these really handy-dandy listings of motels and campgrounds all through the areas that you will travel. They were awesome in planning routes and finding accommodations. nice friendly mom & pop places that were cheap. I did a MC trip that had part of it as ~14 days from Reno-SF-Cali parks-LV-Bryce-Zion-Grand Canyon. I spent one day at North rim, got a hiking pass for the south rim bcz the north trails were washed out, Drove to the south rim. hiked the canyon down the next day, hiked out the next day. It was part of a XC RT from IN. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Does the BOLD part mean that Cary agreed to pay? Did the new, higher judgment get his attention? And, honestly, does he really plan to pay up, or make his assets go away so he can avoid paying up? Over $9m sounds like a pretty expensive cost of doing business! Way to go Larry, Betsy and Jan! Your reading comprehension needs improvement. A typo in the SR v. USPA agreement was fixed amicably. I'm pretty sure that a typo in the court order in the SDA v. SR will be fixed in the same civil manner. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

What happens to the obvious mistake in the last page? I am pretty sure that can be fixed quickly and easily. Just for a FYI, the dollar amount typed into the SR v. USPA agreement was off a couple of decimals, but the text version was what was agreed upon and that was reconciled. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

See http://funjumper.com/skyride/trial.php verdict link for the breakdown of awards. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Here is the latest decree from the court. Date changed - court made the ruling on the 14th, filed on 16th . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Twenty years ago when my 3 tooth bridge was knocked out by an errant softball, I was told that they only like to use implants on the elderly because the lifetime of an implant was much less than that of a bridge. Now, the implant technology has probably improved, but so has the bridge technology. I suggest going to someone that specializes in this and get a couple of opinions. I can give you the names of some dentists in NorCal and SoCal that I've used. I know a lot of dentists in California. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Yes, I agree. The list of 8 incidents in the past 10 years where a reserve was activated by an AAD and did not open before impact does not include that incident. To the best of my knowledge, right now, and I have not talked to all the players involved yet, John's major issue is that the data points (eg info on the 8 fatalities) have not been released to the public. The major issue is, if there is a trend, show us the data that illustrates that trend. The advisory included other trends, such as the 'wait until the AAD fires' syndrome, 'not knowing EPs', 'not knowing how the AAD works', etc. I do not have a list of these 8 fatalities. Can someone help me find them? . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Try reading the third paragraph again. "Possible factors may include, but are not limited to...........AAD setting......" But with that said, the 8 or so incidents that prompted this advisory, that incident was not one of the 8 or so incidents. (Yes - I'm confused too on that.) What has happened is that several incidents that involved reserve activation at a supposedly sufficient altitude have been lumped in with incidents where the jumper did not execute proper EPs or did not follow the proper AAD instructions. One 'answer all' advisory was written. So what we have is a number of incidents, that have not been well defined, that all get involved with the statement put out by PIA/USPA. Exactly which incidents those are, I don't know for sure. I'm looking into it. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

What FAA study are you talking about? If there is such a document, a FOIA request should be able to produce it. Which accidents are in your list that pertain to this issue? . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

There is a picture in the manual. I would put the harness on, have another TI adjust it properly on you and then proceed to 'fall out' through the back. Of course, you do this on the ground to demonstrate the issue. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Where did you get those statements from? They are not what the USPA doctrine says. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

It's linked off of FunJumper.com/skyride . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

There is another source of information that may provide useful information. You can do a FOIA request to the FAA. I have received many useful documents this way, including AAD firing reports. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

I noticed. Here is the summary section from the court order: There is still another issue to be ruled on, but first two excerpts: Excerpt 1: From the Plaintiff's docket 420 filed 3/24/10 Excerpt 2 From the Defendants' docket 425 filed 4/1/10 The testimony that the Defendants want redacted explains promises they made to the United States Parachute Association to change their deceptive websites and how they (SR) are not complying with those promises. Very few people know what the promises are. SNM did not ferret out any of them and painted a very slanted picture of the agreement in their article on the settlement. No one, except SR, benefits form the secrecy of the agreement. The court will decide if the testimony is to be redacted. I'll have to go find the date that is supposed to happen. For years I told the UPSA BOD that Larry Hill was going to win and win big. I hereby say "I told you so!" My four trips to AZ for this case were well worth the effort. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

There was a CRW guy that jumped up on an exit from a KA and hit the tail and died either from the tail strike or impact with no canopy out. There was the Jimmy Koontz collision with Dead Steve(??) in AZ that may have benefited from an AAD. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Another good documentary is 'The Future of Food'. You can see it on hulu . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Larry was my FJC instructor. This was SL, pre-tandem and AFF days. Somewhere in the lesson he explained exit order and said the heavy guys went out first. My class only had two people in it. The other guy was a lineman that easily outweighed me by +100 pounds. When we finally were boarding the C182, Larry sets us up so that I jump first. I challenged him about that because he said in class that the heavier people go first. We rearranged and the big guy went first and me on the 2nd pass. Years later, I recounted that story to someone & was told that it was common practice to put the 'girls' out first so that the guys don't chicken out. You know, if a guy sees a 'girl' jump out of a perfectly good airplane then chances are the guy will too. IIRC, I never did a jump with Larry. He was always JMing. In those days, the only time you jumped with a JM was on your pin jump. But when I moved back to SoCal at the end of century, he still remembered me and would chat with me during the day between jumps or at the end of the day over a beer at the BombShelter. Melanie did tell me that many people were concerned about his JMing skills. In the 80s he also was a school teacher. Don't know why or how he got out of that. He was a good teacher. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Is the exact text of the changes going to be published somewhere? eg something like Move to amend Section blah by striking .... and inserting .... etc. How is a recount done? How do you reconcile a paper ballot and an electronic ballot from the same person? How are members going to get usernames and passwords? How much additional money is this going to cost? . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

I did away with the free listings last summer. The Basic plus ad is only $24 per year. FMI see Premium Listings . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

People generally do not search for Indiana skyride. They search for Indiana skydive. My site comes up first then. My site directs people to the REAL DZs. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Why limit it to DZO's? How about gear manufacturers? Then Instructors? Anybody who has gotten paid to do a demo? How about sold a skydiving T-shirt or necklace? (BTW, just because someone is a DZO, they may not be making a whole lot of money in the sport!) Any and all the above people can impact your wallet with decisions if they were on the BOD. The key is to get dedicated individuals who care about the sport, the members, and USPA- not their personal gain. My thoughts anyway.... top Yeah right.. as if I know of a very few people there on the BOD who fit that description. I know of a couple DZO on there who do give a shit about skydiving... but there are plenty others there that do NOT have the best interests of the members as their primary motivation... Well, you have to give Craig a bit of slack because he was not on the BOD when officers were elected last winter. That's when you learn about the lackeys and kissups and people that have double standards. He still has stardust in his eyes. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker