[Bob Kuczewski]

Big Bird replied with an embedded video:

This may help some of us who find the "published" Pagen letter published here appalling…

F**K That!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92i5m3tV5XY

Phil Sergent
H5 USHGA 7722
[url]

[Bob Kuczewski]

Mark Forbes replied:

Do you know if Dennis is actually going to retire?
Is Jamie actually our CIVL Representative?
Who would you like to see as at Large BOD members?

I have not discussed that with Dennis, so I don't know. He said at a previous meeting that he was thinking of stepping out of active work on the BOD, though I don't recall a specific timeline. I personally appreciate the long history he has in our sport, and the perspective that he brings to discussions. Dick Heckman is another whose experience is valuable, together with his long history of working with FAA and within NASA as an engineer over the decades. I don't care if they do their presentations on clay tablets! It's the knowledge that matters, not whether it's "tweeted" or "instagrammed" or "snapchatted" or "tindered" or whatever. (I have a feeling that last one might be kind of sketchy…but it's not my area of expertise.)

The USHPA president appoints the CIVL representative. I think that's Jamie, but it's not listed on the BOD roster on the website. I'll ask the office staff to add that item.

The five at-large seats at present are Paul Murdoch, Steve Rodrigues, Dennis Pagen, Jamie Shelden and Ryan Voight. I'm not going to comment in public about whether I'd like to replace any of them with someone else, and I don't have anyone specific in mind anyhow. Two of these (Paul and Steve) are serving on the EC, and I'd really like to keep both of them on. Paul's in his first term, serving as vice president, and Steve is serving as secretary. Paul's also chairing finance and insurance, which I share with him handling the insurance side of things. Steve's also chairing Organization and Bylaws, which is where his detail-oriented attention to organizational structure really shines. It may be jokingly known as the semicolon-placement committee, but getting the structural details right so that our SOPs don't have internal conflicts is important and also boring as hell. Steve's good at it. (Organizational detail: EC members have to be voting members of the board, and if they aren't elected regional directors, then they need to first be elected to at-large positions, *then* elected as officers. That's why we do the at-large election first, before the officer elections.)

They're all good folks, they all bring valuable knowledge to the board, and it's a pleasure to work with each of them. Ryan's young and innovative, but immersed in our sport from infancy. Jamie's brilliant and brings a female viewpoint that we don't have enough of. Dennis has a wealth of experience and knowledge from the dawn of our sport to the present day, with an engineer's ability to reason and analyze.

All of that said, we're always looking for talented folks who want to help out. The best way to unseat someone who you think isn't doing a good job or doesn't share your views is to run against them in the election. Or if you want to offer a "better" option for a director-at-large candidate, show up at the meetings, get involved as a volunteer, and show us all that you're the kind of person who we need to have as a voting member of our board. Nominations are open right now, and in fact the deadline is coming up fairly soon.

http://ushpa.aero/elections.asp

MGF

Mark Forbes led the charge to have me expelled. When a few Directors spoke in even mild opposition, Mark Forbes was quick to shut them down. The most ironic part of Mark Forbes' post is this quote:

The best way to unseat someone who you think isn't doing a good job or doesn't share your views is to run against them in the election.

Mark Forbes doesn't say it, but a big part of their reason for expelling me was to keep me from running for Regional Director again. My candidate statements were openly critical of Mark Forbes / USHPA, and I always got a significant percentage of the vote (sometimes a majority and sometimes not). But whether I won or not, USHPA was compelled by their bylaws to publish my candidate statements, and they couldn't find a way around that ... until they dreamed up their expulsion plot.

Again, this justifies the fear expressed in the anonymous letter.

[Bob Kuczewski]

See Howeto Fly replied:

I have to agree with Eric, an e mail sent to the BOD by a group of nameless nobodies hardly constitutes published and despite what Davis says, I think it's personal with him. I'm not blind Davis so don't concern yourself. I read to entire e mail, we just don't agree on what sound reporting means

[Bob Kuczewski]

Davis replied:

The USHPA president appoints the CIVL representative.

And Dennis vetoes them.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Rob Clarkson replied:

Don't reporters in the US have legal rights to protect their sources? To keep the identities of their source secret?

Davis replied:

In some states, yes, but there is no federal statute.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Bill C. replied:

If I remember, it was Graeme that advanced the text about not being able to attack an anonymous person.

Galileo Galilei did not publish anonymously. His book comparing two theories about the Earth being the center of the Universe to a different theory of the planets orbiting our sun (Copernican system and the Ptolemaic system) ran counter to the beliefs of those in power.
Galileo was found to be, “vehemently suspect of heresy,” so he was confined to house arrest, his previous writings were banned and also any future writings.

During my research for this post I came across this: Galileo's fiercest detractor, Cesare Cremonini, when presented with an opportunity to view the truth, refused to look through Galileo’s telescope. All at once the name Graeme Henderson leapt into my mind….
I also discovered that when I laugh so hard that I blow spittle on the computer screen it reveals a multitude of mini rainbows.

Concerned Guys, ridgeliftguys1, remaining anonymous is an idea that might even pass muster with Bob K. at this point in time.
It is quite possible that the demand to know who an anonymous person is will be made by someone that wants to attack the person when the text can’t be.
Facts are facts being anonymous will not change that.
The monopoly power will always strive to hold power and leave nowhere else to turn.
If the monopoly can hold intimidation over your head do you think they will not do it?

Galileo must have been too stupid to realize this even while spending the rest of his life under house arrest.

A little anonymity would still have had the earth going around the Sun and Galileo going around town.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Brianscharp replied:

If I remember, it was Graeme that advanced the text about not being able to attack an anonymous person.

It's a defense for attacking an anonymous poster.
http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=138284#138284

How can you make a personal attack against an anonymous poster?

Cheers,

[Bob Kuczewski]

Graeme Henderson replied:

This is just another "not about Bob" beat up, just look at the contributors, all the Bob God pimps pushing the US Squawks terrorist agenda, now supported by Davis? Pathetic and cowardly.

cheers,
Graeme

It appears that Davis locked the topic after allowing Graeme to take this final unsubstantiated "pot shot" at myself and the US Hawks. Davis clearly shapes the discussion through his "moderation" of who can speak ... and when.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Christopher then started another topic titled "Smear Piece" where he posted:

"I trust my readers to understand and critique any article that I publish."

Just so long as that critique doesn't concern the ethics of publishing- then it get's locked down rather fast. Regardless of content, publishing an anonymous attack is endorsing an anonymous attack by providing it a platform- obfuscation and equivocation not withstanding. Publishing such an obviously controversial manifesto then locking the discussion page linked from the article needs to be justified if credibility is to be earned.

Christopher LeFay

[Bob Kuczewski]

Davis replied:

I locked the thread because it went off the rails with Bill C., Brian, and Graeme.