[Bob Kuczewski]

According to USHPA SOP 03-03 titled "Elections and Allocations" (updated March of 2013):

Nomination solicitation will be published annually in the May and June issue of Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine. All nominations must be received in the office no later than August 15th in order for the candidate’s name to be published on the ballot.

But if you go to USHPA's web site, there's no indication that the nominations are currently open:

web_site_2013_06_09.jpeg (133.21 KiB) Viewed 2690 times

Why not? Why doesn't the USHPA web site have a link for nominations for Regional Director?

Furthermore, if you log in to USHPA's web site and then go to https://ushpa.aero/emailrdnomination.asp (type it into your browser after you've logged in), you'll find that you can enter nominations now. Why isn't this more visible?

For the record, I've nominated myself this morning (June 9th, 2013) as a candidate in Region 3. Immediately after submitting the nomination, I received an automated email reply from USHPA's web site confirming that nomination. So at least that's still working.

If you want to make a change in your region, please consider running for Regional Director or nominating someone who you think can do the job!!

[Bob Kuczewski]

I sent an email message to the Elections Chair (Mark Forbes) with a copy to Rich Hass (President):

Elections Chair (cc President, Rich Hass, and others),

The USHPA SOPs say that nominations for Regional Director will be published in the magazine in May and June. But why isn't that solicitation published on the USHPA web site?

The front page still shows results from last year's election, but why doesn't it give notice that nominations are open for this year's election? Why doesn't it give a link where pilots can submit nominations? If USHPA has gone to all the trouble to implement electronic voting, why not let pilots know about the nominations process electronically as well?

Is this an oversight or intentional?

Bob Kuczewski

Let's see if they fix it, ignore it, ... or complain about me speaking up!

[SamKellner]

Let's see if they fix it, ignore it, ... or complain about me speaking up!

I'd just about bet on two of the three, above.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I recently got this from USHPA:

Fall Elections Are Just Around the Corner
Nominations Needed for Regional Directors

Nominations Deadline: August 16, 2013 Elections Begin: November 1, 2013

Do you know someone who...

  ... is passionate about hang gliding and paragliding?
  ... has a desire to help with the protection and growth of free-flight aviation?
  ... can both create goals to achieve their ideas and then follow through on them?

Then please nominate them for the Regional Board of Directors at USHPA! You may also nominate yourself, however please only nominate people in your region. (You do not need to re-nominate current directors).

Regional Directors are the cornerstone of the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. They are the mouthpiece of the members that they represent and for the sports of hang gliding & paragliding. The USHPA wants and needs participation in this process.

Requirements include:

  * Travel to Board Meeting twice yearly (some expenses reimbursed)
  * Interaction with committees
  * Participation in open discussion forums
  * Representation of the members in the region

Process for becoming a Regional Director:

1. By Aug 16 - Nominate yourself or another by

    * Completing the online Regional Director Nomination Form <click here> or
    * Submitting a written nomination statement to USHPA Headquarters

2. By Sept 1 - Submit a Bio about yourself for the upcoming election.

3. By Sept 1 - Submit a "VOTE FOR ME" statement (deadline Sept 1) for the November Election Issue of the magazine and Election emails.

4. Starting Nov 1 - VOTE! Elections begin November 1. On December 15th, Regional Director votes will be tallied via online ballots from active USHPA members of each region. Election results will be announced on the USHPA website http://www.ushpa.aero

=================================
Directors Up for Re-election in 2013

Reg 1 (AK, OR, WA) - 1 seat
Mark Forbes

Reg 2 (North CA, NV) - 2 seats
Josh Cohn, Patrick Hajek

Reg 3 (South CA, HI) - 2 seats
Corey Caffery, Rob Sporrer

Reg 4 (AZ, CO, UT, NM) - 1 seat
Ken Grubbs

Reg 5 (ID, MT, WY, Canada) - 1 seat
Don Lepinsky
(not running for re-election)

Reg 6 (AR, KS, MO, NE, OK, International) - 1 seat
David Glover

Reg 7 (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, SD, WI)
No election this year

Reg 8 (NH, CT, ME, MA, RI, VT)
No election this year

Reg 9 (DC, DE, KY, MD, OH) - 1 seat
Dan Tomlinson
(not running for re-election)

Reg 10 (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VI, PR) - 1 seat
Matt Taber, Bruce Weaver

Reg 11 (LA, TX) - 1 seat
David Glover

Reg 12 (NJ, NY)
No election this year

I strongly encourage ALL hang gliding pilots to get involved with the USHPA elections process as either a candidate or a campaigner. The sport of hang gliding is becoming a minority interest in the association that it founded. Hang gliding pilots must get involved or USHPA will become UShPA.