[Bob Kuczewski]

I've run for Regional Director a number of times, and in the past USHPA has always emailed several (2 or 3) candidate statements to the members of each region during the election period. Candidates are usually reminded of this by the elections chairman Mark Forbes.

I've been pretty busy this year, and time has been speeding by. When I noticed it was already December, I decided to write to Mark with a copy to the office staff:

Hello Mark Forbes,

In past elections there have been a series of "email blasts" sent out by USHPA containing additional candidate statements. It is now December, and none have been solicited or sent.

Can you explain?

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski
USHPA Regional Director Candidate - Region 3

Mark wrote back promptly:

Due to general lack of interest in the past, I decided not to do them this year. I talked with the EC about it and we didn't think it was doing much, just re-hashing the same stuff that was already printed in the magazine and on the online ballot.

I'm going to send out a "remember to vote" reminder in a few days, but that's it.

MGF

Since Mark has said "that's it", then that must be it. No email statements in 2014. Just like that!!

Here's my reply:

Hello Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

You wrote that due to a "general lack of interest in the past" you decided not to send ANY email candidate statements this year. That causes me to ask:

    General "lack of interest" from WHO in the past?
    Do you mean lack of interest from pilots? Did you do a survey?
    Do you mean lack of interest from the majority of incumbents ... running unopposed?
    Or do you really mean that USHPA has a lack of interest in informing its members?

That's OK Mark. There's no need to reply. I'll just document this as another example of USHPA's misconduct.

Thanks.

Bob Kuczewski
Regional Director Candidate - USHPA Region 3

This whole thing is particularly ironic because USHPA has been pushing to go "electronic", and they don't seem to mind sending us THEIR propaganda at the drop of a hat. But candidates who are supposed to be the actual representatives of the actual members? "Well, we (at USHPA) don't see much interest in that."

This would deserve a long line of "Rolling on the Floor Laughing" icons ... if it wasn't so sad.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I guess the blackout on candidate statements worked ...

The election has closed, and here are the results. All of the votes were on-line except for two paper ballots, in region 3 and region 8. These directors will take office January 1, 2015, and serve through the end of 2016.

Region 1: Rich Hass ran unopposed and received 100 votes. Dave Palmer, Jim Tibbs and Matt Henzi each received one write-in vote.

Region 2: Jugdeep Aggarwal ran unopposed and received 103 votes. Robert Booth received three write-in votes, Jon James (already a RD) received two, and one each for Bill Hartwick, Brian Bokkin, Chien Dinh and Eric Beckman.

Region 3: Pete Michelmore received 169 votes and wins the seat. Bob Kuczewski received 40 votes. Joe Greblo received three write-in votes and Mike Meier had one.

Region 4: Bill Belcourt ran unopposed and received 74 votes. Ken Grubbs (the other region 4 RD) received two write-in votes, and there was one each for Jonathan Jeffries, Mark Windsheimer and Porter Rickabaugh.

Region 5, Region 6/11 had no elections this cycle.

Region 7: Paul Olson ran unopposed and received 29 votes. Tracy Tillman received one write-in vote.

Region 8: Michael Holmes ran unopposed on the ballot and received 95 votes. A write-in campaign for Luiz Fernando Costa gained 34 votes, and there was one write-in vote for Paulo Gusman.

Region 9: Felipe Amunategui received 114 votes and wins the seat. Dan Tomlinson received 38 votes. Matthew Ingram and Terry Bono each received a write-in vote.

Region 10: Steve Kroop ran unopposed and received 66 votes. Aric Paulson received one write-in vote.

Region 12: Paul Voight ran unopposed and received 61 votes. Terry Bono, Rick Brown and Cathleen O'Connell each received one write-in vote.

Thanks to all of the candidates for their participation, and congratulations to the winners. See you in Colorado next March!

Mark G. Forbes
USHPA Elections Committee chair
elections@ushpa.aero

I have to say that it feels pretty good to have defeated both Joe Greblo and Mike Meier. Only kidding. They're both my heroes.

[wingspan33]

The sheePGle majority in Region 3 voted just the way you might expect.

Bob, . . . As an announced candidate, don't you have the ability to receive the email (and regular) addresses of all USHGA pilots in your Region?

I know that USHPA Chapters have the ability to get member mailing lists - that these days MUST include email addresses.

So. what's UP?

Seems like the USHPA controlled the (voting news) media by failing to publicize ALL candidates in your region.

Pete Mitchelmore - Employment History: Owner - Gravity Hawaii Paragliding

Since when does a PG school owner in Hawaii (who comes to the mainland how often?) rate a Region 3 Directorship?

Oooops! Sorree. I fergot! Duhhh! Were takin bout the USPGA after all.

[wingspan33]

Does this look like responsible (safe) behavior for a USPGA Regional Director -

http://vimeo.com/8399814

Is this even legal?

Tomorrow - Research FAA parachute jumping from PGs.

[Bob Kuczewski]

You mean this?

PeteMichelmore_BaseJumping.jpeg (69.19 KiB) Viewed 5269 times

Not only does it NOT look safe ... it looks like a good way for USHPA to lose its FAA tandem exemption.

Is there any way to justify this as an "instructional" flight?

[wingspan33]

I've got this growing list of prominent USHPA members who (by way of HARD evidence) are of low moral character and/or a threat to the USHPA's "risk management" (let's keep the Association's Insurance) efforts.

How hard would it be to email that video to the underwriter and someone at the FAA?

I think, that before this joker even takes office, a recall election should be scheduled. Forget that! Revoke his membership - ASAP.

Once more, this would be for the GOOD of every member of the USHPA. Stunts like this one by Pete Michelmore and "student"(?) threaten the insurance coverage and hefty membership fee increases of EVERY PILOT in the USHPA.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I run for USHPA Regional Director every year. I run on a platform of open voting by Regional Directors, fairness for Chapters, and fairness for Members. If the majority of USHPA pilots wanted those things, then I would be elected. Instead, I get about 1/5 up to 1/2 of the votes in our Region, but usually not enough to win.

I won't completely give up on reforming USHPA, and I will run again and again. But given the trend that we're seeing, I think it would be foolish for any hang glider pilot to keep all their eggs in the USHPA basket. The US Hawks is an alternative landing zone designed especially for those pilots who want the freedom to act and fly responsibly. We may be the smaller subset of the free flight community, but then the free flight community is a very small subset of humanity. Those that like our subset will join us, and they're the people I know I want to associate with anyway. Isn't it nice how that works itself out?

[wingspan33]

Now, . . . if only the other subset would keep jumping out of their paragliders, . . . .

[Rick Masters]

That's interesting. The extreme of paragliding is taking the lead. The scofflaws. This should be fun to watch. You can see how much concern there is for the hang gliding sector. Why are Region 3 California hang glider pilots in a parachuting organization, anyway? Oh, yeah. Insurance. Really?

I don't care if it's safe or not. I think they should be allowed to do that. It doesn't bother me. What bothers me is why are Region 3 California hang glider pilots in a parachuting organization? That doesn't make sense. They don't fit well together.

BTW, on another thread I said don't invite the government to dinner. They wreck things. And hope they don't invite you to dinner. Well, you all are about to get a dinner invitation if you don't leave the table.

[Rick Masters]

U$hPA has issued advisories in the past two years about skydivers jumping from paragliders. You would find them here under Media / Press Center. http://ushpa.aero


Elsewhere, motorhead Jeff Goin addresses the issue.
Sky Diving From A Paramotor
http://www.footflyer.com/PPGBibleUpdate ... umping.htm

What if he goes splat?
http://fox13now.com/2012/05/02/slc-para ... functions/