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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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 Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: Ideas about hang gliding and it's future |
 #1 |
Can we talk?
I have an idea that have been floating around for a while.
Free USHGA is the idea. The name doesn't matter, it's the idea..
The idea could be the seed for a new organization but doesn't need to become a new organization. The idea should prove to be a win/win for pilots and instructors. The USHPA can be dragged along kicking and screaming, but can be compelled to support instructors if they wish to retain any credibility.
The idea is to put instruction back in the instructor's hands instead of being shoved down their throats by an out of touch and compromised special interest oligarchy/monopoly at USHPA Corporation.
An instructor's guild can be created with instructors at the helm.
A pilot's organization/foundation/non profit group can be formed to assist.
Instructors administer the instruction, veteran pilots give input and support.
Two non profit groups taking control of hang gliding destiny. It can be done without an all out war with the corporation that doesn't have a product to sell.
The 'product' in hang gliding is instruction.
USHPA doesn't have anything to market except regulation of an unregulated sport.
Anyone still with me? |
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Windlord
Joined: 29 Jan 2010
Posts: 17
Location: Montana
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:44 am Post subject: |
#2 |
International Organization of Hang Gliding Instructors
It would also allow instructors to teach in any country.
The instructors would be in-charge of their own destiny.  |
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bobk
3 thumbs up
Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 170
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: |
#3 |
Gee, there are some pretty smart and creative folks on this forum!!
I should visit more regularly.  |
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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:16 pm Post subject: |
#4 |
I'm here to help you, Bob.
I do happen to have a history with USHPA..
Some surprisingly similar to issues that began your odyssey.
I have some insight that could be beneficial to the cause of accountability, transparency and fairness.
Don't be so focused on your big picture that you can't see mine. |
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wild_high_mark
3 thumbs up
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 99
Location: Lakeview
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: |
#5 |
| FreeUSHGA wrote: |
| II have some insight that could be beneficial to the cause of accountability, transparency and fairness. |
Funny you should mention that, I just installed a new hard drive and was pulling off all my old documents and found this.
I started training in 2002 so this must have been the very first time that I posted on that old USHGA forum. This was the day they kicked you off, I don't know if you saw it (I don't remember if I posted it).
Dated September 15 2004:
You guys are having too much fun with out me.
Warren, I love you.
I have been lurking here too long.
Fellow pilots: attention.,
Warren has had an accident.
He forgot to pre-flight his partnership (read the contract) before the launch.
There was insufficient speed at launch (the major cause of accidents last year). A hard stall was the result and a turn back to launch with minor injuries to the pilot, but the vehicle is beyond repair.
As part of the hang gliding community, we must evaluate the accident and make sure this never happens again.
My conclusion is:
NEVER give lawyer money.
NEVER give a lawyer control of money.
NEVER pay a lawyer to do anything.
NEVER enter a partnership with a lawyer.
If a normal person has a friend OR relative as a lawyer, do not trust this person.
If lawyers don’t have money or friends, maybe one day they will evolve.
Lesson learned, let’s get on with life.
Now sometimes we pool together and help the injured pilot recover from the accident but I don’t know Warren enough to know what he wants. I have composed a list of items for you to choose from Warren, pick as many as you need. Remember you are pilot in command, even for your business deals.
1. Money
2. Power
3. Fame
4. A Dragonfly
5. A place to fly
6. A partner to fly with
7. A job
8. A retirement plan
9. A life
First of all, what did you loose?
Second, I can only help with parts of this list. At some point you are going to have to be responsible for your own actions just like the rest of us.
My perception is that you sunk your savings into what you thought was money making deal with two other guys.
Did you see money in a sport that has an average age of 43, and is increasing one year every year?
I think Garr might have done you a big favor. I bet he’s buying the big bottle of aspirin.
Can I see a show of hands; is ANYBODY making a good living at hang gliding, paragliding, powered paragliding, mosquitoes, harnesses, chutes, or instruments?
I THOUGHT SO.
I expect an answer from you Warren, I don’t mind the funny names as much as others.
I am Mark Webber. I am the Safety Officer for the San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. Come join us some time, I will help wire you off.
I was pretty wet behind the ears. |
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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject: |
#6 |
| And now you're older. |
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wild_high_mark
3 thumbs up
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 99
Location: Lakeview
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:17 pm Post subject: |
#7 |
| FreeUSHGA wrote: |
| And now you're older. |
Yea, but how can I ask you those questions without answering them myself?
Maybe part of the reason that I decided to retire at 50 years old and have some fun before its too late.
So really, trying to figure out how to help you has actually helped me.
Thanks Warren! |
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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject: |
#8 |
| wild_high_mark wrote: |
| FreeUSHGA wrote: |
| And now you're older. |
Yea, but how can I ask you those questions without answering them myself?
Maybe part of the reason that I decided to retire at 50 years old and have some fun before its too late.
So really, trying to figure out how to help you has actually helped me.
Thanks Warren! |
I'm not following the logic that would give me any credit for your lifestyle decisions. I didn't quit my job to fly... I was fired!
Then two ex-regional directors worked behind the scenes to have me sanctioned by USHGA. One made a proposal a BOD meeting to shoot me down and that idea was shot down for sheer stupidity. I only found out about it a year or so later when someone let the cat out of the bag. Dutcher Sterling or Mark Forbes... I think...
If it hadn't been for such an obvious conflict of interest for my former partners, I could have been accused, tried and convicted of some secret, unspecified crime, and then had my membership rating reduced or revoked, on the word of a regional director and the power of the borg, without my having been given the opportunity to defend myself.
Secret trials and imperial edicts handed down from on high with no accountability, How quaint..
You started hang gliding about the same time my membership expired.. |
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blindrodie
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 16
Location: Roeland Park KS
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:21 am Post subject: |
#9 |
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wild_high_mark
3 thumbs up
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 99
Location: Lakeview
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:54 am Post subject: |
#10 |
| FreeUSHGA wrote: |
| I'm not following the logic that would give me any credit for your lifestyle decisions. |
It's probably just my style. Reminds me of when I was the manager for a pizza restaurant. Saturday night the dirty dishes would get piled up and I would go over and knock it down. The kids always laughed at me and said "You are the manager, you don't have to do dishes". I would laugh right back and say "How can I expect YOU to knock this pile down in ten minutes if I can't knock this pile down in ten minutes?".
I don't expect things of other people that I am not capable of myself, so I can't ask you questions that I have not answered (earlier or in the process of asking). Might not be any logic involved here.
I got used to the laughing, I would order out for a pizza delivered to our pizza place each Saturday night. The kids just laughed at me, I RAN a pizza restaurant, I could have any pizza I wanted for free. I laughed right back, "The pizza is not for me, it's for you. How do you know that we are making the best pizza in town if you don't know what everyone else in town is making? Take a slice".
Some places would not deliver to our restaurant, I had to get in the car and go get it, funny! |
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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:50 am Post subject: |
#11 |
| wild_high_mark wrote: |
I don't expect things of other people that I am not capable of myself, so I can't ask you questions that I have not answered (earlier or in the process of asking). Might not be any logic involved here.
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Logic is an engineers' forte, for artists not so much, I guess.
I'm somewhere in between.
The questions you asked were never answered.
Rodie's playing dumb.. |
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FreeUSHGA
3 thumbs up
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 243
Location: Kansas City
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wild_high_mark
3 thumbs up
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 99
Location: Lakeview
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:27 am Post subject: |
#13 |
| FreeUSHGA wrote: |
| This is similar to your epiphany? |
No, It took me years of trying as hard as I could to improve things that finally made me realize that "big business" was in no way interested in helping me help others.
If I can't help others, then I'll just help myself.
I kept my money. |
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