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"One thing I have said often, in regard to history;
"the best time to record history is while those who lived it are still alive"
...quoting Frank Colver SCHGA member #7.
Our efforts to bring noticeable recognition to the historic importance of the 1971 May 23
First Great Universal Hang Glider Championship & Otto Lillenthal Birthday Celebration in
Newport Beach over the past year lead to a 40th reunion of that event, this past May23rd!
Effort is now underway to petition the state for a * California Historic Landmark *
to eventually be placed somewhere in Newport Beach some time in the future.
The "OTTO MARKER PROJECT" as it became known, proved to others & to ourselves that
this web group forum has the means to inspire other such Hang Glider sport history efforts.
Due to the success of the Otto Marker Project in Newport Beach continues with a push to acquire a city
recognized placement of the quarried stone that was carved, polished & presented on May23rd 2011.
Local resident Frank Colver -SCHGA #7 - continues as a contact person on our behalf.
We thank everyone who helped us over this past year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Otto Meet.
A special thanks to our own "BOB K" Bob Kuczewski, who inspires us to post on US HAWKS
for the express purpose of disseminating honest straight forward information regarding early HG history.
Specifically HG history regarding the origin of the current USHPA & development of the sport in the 1970's.
Our gratitude extends further to Joe Faust SCHGA #5 who continue to use Press & Media to share worldwide
as editor of LIFT- a monthly Internet "e-zine" HG related Web Log.
- The HG Early Birds Project -We hope to focus significant & much due attention to the historic
importance the original charter members of the USHPA, who back in 1971 &1972 joined a fledgling
local L.A. hang glider club which became known as the Southern California Hang Glider Association, & even earlier the Peninsula Hang Glider Club). It is our goal & desire to allow each of the charter members to give voice to their own story of their experiences regarding Hang Gliding. Many of these HG founders have virtual volumes of first person narrative stories to share with a contemporary community of Paragliding & hang Gliding enthusiasts.
*Finding the original charter members of the SCHGA the task & an opportunity that has been completely
overlooked by the current controllers of the USHPA organization.Suggesting to the executives in controling
the USHPA on several occasions that such a collection of archived history from those who were eye witnesses
could be included in a regular featured column or article in Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazine.
However my suggestion fell on deaf, dull ears.
The HG Early Birds Project will research & attempt to locate as many of these club members as possible.
The update will shed light on long lost friends & give some closure & bring recognition to those who actually participated by their physical membership in the SCHGA during those first formidable years.
Specific methods of research are encouraged by all who read this in an all out effort to bring long over due
recognition to the founding members of the USHPA. 40 years has lapsed since a simply sport of recreation
grew into a world wide aviation phenomenon from a confluence of science & technology. Those who shared in the
first hand experience in any personal way should therefore be allowed to communicate their own individual memories.
Our first phase of this project will be to solicit a core of persons to toss ideas around via the Internet,
to gain support & ideas. *Charter Status could extend to the first 200 members. Any ideas for this project will continue to develop as project volunteers suggest. Our experience with the Otto Marker Project helps us realize the spontaneous input of all those interested give flexibility to the project & also increases achievement of the goals!
Anyone who would like to help may reply to me with any suggetions or information-
* membership list will be updated and sent directly to project members for PRIVACY-
Sincerely - Neil Larson - USHPA / USHGA original Historian , SCHGA charter member # 24
