US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

I recently read the results of the USHPA election (http://www.ushpa.aero/news.asp?id=164) and noted that the results were incomplete...

USHPA's Web Site wrote:2010 USHPA regional director election results
Thanks for voting!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By USHPA
12/17/2010

Colorado Springs - The 2010 election for USHPA regional directors has ended and the votes have been counted. Here are the results:

In all regions except R2, there were no contested seats. In each of those regions the incumbents won re-election. A valid election requires a minimum of eleven votes in each region, and that requirement was satisfied. Accordingly, the following directors will continue to serve for the 2011-2012 term.

R1: Rich Hass
R3: Bill Helliwell
R4: Mark Gaskill
R7: Tracy Tillman
R8: Michael Holmes
R9: Felipe Amunategui
R10: Steve Kroop
R12: Paul Voight

In Region 2, there were two candidates for the seat. In a very close race, Dave Wills retains the seat by a vote of 81 to 80 over challenger Jon Blome.

Regions not listed did not have an election this year. Directors are elected for two-
year terms, so regions with only one director have an election every other year.

Thanks to everyone for participating in the election! If you have questions or comments about the election process, send them to me by email at elections@ushpa.aero

Mark G. Forbes
USHPA Elections Committee Chairman

I don't know how everyone else voted, but I know that I voted for Dennis Duvall. So I wrote to the "elections" address listed for USHPA. Here's the ensuing discussion (I'll update it as it continues).

Bob Kuczewski wrote:Hello,

I saw the winners posted at: http://www.ushpa.aero/news.asp?id=164

Could you please post or send the actual numbers of votes.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

Mark G. Forbes wrote:Bill Helliwell got 76 votes, you got four write-in votes.
There were four other write-in votes, for

Rob Sporrer (already a director in R3)
Rob McKenzie (who's repeatedly turned down the idea of running)
Larry Newby (of whom I know nothing at all)
Shep the Wonder Dog (who has vowed to run for RD next time)

There were an additional six invalid ballots. Three had votes
for multiple regions. One was separated from its mailing label,
so we don't know which member/region it came from. One more
had an invalid mailing label (possible fraud attempt?) and
one more was a vote from a R3 member who voted only for a
different region's candidates.

MGF

Bob Kuczewski wrote:Mark,

I cast my vote for Dennis Duvall.
Why didn't it show up on the list?

Bob Kuczewski

Mark G. Forbes wrote:> I cast my vote for Dennis Duvall. Why didn't it show up on the list?

I checked with Martin on this. Your ballot arrived separated from the mailing
label. The rules of the election stipulate that the ballot shall be returned
intact with the mailing label attached. It was therefore not counted, along
with five others that were not valid for one reason or another.

From the ballot header:

"Each ballot must be submitted unaltered, with the mailing label attached.
The mailing label validates your membership and your right to vote."

MGF

Bob Kuczewski wrote:Mark Forbes (cc Dennis Duvall),

I want the record to reflect that my vote was sent in for Dennis Duvall.

I also want the record to reflect all the other votes that were cast for
any other candidate (including a dog). You can invalidate them according
to any little rules that you make up, but your hiding of the basic facts only
supports the notion that USHPA cannot be trusted by its members.

Please correct this and provide a full accounting of the election results.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski

At this point, it's clear that my own vote was not counted. This brings up the question of how many other votes were "not counted". In particular, I wonder how many of Jon Blome's votes were "not counted"? Dave Wills (who is about the most corrupt Director I've ever known) only won by a single vote. How do we know that didn't happen because someone "detached" a ballot from its label?

Ooops, this vote for Jon Blome is "detached", so we won't count it. And not only won't we count it, but we won't report it either.

USHPA is so corrupt at this point that we can't trust anything they say or do.

bobk wrote: At this point, it's clear that my own vote was not counted. This brings up the question of how many other votes were "not counted". In particular, I wonder how many of Jon Blome's votes were "not counted"? Dave Wills (who is about the most corrupt Director I've ever known) only won by a single vote. How do we know that didn't happen because someone "detached" a ballot from its label?

Josef Stalin quote:

It’s not the votes that count. It’s who counts the votes.

I'm wondering what was behind the story of Lisa Tate and Mark Gaskill's recent resignations.
Both were in que for the lucrative Executive Director position.
$our grapes, perhaps ?

Free wrote:I'm wondering what was behind the story of Lisa Tate and Mark Gaskill's recent resignations.
Both were in que for the lucrative Executive Director position.

Good questions and observations!!!

I think they both wanted to move up to the paid position, and that's why they resigned ... in anticipation. But they didn't count on so many people pointing out the "revolving door" problem. So I think they decided to lay low for a while. There might be other reasons, but that seems like the most likely scenario to me.

bobk wrote:

Free wrote:I'm wondering what was behind the story of Lisa Tate and Mark Gaskill's recent resignations.
Both were in que for the lucrative Executive Director position.

Good questions and observations!!!

I think they both wanted to move up to the paid position, and that's why they resigned ... in anticipation. But they didn't count on so many people pointing out the "revolving door" problem. So I think they decided to lay low for a while. There might be other reasons, but that seems like the most likely scenario to me.

Only on this US Hawks forum have I read any comments about these resignations, not that I read all forums.
What exactly were the order of events, I'm not sure, but knowing more details would be enlightening at least.
One thing I'v noticed since Martin was appointed, more personal civil/unbiased conversations with USHPA office and various committee chairs, than any time in the past ~5yr.

Yes, sometime speaking out about conflicts of interest/revolving door sop, does some good. We've seen enough self promotion.

Let me say Thank You to all who recognized this situation and spoke out about it. It will help the sport. And, don't stop voicing opinions, it's our assn.

Sam
Southwest Texas Hang Gliders
Hawks Ch# 4
USHPA Ch# 285

SamKellner wrote:Only on this US Hawks forum have I read any comments about these resignations, not that I read all forums.
What exactly were the order of events, I'm not sure, but knowing more details would be enlightening at least.

I believe that Paul Montville's resignation was announced well before the fall elections and well before Lisa Tate's announcement to step down as President. It's interesting that there were no comments about why Paul left. Was he asked to leave? Did he get another offer? Was he leaving to cover anything up? Was Lisa herself pressuring him to leave?

There are a bunch of unanswered questions there. But just by speaking out on the potential "revolving door" we can help to keep it from happening. Martin's original assignment wasn't advertised as being permanent, but it may end up that way because we've spoken out. After all, the last thing they (USHPA insiders) want is for me to appear ... right!!

SamKellner wrote:One thing I've noticed since Martin was appointed, more personal civil/unbiased conversations with USHPA office and various committee chairs, than any time in the past ~5yr.

That's part of the pattern. When they hear that people might actually have an alternative (like the US Hawks) they suddenly start treating everyone very nice(*). And that's one of the side benefits of having even this tiny little national association. We're not really much of a threat to their monopoly, but as we continue to grow, it makes them take notice and try to be better. That's a victory in itself. So if nothing else, supporting the US Hawks gets us a better USHPA. I think that as more chapters and pilots join us, we'll see USHPA getting better and better. That's the magic of competition in a free market!

So I send my thanks to you Sam. By founding the SW Texas Hang Gliders and joining both the US Hawks and USHPA, you're helping to make USHPA better for everyone. Good job!!!

SamKellner wrote:And, don't stop voicing opinions, it's our assn.

It is our association. But it won't start acting like it until we let them know that we've got viable alternatives. A healthy market requires choice. Thanks for supporting that choice with your club's membership in the US Hawks!!

(*) Footnote: The USHPA staff (especially Beth) has always been helpful, and I don't want my criticism of the management to reflect unfairly on the Beth or other members of the staff.

bobk wrote:(*) Footnote: The USHPA staff (especially Beth) has always been helpful, and I don't want my criticism of the management to reflect unfairly on the Beth or other members of the staff.

I do agree. And what I need to remember is that USHPA is not FFF. Same people, different hat.

SamKellner wrote: ... I need to remember is that USHPA is not FFF. Same people, different hat.

Sounds like the RRRG ... same people, different hat.

By the way, this is an actual photograph of my ballot clearly marked for Dennis Duvall. USHPA (Mark Forbes) neither counted nor reported this vote in their "election results". How many times has that happened? How would we ever know?

This is more proof that USHPA cannot be trusted.