US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

I was digging around looking for something else when I came upon this link:

      http://torreyhawks.org/R3/ENDNOFR.HTM

It was the endorsements page from my 2008 run for USHPA Region 3 Director. I was running against the incumbent David Jebb who was also the concessionaire at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. I won that election with 122 votes to Jebb's 98. It's interesting to look back nearly 11 years later. Here are those endorsements:


Dave Beardslee:

I encourage all pilots in Region 3 to support Bob Kuczewski for Regional Director. I have closely watched his dedication to the concerns of the pilots. With unselfish tenacity he battles the badness. Electing Bob Kuczewski as a Regional Director is a big step towards this goal. Region 3 and USHPA needs an R.D. that will help us up, and not bring us down - we need that! We need you! Please vote for Bob Kuczewski. He supports us - I support him. Thank you in advance.

- DB

John Wright:

Bob is tireless in his pursuit of fairness for all pilots in Region 3. I have watched with amazement his tireless efforts to make sure hang glider and paraglider pilots alike are well and fairly represented to bureaucracies and other pilots, alike. His advocacy has come at significant personal costs, in time, money, and, worst of all, the freedom to fly his own site.

I strongly endorse Bob in the hopes that Region 3 can return to the placid place by the Pacific, where pilots all can fly and not be tread upon.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy flying with Bob at a site where biwingwal harmony is more than just a dream, it's a happy ride, sky, & beer sharing reality.

John Wright
Hang 3
Crestline Soaring Society Activities Director (i.e. "Julie the Cruise Director")
Torrey Hawks #8
E-Team (no nickname, though)

Mike Zeller:

I'm voting for Bob Kuczewski as Regional Director in Region 3. I am very impressed by his educational background and professional credentials, as well as his lengthy history of involvement in the sport of hang gliding. The tone and manner of both his personal demeanor and of his written statements convince me that he has the skills to be a great representative for USHPA. Bob has impressed me with his hard work for the Torrey Hawks and I know he will work as hard as Regional Director. He will bring a fresh and motivated representation to our sport.

Teddy Mack:

Hello, I am Teddy Mack. I have been Flying Torrey Pines for over 30 years. There is a change in the wind. Bob Kuczewski is the person who the flying community needs to preserve the legacy of our wonderful flying site. I endorse Bob as regional director of Region 3. I personally believe that Bob has the best interest of our sport and the preservation of our Region 3 flying sites.

Teddy Mack
Wind Gypsy Hang Gliding
http://www.windgypsy.com

Malury Silberman:

I just finished marking and mailing my ballot. I voted for Mr. Kuczewski because he exhibits many of the attributes I think are valuable in a Regional Director. Bob is the only candidate I have met and the only reason we have met is because he came to Sylmar to fly. He introduced himself and it was clear that he wants to fly at all local sites and address local issues. So far, no other candidates have been seen at Sylmar. I think he has suffered the pain of being treated unfairly and he is taking appropriate action to remedy such problems for ALL region 3 pilots. He has the desire and bravery to fight for fair access for us, the least we can do is to vote for him.

Malury Silberman
H-3 USHPA# 82603

Ernie Casco:

Hi, my name is Ernie. I'm a local La Jolla hang glider pilot and a paraglider pilot. I've been flying many years in La Jolla. I've recently not been flying at Torrey Pines because of the negative situation there.

I would like to see Bob "Hawk" win the Regional Director position. Bob has proven to me to be a stand-up man and a positive person to represent all of us. I'd like to ask you to cast your vote for him.

Ernie "the Eagle" Casco

Jeff Chipman:

I'd like to endorse Bob Kuczewski for regional 3 director based on several factors.

1. Bob has shown the ability to keep many people and pilots informed at a personal sacrifice of his own time. I know how difficult it is to take the time to write all the correspondence and phone calls. I don't believe I've seen one thing from the current director.
    
2. I've met both of the main candidates and I honestly believe that Bob has all pilots interests well covered. Bob has taken the time to visit many of the flying sites within the region and I believe he ACTUALLY has a plan and a better vision on how to get things accomplished throughout the region and not just his main flying site.
    
3. Although Bob hasn't been flying all that long compared to the general region 3 population, I believe he will make a POSITIVE contribution to our sport.

Jeff Chipman
Network Systems Engineer
A+,N+,CNA,MCSE,CCA,CCNA

Joe Greblo:

Bob,

As a manager of one of the full-time flight parks that you frequent, and an officer on the board of another, I appreciate the level of respect and responsibility that you have afforded us during your flying career. You have always been viewed here as a fine example of safety, cooperation, and comradery. I think you'd make a fine Regional Director.

Joe Greblo

John Heiney:

I've gotten to know Bob Kuczewski over the last 4 years as my hang gliding student. I find him to be honest and fair-minded.

I have found Bob to be one of the most helpful people I have ever met.

I believe that Bob has the time, resources, and inclination to address problems concerning pilots as our Regional Director.

Steve Pearson:

Hi Bob,

Good luck with the election--you've got my vote!

Take care,
Steve

Theda Silver-Pell:

Bob's ability and willingness to promote, protect, and advocate for free flight as a Regional Director are truly unparalleled. In fact, he has already been doing all of the things that a regional director ideally should:

• You can definitely count on him to go to all of the boring meetings that we all should (but rarely do), even if it means giving up a good day of flying.
   
• He really cares about what you think and is honestly interested in your opinion. Call him if you don't believe me.
   
• He encourages cooperation between everyone with the shared interests of free flight - hang gliders, paragliders, sailplane pilots, and RC pilots - instead of perpetuating petty grievances.
   
• He will fight and do whatever is necessary (including legal research - did I mention boring before?) to protect *all* your flying sites (and he actually goes to all of them).
   
• He has excellent communication skills (check out the Torrey Hawks newsletter).
   
• He will help your grandmother across the street. He's just a good, selfless person like that.
   
• And much more...

As a younger pilot, I'm endorsing Bob Kuczewski because I think he has what it takes to ensure a good future for free flight in Region 3 and I would like to see that extended to the rest of USHPA.

Theda Silver-Pell
USHPA #82529

Freddy Wagner:

I've known Bob all my flying career (since my first solo) -- 4 years/200hrs this Thanksgiving. His character is beyond reproach -- much higher than all I meet, and I have extremely high standards. He was an Army Ranger. He wouldn't even use a Ham radio flying until he got licensed, even though every one else (me too) did.

I've given him my perspective through his Torrey Hawks organizing and running for Regional Director, and his heart has always been in the right place about it all: working very hard to make positive contributions to our fragile and spectacular/historic sport. Even though he flys paragliders too, he took a stand at Torrey to try to help some other edged-out HG pilots, and took some thuggery-type heat for it (even though a Ranger!). He created the Torrey Hawks to try to help. Now, he is willing to put up the bucks (travel and time) to do this 2 year gig, to try to help the sport out. I appreciate all his contributions and think he'd be an excellent Regional Director.

Freddy Wagner
Sylmar Hang Gliding Association (former Board Member)
freddysemail@yahoo.com

Kenny Westfall:

Hey Bob,

For the short time we’ve known each other, you’ve demonstrated all of the quality’s it takes to be a R.D, and a "BROTHER IN THE SPORT" ... David Jebb has shown none! In a nut shell, OUT with the bad, and in with the GOOD! It will be comforting to know that Torrey Pines as well as all of region 3’s flying sites will be under your direction! The way I see it ... you're either born into the sport ... or you're not ... YOU ARE!!!

Kenny Westfall #36666

Dan DeWeese:

I am endorsing Bob as region 3 RD. With flying sites being lost or threatened by suburban expansion, we need someone like Bob working for us, who is one of us, the pilots.

I feel that Bob can and will make the right decisions based on what is best for the sport and the pilots, present and future, not for a buck, but because it is right.

Dan DeWeese
Crestline, CA
rebardan--yahoo.com

Shane Gorman:

Hello fellow pilots. I would like to endorse Bob Kuczewski for the position of Regional Director. I had the pleasure of talking with Bob while spending a day at Dockweiler beach while my nephews were training. In talking with Bob one cannot help but notice and take note of his knowledge and enthusiasm for our unique form of aviation. He was stoked that there was three kids, teenagers beginning their free flight adventure in a sport that is unfortunately somewhat .... geriatric. In this fast paced and complicated world, to have the mindset and dedication to "give back" is an honorable thing indeed.

It would be of great benefit to Region 3 pilots to have Bob in our corner.

Thank you and Aloha from the Big Island!

Shane Gorman USHPA #79574

George Stebbins:

I've met Bob a few times. He's always been polite and concerned about our local issues. He also makes it a point to visit as many sites in the area as he can. He seems to be a fair and honest guy who works hard to make sure that everyone gets treated honestly and appropriately. He likes, admires and talks to both hang glider and paraglider pilots without any bias that I can see. To the best of my ability to tell, he's motivated largely by a desire to make soaring flight fun, safe and accessible to all of us no matter what type of wing we use.

We've had several very long email conversations that indicate to me his drive to help our sport, the fire to make the appropriate changes, and his ability to keep his self-restraint when necessary. I believe he would make a fine regional director.

Fly High; Fly Far; Fly Safe; Dream Big

George Stebbins
Region 3 Pilot
Sylmar Hang Gliding Association
Crestline Soaring Society
World Record Holder

John Pitt:

Hi Bob,

Look forward to having you as Regional Director. You have my vote sent in and Endorsement.

Thank You,
John Pitt
Lake Elsinore 28 years of flying here.

Jesse Benson:

I know Bob from Kagel and Dockweiler, and he was (and is) always someone who was not only experienced and well informed, but willing to discuss flying in all its forms and possibilities, even to a low hour "part-time" pilot like me.

Bob actually called me at home to discuss hang-gliding (and paragliding) in Southern California in general, and Los Angeles in particular, and what he wanted to do to support all of our members, in all of their guises.

I appreciate the effort, and feel it displays an aptitude for the legwork and "dirty work" of being a Regional Director; it's not for the faint-at-heart. I wholeheartedly support his election.

Jesse Benson
#83109
Los Angeles, 10.20.08

Jonathan Dietch:

I voted for Bob after spending a very enjoyable hour on the telephone with him a few months ago. My impression of Bob is that he is a level headed and enthusiastic supporter of both hang gliding and paragliding, and above all: SAFETY. I did not detect any type of hidden agenda, axe to grind, or financial conflict of interest. Even if there was no consternation over equal access to Torrey Pines, he would still get my vote over the incumbent. I'm sure that David Jebb manages his leasehold at Torrey Pines with safety in mind and in a manner that maximizes the number of pilots aloft at any given time. I fail to see how he has the freedom or time to oversee Region 3 with all his responsibilities and his book promotions, etc. On the other hand, Bob gets out and flies at different sites and gets to know all the people regardless of wing orientation. It's that factor that garnered my vote. This isn't about Torrey Pines. It's about the region as a whole. In that regard, I see Bob as being a pervasive influence and force on the entire region and not just one site.

Jonathan Dietch
AKA: NMERider

Jack Axaopoulos:

It's time to take action, and vote for a direction that takes us towards a harmonious bi-wingal club at Torrey Pines, similar to what we have at Crestline/Marshall.

It's time to end the anti-HG bias at Torrey Pines, the bait and switch to PG, the HG trash talking, and the antagonism and bullying from the owner Dave Jebb. Too many HG pilots no longer fly Torrey because of negative anti-HG vibe there.

Its time to end the stone walling and back door dealing at Torrey Pines, and the banning of flying members WITH NO DOCUMENTED REASON and no recourse.

Its time to vote for Bob, and help him put in place a fair third party system that has no bias and doesn't discriminate against a class of wing due to financial motives.

Take Torrey Pines back for Hang Gliding and Paragliding (yes, I even know PG's that wont fly there because of all the drama), now! VOTE!

If pilots lose this opportunity to open Torrey Pines back up to hang gliding, and not just H4's, then they will deserve what they get. P0's fly there every day, but no H0's. Only a few H4's do. FAIR???? Help end the rating discrimination too. Torrey could be the lifeblood to new HG pilots if teaching was fair there. Stop complaining, and DO something about it, VOTE TODAY.

James Gaar:

It is my belief that Bob has good intentions for USHPA's Region 3. It appears he would make a good volunteer leader and Regional Director. For what it's worth, I endorse Bob Kuczewski.

James Gaar
Former Regional Director/Honorary Director
USHGA
Noncurrent member
Long live Region 6!

Patrick Lehrmann:

I have known Bob Kuczewski since I started flying in 2003. We met at Little Black in San Diego and he was practicing Paragliding. Since then I have seen him all over southern California. I bumped into him at Crestline and turned circles in a thermal with him at Sylmar. I have flown with him at Torrey Pines too. I like that fact that he flys everything and loves all the forms of free flight.

Since 2003 I have never flown with the incumbent at any of the sites. I guess maybe at Torrey.

I voted for Bob because from what I know of him, he is dedicated to the sport for the pure enjoyment and not for material gain. What a nice guy and an amazing club that he has helped to bring together.

I appreciate all his contributions and think he'd be an excellent Regional Director. I wear my Torrey Hawks T-shirt with pride!

Patrick Lehrmann
Crestline Society Member since 2003
Torrey Hawks #10

Jim Shaw:

Hi Bob,

Thought I would drop you a line to let you know I have voted for you! Keep up the good work. It's nice to know that a breath of fresh air has blown in. Gook luck (but I don't think you need it) and happy winning!

Jim Shaw
SHGA Pilot

Mitch McAleer:

I support Bob for the following reasons:

• Independent oversight at a popular site from the flying community.
   
• Reduce possible conflict of interest at a popular site where the concessionaire is also the current RD.
   
• Promote hang gliding and paragliding without conflict of interest as an importer and business promoting only one of the two forms of aviation.
   
• Reduce conflict of interest in the current local USHPA organisation by allowing a new perspective on issues concerning governing the sites used in San Diego County.

Thanks.
Mitch

Joe Faust:

You have my vote, Bob.
Lift to you and yours,
Joe Faust
USHGA#005
http://HGAusa.com/

Jason Boehm:

Why did I vote for Bob K?

I came to SD in 2002 to UCSD, right across the street from one of the most famous sites in the world. Needless to say, I don't fly there anymore.

-------------------------------------
David Jebb
-------------------------------------
I have seen Jebb time and again put his business first, spreading lies, and intimidating people to make a buck. I have had friends that tried to go tandem HG, only to loose 175 dollars and never get a flight, apparently it "expired" because they wouldn't trade the 175 dollar HG flight for a 150 dollar PG flight and a "free shirt" all at the original price of 175 dollars (sounds like a 25 dollar shirt to me).

I have been yelled at because his students didn't understand wake turbulence and told to fly somewhere else, seems he just throws them up there regardless of if they know anything....but that's another story.

And the final straw for me was when the price to take my then girlfriend tandem (on my equipment) magically increased because I had "a reputation".

Apparently it looks bad when you say you can't take a paying customer tandem, and there's someone out there doing it...

-------------------------------------
Bob Kuczewski
-------------------------------------
Bob I met a few years ago, first at Torrey and he was always flying something (never seen the incumbent fly at all, let alone at another site). I have also ran into Bob at at least 3 other flying sites, one of which I have only been to once. He gets around the region, he fly's, and he is always ready to chat, flying related or not. He is not biased and I have probably seen him in a PG more then a HG. He is open about everything, and can back it all up with documentation. Basically he has come off as an honest and fair person, that loves to fly.

All these positive remarks from supporters and look what u$hPa did.

Apparent they weren't looking for an honest leader. Not with their under the table dirty deals being the norm.

It's remarkable how some of those people have turned 180 degrees in their views. But I would guess that a good percentage would still endorse you - if they could.

SamKellner wrote:All these positive remarks from supporters and look what u$hPa did.

Apparent they weren't looking for an honest leader. Not with their under the table dirty deals being the norm.

wingspan33 wrote:It's remarkable how some of those people have turned 180 degrees in their views. But I would guess that a good percentage would still endorse you - if they could.

Both good comments. Thanks.

You can see what people were voting for and against in my candidate statements. If you read them, you'll see the seeds of the U.S. Hawks being formed in my hopes for what USHPA might become. Unfortunately (at least for USHPA) they were never able to embrace core concepts like fairness and open voting. That's why we have the U.S. Hawks.

Here's my original candidate statement from the summer of 2008:

Bob Kuczewski's Regional Director Candidate Statement for Region 3 (2008)

r3_web.jpg (66.82 KiB) Viewed 5308 times

I can sum up my platform in two sentences:

      Flying should be fun.
      Flying should be fair.

I believe USHPA should focus on the fair part. That leaves the fun up to you.

It's no secret that my candidacy is founded on restoring fairness at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. We've seen too many pilots (both hang gliding and paragliding) be mistreated there in the past 10 years. I believe USHPA should take a more active role in resolving whatever problems exist to ensure that all qualified pilots can have fair access to that site. I will work toward that goal.

Of course a Regional Director must serve more than one site. We deserve a Regional Director who visits Kagel, Crestline, Elsinore, Soboba, Horse, Little Black, and many others. Is that what we have now? I will work to protect all of our fragile sites.

But most of all, we need a Regional Director who cares about pilots and pilot issues. We have many Regional Directors who run businesses, and I think running a hang gliding or paragliding business is very good for our sports. But we are an association of pilots not businesses. Fortunately, most business operators who are also Regional Directors can separate the two and do a good job representing pilots while running their business. Several great examples come to mind, and I applaud them. But I do not believe this is true of the incumbent. If I am elected, I will be a voice for you. I will work to represent your views. You can be sure that Mr. Jebb will continue to have influence at USHPA whether he is Regional Director or not. But who will speak for the pilots in our region? I will.

There's a lot more to say about many topics (site preservation, growth of our sports, mediation, HG/PG balance, etc.), and there's so little space here. So let me offer a few resources. Please read my statements and endorsements at torreyhawks.org/R3. Please write to me at bobkuczewski@gmail.com. Most importantly, please call me at 858-204-7499 anytime. I want to be YOUR Regional Director, and I will work for YOU.

Finally, the obligatory flying resume...

I began flying steerable canopies at Fort Benning in 1976 (US Army Jump School). I began flying airplanes in 1978, earned a private pilot's license in 1979, and a sea plane rating in 1980. I flew my first hang glider flights in 1978, first paraglider flights in 1990, and I currently hold an H4/P4 rating. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 1983, and my senior project was a wind tunnel test of a model hang glider. In 2007, I began flying sailplanes and became the first pilot to fly a hang glider, paraglider, sailplane, and RC in one day at the Torrey Pines Gliderport (see "Pilot Profile" in August 2007 magazine).

Thanks for reading this, but please take just a few more minutes to make it count. Please mail in your ballot!!

I spelled out my goal for fairness at Torrey right up front. My election (122 to 98) was a mandate to carry it out. But Mark Forbes and Tim Herr stood in my path throughout my term in office.

After the original candidate statement (above), USHPA also sent out an email statement from all candidates. This was my statement:

Bob Kuczewski's Region 3 Director Email Statement (September 2008)

Members of Region 3,

My name is Bob Kuczewski, and I am an H4/P4 pilot from the San Diego area. I flew my first hang glider flights in 1978 and my first paraglider flights in 1990. But I didn't take up these sports seriously until 2004. I also have a private pilot's license (with a seaplane rating) from the late 70's, and I've flown sailplanes and RC models as well. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and I've worked as an engineer for almost 25 years. I've published numerous papers in the field of artificial intelligence and I hold a United States patent on an interactive learning system for kids. You can read my pilot profile in the August 2007 edition of Hang Gliding & Paragliding Magazine.

In 2007 I founded the Torrey Hawks Hang Gliding Club, and we've grown from 7 members to almost 130 members in that short time. I have also been a supporting club member at Sylmar, Crestline, Elsinore, Soboba, Horse, Little Black, Torrey, and others. I have written letters, spoken at meetings, and made financial contributions to help preserve many of those sites. I have worked for two years to bring the multi-wingual Torrey Pines Soaring Council back together, and I am the only hang glider or paraglider pilot to attend all of the Council's meetings in those two years.

I want to be your regional director because I want all pilots in our region (both hang gliding and paragliding) to have better representation at USHPA.

Here are some things that I will do (including many that I've already done):

I will work toward fairness for all pilots at all sites.
I will support the rights of all pilots to fly safely at all sites.
I will write letters and attend meetings for site preservation.
I will ensure that all local clubs get fair representation at USHPA.
I will maintain an open door policy for all comments from all pilots.
I will support hang gliding and paragliding fairly and equally.
I will represent pilots and businesses fairly and equally.

More importantly, here's what I won't do:

I will NOT bully pilots.
I will NOT suspend flying privileges without due process.
I will NOT endorse USHPA SOP changes that threaten individual rights.
I will NOT use my Regional Directorship to obtain awards for my own business.
I will NOT support disparate site ratings (P0/H4) for monetary benefit.
I will NOT prevent qualified tandem pilots from flying at any sites.
I will NOT put business interests ahead of pilot's interests.

I am passionate about both flying and fairness, but there's far more to say on these topics than I can squeeze into 500 words. Here are some additional resources:

Statements and Endorsements: torreyhawks.org/R3
Write to me any time: bobkuczewski@gmail.com
Call me any time, for any reason (or any challenge): 858-204-7499

Most of all, please vote. USHPA is only your club if you speak with your ballot.

Thank you,
Bob Kuczewski

Again, the themes of fairness and accountability were clear.

As I mentioned, I won that election 122 to 98. But the "PG insiders" at Torrey were livid (think about either Republicans after Obama was elected or Democrats after Trump was elected). Fortunately, in the United States we don't have a minority "recall" process for president as USHPA had in 2009 (written by Mark Forbes). Otherwise we'd be in a perpetual election cycle as either losing side can get the small number of signatures to force election after election.

USHPA's recall process (at that time) allowed a relatively small number of signatures to trigger a recall election. In Mark Forbes own words, the "Never Trumpers" in my 2008 election began the recall process immediately after I was elected and before I even took office.


It took them over a year (in my 2 year term) to put together the signatures (using lots of lies told behind my back and on secret web sites). So in the spring of 2010, USHPA held a recall election with Bill Helliwell being propped up by the Torrey concession. Here are the posters and pamphlets on the sign-in counter at the Torrey Pines Gliderport:



The "Bob haters" were there all day every day twisting arms for signatures and votes while I was working my engineering job for a small start-up. One day I happened to be at Torrey while they were "convincing" a pilot to sign their petition. I overheard the conversation and introduced myself to the pilot and offered to tell my side of the story. The "convincer" objected, but the pilot wanted to hear my side and we walked off to talk privately. I explained what was really going on, and I answered all his questions. He thanked me and decided not to sign the petition. But how many times was that scene repeated every day when I didn't happen to be there? The power of a full-time business to sway votes is difficult to overcome. I actually got more votes during my 2010 recall election than when I was originally elected in 2008. I was originally elected with 122 votes, but 188 votes were cast against the recall. Of course, the Torrey machine was able to generate even more and I was recalled with 222 votes in favor of the recall. These additional votes were likely from all the new PG pilots that they train every year and from their full time presence at the very popular Torrey Pines Gliderport.

This was my candidate statement in that 2010 recall election:

Bob Kuczewski's Regional Director Statement

Fellow Region 3 Pilots,

My name is Bob Kuczewski and I've been fortunate to know many of you through my flying. As you may know, I've focused my Directorship on representing pilot interests at USHPA because I believe that USHPA begins with YOU. If you look at the issues I've tackled, you'll find two common themes: fair representation for our members and accountability to our members. Here's a short list of the items that I've worked toward during my first year in office:

1. The "Accountability Amendment" – In the fall of 2009, I began working on the Accountability Amendment to make it easier for our members to see how their own Directors are voting on the Board. The Board of Directors is the ultimate authority at USHPA with one exception: you. Each of you, as voting members, holds the final authority over each Regional Director. You are the boss. But how can you be a good boss if you don't know what your own Directors are doing? I would like to see all Directors' votes on the Board be published after every Board meeting so you would know exactly who voted for each and every change in our organization. This goal may have to be tempered with practicality, but to the degree possible I will work to open up the voting on our Board so our members can see what we're doing and exactly who is doing it. This does not make me popular with the rest of the Board, but I don't work for the Board. I work for our members. I work for you.
    
2. Open Executive Committee Meetings – The Executive Committee (EC) is made up of 4 Directors who essentially run USHPA between our 2 annual Board meetings. It's well known that 2 Board meetings per year is far too few, and we've had problems resulting from the Executive Committee making decisions without input from the other members of the Board. For that reason, I'd like to establish a policy that ALL Directors are welcomed (and encouraged) to attend the monthly EC teleconferences. I believe that would help USHPA make better decisions.
    
3. Fair Representation on Boards and Councils – This was one of the issues that originally brought me to leadership at USHPA. Our association consists of pilots from two sports: hang gliding and paragliding (I fly both). The relative numbers in those sports have varied and will continue to vary. But USHPA must ensure that members of both sports are treated fairly and can get fair representation whenever possible. This has not been the case in the past at some of our sites, and I've been working to fix that over the last 3 years (long before I became a Director).
    
4. Flying is Job One – USHPA has many facets: Board, Officers, Staff, Magazine, Regulation, Competition, Ratings, Instruction, Site Preservation, and many others. I view all of these facets as supporting cast members in USHPA's number one goal: to keep our members flying. Any time USHPA fails in that primary mission, it has failed all of us. When USHPA allowed its own Director (David Jebb) to bar pilots from flying at one of our most famous sites without any valid reason and without any due process, USHPA failed us. USHPA failed David Beardslee when he was banned for life. That was wrong, and one of my most important goals is to ensure that USHPA never fails another one of our pilots again - ever. It doesn't matter how nice the magazine is. If our pilots can't fly, then USHPA has failed us. This is an area where Bill Helliwell has already let us down. Bill was on the SDHGPA Board when David Jebb banned Beardslee and Bill did nothing. That's inexcusable, and that's why I cannot support Bill Helliwell as our Regional Director. Directors must stand up for their pilots. That's Job One.

There's a lot more that I can add, and you'll find more information at my original 2008 campaign web site: http://torreyhawks.org/r3 (which has been updated for this recall election). I will say that this recall sets a bad precedent because it means that 10% of any Region can force an expensive (~ $10,000) and divisive election on the other 90% of that Region. Mark Forbes wrote:

“As the Elections chairman, I'm the one who gets to deal with people asking about recalls and so on. There have been an assortment of such inquiries, starting the day after BobK was announced as having won election as an RD.”   - Mark Forbes

In other words, this recall election was initiated by the “sore losers club” before I even took office as Regional Director. Furthermore, I will be up for election this year anyway, and there's nothing so pressing that would justify all this expense and effort. So please take the time to mark your ballot against this frivolous recall and for more control of USHPA by our pilots. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski

858-204-7499
bobkuczewski@gmail.com
Please call or write any time.

Once again, the themes that I had spelled out for USHPA (open voting, open meetings, fairness, and flying) would form the foundation of the U.S. Hawks.

Sometimes things work out for the best.

At the request of a friend, I've agreed to change my avatar for a week. The new avatar is a bit of a super hero, so I thought I'd dig through my memory banks and see if there was any justification laying around. That's when I remembered Dave Beardslee's kind words of endorsement when I ran against David Jebb for Region 3 Director and won:

Dave Beardslee wrote:I encourage all pilots in Region 3 to support Bob Kuczewski for Regional Director. I have closely watched his dedication to the concerns of the pilots. With unselfish tenacity he battles the badness. Electing Bob Kuczewski as a Regional Director is a big step towards this goal. Region 3 and USHPA needs an R.D. that will help us up, and not bring us down - we need that! We need you! Please vote for Bob Kuczewski. He supports us - I support him. Thank you in advance.

- DB

Thanks Dave.   
Thanks Craig.   

Old Bob:

New Bob:

.

This is what it takes.

USHPA,
Rule 14
a.s.a.p.

" without memory, there is no time"

JoeF wrote:USHPA,
Rule 14
a.s.a.p.

More proof that Joe pays attention!!!