[JoeF]

As noted and recognized last year, there would be in start of 2016 a retirement from being a temporary director by me. Time has come for that. I will remain a guest publisher/researcher/poster, but not a temporary director of US Hawks or member of US Hawks as of now:
Here is my formal acton:
==================
I personally now resign from being an officer or member of Friends of Dockweiler Hang Gliding Society.
I now personally resign from being a director or member of the US Hawks Hang Gliding Association.

I do not support any beach special-use event in May of 2016.

I will celebrate Otto's BD for several days in May. Maybe I will see others doing the same.

Signed formally,

Joe Faust
County of Los Angeles
February 15, 2016

Thank you for the privilege of serving for the term fulfilled! You are great guys. Bob BillC Sam
See you in the posts and in the sky ...

[Bob Kuczewski]

Thanks for your fine service to the US Hawks Joe!!!!



I knew February was creeping up on us, and I was hoping you might forget.   

But I also remember you telling me that you're not an "organization man", and so I really appreciate you hanging in there with us for as long as you did.   

Let the record reflect that you've fulfilled a year of service to the US Hawks with honor and dignity and a true love of the sport. May good things come to you always Joe, and I look forward to future flying with you at Dockweiler and beyond.

Sincerely, and thankfully,
Bob Kuczewski
February 15th, 2016

[Bob Kuczewski]

Email message to US Hawks Members:

Hello Fellow US Hawks Members!!!

I'm writing to let you know that we've just completed the first year of our US Hawks Trial Board of Directors, and we're starting on our second!!!

We've had some super participation over the last year by Board Members Joe Faust, Sam Kellner, Bill Cummings, and Scott Wise. During that time, we've approved our mission statement, approved our terms of use on our web forum, approved the addition of new Chapters to the US Hawks, made a number of improvements to the web site, and hosted a free flying event and reunion to mark the 44th anniversary of the historic 1971 meet which helped launch the sport of hang gliding. We've had some disagreements among the Board, but we've always overcome them. Thanks to all Board members for your work over the past year!!

In particular, I want to offer my deepest thanks to Joe Faust for his continued participation despite it being against is non "org-guy tendency" (Joe's words back in November). With a little coaxing (translation: begging) from some of his fellow Board Members, Joe agreed to finish out his term, and he has done so superbly. Thanks Joe for your lift over this past year.

And that brings me to the purpose of this letter. As we start our second year of the US Hawks Board, I'd like to invite more of our members to participate. Our Board is very informal, and we conduct all of our meetings and discussions on line. The Board also currently serves in an advisory capacity - which means that I still hold the veto pen (and all the financial and legal responsibility). But over this past year, I haven't vetoed a single decision of our Board, and I hope that trend will continue. I really want the US Hawks to be a democratically controlled organization representing hang gliding pilots, and we are moving in that direction. So if you'd like to help continue our progress in 2016, please write back or give me a call at 858-204-7499. I look forward to hearing from you.

Finally, I want to conclude with the US Hawks Mission Statement that Joe Faust helped us craft in 2015:

    "To promote, protect, and serve recreational
         hang gliding in the United States."

That's our focus, and I sincerely thank Joe Faust for his guiding hand along the way.

Best wishes to all, and thanks for your membership in the US Hawks!!!

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski
February 16th, 2016