US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Moderator's note: Before merging, this post was titled: "Motion: USHHGA be 100% focused on air-framed hang gliding"

I move that USHHGA be 100% focused on air-framed hang gliding matters for the purposes of national USHHGA Ground School, USHHGA Pilot Ratings, USHHGA Safety Program, USHHGA interface with F.A.A., USHHGA Forum focus, USHHGA promotion text, USHHGA Technical Notes, USHHGA Logo, and like matters.

In effect, high-aspect ratio soaring parachutes (paragliders, PGs) would not be the subject of ratings, USHHGA ground school, incident study, promotions, site agreements, ...

Encourage biwingual members of USHHGA to keep their PG matters in PG-places, not in the formal sectors of USHHGA.

I move that the USHHGA recognizes in its promotion face (image, text, communications, practice, bylaws, Ground School, Safety Program, Open Forum) its unique status as a leading USA association dedicated to just airframed hang gliding.

Other associations may mix with high-aspect ratio soaring parachutes (P) and handle such P load. Differently the USHHGA will not carry the PG load.
The USHHGA (US Hawks, for short) aims to benefit airframed hang gliding in the USA. To support that, then the promotion face of USHHGA would methodically stay consistent with the airframed hang gliding theme.

JoeF wrote:I move that the USHHGA recognizes in its promotion face (image, text, communications, practice, bylaws, Ground School, Safety Program, Open Forum) its unique status as a leading USA association dedicated to just airframed hang gliding.

Other associations may mix with high-aspect ratio soaring parachutes (P) and handle such P load. Differently the USHHGA will not carry the PG load.
The USHHGA (US Hawks, for short) aims to benefit airframed hang gliding in the USA. To support that, then the promotion face of USHHGA would methodically stay consistent with the airframed hang gliding theme.

I will second this motion and the related motion to support discussion of both topics. I think both topics should be merged as part of a mission statement discussion. Would that be acceptable to the maker of this motion?

JoeF wrote:I move that USHHGA be 100% focused on air-framed hang gliding matters for the purposes of national USHHGA Ground School, USHHGA Pilot Ratings, USHHGA Safety Program, USHHGA interface with F.A.A., USHHGA Forum focus, USHHGA promotion text, USHHGA Technical Notes, USHHGA Logo, and like matters.

In effect, high-aspect ratio soaring parachutes (paragliders, PGs) would not be the subject of ratings, USHHGA ground school, incident study, promotions, site agreements, ...

Encourage biwingual members of USHHGA to keep their PG matters in PG-places, not in the formal sectors of USHHGA.

I will second this motion and the related motion to support discussion of both topics. I think both topics should be merged as part of a mission statement discussion. Would that be acceptable to the maker of this motion?

Merge to a Mission Statement discussion would be great. With that, if the two motions may be withdrawn now, if the seconding is withdrawn also, then so be it.

I move that work be done towards forming a USHHGA Mission Statement.
Maybe some preamble study: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_statement

Sample effort: =======================================

Mission Statement

USHHGA's mission is to serve airframed hang glider pilots in the United States of America in effective ways in order to support their safe and enjoyable hang gliding.

The association will forward its mission through:

Advocacy: USHHGA will communicate with agencies, organizations, and individuals whose interests affect airframed hang gliding recreation and sport.

Communication: Externally, USHHGA will advance the positive awareness of airframed hang gliding among the non-flying public. Internally, the organization will cultivate a culture of communication, fairness, and transparency.

Community: USHHGA will promote a sense of community among members.

Launch and Landing sites: USHHGA will support the development of new launching and landing sites for airframed hang gliding. USHHGA will act to help preserve existing launch and landing site agreements for airframed hang gliding.

Learning: USHHGA will support learning by providing online open ground schools for general and special-skill sectors, safety programs, and a pilot forums. Online written tests will assist in rating pilots' knowledge base. Mentorship including observation of flight practices will be encouraged among members to foster safety and learning.

Safety: USHHGA will steadily foster a culture of safety that aims to more than fulfill the safety guides of the Federal Aviation Administration. USHHGA will maintain the message that each hang glider pilot is 100% responsible for his or her actions, equipment, launch decision safety check, and injuries/dames to self or others' person or property. Members will agree to hold USHHGA harmless in all instances of loss, damage, or injury. Hang gliding responsibly takes active awareness at all points of handling one's gear on the ground or in the air; even with great care, the activity of hang gliding may result in injury or death to pilots and others; and such risk is carried by the hang glider pilot entirely.

Clarity regarding aircraft: USHHGA will continually clarify that airframed hang gliders are very distinct from high-aspect-ratio collapsible parachutes (sometimes called paragliders). The clarification will occur in educational programs, news releases, and letters. USHHGA will not rate canopy-based parachuting activity.

Let me start with the administrative note that this topic was originally 2 separate topics, and at my request, Joe permitted me to merge them into a general discussion about the US Hawks Mission Statement.

Regarding the proposed mission statement, I like it. In fact, I'm somewhat inclined to second it directly, but there are a few discussion points I'd like to raise.

1. Our official name is the "US Hawks Hang Gliding Association". Informally, we could go with "US Hawks" or "USHHGA". I like them each for different reasons, so it might be worth a discussion by the Board.

2. I'm not quite sure about the need to emphasize "airframed". I know that both "hang gliders" and "paragliders" could fit under the term "hang glider". Indeed, people unfamiliar with either term will sometimes choose the paraglider as the one that's mostly being "hung" from. But that's contrary to the common usage in the sports where a "hang glider" is understood to be the airframed craft that we fly. So this point would be worth some discussion.

3. I don't know that we need to explicitly state that we won't rate canopy-based parachuting any more than we need to say that we won't rate SCUBA diving. There is a friction between hang gliding and paragliding that partially arises from being forced into the same national organization for a long time. That story will certainly be a big part of our history, but I'm not sure if we need to call it out in our mission statement.

Those are just my thoughts. Mostly I like everything else, and I especially like the idea that our mission statement will be written by Joe Faust. If you can address my concerns (either with changes or a good argument), I'll be happy to second this motion. I'd also like to hear what everyone else thinks.

Good, BobK.
The motion again with bolded emphasis: "I move that work be done towards forming a USHHGA Mission Statement".
All or none of the words may be involved in the "work". Explore other full phrasing. Add or delete categories. Question if something is left out; or if too much is said. Nothing is set yet.
Screen efforts for what may or may not make a good mission statement for a sport association. I hope that the sample effort will be accompanied by other sample efforts Following Rick Masters' philosophy in my paraphrase: design time is important.

JoeF wrote:The motion again with bolded emphasis: "I move that work be done towards forming a USHHGA Mission Statement".

You're absolutely right. I liked your "sample effort" so much that I was incorporating it into your motion without you having actually proposed it.

I second your motion:

JoeF wrote:I move that work be done towards forming a USHHGA Mission Statement.

The motion of working towards a Mission Statement is open for discussion. Thanks Joe!!!

I like it. Good job Joe



The time seems right for a Hawks Mission Statement.