ParaHawks Ratings for RGSA Paragliding Members

[Bob Kuczewski]

Hello RGSA Members,

I'm posting to let you know about the ParaHawks Paragliding Association.

As you know, the RGSA is both a USHPA Chapter and a US Hawks Chapter. This gives hang gliding pilots a choice as to which national association(s) they want to belong to and hold ratings with. But up to now, paragliding pilots have only had USHPA for their ratings.

A month or so ago, one of our biwingual pilots was applying for a US Hawks hang gliding rating but noticed that there was no alternative for their paragliding rating. So the ParaHawks was created specifically as an organization to manage and preserve ratings of pilots who may want to diversify their dependence on USHPA (or any other organization for that matter).

So any paragliding or biwingual pilots who want to get a ParaHawks rating, should visit http://parahawks.org and follow the instructions at that site.

I apologize that the ParaHawks web site is currently very primitive and only offers ratings. If there is sufficient interest, it may grow to include other amenities (such as a forum, insurance, etc). Since I am focused on the US Hawks, I welcome sincere PG pilots who want to take on leadership roles in the ParaHawks.

I'm posting this here in the RGSA forum because I know your club contains a good mix of HG, PG, and biwingual pilots.

[Bill Cummings]

Wow!
A free forum set up for paragliding pilots (Coming soon to a keyboard near you). -- Ratings are free too. I wonder why there was never enough money for the USHPA to set up a forum when we all were paying $99.00/yr?
The RGSA club has PG pilots that just might like to set up a meeting place at their own forum at: http://parahawks.org.

RGSA also has PG pilots that post at the RGSA's USHHGA forum so actually there could be two forums to keep in touch with.
When the time comes I recommend a membership vetting process like is in place at the US Hawks Hang Gliding Association Forum.
Set the procedure to filter out the automatic web crawlers, harvesters, and trolls.
I know that Bob K. had attained his P4 a while back and also has years of website knowledge. He has been an excellent moderator for the years that I've been on the US Hawks. I'm not sucking up either. I've already told him off several times. As I recall I made statements that his elevator doesn't go to the top floor, he's two cards short of a full deck, you can always tell Bob -- but you can't tell him much, he might sound like he has a nose full, but it's snot. On a scale of one to ten Bob's tolerance for abuse is ten.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I wonder why there was never enough money for the USHPA to set up a forum when we all were paying $99.00/yr?

They are terrified of the possibility that the members might ask questions and expect answers.  

You'll notice that only a few of their "leaders" will venture into any forums. And even then, they only dare go to forums where they know the forum operator will protect them from any embarrassing questions.  

The RGSA club has PG pilots that just might like to set up a meeting place at their own forum at: http://parahawks.org.

As an H4/P4 pilot, I actually like biwingual clubs when their members work well together. From what I've seen, the RGSA is a good example. You don't have one group telling the other to "get lost" (as was done by the SDHGPA). So my advice would be to have both groups continue to share the RGSA club site within the US Hawks. But that's totally up to your club.  

When the time comes I recommend a membership vetting process like is in place at the US Hawks Hang Gliding Association Forum.
Set the procedure to filter out the automatic web crawlers, harvesters, and trolls.

Right now there's a link to click to fill out a rating application. That sends an email message and we verify the rating. As with the US Hawks, the ParaHawks doesn't issue new ratings. It only accepts transfers of existing ratings from other organizations that can confirm them.

I know that Bob K. had attained his P4 a while back and also has years of website knowledge. He has been an excellent moderator for the years that I've been on the US Hawks.

Sounds like you're sucking up Bill.

I'm not sucking up either.

Aha - denial is clear evidence of guilt - at least that's what I've learned from USHPA's "justice system".   

I've already told him off several times. As I recall I made statements that his elevator doesn't go to the top floor, he's two cards short of a full deck, you can always tell Bob -- but you can't tell him much, he might sound like he has a nose full, but it's snot. On a scale of one to ten Bob's tolerance for abuse is ten.

My tolerance is high from years of abuse. As you can see from Bill's comments, I get a lot of practice at it.   

My goal for the ParaHawks is to give PG pilots a rating system that's based on merit ... not politics and/or money. That's what we have for hang gliding at the US Hawks, and our paragliding friends should have it as well.