[Bob Kuczewski]

Big News: The Oz Report Copies the US Hawks!!!

I just checked the Oz Report web site, and they've just added a section for clubs (following the US Hawks' lead):

OzReportClubs.png (106.11 KiB) Viewed 3128 times

I guess that's another innovation that the US Hawks have given to the hang gliding community!!

They say that "Immitation is the highest form of flattery", so ... Thank you Davis.

Now here's an interesting question. If a local club (like the Torrey Hawks) were to be added to the "Oz Clubs", would that mean that the members Davis has banned would also be banned from that club's sub-forum? From another perspective, if anyone currently banned by Davis became a member of the Sandia Soaring Association, would they be banned from their own club's sub-forum as well?

Here's another interesting question. How long will it be until USHPA, HGAA, and hanggliding.org follow us as well?

[Bob Kuczewski]

Go right to the source, and ask the horse...

From: Bob Kuczewski
To: Davis Straub
Subject: Clubs on Oz Report?
Date: 11/18/2010 12:57pm

Hello Davis (bcc others),

I noticed that the Oz Report is now featuring a "clubs" forum. I think this is a great idea, and it follows the US Hawks model perfectly. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. So thanks!!

I do have a few questions about the new forum ...

1. What is the criteria for adding clubs to your forum?
   
   
2. Can the Torrey Hawks or the US Hawks be added to that forum?
   
   
3. If members of a club (say Torrey Hawks or Sandia Soaring) happen to be banned from the Oz Report, does that mean they're also banned from that club's forum?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Bob Kuczewski

I can't wait to read the answers to these questions!!

I also called Andrew Vanis and left a message to inquire about the details. I hope to hear back from him as well.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Well, at least I didn't have to wait long for an answer...

Here's what I just got back from Davis Straub (I've inserted my original questions in red):

1. What is the criteria for adding clubs to your forum?
1. Totally subjective. We also need to see if the club members are in fact interested. Actual real clubs also.

2. Can the Torrey Hawks or the US Hawks be added to that forum?
2. No.

3. If members of a club (say Torrey Hawks or Sandia Soaring) happen to be banned from the Oz Report, does that mean they're also banned from that club's forum?
3. Yes.

Davis Straub
http://ozreport.com
http://ozreport.com/location.php
http://ozreport.com/worldrecordholder.php
Cathedral Palms RV Park, Cathedral City, USA

That last answer is the most chilling to any club thinking of moving their forum to the Oz Report. It basically says that Davis can ban any club member from their own club forum - even the President and the Board!! Why would any club subject themselves to that?

So I've sent a written invitation to the Sandia Soaring Association's officers to have them try out the US Hawks forum as well. That's the great thing about competition - people (and clubs) get choices. And those choices cause changes in the marketplace. It's quite likely that Davis may change his policy just to keep Sandia's "business", and that will be another positive change brought on by the US Hawks.