Hello friends,

Hopefully you are all enjoying this skydiving season, there is still plenty of jumping to do this year, and for those of you up north, get it while you can, the winter is coming!

The USPA Board of Directors election will be coming up this winter, and I want to encourage all USPA members to participate. Even though the technology is available, we haven’t been able to get secure online voting available for members. I believe it will come, but not for at least 2 years.

Instead this election will use the tried and true paper ballots mailed in to USPA HQ. The ballots and bios for all candidates will appear in the November issue of Parachutist magazine and must be received at USPA HQ no later than the last business day of the year by the close of business, in this case Dec 31, 2008.

Please take a few minutes to vote this year, and take part in the direction your organization is headed. Make sure you read the instructions carefully as it’s pretty easy to make a mistake that would cause your ballot to be declared invalid. Ballots must be mailed in to HQ, and can contain votes for up to (but not to exceed) 8 National Director candidates, and one vote for a Regional Director in the region that your address on file with the USPA is contained within (Foreign members can vote of any ONE Regional director candidate of their choice).

Make sure your name and membership number or license number is clearly legible and you sign your ballot as well. These are some of the things that HQ has pointed out as reasons for rejected ballots in the past.

As some of you may already know, I am running for National Director this year. After attending the last year’s worth of board meetings I’d like to help bring this membership organization back into the members interest. I’ve started a blog detailing some of my reasons for running as well as things I’d like to see change about the USPA. I’ve also set up a dedicated e-mail address to further communications, and I am looking for input, ideas, criticisms, and issues that members would like to see addressed. Even if I’m not elected, I will be attending future meetings, so I can pass along issues from members.

In addition to encouraging you all to vote in this year’s election, I am asking for your support if you think I can represent you on the BOD. I’m also asking that you all encourage other members to participate in the election. It only takes a few minutes of time, and it’s worth your membership dues to have your voice heard.

Thank you, and wish you all safe and fun jumps!

Blue Skies,
-jp-
Jonathan P. Furnari
Candidate for National Director USPA

jpforuspa@gmail.com
http://diablopilot.wordpress.com/