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Write In Mike Mullins for USPA National Director
I had been urged by several USPA Board of Director members to run as a National Director. I was interested in running as I felt that the board, in general, is out of touch with the average skydiver, bows to special interest groups, and that I had some good ideas to improve USPA.
Chris Needels, USPA Executive Director, wrote in the Capital Commentary in the November 1998 Parachutist:
'If a member wants to run, then he or she simply has to meet the largely administrative requirements of filling out forms, providing biographical data and a photo and submitting it all on time. In short, the membership, not the committee, decides who will provide the volunteer leadership of the association'.
However I soon found that it is indeed the board who decides the leadership by not allowing the most qualified candidates to be on the ballot.
I submitted all the required data and the three board member Nominating Committee refused to put me on the ballot. The Committee in doing so violated the selection criteria that is clearly spelled out in the Governance Manual, selected at least one candidate with virtually no qualifications, and let their own personal bias affect their decision.
When seeking redress for their actions, two sitting Board Members, Gary Peek and Jim Cazer, petitioned the board as follows:
'I, Jim Cazer, the Southern Region Director and I, Gary Peek, the Central Region Director, do petition the President of USPA, Executive Committee and all Board Members to set right the wrong that was done to Mike Mullins, USPA #336, License D-1643, by excluding him from the qualified list of National Director candidates. Under section 1-6.3 C of USPA Governance Manual, I formally petition the full Board to reconsider the decision made by the Nominating Committee (Bill Wenger, Madolyn Murdock and Lee Schlichtemeier)'.
Cazer goes on to say: 'BJ, my opinion is, the strong competition is being eliminated from the ballot'.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors refused to alter the decision of the Nominating Committee and refused to put me on the ballot.
I am, therefore, running as a 'write in' candidate for the position of USPA National Director.
My Platform
AFF Certification Courses. Management at USPA has canceled AFF Certification courses, often at the last minute, when not enough candidates signed up for the course to ensure a USPA profit. Candidates have made plans, bought airline tickets, spent money on preparation, planned their vacations, only to be told the course is canceled. There is a shortage of instructors and it should not be the goal of USPA to make a profit-the goal should be to certify instructors. Have fewer courses, if necessary, but once a course is scheduled it must be presented.
Selection of National Director Candidates. It has most recently been shown that the candidates the membership votes on should not be selected by a three board member committee. National Director candidates should collect a certain number of signatures on a pettition and then be put on the ballot. Let the membership truly decide who is to represent them.
Affiliated Drop Zone program. I do not believe that USPA can both represent the best interests of the individual skydiver and the interests of the Drop Zones simultaneously. The Affiliated DZ program is flawed and costs USPA money. To further innovation and progress, individual DZs should not be mired in USPA bureaucracy. The DZs should be part of their own DZ Association, separate from USPA.
Communications. There is virtually no way that the USPA Board or Headquarters Staff can communicate with the membership at large other than the monthly magazine. I propose a list server to be installed on the USPA web site where interested members can register their email address. Information can then be transmitted instantly, and for no cost, to the membership. Likewise, the Board of
membership can express their concerns to all board members simultaneously.
Publications. All USPA publications, tests, and documents should be available on the web site for download. Tests and other restricted documents can be user protected.
Finances. I favor programs geared at the individual skydiver and specifically towards safety and instructor training. Big DZs can fend for themselves, USPA is an association of individual skydivers and that is where the money should go.
Competition. I favor a return to USPA supported regional competitions in all disciplines. USPA should make it easier for the average skydiver to attain recognition without the expense of attending a National Championship.
Licenses and Ratings. Although some may see the need for additional licenses to increase competence, I feel that we need to enforce the standards that we have before trying to raise the bar, I feel that too many new skydivers are simply being 'signed off' for skills that they really have not mastered, especially spotting, packing, and self-supervision. I would urge our instructors and S&TAs to not do our novice skydivers a disservice by signing off on skills they do not possess.
FAA. Using my experience as a pilot and DZO, I would enter talks with the FAA on some relief from cloud clearance requirements. We all know that there are cloud conditions that we should not jump in but there are also cloud conditions that would be perfectly safe, but illegal, to jump in. There are other countries, New Zealand for example, that have such provisions and we should explore the possibility of the same relief here.
Skydiving and Leadership Qualifications
I have been a USPA member for 36 years, have over 3800 jumps and have held Static Line & AFF Instructor, Tandem, Pro, and FAA Rigger ratings.I am a current USPA S&TA. I have competed at the national level in both the classic and 4 way RW events.
Aviation background includes service as an Army Helicopter pilot with a tour of the Republic of Vietnam where I was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal. I am currently a Captain for FedEx on an A300 Airbus heavy jet transport. I have over 22,000 hours in small and large jets, helicopters, sailplanes, aerobatic, and jump aircraft.
I am the DZO for West Tennessee Skydiving and Arizona Skydiving Coolidge and travel to many boogies operating the Super King Air. My travels allow me to listen to the concerns of many skydivers throughout the country.
I have pioneered innovations in the sport including square canopies for students, electronic spotting, 23,000' dives for the average jumper, $99 Boogie 'til Ya Puke, and the fastest jump plane in the country.
I believe my skydiving and aviation background make me ideally suited to represent skydivers on all levels and to deal with any FAA or airspace issues.
Voting Strategy
You may vote for up to eight National Director candidates. However, voting for candidates that you do not know or fully support dilutes the vote for the candidates you do strongly wish to be elected. If you know only one candidate, vote for just that one and you will have a better chance of seeing your candidate win.
The vote count is known to the Board so if you like my programs I urge you elect me with the maximum vote possible. The number of votes that a candidate receives shows the weight of his support and gives more respect for his programs.
'Write In' Voting
There is a space on the ballot to 'write in' your vote for National Director. I ask you to 'write in' Mike Mullins, and spell the name exactly. Remember, do not vote for a total of more than eight National Directors. Again, vote for only those you know and really want on the board- don't dilute your vote.
Be very careful in marking your ballot. Any cross outs, erasures, or irregularities may void your ballot. You may make copies of the ballot, but copies must be marked in original writing. Be sure to fill in your USPA membership number, expiration date, and sign your ballot. Ballots must be received at USPA headquarters by December 31, 2000.
888-741-5867
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