Or you could work your butt off for change over the next few
years

Steve Kroop <<info>>
writes:

I have been listening to the USHPA bashing and scapegoating that
has been going on and it makes me think of one of my favorite sayings, You
Should Complain, That’ll Help.

People complain about USHPA like it is some external force that has been forced
upon us, however, in reality it is comprised exclusively of members and
democratically elected directors who are simply members that have chosen to
volunteer their time and often money, with the goal of benefitting the sport.

There has been much discussion about how the decline in hang gliding is due to
the association placing undue burdens on instructors This line of reasoning does
not make sense since (1) paragliding is not declining even though it is governed
by the same USHPA and (2) hang gliding is declining worldwide where USHPA is not
a factor. Additionally, it has been pointed out that hang gliding has been
declining for 40 years. I hope the inference of that statistic is not to suggest
that we should go back to way we did things 40 years ago. On the other hand, if
the inference is that USHPA is responsible for the 40 year decline, then that
should suggest support in favor of changing USHPA governance which does not seem
to be the case.

With regard to the “burdens" that USHPA places on instruction, is it really the
argument that a few day instructor clinic, minimal apprenticeship time, minimal
understanding of first aid, minimal risk-management and carrying liability
insurance is too much to ask for an activity that can seriously injure or cause
the death of the participant? Seriously?!? Is there a successful instructional
business that poses the same risk to the participant and the landowner where the
activity occurs, that has such minimal requirements?!

The decline of hang gliding is a sad thing and the sense of loss is exacerbated
by our affinity for the activity. We think because we love it, so many others
will love it, too. However, when reality does not coincide with what we believe,
scapegoating the USHPA is not only naive, it is counterproductive since it
focuses our energy on "fixing" something that at best has a minimal effect on
participation and away from the complex factors that are actually causing the
decline.

I suggest that it would be far more productive for any available effort and
energy to be focused on the development of concrete and actionable proposals to
revitalize hang gliding rather than blaming the honest efforts of those that,
for better or worse, are actually committing their time, effort and money to
helping. Better still, stand up and offer to serve.