At the USHPA BOD last fall, it was decided if Lisa could work it out with her sponsors that she and David Glover (King Mountain and Big Spring) could share the US Nationals. That is there would be a co-nationals.

Lisa wrote to David on Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 8:16 AM (with a CC: to Mike Haley):

Hi David,

After lengthy discussion, I wanted to let you know we will be able to have the U.S. National Hang Gliding Championships in 2009 as a National Series, provided you are able to change your dates as we have discussed.

You have said you are wiling to move the dates of your event to a week later than you originally planned, giving a 2 week spread between events and if you are still willing to do this then we are excited to start the series in 2009.

I am in Washington DC until November 5th, but when I get back to Boise let's iron out the details. Sound good?

David wrote back twenty four minutes later:

Hi Lisa,

Is this the 2/3 1/3 split? Or something else. Just want to be on the same page. Send me back a quick note. Thanks.

Lisa wrote back two days later (November 5th):

Hi David,

I am agreeable to a 50/50 split in the spirit of cooperation. What are your thoughts??

Mike also wrote that afternoon:

Hi David.

I have been in the loop about the National HG Series for 2009. I am understanding that you have agreed to move your event 1 week, if Lisa and her sponsors are agreeable with a 50/50 split. Is that correct?

David responded four minutes later:

Sounds good, I would push back the start of Big Spring 1 week. Thanks, seems like a good all around compromise.

Then at the Spring USHPA BOD meeting:

SPRING BOD MINUTES:

MOTION: Dennis Pagen and Steve Kroop made a motion to choose the national hang gliding champion from a combination of King Mtn. And Big Spring based on the total sum of the daily score of the pilots. These daily scores will be normalized to 1000. The national champion in each class will be chosen from the combination of both meets provided; a minimum of 10 class 1 pilots compete in both meets; a minimum of 3 female pilots compete in both meets; a minimum of 5 class 5 pilots compete in both meets; otherwise the national champion will be chosen from the King Mtn. Meet for 2009.

Apparently (and I know that this is really hard to believe) David Glover didn't realize that it was the SAME ten pilots that had to attend both meets. He claims (now) that he didn't read these minutes that way because of his prior (November) agreement with Lisa and Mike, which as far as he was concerned was the basis for an ongoing cooperative agreement that would perhaps have some additional details to be worked out between them (for example, how to normalize each day), but would not be anything like this which undermines the whole concept of cooperation.

A few weeks back Mike Haley sent out an email message that he hoped would clarify that it was the SAME ten pilots.

Nine days ago, after Mike's email to all members concerning the hang gliding and paragliding National Championships, David wrote to the USHPA and Paul Montville (the USHPA Executive Director):

In November, the President of USHPA (also Meet Director of the King Mt. meet) and the competition committee chairman asked me to move the Big Spring competition back a week in exchange for a 50/50 split for the US National Championship series. I agreed and moved the dates. This was the only communication between us on the subject until the competition committee chairman's recent email to all USHPA members reinterpreting the Spring Board minutes.

They did not inform, communicate or discuss our earlier agreement with anyone on the comp committee or board. If they had I believe we would have a true "50/50 split in the spirit of cooperation" of the co-Nationals, instead there are new caveats never discussed with me, that will in all likelihood cutout Big Spring from the series completely. With a true 50/50 split there is increased incentive for pilots to attend both meets, however, with these the new explanations and caveats, that I never agreed to, the incentive is greatly reduced. I feel they have violated my trust by asking me to do something and then not holding up their end, as well as failing to communicate to others, what they told me.

I am upset they have gone back on their word with me, at this violation of trust and lack of communication and professionalism. Since scores would be normalized meet validity does not enter into the discussion.

It is not too late and I respectfully ask the USHPA make it right so there is a true 50/50 co-Nationals Series this year in Hang Gliding as I was told there would be.

After many emails back and forth between David and the BOD members he sent this message to the BOD:

I truly appreciate the discussion and views. Thanks for trying to understand me as I have you.

Now is the time to move forward. The chances of the same 10 pilots crossing over is very unlikely at this time. I will encourage everyone who has signed up for Big Spring to go to King Mtn. I accept what was done is done.

A few mistakes were made to get us here. I accept responsibility for making assumptions and coming to a different interpretation of the the November emails and Spring BOD minutes. I believe I should have been contacted and included in the discussions and details before and during the Spring BOD meeting.

I do hope in the future the USHPA leadership, committee chairmen and BOD be vigilant to include stakeholders in open discussions.

The two Nationals Championships at King Mountain and Big Spring will be held now and in August.