Riss Estes, a member of the team that got together to review and
update the 2005 USHPA strategic plan (and it was in dire need of a review and
update, almost from the moment it was born) presented a report to the USHPA BOD
meeting. You can find it in Power Point format
here. You can see the report if you have Power Point or download the free
Power Point reader from Microsoft found
here.

The working group noted that the original plan had six big (and very difficult
to achieve) goals:

1) Increase Membership.

Actually, the original goal was to double membership every ten years.

Membership has declined every year (until a small uptick in the latest count as
of September 2010 Vs. September 2009) since 2005 (and previously). As I vaguely
recall the reduction is from the reduction in hang glider pilot only numbers.

2) Improve Public Perception

Actually, the original goal was, for 9 out of 10 people in the general public to
think it's as safe and acceptable as scuba diving.

I don't think we have a way of knowing (or measuring) whether we have moved any
where toward this goal. We do have a new USHPA web site (http://ushpa.org)
which is a very nice marketing tool.

3) Professionalize the Organization

Actually, the original goal was to be as proactive as The Access Fund and as
accountable as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

I haven't heard how we are doing on this metric. I do know that there have been
a number of board training sessions held at the BOD meetings. I have also seen
some very professional actions take place at BOD meetings and some that are not
justified.

4) Support Site Acquisition and Preservation

Actually, the original goal was to ensure flying sites are in proportion with
the pilot population.

We have a new site manual, and the USHPA has given the FFF plenty of funds which
are often used for site preservation and improvements. We may have already
reached this goal. This is mainly a local initiated process that essentially the
FFF responds to.

5) Assure Quality Training and Mentoring for Pilots

Actually, the original goal was as follows: The acceptable measure of Quality
Training is an 80% retention of graduated students (P2/H2).

The work group seems to think that we are not meeting this goal. This is an area
where the USHPA could do a lot more to encourage the development of high quality
accessible instruction and follow on so that our acquisition and retention rates
were high enough to meet goal number 1.

6) Promote Safety (Equipment and Best Practices)

Actually, the original goal was to reduce by half every five years the accident
and fatality rates.

I don't believe the fatality rate has come down by half. I have no idea about
the accident rate.

The Work Group, looking at these goals, evaluating how we were doing, evaluating
what the USHPA could actually do, decided that we needed a tighter focus on
doing that things that we could actually influence.

The new three top priorities for the USHPA:

1) Grow membership (Add new members, increase retention)

2) Instructor Success (Improve the availability of quality instruction)

3) Membership Communication (Improve 2-way member communications, Member
feedback on initiatives, Explanations of why we did what we did)

The action plans for these three items are very sketchy and very preliminary.

1) Grow Membership - Marketing and PR and events.

2) Instructor Success -  Form Instructor Success Working Group, ISWG
develops full action plan

3) Membership Communication - Identify weaknesses in member communications;
review plan and timelines, Review job descriptions for relevant staff, Hire
contract writer to deliver content for web/magazine.

The BOD also approved a complaint section for the USHPA web site. The BOD has
approved up to $10,000 for the creation of instructor videos.