Group Members wanting to host the 2012 USPA National Skydiving Championships should submit bids by close of business June 1, in accordance with the Skydiver's Competition Manual. Although the new 2010 edition will be online here, at the website, by May 1, the current edition can assist those Group Members wishing to bid. With the exception of canopy piloting, Nationals bids should be for all events; bidding to host canopy piloting is optional.

The board will also consider bids for the 2012 National Collegiate Parachuting Championships at its July meeting in the Boston area. Group members are encouraged to submit bids using the same guidelines as above.

Questions or requests for additional information can be e-mailed to USPA at competition@uspa.org.

At the International Parachuting Commission (IPC) meeting earlier this year, Russia was selected to host the 3rd World Canopy Piloting Championships from August 7-15, 2010, south of Moscow. USPA is looking for an individual to serve as team manager for the U.S. delegation. The results of the 2009 USPA National Canopy Piloting Championships held at Skydive Spaceland last October will be used to select the team. Although the IPC rules for the event have not been published, it is anticipated that eight competitors will be invited to join the team.

Those interested in serving as team manager should contact competition@uspa.org

USPA is accepting nominations for the USPA Lifetime Achievement Award and the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service and for awards managed by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) until May 15. At the next board meeting, scheduled for July 16-18 in the Boston area, USPA will consider all nominations that are received before the May deadline. Descriptions of the awards and procedures for nominating individuals appear in the Skydiver's Information Manual, Section 8. More information is available by contacting USPA Director of Competition and Special Projects Larry Bagley via e-mail at lbagley@uspa.org or by phone at (540) 604-9740, ext. 312.

Few individuals have had as much positive influence over USPA’s present-day status as Chris Needels, having contributed to USPA’s growth and prosperity since he first joined the Parachute Club of America (USPA's forerunner) in August 1963. Before serving on the PCA Board for six years as a national director beginning in 1975, he was commander of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. While a USPA Board member, he chaired the Finance & Budget and Judges Committees and served as Vice President.

He became USPA Executive Director in June 1994, when the organization needed him most, and piloted USPA’s growth to an image in the aviation community unlike any in its history. After almost 14 years as the chief operating officer, and after bringing USPA a new headquarters in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he retired. Now USPA Executive Director Emeritus, Needels continues to serve the skydiving community as a board trustee for the National Skydiving Museum.

At its board meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, the weekend of February 20, the USPA Board unanimously decided to honor Needels with USPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. At a time and place yet to be determined, the board will honor Needels "for almost a half-century of total commitment to USPA as a board member, officer, executive director, and skydiving museum trustee, providing unparalleled leadership, vision and lasting stability."

The USPA Board of Directors met February 19-21 in Phoenix. Highlights of the meeting include—

• Chris Needels was unanimously selected to receive the 2009 USPA Lifetime Achievement Award, USPA’s highest honor.
• A new Basic Safety Requirement was added requiring that a skydiver must have a minimum of 200 jumps in order to jump a wingsuit.
• All current Coach Examiners who have not previously attended an Instructor Examiner Rating Course (IERC) or Advanced Instructor Course (AIC) must successfully complete an IERC by July 1, 2012, in order to renew the Coach Examiner rating.
• Numerous minor changes were made to the Skydiver’s Competition Manual. Revisions will be available online in May.
• Pam Pangburn was selected as the 2010 U.S. Canopy Formation Team Manager. The Competition Committee is still looking for team managers for the 2010 artistic events and canopy piloting teams. For more information, e-mail competition@uspa.org.
• The Competition Committee met with several members of the wingsuit community and made slight modifications to the way wingsuit formation records are judged.
• Skydive Arizona will host the 2010 USPA National Collegiate Parachuting Championships between Christmas and New Year’s.
• The board approved an effort to solicit proxies from the general membership to amend the USPA by-laws to allow online voting for the 2010 election of the 2011-2012 USPA Board of Directors.
• The winter 2011 USPA Board meeting will be held February 11-13 in conjunction with the Parachute Industry Association’s Symposium in Reno, Nevada.

A full report will appear in the April issue of Parachutist. The next board meeting will be held July 16-18 in the Boston area. The General Membership Meeting will be held during that timeframe.