Candidate biographies, voting procedures and ballot
The following contains photographs, candidate profiles and biographies for those nominated to serve a two-year term on the United States Parachute Association Board of Directors for 2011 to 2012. It is your responsibility as a USPA member to vote for those candidates whom you feel are the best qualified to represent you on USPA’s Board of Directors.
Candidates were required to complete a standard biographical form giving basic personal information. In addition, all candidates were invited to submit personal statements (limited to a maximum of 250 words) describing their qualifications and their intentions and plans if elected to the board. These personal statements are printed along with the candidate’s photograph and his or her skydiving history, as provided by them.
The Board of Directors
USPA’s Board has 22 elected members, eight of whom are National Directors, elected by the entire USPA membership, and 14 of whom are Regional Directors, each elected by the USPA members from the USPA regions where they reside. When seated on the board, Regional and National Directors have equal authority.
- National Director Nominees. As a USPA member, you may vote for up to eight nominees for National Director. You may vote for those whose names appear on the official ballot, or you may write in a candidate or candidates who do not appear on the ballot but whom you feel would be a contributing member of the board of directors. You may vote for eight people, or you may vote for fewer than eight. The eight persons receiving the largest number of votes will be elected as National Directors for the 2011-2012 term.
- Regional Director Nominees. A Regional Director is elected by the USPA members in his or her region of residence, as established by their address on file at USPA. You may vote for only one Regional Director candidate, and he or she must reside in your region. A Regional Director is the direct representative of the USPA members in that particular region. Some regions have only one candidate running for election. One has none. This does not mean that you should not cast your ballot. Write-in votes may be cast if you wish to vote for someone whose name does not appear on the ballot but who resides in your region.
USPA members who maintain a foreign address may vote for any one eligible person as a Regional Director in any region.
Voting Procedures
It is suggested that you read the information about each candidate carefully and study the instructions for voting.
Only current, regular members may vote. Ballots must be in the approved format and received on or before the deadline. You may vote either by paper ballot or electronically.
Fill out the information on the paper ballot attached to your November issue of Parachutist or download one here. Ballots containing more than eight National Director votes or more than one Regional Director vote will be disqualified for the portion incorrectly marked. Ballots are valid only if they are individually marked and signed in the voter’s original handwriting. Faxed or e-mailed ballots are not acceptable.
You may vote any time after receipt of your paper ballot, indicating your selections and following the instructions for returning the ballot.
At the July USPA General Membership Meeting, USPA changed its by-laws to allow online voting as an option in this year’s election.
Current members with a valid e-mail address on file at USPA Headquarters should have received an e-mail around November 1 from VoteNet, the company USPA selected to conduct the secure online voting.
Only current members who have valid e-mail addresses on file at USPA Headquarters should have received the e-mail to vote. If you are a current member but did not receive the e-mail to cast your vote electronically, either vote using the provided paper ballot or submit your e-mail address here. Within 10 days from submitting the e-mail address change at Headquarters you should receive an e-mail from VoteNet with your login, password and a link to vote.
Members may choose to vote by either of the methods (but not both) and may vote one time only. If more than one ballot is cast, the first ballot received will be the one counted. USPA Headquarters must receive all paper ballots or electronic votes no later than 5 p.m. EST, Friday, December 31, 2010.
New directors will be seated at the first board meeting of 2011, to be held February 11-13 in Reno, Nevada. New USPA officers for the 2011-2012 term will be elected by the full board at this meeting.