I'm posting this to announce the fact that I am engaged in a little conspiracy and I'm looking for more than a few co-conspirators. Permit me to explain.
This forum has been built and maintained for nearly 20 years or more by one person, Mr. Mark Cavinaugh. If you are reading this post and if you've ever posted flying plans yourself on this site, you have Mark to thank for enabling you to do it.
If you've ever been to a fly in there is a good chance you've see some of his artistry in motion as the day transitioned from flying to making new friends and admiring the lights in the nighttime sky.
I've known and flown with Mark for nearly 20 years and over that period of time he has absolutely refused to take any credit for any of his efforts. Not only that he is so modest that he refuses to accept an H4 rating in spite of the fact that he is one of the best pilots in the club.
So here is the conspiracy, I need at least 10 and ideally many more co-conspirators so that we can successfully nominate him for USHPAs Rob Kells Memorial Award. I have taken the criteria directly from the USHPA web site and provide it below.
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ROB KELLS MEMORIAL AWARD - The intention of this award is to recognize a pilot, group, chapter or other entity that has provided continuous service, over a period of 15 years or more, to the sports of hang gliding or paragliding or both. It is not an annual award, and there must be a compelling body of nominations (minimum of 10) for a candidate to be considered. The Rob Kells Memorial Award is on par with the Presidential Citation, and can only be awarded to an individual/group/chapter/other entity once. Full details on qualifications and required documentation are here.
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One more thing, as many of you know I am running for Regional Director, elections are in December. If I am fortunate enough to get elected I'm going to put him in for a Hang V. He'll hate me for it which is the best reason I can think of for doing it. Welcome to the conspiracy!
Dan Tomlinson
OT : A little conspiracy
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: OT : A little conspiracy
Dan, your suggestion that I be nominated for this award is much appreciated, but I doubt that my club activities rise to that level.
As I understand it, the Rob Kells award recognizes people who have made major contributions toward growing the sport. To me, that means things like opening new sites; preserving existing sites; mentoring new pilots; bringing new pilots into the sport, that sort of thing. Running a forum is great, ok, and I'm sure it helps. But that's not the same thing, you know?
And heck, I've pretty much bailed on even being an Observer, because I'm too selfish about my own desires for airtime.
So I guess I would ask a counter-question : Who among the area pilots has been responsible, year after year, for getting new H2/P2 pilots into the air, and keeping them there? Or, who has been involved with site acquisition/maintenance activities, year after year, which have allowed us all to continue enjoying our flying sites?
Though I have downed my fair share of trees, and provided some (HG) flying advice to new pilots from time to time, there are others who have done far more than I... So I would like to see some other names tossed into this discussion!
MarkC
As I understand it, the Rob Kells award recognizes people who have made major contributions toward growing the sport. To me, that means things like opening new sites; preserving existing sites; mentoring new pilots; bringing new pilots into the sport, that sort of thing. Running a forum is great, ok, and I'm sure it helps. But that's not the same thing, you know?
And heck, I've pretty much bailed on even being an Observer, because I'm too selfish about my own desires for airtime.
So I guess I would ask a counter-question : Who among the area pilots has been responsible, year after year, for getting new H2/P2 pilots into the air, and keeping them there? Or, who has been involved with site acquisition/maintenance activities, year after year, which have allowed us all to continue enjoying our flying sites?
Though I have downed my fair share of trees, and provided some (HG) flying advice to new pilots from time to time, there are others who have done far more than I... So I would like to see some other names tossed into this discussion!
MarkC
Re: OT : A little conspiracy
Mark,
You have done more than just run a forum. You may not realize how you encourage newer pilots just in conversation and actions. Most people in this sport are good people, but you are one of the ones that goes that extra step. It may not be what the award is intended for but I will second the nomination. You may not choose to be an observer at this time but you are still a mentor...whether you are trying to be one or not.
You have done more than just run a forum. You may not realize how you encourage newer pilots just in conversation and actions. Most people in this sport are good people, but you are one of the ones that goes that extra step. It may not be what the award is intended for but I will second the nomination. You may not choose to be an observer at this time but you are still a mentor...whether you are trying to be one or not.
H3
443-742-3383
443-742-3383