'r#jt,3lll"o,,', - Parachute Industry Association

PATTI CHERNIS was nominated Chairman for
Symposium 1999. There was no nomination for
chairman of Risk Management.
Cliff Schmucker, President, reported no official
interim action by the Executive Committee, just
some housekeeping activities.
George Galloway, Vice President, reported that the
PIA web site usage was quite extensive. A
demonstration would be forthcoming later in the
meeting.
Dori Bachman, Treasurer, presented the Financial
Statement for PIA. A copy is attached at the
conclusion of the Minutes.
The Secretary, Jean Beck, requested anyone who
wished a "hard copy" of the Minutes to contact her.
After a brief break the meeting re-convened with
the election of Committee chairs. There being no
additional nominations, the Symposium 1999
Chairman nominee, PATTI CHERNIS, was
elected by acclamation. There was no nominee for
the Risk Management Chairmanship so that
currently remains vacant.
Members were requested to give Patti Chernis
suggestions for Symposium 1999 and 2001 for site
checkout as well as possible locations for
September 1997 and February 1998 Regular
Meeting sites.
Each Committee Chair gave a brief overview of
what their committee did in an effon to encourage
members to join and work on PIA Committees.
The meeting was then adjourned for a tour of the
facilities by Astrodome personnel, as this hotel is
the site for the 1997 Symposium; and for committee
meetings.
Dan Poynter then made the following motion:
MOTION: That the Chairman of the Symposium
Committee be directed to develop an SOP for
exhibit space selection, to be discussed in February,
1997 and decided at the Fall, 1997 meeting.
SANDY REID SECONDED.
MOTTON CARRIED.
Chris Needels, Executive Director of United States
Parachute Association gave a brief overview of the
50th Anniversary celebration which USPA
celebrates this year. There was a solidarity jump
made at 7:00 p.m. EDT on July 6, at all the drop
zones around the country, and also in Europe and
Asia, in addition to a number of other special
events. USPA now has 33,000 individual members
and 350 group members; ten percent annual growth
the past two years each.
Their focus now is on qualitative service. They are
adding new, highly skilled staff. New membership
services director and they have a new membership
directory available. The new FAAruSPA/PIA
video tape, "SKYDIVINGTT is now completed and
it will include the PIA loso. It will come out
October l.
There will be a new group membership available
November l, really not new, just enhanced version
of the old one.
Drop zones are now getting more services with the
new publication, "Professional," new Drop Zone
Directory which will be sent out in the latest issue
of PARACHUTIST, and the skydiving aircraft
operations manual.
A new 45 day temporary membership. The USPA
is going to require that all group members be
USPA members except for tandem jumps. The
USPA is now comins out of adolescence and into
maturity.
Chris then read remarks from Sherry Stricter,
President of the USPA.
The Plenary Session re-convened Saturday,
September 14, at9:07 A.M. with a quorum present.
Para NewsBrief - December 1996
PNBNEW96