2022 USPA Winter Board of Directors meeting

The USPA Board of Directors held its first meeting of the 2022-2024 term in Houston, Texas, February 11-13. A new standard, the meeting was broadcast via Zoom allowing any members to attend virtually. Meeting highlights include:

• U.S. Skydiving Safety Foundation funds were allocated towards the development of instructional-rating holder educational videos on professionalism. 
• To support non-English speaking students, USPA will begin to include translated SIMs on the USPA website.
• Major revamp of USPA website coming later this year.
• USPA will be doubling down on public relations efforts to bring greater media attention to our sport and skydiving community.
• S&TA online training modules receive a major upgrade. 
• To aid in student retention, USPA will develop a “Starter Magazine.”
• 2023 USPA Nationals was awarded to Skydive Paraclete XP.
• 2023 National Collegiate Skydiving Championships was awarded to Skydive Elsinore.
• USPA will submit a bid to host the 2024 International Skydiving Commission (ISC) Plenary Meeting.
• USPA implemented a 30-day time limit to submit state records.
• In support of our record-setting competitors, USPA will cover the fees required to claim international records set at USPA Nationals.
• USPA increased the funding allotment to U.S. Parachute Team management. 
• There will now be a requirement to publish a tentative schedule for Nationals, subject to competitor feedback prior to publishing the final schedule.
• USPA is increasing judging compensation at Nationals. 
• 4-way Beginner Class will continue as a test event at the 2022 USPA National Championships.
• USPA Headquarters building has been paid off.
• New Group Member DZs will now be required to provide a copy of their flight operations handbook. 
• USPA will move forward with rewriting the SIM, with plans to complete by the summer meeting. 
• Updated USPA Value Statement and added discrimination and harassment language to USPA manuals.

The annual general membership meeting was held on Saturday evening, with an after-party at Sam’s Boat, allowing members to mingle with directors and staff. A full report of the meeting will appear in the April issue of Parachutist. The next board meeting will be July 22-24, 2022, in Alexandria, Virginia.