PRA elections

[Mayfield]

I received my PRA magazine yesterday. In it was the ballot for the 2006 BOD election.

There is a tradition in democracies of campaigning for individuals that we believe should be elected. Each of us has a right to campaign and make our choices heard.

I wish to share my thoughts and my picks for PRA BOD:

Kerry Cartier. Kerry is extremely concerned about our safety. He communicates well with the membership through his insightful yet entertaining articles in our magazine. I believe he will be an asset to the BOD and to the membership.

Dean Dolph. Dean is dedicated to the continuous improvement of the PRA. Dean embraces new technologies and believes in open lines of communication between the governing body of the PRA and the membership. Dean posseses an analytical mind. He will make decisions based on the information available to him and will not compromise his beliefs. I believe that Dean will impress us so much as a BOD member that he will be re-elected for many terms.

Stan Foster. Hidden behind his "down home" exterior is a sharp mind. Stan will voice his opinion in a manner that encourages response. He is not afraid of debate. Stan is open minded and will look at all sides of an issue. I believe he is able to subordinate his personal opinions in order to serve the needs of the organization. Stan is also an extremely personable ambassador for us. He is caring,thoughtful, and honorable. I believe he will help guide the PRA through this difficult time.

Ron Menzie. Ron is technically competent and will be a great asset to the PRA as a BOD member that understands FAA regulatory processes. Ron, as a long time gyro CFI will also be an asset in any issues concerning training. Also, as a long time board member, much of the corporate memory of the PRA is resident with Ron. As we head into the future it will be important to have someone that can help us understand where we have been in order to better shape our path forward. Ron posesses wisdom. This trait alone makes him valuable to the PRA.

Rusty Nance. Rusty brings much rotary wing experience to the table. Formally trained in accident prevention and safety, Rusty will be able to help lead a much needed safety improvement program. Also a gyro CFI, Rusty is able to understand the needs of the future gyro pilot. Rusty has demonstrated, through his national service, that he puts the needs of the group ahead of his personal needs. I believe Rusty will have the energy and ambition required to put great effort into revitalizing the PRA.

The registered members of this forum make up a large percentage of the PRA membership. Todd has provided us with this wonderful venue for voicing our opinions and for healthy debate. Let's use this great tool to make our wishes known and campaign for those we feel would best serve the needs of the PRA membership.

Above all: Vote!!!!! Do not let this opportunity to be heard pass you by. Make your choices known. If you vote, your voice will be heard; your vote will count!

If you are not yet a member of the PRA, join now; in time to vote in this critical election.

R/S

Jim Mayfield

[Heron]

Thanks Mr. Mayfield
I am cheering down here for the next PRA BOD and the movement towards a brighter future!
C'mon guys . . .vote! :)
Heron

[Vance]

I agree 100% Great candidates all. This is a big help, because before to many, they were strangers. Thank you Jim!

Vance

[Ernie_B]

Jim , you left out one of the best, YOU!!!!
you are retired and have a great back ground in rotary wing flying and I think you would make an excellent Prez.
But, I know you will not take the position, but maybe?

[BUD ONEAL]

Ernie,
You are still on the board are you not?

[Ernie_B]

Yes, Bud I am, but will not serve as Prez, conflict of interest, the prez should be a person with NO business interests that sell to the members.
just my standards!

[Rotornut]

WOW I almost went in Shock seeing Ernie Boyette name with several Post!
About Time Ernie. MJ :)

[Rotornut]

Everyone has their own Thoughts on this BOD Election. Not going to be a Easy one at all. Some I would like to see on there are not. Then some on there I would like to see off. Richard and I always Vote, but not so sure We Count, due to the fact that other PRA Members dont turn in their Vote.

If your into PRA you need to Speak Up and Fill in your Vote card and Return it.

MJ

[GyroRon]

I want to vote for Pedro..... wonder how many here will get this? :)

[Udi]

I want to second Jim's call for everyone to vote for the PRA BOD. It only takes 5 minutes and a stamp, and it may be your greatest contribution to the PRA yet. The PRA is in a difficult period right now and we should elect the people who can help bring it back to good health.

Please everyone vote!

I also happen to agree with Jim's selection of candidates.

Kerry Cartier - what a guy. I have met Kerry at BD 2006 and I am thoroughly impressed with him.

Dean Dolph - I also met Dean at BD 2006 and I have no doubt Dean will spend as much time as necessary to help the organization.

Stan Foster - what can I say... Stan's honesty, integrity, and his pure love for the sport make him the perfect man for the job. Also, Stan's excellent relationships with everyone in the gyro arena (regardless of make/model...) make him the perfect non-controversial director. Exactly what we need right now.

Ron Menzie - I don't know Ron personally but I have yet to hear a bad word about him. A true gyro man in hart. Not afraid to progress with advancements in technology. Has the perspective of history. Sounds like another BOD member that I wish will stay on the board and in the community for a while longer.

Rusty Nance - I don't know Rusty personally, but from what I know of him, Rusty has the ability to help bring the gyroplane community closer to the general aviation community by making the instruction scene more organized and professional. I think this kind of direction is necessary right now from the PRA. Between Rusty and Jim, they have the experience and knowledge to drive gyro training and continuing education to a higher and much more professional level.

Udi

[PW_Plack]

Jim, these guys would all be great candidates, but I'll be a little frustrated if they don't all address what may be the important qualification of all.

I'd feel much better voting for someone who would actually come here and say he wants the position. I'm afraid at least one of the people on your list would have to be talked into it...probably not a good thing.

Ron, I get it. My kids were both teens at home when it came out, and Oregon borders Idaho!

[Gyropilot007]

A little dynamite anyone?

Bob

[Rehan K.Janjua]

Hello Jim.

The new mag is almost a month away for some of us out here.
It would be nice if one could vote on the forum.

Regards.
Rehan

[RayPierce]

I got my magazine today.
Clipped the ballot.
Picked five.
Folded it on the dotted lines.
Sealed and stamped.

[GyroRon]

I voted today and here is who I voted for....

Stan Foster, Kerry Cartier, Dean Dolph, Glenn Bundy, and Rusty Nance.

Everyone running for board are good people and if I had to pick a few more I would have picked Don, then Ron, and then Richard - wish I knew more about Rich other than his little wing posts here....

Anyway with the people I picked, if they all get elected, between them and the ones who are staying on the board I believe PRA will see brighter days.

I think it is important to get the board on this forum, so glad to see a few of the ones running monitor this site and POST on it as well.

[scottessex]

Not Pedro!

[StanFoster]

Paul Plack: To answer your question in post # 12......yes..I do want to be on the board. I never even considered for a fleeting moment to ever run for a seat....but then was pursuaded very personally at Bensen days. To be totally honest....there are several other candidates with much more experience and knowlege that I have.....but I feel I can add some continuity between the different "camps" of gyropilots we have. The less infighting we achieve...the better off we all will be. Our numbers will grow.

Gyrocopter flying has got to be one of the biggest kept secrets in aviation. If we all demonstrated to non gyro people either by actually flying these wonderful machines....or demonstrated by just verbally expressing the passion we all have for this sport....it cant help but start to regrow. I am constantly posting pictures on other sites not even relating to flying and get lots of feedback and questions. I even had two come to the DocFinn fly-in that were on a woodworking site I post on. They were amazed at what they saw.

One person commented that I "act" like I really love flying gyrocopters. I paused a second and replied back with a smile................."Its not an act"


Stan

[Student]

Stan,

I'm not a PRA member, so a vote from me has no ballot. However, if you were the candidate with the questioned interest in Paul's post, I can't see how it could be true. You have been the only one to promptly come forward with your views and opinions in the Q&A thread. Those who speak first, set the benchmark and take a risk in doing so... to that I tip my hat.

From what I've gathered on these forums, the PRA is in a difficult era and one that demands change. A sense of unity and assurance needs to be restored. If that is indeed the case, I believe that you, Stan, are the man for the job. Your demeanor on these forums and your love for the sport only solidify the point; you're a natural diplomat.

I wish all the candidates the best of luck on their campaign. I'm certain that whatever the outcome, those elected will offer fresh ideas and views that will hopefully help the PRA recover. It certainly won't be an easy task, but it impossible one if you're all pulling in opposite directions.

Respectfully,

Justin, the non-member youngin' with an opinion anyways... hehe:o