Next month, many skydivers will be heading to Reno, Nevada. Here’s a rundown of the events that will be going on the last week of February through the first week of March and why you should care.
February 24-26—USPA Board of Directors Meeting. The first USPA Board of Directors Meeting of 2023 will take place this weekend. Committees will meet to discuss membership services, safety and training initiatives, changes to competition and records programs and many more aspects of our organization and its direction. If you are a USPA member in good standing, you are welcome to attend and have your voice heard, or simply sit back and listen as your elected board guides your organization.
February 24-26—Parachute Industry Association First Regular Meeting. At the same time as the USPA Board meets, our sister organization of industry professionals will get together to speak about industry and community-related issues and concerns.
February 25—USPA General Membership Meeting. On Saturday evening, USPA will hold its General Membership Meeting, which is a great time to get a snapshot of what is happening in your organization. You are also welcome to join in and speak to the board if you have issues, concerns or topics that you would like to bring to their attention.
February 26—USPA Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony. On Sunday evening, USPA will be presenting its 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award to Jim Crouch at the opening reception for the Drop Zone Operators’ Conference. The reception room doors will be open so everyone can attend this momentous occasion and offer their congratulations to Crouch for his achievements.
February 27—Drop Zone Operators’ Conference. Drop zone operators and managers from both U.S. and international drop zones find this to be a must-attend event filled with valuable information and insights. Registration is open at uspadzoconference.com.
February 27-March 3—Parachute Industry Association Symposium. The PIA Symposium is not just for riggers and manufacturers … especially this year! There is a lot at the PIA Symposium that is amazing for the everyday fun jumper. This year, PIA will hold “fireside chats” with the sport’s leaders and seminars featuring world-class speakers in the Skydiver Seminar Room. PIA is making their symposium more appealing to the everyday skydiver, and our sport deserves a wonderful expo and symposium here in the U.S. Let's begin the #funjumpertakeover of the PIA Symposium. Now and forever.
March 3-5—USPA Examiner Standardization Meetings. Instructor and Coach Examiners from around the world get together every other year to collaborate productively in an effort to make rating programs better, exchange ideas and share feedback. The first round of the newly formatted 2023 meetings directly follows the PIA Symposium in Reno.
So, whether you’re an instructor, rigger, gear dealer, DZO, manufacturer or fun jumper, there is something for you going on in Reno, Nevada, next month. If you’ve been to these events before, I hope you will return. If you haven’t, now is the time. I look forward to seeing you there!
Blue skies,
Albert Berchtold | D-27832
USPA Executive Director