Below is a link for the first analysis of the Competition Survey.
This analysis was intended for USHPA related issues since that subject was the most requested from those that contacted me.
Other analyses can be done easily to let me know what you are interested in.
Thanks for participating.
Andrew
http://www.andrewvanis.com/USHPA_summary.html
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Are the responses valid?
To confirm for valid responses I compared the responses from those that provided emails to those that did not. With the theory those that would cheat would not put in their emails.
The results were very close with always less than 1 point difference (and usually less than 1/2 point) on the 1-10 scale. Thus I considered all responses valid.
Interestingly that less-than-a-point difference though small was "anti-competition" in attitude...hmmm....
The results were very close with always less than 1 point difference (and usually less than 1/2 point) on the 1-10 scale. Thus I considered all responses valid.
Interestingly that less-than-a-point difference though small was "anti-competition" in attitude...hmmm....
How can YOU contact every other USHPA member?
How could YOU contact every other USHPA member?
I called USHPA this afternoon and asked that question to Martin the Director of Business Communications and this is what I learned.
The only way is to buy mailing labels at $0.10 each plus $50 set up fee plus $5 shipping. So if USHPA has 9,020 members (as per 11/09 USHPA mag) that would be $957. (and this, by the way, is for one mailing, if you want to contact the members again, you must to pay again) On top of this you have the $0.44 postage and the printing costs – say $0.20/piece- for a total on your side $0.64 per member with for 9,020 members is $5,772.8. Plus the $957 to USHPA you’re into it for $6729.80 or $0.746 per member.
But money alone does not solve this hurdle.
First you have to fill out this form http://www.ushpa.aero/forms/Form_Label_Request.pdf
And then the communication which you want to send has to be approved by USHPA (Martin or if he’s unsure he asks the Executive Director). Martin indicated the communication has to be suitable and appropriate for the membership and things like solicitations or things not relevant would not be approved. Martin stated that no requests were denied as far as he knows.
Here are my thoughts:
First, why does it cost so much to talk to your fellow members!!! Why is the email option not available to us? USHPA sends out email messages when it wants to. I have received them. Why isn’t there a forum that every USHPA is a member to?
Second, I don’t know if I need someone protecting me from getting another piece of junk mail (my mailbox is already full of it). And if someone is willing to spend $0.746 to send me something, I might just look at it.
Second, part two, what is “appropriate” and why does the current administration get to decide? What if a member with a view dissenting of the current administration wants to talk to the members? Would the current administration approve such communication? It’s not like when you get communication about elections for government positions. Those are location based so someone can send a letter to every address in the area of concern. USHPA members do not have that option.
So how CAN you contact your fellow members?
I called USHPA this afternoon and asked that question to Martin the Director of Business Communications and this is what I learned.
The only way is to buy mailing labels at $0.10 each plus $50 set up fee plus $5 shipping. So if USHPA has 9,020 members (as per 11/09 USHPA mag) that would be $957. (and this, by the way, is for one mailing, if you want to contact the members again, you must to pay again) On top of this you have the $0.44 postage and the printing costs – say $0.20/piece- for a total on your side $0.64 per member with for 9,020 members is $5,772.8. Plus the $957 to USHPA you’re into it for $6729.80 or $0.746 per member.
But money alone does not solve this hurdle.
First you have to fill out this form http://www.ushpa.aero/forms/Form_Label_Request.pdf
And then the communication which you want to send has to be approved by USHPA (Martin or if he’s unsure he asks the Executive Director). Martin indicated the communication has to be suitable and appropriate for the membership and things like solicitations or things not relevant would not be approved. Martin stated that no requests were denied as far as he knows.
Here are my thoughts:
First, why does it cost so much to talk to your fellow members!!! Why is the email option not available to us? USHPA sends out email messages when it wants to. I have received them. Why isn’t there a forum that every USHPA is a member to?
Second, I don’t know if I need someone protecting me from getting another piece of junk mail (my mailbox is already full of it). And if someone is willing to spend $0.746 to send me something, I might just look at it.
Second, part two, what is “appropriate” and why does the current administration get to decide? What if a member with a view dissenting of the current administration wants to talk to the members? Would the current administration approve such communication? It’s not like when you get communication about elections for government positions. Those are location based so someone can send a letter to every address in the area of concern. USHPA members do not have that option.
So how CAN you contact your fellow members?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Survey closed
Survey is closed after 347 responses due to reduced participation. Detailed analysis coming soon. Thanks for responding.
Friday, October 23, 2009
How and why this survey is distributed the way it is
This survey has been publicized on Hanggliding.org, paraglidingforum.com, and OZ report.
In addition I sent the survey to all the email addresses that are on the USHPA/Clubs web site with the request that they post it on their board/distribute it to their members. With this I hoped to reach the pilots that don’t frequent the websites mentioned above.
I asked a member of the USHPA BOD if USHPA would like to take this survey. I was told USHPA was too busy right now. I didn’t get the impression I could get all the members email addresses (though I didn’t outright ask) Thus publicizing it this way was my only option.
I noticed some comments about the survey below are my responses
1 - It's only going to be completed by folks who have strong feelings about this positive or negative, so you are likely to get very polarized results. It won't be an unbiased group.
AV – It’s like any election/survey only the ones who care will give their opinion. Even if we called everyone they could decline to answer. Even if it was a requirement to take the survey to get a USHPA membership, those who don’t care might just fill-in the first choice just to get it over with…Thus it is probably appropriate that only the ones who care cast a vote/take the survey. Another reason we might not reach the “I don’t care pilot” see section above “How and why this survey is distributed the way it is”
2 - One person could complete this survey more than once - there is no lock out feature.
AV - we will be comparing responses by those who gave email addresses to the whole population. If the responses with no email addresses are significantly different it means that either no email address responses were entered by the side those responses support or that the folks responding supporting that side don’t feel safe giving their emails.
Lock out feature might be accomplished if I had a email list of all the pilots and was able to send them unique invitations. Such a list was not available to me - see section above “How and why this survey is distributed the way it is” thus everyone gets to come in and since cyberspace can give any individual multiple personalities (its such a schizophrenic place) there is no way to keep out multiple response. I’m from Chicago where the dead vote so I know the only true way in this or any voting scenario to ensure one person one vote is to take DNA a sample form the person standing right in front of you….a close second is if folks put in their email so we can verify. See next section about email addresses
3- public posting of email addresses
AV – Please add your email address it might give your response more weight (see #2 above)
This form does not have the option to automatically hide email. I have given an option to those who want to give it to me directly w/o having it on the results sheets and a few folks have done that. I have “hidden” the columns but I’m not sure it’s a definite fix if someone knows a work around thus the disclosure will stay up.
Even with respondents knowing their email would be public as of now 155 out of 284 (55%) gave their email.
This survey has been publicized on Hanggliding.org, paraglidingforum.com, and OZ report.
In addition I sent the survey to all the email addresses that are on the USHPA/Clubs web site with the request that they post it on their board/distribute it to their members. With this I hoped to reach the pilots that don’t frequent the websites mentioned above.
I asked a member of the USHPA BOD if USHPA would like to take this survey. I was told USHPA was too busy right now. I didn’t get the impression I could get all the members email addresses (though I didn’t outright ask) Thus publicizing it this way was my only option.
I noticed some comments about the survey below are my responses
1 - It's only going to be completed by folks who have strong feelings about this positive or negative, so you are likely to get very polarized results. It won't be an unbiased group.
AV – It’s like any election/survey only the ones who care will give their opinion. Even if we called everyone they could decline to answer. Even if it was a requirement to take the survey to get a USHPA membership, those who don’t care might just fill-in the first choice just to get it over with…Thus it is probably appropriate that only the ones who care cast a vote/take the survey. Another reason we might not reach the “I don’t care pilot” see section above “How and why this survey is distributed the way it is”
2 - One person could complete this survey more than once - there is no lock out feature.
AV - we will be comparing responses by those who gave email addresses to the whole population. If the responses with no email addresses are significantly different it means that either no email address responses were entered by the side those responses support or that the folks responding supporting that side don’t feel safe giving their emails.
Lock out feature might be accomplished if I had a email list of all the pilots and was able to send them unique invitations. Such a list was not available to me - see section above “How and why this survey is distributed the way it is” thus everyone gets to come in and since cyberspace can give any individual multiple personalities (its such a schizophrenic place) there is no way to keep out multiple response. I’m from Chicago where the dead vote so I know the only true way in this or any voting scenario to ensure one person one vote is to take DNA a sample form the person standing right in front of you….a close second is if folks put in their email so we can verify. See next section about email addresses
3- public posting of email addresses
AV – Please add your email address it might give your response more weight (see #2 above)
This form does not have the option to automatically hide email. I have given an option to those who want to give it to me directly w/o having it on the results sheets and a few folks have done that. I have “hidden” the columns but I’m not sure it’s a definite fix if someone knows a work around thus the disclosure will stay up.
Even with respondents knowing their email would be public as of now 155 out of 284 (55%) gave their email.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Intro
this blog is for discussion and results of the Competition Survey for Hang Gliders and Paragliders
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGxrOUR5dnV6aWxLbm4xY3NlWVUzRHc6MA
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGxrOUR5dnV6aWxLbm4xY3NlWVUzRHc6MA
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