Introduction

1. It was held in conjunction with the 24th Annual IUAC Ultralight/Lightplane Safety Seminar. This setting provided USUA members and ultralight enthusiasts with a full day of exciting and informational forums and exhibits. Special thanks go to the folks at the Illinois Department Of Transportation and the Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council organizers for all their hard work. You, too, Frank Beagle.
2. USUA had wonderful news to report. At this time last year, USUA was in an entirely different financial and organizational state. Due to the efforts of USUA staff, dedicated members and volunteers, as well as the overwhelming support from USUA Clubs, USUA has turned the situation around and reports growth and a clean financial bill of health. We couldn't have done it without YOU!

If you were unable to attend the meeting this year, USUA encourages you to fit the events into your schedule next year. We encourage active participation by members, and USUA will strive to have the same good (no, better!) news and information next year.

The following reports detail the activity your Staff, Regional Representatives and Board Of Directors reported during this most memorable meeting.

United States Ultralight Association, Inc.
Dale Hooper
Executive Vice President

Quick Links:

• 2004 Annual Meeting Announcement.
• Photos taken during the Annual Meeting.

Annual Meeting Reports

USUA Annual Meeting - Springfield, Illinois
February 27 - 29, 2004

USUA's Board of Directors, Regional Representatives, Executive Staff and Members recently participated in the events that were part of the association's Annual Meeting. Held in conjunction with the Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council's annual Safety Seminar, the Board and Staff received a warm welcome from the Seminar organizers.

Friday, the Board of Directors and Regional Representatives met jointly and separately in the meeting facilities at the Illinois Department of Transportation. At the end of the day, when Board Members, Regional Representatives and Executive Staff convened as a group, USUA Region #2 Representative, Dennis Gregory, submitted the Representatives' recommendations for implementation by the USUA Board and Staff. In brief, these are:

1. USUA needs to continue to press FAA to increase the weight and fuel issues for Part 103 vehicles.
2. Research accident reporting capability.
3. Assist current USUA AFIs who wish to certify for DAR, DPE, etc. status.
4. Revise USUA Pilot and BFI tests.
5. Increase Regional Representatives' involvement in regional events.
6. Try to acquire event insurance.
7. Advertise the current third-party liability insurance in other aviation magazines.

On Saturday, USUA was among the vendors and other aviation-related organizations that gathered in the Exhibition Hall of the Illinois Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. In the shadow of a two-story Abe Lincoln statue, ultralighters came together to view the latest merchandise and attend the various safety seminars put on by the IUAC. Along side USUA's booth, Dawne Fay and Dana Falardeau of First Flight Insurance Group answered questions and supplied applications for the new third-party liability insurance program. Volunteer Mike Plotnick and USUA's Financial Administrator, Carol Plotnick were kept busy selling merchandise and answering questions about USUA membership and the Association's various registration programs.

As late afternoon rolled around, the vendors left the Exhibition Hall and the Annual Meeting participants went into the Auditorium. USUA President, Reggie DeLoach, kicked off the Business Meeting with some opening comments. He set the tone for the good news that was to follow.

Next up to the podium was USUA Executive Vice President, Dale Hooper. He gave an accounting of the many changes the Association has undergone since the 2003 Annual Meeting. Although, Headquarters staff now consists of only 3 full-time employees, due to improvements in office equipment and software and USUA's web site, USUA staff are now able to service its members at a higher level than ever before. He pointed out that due to the volunteer efforts of our new web master, Robert Comperini, and the dedication and hard work of Carol Plotnick and newest staff member, Rebecca Lookingbill, USUA is now an organization to be proud of.

Leading in to the presentation of the Financial Report, Dale pointed out that the large debt USUA faced in February 2003 has now been reduced to $3,800. He added that there was even more good news to come and at that point introduced Carol Plotnick for presentation of the report.

Carol Plotnick, USUA's Financial Administrator, took a few minutes to review the Profit and Loss figures for the Fiscal Year 2002. With the aid of a couple slides projected onto the screen next to her, she detailed the composition of each area of Income and Expense and the outcome of the past year's financial activity. With a profit of $10,000, the first profit since FY 1999, she said that the association could be proud of the work Executive Staff and USUA members, volunteers and clubs did last fiscal year.

(The Finance Report can be viewed at the end of this web page)

Next on deck, were the Regional Representatives. Not all of the representatives were able to attend; however, those who participated presented their annual reports to the 50 attendees. The Regional Representatives who were present were: Bob Chase, Dennis Gregory, Bob McComb, Ken Snyder and Paul Wells, with alternate Representative Claudia Sleeper.

Dave Hempy then stepped up to the microphone and talked about the various opportunities pilots have to compete with one another. He also made the official announcement that the 8th National Microlight Championship will be held at Scottsburg Airport in Scottsburg, Indiana September 22 - 25, 2004.

At the conclusion of Dave's presentation, the meeting was adjourned for a light catered supper in the Exhibition Hall. Here, members, instructors, Regional Representatives, Board and Staff were able to chat and take a short break before the Annual Awards Ceremony. These awards are presented to various deserving individuals and organizations which have helped the sport of ultralighting in various ways.

The Awards Ceremony began with the presentation of the 2003 John Moody Award. Jack McCornack was the winner; however, he was unable to attend. Dale Hooper made the announcement and Dan Johnson, the 1999 Moody Award winner, presented the coveted award to Dave Hempy, who accepted and acknowledged the trophy in Jack's honor.

Other awards presented were:

Our congratulations to everyone!

Reggie DeLoach concluded the ceremonies with an announcement. USUA will be making a donation to the family of Rich Pendergist, USUA's Executive Vice President who died in October 2003. Rich was instrumental in beginning the process that resulted in USUA's financial recovery.

On Sunday, USUA Board Member, Jim Sweeney, conducted an AFI/BFI Seminar at the Illinois Department of Transportation offices. That concluded the events for this year's annual meeting.

USUA Financial Report

For USUA's fiscal year beginning October 1, 2002 and ending September 30, 2003, the organization showed a profit for the first time since fiscal year 1999. The financial year behind us began on a gloomy note. However, by following the direction set by executive staff, the United States Ultralight Association was able to reverse the fiscal trends of previous years and return to firmer financial footing. We ended the year with a profit of $10,011.49.

Accompanying this report are pie charts that may help to illustrate the magnitude of certain income and expense categories. Beginning on the Income side, $126,636.13 - almost half of the $268,240.77 total income - came from annual member dues. This is noteworthy because, during this time, membership was on the decline - and the cost of an annual membership remained at $25.00.

Twenty-eight percent of the total income came from student, pilot, vehicle, club and instructor registrations. Out of that $74,769.12, about $18,000.00 was from the combination of student, pilot and instructor registrations.

Merchandise income of $55,589.48 was due to the sale of merchandise from USUA's Online Flying Store. $20,000.00 of that figure came from book sales.

The $11,246.04 in the Other category is comprised of member donations, interest income and various refunds from taxes and the security deposit from the Patrick Street office space. As part of USUA's efforts to reduce expenses and eliminate the debt incurred in previous years, the headquarters relocated in February 2003. The organization now pays 50% less in rent.

On the expense side of this picture, almost 70% of USUA's $258,229.28 worth of expenses went towards member programs and services. The $174,188.66 figure includes the cost of direct mail processing, printing, annual meeting and other event expenses, the organization's annual NAA dues, and staff salaries. Staff salaries are included in this figure because almost 100% of their time is spent on member programs and services.

Administrative expenses totaling $61,401.54 cover the day-to-day cost of doing business. This includes rent, utilities, taxes, office supplies, the USUA web site, accounting and legal fees.

Once spending guidelines were in place and due to careful oversight, USUA is proud that only 9% ($22,639.08) of the total expense figure was spent on the acquisition and shipping of merchandise.

In conclusion, due to the generous donations from our members and clubs and the profit from merchandise sales, USUA was able to rebound from the debt situation we reported to you this time last year. USUA set the direction, but our members provided the support. We couldn't have done it without you.

Fiscal Year 2002 Financial Report
Carol L. Plotnick
Financial Administrator