In a departure from previous procedure, USUA will hold its 2006 Annual Member Meeting and Awards Ceremony in Lakeland Florida during the Sun N Fun Fly- In. Historically, the Annual Meeting has been held in February, with the most recent (2004 & 2005) being held in conjunction with the Annual Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council (IUAC) Ultralight/Lightplane Safety Seminar. The USUA Board of Directors, during it's Semi-Annual Board meeting, decided to break precedent, and reschedule this most important meeting to a time and place that would be more accessible to members. The warm Florida Springtime, combined with the already popular and well attended Sun N Fun Fly-in, seemed to fit the bill nicely. The date has been set by the USUA Board Of Directors to be Friday April 7, at 6 PM. The meeting is open to all USUA members and interested parties. Those wishing to attend should register at the USUA exhibit in the ultralight area prior to the meeting.

USUA has for many years been a pivotal part of the ultralight area (Paradise City) at Sun N Fun, with it's prominent exhibit, and seminars. The USUA tent provides members with an opportunity to meet with other members from around the country, meet USUA staff and directors, receive vital information- from an ultralighter's perspective. Executive Vice President Dale Hooper reports, "USUA is happy to be continue to be a part of this beneficial and long-standing event and we invite our members to share the experience. By having our meeting at the fly-in, we can expect a larger turnout of USUA members, and be able to share with them the most up-to-date information available concerning their organization- in person. Additionally, the Ultralight Awards Ceremony will provide members the opportunity to congratulate the well deserving recipients of this years awards."

The Annual Member Meeting is only a part of the conferences that will be held by USUA in Lakeland. First, there are simultaneous meetings between USUA Regional Representatives and Board of Directors. The Regional Reps meet in closed-door sessions to discuss situations and concerns each will bring from their respective regions. After their discussions, they prioritize the results of their meeting into a list that will be presented later to the Board. While this is going on, the Board meets with Headquarters staff and discusses on-going agenda items and executive business. Then in a combined meeting, the Regional Reps present their recommendations to the Board for consideration. Typically, the Board would then meet and discuss these recommendations, and deliver their comments and action items to staff and Regional Reps. During last years (2005) meeting, in a bold departure from precedent, the Board decided to include staff and Reps in their discussions. This dramatic departure from established procedures allowed all concerned to provide additional input and clarity to the decisions being made. It also provided a sense of inclusiveness never before felt in the decision making and planning process at the highest levels of USUA management. The end result was a more complete understanding of the task at hand, and the renewed commitment of all in attendance. Because of the effectiveness of this approach, this years meeting will once again allow Board of Directors, Staff, and Regional Reps to fully discuss and define the future of USUA for the next year. The results of these meetings will then be announced at the Annual Member Meeting.

Following the Member Meeting, the day will conclude with the presentation of the USUA Ultralight Awards Ceremony. This occasion honors outstanding individuals who have been involved in various facets of the ultralight industry and community. The most prestigious of these awards is the Moody Award -- named for John Moody, who many consider to be the father of American ultralighting.