10th POPS World Meet
Reggio Emilia, BodyFlyUniversity, Italy
from Friday 4 to Saturday 12 June 2010
10th POPS World Meet
Reggio Emilia, BodyFlyUniversity, Italy
from Friday 4 to Saturday 12 June 2010
The POP’S leather Jacket is a Symbol, highly ranking in all POP’S consideration,
although it appears seldom in public exhibitions.
It might therefore be interesting to know more about its features, its origin and how it
gained its fame.
The Jacket is a sleeveless short coat, fitted with a single button on the chest, made by reversed sheep-skin (woolly part inside). Since the beginning, it features a decoration on the outer back-surface, representing a large and finely painted reproduction of the POPS logo in full colours. On top of the logo the name “AUSTRALIA” is written, while under the logo the inscription “No. 898” and the Australian Flag are painted. This decoration masterpiece, as for sure it can be considered, is completed with the Author’s name and his skydiver’s identification codes (Bernie Shaw – POPS # 898 – D569) as well as by a date (31st March 1980) that allows now to establish the Jacket “official” date of coming into the POPS community, beginning a second and, as it turned out, highly ranking life.
Since then, further inscriptions were added, as every POP who had the privilege to wear
the Jacket was entitled to write on it his or her name. Consequently, most of the original
free space on the back side is nowadays covered, while the “invasion” of the front side has
already begun.
The back part of the Jacket features also a sewn hole, or rather a cut, at the bottom left side, around which the skin clear colour is altered into brown. The hole is a reminder that the Jacket had also a “first” and adventurous life, a not-negligible part of its history.
A day, long time ago, a young Bernie Shaw was peacefully spending a happy hour in a
Sidney pub. Maybe that the place had not the highest rank, as suddenly he was assaulted
by a Navy sailor with a knife. Luckily, the Jacket, that Bernie was wearing, gave him some
protection and he thinks that it saved his life, although both of them (Bernie and the
Jacket) suffered from wounds, whose signs the Jacket still bears. Since then, to Bernie
the Jacket meant much more than simply a garment.
May we say that Bernie motivations were very different from vanity when, so long time ago, he decorated and signed the Jacket. That year, Bernie (ancient skydiver himself, as his D licence number witnesses) made a journey from his Australia homeland to the United States. He took the decorated Jacket along with him, as a present to be given to an eminent American skydiver as a message of friendship: his signature was the present’s dedication to the still unknown recipient.
Pat Moorehead had already a very high and deserved reputation at that time; when they met, Bernie gave the Jacket to him, chosen as symbolic representative of the American POPS.
Ten years went by until when, in year 1990, the first POPS International Meeting was held in Australia. For the second time the Jacket crossed the Pacific Ocean, now accompanying Pat Moorehead.
Pat had realized how the friendship message associated with the Jacket was well suited to
the spirit of the POPS Meeting and he had the idea that the Jacket might become a visible
sign of such message and of its continuity from meeting to meeting. As also Bernie
shared these concepts, they agreed on considering the Jacket as a permanent Prize, a
Symbol, to be awarded at each POPS International Meeting to the participant that would
best personify the POPS spirit. Bernie’s Jacket had become “The POPS Leather Jacket”.
Besides stating the significance of the Prize, Pat and Bernie set a few and simple rules governing its transmission. At the closing Ceremony of every POPS International Meeting, the previous recipient, after illustrating to the audience the significance of the Prize, announces the name of his or her successor, suitably selected among the POP’S participants to the Meeting, and delivers to him or to her the Jacket It is duty of the previous recipient to select his or her successor. It is duty of the newly awarded recipient to preserve carefully the Jacket until the next Meeting and to bring it to such Meeting; it is his or her right to write his or her name on the Jacket.
The Recipient names are written on the Jacket that, so far, is the official “document”
recording them.
However, since sometimes not all details were reported along with the names, the main historical data have been completed to the outmost thanks to the helpful collaboration of many POP’s.. Even so, there are still some uncertainties, and contributions to finalize the
Jacket history, as well as to correct possible mistakes, will be welcome.
As said, Pat Moorehead (U.S.A.) was the first to receive the Jacket from Bernie Shaw, holding it from 1980 to 1990.
At the 1990 Meeting held in Ettamoogah Pub, Albury, New South Wales (Australia) the
Jacket was awarded to Lofty Thomas (U.K. Top POP No. 2).
At the 1993 Meeting held in Umatilla, FL (U.S.A.) the Jacket was awarded to Bent
Jakobsen (Danish POP # 019).
At the 1995 Meeting held in Empuriabrava (Spain) the Jacket was awarded to “Katsch”
(Verner Katzmirek, German POP).
At the 1997 Meeting held in Aqaba (Jordan) the Jacket was warded to Karel Geens
(Belgium).
For the 1999 Meeting held in Chilliwack (Canada) there is not yet knowledge of the
recipient name, as the two POPS whose names: appear on the Jacket and are not
otherwise linked to a specific Meeting: John Crowhurst (WTP No. 3 and U.K. TP No. 5)
and Michael Allum (U.K. TOP POP, WTP No. 1), say that they were never awarded of the
Jacket.
At the 2002 Meeting held in Matamata (New Zealand) the Jacket was awarded to Ross
Stockings (Australia).
At the 2004 Meeting held in Gruyère (Switzerland) the Jacket was awarded to Jim
Maclean “Le Pompier” (New Zealand).
At the 2006 Meeting held in Eloy, AZ (U.S.A.) the Jacket was warded to Bruno Imberti
(Italy POP # 3 and SOS # 1065).
At the 2008 Meeting held in Toogoolawah, QLD (Australia) the Jacket was awarded to
Alicia Moorehead (U.S.A.) who, in Jacket history, has become the first lady to receive it.
It seems that at the Toogoolawah Meeting a record was set thanks to the contemporary
presence of Bernie Shaw and six Jacket previous and newly awarded recipients, all
together covering a period of 28 years in Jacket History.
All of them appear in the picture, taken at the Awarding Ceremony on May 3, 2008.
It is everybody’s wish that this record be improved more and more in the future Meetings.
Toogoolawah, May 3, 2008 (from left to right): Bruno Imberti (Eloy, 2006); Jim Maclean (Gruyère, 2004); Alicia Moorehead (Toogoolawa, 2008); Ross Stockings (Matamata, 2002); Bernie Shaw (original owner of the Jacket); Bent Jakobsen (Umatilla 1993); Pat Moorehead (who received the Jacket from Bernie Shaw in 1980).
The author of these notes is grateful to the many eminent POPs that, digging in their
memories and archives, have made it possible to put together the information upon which,
along with the inscriptions on the proper Jacket, this document is based.
Mentioning them in alphabetical order, they are: Michael Allum, Dick Barton,
Jeff Chandler, John Crowhurst, Karel and Steven Geens, Bent Jakobsen, Pat Moorehead,
Karl Poruben, Bernie Shaw, Ross Stockings, Bill Wood, Tom Zukowski,.
May 21, 2008
Bruno Imberti
bruno.imberti at libero.it
HISTORY:
The POPS Personality Plate was first awarded at the 3rd World POPS Meet in Empuriabrava, Spain, in September, 1995. It was a surprise addition to the Awards Banquet ceremonies and was created by DZ Management and hosts of the meet.
The first recipient at that meet was Robert “Bobby-V” Valenzuela from the USA. A complete list of subsequent recipients is at the end of this document.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
It was the intention of the DZ management in Spain that the award recognizes and honors a participant who was most representative of the “POPS Spirit”. This is defined as a singular person who contributes to the overall fun and competitiveness of the meet, is supportive, cooperative, pleasant, and, perhaps, colorful in demeanor.
Eligible individuals may include any member of POPS that is present and participating in some way. This would include, but is not limited to, competitors, Top Pops, World Top Pops, judges, pilots, DZ staff, scorekeepers, manifestors, POPS wives, friends, family members and non-jumpers. BUT, they MUST be a member of POPS. This award is not meant to recognize someone for long-term-involvement, but for involvement in the current World POPS Meet only.
Non-eligible people include local politicians, non-POPS, ‘friends’ of the meet management, etc.
SELECTION PROCESS:
The meet management is solely responsible for selecting the recipient. Meet management may, if absolutely necessary, consult with the World Top Pop or other Top Pops for advice and guidance. Deviation from the above eligibility criteria may be acceptable if agreed upon by a committee made up of the current World Top Pop, all other Top Pops present, and the meet management. It is important, however, that the final selection is made by the meet management alone. The name of the recipient should not be revealed until the final awards banquet.
PRESENTATION PROCESS:
The previous recipient of the POPS Plate should be called to the stage at the awards banquet. As this plate may be unfamiliar to new POPS and others, he or she will raise the plate high for all to see as the Staff representative explains to the audience the history, eligibility criteria, and selection process. When the new recipient is announced and comes to the stage, the previous winner will hand the plate to them then step back or leave the stage. The appropriate photos will be taken with the staff and the new recipient.
NOTE: Should the previous recipient be unable to attend, a staff member will display and present the plate to the new winner.
THE TROPHY:
The original silver plate, contributed by Spain, is a “perpetual” trophy. Each recipient is obligated to have the appropriate information engraved on the plate and then bring or deliver it to the next WORLD Meet. If the recipient wishes to keep a souvenir plate (of any size) for their personal collection, it is their responsibility to have a plate made at their own expense.
There is no budget in the POPS organization regarding this award. It is expected that the World Top Pop may incur some minor expenses such as postage, phone calls, etc., in the administrative duties regarding the award.
If this historical plate is somehow lost, the person who was in possession of the plate at that time is obligated to replace the plate, including all engravings.
Once there is no more area on the front of the plate for engraving, the plate will be retired to a suitable location for proper display (possible to Empuriabrava DZ where it originated, possibly to a future POPS museum). It will then be the responsibility of the current World Top Pop to provide a similar plate of equal size and value so that the tradition may continue.
The recipient of the plate at the World Meet will be given a copy of these rules when given the award so that there is no misunderstanding the importance of the plate and their responsibilities listed hereon.
Each World Top Pop shall provide his/her successor with a copy of these rules.
RECORDS:
All records regarding this award will be kept by the following: 1. The current World Top Pop, 2. The recipient, 3. The Pops Historian and, 4. The Pops Awards Coordinator (currently Len Zak). This is to ensure that this award remains an integral part of all future World POPS Meets. (The Top Pop USA, the oldest of the POPS Organizations, should also keep a copy of this document on file).
The recipient, when possible, is expected to provide a photo of themselves, and the plate, to the above (4) persons for the POPS history files and other records. It is highly recommended that the recipient submit, in a timely manner, a photo and short article to all world-wide parachuting publications.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS1 July 2001:Pat Moorehead, Len Zak, Karl Poruben, Mike Allum, Shirley Powell, Bobby V., Ted Rose, John Crowhurst, Pete Jones (Empuriabrava DZ)
RECIPIENTS:
1995:3rdWorld Meet, Empuriabrava, Spain: Robert ‘Bobby-V’ Valenzuela, Competitor
1997:4thWorld Meet, Aqaba, Jordan:Shirley Powell, Manifestor
1999:5thWorld Meet, Chilliwack, Canada:The Danish Contingent, Competitors
2002:6thWorld Meet, Matamata, New Zealand:Steve McCurley, Chief Judge
2004:7thWorld Meet, Gruyeres, Switzerland: Andreas Knabe, Meet Director
2006:8thWorld Meet, Skydive Arizona, USA:Bruno Imberti, Competitor
2008:9thWorld Meet, Skydive Ramblers, Toogoolawah, Australia:Bernie Shaw, Skydiver