NEWSLETTER 1/2003
Apologies for the delay between the last newsletter and this one
but this was a combination of pressure of work and the dire lack of any content.
It always strikes me that there is little point in producing a newsletter
without anything worthwhile to say. So
here is an appeal to you all-PLEASE SEND ME STUFF TO PUT IN.
NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL
Would those of you who would prefer to receive
their newsletter by e-mail rather than snail mail please let Michael Terry know
at the MAA mail address and this will be done or indicate on your renewal slip.
All newsletters will also appear on the web page
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This was held during the Devon Cliffs holiday and
the committee was re-elected en masse. It
was agreed that the year-end be moved to coincide with the insurance year and
therefore renewal date of membership is June 1.
A reminder is attached to this newsletter.
The Annual General Meeting for 2003 will be held on
the middle Sunday of the Devon holiday.
HOLIDAY
REPORTS
FILEY 2002
The MAA week was a success as in previous years
although there was a slight drop in numbers.
The Protech team visited us and gave a couple of talks and there was the
usual raffle and range of evening entertainments including indoor flying with
UFO, s as well as planes, quizzes, cars and trucks etc. Michael Terry has done a
comprehensive report with photos and this is on the MAA web site.
At the end of the week the Chairman, Max Bradley presented the John Rudd
(Filey) Memorial Trophy to Paddy Lane.
For the first time, The MAA was responsible for
running the second week at Filey, the old ‘modellers week’ having been
approached by Haven when the previous organisers pulled out.
This was an involved task to say the least and we decided that the
sensible way to tackle it was to run the planes and cars only, our secretary
John Bicknell having been responsible for running the cars already for more
years than he cares to remember.
After a series of meetings with Haven and Traplets
who also kindly gave support to the event the week went ahead.
Our instructors were bribed, pressganged and beaten into submission to do
the job for both weeks with some added assistance from Robin Sleight on gliding
and John Bailey and Ian Johnson on cars.
Considering a lot of modellers thought that the
week was a goner we were very pleased with the response and the positive
comments that we received. The
numbers attending was encouraging and no doubt will be increased in 2003.
I would like to thank the committee members and
instructors, the staff at Haven head office, Jenny Cussins and Jeff Thomson at
Primrose Valley and especially Max for the help given to me in organising the
event, without which it would have been impossibility.
DEVON CLIFFS
2002
Devon was a little disappointing in respect of
numbers attending, which was well down on previous years.
This has also been noticed by and commented upon by Haven and is a matter
that will have to be addressed. Those that did attend enjoyed two weeks of
lovely weather, flying every day. Again
there was a range of evening activities including for the first time a Bonsai
Tree demonstration that attracted a lot of interest.
The fortnight was rounded of by the now traditional meal and raffle.
The Chairman, Max Bradley, presented the trophies and the Improved Flyer
Cup went to Ron Horrells grandson, Craig and the John Rudd (Devon) Memorial
trophy to Caroline Scoles.
Again Michael Terry has done an excellent report
and pictures on the web site.
Booking Forms for 2003 are now available from the
usual address as are information sheets which are also available on the website.
FILEY 2003
Again we were responsible for running not only our
own week but also the main modelling week –we must have done a good job last
year! For our week numbers were about the same as usual although some old faces
were missing this time but they had been replaced by new members, which was very
pleasing.
Due to circumstances at Primrose Valley we did not
have our usual meeting place but instead were given the use of the old 365 bar,
which actually made for a more intimate atmosphere.
Weather wise it was not the best but most people were able to fly at some
point every day, especially the glider lads who had taken over Flamborough and
were out from virtually dawn to dusk. It
is a well known fact that if it is too windy for a power site it is ideal for
gliding so come on you castor boys, when you are grounded give gliding a go-you
never know you might even like it!!!
For a change in the evenings we dispensed with the
usual activities and instead ran a darts league with a difference.
The darts were foam gliders with a pin on the nose.
20 competitors took part over 8 legs and the eventual winner was Dave
Scoles.
On the Friday evening we had the traditional raffle
draw and prize giving. The winner of the draw for the Force motor kindly donated
by Boddo was Tony Walsh who should have received it by now.
The trophy for the most improved flyer was awarded
to Liam Beard and the John Rudd Memorial Trophy was awarded to Michael Terry.
Again in a break from the norm, everybody
contributed to a buffet supper, which was accompanied by live music from Max and
his band The Little Band.
Again we ran the second week the old
‘Main’-modelling modelling week when the car lads joined us.
On the Sunday we staged a round of the National 1/5th
scale buggy competition which was well attended and provided a great deal of
interest. We were assisted with this by the BRCA and by Protech.
We secured the services of a bar in the Princes
club during the evenings and also held indoor chuck glider competitions, swap
meet and bring and buy, the infamous auction, and a revival of the Great Egg
Race. It was encouraging to note
that for our second year of running the event, numbers were up on the previous
year.
Again our instructors did a sterling job over the
two weeks and again we had additional assistance on the second week from Robin
Sleight on gliding and Ian Johnson and Barry Abbott on cars.
Thanks go to you all and to the staff at Haven and Primrose Valley.
Booking forms are now available for 2004 from the
usual address
A and B
CERTIFICATES
As you may be aware, it has been the case that BMFA
A and B certificates have been awarded on the holidays, as some of our
instructors are also BMFA examiners and Chief Examiners.
In the light of instructions issued by the BMFA to its Examiners and
Chief Examiners, we as a responsibly run organisation will NOT issue these
certificates on the holidays EXCEPT in specific exceptional circumstances.
This also applies to the second week at Filey.
The BMFA ruling is that if you are a member of a
BMFA affiliated club then you may only take your certificates with the examiner
at your home club. If your club for
any reason does not have an examiner then the MAA examiner will speak to your
club secretary for the clubs permission to carry out the test.
This does not however apply to ‘country’members
who do not belong to a club but are members of the BMFA.
They are entitled to take a test with any BMFA examiner or Chief
Examiner. Please also note that
there must be a time lapse of 6 months between passing you’re A and applying
to take your B.
Checks will be made on your BMFA card and with the
BMFA prior to any tests being taken.
This applies to Power, Helicopter and Gliding
equally. Anyone who requires any
clarification should speak to Dave Scoles who is a Chief Examiner.
HOLIDAYS
2003 and 2004
DEVON 2003
This will take place from 20th September
until 3rd October and bookings can be made for complete or part
weeks. Please note that although
the bookings can be taken from the Saturday our facilities are not available
until the Monday. This is due to
alterations at Devon the camp is being re-designed and is totally outside our
control. We will not have the use
of Chaos as it has been demolished and it is likely that we will be in the
Continental Bar for this year.
Again booking forms and information sheets are
available from us and due to the apparent declining numbers it is more important
than ever that bookings are done through us to justify the holiday.
In an effort to consolidate the numbers at Devon
and thereby be able to run the event the committee has taken the decision that
from 2004 the Devon holiday will be for 10 days maximum.
The information sheets are available also on our
web site. Regrettably booking forms
cannot be obtained on the web site as they are specific colour coded for each
event and need to be tracked at dispatch and receipt.
FILEY 2004
This will take place from 24th April
until 1st May for our week and 1st May until 8th
May for the main week. Booking forms are now available which cover both weeks
and also a weekend break. Please
note that to be able to participate in the flying/racing and therefore be
recognised as a modeller, bookings MUST be made through the MAA into Haven
accommodation. This also applies to
tourers, who should indicate on the booking form that they are tourers.
We are negotiating with Haven at present to secure exactly the same
discounts from them as are offered by their mail shots and offers.
Please also note that specific units cannot be reserved due to changes
around the camp. E.g. Lake Hill
Chalets are being demolished during the winter to be replaced by caravans.
Foxglove Chalets have been sold off to a commercial organisation for
their own private use. Also there
are several other events going on at the same time and so you may be told that
there is no accommodation available. This
will not happen if you book through us as we block reserve sufficient units.
FUTURE
BOOKINGS
Attached to this newsletter is an information sheet
giving details of the procedure to be followed in respect of booking for future
holidays. We have been told in very
clear terms by Haven that unless this is adhered to then they will withdraw the
support for the holidays. All
bookings MUST be made on our forms. Please
note that in the future the holidays will be likely to run from Friday to Friday
and not Saturday to Saturday. This is due to us having to fall in line with
Bourne Leisure booking policy. Obviously
this will mean that changes will have to be made to our programmes and timings
but hopefully these will be kept to the minimum.
We have been told however by the camps concerned that it is quite likely
that an extra night (Friday) will be able to be booked meaning an 8 night
booking.
Please
understand that this booking change is totally outside our control.
CAPS AND
POLO SHIRTS
Those of you that were at Filey will have seen the
new MAA caps and polo shirts. Shirts are £15 and are an excellent heavyweight
quality in red, with the MAA badge and caps are in blue at £5.
If you would like your name embroidering under the
badge on the shirts this can be done for £2 extra per shirt.
Please state the name required CLEARLY on an accompanying sheet of paper.
Both are available from the usual address.
Don’t forget we still have sew on badges at £2.50
and decals at £1 per sheet
CREDIT CARDS
Due to the high cost of charges for the credit card
facilities, a decision was taken at the Annual General Meeting that credit cards
would no longer be accepted for membership payments.
Cheques, postal orders or cash only please.
Renewal date is June 1st.
RENEWALS
As mentioned previously a renewal notice is
attached to the rear of this newsletter. Please
send your fees as soon as possible to avoid costly reminders.
The renewal date is June 1st and membership and insurance fees
are being held for the forthcoming year. Please
also note that the definition of a family membership is consisting of up to 2
adults and 2 children (under18 yrs) permanently resident at the same address
FURTHER
INFORMATION
Further information, booking forms etc can be
obtained from Caroline Scoles, Model Aviators Association, c/o Grimsby Model
Centre, 22 Lord Street, Grimsby DN31 2LU Tel/Fax 01472 322874 or 07771 751959.
E Mail: Mail@grimsbymodelcentre.fsnet.co.uk
The MAA web site is www.modelaviatorsassociation.fsnet.co.uk
E Mail: Mail@modelaviatorsassociation.fsnet.co.uk