Persons Present
Chris Bromley FSMAEArea Chairman
Steve Ogden Area Secretary/ North Staffs M.A.C.
Roy Allam Area V/Chairman / Ach Scheme Co-Ord / Flyde Coast MFA.
Tom Anyon Blackpool MHC/A.C.E.
Brian Tindle Fylde Coast MFA/Area Ed. Co-Ord
Derek Gilbert Area Treasurer / Sale MAC
David Lloyd-Jones Area Pro.
Malcom Harding High Peak MAC
June Harding High Peak MAC
Allan Miller Clwyd SA
Gerry Ferer Timperly MF
Johnathon Boardman Southport MAC
Ken Griffiths Blackburn & DMAC
Kevin Clayton NSMAC
Sue Reeves Guest
15 Persons Present 9 Eligible to vote. Meeting opened at 8.10pm.
.
1)APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Max Lloyd and Andy Ellison both sent their apologies for not being able to attend
the meeting.
2)CORRESPONDENCE
Roy Allam Area Ach.Co-Ord. Had received a letter from Brian Gowland submitting
his resignation as an ACE. This letter was followed by a letter from a Mike
Rudge offering to replace Brian Gowland as ACE. This letter stated that Mr Rudge
had talked with Terry Rounce about this matter, whom had then referred it back
to Roy Allam. Roy wondered why Mr Rudge had approached Terry Rounce at all,
as his first point of contact should have been himself?. Roy had also received
a letter from Ray Jones whom had commented that, in his opinion there was no
need for an ACE in that area as there was only 2 clubs with less than 20 members
each. Chris Bromley Area Chairman asked Roy Allam to write to Brian thanking
him for his work over the years and to ask if he wished to remain as a normal
club examiner?.
Chris Bromley added that as the subject of ACE's was to be discussed at the AGM we should leave any decisions on the matter until that time.
Roy Allam said that he had received another letter asking if it was appropriate for other Area's ACE's to take tests within this Area. Roy stated that he thought that this was ok providing the ACE concerned had sought permission to do so from the Area concerned. Chris Bromley said that he thought this was correct but would check in the Council's precedence lists.
Roy's letter from Ray Jones also contained criticisms of the new Slope "A&B" tests. Chris Bromley stated that although Ray had not received a written reply, he had personally answered all his questions when he had spoken to him at Woodvale. He added that he felt that Ray's concerns over examiners from other disciplines taking "A" test were unfounded as this was a test of basic flying safety. But added that is why 2 examiners (one from the relevant discipline) are required for the more technical "B" test.
3)MINUTES OF THE MEETING 13/6/2000
Several corrections and spelling mistakes were noted and the minutes amended.
Proposed BMHC Seconded Sale MFC
For 4 Against 0 Abstentions 5
4) MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETING 12/9/2000
Kevin Clayton NSMAC said that he and several of his club members disagreed with
the 2nd paragraph under correspondence and its inferences. Chris Bromley Area
Chairman replied and that the paragraph was a true record of the proceedings
that he felt that the club were reading more into this that there was. The item
concerned the correcting of information on a posting list and Roy Allam Area
Ach.Scheme Co-Ord said that his outdated listing could have caused some confusion
but added that he is dependant on the information supplied to him.
Kevin Clayton also complained that the 3rd paragraph was unfair in naming someone before the accusation was proven or before the club involved had tried to solve the problem first. Chris Bromley Area Chairman stated that although the meeting had discussed the item he should have instructed the Area Sec not to include names or perhaps not to minute it as it was a sensitive matter. Chris added that the minutes of this meeting would include an apology.
APOLOGY
May I apologise to NSMAC and Mr P Hubbard for the Minutes that appeared in the
12th Sept. Area Meeting. As discussed with your club Sec at the Area Meeting
of 10 Oct., we did receive a letter of complaint from one of your members, and
is the custom of the Area, did discuss it in detail. None of this discussion
was critical of the club, and as you can see from the minutes, the conclusions
recorded were exactly what we would advise any club in similar circumstances.
Unfortunately, and this is entirely my fault, I neglected to ask our Area Sec not to record the details of the complaint in the minutes.
Again I must apologise to the club and Mr Hubbard for any inconvenience or upset caused by these minutes appearing.
Chris Bromley FSMAE
NW Area Chairman
5)OFFICERS REPORTS
Steve Ogden Area Sec reported that he and Sue Reeves had attend a SATRO meeting at his local Staffordshire University. This had proved very interesting with several good contacts being made. These included a school in Rugely which was interested in setting up a youth group and an offer to try 3 axis microlite flying at Penkridge.
David Lloyd-Jones stated that the Chairman's Seminar was going ahead as planned with 15 people promising to attend. Chris Bromley and Roy Allam said that they also would be in attendance.
Brian Tindle Area Ed Co-Ord disappointingly reported that all but 2 of the 20 teams expected were actually going to attend the Area finals of the Bae. Challenge. Brian said that this may be an indication of how little importance is given to aeronautics in schools today. And may also reflect the pressures placed on teaches from other quarters. Brian added that none of the modellers who had offered to help schools with the project had been contacted.
Brian also reported he had attended the last Areas Council as our Alt. Delegate he gave a brief outline of some of the issues raised.
He then reported that memberships now stood at 29,729 with 642 clubs and youth groups. Brian then reminded the meeting of the forthcoming "Safety Seminar" which would take place at Chacksfeild House on 24 Feb 2001
Derek Gilbert Area Treasurer that the Area had just under £3,500 in the bank which would be down to about £3,000 at the end of the financial year, which is approximately 2yrs running costs. At this point Chris Bromley Area Chairman handed out copies of proposals from Peter Valentine regarding Areas funding. He asked Derek to consider them carefully. As a response from the Area is required Chris Bromley asked for the proposals to be added to the agenda of the meeting after the AGM
6) COUNCIL AGENDA
Chris Bromley Area Chairman asked that because of time constraints we omit this
item.
7) EDDIE RIDING TROPHY
Steve Ogden Area Sec said that he had spoken to Jeff Pomfritt and had invited
him to the meeting but he was unable to attend. Chris Bromley stated that as
he was proposing to request the creation the position of Area Scale Comp. Sec.
at the AGM and it would be a good idea if he could attend the meeting. Steve
Ogden replied that he would re- issue the invitation nearer to the AGM.
8) ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a, Gerry Ferer said that a friend of his John Wingate had been attending the
meetings concerning Hooton Park hangers, and would like to know if we would
like him to be our delegate. Chris Bromley Area Chairman said that this was
not needed but that if anything of importance to the Area was to come up could
he please let the Area know.
Gerry was also concerned that there was no safety codes in the handbook covering F/F. Chris Bromley pointed out that there was but that they were very brief. He added that he had numerous amendments ready to go into the next issue of the handbook and that if Gerry had any suggestions he should write to him directly.
b, Derek Gilbert asked how a member could become an examiner for a non affiliated club. Chris Bromley answered that the candidate needed the club concerned to write in and nominate him in the normal way. He added that it had been hard to keep track of such examiners but that changes to the database had made this much easier and he would be producing Area Examiners lists shortly.
The Meeting ended at 10.35pm. These minutes are provisional until approved at the next meeting 6/2/2001.
S.F.Ogden North West Area Secretary