Persons Present
Derek Gilbert Secretary and Treasurer / Sale MFC
Roy Allam Achievement Scheme Co-ordinator / FCMFA
David Lloyd-Jones Area Delegate & PRO / CCMAA
Sue Reeves Education Co-ordinator / PMAG
Keith Barker Webmaster/Rochdale MAC
Gerry Ferer Timperley MF
Steve Ogden PMAG
Mike Eccles Southport MAC
John O'Donnell Timperley MF
Jim Radcliffe Timperley DMFC
C H Hargreaves Whitefield MAC
M C Hargreaves Whitefield MAC
Alan Smith Clwyd SA
William Bibby Runcorn MA
Stephen Headland Rochdale MAC
Christine Westgarth West Midlands MFC
Andy Collins West Midlands MFC
Mike Beese Sharston MFC
Syd Bostock-Lawton Phoenix MAC
11 voting later 13
The meeting commenced at 20. 02
Apologies for absence:
Chris Bromley FSMAE, Mike Colling FSMAE, Tom Anyon, Chris Poyser, Alan Cantwell
and Ray Jones.
In the absence of the Chairman, David Lloyd-Jones was asked to chair the meeting.
Correspondence
None
Minutes of the previous meeting
Corrections:
Page 3 "guidelines for" to be entered before bye laws
Page 3 "had" to be entered before asked if the delay
Page 5 under proposal for ACE "SO asked" to be replaced with "SR
asked"
Minutes proposed by ME, seconded by JF, voting F: 8, A: 0, Ab: 3
Matters Arising
KB raised again why there had been no visit to Tunstall and SR confirmed that
she had not been able to attend due to personal reasons.
The subject of an alternative venue was discussed with general agreement that
we should be looking for a more suitable room. J O'D confirmed that St Aidan's
was still available every other Tuesday and DLJ confirmed the room would be
an improvement on the Millstone. There followed a short discussion whether we
should be considering venues further south or rotating the venue around the
area. It was agreed St Aidan's was convenient being close to the M6 and this
venue was put to the meeting.
Proposed DG seconded RA , voting F: 11, A: 0, Ab: 0
As CB was not present the consideration of geographical concentration of clubs
and possible support for a West Midlands Area was deferred to the next meeting.
KB mentioned that if the office was considering a new database , could records
information be part of this?
It was noted that we still had no date for North Staffs event and DLJ agreed
to contact Chris Poyser.
KB noted that the comment at the last meeting regarding the length of time to
process the ACE appointment of 10 months was perhaps in error and was nearer
7 months.
SO raised again comments regarding his consideration for appointment as ACE.
He stated that he had copies of E mails sent by RA to ACEs and wanted to know
why he was soliciting responses from them. RA replied that he contacted them
as he was tasked to by the meeting. SO stated that comments made before and
history with certain examiners was influencing the situation and why had no
assessment and interview been carried out.
It was decided that the meeting should vote to consider if SO should be put
forward by the area for the position of ACE.
KB asked before the vote what has RA heard about SO, only E mails mentioned
and statements that he is not suitable to represent the BMFA as an ACE. SO agreed
and asked "what evidence." RA replied "your attitude tonight
was sufficient." MB commented that assessment had in fact been done and
what he had heard at this meeting, he could not support SO.
The chairman asked if the motion could be put to the meeting and it was proposed
by Whitefield and seconded by Timperley MF . The meeting voted F: 3, A: 8. Ab:2.
Officer's Reports
SR noted that, to keep costs down, no request for assistance with the Flight
Challenge had been made to the northern areas. DG noted that he had offered
to assist a local school, but had no response from them.
SR reported that the she would only be attending Weston Park, Cosford and Woodvale
this year with the BMFA saleable goods.
KB asked why he had not been asked to help on the stand this year. SR stated
that CB had organised sufficient help and following remarks on the forum would
not want KB on the stand.
JF asked that KB be congratulated for his and his brother's help with the BMFA
stand at the Free Flight Nationals particularly in such bad weather.
None of the other officers had anything specific to report.
Council Agenda and Minutes
Full Council meeting5th May 2007
The Delegate reviewed the minutes in detail for the meeting.
(These minutes are now available in full on the BMFA web site.)
A special agenda item had been included regarding the removal of a member from
membership. It was found that this needed a change to the constitution and this
would be proposed at the next AGM.
There was some discussion regarding the Top Gun event, but the delegate reported
that the decision not to hold the event had already been taken by the elected
officers.
KB noted that he was not happy with the process of advertising and tendering
for the new web site. The delegate reported that the quotes were put to council,
but the elected officers had already decided to stay with the present Webmaster
as the other quotes were much higher.
The Forum was discussed again by this meeting with several differing views how
it should be operated/managed. The delegate reported similar discussions at
council, and the NW Area had proposed that it be limited to "Technical
Questions". However the meeting voted to close the forum forthwith.
The two proposals by the N W Area to place council minutes and agenda on the
BMFA web site were passed by council.
Areas Council Agenda 9 June 2007
The meeting had no objections to the proposed changes to the appointment of
Chief Examiners and the delegate was asked to support it.
No other specific voting instructions were given to the delegate.
Area Fly-in and competitions
KB reported that the dates for the Rochdale indoor meetings were on the area
web site
DLJ was pleased to note that there were 23 entries for Shawbury so far.
The area had still heard nothing from North Staffs.
DLJ produced artwork for the Eddie Riding pvc banners which were to cost about
£50. These were approved with the suggestion they should refer to being
organised by the N W Area and perhaps he should try green lettering to see if
this would stand out more.
Examiners' Meeting
This topic was carried forward to the next meeting.
Future of the Flight Challenge
J O'D declared that interest had fallen so much and with schools finding it
more difficult to arrange travel he proposed that we abandon it
There was some discussion whether we should have area venues or postal rounds.
SR noted that a number of schools had shown interest this year, perhaps the
venue being more interesting, and wanted to see how many actually turned up
before we make any decision.
Any Other Business
Sale mentioned that the club had been charged postage by the office for the
restocking of Up and Away books., but was told this was now the norm as members
are also charged if they apply with their voucher.
The meeting closed at 22.29
These minutes are provisional until approved at the next meeting