Minutes of the Meeting of the BMFA North West Area
Held on 6th May 2008 at St Adian's, Winstanley, Wigan

Persons Present
David Lloyd-Jones Chairman & Delegate/CCMAA
Mike Colling FSMAE Vice Chairman & Wigan MAC
Derek Gilbert Secretary & Treasurer/Sale MFC
Keith Barker Webmaster/ Rochdale MAC
Roy Allam Achievement Sch Coord/FCMFA
John O'Donnell Timperley MF
Tom Anyon Fylde Coast MFA
Syd Bostock-Lawton Phoenix
Gerry Ferer Timperley MF
Jim Radcliffe Timperley &DMAC
Mike Eccles Southport MAC

7 voting, later 8

The meeting started at 8.00pm

Apologies for absence.
None

Correspondence.
Neville Toft had E Mailed the area with copies of inter club E mails regarding L & M and Teggs Nose. It was not very clear exactly what the problem was that we could help with. Syd Lawton offered to speak to Graham Bridge who may well be able to come to the next meeting and explain in detail. After the meeting Neville Toft explained that he was not asking for help on a specific point, just highlighting various members views that the BMFA seemed not to be supporting the clubs involved as well as they might.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th March.
Corrections
Mike Colling asked that it be recorded that he had apologised for absence and it was noted that, under Persons Present, Bostock was incorrectly spelt.
The minutes were proposed by Phoenix and seconded by Timperley MF and approved F 7: A 0: Ab 0
Matters Arising.
DLJ reported that Shawbury was now confirmed for 13 July.
J O'D asked if there was any progress on postal timing for the flight challenge and DLJ offered to raise this at the next council meeting.
Max Lloyd, by E Mail, noted that the changes to the Lleyn MAC details on the BMFA web site had not been made and the Secretary offered to let him have details of how to contact the webmaster direct to do this.

Officers' Reports.
DG noted that the area grant for next year of £2,384.12 had been received. It was asked why , if we have substantial funds, the entry fee for Woodvale had been increased. DLJ explained that we do not keep the entry fees which go to the Woodvale organizers and the increase this year is being used to cover the table costs which we were to stand, but are now being paid for by the Woodvale organizers. The meeting was asked to raise at the next meeting any proposals for new items to support next year.
RA was pleased to note that he had received a request for an ACE to take tests outside his normal area.
DLJ noted that Manny Williamson had been to talk to a club in the area. He felt that the area should be informed of such visits as it may be useful for one of the area committee to attend. It was suggested that DLJ may raise this as a proposal at the next meeting.

Council Meetings.
Full Council Meeting Agenda 10th May
The Delegate reviewed the agenda for the meeting, points of interest discussed were:
8. The proposed amendments to the composition of the awards committee was discussed and agreed.
9.c The meeting agreed that individual votes was to be preferred and asked the delegate to note that we should not be looking at changes yet as insufficient time has been given to the current system of elections.
11. b The proposed changes regarding protests were discussed at length and eventually agreed by the meeting with a request that the delegate ask that "may" be replaced with "must" .
12. J O'D raised that the Humbrol Plate should only be awarded to flights in the UK, some overseas venues will be very much an advantage, and that as it is to be awarded for duration, the rules should specify Free Flight Rubber only. Also to fix the competition year to end before the AGM may cause a delay of 12 months before it can be presented.

Area Fly-ins
DLJ confirmed the Eddie Riding is on track and entry forms sent out.
KB confirmed that the hall for the indoor meetings, commencing in October, has been booked for all of the next season. It was discussed if the entry fee should be raised to £4, but the meeting agreed to leave it at the present £3.

Saleable Goods
The Treasurer stated that he has received the cash from the office to buy back the current stock and David Phipps has agreed we can use the old stock items as we wish. The office require that in future an order is given for each show and unsold stock returned together with the takings after each show. As the office is now responsible for the accounting they will need to provide a change float and the current float needs to be paid back into area funds.

AOB
DLJ told the meeting that he had been asked to provide an area stand for a Model Engineering event at Llandudno on the 9th and 10th August,which he would like to manage and attend, as it was his home town. It may be possible to fly indoors and he will ask local clubs to help with a static display. MC offered to also bring the education stand. It was agreed at the meeting that this was in order for him to carry the stand responsibility.
Some discussion then emanated from the floor regarding the fact that, as Chris Bromley was not in best health and was no longer an elected committee member of the area, as to whether we needed a volunteer to act as Area Stand Manager. After some discussion Keith Barker offered to take responsibility for managing the area stand at Weston Park, Cosford and Woodvale. DLJ formally proposed that KB should be appointed Area Stand Manager and this was seconded by Mike Eccles. The meeting voted F: 8 A: 0 Ab: 0.

Tom Anyon was concerned that the changes to the Helicopter "B" had still not been made clear to everyone. A letter from Terry Rounce dated 29 October 2007 addressed to ACE's, Club examiners and others had not been received by everyone and the BMFA web site still includes the "Hovering M". The delegate offered to mention this at the council meeting.

The meeting closed at 10.48pm.