This is our first issue for 2007. Welcome back to all of you. We held our first Committee meeting of the year on 1st February and completed the appointments to various jobs so the full list of who-does-what is enclosed. Please contact a committee member if you have any problems or ideas, especially the latter.
Membership
Every member should by now have received a list of fellow members who have agreed to have their names and numbers published. Our membership stands at 41 including 6 Family Juniors. This is about the same as at this point last year - not too many late renewals! Membership is still closed to any Adult who is not a BMFA Proficiency holder (at least "A"). Juniors are not affected.
Training
The weather has stopped our usual Wednesday afternoon sessions for some time now but they will be under way again as soon as possible. There are still a number of members yet to reach their "A" standard and that is why we have not re-opened the membership lists to any novices.We have put the wheels in motion to get John Cross appointed as a Fixed Wing Examiner. When this has been done we will have two examiners in the Club and therefore John and I will be able to carry out "B" Certificate tests as well as "A"s.
Frequency
There is a list in the Clubhouse of all the 35 Mhz frequency channels declared by you. If you change channel or acquire a new one please let me know. This list is maintained so that we can more easily locate missing frequency pegs or alert members in case of problems. The list also shows 27Mhz users.You will probably have heard of the new 2.4GHz frequency range which is now approved for our use. The Committee has discussed this and it can be used on our field as follows:
- We will use a "peg-off" system in the same way as for other frequencies. There will be four BLACK PEGS on the board. If you use 2.4 GHz you must take one of those pegs before switching on. When you have finished, put the peg back on the board.
- The maximum of FOUR aircraft in the air at any time still applies, irrespective of which band you are using. It is also good practice to carry out a range check on a regular basis. If you choose to use 2.4 GHz please let me know in the same way as you do for 35Mhz channels.
Field
The weather has prevented work on the strip so it is not up to its usual standard. As soon as possible Alan Carver will be working at it. Be very careful when there has been rain as the field became very waterlogged over the past few months and we must try not to damage the access or indeed any other part of the field. If in doubt, do not drive on. In the next few weeks the Farmer will be putting down some top soil to fill the depressions outside the northern and western edges of the strip. This should not impact us at all.
Show
This year's Show will be on 1st and 2nd September. Bookings of the various services we need are already under way (Marquees, Security etc.) and Antony Redding, who has taken on the task of managing Trade and Craft stands, already has trade stand bookings. Jan Forty is again looking after Camping with the assistance of her husband Ken .
Social Activities
The Committee is conscious of the fact that we do not have any social activities. A few years ago we held Skittle evenings and Bring-and-Buys but they faded away, apparently through lack of interest. If any of you have any ideas for things we might do please let us have them.
Website
The Club website will be changing to give more versatility and capability. Mark Finning is kindly designing it. It will be called: www.herefordshiremac.com There will be a link in place to take visitors to the new site from the old. The new one should be running mid February. John Warner will continue to be the "editor" to co-ordinate Club information going on to the site. In addition we are looking to send the newsletter to as many of you as possible by e-mail. Please make sure I have your latest e-mail address if you are happy to receive them that way and , very importantly, please tell me if you do NOT wish to receive future newsletters by e-mail. Of course, if you do not have e-mail you will still get newsletters by post.
AGM
Very early notice - this year the AGM will be on Thursday 29th November at the Royal Oak.
That is all for now. Let's hope for some decent weather as we move into springtime and summer. 'Bye for now
Bernard Morris