1
Royal Air Forces Association
Minutes of the North Costa Blanca BRANCH Meeting held
12.00 – 13.00, 11th March 2013, at Los Arcos Restaurant, Pedreguer
Action
1. Present
Gaby Ferenczy (President)
Bob Hunt (Chairman)
Colin McNae (Vice-Chairman & Webmaster)
Brian Flowers (Secretary)
Kevin Elders (Treasurer)
Jan Elders (Welfare Officer)
Alan Gill (Social and Entertainment Officer)
Stephen Lemon (Flyer Editor)
2. Apologies
Shane Martin (Wings Appeal Officer)
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting was proposed by Len Hewitt, seconded by Cameron Gair and carried unanimously.
4. Matters arising
None.
5. Report by the Chairman
5.0 Introduction
· The Chairman welcomed 61 members and 2 visitors, (David and Ann Gibbs from the Wokingham Branch as guests of Pat Goss). He also welcomed new prospective members, Len Morris and Brian Clark-Sutton.
5.1 Report on Central Council Matters
· The Chairman explained that he had been summoned to attend a meeting on 9th April of Area Chairmen with Air Marshal Sir ‘Dusty’ Miller, RAFA President, in order to discuss the President’s ‘Vision 2020’ paper assessing future options for RAFA.
· The total number of RAF personnel had declined progressively from over a million at the end of WWII to about 200,000 in 1960 and about 40,000 in today’s highly efficient RAF. Inevitably, the number of RAFA members has followed a similar decline in membership. Efforts have been made to increase the percentage of serving RAF personnel who are members of RAFA, which is now quite high at 74%. Efforts are also being made to permit the recruitment of young ATC cadets.
· A decline in membership of about 4% per annum has produced a situation whereby the income from membership subscriptions now falls short of administrative running costs by about ₤660,000 per annum. This shortfall has been met, in part, from legacy income but this use of money intended for charitable purposes should be avoided as far as possible.
· The Chairman would welcome any ideas that NCB Members may wish to contribute to this discussion.
5.2 RAFA National and EA Conferences in Eastbourne, May 2013
· The 2 NCB Resolutions to give voting rights to Associate Members at Branch and National level were approved at the AGM, but any additional resolutions received from CHQ for consideration at Annual Conference would need to be discussed/approved at the April or May Branch Meetings.
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5.3 European Area Conference in Guernsey, 4-6 Oct. 2013
· There would be a large NCB contingent attending this European Area Conference including Gaby & Margaret Ferenczy, Bob & Margaret Hunt, Colin & Sue McNae, Brian & Pauline Flowers, Ray & Joy Harris, and Stephen Lemon (NCB Delegate) & Tricia Hough.
5.4 NCB hosting the 2014 EAC in the Melia Hotel, Benidorm, 10-12 October
· The Chairman reported that preparations for the Benidorm European Area Conference were going well. Volunteers would be needed in due course.
5.5 Replacement of Branch Chaplain
· John Richardson, the new Branch Chaplain, was unable to attend the Branch Meeting due to another commitment. He had submitted a short article to The Flyer however.
6. Vice-Chairman’s Report
· The Chairman welcomed the new Vice-Chairman, Colin McNae, to the Committee. He also welcomed back Harry Raven, (formerly the Acting Vice-Chairman), as Branch Vice-President.
· Due to Bob Hunt’s absence, Colin McNae will be the Acting Chairman at the 8th April Branch Meeting.
7. Secretary’s Report
· The Secretary reported that NCB membership was presently 134, (64 Ordinary members and 70 Associate members). New Associate Member, Tricia Hough, would be presented with her Membership Card and Membership Badges later in the meeting. Len Morris, ex-RAF 1943 - 1947 and former Warrant Officer, had submitted his membership application form.
8. Treasurer’s Report
· The Treasurer reported that the Branch finances were as follows:
Euros
Cash: 43·82
Bank: 8,526·87
______
Total: 8,570·69
· About €1,000 was owed to RAFA-HQ for membership fees.
· Lionel Taylor had contributed €163·30 from collection boxes.
9. Welfare Officer’s Report
· The Honorary Welfare Officer gave the following information about Members with health problems:
- Brian Newman had now moved to Ciudad Patricia.
- Rita Walker was now happily installed in a home in Australia, where one of her daughters was helping her.
- Bob Pearson was installed in a home in the UK, where his granddaughter visits him.
- Lionel Taylor was undergoing specialist eye treatment in Barcelona.
· The HWO had recently obtained RAFBF grants for two people, namely an ex-RAF pilot and a RAF widow in Fontilles. The RAFBF had decided that all grants would be specified in ₤s in future, which would cause problems as ₤/€ exchange-rate fluctuations would cause changes in monthly € payments.
· The HWO reminded members that UK EHIC cards are not valid for British people resident in Spain, (only for visiting other EU countries), but visitors to Spain from the UK should bring a UK EHIC card with them.
10. Social & Entertainment Officer’s Report
· Alan Gill gave the following list of social events:
- 21st March, Quiz Night, 19.00/19.30, Inn on the Green.
- 17th April, Steak Night, Maviro Restaurant, 19.00/19.30.
- 26th April, Joint function with Society of St-George, Carrasco Restaurant, Javea.
- 23rd May, Treasure Hunt, (Organized by John & Mary Snell).
- 13 June, Flying Day, Muchamiel, (details to follow).
· The Chairman thanked Alan for organising an enjoyable Steak Night and a Bowling Evening in February.
11. Wings Appeal Officer’s Report
· The Wings Appeal Officer was unable to attend the meeting.
12 Flyer Editor’s Report
· The Chairman congratulated the Flyer Editor on producing an excellent March edition of The Flyer. The Editor asked Members to submit articles for the June Flyer, (deadline 14th May).
13. Webmaster’s Report
· The Webmaster reported that the website had received 132 hits in February.
· He also reported that the Minutes of the 14th January Branch Meeting were now available on the NCB Website, and future Branch Meeting Minutes would also be posted as and when they become available.
14. AOB
· The Chairman thanked Hugh Norton for the exemplary way that he had paraded the NCB standard over the past two years. Hugh would be returning to the UK in the near future, so volunteers for the post of Standard Bearer were asked to contact the Chairman.
· Cameron Gair proposed a vote of thanks for all the hard work carried out by the Branch Chairman, which was much appreciated by the Members.
· The President informed Members that a function at the Canor Restaurant on 31st May would raise money to pay for speech therapy and a sailing trip for Gerard McGraff, a local British young man who had been badly injured in a motorcycle accident.
· Sue McNae informed Members that she was ready to make birthday/Christmas/etc. cards to Members’ requirements for €2·50 per card, of which €1 goes to the Wings Appeal.
15. Date and Place of Next Meeting
· The next Branch Meeting will be held 12.00-13.00 on 8th April at Los Arcos Restaurant, Pedreguer.
(Brian Flowers - Rev.1 - 1st April 2013)