AGM 2002

THE COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT

TO THE MEMBERSHIP 2001- 2002

1…OFFICERS:

The following Committee Members served the Association from April 2001-April 2002: Kim Allison (elected Welfare Officer April 2001) Jeff Heather, Alf Kitwood, Les Lovitt, Larry Slater, Tony Smiles, Don Smith, Phil Warrington and Harry Worth. Les Littlewood was elected onto Committee as Webmaster at the 2001 AGM. Alf Kitwood stood down at the Wokefield AGM and was replaced by Ian Thompson. The Committee has also been very well supported by your Patron Ray Colborne.

 2…GENERAL OFFICERS

The following were elected under Rule 7 a-d. (duties) and have led the Committee throughout 2001:  Clive Brooks (Chair) Dave Wallace (Vice-Chair) Ian Williams (Secretary) Peter Williams (Membership Administration and Treasurer) Your Chairman stood done at Wokefield Park and was replaced by Dave Wallace. Harry Worth was elected Vice-Chair by the AGM.

 3…MEETINGS

The 2001 AGM took place at Staverton Park, Daventry on April 7 and the 2002 AGM took place at Wokefield Park near Reading on April 6. An interim Committee meeting was held at the York Moat House on October 20 last. The Sub-Committee formed to oversee ACA25 met with the Wokefield Park Management Team on June 30 last year and again on February 2 and March 13 2002.

  4…RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGY

All Committee Members are committed to promote the ACA with a view to increasing our profile and Membership. We have now elected Ian Thompson, who is serving at Culdrose to come onto Committee. Posters advertising the Silver Jubilee and booking forms were sent to all Naval Air Squadrons. ACA Goodwill and promotional visits also took place at Yeovilton and Culdrose.

5…MEMBERSHIP

At the 2001 AGM we had a total of 349 members made up as follows: 286 Full, 26 Life, 14 Honorary, 11 Associate, 10 Overseas and 2 Overseas Associate. Numbers year on year (2000-2001) were up 6 but we lost 25 due to that number being removed from the mailing list. Annual Subscription remains at £10 per annum. The assembled Membership voted to amend Clause 11a) of the Constitution and it was reworded last April to ensure that only the next of kin of fully paid up Members were  entitled to the agreed memorial payment. Over the past 12 months our membership has increased by 6 Full Members, 2 Associates and 1 Re-join.

We regret to announce that Honorary Member Margaret Tremble (widow of Ken) passed away last summer.

 5…FINANCIAL REPORT

Monies held at the last AGM held in April 2001 stood at £5267.58. Sponsorship for ACA25 was sought and this amounted to some £3175 from various organisations and businesses. We also received both financial donations and prizes from many individual Members. An insurance policy was donated and taken up for a financial overspend over the weekend.

6…TACAN

Editions 23 and 24 of the Association’s free magazine were despatched to Members in May and at Xmas respectively. The next edition is due to be published in Winter 2002. A special ‘free to guests’ commemorative brochure was issued to all Members and Guests attending Wokefield Park. Due to the continued close electronic communication between the 2 Secretaries, we now encounter very few TACAN returns. We are however keen to trace Gerry Flannery, Alex Grieg, Neil Laing, Baggy Taylor (ex MUSC) and Gerry Wood.

 7…COMMUNICATION

The ACA website was setup in 2001 with generous assistance from “Apple On Line” Over the past couple of months, Jesse James has also set up and managed an on-line forum at www.smartgroups.com/groups/aircrewman where ACA Members and non-members alike can join and chat.

8…SPORTING EVENTS

The 2001 Golf Championship was cancelled in April due to adverse weather conditions and was subsequently held at Falmouth GC on September 14. The tournament was won by Razor Keen. Carl Robertson succeeded him to become ACA Champion at Wokefield Park this April.

 9…OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

We are not officially affiliated to other organisations, but we have maintained close social links with our sister FAA organisations (FAAOA (Officers) FAAHA (Handlers), FAAAA (Armourers) and the TAGA (Telegraphist Air Gunners) over the past year and will continue to do so. Our Official Guests at ACA25 included the Chairman of the TAGA and the Secretary of the Armourers Association.

10..ACA25

This has been a very busy year for the Sub-Committee formed to organise this event. Members Chris Bourne, WO Tony Dunmore and Tony Laws have kindly assisted the Committee in RN/ACA liaison. Everything from aircraft movements to nannies, MAOT to name tags and from  visiting aircrew barbecue meals to videos for the kids was extensively covered to ensure the weekend went smoothly. We expected and got a record attendance of Members and attracted an impressive Guest of Honour list. All of our ex-Chairman bar one attended the event. We were very pleased to welcome Founder of the ACA and the most senior ranked RN Aircrewman.

 11..FUTURE SOCIAL EVENTS/MEETINGS

The AGM decided to provisionally vote to visit Coventry for the 2003 Social Weekend on 4-5 April. Due to a prior booking the Royal Court at Coventry is unavailable and we will be going to Nantwich in Cheshire.

Your Committee will meet again in Manchester over the weekend of 25-26 October next. As usual, all Members are welcome to attend.

IAN WILLIAMS

ASSOCIATION SECRETARY

JUNE 2002