| AGM 2004 |
THE COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT
TO THE MEMBERSHIP 2003- 2004
1…OFFICERS:
The following Committee Members served the Association from April 2003-April 2004: Kim Allison (Welfare Officer) Jeff Heather, Les Lovitt, Larry Slater, Tony Smiles, Don Smith, Ian Thompson, Phil Warrington and Harry Worth. Alan Paterson and Alan Ashdown are co-opted onto Committee as Joint Webmasters. Until his untimely death, we were well supported by our Patron Ray Colborne.
2…GENERAL OFFICERS
The following, elected under Rule 7 a-d. (duties) have led the Committee throughout the year: Dave Wallace (Chair) Harry Worth (Vice-Chair) Ian Williams (Secretary) Les Lovitt (Membership Administration and Treasurer)
3…MEETINGS
The 2003 AGM (ACA26)
took place at Wychwood Park near Crewe on April 5. An interim Committee meeting
was held at the Bristol Holiday Inn in October. A 2004 Social Sub-Committee was
formed and met with the Moat House Management last February
All Committee Members are committed to promote the ACA with a view to increasing our profile and Membership. Ian Thompson has been replaced by LACMN Bungy Williams (771 Squadron) who looks after all matters at RNAS Culdrose. George Gardiner (now relieved by Paddy Green) represents the Association at RNAS Yeovilton. Sam Norris, with the RAF at Odiham, helps with all matters inter-service. ACA goodwill and promotional visits continue to take place at the major Air Stations. Posters advertising the 2004 AGM were distributed around all Squadrons and joining forms are available to all serving Aircrewmen within the Fleet Air Arm. A joining form is available to download from our website and all but 1 new joiner in the past year has joined via this method.
6…MEMBERSHIP
At the 2003 AGM in Cheshire, we had a total of 386 members. In the past year 3 Members (2 Full and 1 Associate) have passed away. Numbers have increased by 20 in the past 12 months. 2 Members applications are currently being administered.
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP is 403 (as at 01 April 2004)
7…FINANCIAL REPORT
The Treasurer furnished the AGM with detailed financial figures from the Association’s accounts.
8…TACAN
Edition 26 of the Association’s free magazine was despatched to Members in June of last year. Edition 27 was due out just before Xmas, but was slightly delayed by a few weeks due to re-pro and press problems at the printers. On delivery, it was found not to be of our usual high standard. Overtures to the printers obtained a 50% reduction in cost. In accordance with a decision made by the AGM some years ago, Members in arrears with their subscriptions do NOT receive TACAN. At the moment these total 19. Due to the continued close electronic communication between the 2 Secretaries, we now encounter very few TACAN returns. Those that we do encounter are quickly found, through the ‘lost souls’ page of the website.
9…COMMUNICATION
The first ACA website was setup in 2001, but due to operational and hosting problems, the Committee decided that the Association should take steps to own our site outright.
In October 2002 they voted for a financial outlay of £92.82 and, as a result www.aircrewman.org.uk was born, jointly managed by Alan Paterson and Alan Ashdown. The current annual cost to maintain our site is £102.49 (Registration is £25 every 2 years and hosting is £89.99)
The site has proved highly popular and is generally regarded as one of the best in the Fleet Air Arm. We ask that you all continue to support it and spread the word. We have now found our way onto various Naval and other Service Association links pages
10…SPORTING EVENTS
Denis Woodhams continues
as FO Golf. The 2003 Golf Championship was held prior to the AGM at Wychwood
Park where Stevie Dodd was crowned ACA Champion
11…OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
We continue to maintain close social links with our sister FAA organisations:-
The FAAOA (Officers) FAAHA (Handlers), FAAAA (Armourers) and the TAGA (Telegraphist Air Gunners) We also, through Associate Member Andrew G. Linsley, support and maintain a cordial working relationship with the RNHF.
12...FUTURE SOCIAL EVENTS/MEETINGS
The next Committee weekend will take place in October in Blackpool. All members are welcome to attend. Next years AGM/Social Weekend will take place on the 8/9 April at the Oxford Hotel.
IAN WILLIAMS
ASSOCIATION
SECRETARY
APRIL 2004