NATFLY 2013 - REPORTS AND COMMENTS

[MrH]

G'day Howard !!....looks like you have the same camp spot as last year. Didn't make it this year so we can't go for an early morning cruise. Hope you are enjoying the retirement mate.................Cheers from the family also...Maj...

You're right Maj, same spot over near the RatCastle. Definitely enjoying retirement. If I get back up your way I'' call you up.

 

Hopefully you'll make a future NATFLY :)

 

Cheers

 

H

 

 

[turboplanner]

Don't tell me, the photos were all done in a studio and no one went to Natfly this year.

 

 

[Guest Andys@coffs]

Don't tell me, the photos were all done in a studio and no one went to Natfly this year.

oooh I feel a NES comnspiricy coming on...We need a tangent to run at!!!!

 

 

[coljones]

snip snip snip ..............I attended the Board Meeting on the Thursday as an Alternate for Jim Tatlock. Only 1 or 2 members attended that meeting as observers.

..................snip snip snip

Thanks for your report, a good one - it shows we are healing somewhat.

While Canberra is a long way (or was it at Temora) the major reason for the low visitor count at Board meetings may well have been the lack of notice given to the members.

 

A major change you might like to recommend is a lot more transparency in association and board process, an open calendar and more published info including the half year financial performance and performance against budget.

 

I was particularly disappointed that the board is still pursuing a bigger slushfund without any clear view as to why RAA needs or wants it. Slushfunds are just that, they are not clear strategic and operational reserves with clear and understandable purposes and mechanisms for their creation and disbursement. At the moment the slushfund sits at about $150 (give or take $100) a head but without a clearly stated purpose. We tend not to trust our government or the banks with our spare cash - shouldn't RAA at least give a comprehensive indication of why the need our $150 a head.

 

Myles Breitkreutz is the new Treasurer. Best of luck!!!

 

 

[turboplanner]

I suppose it is April Fools Day Col

 

 

[Powerin]

I only attended about the last 20 minutes so I can't say much on what was covered, but I was a bit disappointed that the President hadn't brushed up on how to actually run a meeting and on meeting procedures since the Canberra GM.

 

For the one or two motions I saw moved, the President did what he often did at Canberra: A member would move a motion from the floor and then the Chair/President would immediately launch into a speech as to why the motion wasn't necessary and try to shut the motion down without testing it with a vote. It would be far fairer to ask for a seconder to the motion and then ask for debate on the motion. Then put it to the vote.

 

As it turns out, for the motion I heard, the President was entirely correct in what he said (IMO), but it is not a meeting chairman's job to make speeches against a motion from the floor before the membership even has a chance to consider it and debate the pros and cons. It's not a fair and proper way to run a meeting and just puts everyone offside.

 

 

[Vev]

Got back today after a great few days at Natfly, I took the long way home and spent another day flying around northern Vic in my old Ercoupe .. Lots of great ac to look at and many interesting people to talk to.

 

I was ramped checked on arrival by 4 CASA people who were friendly and made it clear it was an educational exercise. They found two small issues but no big deal. They did accept my Ozrunways nav and back up with paper charts, although didn't like me air printing my track off my iPad. They also informed me I can use a mini iPad as a primary nav tool with either mini or full size iPad as a back up.

 

Attended a number of the forums, including he RAA GM. I listen to all that spoke from the board ... I particularly thought the Rat, who in my view, made a lot of sense. He (Rat) has not only put some positive tension into the organisation but appears to be developing the pathway to build a more sustainable organisation. There is a way to go before things are put right but I do believe they have stopped the free fall. I believe the board is reacting and good people like the Rat need our support to continue to show the way.

 

Also attended the dinner, which was utterly boring .. It felt like a smoko night at the local footy club. One day they might learn to stop patting each other on the back and do something entertaining .. I think this is the last RAA dinner I will ever attend unless they change the format... I'd rather stay on the AD and watch videos on the back wall of a hangar with my mates.

 

I managed to catch up with a few friends on this forum and also met a few new in person for the first time .. Always fun to put a face to a name and talk about planes.

 

Cheers

 

Vev

 

 

[TK58]

I thought the GM achieved very little. Geoff's talk was the highlight and if the Board keeps moving in the direction he's pushing there may be hope yet. However the President's chairing of the meeting and management of the time was abysmal, both the Pres and Sec spent most of their time talking to issues they should have let the CEO and Ops Manager speak to. They did let the Tech Manager speak to the registration issue, which I think was a tactic to deflect criticism/hard questions from themselves.

 

It was revealed there are over 400 aircraft grounded at present due to registration issues. About 250 of those are pending info from the owners, the rest are waiting for RAAus to do something. I didn't hear any explanation as to why the Canberra GM was told 100 (in Feb) and suddenly it's over 400. Seems to me either the problem has gotten worse, we were lied to in Canberra, or those responsible don't have an adequate grip on the situation. Either way it's beyond unsatisfactory.

 

Michael Apps did a good job of the financial report. He clearly has a good grip on the finances. It would have been better though if he had prepared either a handout or something up on the screen rather than just reading out the numbers. Sadly he's resigned as Treasurer for family reasons. I hope Myles can maintain (dare we hope for improve?) the standard Michael has set.

 

Middo spoke about the changes in the new Ops Manual. There's a rejigging of endorsements. No more NW, HP, LP or HF endorsements (although human factors will remain in the syllabus). They're also talking about bringing in maintenance training as part of the basic syllabus. This is to counter media and coroner criticism of people being able to do their own maintenance with no training.

 

The new CEO got 30 seconds right at the end when more than half those in attendance had already left.

 

Overall I was unimpressed with the meeting and felt the Pres and Sec were poorly prepared. My feeling is that if this meeting was representative of the quality of their work it's no wonder RAAus is in the trouble it's in. I remain convinced the best way to fix it is to get new talent onto the Board.

 

 

[Tomo]

Thanks for the photos Captain! Loved checking them out since I couldn't make it down this year.

 

 

 

[rankamateur]

Captain, did you prepare a presentation for the meeting? Since it has obviously been the highlight of the meeting although no body has given any detail of what it contained perhaps you could post the text so that we, the great uninformed may know what is on your mind.

 

 

[alf jessup]

Thank you Geoff,

 

Putting the photo's up and yours and everyone elses comments has given me some normality while sitting here in the desert, would loved to have gone to Natfly but work becons and work pays for my pride and joy amongst other things.

 

Muchly appreciated looked like a lot of fun and the weather was reasonable fair on you all who attended.

 

Cheers

 

Alf

 

 

[planedriver]

Thanks Geoff for posting all those great pics for others such as I to enjoy, who couldn't make it this year.

 

As a reward, I hope the moderators overlook some of your transgressions in other post's, for the next 12 mths.

 

Go for it mate, and make havock while the sun shines from down South:rofl:

 

 

[markendee]

I attended the complete GM as I wanted to see for myself how our issues were being handled.

 

I fully understand Geoff's point of people other than himself commenting on the proceedings as he was a very large part of the meeting. As he was fairly vocal at the EGM in February he felt he needed to put up or shut up so he has taken on the job of helping in the restructure of the the Board and Management. To this he spoke at length and fielded questions from the floor. He spoke well and explained the situation and what is being done to move on. Primarily the role of the board and the role of management and the problems caused by the blurring of the two.

 

As to correct meeting protocol and all the please and thank yous. There was a few there who wanted to micromanage the RAA from the floor with motions. I found this disturbing. This was handled fairly well by the President and finally put to bed by a wise board member pointing out the danger of tying the new GM up with restrictions in the day to day operation of the RAA, I am pleased to say that he received a round of applause.

 

The new GM (That is right the position is no longer a CEO, this was explained during the meeting) did speak at the end for a few minutes, not the seconds reported in another post. He came across well, made no outlandish promises and pledged to do his utmost for us and our organization. A good start I think.

 

I came away feeling that it was a positive meeting, the problems we are experiencing were explained, and that we are on the right track to sorting the issues in the future.

 

I am glad I witnessed the meeting myself rather than relying on the interpretation of others.

 

Mark D.

 

 

[rankamateur]

That is all well and good Mark, but if what geoff said was the best to come of the meeting four days ago and still nobody seems willing or able to even slightly share what it was that geoff said. If it is so fuzzy in the mind of all that attended(perhaps 120) then perhaps they too will benefit from him restating it for the benefit of those who could not attend(perhaps 9500). I am keen to hear the good news!

 

 

[facthunter]

Startlingfartblast was born a nudist. I've met him between flights when he seemed to have nothing much on. Nev

 

 

[Admin]

Lachlan and I arrived before lunch on the Thursday and very quickly both Mr H and Storchy Neil came out to help put the Recreational Flying tent up. We got the frame and the roof up but the wind was proving to be a troublemaker and considering that the tent might end up beating me back to Melbourne we pulled it down. I asked around and received many different predictions on what the weather was going to do for the next couple of days so I was at a quandary of whether to wait till later to set the tent up, meaning I would be pushing it to set the whole site up, go back home and give it a miss for this year given there seemed to be a lot less people at this stage of the event, or see if RAAus could put me up in the hangar.

 

Lachlan and I sleep in the Recreational Flying tent and last year we were awoken at midnight on the Sat night with the tent attempting to make its way back to Melb before us...I am sure many remember the storm that came through last year...and here I was, standing in just my jocks, hanging on to the tent for my life with it blowing around all over the place so I was determined not to go through that experience again...see pictures at:

 

http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/temora-2012.33584/page-9#post-210599

 

Here is a pic from Capt's lot showing the Recreational Flying tent partly up to the right of the food van behind Storchy Neil's car:

 

 

Decision time was 2pm but luckily before that the girls in the RAAus tent made available for us room across the back of the hangar that had the static stands in them so we were able to put up 4 tables filled with all the shop stock (Pilot Porn). NatFly is this site's biggest opportunity to obtain the necessary funding to keep this site alive for everyone so the event, and your purchases, is necessary for its contribution towards hosting costs, software licences, enhancements etc.

 

 

Again Mr H and Storchy Neil helped with pricing stock and the set up of the tables:

 

 

Overall the Clear Prop Shop was down about 50% of what it would normally take with some of that I think was from being out of sight in the hangar so stay tuned for some bargains to be posted here at Recreational Flying.

 

So with the shop in the hangar, Lachlan and I had to sleep in the car and not being prepared for that, the back of a Ford Wagon whilst having the room, was very hard on this old body. Caught a massive cold and by Saturday night I was sick as a dog so after dinner at Carol's place, the official unofficial NatFly dinner, Lachlan and I gladly took up Carol's offer to sleep in her spare bedroom.

 

So while I was busy in the shop Lachlan went for a walkabout taking snaps...here are his choices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lark]

great pics people. Keep em coming!

 

 

[CrayonBox]

Thanks Admin for your story and the photos. Maybe I'll get to one of these one year.

 

 

[facthunter]

It's a bit of a shame when the person chairing a meeting doesn't know how to do it. Or doesn't CHOOSE to do it.. correctly.

 

A motion can't just be spoken against and dismissed by the chair. In fact the chair is there to RUN the meeting in so much as keep it in order. It is NOT a platform to make speeches, from the chair.

 

It's not rocket science and there are simple rules of debate, conduct of meetings and priority of motions that are more or less "universal". Glad there was a positive side to it. and people feel something was achieved.. It's outrageous that these delays are still building up. It is like a bad dream. Nev

 

 

[rankamateur]

Ian,I have missed the last two Natfly weekends, I did get to the three before that and I have an image in my mind from the last one I went to, of your tent with all the legs pulled off resting on top of all the stock as a storm front went through, Does that make three years in a row that you have been toweled up by the weather?

 

 

[Admin]

Ian,I have missed the last two Natfly weekends, I did get to the three before that and I have an image in my mind from the last one I went to, of your tent with all the legs pulled off resting on top of all the stock as a storm front went through, Does that make three years in a row that you have been toweled up by the weather?

It was only last year that the event got hit by a storm and I had to put the tent down off its legs...must have been the pictures from last year that you saw

 

 

[rankamateur]

It was only last year that the event got hit by a storm and I had to put the tent down off its legs...must have been the pictures from last year that you saw

must have been, the pictures on here do make you fell like you have been to the show.

 

 

[PapaFox]

A motion can't just be spoken against and dismissed by the chair.

Not quite the way events unfolded. A motion was raised, but before voting, the chair stated that the oportinity to speak against that motion should exist if anyone wanted to. This occurred, and after that, the mover withdrew his motion voluntarily.

 

 

[Guest Yampy]

Now the dust has settled , what is the general consensus from those that attended re the attendance figures and the number of exhibitors this year ? ..

 

David

 

 

[facthunter]

The mover of the motion can only withdraw it with the concurrence of the 'seconder' of the motion. That can be done and there are other ways too, to deal with an "Unpopular motion.

 

I wasn't there but the chair has no real opportunity to enter into the discussion, unless he/she vacates the chair (temporarily) for that purpose. ( ie to speak for or against the motion before the meeting).. Nev