2007 - 2008 ANNUAL REPORT
TO THE MEMBERSHIP
The following report was prepared by the Secretary on behalf of Committee and subsequently ratified by the AGM in Plymouth on April 5 2008
Once again it has been an interesting and busy year for your Committee, who have deliberated on a wide range of issues. The highlight of last year was the 30th Birthday celebrations held at De Vere Venues, Wokefield Park, Berkshire.
1…GENERAL OFFICERS
The following, elected under Rule 7 a-d (Duties) have led the Committee throughout the past 12 months - Harry Worth (Chair) John Sheldon (Vice-Chair) Ian Williams (Secretary) and Peter Jays (Treasurer)
2…COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following, elected under Rule 6 a-e, served in the Committee from April 2007-April 2008: Clive Brooks, Ray Higginson, Alf Kitwood, Graham McRoberts, Jay O’Donnell, Dave Wallace and Peter Williams. Again, we have been well supported by our Patron, Andy Barnwell.
3…MEETINGS
The 2007 AGM (ACA30) took place at Wokefield Park, Reading on April 14th ’07. The Committee held their Autumn interim meeting at the Royal Sailors Home Club in Portsmouth on September 15th ’07 and an ACA31 recce/planning meeting was held at QMH Plymouth on 29 November ‘07.
4…OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
We continue to maintain strong social links with the following sister FAA organizations and regularly exchange correspondence and magazines; The FAAOA (Officers) FAAHA (Handlers), FAAAA (Armourers) RNR Air Branch and the TAGA (Telegraphist Air Gunners) We also support and maintain a cordial working relationship with the RNHF. We now have a further link with the Royal British Legion (see Note 8) and we have an active seat on the Fly Navy Federation Committee which meet regularly in the lead up to 2009.
5…FINANCIAL MATTERS
The Treasurer furnished the AGM with a rundown of the Association’s accounts for the year and these were accepted by the AGM. An inspected audit of our accounts will take place later in 2008.
6…MEMBERSHIP
Since the last AGM we have had 20 new members made up of 18 Full and 2 Overseas. There have been no reported deaths since the last AGM. We have received 1 Full Member resignation and 1 Associate Member has resigned due to ill-health. All Members now have their own numbered ACA Membership card and everyone was issued with a new car sticker. Following a decision made at the 2006 AGM and endorsed by the Committee at successive meetings, all incorrect payers do not receive any Member benefits. We currently have 7 pending applications to join.
OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP (as at 4.4.08) STOOD AT:
FULL (Paying £15) 233
LIFE 29
ASSOCIATE 10
OVERSEAS 34
HONORARY 19 TOTAL = 325
PLUS: FULL (Paying £10) 60 (includes 4 Associate)
FULL (Paying £5) 4
FULL ex (Paying NIL) 60
GRAND TOTAL = 449 (325 bona-fide + 124 incorrect payers)
7…RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGY
All Committee Members are committed to promote the ACA with a view to increasing our profile and Membership. POACMN Jay O’Donnell, supported by POACMN Williams (both 771 SAR Flight) have overseen all matters at RNAS Culdrose and WOACMN Phil Crick at RWSF (soon to be relieved by WOACMN George Gardiner on 848) represents the Association at RNAS Yeovilton. Sam Norris, with the RAF at Odiham, helps with all matters inter-service. The Association currently boast 75 serving Members. ACA goodwill and promotional visits continue to take place on the Squadrons and at the major Air Stations. Future social events will continue to be advertised in and around the FAA. Joining forms are available to all serving Aircrewmen within the Fleet Air Arm. We have continued to support our station reps with communication and recruiting and our Membership from within the serving Aircrewman community is still on the increase. TACAN is now distributed to all Squadron crewrooms regardless of ACA Membership therein.
8…ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
In December 2005, your Committee applied to the RBL for the right to take an active part in the Whitehall and Royal Albert Hall ceremonies annually in November. This was granted and, for the second year running a contingent of ACA Members took part in the Remembrance march past in London on November 11. We also parade our Standard at the Lee-on-Solent celebrations on the same weekend. Our current Standard Bearer is Ray Higginson (as from April 2008)
9…TACAN
This is the Association’s main financial outgoing. Annual cost to produce is around £1190 and postage costs approx. £260 per annum. Edition 36 was despatched to Members at Christmas. This edition contained more colour content, and as a result, an increase in production cost. The magazine now costs approx £1.75 per copy. In accordance with a decision made by the AGM some years ago, Members in arrears with their subscriptions do not receive TACAN. Due to the continued close electronic communication between the Treasure and Secretary, we now encounter very few TACAN returns. Those that we do encounter are quickly found, either by word of mouth or through the ‘lost souls’ page of the website.
10…ASSOCIATION WEBSITE (www.aircrewman.org.uk)
During the course of the year, Harry Worth and Alan Ashdown have continued to develop the Association website. With Internet access now widely available, it is satisfying to know that most applications for Membership come from the website via the on-line joining form. We remain committed to support and develop this resource as a key to our future communications strategy. The current annual cost to maintain our site is £102.49 (Registration is £25 every 2 years and hosting is £89.99) We have now found our way onto various MOD, Naval and other Service Association links pages.
11…SPORTING EVENTS
John Sheldon continues as FO Golf. The 2007 Golf Championship was held prior to the AGM at Wokefield, where Taff Rees became ACA Champion. John Sheldon took the crown at the China Fleet Club in April.
12..FUTURE SOCIAL EVENTS/MEETINGS
The next Committee weekend will take place on 12 and 13 September 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham. The AGM in Plymouth rubber stamped the Committee’s recommendation to visit De Vere venues at Wychwood Park in Cheshire on 3 and 4 April 2009 for the Annual get together.
IAN WILLIAMS
ASSOCIATION SECRETARY
APRIL 2008