4
Royal Air Forces Association
Minutes of the North Costa Blanca BRANCH Meeting held
12.00 – 13.00, 6th October 2014, at Los Arcos Restaurant, Pedreguer
Action
1. Present
Gaby Ferenczy (President)
Bob Hunt (Chairman)
Colin McNae (Vice-Chairman and Webmaster)
Brian Flowers (Secretary)
Maggie Dennis (Treasurer)
Alan Gill (Social and Entertainment Officer)
Stephen Lemon (Flyer Editor)
2. Apologies
John & Meri Snell (Deputy Welfare Officers)
Shane Martin (Wings Appeal Officer)
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
· Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting was proposed by Alan Page, seconded by Cameron Gair, and carried unanimously.
4. Matters arising
· None.
5. Report by the Chairman
5.0 Introduction
· The Chairman welcomed 47 members to the meeting including new Full Member, Neville Mitchell, and new Associate Members, Maureen Mitchell, Jeffrey Thomas and Diana Thomas, who were presented with their RAFA membership cards and lapel-badges by the President.
5.1 NCBB hosting of EAC in the Melia Hotel, Benidorm 10-12 October 2014
· The Chairman reported that all the necessary arrangements for this event had now been taken care of by the various volunteers concerned, (as specified in Section 5.1 of the Minutes of the 8th September Branch Meeting).
· The Guest Speaker was Nick Bunting, the new Secretary General of RAFA, who would present his strategy for ensuring that the Royal Air Forces Association will continue to provide comradeship and welfare assistance for former members of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Air Forces, plus their dependants.
5.2 Committee Changes due to Kevin and Jan having to relinquish their posts
· Maggie Dennis had already taken over as Treasurer, and John & Meri Snell, Deputy Welfare Officers, had taken over Welfare responsibilities. However, John & Meri would be unable to continue with the Welfare work after the next AGM in February 2015, due to other commitments, so a new Honorary Welfare Officer would be required. The HWO post is a very fulfilling job, which requires attendance at a one-week training course organized by RAFA HQ.
6. Vice-Chairman’s Report
· The Vice-Chairman reported that all transport arrangements for the European Area Conference participants had been organized, either with Beniconnect buses or with individual pick-ups by NCBB personnel.
7. Secretary’s Report
· The Secretary reported that the NCBB Branch membership total was now 133 members, (60 Full Members and 73 Associate Members), following the recent transfer of Mick Gripton, (Life Member), to the NCBB.
· The Secretary reported that he and Pauline had prepared 67 pack-ups for the 113 European Area Conference participants. Each pack-up contained a welcome letter from the Chairman, a programme of events during the two-day EAC, a medical facilities information sheet provided by Jan Elders, a map of Denia showing the location of the Melia Hotel, plus the participants’ name-badges. The Chairman would later provide small boxes of Valor chocolates to be distributed with the pack-ups as ladies’ presents.
8. Treasurer’s Report
· The Treasurer gave the following figures for the NCBB cash and bank account totals:
Bank Account: €23,519·49 Cash: €11·53
· About 2/3 of the total bill had been paid to the Melia Hotel and the balance would be paid after the event. €3,500 cash was due to be paid to the NCBB Treasurer by participants who had not paid in advance by bank transfer.
· Colin McNae and Jean Fisher had collected €172·92 at the Iceland Supermarket, Moraira, for the Battle of Britain collection.
9. Welfare Officer’s Report
· John Snell was unable to attend the meeting but he sent a report to the Chairman, (see Appendix 1).
10. Social & Entertainment Officer’s Report
· The Chairman thanked Alan Gill for organizing an enjoyable Battle of Britain lunch at the Verd y Vent Restaurant, Bernia, on 14th September.
· Alan Gill confirmed that the ‘Lest we Forget’ 20-minute interlude was ready to be performed at the EAC drinks reception on Friday evening 10th October, and Time Warp Duo was ready to perform on Saturday evening 11th October.
· The Entertainment Officer gave the following list of future events:
- 23rd October, 19.00/19.30, Steak Night, Maviro Restaurant, Calpé.
- 9th November, 15.00, Remembrance Day Service, Fisherman’s Church, Javea. A lunch prior to the service at Pepe y Estrella’s Restaurant, 12.30 for 13.00 prompt. (Only 20 places were available of which 15 were already booked). .
- 10th December 13.30 for 14.00, pre-Christmas lunch at Satari’s Restaurant Moraira, (€25), music by Barry Peters, (Swing Man).
- 24th January, Burn’s Night Supper, DTF.
11. Wings Appeal Officer’s Report
· The Wings Appeal Officer was unable to attend the meeting.
· The Chairman reported that Sue McNae had made a NCBB Christmas card based on a painting of a WWI biplane by a local artist. Sue would make as many as she could (about 30) and one Euro from each sale would go to the Wings Appeal.
12. Flyer Editor’s Report
· The Flyer Editor reported that in addition to the normal regular reports, he had two full pages available for additional articles (with photos if possible). The Flyer Editor had to leave the meeting early in order to make a pick-up at Alicante Airport.
13. Webmaster’s Report
· The Webmaster reported that the NCBB website received 165 hits in September, (27 from Brazil).
14. Padre’s Report
· Father Steve reported that he was very busy at present as a colleague had broken a collar-bone. Nevertheless, he was participating, with the Chairman, in preparations for the EAC Sunday morning Service at the Melia Hotel, Benidorm on 12th October.
15. AOB
· Sue McNae was organizing a charity Quiz at Los Leones on 30th October, (€10).
16. Date and place of next meeting
· The next Branch Meeting will be held 12.00-13.00 on 10th November at Los Arcos Restaurant, Pedreguer.
(Brian Flowers - Rev.1 - 17th October 2014)
Appendix 1
Welfare report for RAFA meeting 6 Oct 14
1. Jan Elders is currently in Spain to finalise Spanish business before returning permanently to the UK. Meri and I will meet with Jan soon so that she can hand over the RAFA NCB Welfare business to us. We will be jointly handling RAFA welfare business until the RAFA AGM in February 2015, when we will both step down due to other commitments.
2. There are several ex RAF or dependent clients who are receiving assistance from the RAFA and the RAF Benevolent Fund
3. Branch members:
a. Joan Summerhayes has had the staples removed after her hip replacement operation, and is making a steady recovery. However, she is unsteady on her feet, as she was before the operation, and requires a wheelchair when not in their home.
b. Shane Martin is making steady progress after her knee replacement operation..She plans to travel back to Spain on 7th October.
c. Kaye Borrows is having a knee replacement op on 13th October. Both knees will then have been replaced.
d. We saw Pat Goss during her brief visit to Spain: she was being looked after by her daughter Alison who travelled with her. Pat is frustrated at her slow recovery after her stroke, and has been told that she will not be able to walk again. However, we thought that she looked well and she is very interested in what is going on within the branch.
4. Air Crew Association:
Max Maxwell of the Aircrew Association contacted us for guidance concerning two members of the ACA who were requiring help. We contacted those concerned and were able to give them the information needed and informed Max of what we had done.