MAAQ

“KEEPING YOU INFORMED”

Bulletin 29

May 2013 President The Bulletin is a little later than usual due to me being in Melbourne for the MAAA annual conference and wishing to provide you with a brief overview of what was achieved. Firstly the elections in which the following people were successful: Neil Tank- president, Tahn Stowe -vice president, Kevin Dodd-secretary, with the other positions of treasurer and rules secretary not due for re-election. Each of the 5 positions are for a 3 year period but are staggered to avoid total loss of intellectual knowledge at any one time. It is my belief that the MAAQ should operate on the same basis to provide more stability and longer term planning. The much vaunted strategic plan was accepted and approved by all State bodies which means the real work now begins at grass root levels to implement the 10 year plan as the MAAA can only do so much and it will be up to the clubs in our state associations to be the driving force at the coal face to improve the way we do things for the good of aeromodelling into the future. It was accepted by all that state parochialism must stop now and we must start working together otherwise there will be no MAAA in future years. As your president and an MAAA Council member I will do my best to develop ways to implement the ideas that came from the Strategic Planning Workshop that all presidents attended in February this year. There were no other major decisions made to change the direction of the MAAA other than a small amount of money set aside for advertising in magazines. There was however $50,000 set aside to engage the services of a marketing person to research ways of raising our public profile which may lead to a change of direction in the future. VMAA was also given approval to proceed with the purchase of a block of land near Bairnsdale for a flying field. A disappointing aspect of the conference was the motion put by MASA to have an indoor flyer only membership category at a reduced rate defeated as I believe this to be necessary to attract a group of people not attracted to flying larger models outside, because they are flying model aircraft after all. Members were also shown the new online membership system which the MAAQ treasurer has been examining for the MAAA to asses its strengths and weaknesses so he will be in a good position to train members when it is released later in year. The Council also gave Queensland the green light to run another Nationals so all parties that have been involved in planning up to this point will now have to get together with the MAAQ committee to form a Nationals sub-committee so that the real planning can start as there is now less than 12 months before the final presentation is to be made at the next MAAA council conference. The secretary will send out a notice to this effect shortly. Last month I mentioned traveling down to Cootamundra for a look at MAS NSW State field where I stayed for an overnight stop, see photos below. My next port of call was Lake Boga for a look at a full size Catalina where they were serviced during WW2 whilst operating out into the Pacific. The other item which caught my eye in this very informative museum was a radio controlled model of a C130 Hercules which can be seen in the photos below.

Wings have been a topic recently amongst the MAAQ executive because 2 of our members were refused wings by the SFI on the basis that they were not examined in their own club and that the instructor was not a member of this State. This has led to many emails going back and forth between the club concerned, the MAAQ committee and the MAAA wasting a great deal of time and embarrassment for all concerned because the wings will be provided to any member regardless of where the test was done and by which instructor as that is the intention of the wings system as per the Mop 27. Wings will always be issued to members performing the required flight maneuvers but if it is subsequently found that some one erred in their responsibility then there is recourse through mop 27 but only after the wings have been issued. 9. DEREGISTRATION OF AN MAAA INSTRUCTOR (DISCIPLINARY) 9.1 Any financial Affiliate Member of the MAAA who considers that an MAAA Instructor is in breach of the requirements of the MAAA Manual of Procedures, or otherwise has failed to carry out their duties as required under the Manual of Procedures, may submit in writing to the MAAA Ordinary Member through which the MAAA Instructor is affiliated, full details of the occasions and/or extent giving rise to such submission. I note that in SA the home State of the MAAA president and other States that wings are issued to all clubs so that they can present them on the day the test is performed or at a club social function. If any clubs like this idea then please contact me or the secretary. Finally the fees for next year will be set at the General Meeting this Saturday and with the MAAA fees remaining the same I would expect no increase in MAAQ fees. Robin.

R/C Administrator Hi all In last month’s bulletin I referred to the RAAF Amberley Club and my visit there, this was not meant to be a shot at their club and I have no issue with the club. I just wanted to point out to all clubs that it helps to talk to new people when at a club. It would have been better if I had not have said the club by name and this was a mistake on my part. I wish to apologise to the club for any disrespect I have made towards or felt by the club. Eddie Otto

Airflow It is great to receive positive feedbacks regarding the new look Airflow. There has been further communications between members and the old timer builders group recently published in the last edition of Airflow, which I hope will bring resurgence in the art of building from plans and having a go at conversion into electric old timers. In the latest Airflow there will be mention of a new Old timer event for electrics with designs and specific motor sizes & weights and battery capacity which I think would be a very competitive event to be associated with, and will include a story about the resurrection of a well known Queensland born aviators plane modelled in quarter scale. I would like to particularly thank all those who have contributed to this quarter’s edition of Airflow, and I appreciate your support in establishing and growing the newsletter to the next level. I would also like to add that the newsletter will also be travelling to Melbourne for the state conference where it will be also distributed to the various associations while attending there at the conference. I hope to catch up with some of the interstate members while your state secretary attends to the conference.

Vice President MAAA NATIONAL CONFERENCE The 2013 MAAA National Conference has been successfully hosted and completed in Melbourne over the weekend of May 17 to 19. Delegates from all state affiliates along with the MAAQ President, Secretary and I were in attendance at what was described as a very well-run and managed event. I thank the MAAQ President Mr Robin Klau for extending the invitation for me to attend this important event. Thanks to the VMAA for the organisation of the excellent Mantra Tullamarine venue in close proximity to Melbourne airport. The only indiscretion was going from 28 degrees in Townsville on Thursday morning to 9 degrees in Melbourne that afternoon. Congratulations go to the elected President Mr Neil Tank (ASA) and Vice President Mr Tahn Stowe (NSW FF). In my mind, this event highlights the ongoing hard work of the MAAA executive behind the scenes, in particular the Secretary Mr Kevin Dodd who is a wealth of knowledge on all matters pertaining to our organisation and always willing to assist. Pleasingly, the MAAA fees for the financial year 2013/2014 have not risen and this will hopefully be reflected in the MAAQ deliberations at the next committee meeting. Of particular note was the VMAA's successful submission to the council to have a loan of $250 000 passed to assist with the procurement of a superb block of vacant land. The VMAA had submitted a very well executed document to substantiate their claim. This is not out of the reach of any club wishing to seek land and fiscal assistance to secure tenure for their flying clubs - it just takes a bit of work and research. The MOP's will also be up for review with significant changes to how we process large model aircraft and our association with CASA. The MAAQ formally submitted a proposal to hold the 2015 MAAA Nationals at the conference. Early days yet, but this bid will require significant input from a broad range of members. The standing proposal has been submitted by members of the Tingalpa club with Tyson Dodd putting together a well detailed draft to lay down some guidelines. As we all know, managing a project like the nationals is no small effort and the MAAQ (along with an appointed nationals sub-committee) will be seeking your assistance in this project. The overriding message that came from the conference is that we (the MAAA and all the affiliates) need to be very certain that the future of our sport is on the line and we need to be focussed on moving out the 1970s' and into the future (the word "dinosaur" came up often!!). This message was very clear. There were several well discussed proposals put forward and are now being acted upon. One very exciting move is that of one to engage marketing expert to "put the MAAA" on the map - and that map has a demographic that needs to be identified and harnessed. This will of course incur costs, but the MAAA (and affiliates) are businesses no less and need to be managed as such. There is no point in having great ideas if there is no mandate to act on them and allocate the budget as needed. I believe that there are some exciting times ahead for us and I am very pleased (and honoured) to be part of that. Happy and safe skies to all. Keith Quigg AUS 22897.

Secretary I have just arrived home from my first MAAA Rules and Council Conference in Melbourne as the first MAAQ Lady delegate for Qld. I arrived Friday afternoon ready for my first MAAA Conference to be held that Friday night I walked into the conference room for the first time and I was overcome with excitement. Waiting to see what was going to happen.

I was just focused on what was happening in the room with all of the other State Delegates coming all together as one for Australian aero modelling. I felt very proud and honoured sitting in a conference room with so many talented gentleman. Saturday and Sunday the real conference started and I was just glued to my seat for the whole time taking in everything which was discussed and voted on behalf of our aero modelling members. I made new friends and caught up with old friends I hope to catch up with you all again in the near future your company was awesome. Also I would like to mention the delegate’s wife’s that I met you all looked lovely in your purple outfits and tiara’s at the conference dinner. Last of all I would like to thank the MAAA committee for looking after me and my husband Doug for your company and hospitably at this year’s State Conference. Regards Kathy Moody

The shelter shed and viewing platform at the The Catalina in all its glory. Cootamundra field. Other facilities include a canteen, showers and toilets with fenced and shade pits area.