WINDINGBROOK R/C FLYING CLUB NEWSLETTER
To: Club Members / 2009
From: John Perez / President
Topic: Club Newsletter / 2009
I would like to thank all of my Officers, Advisory Board members and Special Club members who work so very hard to make this club a success. As many of you know last year I was involved with building a home and had very little time to get to the field. This year I hope all of that is behind me and I will have more time to enjoy my hobby.
This will be my sixth year as your club president and many changes have taken place. To mention a few: we now have a full time Advisory Board to help me in the decision making process. It consists of thirteen members of our club, seven officers and six members you selected by popular vote for a two year term. In the six years our club treasury has gone up 42.8%. With the help of all our Webmasters we have one of the most active club web sites in the area. We operate two flying fields, the North and South fields. We have a new membership policy which eliminates earlier problems. We have a four tier membership program which includes, a Family, Junior, Senior and Adult membership plan. Also for next year we are investigating payment of your membership "on line". This should make it safe, convent and effortless.
Last year we were able to spend all flying season at the North field. This year we will begin once again to fly at the North field, until such time as conditions may dictate a move to the South field. If a move is necessary, I will post a sign at the North field, indicate any changes on our web site under "field conditions" and Jim Cyr will send out an email to all members who have supplied us with a valid email address during the renewal process. Please be sure to update your phone number and email address with Jim Cyr at 860.664.0859 or warhawk@snet.net.
The ninth annual Club Picnic will be held on Saturday August 22, 2009 with a rain date of Sunday August 23, 2009. Please feel free to bring your favorite side dishes, desserts, or appetizers to share with all. Thanks each year to our Event Coordinator Joan Liska, our set-up people Ron Liska, Steve Swahn, our cooks, Mo Balboni, Ray Morin and John Digiovanni and a host of other people who work very hard to make this event a success. Please visit our web site and check your email, as this date approaches, for the latest information.
Our financial status has greatly improved. Our treasury went from a balance of $xxxx as of 12/31/2007 to a balance of $xxxx as of 12/31/2008, a 11.73% increase with 0% increase in dues. We did not need a federal bailout. A detailed account of our funds was presented to our Advisory Board by Mo Balboni.
There will be a fun fly, for club members, on Saturday, July 18, 2009. We encourage all club members to attend. It will be a great opportunity for you to renew old friendships and meet new members. Bring your lunch and plan on spending a fun day at the field.
At the end of last year I met with all the land owners to finalize our financial obligations to them and get their feedback as to any concerns that they may have regarding our use of their property. They were generally pleased with our efforts to fuel our aircraft in the area near the public road, the use of our ID badges and the initiative we took to place a lock on the North field parking lot gate.
However, they were concerned about the amount of paper towels, cigarette butts, water bottles and soda cans that were not picked up in the pit area / parking lot. Some people are using the area near are portable potty as a dumping area for their trash. You bring it, you take it home!
They also reminded me that no helicopters are allowed on any of the Winding Brook properties. I would like to add that any aircraft that could potentially harm the grass are strictly forbidden. Specifically, I am referring to any jet engine in any configuration that would, at any time, discharge hot exhaust directly on the grass.
Please make sure you continue to use a leash when moving your plane. Do not pick it up by its tail since fuel will leak out of the vent and leave a trail on the grass. Also, remember to fill or empty your aircraft on a dirt spot at the edge of the pit area, near the road and have a return system in your fueling system. You must wear you club ID badge when using the Winding Brook properties. A constable for the town is on patrol and will cite you for trespassing if you do not have your badge. The fine is $75.00.
Greg Zepka, our talented Webmaster, has asked me to ask all club members to send him digitally any aircraft photos you may have taken. They can also be pictures of your new bird, or projects you are currently building. Send them to Greg at gzepka@wbrcflyingclub.org. He can also publish your video. He can accept any picture 8 megs or under.
Again, I would like to thank Jim and his family for doing such a fine job on the membership renewal process. He has spent many hours updating your information and initiating the "contact by email plan." This will save the club money, Jim time and you will receive information in a more timely fashion.