WINDINGBROOK R/C CLUB NEWSLETTER

To: WRCC Membership
From: John Perez, President WRCC
Topic: Summer Newsletter / 2006
Date: July 20, 2006

President’s Comments:
I have been your President for almost a year and believe that I have grown a great deal from this experience. During this time there has been many changes, new challenges and tough decisions which had to be made. With the help of my officers, the understanding, patience, and encouragement of many members we as a club worked through these times.

Flying Field:
We are presently flying at our South Field as we did last year but we have moved our pit area about 200-300 feet North to take advantage of the “higher ground.“ Look for our field signs to indicate our new location. Remember, we are flying there as the guest of the owner. We have no rights or guarantees so please treat him, his workers, his property and his neighbors with the respect that you would demand if you owned the land.

Club Website:
Visit our club website to access the latest weather, river, and flying conditions at our field. There are also events, videos, sell/swap items, photos and my monthly club newsletter which keeps you, as a member, informed of club activities.

Club Logo Gear:
The club hats have arrived and are for sale at $10.00 each. These have a mesh back with our club name on the front. See Mo, Steve or myself if you wish to purchase one. Richard Adamonis, a talented club member, designed a new club logo for us which will be on our next “baseball style“ club hats. What more fitting for the area in which we fly than a beautiful eagle, since he and/or his family sometimes accompanies the aircraft we fly. David Teer, our webmaster, has volunteered to carry out this project. Check our website for prices and availability.

Financial Status:
I am happy to report that our treasury has stabilized and the downward trend has been greatly reduced. This was due to the increase in dues, initiation fees for new members, early and late membership fees and the sale of club logo products. We also have taken steps to reduce our total club operating expenses for the year.

Related Issues:
At the present time we are very pleased with our flying field and continue to work with the owner to make possible one of the finest flying fields in New England. However, we will continue to keep our eyes, ears and minds open to any opportunity that might present itself to our club for future growth. We, as a club member, have the duty and responsibility to know the club rules, follow them and help enforce them. It is not a one man job, but the job of everyone. We have never had better communication between the land owner, his workers and our neighbors. Lets keep it that way. Remember to wear your club badge when using our flying field. This is the only way Winding Brook personnel can check that authorized individuals are on the field. Also, while driving to and from our field be on the lookout for individuals that may be using other adjacent fields for unauthorized radio control flying. These people do not have permission to be there and should be asked to leave.

Membership News:
Pete Stevens, one of our club members, is in the National Guard and his unit was recently called up for a tour of duty in Iraq. He called me a short time ago and told me he will be stationed there for about 18 months. Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a quick and safe return.

Club Picnic:
The sixth annual club picnic will be held August 27, 2006 for club members and their immediate family. Joan and Ron Liska, your officers and a large group of volunteers work very hard to make this a huge success. Help is needed the day of the picnic for set up, (8:00 AM) and clean up (5:00 PM). Please feel free to bring your favorite side dishes, desserts or appetizers which will add greatly to the home flavor of the festivities. I am asking all club members attending to bring a couple bags of ice and a large cooler.

Club History:
Some of the newer members have asked me about our club and the unique way it operates. This brief explanation I hope will answer some of your questions. In 1971, Murray Fox, our club founder, approached his close friend Mr. Morgan, the owner of Winding Brook Turf Farm and asked him if he and a small group of friends could use a small parcel of his land to fly their model airplanes. Murray and the land owner discussed the rules, regulations and restrictions for the use of this land, which Murray brought back to the group, and permission was granted to begin flying at the agreed location. As time went on Murray would make new rules for his group of friends for the use of this land to correct any problems communicated to him by the land owner. Through the years nothing except the people involved has changed. Mr. Doug Morgan tells me any concerns he has and it is my responsibility, as Murray did years ago, to rectify this problem and pass on to the group new rules to permanently correct this situation. There really is no discussion, no meetings or vote. Quiet frankly, since it is not our land we have no choice.

2007 Club Renewal Information:

The following dates will apply for club membership renewal old/new or regular/late.

January 1, 2007 to February 15, 2007 Regular Membership Renewal. (Membership Fee)

February 16, 2007 to -------------------- Late Membership Renewal. Members will be accepted only until our Club Cap of 165 is obtained. Special Late Fee will apply.

April 1, 2007 to May 5, 2007 New Members will be allowed to join. (Membership Fee + Initiation Fee)

May 6, 2007 to ------------------------- New members will be allowed to join only if our Club maximum has not been met. Special Late Fee and Initiation Fee will apply.

I believe this revision in our club membership policy will help eliminate some of the yearly issues with the membership renewal process.

John Perez, President WRCC