Author Archives: ahoffer

Annual Report from the Treasurer 2015

« on: December 01, 2015, 08:44:53 pm »

TEMAC 2015 Treasurer’s Report  –  Dec 1 2015

TEMAC remains in good financial condition.  The Board continued to pursue prudent management of TEMAC finances, spending on important things, but staying within our fiscal means.  Expenditures exceeded revenues by $2165 as a result of further infrastructure improvements (e.g. driveway, parking lot and storage facility upgrades)   to ensure a good facility which meets the needs of our membership.  Despite this deficit, we ensured that adequate funds remained to cover our operating expenses and of course, food, prizes and awards for our fun fly events, and our cash on hand at Dec 1 was $3692, net of projected expenditures for our 2016 lease.  We have been able to maintain the fee structure implemented in 2013 and the Board has determined that no increase in membership dues is required for 2016.  Full membership renewals remain at $80. The complete fee structure is available on the TEMAC website.

The revenue stream created by membership growth over the past few years has remained stable, with modest turnover in membership in 2015. TEMAC’s membership now stands at 137, including 2 life members, 17 junior members and 6 non-flying members, making TEMAC the largest club in the SE Zone of MAAC.  Growth in the club has put significant additional demands on our field resources (parking, assembly tables, and airspace availability), but so far have not had to limit how many members we can accommodate at TEMAC.

Looking to 2016, given our positive cash situation over the year, we look forward to maintaining our facilities in good condition with modest improvements, and we are pleased to offer our members unlimited use of the Loo with no admission or processing charge.

Our web site, created and maintained by our extraordinary webmaster, Ben Feist, remains a vibrant communications and discussion vehicle for the entire TEMAC membership, plus a few external participants.  We are so lucky to have Ben on our team, generously sharing his professional skills and talent in this area.  Thanks again Ben.

Looking forward to seeing you out in the snow!

Andy Hoffer
Secretary-Treasurer and Membership Director, TEMAC

Annual Report from the Vice President, Director of Administration 2015

« on: December 01, 2015, 08:49:27 pm »

This has been a really enjoyable season working with so many of you to upgrade and maintain our “Rogo” flying field.  Training nights are both inspiring and entertaining while providing an opportunity to meet new members.  I am gratified to see so many of you enjoying your time at the field as much as I do.

Field Maintenance and Improvements
Here’s what was done this year:
•   Spring clean up
•   Grass over seeding-  75 kgs
•   Parking lot fence replacement and extension
•   Gravel addition to parking-  63,190 kgs
•   Table refurbishment
•   Storage bin added for events and maintenance equipment
•   Runway rolling (at least 10x) and weekly repairs
•   Windsock and Pilot Stations upgrades
•   Info box installation for brochures and teaching aids
•   MAAC safety signs and road entrance sign repairs
•   Portable toilet upkeep
•   Weekly grass cutting from May through October
•   Fall clean up

Please join me in extending special appreciation to some “heavy lifters” on the more intensive projects.  Big thank you’s go to Rob Dickinson, Gordon Braun-Woodbury, Vic Whitmore, Frank van Beurden, and Greg Hazelton.

Safety & Security
Being around LiPo’s and spinning propellers does demand a degree of respect.  I am always impressed at the willingness of everyone to assist each other as a “safety-buddy” when focus may momentarily be interrupted.  Review of potential safety issues and procedures is an ongoing process.

Training
The team of volunteer instructors ran another highly popular program this year under the CFI’s leadership, Mike Hazelton.  The weekly-windy-Wednesday evening season took off on 6th May and landed with a President’s BBQ on 16th Sep.  In addition to the evening sessions, Bruce Weaver started weekday morning sessions which fits very well for some of our members’ schedules.  Our instructors are much appreciated and deserve our applause.
Simon Hinchcliffe      Greg Hazelton      Bruce Weaver      Imran Husein
Frank van Beurden       Dave Henry       Fabiano Silva
Michael Rogozinsky   Ron Brott      Mike Hazelton, CFI

2016 Objectives
Here are some of the things we are planning to do:
Spring clean up                Runway markings
Runway and lawn maintenance         The “Loo” maintenance
Develop a register of students         Review of safety & training
Add gravel to parking lot and laneway    Fall clean up
Grass over seeding               Win lottery

Our gratitude goes to all volunteers for continuing to make our aerodrome so special.  As always, your ideas and suggestions are welcomed.

On a personal note, I am absolutely thrilled to receive your special recognition at our annual fun fly.  It is an honour to be recognized for doing the things I really enjoy.  Thank you all so much!

Respectfully,
Graham McNicol
Vice President & Director of Administration, TEMAC

Annual Report from the President 2015

« on: December 01, 2015, 08:52:06 pm »

Contemplating my report for 2015, I realised that it seems to have been a long year, this year.  Personally, it seems such a long time ago that I was finishing my Skywriter from the last build class.  From a Club perspective, it seems so long ago since the fabulous “Doors Open” event.   A lot has happened again this year for TEMAC, nearly all good, but before I go on, I must say a few words about our dear friend Jack.

Some days it feels like only yesterday when I was chatting to Jack at the President’s BBQ, and others it feels like such a long time since I could turn to him for advice or ideas.  Jack really was the driving force and catalyst behind so much that we all know as TEMAC.  I can’t ever remember a time that he didn’t have a least 5 or 6 ideas about new events, improvements or ways we could support the hobby.  So many of us miss Jack, but he would have wanted TEMAC to continue growing, innovating and succeeding, and thankfully he showed us the way to do that.  Thank you Jack.

We remain financially healthy thanks to the fabulous stewardship of Andy and have been able to continue with our traditions of fun events, field improvements and of course a low membership fee structure.  Sometimes, I can’t believe that we only have one Graham!  No sooner has anyone mentioned something about the field and he appears there!  Thankfully, when he is there, he’s usually working – you only need to see the new parking fence and first class parking area as testament to this.

But as usual, it’s really the volunteers that make things happen, and that’s you!  If you think back to late summer, you will remember how great the grass is, how well the runway works, how the driveway allowed easy access, the number of students flying, and how the events always had a BBQ and often a 50:50 draw.  So thank you to the field helpers, the race callers, the chefs & our instructors.  Special thanks to Ben Feist, Robert Pike, Mike Hazelton, Frank van Beurden and Michael Rogozinsky for volunteering to support our website, lead our build classes and deliver our flight instruction program.

Our events this year were simply amazing, with 2 very special highlights.  Our participation in Doors Open was a lot of work, and required lots of planning, but it all came together on the day (except maybe my lipo choices!)  It was a wonderful advertisement of our club, and our culture and a chance for us all to play with our toys for an audience!  Does it get any better than that?  Maybe!  I heard a good number of people say that the Annual Fun Fly this year was the best ever.  It seems that our events were mostly fortunate with the weather, which is more than can be said for Student Night.  I think Wednesdays this year were probably the windiest days of the week.  But nevertheless, we managed to welcome many more members to the joys of being an RC Pilot.

Unfortunately we did have 2 incidents that resulted in property damage.  I believe this was a first for TEMAC, which is excellent for 12 years of operation, but a concern that we had 2 in one year.  The Board has already considered factors and circumstances that may have contributed, and started to develop corrective procedures, but I would ask everyone to remain focused on safety, and remember that our hobby does pose some risk.

Looking forward, I will be working with the Board to consolidate our events program and review our race series.  I think it’s time for us to strengthen the events that work, make them bigger and better and free up some time from those that haven’t caught on or flourished.  I am probably more aware than most that our race series seems to have dwindled.  I cannot imagine TEMAC without racing, but for some reason the Piker Class Team Racing seems not to be working as planned.  As always, I will ensure the Board takes your input and ideas when defining the future, refined recipe for fun at Rogofield.

As the year draws to a close, I can see new beginnings on the horizon.  Some have already started to grow, like our new build class format, which seems to be working judging by the 18 participants last week!  Others, are simply ideas for discussion at present, such as EF1 vs. Piker class racing.  But I have absolutely no doubt that, in the true traditions of TEMAC, our next year will be filled with fun and shared with friends.

Wishing you all health and happiness.
Simon

President, TEMAC