TEMAC Director's Report – 2014
EVENTSEvents in 2014 were varied and many. They were by-and-large successful and on average showed a slight profit at the end of the year. I was fortunate to be lucky enough to have almost all occur on the day planned, thank you weather gods. I was most fortunate to have help from a large group of volunteers and voluntolds. This is what makes the club such a joy to work with. We never seem to run out of people who will step forward to help much of the time without being asked. Just see a job that needs doing and go ahead and do it.1. Dome Fly
- Our dome fly was well attended and we covered expenses. A great time was enjoyed by all and we had many new flyers who vowed to return. We plan another this year and we are looking to expand to three events in 2016. Check out the Forum under TEMAC Events.
2. Scratch Building
- Our scratch building efforts continue to grow and this year we decided to build two models. We continued the class for the biplane "Skywriter". This is turning out to be a more advanced build than was originally expected.
- Many members asked for a more beginner's type of model. I picked a glider "RedEagle" designed by a Dutch man, Ton van Munsteren. We began build classes in the fall.
- Robert Pike designed a Piker Class racer and agreed to cut foam wings and run a build class for race pilots. This too was begun in the fall.
- While it may sound very ambitious to have three models as subjects of build classes I'm fortunate in being assisted by Frank van Beurden, Michael Rogozinsky and Robert Pike as expert advisors and build coaches.
3. Float Flying Frenchman's Bay
- With Robert as our "Pied Piper" and retriever float flying at Frenchman's Bay grew in attendance and frequency. Many new models are being built such as Colin's Solent and Michael's Albatross. Checkout their build blogs on the TEMAC forum.
- For next year we are working on a schedule that would be more cooperative with family requirements and other conflicts. Like holding a float fly in conjunction with an event at Rogo Field so members can do both on the same day.
4. Piker Class Team Racing
- We had another very successful season of Piker Class Team Pylon Racing. While the number of participants dropped from 2013 the racing was much closer and very exciting. Some new designs were flown with good results. Lots of experimentation going on.
- Robert has given classes in building his "Morphine" design and a number of new participants are scheduled to race in 2015. This will be our best year yet. The models are bettering 100mph on the straights.
- I did try to introduce an "all-star" day and provide an opportunity for teams with fewer points to catch up. It was in the form of a triathlon of skills but unfortunately I overestimated the pilot skills and the maneuverability of these models. The result was a dismal failure but a valuable lesson. I will work on this for 2015.
5. EF-1
- EF-1 is gathering strength as we now have some 5 or 6 eligible models regularly flying.
- This group went to Georgetown and flew the regulation three pylon course.
- They had a great time and were hosted and welcomed by Ken Fluney and his buddies.
- I have pencilled in two events for 2015 in Georgetown.
6. Combined Jets with Warbirds Day
- Not so well attended as in previous years. Weather may have been a factor as well as combining the two events. It was still a lot of fun for all who came. We are looking at ways to spice up this event, possibly going back to separate events.
7. Tavares Pond Float Fly
- Again we were welcomed by the Tavares family to use their private pond. Many showed up and enjoyed wonderful conditions and hospitality.
- Robert was able to repay our debt by participating in a charity event hosted by the family. A select group of flyers did a demonstration that was very well received by the audience.
- We plan on three more events in 2015 if conditions allow.
8. Kingston Electric Fun Fly
- There was a good TEMAC representation at the Fun Fly. They cleaned up on awards. Martin Irvine, the organiser is a long-time friend and visited our Fun Fly in August.
- It's a great weekend and you should plan on it for 2015.
9. Scratch Builder's Fun Fly
- This was disappointing and not too well supported. Probably too optimistic on my part. I think that it was before its time.
- With the amount of scratch building happening it's time will come.
10. Annual Fun Fly
- The Annual Fun fly was a well-attended affair that provided lots of entertainment and socialising. This continues to be one of our best events and the pattern seems to work well. There are no plans to change it for the future.
11. President's BBQ
- This was a new event on our calendar and is a celebration of the end of student training. It is a way for the club to thank the students and instructors for all their time and efforts.
- We plan on keeping this as an annual event. The parents and guardians of students are also included.
12. Skills Challenge
- Easily the most anticipated club event of the year. We added new skills such as a helicopter SAR event. Also new this year was a bombing event and a trickier Limbo Pole event.
- The response was terrific with everyone enjoying themselves whether participants or spectator. My volunteer judges performed magnificently despite bribes, taunts and other derisive comments.
- I have already got some diabolical plans for next year.
- We will be adding Glider specific challenges now that we are all building gliders.
13. Pilot's Meetings
- Pilot's meetings continue to be well attended. The themes generate a lot of discussion and I'm always open to suggestions for topics you want to cover.
- If any of you know of such a facility closer to town let me know. I'm always looking for ways to improve our experience.
14. MAAC Annual Zone Meeting (AZM)
- This year the club hosted the AZM at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum and Community Centre. Normally this event has a turnout of 25 to 30 members. We had 67. I had planned on food for 40 but fortunately Graham, Gerald and Timi worked their own miracle of the "Loaves and Fishes" and we managed.
- We started with a swap meet. We had a working lunch with a slide presentation by Bill and Andre on the whole process for getting a Geotex runway.
- We then had a meeting which we hustled along as best we could and ended up with a BBQ at Rogo Field for any guest who wanted to try the runway. Many showed up and flew and many more came for the hot dogs.
- Congratulations to Michael Rogozinsky who became the new Deputy Zone Director.
15. TEMAC Tickler
- The Tickler continues to be our main form of communication with the membership. As of today we have published 128 pages of pictures comments and information about upcoming events.
- We comment and report on all events within days and sometime hours and it is an important link for our members who are fortunate enough to enjoy warmer climes during the winter.
- I'm very grateful for all who send photographs. For any ordinary event I may have the choice of up to 200 shots and for our Fun Fly I had 742 photographs. Thank you all for helping make the Tickler so immediate and such a good vehicle for conveying the objectives and ethics of the club.
- The Tickler would be nothing without the help of Ben Feist and our wonderful website.
I would like to conclude by thanking the Board for its continued support both moral and physical. I would like to thank the membership for their ongoing support of all our events even if they sometimes cut into their flying time. Lastly to anyone who has volunteered in any capacity at any time, thank you. It shows your appreciation for our efforts and makes all the hard just so much fun. Check out our calendar on the website, it has all events noted.Jack HigginsEvents coordinator, TEMACNovember 23, 2014.FUN SAFETY COURTESY
Jack
I did live in Georgetown but moved to Orangeville in 1975.
@Papa
Boy it was a busy summer and Papa accomplished a lot. Thanks for quarterbacking all these events. The highlight for me had to be helping Brad Egan with the MAAC Zone Meeting. We did not have to chose between attending the Zone Meeting or flying. We could do both.
Frank