another month over and mays meeting upon us

[gary stenhouse]

well mays meeting is coming up and we could realy do with a talk on airspace as there has been more and more folk doing xc.

however has anyone got any great ideas for are next meeting as flying is not just about but flying and i loved the one where people came in with pictures and videos of flying holidays thet would interest us all.

any volunteers would be good


cheers gary

[AngusB]

I've been in the sport for a year now & still never seen an air map (not that I've needed to though) so it sounds like a good idea to me Gary.

[gary stenhouse]

we must look for a larger venue for these meetings as the overwhelming support has the room bursting at the seems. darlington football ground is up for grabs and i think given its size then it would be more suitable.

it is tough to get all the 6 in the room and do think back when we had 27 entries on the xc league, so my thoughts ar that the club has shrunk and also there is fewer active pilots in the club.

as meetings of this size on meetings and nothing more than a few going out for a bar meal, this been the case ii think it is wrong for us to be taken a room based on 20+ members is just not happening.

so do we just become a monthly get togeather for committee members or think about breaking the club up and amagamting with another club?

after all how many sites do we ever fly in northumberland as a club 3-4
and 1 in cumbria,

and do we have anyone going to step forward as chairman or will it be the same again and can say i do everything to fly falling short of dragging people out, however i will not do the same to get people to meetings.

rant over but had enough of going to meetings that are not meetings lets have a chat as a commitee and keep it above board for the bhpa and forget the rest?

[colin keightley]

I would suggest that we only book the room when we have something specific on that requires it otherwise eventually they will stop us from using it all together. Must say even though I wasnt feeling well last night had there been more people there I probably would have stayed.

[John Wallis]

rant over but had enough of going to meetings that are not meetings lets have a chat as a commitee and keep it above board for the bhpa and forget the rest?

Very sad day Gary but you've done your best mate. Times have moved on from the big turn out for meetings, people have more than one hobbie and don't dedicate themselves to hang/paragliding as they once did and who can blame them with all the crap weather and frustration of flying. Plus most of what needs to be said can be said using the forum or face book. If the club packed in what would happen to the funds? Cancer research? British Heart foundation? A major piss up and BBQ free to everyone? I still have all the original documents/minutes from the very start of the NHPC given to me by Mike Ramsey Do you want them? or should we light the BBQ with them.

JW

[brian day]

John, I'm surprised I never thought I would hear things like that from you, I presume they were said to provoke reaction.
Like Gary, I haven't been flying long in the big picture, I have tried as chairman, not for as long as Gary, I offered my time every month for three and a half years as secretary and chairman.
I think that if even one or two benefit from the meetings as was the case when I did my talks, then at least one or two have. We need to remember that those with more experience don't want to listen to the same things over and over again, but us newbies do. We are enjoying what others have enjoyed time and time again in the past. What is new to us is old hat to them.
The cost of fuel and travelling means that people are being more choosy about what they travel for, be it meeting, flying or socialising, it's a fact of life, a sign of the times. Unfortunately there are more economic ways, both financially and in time to do things these days.
Maybe not the time to give up completely, but time to re evaluate what is going on.
All pilots should attend a first aid refresher, I'll do one, or better still probably Jim Biddleston.
How many new pilots will commit to turning up for pilot exam workshops?
If there are enough responses, then this may be the way forward with the committee doing their own thing with special meetings being held if necessary and an agm being the only commitment.
Time to think, re evaluate rather than finishing all together.
I can't imagine the world without an NHPC, don't know about you!

[Graeme Gilroy]

Well said Brian , summed it up in one post.
I would love to take part in the pilot work shops and think we could all do with the first aid feather in our caps.
I wish I could commit to the meeting every month but working shifts makes this hard.

Cheers

Graeme

[ron freeman]

Lets stop the moaning and groaning and be more pro-active & more structured.

We need to get members more involved in running the club and flying there own sites.

Every club meeting has to have something happening Guest speakers, Question & answer sessions, video & pic's shows, aviation quiz,

To remain a registerd club of the BHPA the NHPC have to conduct 12 monthly meetings with at least two commitee members present.

The club will not fold, I will not let this happen !!! I've been a member for 38 yrs and hope to get another 38 years

[John Wallis]

I would hate to see the club fold Brian, like Ronnie it's been a major part of my life and still is to some extent. All my friends are pilots and my life revolves around these fantastic positive people. However over the years it seems to be the same old people doing the donkey work to keep the club together and they get sick of trying. The people in the club including new members must look at what they give to the club because things don't happen by themselves. A club is only as good as it's members and Gary Stenhouse has tried more than most but even his endless enthusiasm is coming to an end. What about every member posting on here something anything they will do to support their club at club meetings I won't hold my breath because I don't think people will come forward they are happy to sit on their arse and let others do it.

Things that have happened at meetings over the years that I can remember.

The auction
Club general knowledge / aviation quiz
Talk from RAF Boulmer search and rescue
Going to Newcastle weather center
Going to Newcastle airport Radar / Tower
Talk from fast jet pilots
Talk From other pilots about wave flying
Newcastle Air traffic control talk to club members
Brians brilliant exam schools
Talks from Ali Guthrie
Trophy presentation nights
Christmas party
Paper aeroplane competition

The list goes on and on. I can't remember them all these are just a few if you can remember anymore please post them on here it might inspire someone to do something.

[Kay]

Well My Two Penny Worth as an Ex Club Chairman and Club Membership Secretary..We've got to go with the flow and move with the times.

I think my time as Club Chairman (I can't remember the year its that long ago) ..But it was just towards the end of the 'Golden Era' of Hanggliding and the the earlier days of Paragliding..Because of the Times we still had a good cross over of the old and the new.
I can remember organizing a Flying Weekend up in the Cheviots..followed by a Slap up Feed at The Powburn Cafe and then Live Music by 'Broken Spoke '..God knows how I remember there name..Maybe because they were fantastic. The most amazing thing was that Northumberland came up Trumps. Moneylaws Rocked...I had my first (and last) dual Hang Glider flight on the Club Hangglider excellently piloted by Pete Rutherford. We then danced the night away at the Powburn Cafe and then a lock in at the local Powburn Boozer up the road where when being first greeted at that late hour with a 'Deliverance' style welcome We were made to Sing for our Drimks !!...Thank God the Band were locked in to otherwise it would have been a very dry night !!..Needless to say the next days flying was a bit of a non starter and nothing to do with the weather...

BUT..That Was Then & This Is Now.. Times have changed.
I am definately against packing in our Club Meets ,,but maybe the format needs to be changed. Ideas Well I am thinking maybe Bi Monthly especially during the Winter months. Also, an idea that I have mooted before, and seems to be used by Cumbria SC..Differing venues.
With the numbers that attend I dont think we need to pre book a function room But why not alternate. I know we have a couple of Excellent Pubs up our way that would fit the bill..So must the Coast, and North & South of Tyne. So, the preceeding month we decide whose 'Patch & Where' the next meeting shall be. Lets give it a go..
Why not Wednesday 6th June Lion & Lamb Horsley...Not near you ! Well your turn next time...Actually why not make the next Club Meet Wednesday 13th June. After the LCC..then we should have some interesting chat..Thats another thing Flexability...
The Internet & Club Forum now gives us this fantastic facility of fast and interactive discussion..Lets use it.
Not forgetting...Club Flying Weekend..We tried it last year but the rancid weather put pay to that ....Maybe this year. CrossFell, Camping Ousby & Pub...Nothing comes without a little effort

So, who's for Wed 13th next meeting. Any other venue suggestions..My ears are open.

Over

[AngusB]

Well, didn't I miss an interesting meeting.
My apologies for my absence from the meeting to begin with, as was previously mentioned, I have other hobbies as well as paragliding & unfortunatly I was walking/mountain biking over in the Lakes when the meeting was taking place. In some ways I think its good we have such a diverse group but can see how annoying it must be that in the modern day paragliding/hang gliding isn't the sole sport for most members as it used to be. I know I haven't been with the club for long but I have found most of the meetings over winter to be a case of a bit of chat, the meeting, a bit of chat & all out the doors asap. I know winter isn't the best time off year for paragliding but Gary has proved that it can be enjoyed (even though he doesn't seem happy at the moment). We had a great meal in the pub watching the rain pouring down/mist decending on Model Ridge but we waited & we flew...on the 5th of November! I know it must be hard work to organise the meetings, especially to add a lecture/info session for us newbies but it is needed. First aid is a great idea, I'm not the best at public speaking or subject delivery but I'll have a go if its what is needed. I love the idea of people with skills giving advice or lectures at meetings, Ali Guthrie did a great demo on his flying with video & pics to both excite my hunger for flight & instill the belief that I can be that good one day...maybe.

[Henry]

Bit difficult to make a decent contribution to this as someone who has amassed only 35hrs in 5 yrs but do agree with Ronnie that the club needs to be something with structure and events that people can come to rather than what feels something like a group of longstanding friends and committed enthusiasts where people who know each other talk to each other and if you are not known.....
I don't know how many people from Ronnie's school become members of NHPC but certainly I have not come across many new people in my time.
Would love to do my pilot exams this year and appreciate Brian's offer re this.
I am happy to offer anyone a lift or share petrol, do retrieves etc
Would be great if the club could have "coaching days" where there was a something organised just in terms of deciding on a site/getting to know people rather than any actual coaching. Organising things as a club would do wonders like a club trip to Glencoe or club thing to fly off the cheviot on midsummers dawn etc
These are all things where newcomers can come in and graft onto the club whatever their level of commitment
Henry

[bill-scott]

I really really do hate computers this is my third atempt to get a post to work
people dont need to make the effort to attend meetings to keep in touch when all they have to do is just turn the the bloody thing on well thats if you can find one that works

just like video killed the radio star tinternet is killing the monthly meeting
and is definatly guilty for the death of top of the stack (for those that dont know that used to be the club mag)
but radio didnt die it just re-invented itself and is now stronger than ever
in my opinion thats what we need to do theres loads of great ideas in the thread above. All we need is some enthusism to get the ball rolling.
So for the next meeting I can get to. I will put together a presentation/ slidebshow of some of the flying sites in europe weve been to.

ps I'll propablly need some help with the computer

[John Wallis]

Well done Bill and I'll make the effort to come and listen and well said Henry. Now about the other 60 members input.................I've just seen a tussock grass blow across the screen.......

[Trevor Robinson]

I can do input on ground handling or hostage negotiation, I am far better at one of them than the other, thankfully. Please send the ransome now. But Bill's idea on foreign sites is a good'un. There must be a a lot of combined knowledge within the club to assist those considering a trip away and not sure of what to expect, must be at least 2 meetings worth
my tumble weed contribution
trevor