May, 2004

A Message from your President
  by Mike Miller

The excitement as we get our wings out, repack reserves and check batteries are a sign that spring has arrived. This year it has come a little early. Reports of early access to launches and great flights in the middle of April make it seem like summer is just around the corner.

Soon, competitions will be occurring every weekend (as they have already in the Fraser Valley) and everyone's local site will be crowded every sunny weekend. With this early rush we have seen a few serious accidents south of the border. This means we should remember that observation of conditions and being conservative needs to be kept in the front of your mind. Don't just get high and land.

The other thing we need to keep in mind is our impact on our sites. Please car pool as much as possible. Also, don't take your local site for granted. Many people have worked for a long time to keep the site and maintain its condition. The next time your web site or flying buddy's mention that there is some work going on this weekend show up early and pitch in.

Speaking of pitching in, for three months now I've been trying to have an online meeting of our regional BCHPA representatives. These people have volunteered to commit themselves to the business of their region and help promote the sport. With three agenda sendings and the only response I got were some regional reports, I'm a little disappointed with their commitment. I've attached the 2004 Agenda to this report and encourage member input and any new ideas you might have.

Agenda Items for 2004 BCHPA ADM

Meeting type: Internet ADM
Online Participants:

ITEMS:

1. Site Funding:
(maximum of $250.00/year /region)
Applications have come from:
-Rob Samplonius on behalf of himself and Margit Nance (Fraser Valley & Vancouver/Surrey/Delta)- the two area representatives are asking for $500.00 in total.
The money would help defray the following costs:
-Portable toilet rental $291.75
-Power tool rental (bush clearing on road) $136.28
-Property taxes for Upper Launch $240.86

-David French on behalf of the Interior Soaring Club - asking for $250.00 to help defray costs paid for road improvement to Blue Grouse ($3500.00 invoice #14716 from O.K. Excavating included)

-Mike Miller - on behalf of the Whistler/Pemberton flying team - asking for $250.00 to help pay the debt incurred 3 years ago for work done on launch invoice details are as follows:
$2100.00 invoice for the Takeuchi TB-68 Excavator (Mountain Industrial Excavating Inv# 1178)
$1080.00 invoice for excavator transport to & from launch (Extreme Enterprises Ltd. Inv# 2485

Peter Bowle-Evans for the Golden Flying Site/Nicholson LZ work that has already been done- receipts forthcoming.

Vancouver Island - Martin Nowolselski has requested funding be made available for his region - and is still in the process of getting receipts/details and deciding on where the funds will go to in that region.

2. BCHPA Motion: Site Funding for Crisis Circumstances
Motion
To allocate special purpose funding to fund, in full, LWBC Tenure applications for sites deemed critical to the future of the sport in British Columbia. "Critical" is defined as
a) a site threatened with immediate closure with no other avenue available to secure legal access.
b) As agreed to by majority vote of the BCHPA Board of Directors.

Current sites qualifying (as representative examples) would be Woodside, Bridal Falls, Kobau, Cawston* and Saturna Island.**
_________
Footnote 1
* Given that it proves too difficult and / or expensive to combine Kobau and Cawston into a single LWBC tenure (this would make a 10 Km long area included in the Map and application.)

3. BCHPA Motion :Competitor Funding for International Events
Many requests have come in for assistance with competitors going to international competitions.
They are gaining points (and experience) towards entering World Competition.
I think it is necessary to give some aid.
Although there is an HPAC fund for the World Competition, nothing is yet in place to help with those trying to qualify.
We need some ideas as to limits and controls of this donation to the pilots.
a) Should it be by ranking?
b) By number of competitions entered…$0 for first, $X for second, $nXthird…
c) By pilots income?

4. Assistance to Mark Dowsett for Canadian Nationals:
Mark writes - "I was hoping that the BCHPA would support the Nats again this year as you have done in the past couple of years. Things are well underway for the Nats in Lumby again and the $250 "per event" that the BCHPA really helped me put on a great meet that benefited all pilots that came. I think the meet fills a void not only for competitors to 'strut their stuff' but it also is a venue where many lesser-experienced pilots can come and learn XC skills and learn about GPS navigation. These areas are parts of flying that most instructors don't include in their curriculum."

5. Assistance to Mark Dowsett for Computer Programs:
Mark Writes - "I am also canvassing the HPAC, WCSC and now the BCHPA looking for support in purchasing the full one year subscription to the CompeGPS verification program I use at the nationals. I pay $250 to use it for two weeks and a full year is $500. All other meets could benefit from this program as it makes scoring meets incredibly easy and fun (to watch people's flights). I used to have to lock myself in a room to concentrate on the scoring and it took forever - but with this scoring program, it is all automated and pilots can learn by watching what courses others flown (all tracks are drawn out over a topo map)."

6. Reports of Each Region:
See separate section of Cloudstreet.

7. 2003 Financial Statement:
The BCHPA financial statement is available to all members by request.
Contact BCHPA Secretary/Treasurer, Linda McLaughlin at bchpa@canada.com

8. BCHPA Motion: To support smaller flying events in BC (From Mike Miller)
Since we didn't have a Provincials this year (2003) and the BCHPA is dedicated to supporting Prov. and Nationals, Hang. and Para. , @ $250 a pop through a grant.
So, let's give $100 for 3 competitions this year that are non-sanctioned events.
This will improve our status with members and create incentive to hold an event.
I propose 3 of the following be sponsored by BCHPA
1) Pemberton Whistler Competition
2) Savonna Solstice Fly-In
3) BFART
4) Invermere
5) Willi Muller Classic

9. BCHPA Motion: Free Copies of AIR to Clubs/Landowners (from Mike Miller)
At the HPAC ADM we discussed distributing extra copies of AIR to regions for local distribution. This will be a cost of $4 per season per issue. I've ordered 30 issues to give out to all local clubs and some landowners. Motion to support expenditure of $120 per year for this initiative.

10. BCHPA Motion: To clarify and define the Future, Role of, responsibility of and purpose of the BCHPA.
See http://www.bchpa.org/about/mission.htm
(From Fred Wilson)
My feeling is the association has been in a holding pattern which it is slowly climbing out of. (-:
Present services include
a) Website
b) Site Development and Preservation Fund.
c) Emergency Fund. (Bank Account Reserves.)
d) Represents all BC pilots regarding Provincial Government issues.
e) Maintains non-profit status and can be named as the parent body for Site access purposes.
f) Historical Movie Preservation Program and video library
g) Safety Services. (Includes support and, as necessary, interim financing for Chute Clinics, tree rescue clinics, HAGAR seminars, XC clinics et cetera.) Increased Safety presence and services needed.
h) Fundraisers (On consignement permitted guys!!! re First Aid Kits!)
i. cont... (suggestions please)
Suggested services include:
a) BC Provincial Championships.
b) Competition and Fly-In support services and equipment.
c) Financial support for BC athletes attending FAI/CIVL Pre-Worlds (see # 4 below)
d) obtaining membership in and recognition by Sport BC http://www.sport.gov.bc.ca/ again.
i. (Sport BC Macroscope is a grueling process... mostly done and finished under Rick Hunt's reign of terror.
ii. Minimum membership numbers required. (Student memberships?))
iii. (Funding possible.) (Insurance may one day also be possible http://www.sbcinsurance.com and http://www.allsportsinsurance.com )
d) cont... (suggestions please)

11. BCHPA Motion: (Dan Keen/Mike Miller) That any person or group that receives funds through the BCHPA, be it site development, event sponsorship, project seed money, etc., will be required to submit an article or report to be published in the BCHPA Cloudstreet. Simply put, one of the requirements for BCHPA funding is to submit an article in lew of funding.

Take care all and fly smart
Mike Miller
confusedone@uniserve.com
604 938 9420