SIMON’s SERMON - APRIL 2020
Hi everyone, we are all going through difficult times and I hope you are all well and coping with the restrictions being placed on us by the authorities. Despite the restrictions a lot has been happening around our club. We have had changes at the committee level, a relocation of the club’s flying field forced on us and most importantly the closure of the field.
Field Closure
The field closure has put our flying, catch ups and support system under pressure. This is making it hard for us, but we do have alternatives available to partially fill the gaps. We have access to simulators where we can fly, learn new skills, routines, tricks, improve our landings and we don’t need to repair our planes! It is a great time to do that maintenance on your “go to” plane or learn to build an ARF or even get your hands dirty and build a laser cut kit. Thankfully many of the RC hobby businesses are still open or offering online services.
Our support system and catch ups are still available to us through the use of our phones, email, face to face time and many other methods. (Our last committee meeting was held online and face to face.) In some cases, this will require the use of technology that can come hard to some of us. Doing a search with Google, Yahoo and other search engines can provide assistance to simplify the use of some of these facilities. (I am happy to help if you are having problems with this.) We all have time on our hands and with patience and the right instructions we should be able to learn new skills.
SEMAC Forum
To assist with keeping in touch, SEMAC has a new feature on our website (semac.org.au). We have implemented the SEMAC Forum which is a member only section of the website. This area will allow us to keep in contact with what is going on at our club. When you enter the members only area you will find five areas that currently make up the forum. We are starting to populate these areas which will grow with your assistance. These areas are:
Our New Field will be the one stop place for the latest on the preparation for our field move.
General Discussion where topics that our members would like to discuss can be uploaded.
Member’s Builds where members can share details of their latest builds or repairs of their planes.
Sell Swap Giveaway, where you will be able to have items listed for sale, swap, giveaway or you could have listed items that you need.
The initial post to the forum will need to be posted by one of the web support team but once an item has been posted any member will be able to comment on the post with their thoughts, questions, tips, interest in purchasing, etc. We will ask that you be considerate with the comments that are made on the forum.
I hope that this new feature can assist us keeping in contact which each other during our restrictions. If you are struggling with technology, please let me know or raise it in the General Discussion section of our forum. I will be happy to assist where I can as my IT background, and that of other members, should enable us to answer any questions you might have.
Field Relocation
On everyone’s minds will be how we are going with the relocation of our flying field. COVID-19 is placing pressure on us however we now have our permit application lodged with Council. The proposed runways have been pegged out, but will need to be relocated a bit and we have been in regular discussion with our new and supportive landlord. More details will follow shortly in the new SEMAC Forum.
Commitee
In regard to the committee changes that have occurred recently, I would first like to thank Reg for his many years of great work around the club, your work with the committee has place the club in a good position to move forward. I would also like to thank Len who has resigned from the position as secretary but is staying on as part of the Move (Club relocation) sub-committee along with John, Geoff and myself.
Committee changes have seen Geoff step in as secretary, I have moved into the role as webmaster of the SEMAC website and more recently I have been elected by the committee as interim SEMAC president until our next AGM.
I hope that I can assist with keeping our club going through our difficult times. I did not expect to be in this role, but I am happy to do whatever I can for our great club. My background includes being vice-president and president of two community radio stations and a Master’s swimming club. I am also a Referee with Master’s Swimming Victoria (MSV) and have been recently asked if I would nominate for the volunteer role of Technical Manager with MSV. I hope that my volunteer experience will assist with the ongoing operation of our club; as part of our committee, working towards the club’s relocation and being part of the wonderful comradery that we have in our club.
Thanks
A couple of members that need to be thanked for their recent contributions to the club are John Andrews and Brendan. John donated a Great Planes Super Sport to the club which was placed on RC Trader and was sold for $300 and the funds donated to our club.
Brendan has been maintaining the field and keeping the sheep manure on the runways to a minimum. He has also put up roofing iron as a fence around the Atco veranda to keep our landlord’s girlfriends (sheep) out of that area.
Finally
Finally and importantly, if there is anything that the committee or I can do during our difficult time due to COVID-19, please don’t think twice about getting in contact with us, we are all in this together. If you require assistance with using the website or related technology or would like to have something posted to the SEMAC Forum, please let me know.
Stay save and keep your spirits up.
Regards,
Simon
SEMAC President