Mrs Sue Horton
9B Kampou Street, Pyrgos
Limassol 4529, Cyprus
00357 99247668

APHRODITE BRANCH
NO 1318

 


Email: suehorton@cytanet.com.cy

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE

ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION APHRODITE BRANCH

HELD ON 12th APRIL 2012 AT THE SERGEANTS MESS RAF AKROTIRI

 

 

Present: -                      Group Captain Linter               President

Mr J Wilson                             Chairman

                                    Mr P Tarrant                           Vice President         

Mrs S Horton                          Secretary & Treasurer

                                    Mr W Cundall                         Station Liaison Officer

Mrs S Cundall                         Branch Media Officer

                                    Mrs D Wilson                         Membership Secretary

Mr R Stockman                      Members Liaison Officer

Sgt A Stewart                         RAFALO

Cpl D Hunt                             Wings Officer/RAFALO

                                               

Apologies: -                  Mrs B Stockman                     Vice Chairman

Mr G Boam                             Vice President

Mr J Horton                             Members Liaison Officer                       

Mr D Boldy                             Welfare Officer

                                    Mr D Knapp                            Deputy Membership Secretary

                                    Mr A Gardiner                         Welfare Officer

 

           

 

1.      Welcome to the Committee

 

The Chairman opened the meeting at 12.00p.m. and welcomed the committee members.

 

2.      Apologies Received

 

The apologies received are as stated above.

 

3.      Minutes of the last meeting

 

The minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

 

 

4.      Matters Arising

 

a.     Various discussions were continuing with the Red Arrows management with regard to a number of ideas for raising funds for the Wings Appeal.  It was noted that time was an important issue, and as soon as a decision was made, members would be informed.

 

 

5.      Financial Report

 

Mrs Horton gave the committee a breakdown of the financial position of the branch.  The account balances were:-

 

                        Cash Account                                       €      42.00     

General Fund                                        € 4,416.54

                        Wings Account                                     € 1,495.65   

                        Welfare Account                                   €    738.35   

                        Hellenic                                                 €     18.70   

                        Head Office Account                             €   - 25.00  

                          

           The total Branch Fund was given as               € 6,686.24

           

Mrs Horton told Committee members that since the last Committee meeting the branch had received income as follows: emptying the collection boxes around the camp € 280.84; three station visits made by Mr Cundall and Mr Wilson € 67.00; Family Fortune game € 40.00 and the RAFALO’s rollover raffle € 32.00 both raised during the April Social evening; the sale of Easter Chicks € 7 and € 4 from book sales.  The main expense had been:-  € 120.00 to cover welfare expenses although the Welfare Officer’s expenses had been almost double this amount the Officer said that he would cover the balance of the payment from his own pocket.  The committee gave their thanks to Mr Boldy and agreed that the Welfare Officers do a wonderful job for the Branch and for its members.

 

 

6.      Membership Report.

 

Mrs Wilson told the Committee that during this quarter the branch had gained 10 new members and had received two further enquiries which were in hand with a possible further 4 in the near future.  The Committee agreed that this was a good start to the year.  A list of 40 lapsed members had been received from HQ of which 12 have been recovered, however there were other names that were either UK or Larnaca based.

 

 

7.      Welfare Report

 

The Chairman told the Committee that a report was not available.  Mr Cundall asked the Committee to consider recruiting a further Welfare Officer for the Branch.  He said that the current Officers were actively supporting the RAF community and a further Officer may benefit the Branch by increasing the numbers of trained personnel especially considering the wide area that the Branch covers within Cyprus. 

 

Mr Cundall told the Committee that Sue Cundall was improving each day and she was continually getting stronger and Adam Gardener was having medical treatment so was unable to attend the meeting.

 

 

8.      Wings Report

 

Cpl Hunt was welcomed to the committee in his role of Wings Officer.  He confirmed that the new collection boxes, which were now to be used for the collection of funds for RAFA and the Benevolent Fund, had not yet been received.  As soon as they were available they would be distributed throughout the camp.  New sites for the boxes would also be considered.

 

Mr Cundall said that a number of events could be considered for the raising of funds from car washes, shaking tins outside shops, to music evenings.  These ideas would continue to be discussed.

 

Mrs Horton asked whether the Wings items, badges and pins, could be displayed during the social evenings for members and their guests to see.  It was agreed that as soon as the new office was open and items bought together, this could easily be arranged.

 

 

9.      Raffalo Report

 

Sgt Stewart said that the main report was about a Red Arrows event which was discussed earlier in the meeting. Members received a timetable for the ATC Top Flight and Mr Cundall agreed to pass on names of members able to attend.

 

 

10.  Any other Business

 

Mrs Wilson asked whether the Branch had T-shirts with the Aphrodite Logo printed on for members to wear when collecting donations or manning stalls.  Mr Cundall said that he had a design already completed which he would send to Committee members for approval.  T-shirts could then be printed quickly.  Mrs Wilson agreed to get prices from different outlets that she had used in the past.

 

Mrs Cundall reminded the Committee that the Newsletter would be delayed this quarter until a decision on the Red Arrows event had been made. She thanked the Station Commander for her flowers and the Committee for her presents which were all very much appreciated. 

 

Mr Cundall reminded the Committee that the room on camp, which had been offered to the Branch to use as an office, should now be available and that the keys needed to be assigned to the Branch Chairman.   Mr Wilson agreed to arrange for the collection of the keys and designate key holders as soon as possible.

 

Mrs Horton asked whether the office could be used to store all of the Branch items that are sold during social evenings and at fetes.  She said that it would be easier if everything was under one roof so that if any one member could not attend an event the items could easily be taken by another member so that we continue to maximise the Wings Funds.  All the Equipment, Wings items, books, raffles and raffle books could be stored easily and be accessible.

 

Mrs Horton asked whether the branch could open the office once a month for anyone on camp to come along and find out what the Branch did and have a chat with some of its members.  Coffee and cake could be offered with the Wings items on display.

 

Mr Cundall asked whether the Branch could invite people based on camp, to the social evenings by advertising on BFBS.  He said that this could bring new members to the Branch both serving and ex serving personnel.  The Committee agreed that this was a good way forward.

 

Mrs Horton asked the Committee to agree to have a suggestion box available at the social evenings so members could easily pass on ideas to help the Branch to evolve.

 

She asked the Committee whether there was a need to consider the Beach Party annual event. Last year it was thought that a new venue may be looked at.  Committee members agreed to consider venues and get prices for discussion during the meeting in May.

 

 

11.  Date of Next Committee Meeting

 

The date of Next Committee Meeting would be at 12.00 hrs on 10th May 2012 at the Sergeants Mess, RAF Akrotiri. 

 

 

12.  Close of Meeting

 

There being no further business the meeting was closed by the Chairman at 13.00 hrs.

 

Minutes prepared by Sue Horton