BMFA Elections (again)!

[pchristy]

Folks,

By now you should all have received your BMFA News' with the ballot papers for this year's elections.

Those of you who have scanned more than just the surface will have noticed that I'm standing for election to the RC Power Technical Committee, and that this year, there are 4 candidates for 3 positions. That means we need a ballot (yippee!).

Now whilst I hope you will all vote for me - I seem to be the only helicopter person anywhere in the BMFA hierarchy (plug! plug!) - even if you don't, PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE!

As I've said repeatedly, if you don't use it, you may well lose it!

What isn't made clear on the ballot paper is that although you are entitled to vote for up to 3 candidates on each committee (scale is having an election as well), you don't *have* to use all three votes. If you only want to vote for one candidate, you can do just that.

If you have binned your BMFA News before extracting the ballot paper, you can request a replacement from head office, or you can photo-copy someone else's.

The important thing is that no matter how you do it, YOU SHOULD VOTE!

Cheers,

--
Pete

[robgt]

<speaking to the crowd>
If Pete is the only heli dude up for election, I think we're all duty bound to vote for him

We need some higher representation in this association of ours
Don't forget to vote, everyone!

Good luck Pete!
Cheers,
Rob

[Smoothound]

Hmmmmm

[Ashley Davis]

I shall be casting my three votes for Pete

[Stuart]

I would be happy to vote if they could change my address details. I've asked about three times and still no mag.

I sure there trying to reduce the heli content.

[Smoothound]

I put my BMFA stuff in bin where it belongs with most of the rubbish, sorry but its a fact...

[pchristy]

I put my BMFA stuff in bin where it belongs with most of the rubbish, sorry but its a fact...

And it will continue to be so until you take some positive action to correct it!

I'm sorry, but rolling over and submitting to everything the BMFA does will achieve nothing.

You have to at least TRY and fight back!

--
Pete

[moyesboy]

how will/did the postal strike effect this?

[pchristy]

how will/did the postal strike effect this?

I've sent my ballot paper in now, but from memory, it doesn't close until November (12th?). So there should be plenty of time to get them in.

The only thing I would say is the sooner you send it off, the better the chance of it arriving in time!

--
Pete

[Bubblefish777]

Hmmmm...maybe you guys can clue me in but what exactly will the BMFA do for me if I join ?
As far as I can assertain they have no legal or constitutional powers or even an effective lobby. Apart from Insurance which can be found elsewhere am I missing out on something ?

[Sao]

Quite frankly If I could get my insurance elsewhere as easily I wouldn't bother with the Bloody Minded F*ckers Assosciation.

I haven't had any post from the pillocks at BMFA since last year, I ring up every month to chase it and they say, 'oh yes we still have your old address (I moved 2 years ago) We will change it and send stuff to your new address'.... Repeat ad infinitum.

It's a bloated burecratic organisation run by old gimmers who are probably failed local politicians.

[pchristy]

Hmmmm...maybe you guys can clue me in but what exactly will the BMFA do for me if I join ?
As far as I can assertain they have no legal or constitutional powers or even an effective lobby. Apart from Insurance which can be found elsewhere am I missing out on something ?

Well for a start, if it wasn't for the BMFA negotiating with the Home Office and Ofcom, not only wouldn't you have 2.4 GHz, but you wouldn't even have 35 MHz! You would still be stuck on 27 MHz!

And remember that our 35 MHz allowance is the largest anywhere in the world!

You also probably wouldn't have any models to fly anyway, as a few years back the CAA introduced proposals that would have effectively banned anything much over 100gms in weight!

Now I'm not saying the BMFA is perfect. It isn't, and there's a lot needs remedying. That's what I'm trying to do, but it is a painfully slow process.

But you DO need it. It is the ONLY defence you have against bureaucrats and officialdom who would rather we all went away quietly into the night!

--
Pete

[Biggles]

Hey you forgot they gives the NATS!!!!

[Bubblefish777]

Well for a start, if it wasn't for the BMFA negotiating with the Home Office and Ofcom, not only wouldn't you have 2.4 GHz, but you wouldn't even have 35 MHz! You would still be stuck on 27 MHz!

And remember that our 35 MHz allowance is the largest anywhere in the world!

You also probably wouldn't have any models to fly anyway, as a few years back the CAA introduced proposals that would have effectively banned anything much over 100gms in weight!

Now I'm not saying the BMFA is perfect. It isn't, and there's a lot needs remedying. That's what I'm trying to do, but it is a painfully slow process.

But you DO need it. It is the ONLY defence you have against bureaucrats and officialdom who would rather we all went away quietly into the night!

--
Pete

Errrrrr.....
Not so suure about this.
The rest of the world got 2.4Ghz....it's not a UK invention .....
Same with flying things.... I flew solid fuel rockets for ages and no-one ever knocked at my door. As for flying models I think you're getting carried away just a tad. What do you think would happen if you went out to a field and flew on 2.4Ghz and it was a model weighing 2Kg ? Nothing. That's what. People like the police etc. Have way more better things to do than worry if you're flying your heli on 2.4Ghz or 35MHz.
Don't get fooled as most of us do that a bureacrat has been 'nice' and 'allowed' you to fly your heli. Part of the nanny state is to make you think you need them and they actually do something for you. Don't be a sheep and allow yourself to be herded. Be a bear. If they only want you to use 32.67 Banacycles to fly models on ...let them try and enforce it. They aren't a defence for you mate..... they're a single point of contact to regulatte and legislate you to death with. Nice and easy to impose the law on a nice easy single point of contact society, it would drive them bloody nuts trying to hand down regulations to every flyer in the UK...they'd have to find you all first ....

Quick and Simple example.....
Who do you think is the biggger target... ? peep's flying heli's or people downloading pirate music ?
The music industry has $Billions to try and stop it and there's lots at stake....However they suck arse at trying to stop it...why ? Because there's no 'pirate mp3 music' society/federation. So they have to try and tackle several million individuals. If there was... *cough* Napster *cough* they'd have something to attack...and my goodness didn't they just do that.

If there was no-one in the BMFA how would they impose rules and regs on you ?
Do you know why there's money involved ? Because if you were a club without any dues or subscriptions you'd be outwith a lot of the law (including the Health and Safety exec). However because you pay dues you are drawn into all the legal legislation thhere currently is.

Another example. PADI have roughly 10&#37; of diver accident's and death's that BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club) do. Yet only Padi goes to court and ggets hhammered every time and faces an inquest etc. Why ? Because Padi charge Fee's whereas BSAC run as a club and don't make any cash.

[robgt]

What do you think would happen if you went out to a field and flew on 2.4Ghz and it was a model weighing 2Kg ? Nothing. That's what.

If, however, you went and flew a model that was over the model weight limit stipulated by the CAA, and crashed it into someone injuring/killing them in the process - a lot more than nothing would happen...

let them try and enforce it

They can and will (and do) - thats why we need organisations that can stand up and voice our side - to keep our flying fields going and to not have us shut down.

Cheers,
Rob