honorary members

Post by **chrisfozz** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:04 pm

I'd like to start by saying I'm very much I favour of honorary memberships. I think it’s a good idea to mark members contributions to the sport either through sporting achievements or work done on behalf of the club by awarding an honorary membership. Honorary members should quite rightly feel proud of their achievements.

During the time I've been a member of the club, around 12yrs or so, I can think of lots of people who have made very valuable contributions that have been of benefit to all members of the club as well as others who, in addition, have achieved the sort of sporting success that most of us can only dream about; to win national completions or represent your country in your chosen sport is a fantastic accomplishment. I think we should have more honorary members! Although I can see how this could become divisive.

In my experience, in a variety if sports, honorary members are people who are typical of those mentioned above who have either retired from the sport or moved on in one way or another but who continue to offer their support, they are not simply given free membership of the club.
In my opinion it is only right and fair that if anyone wants to be a member of NHPC, use the clubs sites on a regular basis, fly in club competitions, represent the club in other competitions and have the same say as everyone else in how the club runs should make the same contribution as everyone else, i.e.. £15.00.

I believe some honorary members who use the club in the way I've described above have chosen to pay their membership fees, although I'm not sure that this is the same in every case.

Please understand I am not chasing honorary members who have contributed much in the past and have now moved on to pastures new, but I feel the present situation could allow someone who chooses to, to use the facilities of the club quite fully and avoid paying membership. As I said I think this could be divisive, creating an us and them atmosphere which is not good for the wellbeing of the club or our sport.

In my view everyone should be treated equally and as you might have guessed, I feel quite strongly about this. So, if I can get someone to second it, at the next AGM I intend to propose that any member who wants to;- use the clubs sites on a regular basis, fly in club competitions, represent the club in other competitions and who wants to have the same say as everyone else in how the club runs, must be a full member of the club.

I guess not everyone will agree with my proposals but I'm quite open to persuasion and constructive criticism. If you have anything constructive to add, please feel free.

Chris

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:43 pm

Holding a title or place without rendering service or receiving reward; as, an honorary member of a society.
(a.) Conferring honor, or intended merely to confer honor without emolument; as, an honorary degree.
(a.) An honorary payment, usually in recognition of services for which it is not usual or not lawful to assign a fixed business price.
(a.) A fee offered to professional men for their services; as, an honorarium of one thousand dollars.
(a.) Done as a sign or evidence of honor; as, honorary services.
Honorary: words in the definition

these our some of the definitions of the honarary member, it does seem to be for those no longer using the services or the rewards of the given.

i guess its hard to say say where do you draw the line? you could say there is a lot of people out there who deserve such an award but if they maintain to be in the club we would have no paid up members.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:27 pm

Well I suppose I've got to speak up here being one of those honorary members.

I was awarded this many years ago and was very pleased to accept. Now being older and allegedly a little wiser I kind of cringe to accepting the award from my friends and fellow club members and not continuing to pay my subs to help the club function. The fact that the recognition was given should have been well enough of a thank you without feeling I was above all the others who also do so much work for the club.

I've paid my subs for this year and will continue to do so for the rest of my flying career.

Many people contribute "Much" to this club and they still pay their subs to keep the wheels oiled.

I feel the honanary member is about recognition from the members rather that not paying a paltry sum of £15.00.

That's the way I see it.

JW

P.S. I will second your motion Chris.

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:35 am

My honorary membership of this club was awarded in October 1981 ! for achieving 'World team champion' in Japan (1981 ) I was also involved running club competitions which won the National club championships four times !

The commitee & members at that time gave me this award I did not ask for it...I have worked very hard for this club looking after members on flying sites, signing off pilot tasks for BHPA ratings, found lots of new sites, club talks, and supporting the club at club meetings, I think I have only missed 5-6 meetings in 34 years ! I think that is commitment to our club.

If I thought the club was struggling for funds (cash flow) I would be the first person to stick my hand in my pocket and give it to the club.

I also have site arrangements with the tenants and land owners for teaching hanggliding & paragliding on most of the sites, my school Northumbria Airsports is also a club registered with the BHPA and the school has private sites that I welcome any club member to come a fly as long as I am there.

If Chris or anyone else feels this strongly about my very proud honorary membership... I feel I can not be part of this club any longer and I may as well leave the club and continue to teach & fly on my school sites.

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:44 am

1981 was along time ago, most people cannot even remember 1981, it also is a long time to be receiving free membership, after all you could not of been much more than a boy when you received it.
however if at that time it was meant as a lifetime of free membership (then that is how it should remain) unless your conscious tells you other wise.

The bigger achievement here, is not flying in the worlds, but the fact that you have the same passion to fly, and be in the same club.

Bringing up what happened 27 years ago is history to most club members, but still is a great personal achievement.

What people really want to see is what you are doing now, as that is what most people focus on. So why not get back on the programme get out the phantom and show the rest you still have it.(We no you have) this is what people want to see, believe me.

cheers Gary

The above has been edited for spelling and better use of the English language, as non of the above was meant to be an attack on Ron, and if you read it now, you will read how it was meant to read. Also the more good pilots out on the hill means everyone benefits.

Post by **colin keightley** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:33 am

Is this really what this club is about pressuring people into showing you they have still got what it takes its how ppl get hurt

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:49 am

Chris..We clearly have different definitions of the word honorary.. shameful of you to use this for a clearly personal beef....Gary ..Ron doesn't need to fly to impress you or gain anyones respect.. I will send the £15.00 pound ...didn't realise the club was in financial straights...

Jacquie.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:21 pm

Is this really what this club is about pressuring people into showing you they have still got what it takes no wonder the likes of John Miller are pilling in on his PG

Hi Colin just read the above and can't work out what you mean about John Miller piling in. I can't work out the connection? Can you explain what you mean.

Post by **colin keightley** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:50 pm

Have altered it to something a little more accurate

Claire Smith · Post by **Claire Smith** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:12 am

Hi Colin

I understand that we are within a public forum here and anyone has the right to post but would you not like to become a full paying member of the Club (I don’t recall receiving a membership form from you)?

As you live locally, seem to fly the Club sites and are passing comment on “what this Club is about” maybe you would like to have the right to vote on Club matters going forward.

Just a thought and if you do want to join the details can be found by visiting “Join Our Club” at the top of the page.

And that goes for any other potential members out there!!

Post by **colin keightley** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:55 am

I am interested in Joining which is why I watch this club so closely obviously because of my location there are 2 obvious choices NHPC or NYSC as both site guides have my back yard in. I have also been to a couple of meetings to see what the clubs about and have talked to many of the members on the hill.

What I do find interesting is most of the time dissagrements on the forum stay on the forum with the odd exception and then everyone has a good bit of banter on the hill.

Post by **colin keightley** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:01 pm

Claire Smith wrote:Hi Colin

As you live locally, seem to fly the Club sites and are passing comment on “what this Club is about” maybe you would like to have the right to vote on Club matters going forward.

I passed comment on "what this club is about" because I am interested to know is this the sort of enviroment I am letting myself in for currently training it does worry me.

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:13 pm

Claire, Colin is currently under training with Northumbria Airsports and he will be CP qualified very shortly and will probably join the club.

Northumbia Airsports (honorary member) putting more members in the club.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:21 pm

And dont forget none of the coastal sites are "Club" sites. Anyone can fly there as they have for over 30years!
Cheers
Mike

Claire Smith · Post by **Claire Smith** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:27 pm

Colin - there is also Cumbria Soaring Club which is further to drive but may be a good one as they do a lot in the way of coaching for newly qualified CPs and there are also some cracking sites over there!

I stand to be corrected but you may want to look into your BHPA situation as I thought, at this stage within your training, you would have had to have some kind of membership to cover you for legal liability insurance. I stand to be corrected and maybe your School covers this. I’m sure when I was training I had supported the BHPA with my annual membership fee at about the time I had completed my EP.

And good luck in completing your CP!

Honorary Member Ronnie - many of the Club members also introduce new members. Whether that is by meeting on the hill, meeting during training and on general recommendation and chat about the sport. It was actually Gordie who recommended that Paul and myself join NHPC because of what a lively lot you are even though we rarely fly the Club sites!

I’ve just checked for example the last six members who have joined the Club and five of those members have not come from your school, the sixth I could not comment about as I don’t know the guy. Some have joined because of relocation to the area, one has joined following training with Northern and two have joined following training from Air Ventures.

Mike - I don’t think that flying on coastal sites and whether they are Club sites had been commented on within this thread but thanks for the information anyway. I really did think that Horden was a NHPC site and this is purely as it appears within the Club site guide you purchase when you join.

Post by **colin keightley** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:31 pm

Thanks Claire and you will be receiving my application as soon as Ive passed my CP

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:49 pm

Claire Smith wrote:
Mike - I don’t think that flying on coastal sites and whether they are Club sites had been commented on within this thread but thanks for the information anyway. I really did think that Horden was a NHPC site and this is purely as it appears within the Club site guide you purchase when you join.

No all of the coastal locations we fly have never been any club sites in the sense that a club manages the location having specific permission from a land owner. They are purely locations where we have flown for years and therefore correctly appear in site guides with relevant safety information etc and long may they continue to do so.
As for Colin as he is being taught by a BHPA school he will have joined the BHPA as part of that training so he gets the relevant log books etc etc.
Cheers
Mike

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:12 pm

Claire, its interesting that you have only mentioned PG's I have been teaching hanggliding for 15 yrs and lots of my student have joined the NHPC, some are still in and some have moved on.

Horden is a club site you are right about that, myself and Ron Don, Alastair Wolf, & Bill Scott gave up two days of our time to negotiate this site with Durham City council and the wild life trust.

Crimdon, Black hall, and Seaham are also club sites.

Even though anyone can fly most sites in the country if they wish but best to belong to a club for safety reasons, protection of our sport & the BHPA

Honorary member

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:10 pm

ron freeman wrote: Horden is a club site you are right about that, myself and Ron Don, Alastair Wolf, & Bill Scott gave up two days of our time to negotiate this site with Durham City council and the wild life trust.

Crimdon, Black hall, and Seaham are also club sites.

Sorry Ronnie not wishing to get into a big argument on this issue mate but there is absolutely no formal agreement to fly Horden,Blackhall,Crimdon or Seaham. The meeting you and others kindly attended, which I initially organised I think, was at a time when they were trying to stop us flying there so we raised our heads and a meeting was arranged with them. At this meeting our case was put and their concerns were centered around insurance/liability issues, I believe, and after learning we are individually insured they felt somewhat happier and would go away and think about things. We have never heard from them since!! So we assume everything is, in the words of the great man, "Hunky Dory!" But they are NOT therefore official club sites and are open to anyone but yes wise and adviseable to join one of the local clubs.
Cheers
Mike
P.S. Did you get my message about Powered Hangie champs??

Claire Smith · Post by **Claire Smith** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:30 pm

I don’t think I have just mentioned PGs, I have mentioned two PG Schools. I simply looked at the last six members who have joined our Club, two of which are HG pilots and I only made specific reference to the pilots who have joined the Club directly from the school environment.

I would certainly not dare to dispute the last 15 years as I simply have not been in the sport that long to know what it was like 15 years ago, in fact I would still have been in my school uniform all those years ago!!

And I do agree on open site policies but do believe if you are flying a site regularly, in your local area you should support that Club with membership. Hence my original post to Colin who lives locally to the Club and the sites the Club negotiates for us to fly.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:35 pm

Do you have any photo's of you in School Uniform?!!!
I'll get me coat!
Cheers
Mike;-)

Post by **colin keightley** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:37 pm

well the North Yorks also list the coastal sites in their sites guide also.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:40 pm

colinkeightley wrote:well the North Yorks also list the coastal sites in their sites guide also.

That's right Colin for the reasons already stated that some of their members go to those locations as well and therefore it's best to include as much info as possible in a guide.
Cheers

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:56 pm

I thought we had dealt with the honorary member issue at the club meeting
At the next AGM we will vote on weather to change the constitution or not
on voting rights??

Pete Batey · Post by **Pete Batey** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:40 pm

School uniforms?
My budlea is pruned?
Now this is a club I've got to join!
Pete

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:01 pm

Mick, you are spot on ! I didn't want to explain all that, thanks.

Its very important that we stick to the site guide rules when flying Hordon
so everybody stays happy...

Neil, The Club Constituion clearly states that Honorary members are members of the club... but it does not say that they are full members with voting rights ! obviously someone has searched and found a loop hole...

Alastair Wolf is currently looking into it.

brian day · Post by **brian day** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:53 am

Horden is a club site you are right about that, myself and Ron Don, Alastair Wolf, & Bill Scott gave up two days of our time to negotiate this site with Durham City council and the wild life trust.

The new warden was there when we arrived. He was very pleasant and supportive towards our activities, (well the flying anyway!

) He asked if we would report any fly tipping etc to help keep the area in good condition for the general public. He appreciated our presence in the area as 'responsible people' (funny how you can leave the wrong impression so quickly

)
So thanks to Ronnie Alistair Bill and Ron, the hard work has paid off and I think with that in mind we can call it our club site. After all without their efforts the site would have been lost to everyone.

dave-mclaughlin · Post by **dave-mclaughlin** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:54 pm

brian day wrote: The new warden was there when we arrived. He was very pleasant and supportive towards our activities, (well the flying anyway! ) He asked if we would report any fly tipping etc to help keep the area in good condition for the general public.

Found this the other day:-
http://www.durhamheritagecoast.org

Some info, history, etc. The 'contact us' page has a phone number & email address which I guess can be used to report any fly tipping.

NHPC Private and Public Forum

honorary members

honorary members

Club funds...

honarary membership...Jacquie

Under training

Claire

Re: Claire

Neil