Meetings

Club Meeting 26th October 2005
(Kev Baxter - Secretary)

Thirteen of our number partook of our first meeting in what is hoped will now be our permanent home at Ransomes’ Sports and Social Club. We welcomed Julien Dixon for his first meeting. Julien enjoys modelling aeroplanes, good lad! Two younger chaps were taken by surprise to be invited in after peering through the door, however, because we didn’t possess a Playstation or a football they were quite ambivalent about the hobby. Pity!

EAST ANGLIAN MODEL SHOW (EAMS)

Dom gave a round-up of the EAMS. Overall it was adjudged to be a success with approximately 150 paying guests. Other than the glitch over the sloping tables, administratively the setting up and striking of the show went very smoothly. It was decided to hold the event at the same venue next year and to establish if we could use the larger bowling-green hall for the same weekend next year also. This would allow us greater space in a ‘plusher’ hall and to establish the show as a fixture in the calendar. Dom undertook to establish the dates available as soon as possible to ensure that we could maximise publicity and, if possible, in time for the Nationals.

Dom and Paul were both voted thanks for their efforts, Dom in the overall organisation of the show and Paul for coping admirably with the competition, that he was dropped into the ‘deep-end’ with.

WE HAVE A BANK ACCT

The Tres was pleased to report that we now have a legitimate bank acct with Lloyds in Ipswich. That will certainly put the dampeners on the ‘Subbies’ from now on we’ll have to pay for it ourselves!

WEB-SITE

Dave P has created our web-site in seemingly double-quick time. A limited version is already running however, more content is required. A plea for more models was issued, a request for an introduction was made to the Chairman and requests for links and suggestions as to how to improve the already impressive site was made. Inclusion of the Club Constitution was suggested by the Treasurer, since he had at least bothered to dig one up from elsewhere and ‘bastardise it’ for our use. Well done Sir!

COLCHESTER CLUB

Three of our members travelled to Colchester for the North Essex Model Club meeting. This was of limited success since 2 of the members pitched up just in time to whip out their models, buy a pint and listen to the Chairman’s closing remarks. I guess that’ll teach us to use Google to find the place! However, we did adjourn to the bar afterwards dragging some of their membership with us. This was constructive in that: we had a couple of extra pints and we at least got to have a decent chat. Perhaps next time we can go mob-handed and extend the meeting a bit?

ADVERTISING

It was proposed that now we have our permanent venue we could really advertise our presence. The Sec undertook to get the new flyer into the modelling press and to produce further A5 flyers to get out to the shops in the areas that we have not reached locally.

AGM

The AGM was set for the January meeting.

DECEMBER MEETING

It was proposed that we have a Christmas meal out on or about the date of our December meeting. However, it was felt that this would be difficult to organise for any numbers so close to Christmas, therefore, we decided to just have a, “Sub-committee”, meeting in a pub around then and postpone our Christmas bash until January, on or around the 20/21. The Sec undertook to sort it!

AOB

Team Visit. Ian B suggested that we might like to team up with the Bury Club in the summer to visit the Orfordness reserve and see first-hand the history of the former atomic weapons testing site. Ian has undertaken to arrange the visit since he is acquainted with the site wardens. The offer was met enthusiastically and the date is to be set for summer 2006.

THE TABLE

A healthy line-up of models was on the table for our first meeting with a dedicated table with lights. The intention was for Dave to post the turn-out on the nascent Gallery page of the web-site, so the more the better next time. Only one complaint was received from the floor saying that the light was too good and this caused the dust on the models to be visible. No names, no pack-drill…

For photos of the table - click here