Mike, Contrary to your thoughts that I may have some of the answers, I unfortunately do not. My role in the upper reaches of the GFA extend only to a couple of years as a councillor for the VSAand no role on the executive. The decisions made during my time included, the move to incorporation,the bulk of this excellent work was carried out by Maurice and the late Tony English and the move to the combined magazine. I think I voted against the combining, I can't remember and don't really worry about it. I will also state that I didn't do the job as well as I would have wanted to due to a variety of reasons and wish that I could have been better situated to get more involved. I thought that being a councillor wouldn't take as much time and quite simply had too much going on around me to do the job well. The effort required by those who volunteer their time to the members as well as running their own lives is amazing and I didn't have the structure around me to do it. I can only give my own personal feelings on these matters.
LICENCES SUCK. Thats my personal view. So someone has a licence, tell me what does that give you, a piece of paper/ plastic card, that does exactly what?? Oh yes thats right, here's my $50 bucks per annum to ALLOW me to keep it! Someone anonymously says I did a beat up or didn't like my flying, whats that, you are taking my licence away from me, Because I have a licence some friggin bearocrat says I can't fly here or there and threatens all sorts of measures to stop my freedom, Oh shit I can't crash, I have a licence and it says I can fly. There are probably a hundred reasons why we SHOULDN'T HAVE licences but only one that is never given as to why we should, and that is WITH A LICENCE WE CAN CONTROL YOU BY TELLING YOU WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO BECAUSE THEN WE CAN CHARGE YOU FOR OUR EXPERTISE!!! And if you don't believe me just look around you. Fishing, boating, shooting, motor vehicles and plenty of other organisations have licences, I would argue that I can fish, drive a boat/sail, shoot and drive just as well without a licence. I suppose the sales of wheatties packets may increase with the introduction of licences. Thats enough for now, historically the founders of the GFA did us a service by telling the Department of silly aviation to back off and let us run our own affairs and we have PROVED we can do it over the 55 years. I never forget someone telling me that the first answer to any beaurocrat telling them what to do is to tell them that you need to take this concept higher for discussion. That really shits them. One letter Ive come across to the department in the 70's went simply, DEAR SIR, In reference item no. GET STUFFED, NASTY LETTER TO FOLLW. YOURS SINCERELY, Signed (name withheld by me) Gliding won the argument Ian P. Kookaburra Precision Soaring Team ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Borgelt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 12:03 PM Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] GFA ACM > At 10:40 AM 20/09/04 +0930, you wrote: > >That's ok Ian, > > > >I know Mike well and I didn't take it as a snide remark > > > >Mike's opinions are always worth listening too, as are everyone's, even you > >do sometimes disagree > > > >That's what healthy debate is all about > > > > > >The use of a :) at the end of a sentence can help make sure it isn't > >taken the wrong way > > > >You lot need more smiley faces! :) > > > >Who got some good flying on the weekend? > > > >Cheers > > > >David > > > I'm glad you didn't take it that way David. It was a serious suggestion as > to one of the ways that gliding could be made more attractive. As I talk to > people around the country I find newcomers are quite puzzled as to why they > cannot have a licence. Their family and friends in many cases would feel > happier too. > > It is time to review the historical GFA opposition to licences. > > Looking at just what is achieved by having a part time employee who spends > his time sending out Maintenance releases for money which pays his salary > might be another good thing. > > Now how about someone answering my questions? Ian Patching probably has > some of the answers I asked for? How about it? > > > Mike > Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments > phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 > fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 > cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 > Int'l + 61 429 355784 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > website: www.borgeltinstruments.com > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
