HARVARD HAPPENINGS

 

 

 

Ray Whittemore This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Our formalized business meeting will take place on March 15, 2008, at which time voting will be conducted on:

-Last year's results and financial report

-Approval of Chairmen's Reports

-Appointment of Auditor for 2008

-Finalized Budget and Business Plan for 2008

-Board of Directors for 2008

If any questions or concerns, contact our President, Ray Whittemore, at info listed above.

 

Guest Speaker for March 15: Geophysicist Bill Thuma will speak to us on the recovery work being undertaken in Muskoka (Lost Airmen in Muskoka Project) to find training aircraft (Harvards) which crashed in the waters in that area during the BCATP. To read an article on this ongoing Project, go to: http://ontarioheritageconnection.org/live/main.php?page=news.200703_c.html

 

The meeting was conducted in an informal way with:

-a Presentation of Director nominees for 2008

-an Un-audited financial result for 2007

-a Discussion on preliminary plans for 2008 with General membership having the opportunity to play a role in planning and voicing any concerns they may have

-an Outline and discussion on CHAA’s continual need and desire for membership participation in Volunteer positions

-a Discussion on some long-term plans for CHAA

 

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU: Several members have lost loved ones recently; please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Special greetings also go out to all members who are celebrating birthdays, marriages, birth of children and grandchildren. To those members and their family members who are recovering from and/or going through surgeries and illnesses, we wish you all the best. Our thoughts are with you now and always.

Please remember: We send cards and notes regularly to members we know of who have lost loved ones, may be ill or recovering from surgery or hospital stay and for other reasons. If you know of a CHAA member to whom we should be sending a card (wherever they may live and for whatever reason), please send the info to Sandra This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and a CHAA card will be sent to them on behalf of the membership.

 

MEMBERSHIP NEWS: Marion Bennell This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 519-633-0053

The 2008 renewals are still coming in as well as several new memberships.

Since last report: six families have become members under the new category of FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS. When the primary member renewed he included his spouse and children. CHAA welcomes three new general members and one new Harvard Hawk. Three spouses and two Harvard Hawks renewed under the new category. Since January 1, five members have become LIFE MEMBERS as they either came in as new members or renewed their CHAA membership as Life Members. Please note: At the Annual Banquet on April 26, those members who joined in 1997 will receive their 10 year pin and those who have been members since 1988 will be presented with a 20 year pin. Sincerely hope to see each of you at the Annual Banquet at the Woodstock Legion.

 

BINGO: If you live in the London area and are able to assist with this valuable CHAA Fundraiser, contact Bill Shepard 519-421-7399 immediately for more information. Show your support now. The remaining 2008 Bingo dates are: March 14, April 3, May 2, May 31, June 29, July 25, Aug 28 and Sept 21.

 

HARVARD HAWKS: Kip Davis519-742-7690 &/or Maureen Irie 519 425 4449

Attention all membership with children: please note, on Saturday May 31st (during our Members’ Flyday) we will have a special program for older Harvard Hawks. If you would like your child to participate, please enroll them as Harvard Hawks so they can take advantage of this adventure. We are asking members of the HH committee to be available on that date as well. For all the details, please contact Maureen or Kip at numbers listed above.

Further plans for the Harvard Hawks in 2008: a Games Day and a Fly Day in the fall.

CHAA MAILOUT FUNDRAISER Thank you to all members who have responded to CHAA’s Mailout Fundraiser; donations total $15383.00, which has us 96% of the way to our projected goal of $16000.00. This is a fantastic response! Final results and a list of donors are printed in the Spring edition of the ROAR. Donors are listed here on the website under Fundraising as well. If your name should be listed and isn’t, please notify Sandra at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and this will be corrected.

 

CHAA DIVE RECOVERY TEAM: Walt Irie www.chaa-recovery.ca (currently site being upgraded)

-Feb 20 – 23 -- Were at the Archives in Ottawa to do more research

Members in attendance were Wayne Chuter, Charlie Fox, Bil Thuma, Ken Arnott and Walt. We were able to get all the aircraft serial numbers that the archives have on microfilm.

-Feb 27 -- 7pm – first meeting of the year – Charles Dickens Pub at 505 Dundas Street in Woodstock (519-421-2218)All welcome to attend but please RSVP (to address above) so we can reserve enough tables.

-May 2-4 -- Will be searching for two Harvards lost off Wolfe Island

For more info on any of these activities, contact Walt at address listed above.

Dive Team will have a booth at Shipwrecks 2008 http://vaxxine.com/advtech/shipwrecks/sw2008.htm

 

-FYI – New videos have been added to CHAA’s website. Check them out.

-CHAA’s PR committee is asking for member feedback about our site www.harvards.com. What do you like or dislike, do you use the features – calendar, view videos, download the Roar, etc. Send any and all comments, questions and suggestions to Walt Irie This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

-Sat, March 15 –1000-1200hrs – Annual Business Meeting

-*Sat/Sun March 8 & 9 plus 15 & 16 - 1000hrs: 2008 CHAAGROUNDSCHOOL

-*Sat, March 22 – 1030hrs-1700hrs – Formation Refresher Clinic 1

-*Sat, April 5 – 1030hrs-1700hrs – Formation refresher Clinic 2

-Tues, April 15 – 1930hrs: MEMBERS’ MEETING

Contact Greg Burnard This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information on items marked with *

 

Sat, April 26 – 1600hrs -- ANNUAL BANQUET AND FUNDRAISER

Location: Woodstock Legion, Woodstock
Time: Attitude Adjustments: 1600 hrs; Dinner: 1700 hrs
Keynote Speaker: Bjarni Tryggvason, NASA/CSA Space Shuttle Astronaut
Cost: $30.00 each (advance sales only; guests welcome)

To buy tickets for this event, contact: Pat Hanna 519-658-5464 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To have your photos included in the slideshow of CHAA 2007: Bill Shepard This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To make donations of Cash &/or Items for Auctions: Sandra Sparkes 519-634-8360 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Sat, July 12 -- BUS TRIP TO GENESEO AIRSHOW -- Maureen Irie This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A one day bus trip to the Geneseo Air Show is being organized once again. It will fill up quickly; contact Maureen soon for all the details and to get your seat booked for the bus. For more info on the airshow, go to www.1941hag.org

 

2008 Member Fly Days (Mark your calendars---this is the year to get your backseat ride!)

Note: All rain dates are the following Sundays.

 

 

We have a few calendars remaining, and they are now on sale for $5 (if bought locally) and $7 (if mailing is necessary). Contact Sandra This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to place your order.

 

Recent writings about CHAA:

In the December 2007 edition of Air Canada Pilots Association Journal, there is an article written by Barry Stewart: Harvards -- Head of the Class. Barry (who was CHAA pilot Dan Cameron’s passenger in the four plan formation which flew three passes each over Toronto’s Cenotaph and then Sunnybrook Hospital on Remembrance Day 2007) gives his perspective from the backseat of the same type of plane in which his father earned his wings in 1941.

Another backseater on November 11, 2007, Kerry Newstead (who flew with CHAA pilot Tony Donnelly), wrote of his experiences in the January/February 2008 edition of Canadian Aviator: A Flight To Remember – Harvards Help Honor Canada’s War Heroes. Both articles are very well written, tell much about the fascination of being a backseater and go a long way toward telling the story of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association.

 

Until next time, clear skies, safe flights and smooth landings!

Sandra Sparkes, CHAA Member