Those of you who visited the Homebuilders Centre at the 2003 PFA
Rally may have noticed that there was little composite stuff visible,
apart from one of my tailplane halves hung on the wall (there's some
danger of the same piece, in the same state, being available again
this year!).
Cliff Piper of the PFA EC has asked for the Europa Club's help in
putting on demonstrations of techniques, similar to those done by the
tin-bashers and the chippies. He has not not been able to find a
critical mass of composite "experts" elsewhere.
[I think anyone who's built the Europa Chock qualifies as an expert
in this context!]
Cliff says the wood and metal disciplines each get about half a dozen
people to form a rota of 3-off 2-hour shifts on each of the 3 days so
that the pitch is continuously manned (or indeed womanned) from about
10:00 to 16:00 by at least one person who can give simple
demonstrations and answer questions. There should be no shortage of
enquirers as we will ensure that both the Europa Club and the Europa
factory stands will publicise the activities in the Homebuilders
Centre.
Cliff has got support from the Europa factory in the form of a loaned
resin pump and other materials, so people don't need to bring any of
their own stuff (unless they want to). Volunteers who are prepared to
offer a couple of sessions (say at least 4 hours total involvement)
can get a Rally Worker wristband, ie free entry to the Rally. Cliff
thinks they would also get a free camping permit if they are stopping
overnight.
On that basis, the number of volunteers to provide full service is
4.5, but less would be needed if some people are prepared to do more
than 2 shifts - or if we get lots of volunteers we may be able to
have 2 people on duty at times. Of course, Cliff Piper may have a
limit on the number of free-entry worker passes he can issue!
Europa Club committee member Ian Rickard <g-iani@ntlworld.com> has
offered to take on the task of organising the expected volunteers
into an efficient working team and scheduling their attendances at
the Homebuilders Centre.
Please contact Ian off-list to join the team. He needs names as soon
as possible so your free-entry wristbands can be allocated. I'm sure
this will be another* opportunity for Europa people to show how
things _should_ be done.
(* Frank Mycroft <frankm@clara.net> of this parish organised the
hotel bus service at very short notice from a standing start last
year, and received plaudits for a good job in difficult
circumstances. He is in charge again this year and I am also posting
a notice from him for your attention.)
regards
Rowland
--
| Rowland Carson Europa Club Membership Secretary - email for info!
| Europa 435 G-ROWI (670 hours building) PFA #16532
| e-mail <memsec@europaclub.org.uk> website <www.europaclub.org.uk>
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