Misasa Payment of fees 2013

[Bundy]

Dear Misasa Members,

We would like to issue the following statement based on resolutions passed at both the AGM as well as the recently held SGM with regards to the Payment of Membership Fees and the management of our Database.
The official results of the SGM held on the 6th December stated that the members present, despite the many improvements made to the Fundi System since our AGM , were still in opposition to the Aeroclub managing our database via Fundi. The members resolved that Misasa undertake to manage it’s own Database to ensure accuracy as well as process payments efficiently as was passed at our AGM held in October.

The Misasa Committee has thus resolved to undertake the Administration of our database as per our members request.
We have also resolved that we shall be using Fundi as the “tool” in which to do so.
Misasa has now been given Full Admin rights to the Fundi System, this enables us to manage the information as well as cross reference all our members details. With Fundi we have a proper central Payment system and can now update/correct and capture all payments in a practical, efficient and cost effective way. John Boucher has been cross referencing each and every transaction so far (Approx 180 members paid so far) and has been correcting and ensuring that all the info entered by the members is correct. Now that we have the Admin rights, we are able to manage the database ourselves which is what our members wanted.

We will also be appointing an Administration Lady (as was voted on at the AGM) to assist and eventually take over the Administration of the Database from JB. It was decided to set up a dedicated e mail, tel, and Fax no for this purpose, so that all membership queries and problems can be directed to one central point to be addressed in turn. This (the admin Lady) will be forthcoming early on in the new year.

So, to summarize:

1: All AeCSA and Misasa Fees to be paid Via Fundi (Please make sure when paying by EFT that the Payment Reference Number is used...not the Transaction number!)
It is also vital to make sure all the information YOU type in is 100% accurate. All the little gremlins so far have resulted from incorrect information being submitted by MEMBERS. Please make sure it is correct before you submit your renewal. Please fax or e mail the proof of payment to one of the options I have listed below to allow easy reference.

2: Misasa undertakes to Administrate our Database and verify it’s content as per resolution passed at the SGM

3: A dedicated e mail/fax2mail for Misasa admin has been set up and we request that any members experiencing problems or those that have a membership query contact John Boucher (not AeCSA!) using any of the following methods:

Email: Admin@misasa.org (For all Membership/Payment Queries as well as to send proof of payment)

Fax to mail: 086 272 2027 (For all Membership/Payment Queries as well as to send proof of payment) Will be active from this afternoon

Misasa Admin Tel No: 071 656 2027 (For Admin/Payment Queries only) will be active from 17th Dec 2012

For any Queries or Questions not relevant to the above please contact myself at: pro@misasa.org


We thank you for your patience in this regard and look forward to finally getting the Database to the accuracy that it should be.
Wherever your travels may take you these holidays, from the Exco, we wish you a Happy, Peaceful and Safe Festive Season, and all the best for 2013.

Let's go Fly!

Many Thanks and Kind Regards,

Misasa

PS: I would also like to personally thank John Boucher for the unbelievable amount of work and time he has sacrificed to make this system work....a Rum and Rasberry for the Man from Mossell Bay!

[vernon11]

[
....a Rum and Rasberry for the Man from Mossell Bay![/i] [/quote]

Thanks for all you have done John, but why not a Bells?

[kloot piloot]

[Dobbs]

My two cents worth -

I am not sure what constitutes a quorum, but to claim that around 20 people represents the voice of MISASA cannot be true.

I do not know enough about the pros and cons of the Fundi system, ( and I suspect that there are many more than just me), nor can I claim to know what still needs to be done to ensure that it is working effectively. Certainly there was one individual, John Boucher, who was for it, and my understanding is that he has been intimately involved in this system, so clearly there are differences of opinion, and is this because some people are taking a stand on some, possibly, misguided principle - bugger Aero Club of South Africa, we do not want to get / stay in bed with you, we will row our own boat, or do they know something which John does not?

Secondly, surely we need to be consolidating workload to keep costs down and efficiencies up, if something is not working, lets get it to work rather than reinvent the wheel.

Apologies to those who put in all the effort into trying to get a clear directive from the MISASA members, but I would like to propose that a summary of the problem is distilled to a couple of paragraphs and this is distributed via email to all known email addresses, plus put this onto the MISASA and Microlighters sites and give each member a week or so to respond, I see no reason why it has to be a SGM decision.

And no, I am not sitting on the side lines shouting the odds, I am happy to, amongst other things, assist with this survey ito collating the responses etc.

For me, there is too much at stake not to have at least 50 % of the members respond, and one can only make a intelligent comment if all the facts, without the smoke and mirrors, are known.

To our hard working committee, thank you for your efforts, I know that it is often a thankless task, but I think that we have an effective committee and they certainly have my support

[Bundy]

Thanks for your comments Dobbs, this has been a very long, drawn out process with differing opinions being the biggest hamper to progress.

Firstly, to overturn a decision made at an AGM, a SGM was necessary to allow the members to decide. This they did, and although I agree that 18 votes does not reflect Misasa's view overall, it is a count that must be implemented according to The Constitution. The fact that only 18 members chose to attend the on line meeting is not the best result but nevertheless it is a result. Yes we did have a quorum as was announced by Alan Mac during the meeting.

The resolutions made above will be implemented untill it can be reviewed and no doubt put on our agenda for the Misasa AGM to be held in Oct 2013.

We must give this time to work, so that we can give informed feedback to our members before the next AGM. Let us not take our eye off the most important "ball" here....the goal of achieving a 100% accurate database of members

With the massive eforts of JB, assisted by the new admin Lady to be appointed, who are and will both be coordinating closely with both the AeCSA and Raasa, I have no doubt that this goal will be achieved within the calender year using the above process.

Apologies to those who put in all the effort into trying to get a clear directive from the MISASA members, but I would like to propose that a summary of the problem is distilled to a couple of paragraphs and this is distributed via email to all known email addresses, plus put this onto the MISASA and Microlighters sites and give each member a week or so to respond, I see no reason why it has to be a SGM decision.

I have personally undertaken (as the current external PRO) to do just this. I would like to publish a Newsletter to our members on a bi monthly basis which will summarize not only issues like Fundi/Membership etc etc, but also all the other important matters and decisions made by the Committee from time to time. This will be published on all 3 Misasa communication platforms (ML, Website and Facebook) as well as be distributed directly to each paid up (and thus valid and verified) member of Misasa via e mail.
The database above is central and vital to all of this.

I must remind you all, that your 2012 membership of AeCSA and Misasa expires on the 31st Dec 2012.

Please make sure you pay your subs via Fundi for 2013 before this date to make sure you are a valid member of both for 2013. The sooner we get our members to pay (and thus verify your details) the sooner we will get this "new" database to the level that it should always have been.

Again I ask, please e mail me your concerns or matters you wish to be addressed by the Committee to: pro@misasa.org or call me personally on Oh seven two eight 23 234 one.

I will make sure they are addressed and discussed by the relevant portfolio within Misasa. The Comittee encourages active involement from you.

Many Thanks,
Alan Hussey
Misasa PRO

[Tony4]

Hi Alan,
I have been an EAA and Aeroclub member for a number of years. Since I own a CCM [although I am a PPL] last year I decided to add the Misasa membership to my annual subscriptions. Now here's the thing, for my contribution, I got...... zip. No newsletters, no info, and no feedback. So this year, I gave it a pass.

This begs the question, "Why join up?"

The other matter that I find disconcerting is this one of the Fundi system. Do I understand you correctly when I say the issue seems to be with the handling of the membership and not so much the method of payment?

When I look back over the last year, I see the deep fragmentation of the aviation fraternity. What with the soarers, the powergliders, the AOPA matter and now this, would it not be easier to "fix" the problem than to sow discord?

You may well level the argument that I do not understand the full picture, but then that is an issue you need to sort out.
Remember, "no newsletters...etc etc."

[Bundy]

Hi Alan,
I have been an EAA and Aeroclub member for a number of years. Since I own a CCM [although I am a PPL] last year I decided to add the Misasa membership to my annual subscriptions. Now here's the thing, for my contribution, I got...... zip. No newsletters, no info, and no feedback. So this year, I gave it a pass.
This begs the question, "Why join up?"

Feedback from Misasa has traditionally been put in the magazine, in the form of the "chairman's report". Elsewhere, there are regular topics posted here on ML, on the website, as well as on Facebook. The Aeroclub did not manage the Fundi system properly and thus we could not send out (other than the Tedderfield issue) any Mag's this year. The lastest one is ready to be sent out as soon as the database (which we are now verifying) is ready.

Misasa is fundamentally about representing our members, and our goal is to preserve your freedoms as a recreational pilot. It gives you as a pilot a "voice" by representing your interests when policies and regulatory decisions are made across all levels of recreational aviation. Over and above the personal sacrifices made by our Committee (all volunteers) on behalf of their fellow pilots, it is also the Law. To exercise the priveledges of your license, you have to be a member of the AeCSA and your applicable ARO (Subsection).

The other matter that I find disconcerting is this one of the Fundi system. Do I understand you correctly when I say the issue seems to be with the handling of the membership and not so much the method of payment?

Exactly right. Which is what the whole argument around the AeCSA's handling of the administrative side of the system was about. MISASA has now taken this (as it applies to us) away from them. We are now in control of our database and can correct and update our own information. Just ask JB what utter rubbish our members have entered as "personal info" every now and then. No database will correct itself, there has to be someone who verifies and cross references the information being typed in by the member. AeCSA did almost nothing wrt these discrepencies....which is something that some of the other Subsections do not seem to think is a problem? Including the EAA...who did not voice any objections at the AeCSA AGM. MISASA was the only Subsection who bothered to voice our dissatisfaction....but apparently we are "disruptive" for demanding accountability and accurate information.

When I look back over the last year, I see the deep fragmentation of the aviation fraternity. What with the soarers, the powergliders, the AOPA matter and now this, would it not be easier to "fix" the problem than to sow discord?

Misasa would love this to happen...but when other organs of recreational flying refuse to admit errors and do not engage with you in a positive manner to find workable solutions, there is precious little chance of this ever happening. We will continue to voice dissatisfaction when it is due, and we remain open to discuss anything that will effect positive change for our members. I'ts a two way street....

WRT a Newsletter, which is something we didnt really do in the past....

I have personally undertaken (as the current external PRO) to do just this. I would like to publish a Newsletter to our members on a bi monthly basis which will summarize not only issues like Fundi/Membership etc etc, but also all the other important matters and decisions made by the Committee from time to time. This will be published on all 3 Misasa communication platforms (ML, Website and Facebook) as well as be distributed directly to each paid up (and thus valid and verified) member of Misasa via e mail.
The database above is central and vital to all of this.

At our last Committee meeting, I proposed the above mainly because I believe that precious few of our members actively engage on either the Misasa website/ML or facebook. An e mailed "Newsletter" to each verified member will serve to improve the communication gap that no doubt exists. It will be a summary of the current issues and debates.

[Tony4]

Thank you for your informative reply.
Let us see how the administration pans out in 2013. If it looks like the committee will achieve something WRT my earlier comments, I shall amend my subscription. If not......

[Loco]

Hi please assist I would like to print out my proof of membership

I made payment for 2013 then got this email today:

When I click the link I get error:

error.jpg (7.65 KiB) Viewed 1706 times

Cheers
Ant

[Bundy]

Not sure Ant, my link worked fine....takes you to a PDF file which you can print out to fit in your licence book

Forward the Mail to JB at : admin@misasa.co.za

I'm sure he will gladly assist in exchange for a rum and raspberry.

[Loco]

Not sure Ant, my link worked fine....takes you to a PDF file which you can print out to fit in your licence book

Forward the Mail to JB at : admin@misasa.co.za

I'm sure he will gladly assist in exchange for a rum and raspberry.

haha cool thanks did that but got the following back, you sure the email address is correct?

Code: Select all

Your message
Subject: "FW: Aero Club of South Africa Membership Confirmation"
could not be delivered to some or all of the intended recipients.

550 unknown user

The message delivery failed for the following recipients:
    admin@misasa.co.za

[Bundy]

FFS...sorry Ant .... so used to co.za....

Correct address is admin@misasa.org (as on the first post on this topic)

[Loco]

Wow John is on the ball he just emailed me the pdf thanks!