Newsletter Archive/Archives du bulletin

webstertrophy.ca Newsletter #005

Good Day Everyone.

Winterpeg Visit: A couple of weeks ago Amy and I courtesy of our sponsor Air Canada flew out to Winnipeg, Manitoba to spend a few days arranging for accommodations and working with Harv's Air and the Manitoba Aviation Council (MAC) to prepare for the Webster nationals in August. We perhaps could have selected a better time as the weather for two of the four day trip was horrendous with temperatures hovering around the entire time and on one day with winds close to 70 KPH and severe blowing snow. Nevertheless the trip was successful on all counts and much was accomplished. Courtesy of Brenda Howes of The Howes Group four hotels from a larger group submitted were selected and examined. One was off the list immediately; one was excellent but had no banquet facilities available; one was at the top of the list but will be going through complete renovations at the time and one was also at the top of the list and exceptional on all counts. Our accommodations in Winnipeg this year will now be the Radisson, located downtown, close to so many of Winnipeg's attractions and also within easy access of an efficient route to Harv's Air. The rooms are excellent, the banquet area is perfect with associated pre-banquet cocktail area linked to an outside patio overlooking the city. One of the biggest pluses is a free shuttle service at any time to and from the airport, thus alleviating a great deal of transporting of finalists and guests for our team and volunteer drivers. The Radisson also has a top chef on staff therefore the banquet is expected to be up to Webster standard.

We were considering the Western Canada Aviation Museum as a site for the banquet due to its aviation ambience, however heat within the hangar during the summer could be a major problem. We are anxious however to have them participate in Webster week and therefore are hoping to set up a tour and reception for one of the evenings. They have the most fantastic display of Air Canada history. The museum is established in the old Air Canada terminal from the era and they actually use the original TCA/AC ticket desk as a working unit.

An excellent meeting took place with Dan Bereza from Harv's Air in St Andrews along with Ron Cole and Jerry Roehr from the MAC on the Monday. Unfortunately Adam Penner was snowbound in Steinbach (as per the weather description above) and couldn't make it, however we had another excellent meeting with him two days later on Wednesday. The facilities and aircraft at Harv's Air are outstanding. Briefing rooms are in large supply, a great classroom for the initial briefing, restaurant, isolated marking room for the judges and large bright lounge area for the waiting competitors are all available and airspace restrictions are not a problem for what we need to do. Harv's Air is what a flight school should look like. Many logistical subjects were discussed surrounding the competition itself as well as the setting up of media and other events for Webster Week. We have already had a commitment from ATS for a tour of Winnipeg ACC and the St. Andrews tower. As Adam Penner stated, they are very excited that we are coming ----- and we are very excited to be doing so.

Webster Posters and Reaction: The first series of Webster posters are now out across the country at all the Flight Training Units and other selected organizations and we are already seeing results with a number of enquiries and five solid applications received thus far. Five applications may not seem like much, but for this time of year it is excellent as we usually do not see many until late March. The first series of posters are designed around a central theme courtesy of WINGS magazine and always feature a picture of our current finalists. The poster is also linked to the Hamilton Watches congratulatory ad which receives a great deal of initial exposure. The two linked together form an association and complement each other. The second series of posters are about to be printed within the next week or so and will be going out near the end of March as Spring breaks open and flying levels increase. The second series are the beautiful retro-style designs from the formidable imagination of Dave O'Malley, president of Aerographic Creative Services. This year's version is attached for your review. Beautiful, isn't it?

Webster Finalists' Where Are They Now?: Amy and I have been involved with Webster now since the end of 2006 and hopefully for a few more years yet. After five competitions we began to think about what has happened to all those finalists over the past five years, after all there are well over fourty of them by now. So, a survey went out as they are all alumni and with one or two exceptions all their e-mails have stayed the same and the question was asked. Where are you now and what are you doing? Approximately half have responded resulting in a very impressive result. This resulted in an extensive article being written which is featured in the first section of the latest issue of COPA FLIGHT. It was also translated and then shot-gunned to all available aviation trade and on-line publications in English and French. The competition is for the Top Amateur Pilot in Canada but we all realize that Webster has an influence on those wishing to go into commercial aviation. What our finalists have accomplished in a short aviation time span may just encourage a larger number of potential competitors to enter. I have attached the original article above for your interest.

New Webster Website: I have indicated in past updates that a new website is being developed and it is. The final draft design has been rendered and approved with approval to go ahead. It should be quite slick and will include a rotating "carousel" of moving Webster ads and features on its main page. All other pages within the website are rather long in the tooth and looking rather stale so they also will be upgraded as well as we go along. There is no final date for implementation as yet however it is hoped that it will be fairly soon.

Early Bird and Flight Instructor Draws: We are still looking for donations to the annual Early Bird Draw and Flight Instructor draws. We have some pretty nice stuff however we could use some more items to fill it out more. In the past and again this year we have had headsets, flight bags, aviation jackets, upscale model aircraft, gift cards, etc. Anything like that would be greatly appreciated. The Early Bird Draw is designed to encourage competitors to get their applications in before May first making processing near the end of the competition less of a hassle for us. The Flight Instructor Draw is to thank the instructors for their participation in the encouraging and often additional training of Webster competitors. The finalist get good stuff but the instructors who trained get nothing, so this is a way for us to thank them for their efforts. The instructor gets one ticket in the draw for each competitor encouraged to enter the competition,

Have a great day everyone.

Wayne

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