904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing
Air Force Association of Canada
Wing Newsletters
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Last updated
July 7, 2008
Wing Executive
March 2005 |
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Editor’s Comments
This issue of the bulletin features an article by the Chief of the Air Staff reprinted from Crew Brief and another in the series of Willy's Web Favourites. The editor's would welcome your comments on any of the articles included in this issue of the newsletter.
For future editions, please pass any comments or suggestions to Bob Rowlatt or Mario Okunsky. The deadline for submissions for the next issue is 6 May 2005.
Dinner Dance
The "first" annual dinner-dance will be held at La Nueva Posada on Friday, 18 March. Tickets are available at the front desk at La Nueva Posada for 225 pesos per person, which covers the meal and dancing. Cocktails are at 6:00 PM and dinner at 7:00 PM. Members are welcome to bring guests. Dress for members is Air Force Association summer dress or smart casual. Summer dress is an open neck short sleeve white shirt with patch pockets and epaulets, AFAC slip ons, and gray or blue trousers/skirt.
Confirmed Wing guests include Victor Juarez Rojas, the President of the "Asociación de la Escuela Militar de Aviación", (A.E.M.A.), who was an honoured guest at our charter dinner last year. In addition, we expect the senior member of the AEMA in Guadalajara, General (retired) Miguel Rodrigues Ramirez, currently a senior official with the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority.
Membership Dues
If you haven't already done so, now is the time to pay your annual AFAC dues to Tombo Thomlinson, the 904 Wing Treasurer. National dues must be submitted in June for the next fiscal year beginning 01 July.
Our Treasurer, Tombo Thomlinson, has agreed to accept National and Wing Dues for the coming year at his house from 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM on Monday, 21 March. He is located in La Huerta at Villa #5.
There will also be a "pay your dues" TGIF on Friday, 01 Apr at the old Posada, at the bottom of Colon/Morelos for those of you who do not make it to Tombo's on 21 Mar.
Wing Dues: $200 pesos per year. National Dues: $34.00 Canadian (cash only) or $320 Pesos per year.
Message from the Chief of the Air Staff (Reprinted from Crew Brief)
On behalf of all members of the Air Force, both here at home and those who are deployed, greetings and welcome to the fall edition of Crew Brief.
As friends of the Air Force, you know the old saying that flexibility is key to air power; never has that been more true than it is today. In these changing and challenging times, the Air Force must be flexible in its response to, and management of, the kind of large-scale, long-term re-engineering that is underway. It's a challenge, to say the least - sort of like living in a house while undergoing extensive renovations.
So where are we in terms of Air Force transformation? Our crews are using state-of-the-art communications equipment on exercise, they're flying pilotless aircraft over Canadian airspace, they're fighting aerial battles from computer workstations, but most of all, they're most certainly delivering the beginnings of the transformation mission.
One of the greatest challenges we face is convincing our own members that transformation is viable and possible, and that they are an integral part of the process. Without the support of all members of the Air Force team, military and civilian who support us, we cannot even begin to fulfill our vision. Transformation is as much about people as it is equipment, and we are working hard to inspire a fresh, new mindset to tackle the challenges that lie ahead on both those fronts. Our vision to create an Aerospace Warfare Centre, for example, will create a centre of excellence to address the future of air power and what it means for our people and our equipment.
However, significant changes to our organization will need to await the results of both the Defence Review and the International Policy Review. The security environment has changed dramatically since 9/11 and the traditional roles we have had for many years need to evolve to encompass the Defence and International Policy Review priorities.
So what does this mean to you, our Air Force stakeholders? The Chief of the Defence Staff has stated that the Canadian Forces must remain relevant to Canadians and that we must tell our story wherever possible. I invite you to consider sharing what you read in Crew Brief with those in your personal and professional circles. By fostering an accurate and informed debate, the Air Force can better tackle some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings about our organization, ones that have the potential to undermine what we are trying to accomplish.
Help us engage Canadians in the good news stories we have to share. Despite significant resource constraints, these are exciting times within the Air Force. Our folks continue to deliver important and essential capabilities to Canada and Canadians each and every day, and it's their successes we want to convey.
Sic Itur Ad Astra
Ken Pennie
LGen
Chief of the Air Staff
Willy's Web Favourites
Aviation - Canada's Air Force
http://www.forces.gc.caIf you want to find out what is happening to the Air Force, its people and its aircraft, why not go to 'the horse's mouth'!
This link will take you to the Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces Web Site. The home page has summaries of current Defence stories and links to sources or news releases. The left hand menu has a hot link to "the Maple Leaf", the CF National weekly newspaper.
To reach the Air Force home page, go to the masthead menu and click on "Air Force". On the Air Force home page, you will find sections covering recent new stories and features of particular interest to military airmen, and a hot link to "Crew Brief", the Chief of Air Staff's Newsletter. The masthead menu also has links to Air Force Wings across Canada, aircraft in service, Air Force History and the Snowbirds aerobatic team.
General Interest - News
http://www.cfc.forces.gc.caIf you are a serious news 'junkie', the Canadian Forces College web site will appeal to you. It has two of the best news jump sites anywhere.
To reach the general news jump site, click on "News Sources" in the CFC home page. This takes you to a page with hot links to most Canadian daily newspapers, many of the world's major English and French language newspapers, and a number of European newspapers. It also has links to "News Portals" which include web-based news sites and the major wire services.
However, to find a really interesting jump site, click on "Military News" on the CFC Home Page. This takes you to the " Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs" page. Many journalists and columnists around the world use the "Spotlight" as a reference tool. Here you will find a daily round up of Canadian and International military and foreign affairs headlines. Each headline is hot linked to the article in the source 'publication'. The majority of sources are Canadian, US and UK newspapers and news portals. On a typical day, you will find links to 50 plus stories, columns, editorials and op-ed pieces covering many perspectives. Mouthwatering.
| 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing Executive Council | |
| President | Bill Watt |
| 1st Vice-President | Pete De Tracey |
| 2nd Vice-President | Ron Hudson |
| Secretary | Jack Girard |
| Treasurer | Tombo Thomlinson |
| Meetings | |||
| Date | Theme | Speaker | Venue |
| 25 Mar | Dinner/Dance | Members | La Nueva Posada |
| 01 Apr | TGIF | Pay Your Dues | “The Old” Posada |
| 08 Apr | Annual General Meeting | Election | La Nueva Posada |