904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing
Air Force Association of Canada
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Last updated
July 7, 2008
Wing Executive
November 2006 |
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President's Message
It is an honour to be able to represent you this year. I believe that the Executive Council members who have represented us for the past two years have done a superb job to establish a credible Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada. I would like to thank the outgoing Executive Council: Pete DeTracey, Bill Watt, Jim Wamboldt, Ron Hudson, Jack Girard and Tombo Thomlinson for their very fine efforts on our behalf. The members of the Executive Council this year are keen to continue the growth and development of 904 Wing. Bill Watt has agreed to serve as Editor of our bulletin, Slip Stream, along with his other responsibilities, so that side of the organization is indeed in good hands. Thank you Bill.
We enjoy a superb relationship with our Mexican counterparts in the Asociación de la Escuela Militar de Aviación, A.C. (AEMA, AC) and have been able to strengthen that relationship each year. This past summer we had seven Wing members attend the tour of the training establishment at the Air Base in Zapopan, three attended the Remembrance Ceremony and five couples attended the Dinner/Dance at the Malibu Hotel in Guadalajara. As always, the Mexicans treated us extremely well and everyone had a great time.
Our membership has grown steadily with an eclectic group of men and women who bring new talents and skills to the Wing. As we grow, some things will change. The first significant change this year is that we will cater our popular Welcome Back Snowbirds BBQ at the Lake Chapala Society. It will cost you a few pesos more, but will allow all the members to participate in the social side and the food will be superb. Be sure to mark 1600 hours, December 1st on your calendar so you do not miss this fun event that will be our pre-Christmas get together.
From my perspective, the most important thing you can each do as a member of the Wing is to be an active participant in Wing functions and continue, as you have in the past, to offer constructive suggestions to improve the program and our organization. Please speak up if you have suggestions for how we can do things better.
Per Ardua Ad Astra
Bob Rowlatt
In This Issue:
. President's Message
. 904 Wing Program Nov 08 to Feb 09
. Welcome Back Snowbirds BBQ
. Visit to Base Aerea Militar No. 5, Zapopan, 14 Jul 2006
. Changes to the Canadian Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) as of 01 April 2006
. Remembrance Day 2006
. Web Site: Federation Aéronautique Internationale
. 904 Wing Executive Council
| 904 Wing Program | ||
| 08 Nov 2006 | Canadian Club/904 Wing Remembrance Day Ceremony | La Nueva Posada |
| 10 Nov 2006 | Regular Meeting | La Nueva Posada |
| 11 Nov 2006 | Remembrance Day (Note 1) | Chapala Cemetery, Veterans' Section |
| 26 Nov 2006 | Air Show (Note 1) | Guadalajara Airport |
| 01 Dec 2006 | Welcome Back Showbirds BBQ (Note 2) | LCS Gazebo/Bar |
| 15 Dec 2006 | Beer Call | Old Posada |
| 12 Jan 2007 | Nostalgia Night | La Nueva Posada |
| 09 Feb 2007 | Games Night | Old Posada |
Annual Meeting
The Annual meeting of 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing, of the Air Force Association of Canada was held 7 April 2006 at La Nueva Posada.
Chair of the Nominating Committee, Bill Watt presented the slate of names for election to positions on the Executive Council. No other names were put forward by the membership. All nominees were elected to their respective positions. The members of your new Executive Council of 904 Wing are listed below:
| Welcome Back Snowbirds - Friday, 01 December 2006 | |
| LOCATION: | Lake Chapala Society Gazebo, Bar and Rear Patio |
| ENTRANCE: | South West Door on Ramon Corona |
| TIME: | Bar Open: 1600 to 2000 hrs Dinner: 1730 hrs |
| MENU: | BBQ Ribs and Burgers, Salads and Dessert. Catering by "Hector" of the Chapala Golf & Country Club |
| DRESS: | Optional with name tags |
| SPECIAL GUESTS: | New Canadian Consul and Vice-Consul, Guadalajara |
| PRICES: | Dinner: 100 pesos per person Drinks: 20 pesos |
Visit to Base Aerea Militar No. 5, Zapopan, 14 Jul 2006
The XXX National Convention of the Asociación de la Escuela Militar de Aviación (A.E.M.A.) was held in Guadalajara, 14 to 16 Jul 2006. Members of 904 Wing participated, and as part of the proceedings, visited Base Aerea Militar No. 5, in Zapopan, a suburb of NW Guadalajara.
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904 Wing members with Retired Mexican Air Force pilot Jaime Cenizo Rojas, the last surviving veteran of "Escuadrón 201", the Mexican AF unit that fought with the Allies in the Pacific Theatre during WW II. Left to right: Bob Rowlatt, Mario Okunsky, Jaime Cenizo Rojas, Bill Watt, Mich Moulin and Pete DeTracey |
| 904 Wing member, Ektor Carranza, stands by a recently erected commemorative bust of his father's cousin, Capitan Emilio Carranza Rodriguez, one of Mexico's aviation pioneers. |  |
Changes to the Canadian Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) as of 01 April 2006
This is of interest to Retired CF and PS members. Following are some of the key changes to the PSHCP, effective 01 Apr 2006. For a description of all changes, go to:
http://www.pshcptrust.ca/english/bulletins/default.shtml
Download Bulletins 18 and 19.
Catastrophic Drug Coverage
Once you have paid C$3,000 out of your own pocket for eligible prescription drugs in any one calendar year (not counting the annual deductible), reimbursement of additional eligible prescription drug expenses incurred in that year increases from 80% to 100%.
Hospital Provision
. Level I remained at C$60/day
. Level II increased from C$100/day to $140/day
. Level III increased from C$150/day to $220/day
Emergency Medical Care while Travelling (Canadian Residents)
The maximum eligible expense per participant increased from C$100,000 to C$500,000 per period of travel (not exceeding 40 consecutive days).
Vision Care Benefit
Maximum eligible expense raised from C$200 to C$275 every two calendar years.
Claim Deadline
Increased from 6 months to 12 months following the end of the calendar year in which the expense is incurred.
Contribution Rates for Pensioners
(Canadian Resident Supplementary Coverage)
. Single Coverage increases by C$5.70 a month
. Family coverage increases by C$12.14 a month
No change to rates for Comprehensive Coverage
Remembrance Day 2006
Lakeside Remembrance Day ceremonies took place on two separate occasions in November 2006.
The first was a joint Canadian Club/904 Wing event held as part of the regular monthly meeting of the Canadian Club at La Nueva Posada on Wednesday, 08 November. This was a Canadian ceremony, led by 904 Wing President, Bob Rowlatt, with poppies made available through the Royal Canadian Legion and 904 Wing. The guest speaker was Col. René Gervais, the Canadian Defence Attaché in Mexico City. About 125 people attended.
The second event was the Annual US Veterans' Day ceremony held at the Veterans' section of the Chapala Cemetery on 11 November. There are over 100 Veterans interred here, mostly American, but there are several Canadian and other Commonwealth Vets buried in this place of honour. This Veterans' Day ceremony is organized each year by a local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with assistance from the Sons of the Revolution and The American Legion. 904 Wing was represented by a 10-person delegation.
Federation Aéronautique Internationale
Our fellow Wing member and aviation enthusiast Mich Moulin recently pointed the Editor towards a fascinating Web Site: new to the Ed., but obviously well attended.
The Federation Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world's air sports federation, was founded in 1905. It is a non-governmental and non-profit international organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide. Ever growing, FAI is now an organisation of some 100 member countries.
You can find the web site at http://www.fai.org/. If you are a microlight/ultralight fan, check out the FAI links section.
| 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing Executive Council for 2006-2007 | |
| President | Bob Rowlatt |
| Past President | Peter De Tracey |
| 1st Vice-President | Mike Briscoe |
| 2nd Vice-President | Mario Okunsky |
| Secretary | Fred Hornsby |
| Treasurer | Bill Neal |