2011 Convention Report

The changing weather forecasts for the week prior to the convention had everyone looking their shoulders to get ready for the convention before the forecast rain moved in on Thursday and Friday. Most everything was done by Thursday .On Friday,  all there was left do was push planes out of the hangers and set up tables and chairs.

UPAC owes a huge Thanks You to the hanger owners at Lubitz Field for vacating their hangers for the weekend and allowing UPAC to use them for the workshops.

Fly in campers started setting up tents under their wings on Wednesday. Drive in campers started arriving early in the week and most were here by Friday afternoon.

Everyone appreciated the Friday night Convention Kick Off dinner with homemade chili, BBQ sausages and homemade maple walnut ice cream and cake for dessert. Live music by Keith Murray went well with the relaxed atmosphere.

After dinner, all adjourned to the Forum Hanger for a couple episodes of The Aviators TV show. This was followed by the movie with kettle popcorn compliments of Randy,   Steve and Ralph Gingrich. After the movie, everyone relaxed around the campfires until it was time to turn in after the busy day.

On  Saturday morning, the dog announced the arrival of the Kubassek family at 5:30 am  to get the coffee started. This was followed shortly afterwards by the smell of bacon cooking. Time for breakfast! It was sunny and the forecast looked good. What a great start to the day!

Exhibitors and workshop presenters arrived on Friday and set up in the T-hangers. They were ready by 9 am Saturday morning and were kept busy all day.

The first presentation in the Forum Hanger starting at 9 am by the Ontario Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, or CASARA, gave the pilots information about the organization as well as ideas about surviving and attracting attention if they were involved in a forced landing or an accident. The presentation also satisfied Transport Canada’s 2 year recency requirement.

This was followed by the UPAC Annual General Meeting during which the members were updated on the business of the organization, the magazine, the finances, squadron news, and the directors for the next year were elected. After the AGM adjourned, everyone we all headed for the BBQ lunch with draw tickets in hand and fingers crossed because the draw for the prizes was also going to start.

After lunch, Don Enns, Regional Manager of the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) told the audience what the TSB is, what they do and how they investigate occurrences (accidents and incidents). During a tour of the grounds, Enns had a chance to look at planes that are all in one piece instead of the usual bits and pieces he might see at an accident site.

Joe Scoles filled the third presentation slot with the Proper Way to Tie Down Your Aeroplane. He had many pictures of planes that had come loose from their tie downs because of incorrect knots, ropes or anchors.  He also had great suggestions to help you do it right. This proved timely because later that evening, Environment Canada issued a strong wind warning for the area.

Pilots who had flown in for the day left mid afternoon. With the strong wind warnings and the prediction of rain for Saturday night and Sunday morning, most of the under-wing campers also left to get ahead of the weather. They didn’t want to get caught by weather,  especially if they had to be at work on Monday. The drive-in campers stayed and there was another evening of songs during supper followed by another movie. At dusk, Laruen Lee started her live performance in the arch. The rain started but it was dry in the arch. Another enjoyable day done!

There was still a lot going on Sunday morning for the new arrivals and the sun came out!  Café Les Aires was open early for breakfast and for burgers at lunch. The workshop presenters and exhibitors started packing up late in the morning to head home.

Some people stayed around and helped with the cleanup and by suppertime on Sunday, most everything was stored away to wait until next year.

There have only been positive remarks about the 2011 UPAC Convention. Once again, thank you, the volunteers. Without you coming early to get ready and staying until the cleanup is done, there wouldn’t be a convention! So THANKS GUYS and GALS!

See you next year at the 2012 UPAC Convention on the third weekend of August  (August 17-19).