Why, it doesn't matter to us at all, a couple of pennies interest for CiA!
Well, I assume he would bank the cheques at the same time as processing the applications (thought perhaps not) which are taking a while.......some people have waited nearly a month.
When you get Gadge's application could you bang it off to PD ASAP please so I can make sure everything is sorted for Crich - ta Stephen!
OK, got one from Del that I'm processing tomorrow (Friday).
David, I've got my card through the post, been onto the AFRA webby and done all that "join" crap. How long did it take before they tie it all together and you got full access?
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Yes, I saw you had done the online thing - I'll get the two tied together so you have access.
Nowt from Gadge yet.
Alex, Pete59 should be putting AFRA applications in shortly as will Rachel, Rich's wife.
Eh, how is Rachel eligible?!
Shouldn't she just go through TFSS?
She is a reenactor - 'course she is eligible! Crich isn't a TFSS event so she isn't covered.
Thought they had to be CiA Members....
Riff raff yes! Don't forget anyone can apply directly to AFRA themselves if they want to but its up to committee to approve - our processing of applicant is a fast track method and accepted straight off.
Also, if they do it through CiA I'll handle the RA & event insurance - any other person will have to do it for themselves.
Well, keep it quiet, I don't want a load of non-CiA members joining through us. 
I asked Dave B yesterday whether they had sorted out their AFRA stuff and he said he had sent the forms for all of them to you but not heard anything. Could you follow this up please - I am on holiday for a few days from today but I need to be sure their PLI is in place for the Victory Show weekend after next.
Karl told me they like people to enrol on-line now, not submit paper applications. I have checked the member list and here is the status of the 16thSS as best I can find:
John Outram - no online application
Trevor Court - no online application
Gary Barton - online application completed and verified
Dave Barrett - online application completed but not verified
Cliff Archer - no online application
pvtjohnny has asked if he can apply to AFRA citing us as his 'club' as it were.
I know we don't really have a say in it anymore as they just apply directly, but he's only been to one game and doesn't have any kit or weaponry to speak of. He was spot on as a player so I'm happy in that sense, but just wondered.
Dave, I assume the whole thing of us making a fiver off each CiA affiliated member of AFRA is now pretty much dead and buried because we don't administer any more.
Yes, pvtjohnny can (and should) cite us as a CiA player and member to support his application, he is busy collecting kit now.
No, we can't make any dosh now the treading on eggshells phase has passed without incident.
I can't log in to AFRA to renew. Despite me requesting my password, it's telling me it's incorrect. 
I paid my membership back in August and have still had f**k all back from Afra, despite numerous emails, pm's and promises that it would all be sorted.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
I popped a cheque in the post for my renewal today. Be interesting to see how long thats going to take...
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
I went to the AGM on Sunday to represent the WW2 airsofting community. Five on the committee plus eight members - people have no right to complain about what their association does if they don't take an active part - and whining on forums won't do any good either! 
Anyhoo, salient outcomes:
AFRA in contact and discussion with Home Office & the Section 5 police bloke re upcoming looking into gun law tightening. The word from the police chap was they they really can't be arsed with deacs or anything like registration schemes and the like. He doesn't see deacs being a worthwhile avenue to pursue as there is no public danger. However, there is a concern over hire of Section 5 kit and this may be looked at more closely which will be of interest to show/private battle reenactors. AFRA will be represented in consultation as NARES are - the feeling being that NARES aren't taking the best interests of WW2 groups.
I brought up the issue of registrations and membership admin and card issuing. Other brought up issues of website access. While there aren't technical issues on website use, some users still struggle and get frustrated with passwords and the like - all are operator errors but this is compounded by some user unfriendliness in site usability and the fact that people often only access the site once a year. Some people don't get 'round robin' emails and notifications because they have changed email addresses and not updated their profiles. I asked why all the membership admin was being done by one person who didn't much like admin and already had a shed load of voluntary work to do. PD admitted he had to much to do and that the previous night they had redistributed responsibilities so now Karl will be the one dealing with membership admin and queries as well as website programming and queries thereof. This should resolve the source of agro, especially for those that have no other contact with AFRA other than handing over £15.
The question of raising the subs to £20 next year was raised by the chairman in order to be able to expand AFRA's scope. In the absence of concrete projects or firm plans the proposal was rejected.
There was some general grumbling about the conduct of players at public blank fire shows and there was mention from the floor about a strict code of conduct but this didn't go anywhere. It was felt H&S was an issue for the organisers and it was up to participants to behave or not participate if they felt it was dangerous. It was all a bit 
to be honest.
There was a bit of clarity on PLI and what it covered and that under 16's couldn't be covered by PLI, the risks had to be borne by the responsible adults.
I brought up two questions on publicity - one was to have an AFRA stand at Stoneleigh nest year so people could talk face to face about issues (laptop with web access of membership queries), handing out cards to save postage, enrolling new members on the spot. This was accepted as a good idea and be implemented next year.
The second question was chairman and vice-chairman's conduct on forums and that arguments and public sparring did nothing for the good name of AFRA. No Chairman or Managing Director of a company or a representative of a professional body would do such a thing. They accepted it was bad PR and openly admitted that they enjoyed the 'sport'. I pointed out that PD was AFRA's biggest asset and AFRA's biggest liability - again accepted but until someone else puts in the hours that is unlikely to change!
However, they have been looking at opening things up a bit and suggested a members panel to represent the members and spread the word. I said that those present already did this and that no formal process was needed - and the idea was dropped. However, the sub-committee angel was pursued and a sub-committee to look into the effects of future firearms legislation was set upso this should be active independent of PD.
PD pointed out again that there were funds available for worthy causes - in our case support funding for risky or ambitions events that might need upfront money or a buffer in case of a shortfall of income. I accepted this offer but privately think if we think it isn't viable we shouldn't be doing it. But there is a case for running a subsidise event in the future, or perhaps a free event for AFRA members. There is also the option of subsidising financially and/or practically an event - and I'm thinking here of Stalingrad where the AFRA pyro team can put on a bigger and more constant pyro fx without any cost or manpower involvement from us.
Interestingly, all the members conceded that WW2 airsoft reenactment was more 'reenactment' than public battles that seem to have undue focus. For the third year running I didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed, intimidated or 'outcast' by our activities although I did shirk away from suggestions of 'taster' events or airsoft demonstrations at shows - all they have to do is attend a game, what more of a taster do they want?
Anyhoo, that's pretty much it as far as I recall.
