15 December 2024 – Comox, BC

To: RCAF Association Members

Year End Summary and Prognosis – RCAF Association

First, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the RCAFA, let me begin by wishing you all the very best of the season. I sincerely hope that you can spend the upcoming holidays with friends and loved ones. My wife Barbara and I will be enjoying the holidays with our children and grandchildren here in BC, in what has become a family tradition of everyone coming home at this time of year, a procedure well known to those of us who live in provinces with mild climates.

Over the past year, your Board of Directors had attempted to come to grips with some high-level strategic development, fully aware that our dwindling membership numbers necessitated some forward planning if we were to remain viable. We elected a new chair and got to work, however the process struggled from the outset for a multitude of reasons and our organization entered a period of uncertainty. The chair of the board, Chuck Lovallo, resigned in the fall and our Executive Director, Dean and his staff announced they would also be leaving in the New Year.  We understand that changes of this nature can raise questions and concerns about our viability and the lack of information merely exacerbated that angst. This letter is an explanation of these events and the prognosis for our Association. We are most grateful for your continued support during this time of transition.

I want to reassure you that, whilst these changes have certainly created challenges, we are confident in the team that we have in place to navigate through this period. We have a committed Board of Directors who are working diligently to ensure our continued stability and the future success of the RCAFA.  I have (re) assumed the position of Chair until we steady the ship, and David Farnsworth will serve as my wingman in the position of Vice-Chair. Additionally, we are pleased to inform you that we have appointed a new Executive Director, Brook Bangsboll, recently the Chair of 410 (William Barker, VC) Wing who is currently in transition training with Dean and will be stepping into the role on 1 February 2025, when our current ED retires. Dean Black has been our ED for nearly two decades and throughout that time has provided outstanding service and commitment to us. I can say without equivocation that we could not and would not have survived and prospered over these many years were it not for his exceptional professionalism, dedication, skill and knowledge. He and Wenjun now have other avenues they wish to pursue but will, of course, be staying in touch with us.

The coming year will be one of transition for the RCAFA, your Board is considering many options regarding the services we provide to you with an eye to reducing our overhead costs, which were becoming untenable. The Board will be taking on some of the many tasks, which Dean had assumed, to reduce the workload in the head office. We recognize the importance of services to our members, and while we are making changes, our commitment to supporting you remains unwavering. The Ottawa office will be closed at the end of June, and we will conduct most of our business “on-line,” not unlike many organizations today. This should reduce overhead costs substantially. We also need to reduce the staggering costs of printing our magazine by going digital, and that process is underway now. We are also actively seeking external funding to move us from a purely membership-fees-supported association to one with diverse sources of income, that will permit us to continue to serve you better. We are confident that these changes will position us for a stronger and more sustainable future. We absolutely welcome your input on all of this.

The Association will remain true and committed to its foundational principles, primarily that of advocacy for our Air Force. We will continue to support and grow our Air Force Day on the Hill event, a major visibility occasion for our Air Force, parliamentarians and industry leaders, as well as participation in ceremonial events such as the Battle of Britain service and Remembrance Day that relate to our history and heritage mandate. Of course, we will continue the support for the youth of our nation through the Cadet program and related bursaries as we help these young men and women pursue their dreams in the aviation community and beyond. We will also continue to advocate for and support our Veterans in concert with our partners in the Legion. Our Trust Fund will remain and grow to support all these many efforts on your behalf.  Finally, we will be working closely with other stakeholders, like the RCAF Foundation, who have goals and objectives very similar to ours, as we support our Air Force. You are also aware that our Air Force is undergoing a period of rapid change and is currently encumbered with a significant recruiting and retention problem. They need our help now more than ever.

In the months ahead, we will continue to communicate openly with you about these changes and the progress we are making. As I noted, your feedback and continued engagement will be invaluable as we move forward. We are excited about the opportunities for growth and renewal that lie ahead, and we believe that, together, we will emerge from this period stronger and better equipped to serve the needs of our members and the broader community.

Thank you for your understanding, support, and dedication to the RCAFA. We look forward to a brighter future together.

Terry Chester, Colonel (Ret’d) Chairman, RCAF Association Board of Directors