Emirates Pilots Club SIDs and STARs evening

[a380megacamel]

Just picked up the invitation to the EPC SIDs and STARs evening to welcome new joiners and leaving members. Great idea but I wonder how many members will bother turning up judging by the number of invitations in the bin.

Are we a Club or just cheap access to Dubai's beach clubs?

[dunerider]

I imagine EPI are paying for the invitations and the evening.I would think with living in DXB you have bigger issues to worry about than a sponsored drinks night for a few new joiners and guys that are leaving.:ugh:

[ZQN]

What a sad post dunrider. We may have gripe against our employer but why have we become such an apathetic bunch when it comes to our fellow colleagues.

megacamel, unfortunately I feel the EPC is nothing more then a Discount provider and I'm sure most members only join for the 'gold card' that gets the wife and kids into the beach club on Friday and discounts in the bars when the family go home in the summer.

I've been a member of many clubs over the years and what is lacking in the EPC is club spirit. Canceled events due to poor response, very low turnout at the EPC AGM are indicative of this. And before cynics amongst us charge in with "we were either working of fatigued on that day" - C.R.A.P.

Why can't we have an annual Pilots Ball? There was enough Pilots at last years KIWI ball to make a Pilots Ball a viable proposition. I'm sure EPI, MMI and Mashreq would all sponsor the event.

Any other ideas?

[6853]

"why have we become such an apathetic bunch when it comes to our fellow colleagues"

Think it has a lot to do with an essential ingredient called morale, which has been virtually non existent now for a good few years in our company, sad but true.

[mensaboy]

Yes we are a bit apathetic, but that is due to family reasons, low morale and a general displeasure with Dubai. But to slag EPC is unwarranted to say the least.
EPC is one of the best things going for us in Dubai. I am amazed and truly grateful at how hard these people work on our behalf. One night out and I've paid for my membership for the month.

I personally thank all those involved in making EPC a good deal for us. It is much appreciated by the vast majority of us, even though we probably don't make that known to you as much as we should.

PS. one rental car a year saves me about 200USD when i go home for a couple of weeks.

[a380megacamel]

ZQN makes some valid points which mensaboy confirms in his post. We are only members of EPC for the discounts it would seem.

Why let our issues with EK effect our social club?

So who is going to SIDs and STARs?

Who's for a Pilots Ball?

[ZQN]

mensaboy, I agree that the EPC is one of the best things going for us in Dubai, so don't get me wrong. I wouldn't dare slag off the EPC committee or the people that manage the club as they all do a great job. WE are the problem.
This outfit is not the same company I happily joined many years ago and I agree that morale is a real problem, but why should we let it effect our professional courtesy in welcoming new joiners or saying farewell to colleagues who are escaping the sandpit.

[Line pilot]

Our profession is very different, we never go to work with the same group, and we never get to do the things that are fellow aviation colleague who work in office do- recognise special occasions arrivals, departures, birthdays engagements marriages new family members as a group. We simply have no recognised and regular opportunity to socialize as a professional group.

I am now losing count of the number of times that I feel a small sense of grief when I hear the fellow pilots whom I admire and respect have left and I have missed my opportunity to personally wish them well and keep in touch- often it’s a last minute phone call or worse an email after they have gone- if I can get the address and sometimes not either of those options.

I also remember my first few months in Dubai on ground course- I remember feeling lonely and that partly from the lack of contact I had with the many fellow aviation professionals from whom I knew I could learn so much. In other airlines there was always the crew room to socialize after work where one often made friends and learnt lessons- but this is lost because of the nature of transport in this part of the world.

So come on fellow EPC members let’s make this a successful night and I am sure more will follow- perhaps they could be held on the same day each month so we could bid for it on the roster. It’s about us being a proper club, I am very guilty of not yet making an event- but that will now change. I think it’s a fabulous opportunity to reacquaint, say hello and goodbye to the many people we will or already greatly admire and respect.

I would also like to go along and give my personal thanks to the EPC committee who have helped me and my family enjoy a quality of life that I could not have otherwise easily afforded and if I can take a a free beverage or two off a sponsor thats had the initative to help with such a night than thats great.

I am hopeful that many feel as strongly as I do about these issues and hopefully look forward to saying hello to you there :).

[dunerider]

Dear ZQN
I was simply pointing out that the money to pay for the welcome night was most probably coming from EPI not the EPC budget.

[ZQN]

dunerider
With the EPI logo on the front of the invite, I would expect that that they would have paid of the printing. Talking to the girls in the EPC office, I believe that idea for the evening came the EPI owner.

Hope the evening gets good support and continues as regular EPC event. I have my doubts though.

[Line pilot]

Wow what a great night!
70+ people attended- well done epc!

[a380megacamel]

Went and enjoyed the evening. Good on ya Epi for making it happen.
Here's a thought; I think BC should run for EPC president.

[EK Pilots]

Just in case you missed the invite, another EPC SIDS and Stars evening at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel tonight at 7.30pm Sunset Gardens.

Its free for all EPC members, a chance to say hello to the new guys and farewell a few of our colleagues leaving for other shores. See you there, last one was great!

[sanddude]

I bet you are still not sure who killed kennedy, are you?:rolleyes:

[Sheikh Your Bootie]

A great evening habibs, well done EPC and EPI, and farewell to a great colleague of ours, one of the good guys! :ok:
MK, some people will pontificate := and never be happy with anything, at least the EPC are doing something to foster some sort of spirit within the context of "Emirates". Whats your contribution??

SyB :zzz::zzz:

[atiuta]

I can't believe what I have just read .....

EPI out to make money out of fellow pilots? Hell, last time I checked, I made money out of EPI. When BC buys me a beer, it's an even greater return. BC stood and was duly elected to the EPC, democracy rules.

As for those knocking EPC, my money is on the fact that you've never lifted a finger in building the EPC into what it is. Like most member run organisations, EPC's success is dependent on a lot of work by a few in support of many. Unless you've done the yards, you don't get a licence to bitch.

[disconnected]

Leave the EPC alone.

Its the only positive thing that the, for the most part, pathetic (let alone apathetic) EK pilots have ever put together.

[Wiley]

I'd have to agree with your sentiments 100%, atiuta. There are some, sad, way beyond merely bitter people out here in Sandpitland.

I'd also like to say 'thank you' to Br*tt for the free grog and the good company last night.