National Council 2009

National Council to hoist Flag

The 2009 National Council AGM, being held in Wellington from 12 to 14 October, will focus on the RSA’s future through the theme “Carrying the Flag to New Generations”. The main avenue for this focus will be a Future Forum on the Tuesday morning with facilitated discussion on the future of the RSA generally and discussion specifically on key areas such as membership, organisational structure and governance.

“As we approach our centenary the objective of the forum is to take stock of where we have come from, what we are currently doing, and how best to embrace the needs, challenges as well as opportunities of the future, “says Chief Executive Stephen Clarke. The role of the RSA and how members as well as society will relate to the RSA in the future will all be up for discussion. “The forum is the start of an exciting journey for the RSA movement as a whole”.

As well as the Future Forum the usual Business as well as Welfare Forums on the Monday will focus on current developments in their respective areas. For Business these include the new RSA revitalisation campaign, a staff training initiative, and a new intranet initiative to re-connect National Headquarters, Districts, Local RSAs and branches. The Welfare Forum will focus on an update of the War Pensions re-write, new support to veterans initiatives as a result of the Government Funding, and a new Outreach Project for younger veterans. A separate War Pensions Workshop will also focus on veteran entitlements with input from Veterans’ Affairs.

The 11 remits going forward relate to Welfare, Association, Rules and Finance.

In terms of the elections for National Office, the top position of National President will be contested by the incumbent Robin Klitscher and the National Vice-President Kevin Holley. Nominees for the two National Vice President positions include incumbent Barry Clark together with nominees Archie Dixon (Chairman of the Pensions and Welfare Committee), Chris Mullane (NEC Elected Member) and Gary Walker (Auckland District President). Current Elected Members David Maloney, Chris Mullane and Trevor Wylde are all standing again together with challenges Evan (Lox) Kellas (Dunedin), Bas Nissen (Papakura) and John Smith (Tokaanu-Turangi).

The Governor General His Excellency Sir Anand Satayand and the Prime Minister have notified that they will attend the Official Opening on the Monday evening. This is John Key’s first attendance at National Council and delegates will have the opportunity to hear the Prime Minister address them. Delegates will also be addressed by the Ministers of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence. The new National President of the RSL Rear Admiral Kenneth Doolan AO, RAN (Ret) is also expected to attend.

So there is much to contemplate at this year’s AGM but there will also be ample opportunity for delegates to reunite with RSA friends from around the country.

For those RSAs that have not registered this is the National Council not to miss.