NEWSLETTER No: 03-11 Date: November 2011 STATE COUNCIL RSL NSW MEMBERS NSW State President Don Rowe took the opportunity to have the National RSL President Ken Doolan address State Council as he had some free time that morning whilst visiting Sydney. Item 1 RSL National President - Issue status Rear Admiral Ken Doolan, National President RSL Australia gave State Councillors a briefing on the status of subjects at the national desk for the past quarter and the direction some are likely to take in the near future. A B C D E F Memorandum of Understanding issues with The Veterans Association of Vietnam Trade Mark issues with RSL badge, logo and wordings Indexation of Military pensions ADF pay rise situation Planning for Centenary projects from 2015 and beyond Status of ANZAC House in Canberra The news article on page two was presented to NSW State Councillors on Friday morning before publication on Saturday 22 October in the Sydney Morning Herald. President Doolan explained the reason for and against why his Executive team took such decisions regarding the issues on the Vietnam MOU. ANZAC HOUSE 245 CASTLEREAGH STREET, SYDNEY NSW 2000 P 02-9264 8188 F 02-9264 8466 E info@rslnsw.org.au W rslnsw.org.au COURAGE * SACRIFICE * MATESHIP * ENDURANCE
FOOTNOTE: Press Statement from RSL National Office, Monday 24 October 2011. Proposed MOU not to Proceed The National Executive of the Returned & Services League of Australia has decided not to proceed with the proposal to establish a Memorandum of Understanding with the Veterans Association of Vietnam.
Item 2 www.rslnsw.org.au - Website Hit rate The following data was released for website hits of the past two months. 297 sub-branches have logins, 24 District Councils have logins. 18,123 website hits for the month of September. Most Common View Pages: Souvenir: 505 Contact: 488 Programms: 454 Membership: 359 Aust Peace Ops: 352 Item 3 Service Certificates for sub-branches Delegated authority of State Secretary to approved the following Service Certificates for sub-branches: Blackheath/Mt Victoria RSL sub-branch - 90 Years Castle Hill RSL sub-branch - 70 Years Greek RSL sub-branch - 60 Years Gloucester RSL sub-branch - 90 Years Maritime Services Board RSL sub-branch - 80 Years Raymond Terrace RSL sub-branch - 75 Years Richmond RSL sub-branch - 80 Years South Lake Macquarie RSL sub-branch - 90 Years Windsor and District RSL sub-branch - 80 Years Item 4 Finance For Centenary Future The Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee has made budget provision for the centenary of ANZAC Commemoration and the Centenary of the RSL Celebration 2016 through 2017. Sub-Branches should make themselves aware of the dateline of national and local events during this Centenary period and also prepare budget lines in their future Annual Returns and Budget Forecasts to meet their requirements. Item 5 Celebration of the Centenary of the RSL The President has requested for members to forward submissions to his desk for the Celebration of the RSL Centenary in the year of 2016.
Item 6 RSL AFOF Middle East An invitation was issued by the Department of Defence for RSL NSW to have two delegates visit the Middle East to view operations on board HMAS Toowoomba. L-R: RSL CEO Chris Perrin, RSM (JTF 633) Mick Johnson, State Councillor Darren McManus-Smith and RSM (CTV) Max Walker. State Branch CEO Chris Perrin and State Councillor Darren McManus-Smith were called at very short notice to fulfill the invitation. Darren McManus-Smith provided some excellent commentary and images of their venture for State Council. Item 7 Life Subscriber Membership L-R: CMDR Andrew Quick, CO HMAS Toowoomba, State Councillor Darren McManus-Smith, RSL CEO Chris Perrin and General Campbell. Life subscriber discussion clarified at meeting, President to communicate outcome message to sub- Branches. From The State Presidents desk... There has been some correspondence to State Branch in relation to the provision for Life Subscriber membership following the adoption of the re-written RSL NSW Constitution by 2011 Annual State Congress. I take this opportunity to provide you with what I hope is useful information for you and your members. Firstly, allow me to reassure those members that currently hold Life Subscription that there is no change to their arrangements. Their current membership entitlements have not been altered at all and the re-written Constitution makes provision for them. Secondly, the provision to offer Life Subscription was contained within a By-Law and as such is able to be amended by State Council under clause 14.2 of the Constitution. The amendment to the By-Law was not part of the re-write of the Constitution as suggested by some sub-branches. As is proper, and in accordance with their duties and responsibilities to the League, State Council made the decision to stop offering Life Subscription after careful consideration of the financial burden that this type of membership payment places on the resources of State Branch. The cost of each Life Subscriber to State Branch rises exponentially with each increase in National capitation fees and State Council decided to reduce this cost by ceasing to offer Life Subscription. Perhaps better communication of this issue would have alleviated some angst amongst members. However, I hope that this letter helps to allay some of the confusion about Life Subscription. Yours sincerely, DON ROWE STATE PRESIDENT
Item 8 RSL Honorary Life Membership The award of Honorary Life Membership to Private S and Sgt R is confirmed. Private S was awarded Star of Gallantry medal in the 2011 Queens Birthday Honours list. Sgt R also received a Star of Gallantry in 2006. Item 9 RSL Style Guide Project Presentation by Communications Manager Mark Lee on a range of new internal and external logos forming part of the new Style Guide manual. Designed to standardize future formats of communication and presentation throughout the membership. A colourful array of new logos for RSLNSW Item 10 New Class of Membership In response to correspondence received from Riverina District Council, State Council will work with sub- Branches to represent an Affiliates proposal for 2012 Congress. Item 11 RSL National to Continue to Press for more Equatable Indexation Clarified at meeting - communicate message to sub-branches from National website media statement. The National Executive and members of the Returned & Services League of Australia express great disappointment at the defeat in the Senate today of the Fair Indexation Bill introduced by Senator The Hon. Michael Ronaldson, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs on behalf of the Opposition. The RSL is also most disappointed that the Government has not yet formally responded to our detailed Military Superannuation Indexation submission of February 2010 in which we put a compelling case supporting the replacement of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for adjusting payments to military superannuants with an index which makes adjustments reflecting increases in the cost of living. As was acknowledged during the debate in the Senate today, the CPI is by definition a measure of inflation and is not designed to reflect changes in the cost of living. We will not relent in our efforts aimed at convincing Senators and Members of the House of Representatives to pass legislation supporting the legitimate and reasonable expectations of military superannuants for fair indexation.
Item 12 2012 State Congress All present and future nominations of material for content at Congress 2012 are to be forwarded to the Congress new format committee for consideration. Sub-Branches are urged to submit general motions to State Branch and State Council so as to be dealt with in a timely manner, and not to have to wait until May next year. Item 13 In house Training for State Councillors Building Supervisor Ivan Finch gave a detailed and practical demonstration to State Councillors on fire drill and evacuation procedures for ANZAC House. Item 14 District Council Minutes Ivan Finch giving instructions to ANZAC Houser procedures for Sate Councillors when visiting. Copies of all District Council minutes received by State Branch will in future be electronically forwarded to all State Councillors. District Councils are reminded to forward all Minutes of their meetings to State Branch as early as possible. Item 15 NSW Premier s ANZAC Scholarship Councillor Peter Stephenson presented a detailed report and images to State Council of the recent trip to Turkey, Greece and Crete along with Councillor Rod White escorting students as part of the NSW Premier s ANZAC Scholarship. A truly worthy and moving exercise was the view of both Peter and Rod. Item 16 State Congress Tender Documents A proposal was accepted to proceed with a consultancy agency to seek the best tender for future Congress venues Item 17 Welcome Home Parade, Operation Astute Timor Leste Task Group 3 Approval given for a request for approx. 100 solders from Timor Leste Task Group to participate in the Sydney ANZAC March, 2012. Item 18 State Council Training Councillors are to receive specialist financial training in the near future.
Item 19 New National Membership Cards As part of the new national Statewide Shared Vision project, NSW RSL has received the new membership cards to be delivered to Members commencing final quarter 2011. Note the new Australia map and a different version of the Poppy. Item 20 State Branch Budgets 2012 A few differences in the old and new RSL membership card notably we will now all carry a map of Australia. State Branch adopted and approved the proposed 2012 Budgets for State Branch and certain other constituent bodies. Item 21 District Council Presidents Meeting In Sydney State President Don Rowe reported on the successful meeting of District Council Presidents who will assist in delivery of the RSL s Strategic Plan to their sub-branches over the coming months. Materials are due for delivery in early November to Presidents. Item 22 State Branch Christmas & New Year Closure State Branch at ANZAC House Sydney will be closed for the Christmas and New Year leave period commencing shut down on COB Thursday 22nd December 2011 and re opening on Tuesday January 3rd 2012. Several staff members will be taking annual leave throughout the month of January. Item 23 State Branch Website RSL NSW web site is continually being updated and please visit our Facebook and Twitter pages (there is a link at the bottom of our web homepage) which is also regularly updated daily with photographs and information.