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Registered Charity United Kingdom No 226682 Spain No G54288329
RAFA 2011 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
(157 delegates present.)
10.00 hrs. Conference opened with the marching in of the standards followed the usual ‘silent tribute.’
10.15 hrs.Welcome address by the Mayor, Cllr. Carolyn Heaps.
10.20 hrs.Address by the President, Air Marshal Phil Sturley. CB. MBE,
10.25 hrs.Presentation of the National Presidential awards. and Flying Scholarships to
Five ATC Cadets.
10.40 hrs.A presentation by the Air Member for Personnel, Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE. He explained that despite reducing numbers the following were some of the many commitments that still had to be fulfilled:-
Two crews on 24 hours QRA to react to ‘call to contact’ and airspace infringements.
Search and Rescue.
369 persons on training as prison guards, in case of strike action by guards.
Two typhoons, 1 VC 10 tanker, 1 Hercules and SAR in the Falklands.
Afghanistan: The Air-bridge, Tornados, Helicopter support, RAF Regiment and Medics. Pilot-less drones controlled from Nevada, USA.
Libya, Tornados, Typhoons, Nimrod, Sentinel etc.
The AMP stated that we were not just attacked by the Taliban and Col. Gaddaffi but by our own Government! Reducing personnel and resources at this very busy time. The numbers would decrease from 41,000 down to 34,000 by 2015. There would be an impact on pensions and allowances with stability playing a large part in cut backs. For example, a person could join the RAF now and spend his/her whole career on one base like Brize Norton.
11.15 hrs.Conference Chairman Report. (Taff Rees)
Central Council Chairman’s Report (Nigel Bairstow)
(Same presentation given to Erewash Branch at the May meeting)
Financial Report - No treasurer (Nigel Bairstow)
Key Items, a. MET now 3, one more for Northern Area, £92,000 received from Newbury Branch from sale of property.
12.25 hrs.RAFBF presentation. (Air Marshal Sir Robert Wright. KBE. AFC.)
Formed in 1919, first year £900 was dispersed which included 1 shilling for a ‘homeless’ airman and a pair of boots for one person in need. In the last financial year RAFBF dispersed £21,000. The key item now is for help on RAF bases to support personnel on active service and their dependants. The more that can be done in this way helps to relieve stress all down the line. Helping personnel to finance appointments at ‘Relate’ has become an important issue.
12.45 hrs.RESOLUTIONS.
The Conference resolves that an Ordinary, Life or Associate Member of the Association may be elected to the position of Hon. Treasurer of the Association as proposed in CC Paper 2/11 and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
This was amended to include the words “if no full member is available to fill the post.”
PASSED
The Conference resolves that the position of Area Treasurer be discontinued with immediate effect as proposed in CC Paper 3/11 and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
As the above resolution was passed, this one FALLS.
This Conference resolves that nominations for election to Branch Committees must be signed by two Members of the Branch, one of whom may be a Full Associate Member of the Branch and that Branch Regulation 26(1) be amended accordingly.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference resolves that nominations for election to a Branch Club Committee must be signed by any two members of the Branch Club and that Standard Club Rule 23 be amended accordingly.
Amended to include the words “one of whom” but amendment was thrown out.
PASSED in original form
At this stage the conference was abated and a seminar was held, in “Any Questions” format to discuss Membership. Some ideas put forward included:-
Arrangements to be made for serving personnel and those leaving the service to contact their local branch.
A contact list be used at Wings collection locations.
Unwanted magazines (Air Mail) to be left at doctors and dentist surgeries.
“Life Membership” to be reviewed. Look at the possibility of putting forward a system for ‘voluntary’ donations from existing” Life Members.”
(Erewash delegate spoke on membership.)
This Conference receives CC Paper 1/11 and endorses the recommendation that Branches, on official closure, may, if they so wish, form a Registered Members Group and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
PASSED
WITHDRAWNThis Conference re-affirms the object of the Association in that we are a membership organisation providing welfare through charitable means and not a charity with members.
This resolution was put forward by the Welwyn Garden & Hatfield Branch who are
closing at the end of May 2011. He felt that the Association was moving more to the
aims of membership and Fundraising, he said these are of course vital elements but he
felt that Comradeship and Welfare came first. He remarked that while serving he would not have called the SWO a friend, but he was a Comrade!
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Again the Conference adjourned and gave way to a Welfare seminar run on the same lines as the membership seminar. The following points were discussed:-
The whole structure of welfare services is to be reviewed. CRB checks and ‘level 1’ training are considered to be an essential requirement. Any ideas to improve the way welfare is handled will be well received.
The second topic was ‘Care Homes’ which generated a great deal of discussion. Annual subsidies to keep the homes running are £1M expected to rise to £1.3M
The cost for 1 person is £2,700 and some go 2 or 3 times per year, for £700
Staff wages make up 136% of the income.
Occupancy is running at 58%
During the discussion, Tom Feeley (Northern Area) stated that Branches were no long able to take people to the respite homes in their private cars on instruction from HQ. The Council members on stage said that this was not the true situation and that they would look into the problem and inform all branches as to the true situation.
This ended the first day’s business. The evening saw a social event at which we
Were entertained by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force..
Sunday 15th May 2011 (138 Delegates present)
09.00 hrs. Church Parade along the Eastbourne Seafront.
10.30 hrs. Conference reconvened. Presentation of Trophies.
Northern Area won smartest standard bearer.
Trinidad & Tobago cadets won trophy for most overseas members recruited.
RESOLUTIONS
This Conference, noting the seriousness of the declining membership, requires the Executive to mount a proactive membership recruiting campaign, targeting ex-service personnel, and that sufficient funds be allocated for this.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference, noting the responsibility of Area Councils to encourage membership recruitment and fundraising, resolves that the membership rebate each year for those on the Area HQ Roll, be allocated to the respective Area Council, to enable them to organise and promote events within their Area and that Byelaw 13(8) be amended accordingly
This resolution was opposed by Central Council, who felt that it was unfair to some
Areas and pointed out that if an Area wanted to stage an event funds could be made
available on request from the Area Director. (Erewash voted against.)
PASSED BY 66 votes to 55 with 1 abstention.
This Association actively seeks a change to regulations concerning street collections by an alteration of, Section 5 of the Police, Factories etc. (miscellaneous provisions) Act of 1916 by which Local Authorities currently oversee street collections, so that they reflect 21st Century means of communication.
Central Council are working through the ‘Charities Federation’ to have the 2006
Charities Act implemented as soon as possible. This Act clears the way for appropriate
changes to be made and would lead to permission for collections to be given by the
Charities Commission while local authorities would arrange the schedule of collections
in their own area. It appears the current rules vary greatly from area to area. An
example was given where a rail authority gave permission for collections on their
station but the local Council would not allow it.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference having noted CC Paper 05/11 resolves that Annual Conference 2014 be held at Blackpool 16-18 May 2014.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference resolves that the requirement for a resolution marked with a ‘dagger’ to be discussed shall be reduced from a 2/3rds majority to a simple majority.
DEFEATED
At this stage the Conference was again curtailed to allow for the third seminar on the
subject of future Conferences.
Recently, 500 questionnaires were sent out to branches on this subject. Only 185 were returned, (Erewash was one of those). Of these, 117 were satisfied with the current format, 25 were not. Main reason for attending Conference were given as:- Comradeship - 117, information - 137 and resolutions - 108.
55 were in favour of holding conferences every two years, 105 were against.
12.55 hrs. The Presidents collar of Office was handed over from AM Sturley CB. MBE. to AM Sir Dusty Miller KBE the new President.
13.00 hrs.Conference Closed.
(157 delegates present.)
10.00 hrs. Conference opened with the marching in of the standards followed the usual ‘silent tribute.’
10.15 hrs.Welcome address by the Mayor, Cllr. Carolyn Heaps.
10.20 hrs.Address by the President, Air Marshal Phil Sturley. CB. MBE,
10.25 hrs.Presentation of the National Presidential awards. and Flying Scholarships to
Five ATC Cadets.
10.40 hrs.A presentation by the Air Member for Personnel, Air Marshal Andy Pulford CBE. He explained that despite reducing numbers the following were some of the many commitments that still had to be fulfilled:-
Two crews on 24 hours QRA to react to ‘call to contact’ and airspace infringements.
Search and Rescue.
369 persons on training as prison guards, in case of strike action by guards.
Two typhoons, 1 VC 10 tanker, 1 Hercules and SAR in the Falklands.
Afghanistan: The Air-bridge, Tornados, Helicopter support, RAF Regiment and Medics. Pilot-less drones controlled from Nevada, USA.
Libya, Tornados, Typhoons, Nimrod, Sentinel etc.
The AMP stated that we were not just attacked by the Taliban and Col. Gaddaffi but by our own Government! Reducing personnel and resources at this very busy time. The numbers would decrease from 41,000 down to 34,000 by 2015. There would be an impact on pensions and allowances with stability playing a large part in cut backs. For example, a person could join the RAF now and spend his/her whole career on one base like Brize Norton.
11.15 hrs.Conference Chairman Report. (Taff Rees)
Central Council Chairman’s Report (Nigel Bairstow)
(Same presentation given to Erewash Branch at the May meeting)
Financial Report - No treasurer (Nigel Bairstow)
Key Items, a. MET now 3, one more for Northern Area, £92,000 received from Newbury Branch from sale of property.
12.25 hrs.RAFBF presentation. (Air Marshal Sir Robert Wright. KBE. AFC.)
Formed in 1919, first year £900 was dispersed which included 1 shilling for a ‘homeless’ airman and a pair of boots for one person in need. In the last financial year RAFBF dispersed £21,000. The key item now is for help on RAF bases to support personnel on active service and their dependants. The more that can be done in this way helps to relieve stress all down the line. Helping personnel to finance appointments at ‘Relate’ has become an important issue.
12.45 hrs.RESOLUTIONS.
The Conference resolves that an Ordinary, Life or Associate Member of the Association may be elected to the position of Hon. Treasurer of the Association as proposed in CC Paper 2/11 and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
This was amended to include the words “if no full member is available to fill the post.”
PASSED
The Conference resolves that the position of Area Treasurer be discontinued with immediate effect as proposed in CC Paper 3/11 and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
As the above resolution was passed, this one FALLS.
This Conference resolves that nominations for election to Branch Committees must be signed by two Members of the Branch, one of whom may be a Full Associate Member of the Branch and that Branch Regulation 26(1) be amended accordingly.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference resolves that nominations for election to a Branch Club Committee must be signed by any two members of the Branch Club and that Standard Club Rule 23 be amended accordingly.
Amended to include the words “one of whom” but amendment was thrown out.
PASSED in original form
At this stage the conference was abated and a seminar was held, in “Any Questions” format to discuss Membership. Some ideas put forward included:-
Arrangements to be made for serving personnel and those leaving the service to contact their local branch.
A contact list be used at Wings collection locations.
Unwanted magazines (Air Mail) to be left at doctors and dentist surgeries.
“Life Membership” to be reviewed. Look at the possibility of putting forward a system for ‘voluntary’ donations from existing” Life Members.”
(Erewash delegate spoke on membership.)
This Conference receives CC Paper 1/11 and endorses the recommendation that Branches, on official closure, may, if they so wish, form a Registered Members Group and that the governing documents be amended accordingly.
PASSED
WITHDRAWNThis Conference re-affirms the object of the Association in that we are a membership organisation providing welfare through charitable means and not a charity with members.
This resolution was put forward by the Welwyn Garden & Hatfield Branch who are
closing at the end of May 2011. He felt that the Association was moving more to the
aims of membership and Fundraising, he said these are of course vital elements but he
felt that Comradeship and Welfare came first. He remarked that while serving he would not have called the SWO a friend, but he was a Comrade!
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Again the Conference adjourned and gave way to a Welfare seminar run on the same lines as the membership seminar. The following points were discussed:-
The whole structure of welfare services is to be reviewed. CRB checks and ‘level 1’ training are considered to be an essential requirement. Any ideas to improve the way welfare is handled will be well received.
The second topic was ‘Care Homes’ which generated a great deal of discussion. Annual subsidies to keep the homes running are £1M expected to rise to £1.3M
The cost for 1 person is £2,700 and some go 2 or 3 times per year, for £700
Staff wages make up 136% of the income.
Occupancy is running at 58%
During the discussion, Tom Feeley (Northern Area) stated that Branches were no long able to take people to the respite homes in their private cars on instruction from HQ. The Council members on stage said that this was not the true situation and that they would look into the problem and inform all branches as to the true situation.
This ended the first day’s business. The evening saw a social event at which we
Were entertained by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force..
Sunday 15th May 2011 (138 Delegates present)
09.00 hrs. Church Parade along the Eastbourne Seafront.
10.30 hrs. Conference reconvened. Presentation of Trophies.
Northern Area won smartest standard bearer.
Trinidad & Tobago cadets won trophy for most overseas members recruited.
RESOLUTIONS
This Conference, noting the seriousness of the declining membership, requires the Executive to mount a proactive membership recruiting campaign, targeting ex-service personnel, and that sufficient funds be allocated for this.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference, noting the responsibility of Area Councils to encourage membership recruitment and fundraising, resolves that the membership rebate each year for those on the Area HQ Roll, be allocated to the respective Area Council, to enable them to organise and promote events within their Area and that Byelaw 13(8) be amended accordingly
This resolution was opposed by Central Council, who felt that it was unfair to some
Areas and pointed out that if an Area wanted to stage an event funds could be made
available on request from the Area Director. (Erewash voted against.)
PASSED BY 66 votes to 55 with 1 abstention.
This Association actively seeks a change to regulations concerning street collections by an alteration of, Section 5 of the Police, Factories etc. (miscellaneous provisions) Act of 1916 by which Local Authorities currently oversee street collections, so that they reflect 21st Century means of communication.
Central Council are working through the ‘Charities Federation’ to have the 2006
Charities Act implemented as soon as possible. This Act clears the way for appropriate
changes to be made and would lead to permission for collections to be given by the
Charities Commission while local authorities would arrange the schedule of collections
in their own area. It appears the current rules vary greatly from area to area. An
example was given where a rail authority gave permission for collections on their
station but the local Council would not allow it.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference having noted CC Paper 05/11 resolves that Annual Conference 2014 be held at Blackpool 16-18 May 2014.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
This Conference resolves that the requirement for a resolution marked with a ‘dagger’ to be discussed shall be reduced from a 2/3rds majority to a simple majority.
DEFEATED
At this stage the Conference was again curtailed to allow for the third seminar on the
subject of future Conferences.
Recently, 500 questionnaires were sent out to branches on this subject. Only 185 were returned, (Erewash was one of those). Of these, 117 were satisfied with the current format, 25 were not. Main reason for attending Conference were given as:- Comradeship - 117, information - 137 and resolutions - 108.
55 were in favour of holding conferences every two years, 105 were against.
12.55 hrs. The Presidents collar of Office was handed over from AM Sturley CB. MBE. to AM Sir Dusty Miller KBE the new President.
13.00 hrs.Conference Closed.