Minutes of the RNZAA meeting on 16 Feb 2011

A meeting of the RNZA Assn Executive was held at Birkenhead RSA on 16 Feb 2011.
The full minutes are available on this link but the following is a synopsis of matters of note there-from.

1. Membership
Association membership is 350. This subdivides to; full members 273, associate 33, life 42 and honorary 2. There are no regimental members. Bo Meike [SVN] and Alan Cull [K Force] were welcomed as new members.
2. Correspondence and Accounts were presented and agreed.
3. General business began with welfare decisions on several matters.
a. Mike Dakin and Tony McLeod will attend the RNZRSA Delegate Meeting in Wellington on 22 Mar 11. That meeting will discus ways to improve channels for Affiliate orgs to examine and comment on RNZRSA matters before they commit to decisions.
b. The government’s Pensions Legislation to replace the War Pensions Act is not completed.
c. $100 Donation from RNZAA was approved as a symbol of support for the work of the Dolores Ho Crosses project. Information on this matter is available on the National Army Museum website.
d. Planning for our Reunion 2011 in Christchurch is underway and will follow the familiar format, with some Southern flair.
e. The Return to Viet Nam tour has 18 pers [12 veterans plus 6 partners and family]; will depart on 18 April; and among other things, will be at Long Tan for Anzac Day.  Full details are in the right hand column of our blog site. Mike Dakin will also take questions at   mike.dakin.nz@gmail.com
f. Regional representations have been taken up by Tom Roche [Palmerston North] and Lindsay Skinner [Wellington North]. This task is aimed at getting more participation and interest in RNZAA activity.
g. The relevance of the RNZA Assn for post Viet Nam gunners was discussed in general and in relation to our Newsletter and Blog. While the shared operational experience bonds Korean and SVN vets, these bonds do not apply where the guns have not been deployed operationally. The relevance of the Assn can be developed by identifying areas of common interest for gunners, such as:
• developments in technical fields eg, munitions, carriages, survey, meteorology, fireprediction, computation, sighting systems, artillery intelligence,
• military history, especially involving NZ artillery
• personalities; people who have been fundamental in recent change or provided `colour` to the RNZA.
• development of Welfare functions with serving soldiers which would also create social interaction with ex gunners during service
• support function for gunners deployed overseas (in conjunction with existing Defence agencies) similar to a `Betty May` for gunners in SVN (Letters, Gifts)
• advice during transition to civvy street.
          These matters all warrant ongoing investigation and development but the first steps are to identify effective regional reps and get the intercommunication with 16 Field Regt flowing.

4 RNZA Assn representation at upcoming events will include:
Waikato Centennial, 19 March 2011.
ANZAC Day, 25 April 2011
Gunners Day, 26 May 2011
16 Fd Regt parade for the award of the K Force citation. Coordination of veterans attendance should be done by K Force in conjunct with RNZA Assn.
K force AGM Thurs 17 Feb, Advice of parade to be included in AGM Minutes of Akl Branch KVA, and circulated to other districts.

The next meeting will be held in one month’s time, at Birkenhead RSA on Wednesday 16 March 11, at 7.00pm. This meeting will be a combination of ongoing business and processing of RNZA Assn archival documentation/photos. Any member who is in the area, or is passing on the day, is welcome to attend.