28 APRIL 2004

From the President's Desk

The issue of the publication, distribution and cost of the Review has been a contentious and vexed one for a number of years.

In recent issues of the “old” Review, I provided to all members’ details of the background and rationale leading to the changes required, if the Review was to remain a major communication tool of the RSA.

This then is the first issue of the “new” Review.

Every member recently received from National Headquarters a detailed brief on how the Review would survive, why it was necessary for it to survive, how it would be published – and the beneficial results to RNZRSA and the membership that would result.

I would firstly like to congratulate James Ryan and Waterford Press. They have taken up the challenge to partner with RNZRSA to keep Review alive – but yet meet the economic imperatives that RNZRSA faces. Waterford Press deserves our absolute support and commitment. They have accepted the difficult commercial challenge we offered them, and to their credit decided with us, that the Review was too important to “fade away”.

Advertising is essential for the ongoing success of the Review, so I therefore urge all RSAs and individuals who have advertised in the past to continue to do so. Additionally we should all impress upon suppliers and like organisations the widespread benefits available through the distribution of the Review, and the benefits they can obtain through advertising in it.

You are all aware that you can now obtain 4 copies per year of the Review from, or through, your local RSA. There is however another option – that of Annual Subscription. I would urge those that enjoy the ability to read Review at their leisure, and file it away for future re-reading or reference, to take up the Subscription offer.

We do believe however, that the numbers being distributed throughout the Associations across the country will allow the membership to read and enjoy your Review.

You will also know that each year, shortly after Council, every member will receive a personally mailed “bumper” edition of the Review. This will update all members on the essential issues that face your organisation.

The new Review arrangement fits all the criteria you set for the Review – continuation of publication, reduction in costs, flexibility of distribution, professional publication, continued membership communication – and above all retains a magazine you can read and enjoy.

To James Ryan, Waterford Press and the staff there, Guardian Print in Ashburton, and our Consulting Editor Paul Harrison, we owe a vote of thanks and support.

NEC has now done its part. It is now over to you to ensure that the Review survives, thrives, and remains the essential tool of communication that it is.

OUR ORGANISATION
I have to date visited 75 RSAs during my nine months as President. Prior to National Council I will visit more. I have talked, but I have mostly listened. These then are my overall observations on our organisation at this time:-

1. The RSA is in good heart. Our national membership numbers (126,000) are holding, and we remain a major body of influence in the nation.
2. The membership is keenly awaiting the change recommended in the Independent (M&M) Review. My visits have confirmed, that with only perhaps two exceptions, the M&M Recommendations find almost universal favour and support within the membership.
3. That NEC will, acting under advisement from the membership, bring about the changes in a measured, sensible manner. Your concerns about one or two of the recommendations have been heard, and will be heeded.
4. That clearly the membership make-up of our organisation is changing with Associate Members now reaching the 50% mark in our total membership. Most Associations are cognisant of this, and have, or are, moving to accommodate and meet this changing environment. I would suggest that those few who have not, or who are having difficulty coming to grips with this fact, and the issues that flow from it, will be the ultimate losers.
5. My visits confirm that the make-up of the Executives is changing to meet and recognise the needs of generational change in leadership, of bringing more balance into the Executives (younger/older, male/female, returned/non-returned, associate members etc).
   This is not only healthy and needed – it is essential if the RSA is to live on.
6. We do have some RSAs that are struggling. Struggling financially, struggling for members, and struggling to accept and adapt to the need for change. Some of them (only a very few) will not survive -–but this is so in all organisations in the Country. RNZRSA will do everything in its power to assist in this area – but stubbornness, a lack of willingness to merge with other Organisations of a like nature, and a delayed reaction and response to obvious and apparent problems will contribute to the demise of a few of our RSAs.
7. On the other hand it is an absolute delight to visit the strong RSAs that have moved with the times. Good management, a vibrant friendly atmosphere, a good feel for what all the members want, is contributing to their success. They are alive, thriving and moving ahead with confidence. I congratulate them on their success. Such success needs reinforcing.
8. I sense, through my visits, a general accord on the need for us to be a totally inclusive and embracing organisation. An organisation where all members are not only part of the RSA family – but feel part of it. NEC will be exploring this issue over the next several months. We must ensure that we, the current caretakers, leave the organisation stronger and better placed than it is today.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WOMEN
On the 16th March 160 Women Delegates from 60 Women’s Sections throughout the Country meet at the Palmerston North RSA for a National Conference to discuss the future of women within the RSA, and the Women’s Sections – and the role they wished to play.

It has been disappointing to me that there is no women’s voice exercised or heard at NEC. This was an issue we needed to address.

In 1928 there was a call for the formation of a Women’s Section of the RSA, similar to the British Legion. It came to nothing. Here we are 77 years later – lets be positive this time.

I was privileged and delighted to hear the frank and healthy discussion and debate that took place during the Conference. There was unanimous support for the establishment of a National Women’s Section with full affiliation to RNZRSA. An interim Chairperson and Executive was elected to bring this to a reality and set the parameters on which the structure would be based. NEC thoroughly supports this initiative and will assist in every way. There are 16,000 Women’s Section members throughout the country in 160 Women’s Sections – this is a powerful voice – a voice that needs to be formally endorsed and embraced by RNZRSA.

I congratulate Claire Emberson and her Executive (which covers both the North and South Islands) and look forward to working with them to further strengthen the RNZRSA.

THE RNZRSA STATEMENT ON DEFENCE
On the 5th of May the RNZRSA will be issuing its Statement on Defence Policy.

This Statement is about Policy and not Politics. It results through a Council Remit in 2003 that required RNZRSA to make a public statement on defence policy in New Zealand.

The Defence Policy Statement has been developed consultatively with RSAs the length and breadth of the country. It sets out to provide an informed framework against which defence policies might be judged in public.

This is an RSA Policy Statement, and all members should be interested in it, and be prepared if appropriate to debate it and support it. It will undoubtedly create both political and media interest and debate, and may be seen in some quarters as contentious. We, as a group, will be challenged as to what right we have assumed to make a public statement on Defence. The answer to that question is obvious.

Enough for the first Issue of the “new” Review. This is your magazine, support it by subscribing if you want an individual posted copy, submitting articles etc to ensure its enjoyment and information value, and by advertising as much as possible.

Like you, I look forward to a bright future for the new Review

John Campbell
National President.