2005 National Council Resolutions

The following Resolutions were adopted by delegates at National Council 2005:

(a) Capitation 2006 – Local Associations, RSA Houses and RSA Clubs
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 2)

RESOLVED

That pursuant to the provisions of Rules 56 and 57, the capitation to be paid by Local Associations and Separately Incorporated Clubs for 2006 shall be an amount of $8.00 for each member in respect of all classes of member based on membership as at 31st December 2005 as certified by the Local Associations or Separately Incorporated Club’s auditors or reviewers plus goods and services tax at the prescribed rate for that year.

(b) RNZRSA – Financial Matters
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 3)

RESOLVED

That the National Executive Committee be empowered to “write off” amounts owing to RNZRSA of up to, but not exceeding, $10,000 for any one debtor, for irrecoverable debts.

(c) RNZRSA Business & Licensed Matters
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 4)

RESOLVED

That RNZRSA be strongly urged to create an in-house dynamic resource to provide proactive, timely advice and support to local associations on management and development of modern membership facilities and services.

(d) RNZRSA Welfare Policy 2005 – 2006
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 5)

RESOLVED

That this Council adopts the Ten Point Veterans Welfare Manifesto as the RNZRSA Welfare Policy for 2005 – 2006.

(e) RNZRSA Rules – Eligibility for Office
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 6)

RESOLVED

That Associate Members be eligible to stand for election to the offices of; National President, National Vice Presidents, District Presidents and Elected Members, and that the following amendment be made to RNZRSA’S rules:

1. Rule 17 Last para, line 1, after the word “service” add the words “and/or associate”; line 2, after (h) add “or 4(i)”, the amended para to read: “all of whom shall be financial Returned, and/or Service and/or Associate members as defined in Rules 4(g), or 4(h) or 4(i) of these Rules.”
2. Rule 18(g) Line 3; after 4(h) add “or 4(i)” the amended rule to read: “in the event of no nomination or insufficient nominations being received in any year for any particular office or offices as set out in sub-clause (a) hereof, NEC shall appoint a financial member or members admitted under Rules 4(g) or 4(h) or 4(i) to hold such office or offices and such appointee or appointees shall hold office until the conclusion of the Council Meeting next following such appointment or appointments.”
3. Rule 42 Line 1, after the words “or 4(h), add “or 4(i)”, the amended line 1 to read; “there shall be an NEC consisting of members who qualify under Rules 4(g) or 4(h) or 4(i) of these Rules:-“
4. Rule 44(f) Line 3, after “or 4(h)” add “or 4(i), the amended rule to read:
   “in the event of no nomination or insufficient nominations being received in any year for any particular office or offices as set out in sub clause (a) hereof NEC shall appoint a financial member or members admitted under Rules 4(g) or 4(h) or 4(i) to hold such office or offices and such appointee or appointees shall hold office until the conclusion of the Council Meeting next following such appointment or appointments.”
5. Rule 54(a) Line 2, after “service” add “or associate”; line 3, after “4(h)” add “4(i), the amended Rule to read: “there shall be a District President and may be one or more District Vice Presidents for each district all of whom shall be financial Returned or Service or Associate members (as defined under Rules 4(g) or 4(h) or 4(i) of these Rules) of a local Association within the relevant district and who shall be elected annually by delegates at a District Meeting to be held preceding the Council Meeting.”
6. Any amendments that arise in consequence of the amendments detailed above.

(f) RNZRSA – Association Badges – Returned & Service Members
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 8)

RESOLVED

8.1 That this Council endorses the NEC’s approval to add the word “And” between the words “Returned” and “Services” on the bar of the RSA badge, and

8.2 That the badge as amended be declared, with immediate effect, the official RSA badge to be issued to all Returned and Service members admitted to membership of an RSA from this date, and

8.3 That Returned and Service members admitted to membership of an RSA prior to this date be permitted the option of wearing the new badge or continuing to wear the badge appropriate to their category of membership, with which they were issued when admitted, and

8.4 That manufacture and supply of the service member badge be discontinued.

(g) RNZRSA – Association Badges – Associate Members
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 9)

RESOLVED

9.1 That this Council gives its approval to the design of the badge as depicted, and declares that, with immediate effect, it be the official badge issued to associate members admitted to membership of an RSA from this date, and

9.2 That Associate Members admitted to membership of an RSA prior to this date be permitted, should they so wish, to continue to wear the current Associate member badge, and

9.3 That the manufacture and distribution of the current badge cease forthwith.

(h) National Women’s Section RNZRSA
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 10)

RESOLVED

That this Council welcomes and endorses NEC’s recommendation that the national women’s section RNZRSA (NWS) be accepted as an affiliated organisation and, that the NEC be empowered to amend the fifth schedule to the rules of RNZRSA by adding the name of the national women’s section when the appropriate action in setting up the NWS is complete.

Further that the NWS be entitled to have one delegate and one observer at national council as is the case for other affiliates.

(i) National Council Composition - M & M Report Recommendations
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 11)

RESOLVED

That M & M recommendations, 2 (National Council restricted to District Presidents and six District Delegates each), 3 (District Presidents to carry proxy votes) and 6 (Council to be rotated outside Wellington), be deferred in the meantime, for further consideration.

(j) M & M Report - Other Proposed Changes to the Structure of NEC
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 12)

RESOLVED

That the M & M Report recommendations, 7 to 11 inclusive, be deferred in the meantime for further consideration.

(k) RNZRSA Rules, Rule 42 - National Executive Committee
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 13)

RESOLVED

1. That Rule 42 be amended by repealing sections:-

   (g) One financial member of the New Zealand Homeservicemen’s Association (Incorporated) to be appointed by that Association.

   (h) One financial member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Association (Incorporated) to be appointed by that Association.

   (i) One financial member of the New Zealand Army Association (Incorporated) to be appointed by that Association.

   (j) One financial member of the Ex-Royal Naval Men’s Association of New Zealand (Incorporated) to be appointed by that Association, and

2. That Rule 52(e) be amended by repealing subsection;

   (ef) Any vacancy or vacancies in respect of the Associations detailed in Rule 42(g) to (j) inclusive shall be filled on the appointment of the Association concerned.

3. That the NEC establish a Committee to consult on affiliated issues, and to bring to NEC matters of concern to Affiliates.

(l) Local Association Rules – Adoption of Standard Rules
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 14)

RESOLVED

That the Rules for local Associations currently titled “Model Rules” be retitled “the Standard Rules” and that they be adopted as such by this Council.

That this council strongly recommends to all local associations that the standard rules form the basis of their rules and that any variations to those rules be of a minor nature.

(m) Processing of Remits
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 15)

RESOLVED

That Council reaffirms that Rule 41 as it stands, accords NEC sufficient powers to manage the presentation of remits each year and instructs NEC to use them accordingly.

Rule 41 NEC shall have power to:-

(a) Revise, alter, or add to the wording of any remit presented for submission to the Council, without affecting the meaning of such a remit and to;

(b) Withhold from the Council any remit that may be deemed by NEC, to be ambiguous, incomprehensible, unreasonable, or otherwise repugnant to the objects of RNZRSA. Any remit so withheld shall be returned to the local Association or other member from whom it was received together with a full explanation of NEC’s decision.

(n) RNZRSA Rules – Remits
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 16)

RESOLVED

That Rule 40(a) line 4 be amended by repealing the words “three calendar months” and replacing them with “ten weeks”, the amended Rule to read:

(a) “NEC or any local Association or any District Meeting of local Associations or any Affiliated Organisation which desires to bring forward any remit to a meeting of the Council shall forward a copy of such remit to the Chief Executive on or before a date ten weeks before the date fixed for the meeting of the Council which shall be the final date for the receipt of such a remit.”

(o) RNZRSA Rules – Rule 22; Delegates and Voting Entitlement
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 17)

RESOLVED

That the RNZRSA National Council directs the NEC to review the allocation of delegates and voting entitlements as detailed in Rule 22(c), and bring forward recommendations to National Council 2006.

(p) RNZRSA Rules – Amendment to the Fifth Schedule
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 18)

RESOLVED

That the Fifth Schedule to the Rules of RNZRSA be amended by deleting:

The New Zealand Home Servicemen’s Association (Inc) and that such amendment be registered with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies.

(q) RNZRSA Rules - District Meetings
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 19)

RESOLVED (in amended form)

That Rule 55 be repealed and replaced with:

55 At least twice per year the District Presidents shall convene meetings of delegates from local Associations within their respective districts for the purpose of:-

(a) Considering and framing resolutions and remits for submission to NEC or the Council

(b) At the AGM to elect their District President and District Vice President(s) (if any), for the ensuing year

(c) Promoting the objects of RNZRSA.

Proxy voting shall be permitted at such District Meetings.

(r) New Zealand Flag – Reaffirmation of Support
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 21)

RESOLVED

That this Council reaffirms its strong support for the New Zealand flag and endorses RNZRSA Standing Policy, namely:

“It is the view of RNZRSA that any change to the New Zealand flag should be solely the prerogative of the people of New Zealand as determined by a substantial majority of electors in a referendum.

It is also the association’s view that this matter should be taken out of the political arena.”

(s) Changes to the New Zealand Flag – Referendum
(National Council 2005 – Remit No 22)

RESOLVED

Should the referendum be successful, to conduct a referendum to replace or add to or alter the current New Zealand flag ensign of the union jack and southern cross star configuration, then that conducted referendum result for change must be of a two thirds majority, anything less would clearly demonstrate that there is no fault with the present flag and the emblem remains popular.