Royal British Legion Dorset County Newsletter - April 2008

‘WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’
Mrs. Alison Senior - Vice President of Broadstone W.S

BRANCH & CLUB SEMINARS 2008

As at the 27th March 2008 2,739 Branches and 683 Clubs exist. The forecast for 2016 is that these figures will reduce to 1,600 and 350 respectively. Within the County a number of Branches and Clubs are struggling to survive and an uncomfortable number are under threat of closure or at best amalgamation. It is alarming reading for those of us who care about our organisation and the question most people ask is “why?”. A reduction in our armed forces, a lack of new members and a general feeling that HQ are no longer interested in the survival of unsuccessful clubs, are just some of the answers members may give, but are they correct? As I approach the latter part of my first year as your County Secretary, I believe I have experienced and witnessed enough to form a constructive opinion, some of which might not make for enjoyable reading. However, two further questions are posed; firstly, what are the County doing about it and secondly, what are you, the Branch and Club Officers, doing about it?

To answer the first question, the County have planned two seminars. The first is a Clubs seminar being held at the Verwood New Legion Club on 6th July with 3 guest speakers, Mr John Fincham, the region’s Clubs Business Advisor, Mr James Overy, New Legion Clubs Manager and Mr Alan Batham, Clubs Administration Manager, all of whom have a vast amount of experience and are “straight talkers”; you will certainly get direct answers to any questions you would like to pose. The second seminar is for Branches and will take place at the Bere Regis Club on 12th July with guest speakers Mr Terry Whittles, a member of the Board of Trustees and active in Branch national training, Mr Terry Harker from HQ Finance department (“Why are we only permitted to hold £1,000 at branch level?” I hear you ask) will be in attendance.

The second question is dependent on the amount of interest and experience that exist within the Branch and Club committees.

These seminars are designed to enrich the knowledge of the County’s Branch and Club Officers, so that they may carry out their responsibilities more confidently and with greater success. Ideally the Club Chairman and Secretary should attend the Club Seminar. The Branch Seminar should be attended by at least the Branch Chairman and Secretary but Branch Treasurers and Membership Secretaries would find the day equally useful.

Both seminars are expected to start at 10am and last for approximately 4 hours, with lunch being provided at no cost to the delegate attending. In addition motor mileage allowance has been authorised. Your full support at these seminars is respectfully requested. Please find enclosed an attendance proforma. NIL RETURNS ARE REQUESTED.

It is your County, it is your organisation and together we can make a positive change. Please attend.

Clubs and Individual Members Fined

In two separate instances RBL Clubs were fined recently for offences against the Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1965, the Licensing Act 1964 and the Gaming Act 1968.

In the first instance the Club was fined £250 plus £255 costs for failing to submit on time the required returns to the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

In the second instance 11 members of the Committee were fined personally for allowing nonmembers (other than bona fide guests) to use the Club facilities. The fines totalled nearly £3,000 and ranged from £60 to £570 dependent on the individual Committee members ability to pay. The above fines were levied against the individual members of the Committee and cannot be paid from Club funds as this would be contrary to the “Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1955” under which the Club Rules are registered.

“OBEY YOUR CLUB RULES OR PAY”

VISITORS TO CLUBS

We have received many letters from Clubs and non-members trying to gain access to Clubs, about problems encountered at the door of the Club. The persons entitled to use the Club are detailed in the Rules but it may be helpful to display the following notice:-

"ADMISSION TO A ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CLUB

This is a Private Registered Club and we regret that the law only allows the admittance of Club Members, affiliated Club Members and their “bona fide” guests as defined in the Clubs Registered Rules. If you would like to apply for membership of The Royal British Legion and our Club, please ask for the “Duty Committee Member”."

LEGION IN THE COMMUNITY EVENTS (LIC)

Changes in the approach of HQ to the Legion in the Community (LIC) events has resulted in the fact that any event held to further LIC is not now required to break even; there is even a facility for County to ‘subsidise’ the costs of staging the event. Each year in April/May the County Officers meet with the Regional Publicity & Recruitiment Officer (RPRO) to discuss the Recruiting/LIC budget and to make a bid for the following Legion year.

To enable the County to make an accurate and valid bid it is important that we are aware of the events proposed by various branches and it would be appreciated if any branch planning to hold a function, be it for LIC or otherwise, let the County Recruiting Officer or County Secretary know.

It would be helpful to know the date, venue, proposed aim of the event, and whether this is an event organised by the Royal British Legion, or the Branch is participating in an event organised by someone else. Many of the events are those, with which the branch will have been involved for many years, and are likely to be held again in subsequent years. As well as possible funding from HO or County for the event, it is also very possible that the county office can help out with promotional items, literature and equipment to help ensure your event is a success and the Legion is shown in the best possible light.

It is appreciated that in many branches, members spend numerous hours and much effort arranging local events. These events are rarely publicised, except, perhaps within the local area. It is sad that all that work is not better appreciated. Send the details of your event to the County office, and the details will be included in the County Newsletter for other branches to see and to perhaps encourage other branches to get involved in LIC.

As well as the RPRO, and County Secretary, the county also has two County Recruiting Offers, all of whom are there to assist you with any advice you should need to organise an event. Please get in touch with County Office if you would like further information.

500 CLUB FEB RESULTS
Drawn at Highcliffe
£10 262 Blandford
£10 181 Christchurch
£10 456 Ferndown Club
£5 495 Rein P Oxford
£5 270 Marnhull
£5 55 Broadstone
£5 327 Hamworthy

DIRECTORY CHANGES

President of Marnhull Branch delete Comd P Wardley insert:- Capt D Pender-Cudlip, Cross Tree House, Burton Street, Marnhull, DT10 1PP

The Great Dorset Steam Fair

The County will have a presence at this years show in the form of a recruitment articulated
lorry. The event is held over five days (Wed 27th-Sun 31st Aug) and 4 volunteers per day are required to man the recruiting platform. Entrance tickets and meals will be provided. Anyone interested in assisting should contact the County Secretary soonest.

LONDON MARATHON 2008

On the 13th of April WO2 JJ Jarvis will be running the London Marathon on behalf of The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

JJ is currently serving with the Royal Dragoon Guards based in Dorset and is an active member of the Riders Branch. Any person who would like to sponsor JJ should contact him at www.bmycharity.com/JJsMarathon

LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND GOLD BADGE AWARDS

Mr Ken Green (Life Membership) and Mr Ian Ewen (Gold Badge) both of Lytchett United Branch will be receiving their awards on Monday 21st April. The event is open to all RBL Members and the presentation is expected to take place at 2100hrs a buffet will be provided.

WEYMOUTH BRANCH MOVE

Weymouth Branch have vacated Legion House and with immediate effect all correspondence to the Branch must be sent to the appropriate addressees as listed in the latest County directory.

JOB VACANCY:POOLE

Dolphin Stairlifts are looking for a stores person to work in their modern Holes Bay premises. Hours to suit but will be approx 35 hours per week, generous salary. Would suit a mature, cheerful person who is willing to join a happy team.

Further information from Rob or Lin Edwards 01202 669194

Abbotsbury & Portesham RBLWS

Next meeting Monday 14th April at 7.30pm in the Portesham Village Hall. Guest speaker Mr T Toop

OBITUARIES

Mrs Eve Raymond OBE was one of the founder members of the Wimborne Royal British Legion Women’s Section and was the President of the Dorset RBLWS from 1955 onwards. Mrs Raymond, 86, was National Vice Chairman from 1983 to 1986, National Chairman from 1986 to 1989, and County President until recently. Eve only resigned prior to this years County conference as she felt unable to carry on. The County decided that Eve should be the Patron, an appointment that she was very proud and honoured to hold.

She was always a very active County president and not just a figurehead. Unless she was on holiday or ill she would attend all County Committee meetings, always on hand to give valued advice when needed. She left you in no doubt of her opinions.

As President of our Wimborne WS we have lost a good leader, friend and member, Mrs Raymond was a very generous, active and knowledgeable person.

When she passed away she was the most senior National life Vice President, an honour conferred when they finish the term of office as National Chairman.

Eve will be sorely missed she was an inspiration to the people who knew her.

65th ANNIVERSAY OF THE D-DAY LANDINGS

Of course, it will be remembered that the immediate precursor to the Allied landings was the capture of what was to become known as Pegasus and Horsa Bridge. This was in reality the first part of mainland Europe to be liberated.

To celebrate the 65th anniversary of this momentous event, there will be a sponsored run from Tarrant Rushton to Pegasus Bridge, only on this occasion the transport will be via car ferry instead of Horsa Glider.

The idea of this sponsored run will be to raise £500,00, part of which will be used to fund a perpetual memorial at Pegasus Bridge. Hopefully, there will be surplus monies which will be shared between The Royal British Legion, RAF Benevolent Fund, BLESMA and St Dunstans.

The run will take place from 4th-6th June, 2009, obviously departing from Rushton Tarrant, the airfield from which the tugs and gliders took off.

The Directors, Trustees and Committee of this project are looking for practical support in this venture and sincerely hope that the County of Dorset of The Royal British Legion will be able to offer such assistance, as well as perhaps being able to assist financially by way of donations.

For further information may be obtained from visiting the website www.project65.net

On behalf of the Directors, Trustees and Committee of this project thank you for perhaps taking the time to seek further information on this project.

Owen D Parker.
Project65 Director,
Vice Chairman,
Bedfordshire County.

Any Correspondence relating to this newsletter should be addressed to:

Mr SD Harrison
The Stables
Legion House
Church Lane
Blandford Forum
DT11 7LA
Tel 01258 458202