The Rhodesia Army Association

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Formation

The Rhodesia Army Association was formed in early 1989 in the United Kingdom.

The Aims of the Rhodesia Army Association (RAA)

1. Publish a Military History of the Rhodesian Army covering the period 1964 to 1980
2. To provide a focal point for the furtherance of the aims of other Associations e.g. RAR, RLI, Retired Officers, etc.
3. Organise reunions and maintain contact between former members of the Army on an international basis thus fostering comradeship and assistance.
4. Maintain an up to date record of all who served in the Rhodesian Army.
5. Establish branches of the Association wherever there are sufficient numbers to make it viable.
6. Invest any income from the publication of the History and to use the proceeds to assist any former members of the Rhodesian Army who might have fallen on hard times.

Constitution and Rules

PART I: THE CONSTITUTION
THE CONTENTS

Name of the Association 1.1.
Aims of the Association 1.2.
Association Badge and Colours 1.3.
Membership of the Association . I.5
Election of Members 1.7.
Branches 1.9.
Management 1.11.
Composition of Committees 1.13.
Annual General Meetings (AGMs) 1.19.
Special General Meetings (SGMs) 1.20.
Eligibility to vote 1.21.
Voting 1.22.
Accounts 1.23.
Audit 1.25.
Financial Status 1.27.
Subscriptions 1.28.
Grant Aid 1.29.
Stock & Moveable Assets 1.30.
Headquarters Location 1.32.
Contract Personnel 1.33.
Annual Reports 1.34.
Suspension or Expulsion 1.35.
Amendments 1.37.
Winding up of the Association 1.39.

Appendix A: Organigram Management Structure
Appendix B: Duties & Responsibilities: Chief Exectutive Officer
Appendix C: Duties & Responsibilities: Chief Research Officer
Appendix D: Form A: Application for full membership / questionnaire
Appendix E: Form B: Application for associate membership/questionnaire
Appendix F: Form C: Application for honorary membership.

PART I: THE CONSTITUTION
NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION

1.1. The name of the Association shall be the Rhodesian Army Association. The abbreviation for this name shall be RAA. In this constitution it is here after called the Association.

AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION

1.2. The Aims of the Association shall be to;
a. Publish a Military History of the Rhodesian Army covering the period 1964 to 1980.
b. Provide a focal point for the furtherance of the aims of other related Associations e.g. RAR, RU, Retired Officers etc.
c. Organise reunions and maintain contact between former members of the Rhodesian Army on an International basis thus fostering comradeship and assistance.
d. Maintain an up to date record of all who served in the Rhodesian Army.
e. Establish Branches of the Association wherever there are sufficient numbers to make it viable.
f. Invest any income from the publication of the History and use the proceeds to assist any former members of the Rhodesian Army or their dependants who might have fallen on hard times.

ASSOCIATION BADGE AND COLOURS

1.3 The badge of the Association shall be the right hand arm flash of the Rhodesian Army and the colours of the Association shall be red and green.

1.4. The badge, name and colours of the Association are registered as a trade mark.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION

1.5. Membership of the Association shall be open to all races.

1.6. There shall be three types of membership, namely:
a. Full Members
All those who served in the Regular Army or the Territorial Force of Rhodesia for not less than six months during the period 1964 - 1980.
b. Associate Members
All descendants or dependants of full members over the age of eighteen.
c. Honorary Members
Persons not eligible for membership as detailed above, but who have the interests of the Association at heart and wish to be associated with it.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS

1.7. Full and Associate members as outlined in paragraphs 1.6.a. and b. become members automatically on completion of forms A or B.

1.8. Honorary members must be recommended by two full members to the National Executive of the Country in which they reside on form C. The approval or rejection of this application by the National Executive shall be final.

BRANCHES

1.9. Branches may be set up world wide wherever there are sufficient members to so warrant.

1.10. The minimum number of members to form a branch should be ten. This, however, does not preclude membership of the Association if there are insufficient members to form a specific area.

MANAGEMENT

1.11. The overall management of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Committee.

1.12. National Committees responsible to the Executive Committee shall be formed in all countries in which there are sufficient members. Committees responsible to the National Committee will be formed as follows:
a. Area Committees
These may be formed at a Regional or Provincial level.
b. District Committees
These maybe formed in cities or towns where it is warranted.

COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES

1.13 The Executive Committee shall consist of:
a. The Patron
b. Chief Executive Officer
c. Chief Research Officer
d. National Committee Representatives
e. Representatives of Regimental Associations.

1.14. The Executive Committee may co opt consultants / advisors as and when it is necessary or expedient.

1.15. National Committees shall consist of:
a. A chairman elected by the Committee.
b. Representation of Area Committees,
c. Up to five full members in a consultative / advisory capacity.

1.16. Area Committees shall consist of:
a. A chairman elected by the Committee.
b. Representative of District Committees.
c. Up to three full members in a consultative / advisory capacity.

1.17 District Committees shall consist of:
a. A chairman elected by the committee.
b. Up to four full members.

1.18. Committees are to elect their own secretaries and if necessary a treasurer from among their own numbers.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGMs)

1.19. AGMs will take the following form:
a. Timing
This shall be as laid down by National, Area or District Committees and approximate dates will be laid down in Part II, The Rules. This is to be in the same calendar month annually.
b. Notification
The secretary of the relevant committee shall give each member of the National, Area or District Branch at least 14 days notice in writing of the date fixed. This notification is to include the agenda, financial statement and details of any special business.
c. Agenda
This shall be as follows:
i. Attendance and apologies.
ii. Minutes of the last AGM.
iii. Matters arising from these minutes.
iv. Committee Reports.
v. Executive Committee Report.
vi. Elections.
vii. Any special resolution of which the required notice has been given.
viii. Members may raise matters of interest to the Association.
d. Chairman
The chairman elected by the relevant committee shall take the chair at any General Meeting.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

1.20. A special General Meeting may be called at any level of the Association by the Executive Committee. In addition such a meeting shall be called following the delivery to the secretary of a written request signed by not less than twenty five percent of the branch concerned. Such special General Meetings shall be held within four weeks of the delivery of the request to the secretary and all members will be given at least 14 days notice in writing of the special General Meeting. No business other than that specified in the written request shall be transacted. Notification of any special General Meetings must be passed to the Executive Committee.

ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

1.21. Members shall have the following voting rights:
a. Full Members - 2 votes
b. Associate Members - 1 vote
c. Honorary Members - No vote

VOTING

1.22. In view of paragraph 1.21. above voting shall be by ballot with different coloured slips for full and associate members. Postal ballots are permissible.

ACCOUNTS

1.23. A treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to keep the Association Account up to date at all times, and the former must be in a position to advise the Executive Committee at its meetings of the state of the accounts.

1.24. The same system shall apply at National, Area and District level if necessary.

AUDIT

1.25. The Association's financial year shall end on 31st October annually.

1.26. An auditor shall be appointed to audit the accounts of the Association annually. The audited accounts shall be distributed to all Committees and Branches as part of the Annual Report.

FINANCIAL STATUS

1.27. The Association is registered as a Charitable Trust Fund and Publishers of Military History.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

1.28. There will be no fee for membership of the Association. Subscriptions, however, will be necessary to cover the cost of newsletters and periodicals. The level of these subscriptions will be laid down in Part II, The Rules.

GRANT AID

1.29. Details of grant aid will be drawn up and advised after the publication of the History.

STOCK AND MOVEABLE ASSETS

1.30. The Chief Executive shall appoint a person or persons to order and maintain an inventory of all stock and moveable assets. In this respect stock means such items as shirts, T shirts, ashtrays, ties, cuff links, glasses and other items emblazoned with the Association crest.

1.31. Stock will be manufactured in a country in which there is a beneficial rate of exchange for members and will be sold slightly above cost to defray expenses.

HEADQUARTERS LOCATION

1.32. The location of the Headquarters of the Association which shall house the Executive Committee and the Research Centre shall be decided by the Chief Executive Officer in the light of prevailing conditions.

CONTRACT PERSONNEL

1.33. The Chief Executive Officer can engage such contract personnel as may be required to expedite the publication of the History or such other matters which are in the interests of the Association.

ANNUAL REPORTS

1.34. The Executive Committee, Branch Committees at National, Area and District level are to submit reports for their AGMs. Details of the content required are included in Part II, The Rules.

SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION

1.35. National Committees shall have the power to suspend or expel any member guilty of any serious breach of the Constitution or Rules or whose conduct is represented as likely to endanger the welfare and good order of the Association.

1.36. Such member should first be given, if he so desires, the opportunity of appearing in person before a National Committee. He may appeal to the Executive Committee against any decision made by a National Committee. Their decision shall be final.

AMENDMENTS

1.37. Amendments to the Constitution (Part I) may be made by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee after due consultation with branches of the Association.

1.38. Amendments to the Rules (Part II) may be made by a two-thirds majority of a National Committee after due consultation with its own branches. The Rules may differ slightly from Country to Country in the light of existing circumstances. Any changes to national rules must be approved by the Executive Committee as being in the interests of the Association as a whole.

WINDING UP OF THE ASSOCIATION

1.39. In the event of it being apparent to the Executive Committee that membership of the Association has dropped below the level needed to sustain it then national Special General Meetings should be called with a view to re - vitalising or winding up the Association.

1.40. In the event of the Association being wound up it shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to dispose of any assets in the light of circumstances at the time. No individual member is to benefit from such a decision. The interests of Rhodesians and Rhodesia should be paramount in any decision in this respect.

APPENDIX A TO CONSTITUTION
RHODESIAN ARMY ASSOCIATION
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
NOTES

(1) Provincial level or grouping of countries.
(2) City or town level.
(3) All data directed into Research Centre.
(4) Address lists updated every six months

APPENDIX B TO CONSTITUTION
RHODESIAN ARMY ASSOCIATION
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

1. In as much as he has provided all the funds for the publication of the History, Major B.N. Jones shall be appointed the Chief Executive Officer.

2. The Chief Executive Officer shall have overall financial control of the Association subject to adherence to the Constitution.

3. Among his responsibilities shall be the following:
a. The Publication of the History of the Rhodesian Army 1964 - 1980.
b. The selection and engagement of all contract personnel.
c. The location of the Headquarters and the Research Centre.
d. The implementation of recommendations of the Association's Accountant in respect of financial matters.
e. The implementation of major policy as agreed by the Executive Committee.
f. Chairmanship of the Executive Committee.

4. The tenure of office of the Chief Executive shall be up to the publication of the History and may be extended by the Executive Committee and with the approval of the Patron for a further three years.

APPENDIX C TO CONSTITUTION
RHODESIAN ARMY ASSOCIATION
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES;
CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER (C.R.O.)

1. The Chief Research Officer (CRO) shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer.

2. The Chief Executive Officer will decide:
a. His terms of reference.
b. Details of his contract.

3. The Chief Research Officer shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer for:
a. The collection and collation of all information for the History.
b. The follow up and authentication of all information received.
c. The general content of the History.
d. The compilation and updating of all lists of members of the Association.
e. Liaison with members, other sources and interested parties.
f. Editing the Quarterly Newsletter.
g. Such other matters that the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time decide.

Origin of the Logo

Some comments have been received that the Lion & Tusk on the Rhodesia Army Association logo is facing the wrong way. It is supposed to. When the decision on the logo was made it was decided not to follow the Army HQ logo.

Rhodesia Army Association