26 REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
CHARTER
1.
The Association,
entitled “The 26 Regiment Association,” was formed in
2.
The 26 Regiment Association is essentially the old comrades association of
past member of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery.
(Those who served in 26 Regiment Royal Artillery before 1947 already
have a thriving association and this continues as a separate organisation.)
3.
The 26 Regiment Association is affiliated to the Royal Artillery Association
(RAA).
4.
Full Members- Full membership of the Association is open to anyone
who has served (since 1947) on the posted strength of 26 Regiment Royal
Artillery. This specifically applies to
men and women of the Royal Artillery, but also includes men and women of any
other branch of the Army. Serving
members of the Army, who are in 26 Regiment or who have served in 26 Regiment,
are also eligible to join and it will be normal for the CO and RSM to be full
members. Importantly, all those who
leave 26 Regiment are to be invited to join the Association under arrangements
made by the Regimental Representative (see para9f).
5.
Honorary
Members- Honorary membership of the
Association is open to anyone who has close links with 26 Regiment. Honorary membership is specially to cover
widows and relatives of the deceased members of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery. Honorary membership is also open to those
civilians who have served the regiment.
Honorary members may not vote on matters raised at the AGM.
6.
Friends- Friends of Full and Honorary may attend events of the
Association, but only with a member.
7.
Authorisation- Membership of the Association may be sought by anyone
eligible under these rules. In the event
of there being some doubt about an application, the 26 Regiment Association
Council (see
8.
The specific
purposes of the Association are to provide:
a.
A focus for
comradeship, largely through periodic reunions.
b.
A very limited
welfare service. This essentially means
that the 26 Regiment Association, in promoting contacts between members,
provides a network through which help can be given to any member. The focus for this activity within the 26
Regiment Association is the Secretary (see
c.
For those who
have subscribed to the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund for 10 years, full
membership of the 26 Regiment Association also carries
the entitlement to life membership of any local Royal Artillery Association
Branch. Everyone granted membership of
the Royal Artillery Association in this way will receive the appropriate
membership documents from the General Secretary RAA.
9.
The
26 Regiment Association Council
will oversee the affairs of 26 Regiment Association. The Council will meet at Association
reunions. The Council is to be made up
of the Following:
a.
President – Normally the Honorary Regimental Colonel of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery.
b.
Chairman
c.
Secretary – Responsibilities cover:
1.
Association
Membership
2.
Correspondence
3.
Providing a focus
for the Association’s welfare work and link to the RAA/RACF.
4.
Association
delegate to the annual Royal Artillery Assembly.
d.
Treasurer – Responsibilities cover:
1.
Account for all
the finances of the 26 Regiment Association.
2.
Present a
statement of the account to the Council (annually) and to the AGM of the
Association.
e.
Regimental
Secretary - 26 Regiment Royal
Artillery – to provide the link with the Regimental recruiting area, in
particular the Regional RAA representative.
f.
Commanding
Officer of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery
Association, or his representative – the Regimental Representative. While the CO will state the Regimental policy
in relation to Association matters, a regimental representative is required
specifically to:
1. Act as the point of contact on Association matters
within 26 Regiment Royal Artillery.
2.
Promote
membership of the Association from within 26 Regiment Royal Artillery –
especially amongst those who leave the Regiment.
g.
Representatives
– Members
of the Association that wish to serve on the General Committee
a. Executive Committee is to run the routine affairs of the
Association and is to meet as required.
The Executive Committee is to be made up of the Chairman, the Vice
Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Welfare Officer
b. Election of Officers-
(Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.)
That the Officers of
the Association serve a term of six years and then stand down, they may if they
wish be put forward for re-election, for a further term of office. Only one
officer should stand down at each general meeting, as this would give
continuity to the association.
10. In general, the Association will:
h.
Organise and hold
a reunion, at least once every other year, at a location, which meets the
wishes of the majority of the members.
The central purpose of these reunions is to include a meeting of the
Council and the GM of the Association.
i.
Maintain a list
of members with addresses and circulate a copy of this list to all Full and
Honorary members with the instructions for the biannual reunion.
j.
Circulate a
periodic newsletter to members.
11. Membership
fees are to be determined by the Council.
There is to be a fee to join the Association and a renewal fee is to be
paid every year in which a reunion is held.
12. Fees
are to cover the costs of administration, including telephone calls, postage,
stationery and the cost of sending the Association delegate to the annual RAA
Assembly.
13. Reunions
should be self-financing – that is, those attending should meet the full cost
of all the activities of the reunion.
Amendments. As per the General Meeting on 8th
March 2008.