ROYAL NAVAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION (RNWA)
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS MEETING
HELD 1915 THURSDAY 21st MARCH 2024 BY ZOOM
Present
Colin Hughes (CH) President
Pat Prior QVRM (PP) Vice President & Treasurer
Lyn Gannon (LG) Secretary
Don McGeorge (DM) Membership Secretary
Tony Webber (TW) Committee Member
Jim Donaldson (JD) Committee Member
David Spicer (DS) Committee Member
Adrian Hamilton (AH) Member
Vicky Hamilton (VH) Member
Mark Yates (MY) Member
James Leeson (JL) Member
John Glover (JG) Member
Committee Member Apologies
Tony Mason (TM)
Member Apologies
Kathryn Simmons, Christine Senior, Lesley McCarthy, Greta Grindell, Marina Christopher, Vince Hawkins, Peter Danks, Janet Moyse, Kym Carr, Steve Hamblin, Jake Bailey, David Scott, Alf Parr, Penny Wallis, Jim Froggatt, Julia Appleby and Gillian Orchard.
Crossed the Bar
A minutes silence was held in memory of Pat McCarthy, Colin Way, Harry James, Andy Morton, Gerald Jarvis BEM, Richard Eddy and Louise Jones.
Minutes of the last meeting 16 November 2023
The minutes of the last meeting were approved – proposed by DM, seconded by PP.
Matters Arising from 18th January
No matters arising from these minutes.
Treasurers Report
PP reported that the balance as of this day was £4846-73. This includes £1471.50 ring fenced funds. An asset of £500 was the deposit paid for next years’ dinner. The first batch of Polo Shirts sold had made a profit of £190.24 and the second batch (arriving and being posted this Friday) had made a profit of £119.15, with 2 orders still to be paid for. DM agreed to chase this up.
AH asked for the details of the shirts, for him to consider for his local RNA and JD agreed to email the details to him.
Revised Rules and Regulations
CH said that the committee were working on a rewrite of the Rules and Regulations, with just one or two items left to clarify. They will be approved at the Annual General Meeting in October (held prior to the Annual Dinner).
Grand National Tickets 2025 – feasibility of using a number generator rather than printing tickets
CH said that this would save a significant sum of money on printing and postage costs but the downside was members buying books to sell on to others would not have tickets to hand over.
It was agreed to put this in the newsletter with a poll asking who would prefer just numbers, to gauge what members want.
ACTION LG to put this in the next newsletter
Proposal to allocate £100 for raffle prizes for the Annual Dinner.
CH asked for approval for £100 to be spend on 2-3 good quality raffle prizes to start the raffle off, with members/guests attending the dinner to bring a raffle prize and donate it.
LG said that this was already on the application form, which was due to go live shortly.
Cenotaph Marching Contingent
LG has consulted with the TRBL for the RNWA to have its own platoon to march at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in London on 10 November. Confirmation of how many tickets we will be allocated will be known by mid-May, then applications will be taken for the places. If more apply than tickets given, a ballot will be conducted, by Zoom, for fairness. Once LG has names and details, the application form is sent to TRBL, who will send out an e-ticket to individuals at the end of October.
Membership Update
DM provided the following information:
New Members Since Last Meeting:
Adrian Griffiths Ex POWtr
Dave Walsh Ex Lt Cdr
Fiona Evans Ex POWWtr
Jim Froggatt Ex CPOWtr
Julia Appleby Ex LWWtr
Katrina Plummer Ex POWWtr
Kevin Wood Ex CPOWtr
Kym Carr Ex Wren Wtr (G)
Marina Christopher Ex LWWtr
Paul Hobbs Ex CPOWtr
Ron Niccolls Ex CPOWtr
Sharon Jones LWtr
Totals in membership:
After allowance for those that have lapsed/resigned (4) and CtB (3) advised since last figures were published (Jan):
Date:
Oct 23: Honorary Life 3, Life 29, Members 218, Totals: 250
Jan 24: Honorary Life 3, Life 28, Members 249, Totals: 254
Mar 24: Honorary Life 3, Life 28, Members 280, Totals: 285
There is 1 member (Robert Smith) due to move to Life Member in July 2024.
Standing Orders:
As at time of writing, there are some 67 Standing Orders in operation – representing approximately 26.5% of the total paying membership – last report 18.5%.
Polo Shirts Update
Further to the report from the Treasurer above, DM said that they were selling well and he will be asking members if they would like to purchase a shirt at the Annual Dinner. He wondered if members would like a sweatshirt next. It was agreed to ask this question in the Newsletter to get feedback on what members would like. VH asked about scarves for the ladies, but it was pointed out that this had been asked before but there were no takers – the AOW have their own scarf that ladies tend to wear.
ACTION LG to add into the Newsletter
Any Other Business
LG said that herself and PP had completed an application for a grant from the RNRMC towards the cost of the dinner.
AH said that the RNA holds a biennial parade in September at the Cenotaph (next one due 2025) and would appreciate support from other Associations. LG will add details into the Newsletter.
ACTION LG to add into the Newsletter
There being no further topics for discussion, the meeting closed at 2015.
The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 16 May 2024. (Change of day for this meeting).