The Semaphore Circular No 648 The Beating Heart of the RNA April 2015 ‘The American Invasion’. USN Theodore Roosevelt( CVN-71) and USN Winston S Churchill (DDG -81) visited Portsmouth between the 22-27 March 2015. This was the first stop on their world deployment. The Aircraft Carrier has a ships company of 5,680 and can carry up to 90 fixed wing and rotary aircraft, she is so large she had to anchor in the Solent. USN Winston S Churchill is an Arleigh-Burke Guided Missile Destroyer with 2 Sea Hawk Helicopters and a crew of 370. In honour of her namesake the Royal Navy provides her with the Navigating Officer currently Lt Lynsey Sewell RN. RNA members are reminded that hard-copies of the Circular are distributed to each branch via their Secretary, but “silver-surfers” can download their own copy from the RNA website at www.royal-naval-association.co.uk .(See below) 1 Daily Orders 1. Ushakov Medal update 2. Election of NCM and DNCM 3. Pussers Rum – New Supplier 4. Gallipoli Event Whitehall – Update 5. Veterans Portrait Project 6. Guess Where? 7. Can anyone beat this Car Registration 8. Free to a good home 9. Curtain Rods Revenge 10. Finance Corner 11. Coleman/Ansvar Insurance 12. Donations received 13. Request for assistance Portsmouth Uni 14. Neil Armstrong.. 15. Lookie Likey 16. Mystery Yellow Badge - Answer 17. Arab and Scot Joke 18. Mountbatten Festival of Music 19. RN VC Series – Captain FredrickPeters 20. Fifty Shades of Golf 21. Lt Cdr Chris Gӧtke AFC RN 22. RNRMC News 23. Eastchurch Aviation Pioneers Day 24. Down Memory Lane 25. More Guess Where? 26. Uckers Boards 27. Assistance Please – Yorky Glenton 28. New RN Uniform Longcast “D’ye hear there” (Branch news) Ship’s Office 1. Swinging the Lamp For the Branch Secretary and notice-board Glossary of terms NCM National Council Member NC National Council AMC Association Management Committee FAC Finance Administration Committee NCh National Chairman NVCh National Vice Chairman NP National President DNP Deputy National President GS General Secretary DGS Deputy General Secretary AGS Assistant General Secretary CONA Conference of Naval Associations IMC International Maritime Confederation NSM Naval Service Memorial Throughout indicates a new or substantially changed entry 2 Contacts: Financial Controller 023 9272 3823 [email protected] FAX 023 9272 3371 Assistant General Secretary (Membership & Slops) 023 9272 3747 [email protected] Deputy General Secretary 023 9272 0782 [email protected] Shipmates Administrator 023 9272 0782 [email protected] General Secretary 023 9272 2983 [email protected] Admin 023 92 72 3747 [email protected] Find Semaphore Circular On-line ; http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/members/downloads or... RNA Website – Members Area – Downloads – Circulars – Code (Shipmate) RNA HQ Staff continue to attempt to build a library of e-mail addresses within the Association. It would be extremely helpful if those Branch Secretaries able to communicate by e-mail would forward a short e-message to HQ to [email protected] 3 Snail Trail Mail - Postal Address RNA HQ, Room 209, PP70, Semaphore Tower, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth Hants PO1 3LT Dear Shipmate s, We all feel as if we are in New York this week as thousands of American sailors stream ashore from the USS Theodore Roosevelt, all intent on getting to London and meeting the locals. They are coming through the arch in Semaphore Tower all in 50 shades of jeans!! Well, it is a bumper edition this month with some very important documents for you to share at your branch meetings. So, what have you got with mailing? • The Financial Statements for Financial Year 2014, subject to independent examination and approved by the National Council as the Board of Trustees for the Charity. The Financial Statements will be presented in Folkestone by the Hon Treasurer. • The Trustee’s Report for 2014. This is the main report from the National Council to be put before Conference 2015. It makes commentary on the activities of the Association for the year and how they relate to the charitable objects laid down in the Royal Charter. It also comments on the Financial Statements, reserves, risk management and other business issues in running the Charity. The Trustee’s Report will be presented in Folkestone by the National Chairman. • The Agenda for Conference 2015. This year’s agenda is a little different, following the changes to the Royal Charter approved last year. The Agenda is divided into the AGM and Conference phases. It has details of the motions approved for debate by the Standing Orders Committee, with 4 from the National Council and 2 from branches. The Agenda also includes details of those motions not approved for debate by the SOC and the proposed standing orders, which will be adopted by the delegates at an appropriate point in the Conference. If you have any questions about the financial statements or the Trustees report, please don’t wait for Conference – I am delighted to answer questions or provide clarification or further information as you would wish (either by e-mail or on the phone). Also please make sure that your Conference delegate understands the branch position on the various motions before Conference. Please don’t raise the motions with me, they are entirely a matter for the SOC and proposing branches. Other points of business: • We have had a great response to the Gallipoli March on 25 April with over 80 marchers turning up on the day, sufficient for the RNA to have a second squad. • Don’t forget planning for the Biennial March at the Cenotaph on 6 September, we now have our Sea Cadet band confirmed from the Southern Region, and Nigel and I have met with the Met (Police) and agreed the routine for the day. Depending on the security evaluation we may need some stewards on the day – I will let you know next month if that is necessary. • Keep the bookings coming for Folkestone 15. When y ou are booking please make sure that if any partner/wife/oppo/mistress wishes to go on the free trip to France that they let the Hotel know. • One for the back pocket – when you arrive at the Grand Burstin, it is VITAL that you let the front desk know your vehicle registration to prevent unnecessary charges. • Delighted that we have a new provider of Pussers Rum, see Circ for details. • There is a new link for the Branch insurance, correct link in the Circ. 4 The HQ staff have all now re-qualified as First Aiders, and we will have our AED (automatic external defibrillator) during major RNA events. You might like to know that the National Council is trying to set an example for a more relaxed approach to meetings, and hopefully attract the younger ex-naval members we all want (who generally aren’t keen on what they see as the stuffy formal side of the RNA). All National Council meetings are now optional rig, which means either standard blazer and tie or more relaxed RNA branded items, such as the pullovers, shirts etc, with the choice up to the individual. This of course does not apply to the Annual Conference which will remain formal RNA rig or parades. I appreciate that for some Branch Secretaries this time of year can seem a little daunting, please do ring the HQ if we can help, or you aren’t sure of what to do. I am very pleased indeed with the quick response of so many branches to the last set of termly accounts – thank you. Kindest regards Paul General Secretary 5 1. Ushakov Medal Update Shipmates may be interested in the note below form the General Secretary. Ushakov medal The HQ is getting a lot of questions about the presentation of the Ushakov medal, and if an individual will be getting the medal or not. The Ushakov Medal is entirely a matter for the Russian Federation authorities and the RNA cannot intervene on behalf of an individual. However, shipmates have found it helpful to know if they are on the list, or not. The list is an internet translation of a Russian document and will be imperfect, but if your name (or your relative’s name) is on the list then the Russian authorities should be in contact in due course. Remember that the Ushakov medal is only awarded to living recipients and is not awarded posthumously (unlike the Arctic Star). I hope you find this helpful Paul Quinn OBE General Secretary 2. Election of NCM and DNCM Shipmates should be aware that the revised Bye Law 6(a)i.d. requires the General Secretary to promulgate the names of all candidates in the next Circular following the receipt of nomination forms. The candidates are as follows: Area NCM DNCM 2 Allen Cox 6 Ridley Parry 7 Williams Warner 8 Dovey Mawhinney 9 Crawford Williams 11 McQueen None received Scotland Hesketh MacKenzie 10 Caulfield (elected) Wright As a result there will be no NCM or DNCM contested elections this year. Note that no DNCM nomination for 11 Area has been received. Nominations for DNCM 11 should reach the General Secretary as soon as possible and no later than 15 April 15 (in case there is a need for an election before Conference). 6 3. Pussers Rum – New supplier I am sure that Shipmates will be delighted to hear that that a new supplier, Drinkfinder, has been engaged by Cellar Trends on behalf of Pussers Rum. Best of all the new supplier will supply the rum at a discounted price for RNA members. Please see below how to contact them.......