Reliving History – ‘Today’ Friday 19th – 21st February Napier Returned Services’ Association Incorporated 34 Vautier Street, PO Box 253, NAPIER. NZ Telephone 0-6-835 7629 email [email protected] Veterans’ Affairs Announcements 1. Veterans’ Independence Programme From 7 December 2015 Veterans” Affairs has some new ability and new funding to help eligible veterans. We are also making changes to the way in which we contract for service delivery which will enable us to provide more services, to more veterans. From 7 December 2015, the Veteran’s Independence Programme (VIP) comes into effect. This programme will bring together a number of current forms of support for veterans, with some new government funding and broader eligibility criteria. The objective of VIP is to support veterans to live independently in their home, based on need. It will cover such things as: Lawns and gardens House cleaning. Gutters, windows and house washing Home modifications, such as ramps. Attendant care on a short term basis Adaptive clothing and footwear. Under the VIP, Veterans’ Affairs will be able to consider support for veterans who have qualifying service but do not have a service related injury or illness. A short needs assessment form has been developed to help identify veterans who may be eligible and benefit from this new, independence-based support programme. 2. The Travel Allowance and Recreational Travel Concession (RTC) This will also be available to qualifying Veterans under Veterans’ Independence Programme, however, you must be in receipt of a War Disability Pension (WDP) of 100% or greater, or a Disability Pension (DP) with accepted disabilities totaling 75% whole person impairment,or greater. The mileage rate is unchanged at 27 cents per km. For further information or clarification Veteran’s you may contact your Veterans’ Affairs Case Manager directly on 0800 483 8372, or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you may make an appointment through the Napier RSA Reception Telephone 0-6-835 7629, to discuss your circumstances and complete a “short needs assessment form” with one of our local Support Advisors – John Purcell, Tony Fraser or Mick Stutchbury Presidents Report Accompanying your ‘Annual Subscription’ this year, which is due 31st March 2016 for the 2016/17 financial year will be your new RSA Discount Card (not a membership card) and a book of Lottery Tickets (10 Tickets) for you to hopefully on-sell to family and friends. We suspect some Members will take great umbrage at this inclusion, others will get out and on-sell them as speedily as possible and return the proceeds to the Club. For those that are unhappy at being sent a book of Lottery Tickets let me say that you are under no obligation to sell them, simply return the unsold book to the main lounge bar or reception by not later than Monday the 22nd February. For those members who wish to accept the challenge – ‘Thank You’ for your support. To those that have previously misread read or misunderstood the legacy of the Trust let me once again explain; the purpose of the ‘Trust’ is to set up the Napier RSA 100year legacy to help local under privileged Students into Tertiary Education with the proviso that once qualified they come back into the Hawke’s Bay Community and work in the social service sector i.e. Health, Education, resulting in a direct benefit to the people of Napier and the wider community Imagine if you will that your son, daughter, or grand child is a shining star but cannot afford the costs of a University or specialty Education, the Funds that you contribute towards the Lottery will give them the hand up to achieve their goals. The fundraising from the Lottery will only provide ‘Start Up’ capital, the Trustee which includes Ken Foote (HBDHB) and Mayor Bill Dalton to name two, will begin the job of doubling or even trebling those funds already generated to go towards assisting Members families and members within the Hawkes Bay Community. There is no financial gain for the Napier RSA, no funds will be paid out nor into the Napier RSA as a result of any surplus funds raised above the cost of the prizes – all profits go directly into the Trust Fund. Your efforts and the efforts of in excess of 300 plus other clubs (RSA’s and Cosmopolitan Clubs) nationwide who are selling tickets can make a difference, perhaps a difference to someone near and dear to you. We have heard of a few members openly discouraging others to purchase tickets, while they are entitled to their opinion I can’t help but feel their negativity is not based on fact, it is simply a personal preference and at the end of the day it is their right to make a purchase or not, however I do take the opportunity to point out that the establishment and the purpose of the ‘Trust’ was unanimously endorsed by the members at the 2015 AGM The Napier RSA has a proud tradition of supporting our veterans and the community of Napier and over the years has invested back into the membership $100,000’s, maybe $1,000,000 of dollars, and with your support we would like to see that continue The RSA came from the Community, the Returning Soldiers from all conflicts, their families and friends. Our legacy is to return to the Community from which we came and with your support we can leave something that is a very real benefit to our families and their families. J Purcell - QSM J.P. President NAPIER RSA National Lottery on Sale from the 11th December 2015 through to February 2016 FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS Napier RSA Members Bar Napier RSA Reception (during office hours) Norfolk Lounge Restaurant RSA Centenary Shop – 205 Emerson Street, Napier RSA WEBSITE – Poppy Shop Resellers wishing to sell tickets to family and friends can get a book from Reception or the Main Lounge Bar www.rsanpier.co.nz Minutes of the Napier RSA Executive Committee Monthly Meeting held in their Clubrooms, 34 Vautier Street, Napier at 10.00am on Saturday 30th January 2016 Welcome: The President welcomed the Executive Committee Attendees: J Purcell (President), J Miller (Vice President), J Shipman, R Rowe, B Williams, B Jordan, H Hilton, J Hamer, N Thompson (Women’s Section), D Fraser (Patron) CE C Williams Apologies: B Strong Prev Minutes: Moved as True & Written Record Matters Arising: No Matters Arising Correspondence: As tabled Moved the Inward be received and outward endorsed. Unanimous. CE Report: As tabled with the following discussed 1. Motion that the Executive Committee fully support the Presidents decision regarding succession planning. Unanimous 2. Motion that the Executive Committee fully support the CE in appointments relevant to succession planning Unanimous Financial Report: As tabled Moved that the creditors be approved for payment. Unanimous Committee Reports Legal & Charter: Moved that newly appointed Executive Committee to Convenorships attend orientation course prior to taking up position. Unanimous Entertainment: Resignation received from Jan Shipman from Entertainment to focus on Raffles Raffles: New Raffle Bar position working well – Old Raffle Bar under sold Housie: Regular attendances of over 80 player putting pressure on space. Potential for housie to offer $1000.00 prizes Support: As tabled. Good success with Surviving Spouse pensions Sports Council: Nothing to report Premises: Ongoing maintenance New Members: Moved that 99 new members be approved Unanimous 150 provisional membership issued in January Clubs NZ: As tabled RNZRSA: Committee Members urged to log onto RNZRSA Base Camp to be updated on current events Redevelopment: Waiting for next set of Draft Plans Events: As tabled with the following comments 1. Motion to cancel Pettigrew/Green Area for Celebration Dinner. Unanimous 2. Committee to explore alternative options for Dinner Disciplinary: Two complaints received – Moved that they are major offences and referred to the Disciplinary Committee for resolution General Business 1. Proposal for a tiered system for Local Honour’s and Award be approved. To be held over until the February Meeting 2. Moved that monthly Executive Committee Meetings begin at 9.00am. Decision held over until February due to Committee Meeting had been reduced to quorum only because of other commitments. Meeting Finished 11.45 Next meeting Scheduled for 9.00 27th February 2016 Napier Cadets – on a Lottery Ticket Selling Spree The Napier Cadet Force have been ‘Town and Around’ selling Lottery Tickets on behalf of the Napier RSA, making sure no stone is left unturned. Always keen to step into the breach the local Cadet Force fronted up to all shops in the CBD offer Lottery Tickets to business owners and even some shoppers who were looking at purchasing goods – not tickets. Over the next few weeks the Cadets will make a concentrated effort to travel to the Onekawa Industrial area and try their luck. The Cadet force which is co-sponsored by the Napier RSA take every opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ and are an immense help to the RSA during the Poppy Day Appeal and ANZAC Day. To give full comfort to the members of the Community, they can be assured that the Cadets do not carry weapons when selling tickets to the public (tongue in cheek). Having said that I would hasten to add that they are a wonderful group of young adults and an absolute credit to themselves, the force and the senior officers who volunteer their time to assist them to become amazing young adults and significant contributors to the community of Napier Editor A Soldiers Life A soldier serving overseas far from home was annoyed and upset when his girl wrote to break off their engagement and ask for her photograph back.