RANCBA ACT Presidents Report to AGM
09 October 2009

RANCBA ACT Presidents Report to AGM – October 2009


Fellow Communicators

It is with honour that I present my report summarising the activities of the Chapter during the last membership year 2008/2009. Your committee met 4 times during what has seemed to be a comparatively quiet and, on a personal note, an unproductive year for our chapter.

Again, we held our annual Xmas BBQ this time on the foreshore of Lake Ginninderra. Whilst the numbers were small, the occasion was a success giving us the opportunity to kick off the festive season with our shipmates. The 2009 BBQ will be held at a venue and date to be organised by the new committee.

Our RANCBA contingent was again on parade in Canberra for ANZAC Day this year led by CMDR Steve Beckmann. We had around 40 communicators march on the day, of which a healthy number of uniformed personnel joined in. The after March function this year was held at the Canberra Bowling Club in Forrest, The club extended our members a very warm welcome. The catering, prepared by the club’s Lady Members was exceptional and the beverages agreed with us all. I would encourage our new committee to arrange our ANZAC Day reception at this venue in 2010. A reminder too, that The National Reunion will be held in Adelaide in 2011. Members can seek more information on the RANCBA web page.

In my last report you will recall, the annual dinner dance was placed on the agenda. We extended an invitation to the WRANS Association and got some interest in forming a working group with the RANCBA. In April an email was sent out asking members to complete a small survey to give us an indication of what the majority wanted in the way of a formal get-together. But with the lack of responses, it was decided at our May meeting to abandon the idea. I would like to thank those 19 who did respond. There had been some suggestions, such as Lawn Bowls/BBQ days or Picnics to commemorate specific dates. I can only stress again, if we are not going to attend these gatherings, there is little point arranging them.

In a recent email Taffy Eynon has stated he would be more than happy to plan an RANCBA walking group – if there is interest. He is suggesting a get together on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, the second or third week of each month. The walks would be around forty minutes at various locations in the ACT and Queanbeyan regions with coffee afterwards. I will bring this item up in general business to follow for an expression of interest.

The initiative by the Navy Communications & Information Warfare Branch to have all RANCBA members issued with a CIS Medallion has now been completed nationwide. If there are any ACT members who have not yet received one please contact the Secretary.

In closing this report, I would like to recall for you, that one of the objectives of our association is “To promote activities that enable members to remain in contact with each other”. The committee will continue to promote activities, but it behoves us all to attend. I would also like to have recorded in my report my thanks to the 2008/09 committee for the work that they have done over the year. Additionally, thank you to all the members who have supported the association this year.

Sincerely

Ray Powell
President
RANCBA ACT
2009