106 FD WKSP RAEME ASSOCIATION INC

COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD 3RD JUNE 2008

The meeting opened at 1pm.

Attending:

John Strachan (President)

Phil Bond (Secretary/Treasurer)

John Bailey (Assistant Secretary)

Claude Palmer

Apologies received from interstate members (Dennis Norman, Frank Owen & Max Farrow)

Minutes from Previous Meeting

It was noted that the last assembled committee meeting of Brisbane based members was held late in October 2007 but minutes were not available for that meeting. However the financial report attached shows the financial position from the beginning of the 07/08 FYR to the date of the meeting.

It was also noted and accepted that most committee work had been disseminated/actioned by electronic means because of the interstate connections and that this pattern would continue on into the future.

Financial Report: Attached for Committee Members (To be disseminated to financial members separately)

Business

Item 1. Army Combat Badge

Letters from the Chief of Army were tendered at the meeting for perusal. These advised that 106 would not be added to the designated units list for the SVN conflict (The Association's request was previously distributed to committee members.)

The results of our request had been posted on the 106 website. It had been suggested that if any 106er was to apply for the ACB he would have to establish his link to one of the designated Arms units and the association would assist wherever possible.

It was agreed no further follow up would occur from the Association.

Item 2. 106 Banner used on Anzac Day Parades

The banner was used at the parade in Brisbane in 2008. A small number of 106ers marched this year.

It was noted that interest had been expressed for the banner to be used for similar purposes in Sydney in 2009. The committee agreed that this could occur provided:

o A formal application needs to be made to the Sydney Anzac Day March Committee for 106 to march as a formed unit.

o Sufficient 106ers be available to represent the unit for this activity.

The attendees agreed that Dennis Norman (Sydney) needs to obtain all the relevant details for the Association to formally put the proposal in writing to the Sydney committee and so Dennis could be officially appointed as the person to contact for further discussions and notification in the Sydney area.

The banner would be given to Dennis after the 40th Reunion at Tweed Heads.

Brisbane members would be asked to march with the Qld RAEME Association in 2009.

Item 3. Website Message Log

It was acknowledged that the website message log format had been upgraded to help minimize junk mail and malicious messages being posted onto the site without having to use passwords etc.

The efforts of the webmaster, John Sinclair and Fudd Varga were much appreciated in this endeavour.

Item 4. Future of the Association

John Strachan raised the issue of the long term future of the association given the ageing of the veterans who were eligible to join as full members. He listed four broad options for the future:

Options

1 Status Quo - Association would "wither on the vine" as membership declines.

2 Wind Up - Deregister and de-incorporate, redistribute assets, leave archived website with AWM.

3 Merge - Merge 106 Assoc into broader Veteran Assoc

4 Prolong Assoc Life - Broaden membership to include non veteran membership for ex 106ers of 106 Fd Wksp post SVN include those who have served with/or who are serving with 104/106 Fd Wksp Coy of 7 CSSB Enoggera.

After discussion, the consensus was the 106 Assoc should pursue option 4.

In this case future action would include:

o Amending the existing constitution to encompass both SVN veteran and other ex 106 members (who may or may not be veterans in their own right in other active deployments in more recent years)

o Advertising the membership changes to "capture" new members.

o Developing a longer term committee membership succession plan.

o Adjusting the history component on the website to incorporate activity of 106 post SVN.

Provisos:

For this option to be fully pursued, the consensus of interstate committee members would be obtained to ensure that the committee has a unanimous position re this change.

John Strachan will liaise with 7 CSSB re the proposed inclusion of currently serving members of 104/106 Fd Wksp Coy 7 CSSB.

Changes to the constitution would be sought at the AGM later in 2008.

Alterations/additions to the website history articles would be made in due course.

Item 5 40th Reunion Tweed Heads

The reunion take up has been slower than anticipated with approx 100 forecast for attendance at this stage. It was agreed to target attendance at least 150 by the end of July as this was the time needed to organize the delivery of merchandise applicable to the event.

All committee members are urged to contact ex 106ers in their respective areas as it is anticipated that this will be the last of the larger SVN Veteran reunions because of the ageing of the membership.

It was further agreed that a variation will be published to allow ex 106ers to attend the Saturday Dinner function only:

$100 for ex 106ers (dinner, monogrammed polo shirt and mementos included)

$65 for partners (dinner, polo shirt optional @ $35.00)

John Strachan will publish on the message log and will provide adjusted forms for the site.

Close

The meeting closed at 2.10 pm.

John Strachan

President

14/6/08