Welfare and Hospital Visitation
Sub-Branch Administration (The Sub-Branch Hall and Office is open most Thursdays between 0930 and 1300)
Sub-Branch membership Dues remain at $35 and are due on the 1st January each year and are payable NLT 30th March to remain Financial
Commemorative Services
Member Social Functions
RSL/Bunnings BBQ Fundraisers
Bunnings have re-commenced Community BBQs' and our next fundraising BBQ's at Bunnings Cessnock will be on 8am to 4pm. Volunteers to assist most welcome.
SUB-BRANCH MEETINGS ARE NOW BACK TO ALMOST NORMAL COMMENCING AT 1830 HRS ON THE 1st TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH EXCEPT JANUARY. SUB-BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEMBERS ARE NOW BACK AT THE HALL EVERY THURSDAY BETWEEN 0930 AND 1300 SHOULD MEMBERS AND LOCAL VETERANS WISH TO DROP IN FOR A CHAT AND A COFFEE.
COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS
A COVID-19 Safety plan is now in place at the RSL Hall. Seating has been arranged to meet the current social distancing requirements and sanitising equipment is in place at the entrance and throughout the hall. To meet the record keeping requirements, the sign-in sheet has been modified to comply with the Covid 19 compliance instructions. The co-operation of members in complying with these measures is appreciated.
Next Sub-Branch meeting 6.30pm Tuesday 2nd March 2021. This will be the AGM meeting.
MEMBERS DINNERS
Our members Dinners for this year are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday 10th March 2021 6.30pm for 7pm at Cessnock Leagues Club
Wednesday 14 July 2021 12pm for 12.30pm at the Caledonia Hotel
Wednesday 8th December 2021 6.30pm of 7pm at the Cessnock Leagues Club
Quarterly Sub-Branch Newsletter
The latest newsletter is now available for download.
TO ACCESS THE LATEST RSL NSW BOARD COMMUNIQUE CLICK ON THE ACTION BUTTON,
ANZAC House Circular
Circular number:
Date:
Email:
Phone number:
To:
C35/20
17 December 2020
support@rslnsw.org.au
1300 679 775
Directors, District Councils, Honorary Secretaries
Dear Honorary Secretary,
A letter addressed to all RSL NSW members has been received from the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), in response to RSL NSW annual reporting against its Enforceable Undertaking obligations. Please click on this link to read the letter.
The RSL NSW Board of Directors request that sub-Branch Presidents brief all members on the letter and confirm to their respective District Council by 15 March 2021 that this has been completed.
The letter draws attention to sub-Branch obligations as a charity and suggests some reading and other materials to support compliance. The RSL NSW Board is very aware of the onerous compliance requirements of the ACNC and NSW Fundraising Acts and therefore, under the ‘umbrella’ of the Strategic Plan, intends to ensure all sub-Branch executives receive appropriate support and assistance in discharging their responsibilities.
Membership Fees
The Board has received considerable feedback about the decision to cease the practice of sub-Branches subsidising members’ annual fees. An interim policy has been approved to direct sub-Branches in meeting their obligations if they need to support members in financial distress.
Interim Policy
Sub-Branches may subsidise RSL NSW membership fees if it is for a service member (veteran) who is in “genuine need of financial assistance”. As sub-Branches are registered charities, they need to record the subsidy as a charitable donation to a veteran in need to meet their compliance obligations.
Definition of “genuine need”
At the discretion of the sub-Branch executive, a veteran is deemed in ‘genuine need’ of financial assistance if he/she is not in a financial position to pay their annual membership fees. This could, but is not limited to the following circumstances:
Background and Implementation
This issue has arisen for two reasons:
In October 2020, the Board agreed to an interim policy with an accompanying procedure that will enable sub-Branches to subsidise fees if the person is in ‘genuine need’ and this is recorded by the sub-Branch to meet their regulatory compliance obligations under Section 55-5 of the ACNC Act, 2012. Procedurally, a simple record of the decision and reason why a member has received the donation is required.
Also, in October 2020 the Board approved the RSL NSW Strategic Plan (2021-2026). This plan considered member feedback and therefore there will be NO membership fees from Calendar year 2022, hence the policy above is only interim. This recognises that RSL members are volunteers who are providing support to fellow veterans, not just to members of the RSL in accordance with the charitable purpose.
Membership fees do not necessarily mean ‘capitation’ fees, and these are yet to be set. If the proposed funding model to support the strategic plan and strategic initiatives is adopted, there will be no need for capitation fees for RSL National for instance, or ANZAC House.
If sub-Branches identify veterans in serious financial hardship, the veteran should be referred to RSL DefenceCare. RSL DefenceCare (recipient of RSL NSW sub-Branch donations and our principal service delivery organisation) is set up to deal with privacy and associated compliance matters related to providing financial assistance.
Recording donation for membership subsidy - Example
Date
Recipient
Amount
Reason
Authorised by
2 February 2021
Joe Bloggs
$30.00
Pensioner
Treasurer
Regards,
Jeff O'Brien
GM Member Services and State Secretary
Stay up to date with all the latest events by checking the
BALLOT RESULTS PRESIDENT BALLOT Candidates for Election FOR VOTES Elected Candidate 1 – JAMES, Ray*^ 3,804 YES Candidate 2 – READ, Greg^ 1,907 NO DIRECTOR BALLOT Candidates for Election FOR VOTES Elected Candidate 1 – CHIN, Phillip* 3,483 YES Candidate 2 – GROSE, Clinton 3,469 YES Candidate 3 – MCCANN, David 3,759 YES Candidate 4 – BAENA, Tom 2,773 NO Candidate 5 – CLARKE, Douglas 2,121 NO Candidate 6 – TIZZARD, Stephen 2,053 NO Candidate 7 – GRAHAM, Stephen 3,162 YES Candidate 8 – BRIDIE, Phillip* 3,656 YES Candidate 9 – LYONS, Alan 2,208 NO Candidate 10 – JAMES, Ray*^ 3,518 ELECTED PRESIDENT Candidate 11 – HUTCHESON, John* 3,711 YES Candidate 12 – READ, Greg^ 3,344 YES Candidate 13 – HUGHES, Paul 2,688 NO Note: Current Directors are identified by the presence of an asterisk (*). Candidates nominating for both President and elected Director are identified by the presence of a caret (^)
Our Executive Members are committed to assisting returned and service men and women in our local community. Come and join us.
President : Max Lewis
Vice-President: Lindsay Davis
Vice President: Chris
Lewis
Treasurer: Lindsay Davis
Secretary: David Owens
Cessnock RSL Sub-Branch was first Chartered on the 8th August 1928. At that time its membership consisted of veterans returning from active service in the Boer and First World Wars. The Club received an updated charter on the 30th June 1987 by which time its membership had been expanded to include all those men and women who had served in the Defence Forces of Australia and her Allies.
LEST WE FORGET
Respecting supporting and remembering our veterans and their families
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