State Secretary Newsletter – 30 November 2018

2018 Extraordinary Congress Information

Earlier this week, an email containing details about the 2018 Extraordinary Congress was sent to Delegates and Alternate Delegates. This communication was sent to official sub-Branch email addresses and NOT personal email addresses.

For those members who would like to watch the meeting remotely, you can do so via a live-stream, using the following link: http://bit.ly/2018EGM

The link will be live from approximately 10am on 4 December 2018.  Please click here to view the 2018 Extraordinary Congress agenda.

Dress code for Extraordinary Congress is smart casual.

ANZAC House will be open on the afternoon of 3 December 2018 for Delegates to visit and ask questions of ANZAC House staff and some of the Consultation Panel members about the proposed Constitution. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Model A sub-Branch Draft Constitution

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

The Model A sub-Branch Constitution has been placed on the secure zone of the RSL NSW website. Please click here to view the document.

Please note, this is a draft only and will not form part of the matters voted upon on 4 December 2018.

It is the intention of State Council to consult in the new year with those sub-Branches which may be considering the Model A option, before this document is finalised. As always, please do not hesitate to contact ANZAC House with questions regarding the draft.

RSL NSW Act

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

A reminder that the RSL NSW Act 2018 (NSW) will come into force from the date of proclamation which is anticipated to happen shortly.

Whether or not the proposed new constitution is adopted, when the Act commences, the existing State Council will become the Board. The Board will be required as soon as practicable after the commencement of the Act to appoint at least one independent director. The Board may decide to appoint a second independent director, although it must bear in mind the prescribed requirement that the total number of RSL NSW directors must be no more than 10. Further information about the process of appointment of an independent director will be provided when the Act commences.

Budget preparation and By-law no.22

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

ANZAC House are working towards providing clarity on by-law no. 22. We recognise this has impacted on sub-Branch budget preparation. There will be no implication for sub-Branches who are unable to submit budgets by 30 November. ANZAC house will continue to accept them after this date. Please get them in as soon as possible.

By-Laws and Regulation changes

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

At its meeting on 22 November 2018, State Council approved changes to some of the By-Laws and Regulations, as set out below:

Regulation 3-30: Property & Finance Regulation

The Regulation was amended to remove the requirement for approval of sub-Branch budgets by State Council/Executive and now simply requires sub-Branches to submit their budgets to ANZAC House by 30 November each year.

By-Law 9 – Financial Year

The By-Law was amended to reflect the change by RSL NSW of its financial year end from 31 December to 30 June.

By-Law 10.25 – Meetings

The By-Law was amended to read “All voting in the first instance at a meeting shall be by the manner declared by the Chair at the commencement of the meeting.”

Sub-Branch Donations

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

Thank you to those sub-Branches that have made donations in accordance to their 2018 sub-Branch budget donation plan.

If your sub-Branch has not made any donations in 2018, please remember to apply the conditions of the new By-Law 22 when making future donations.

Should you have any questions about making compliant donations, then please contact the support unit.

• Email – support@rslnsw.org.au
• Phone – 1300 679 775

Financial reporting 

For information and circulation to sub-Branch members

The Special Purpose Financial Report for the 6 months ended June 2018 is now available to view by clicking here or by navigating to the ‘financial statements’ page in the secure zone of the RSL NSW website.

This report was required as part of ANZAC House’s change to financial year reporting.

This change to financial year reporting does not impact sub-Branches. Sub-Branches will continue to operate on a calendar year (January – December 2018).

Jeff O’Brien

State Secretary