The RMA

[Paddy Nye]

Ratso,
Good suggestion. A years free membership with follow up efforts seems to be an idea which might get a favourable RMA response as a topic of discussion to boost membership numbers and future income. What is needed now, is for any RMA committee members looking at this site to suggest it at meetings. Over to you Ian (Torbay Tug) and any others viewing .
By the way Ratso. Any update on your contact with the G&L?

Paddy

[ratso]

No responce yet though I never give up without a fight and will be sending a few more E-s to them over the week end.

[Paddy Nye]

Ratso,
So far no answer from G&L. Please send info on person/email address you sent to, so I can have a go. Would also appreciate details of your message(s) to them so far.
Send to my email address at padjannye@aol.com
(NOMAD, any suggestions on who we should send to)
If we two get no joy, lets organise a mass email from all on this site.
We really need Top support.Yet Again, does anyone out there have a good relationship with an ex Gen,Brig,Col etc, who could have an influence to help us.

We will succeed

Paddy

[ratso]

Responce from the General secretary RMA.
Pity the site quoted seems to be dormant at present.

Thank you for your email and for your thoughts on the internet and advertising the Association. We are, as you probably know available on the Corps Secretary's wed page royalmarinescharities and have recently been included on the Corps' new WebPages :royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk. It is a first class site and gives details on Reunion, membership, which allows the application form to be printed off, and other history and facts about the RMA. And so you see we are aware of the power of the internet and already using it to very good advantage. You may not also be aware of our Freephone telephone number that allows former RMs, their families and dependants to call in for advice or assistance on any matter. Following these exciting initiatives we have taken on over 300 new members during the past year and are still taking new members onboard and so our recruiting strategy appears to be working well. All of the above is mentioned in our annual Newsletter.

Your offer is very much appreciated however, at the present time I think we should let things run and see how they go. The power of the internet should not be underrated and we must be up there for the potential audience that exists world-wide. The new Corps site may well do this for us as well as the other Corps Agencies.

Thank you again for your comments.

Best regards,

Brian Gibbs

[John_D]

One thing has come out of this lot,at least This web site is mentioned in the "LINKS" forum which is a start,
Aye
John_D
WC

[Nomad]

Dormant? what site would that be ?

The Corps Secetariat site as always had a link to Civvie-Street from day 1.

Okay it seems they are happy with their lot.

http://www.royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk/ doesn't allow acces to casual browsing...

The following links are from the Corps Secretariat Homepage pertaining to the RMA:

1. http://www.rmcharities.freeuk.com/rma.htm
2. http://www.rmcharities.freeuk.com/members.htm
3. http://www.rmcharities.freeuk.com/reunion.htm

It seems, in my oppinion that we will have to wait until the http://www.royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk/ is up and running until we pass judgement.

lets hope it is not like "Countermarch" http://www.countermarch.co.uk/ a site which I convinced the RMRO (Royal Marines Resettlement Officer) to put up in 1998 but this has remaind static even after pushing.

The Internet is not a tool used by the serving Corps to do it's business therefore they are not in touch with it's value as a resource to information and awareness it can provide.

You cannot produce a website for the RMA unless they are behind it.

But here is a question:

what would you expect to see on the RMA's website?

my thoughts...

1. Contact inforation for branches
2. Location of Branches
3. Events Diary
4. Charity donation area
5. Shop for Blazer Badges Ties etc
6. Monthly Newsletter with Archive

[John_D]

Sorry Tony I stand corrected I couldn,t recall seeing it before.
AYE John_D

[Torbay Tug]

[quote]
A Cry in the Wilderness?
"To RMA or not to RMA" that seems to be the question. Whether 'tis wise to continue to be represented by a Central Office & Council, seemingly set upon it's own solutions to problems - irrespective of democratic, unanimously declared mandates.

The G&L (Nov/Dec 01) intro (page 349) entitled "New Year - New Look" revealed that RMA Central Office will move into DRM's org. during 2002 - but no one told RMA Council or Branches! Challenged by alert Torbay branch President, he was told it was an error to be retracted! It has NOT been retracted in Jan/Feb @02 G&L - nor has RMA General Secretary advised branches of the "error"! Yet the Gen Sec - who denies knowledge of its origin - & is a member of G&L management cttee - fails to advise membership.

Minutes of '01 National RMA AGM are a parady of what went on. Resorting to 7 demeaning words (Item 4.39) "after much lively rhetoric from the floor". In fact there was much debate & advice from both council & branch representative members present, about the failure of RMA President to comply with RMA Rules. The RMA President was forced to withdraw three undemocratic proposals.

RMA Life Members on the HQ Roll who do not join branches are advised of nothing! General Secretary is responsible for representing their views! I am one - yet have never had personal contact as such since I paid for my Life Membership, apart from being sent a Life membership card! So I formed a branch in Torbay! Why not tell gensecrma@compuserve.com of the need to be aware of RMA matters - he obviously cannot know!

RMA(SW) Region met at Exmouth (thanks for the hospitality!) on 13 Jan 02.It was voted unanimously to mandate SW reps on Council to reject the "Strategy" document in its entirety. Yet on 6 Feb 02 at Council, one of the SW reps seconded an item for inclusion in the Strategy document (Item 5 para 14) & put forward a proposal (Item 8 para 25) & agreed it be included in the document he was mandated to reject!

Small wonder the RMA Branch members are restless - I fear it can deteriorate further - UNLESS YOU KNOW BETTER?

I am a former Council Member & Trustee of the RMA - Former SW Regional Secretary, branch Treasurer, current branch Secretary & an HQ Roll Life Member. But not yet ready for the kiss of life!

[eddycan]

Well Jim T started something here didn't he? Not that I have any problem with the thrust of the argument. Out here in little old South Australia (bear in mind the State is 5 times the size of the British Isles) we have an RMA branch. And yes, when I left the Corps 6 years ago I joined, and within the first year was asked to stand and voted in as the Vice-President. The members are a great bunch of blokes (mainly forgotten old men from forgotten wars) and I know they will forgive me for that as I mean no offence and hold them in high regard. However they are older and sadly their numbers are diminishing. However on ANZAC Day (a public holiday here and held in very high regard) we march as a contingent, normally around 20-30 of us. The cheers and respect we receive from the 1000s of onlookers is an enormous boost. As long as I have breath to draw I will march for Royal Marines past and present on this day.
However there is another side to this. I quickly found out, as others have said that Central Office probably doesn't even know where Adelaide is, let alone that there is an RMA Branch. Equally I dscovered that the aged members here are happy with their once-a-month meetings for bingo and meat-draws. Therefore younger people like myself are not allowed to bring about change or move into the 21st Century. As a consequence I became a non-financial member (I am young enough to have a job and family committments), but will continue to support the aims of a cradle to grave philosophy for those of us who have served and been members of one of the biggest families in the world. As an aside most of the younger ones of us out here, and there are a few, belong to SAMA82. We have had more communication from them over the years than from the RMA!!
Keep up the good work Tony, I assure you there are many of us overseas who really appreciate this modern way of keeping a finger on the pulse.

Eddy Candlish

[Torbay Tug]

Good on ya Eddy - one of my squaddies was RM 10547 F A Rogers (576 Squad) - he emigrated &died out there some years ago - I think a member of NSW - he was proud to march & was a drummer at ANZAC parades. His family sent his ashes over & Torbay branch scattered them on his beloved Dartmoor overlooking Widdicome. He would have loved it - I got a mouthful of ash when the wind changed - a sombre occasion but we all ended up in fits of laughter, including his cousin John who trvelled from the big Smoke & who I still meet up with!

[Nomad]

http://www.royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk/ is now running. looks like they have listened...

[John_D]

I know its wrong to keep refering to the RBL.but sometimes it can give a guideline as to which direction we should be going with the RMA. Yesterday I recieve a Survey From the RBL "as will all members" for my/our ideas for a "Membership Review 2002" this letter has come from the National Chairman himself, I Quote,
"I know from my own experience how easy it is for members to feel remote from the Legions decision-making, since becoming chairman last year I am determined to give my fellow members a greater oppertunity to become involved in the future of their own organisation.........AND THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN" " unquote.
"I will keep it as short as pos"
With this letter comes a Questionnair to be filled in and returned, some of the questions are irreverlent to our organisation as they are "Club" related and we only Have three as I am aware of,"Like a lot of other orgaisations we have to use other organisations the likes of "RNA" "LEGION" "RAFA" just to mention a few,The Questionnair is mainly aimed at recruiting more members and improving on what they already have.Some of the questions that could be used by the RMA are ==
"More publicity and recognition as to what the RMA is all about.
"More publicity and recognition as to funding and welfare to support the RMA.
"Free membership for the first year of leaving the service" "already been suggested on here"
"to give more encouragement for new members to join as HQ members if no Local branch is available"
"More encouragement for Branches to get to gether for social events ie Sports,"darts " "dominoes" and any other activity that would unite be bond between branches"
These appear to be the main areas that could be used by the RMA like I have stated most of the questions are "Club related.
other questions are in respect of the "magazine" which appears to be a separate issue with the RMA.

These should be a good guide line to the branch reps to take on board and debate.

AYE
John_D

[eddycan]

Thanks TT, glad to know that a "returned convict" got his own back!!
But seriously, isn't that what all this about, the greater "brotherhood", "comradeship", or to be Australian "mateship"? All of us have been there, we are Royal Marines and none of us want to let go of that fact. And why should we?
You don't have to have had some illustrious or outstanding career to have belonged. I can think of many young Mnes throughout my time, but more especially at the back end as a CSM and RSM, who left to pursue what they believed, at the time, to be better opportunities. Some had really thought it through and knew what they were getting into; some hadn't. The overriding factor was that each of them took to civvie street a pride and confidence that stemmed purely from having been members of the Corps.
As for this medium (the Internet) it is the modern way and allows many of us to keep in touch and for old acquaintances to get back in touch. This has been very much brought home to me since my decision to move back to Australia with my wife Jenny. I have a red card and much as I would like to use it, the likelihood is remote. Nonetheless I would prefer not to lose total touch with my friends, this is a way of not allowing that to happen. If the Corps/RMA will move with the times then I feel sure that others can also benefit.

yours aye

Eddy Candlish

[Torbay Tug]

Hi again Eddycan - to get back to your original e - you feel out in the cold it seems cos of your relative youth. I'm knocking on the gates of 70 yrs - and feel quite at home with the younger element (agded early forties) in our branch. Our young Treasurer calls me "Grandad" & we have a good rapport. Yep, bingo & quizzes rate in the entertainment, but we also have a former RM Musician - Carl Deakin who comes along to entertain us on his (electronic)organ ! We don't expect new members to pay up before joining - we give them until the next financial year - if they want to make a donation, great. We do OK with raffles and minior functions like the Trafalgar Day Lunch we have planned for 21 Oct 02 in the local Golf Club. Personally, I think it likely that branches may be better on a come one - come all basis! Central Office does nothing to support branches - who pay for the privelege of no support! However, plans are afoot, even in Council at last, to look into the exhorbitant costs of keeping Central Office & staff levels running. But don't hold your breath. Just nip in to your nearest branch & say hello when you can - they will appreciate it, and you might get to like it - at no cost! We meet on 4th Wed each month at 7.30pm in Newton Abbot RBL.

[eddycan]

No Tug sorry, you've got the wrong end of the stick. I don't feel out of it because I am younger (hey guys I was 50 last week..only 5 yrs to go to beat the bastards on the pension!!)its just that the veterans that predominantly make up the RMA branch here are exactly that..they are as old as my Dad and let's be honest I had to embarass them at one meeting and remind them that it was actually the Corps Birthday. I don't blame them for that, they were mostly HO and why would Corps History be important. Furthermore they experienced far more traumatic events (notwithstanding my own experiences) than I can even imagine. Its just that the likelihood of 21st century ideas and ways of doing things is alien to them. Not their problem...thats mine. In the meantime I will continue to march on ANZAC day and attend on Armistice Day and generally be there for them. At some stage I will be the old bastard that's left and I only hope I can continue to live up to the standard they have set.
Appreciate the details on the Newton Abbott meetings...somehow I don't think I'll make it..at least not in the near future.

Eddy Candlish