RSA Honours the Past; Looks to the Future

In light of recent and we believe uninformed public comments by the Newmarket Business Association as to the future of the RSA movement, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RNZRSA) wishes to inform New Zealanders of our current situation and future direction. The RNZRSA, with its 115,000 members nationwide, looks forward to again honouring the service and sacrifice of its members and their comrades this Anzac Day at over 500 remembrance services, while continuing to look to its own future.

At its AGM in late 2009 the RSA movement unfurled its Flag for the Future under the banner "Carrying the Flag to All Generations". Since that time the National body has been looking at the organisation in terms of its future governance, membership and structure. The RNZRSA has commissioned Nielsen Company to conduct comprehensive research into the perceptions, needs and wants of existing and potential members. The research and analysis will be used to support the network of 200 local RSAs and branches from Kaitaia to The Bluff to accurately develop the offerings and experience our future membership desires. We recognise the need to change and to refresh our offerings and the RSA experience. That is our challenge but it is also an opportunity.

It's a challenge we have embraced and are actively progressing on many fronts; making it one of the most active periods in the recent years for the RSA movement.

In advocacy and support, we continue to progress the Re-Write of the War Pensions Act 1954 and to train our volunteer workforce of Pension and Welfare Officers that supports our veteran community, not just members, as do the donations from the annual Poppy Day Appeal.

In belonging and RSA clubs support. we continue to assist those RSAs embarking on new developments; have held a successful Hospitality RSA conference; and launched a new hospitality training programme.

In communications, we are not averse to using new social media such as Facebook, with several thousand supporters, while our dedicated remembrance site www.anzacpoppy.com enables New Zealanders to access and participate online with their Anzac heritage.

At this time of year, it is poignant to note that as Guardian of Remembrance we have brought to fruition two new initiatives set to become major events on the remembrance calendar. The Anzac of the Year Award in its second year showcases that the spirit of Anzac endures today while The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition enables us to carry the torch of remembrance to new generations. The winner this year of the Speech Competition 17-year-old Cervantee Wild will lay the wreaths and recite the Ode at Gallipoli commemorations on behalf of the RNZRSA. We are also well aware of the coming centenaries during 2014-18 of Gallipoli and World War 1, including our own in five years time in 2016.

The RSA looks forward to the future and welcomes the support of New Zealanders for the challenges ahead.

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