The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion
Rio de Janeiro Branch
Registered Charity

Notice is hereby given of the
95th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE RIO DE JANEIRO BRANCH OF
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, TO BE HELD AT
THE JUBILEE HALL Christ Church, Rua Real Grandeza, 99, Botafogo, 22260-100 Rio de Janeiro
on TUESDAY, 26th of September 2017 at 17:30 pm

AGENDA

1. Opening Remarks by Chairperson.
2. Registration of Proxy Votes.
3. Minutes of the 2016 AGM
4. Chairman’s report for 2016-2017
5. Treasurer’s report for 2016-2017
6. Call for new Committee Members and Election of Officers and Executive Committee Members for year 2017-2018.
7. Establishment of date for first Committee Meeting for 2017-2018
8. Confirmation of Branch Subscription Fee for 2017-2018
9. Membership views on adopting, or not, new Branch Statutes – see note below.
10. Any Other Business

CURRENT COMMITTEE OFFICERS:

President – Vacant, Chairman Michael McLoughlin ; Vice Chairman – Vacant; Secretary – Stephen Carnt, Treasurer – Jeremy Ribeiro dos Santos; Welfare – Jenny Byers, Membership Sec.– Stephen Carnt; Ceremonial/Standard Bearer– Vacant; Committee Members – Andrew (Paddy) Munns.

The outgoing Committee is proposing the following slate for 2016-17 (unchanged) – President – Vacant, Chairman Michael McLoughlin ; Vice Chairman – Vacant; Secretary – Stephen Carnt, Treasurer – Jeremy Ribeiro dos Santos; Welfare – Jenny Byers, Membership Sec.– Stephen Carnt; Ceremonial/Standard Bearer – Vacant; Committee Members – Andrew (Paddy) Munns.

Other Candidates most welcome.

NOTE ON BRANCH STATUTES

Some years ago the then President, John Mason, was concerned the Branch did not have full control over its finances as they were (and still are) under the umbrella of the financial arrangements of the BCS, although RBL funds are separately identifiable.

John Mason’s concern, expressed to the Committee and Branch Lawyer, Marcos Montenegro Duarte, was that self control of its funds would allow the Branch to return funds to the UK in the event of the Branch closing, a view that was widely shared at the time.

Marcos Montenegro Duarte raised a set of new Statutes that it was felt would provide this freedom of action. The Statutes are based on those for the former St George Society and are in existence legally although the Branch has not operated under them and the Branch finances remain under the arrangements that have prevailed for many years.

It has been pointed out by some members that operating as an entity financially separate from the BCS may mean under the new arrangements the Branch is liable for taxes it does not pay at present. Also, as it is the Branch appears to function well.

The Committee will try to provide as much additional information as possible at the meeting so the assembly may discuss what it considers is the best structure under which the Branch should operate.

The matter is urgent as the Branch diminishes in size and it is already faced with closure by HQ if it cannot ensure a minimum of eight Committee members.

These notes are not definitive, but it should be clear that this discussion is not about what should happen ultimately to the Branch funds, but what structure best suits the purpose of the Branch and its Committee’s discharge of its duties.

Steve Carnt
Hon Sec
BR3444