The Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association

RLIRA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DEVELOPMENTS AND ELECTIONS

Following the formation of the UK and South African Branches in October 2007, our Patron and Chairman proposed, so as to give the Interim Executive Council(Ex Co) a more representative look, that all the Branch Presidents should be members of the Executive Council, as between them they represented 85 - 90% of the RLIRA Membership.

As a result all Branch Chairmen joined the Ex Co in November 2007. At this time the matter of Ex Co Elections was raised, and several suggestions were put forward by the Chairman and other individuals as how these were to be run and organized. In the end having investigated the legality of these proposals, it was decided by majority vote that the following procedure would be adopted. The Branch Chairmen (3 at present, more hopefully in future) as the voted in representatives of their respective branches and thus representing the wishes of their members, were responsible for inviting a former senior and long serving member of RLI to become Chairman of the Council. Once he has accepted, between him and the Branch Chairmen they decide which of the Branch Chairmen is to become Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The remaining Branch Chairmen either undertake the other specific Ex Co appointments or co-opt onto the Ex Co selected RLIRA Full Members to fulfill a specific appointment.

Additional to the above in terms of paragraph 14.7 of the Constitution, the Ex Co could call on the assistance of other members as Consultants/Advisors, if necessary, who would be non voting members, and purely there for their expertise in specific areas.

These procedures were implemented in December 2007.

Thus, from January 2008 the new RLIRA Executive Council is as follows:

Patron	:	Brigadier John "Digger" Essex – Clark
Chairman of The Council	:	Ian Buttenshaw
UK Branch Chairman (and CEO)	:	Martyn Hudson
Australasia Branch Chairman	:	Tony Young
South Africa Branch Chairman	:	Hamish MacIntyre
History and Publicity Officer	:	Chris Cocks
Non Voting Consultants/Advisors
Legal Advisor	:	Shaun Ryan
Webmaster	:	George Dempster.

(Note : With the formation of the UK Branch, the Ex Co post of UKLO previously held by Shaun Ryan fell away , and he has volunteered to remain as Legal Advisor, and is still very involved with Martyn Hudson in the re-location of The Trooper Statue and Colours, particularly on tying down ownership and other necessary legal details.)