CBOC BRANCH, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION – 2017 PLAN

1.         Introduction.   

a.         2016.   CBOC Branch had a successful 2016 marred only by the death of the President, Gordon Gray and 3 Branch members. The targets the Branch set itself for the year were nearly all achieved. Most notable was the Poppy Appeal which almost doubled the target!

• Recruiting: Target 5 – Recruited 8
• Non Poppy Appeal: Target: £2000 – Collected 1945
• Poppy Appeal: Target £9000 – Collected 17,757

b.         Granby, Barnstone and District (GBD).  On 1 Jun 2016 GBD Sub Branch had 10 members but by the end of the year after an excellent recruiting drive it had 19. It has volunteers to fill all the Committee posts and the Sub Branch intends to become a Full Branch in 2017.

c.         IT.        The Office 365 RBL network has yet to bed in. The Branch has not received sufficient training to make best use of what should be an excellent system for Committee business. The treasurer is to be congratulated on having transferred all our accounts onto the LOMAS RBL on line finance system which is working well.  The CBOC Web site is out of date and requires rejuvenation.

e.         Welfare.           The Branch has yet to fully understand and embrace the new RBL ‘Branch Community Support’ initiative introduced to try to repair the damage caused by centralising Welfare. This will be a priority for 2017.

f.          WW1 - CBOC Great War Project.         Having been the centenary of the death of 10 of those named on our war memorials, 2016 has been a busy year. The anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme was commemorated with a special service at All Saints church Cotgrave. The CBOC GWP will continue until 1918. www.CBOCGWP.co.uk

g.         2017 Final Plan.           The Draft 2017 Plan was presented to the AGM on 13 Oct 2016 and was endorsed by the 48members present .The Plan has been written in accordance with the CBOC Strategy 2015 to 2020 and the final version was agreed by the CBOC Committee on 9 Jan 2017.. 

2.         Aim.    The aim of this document is to provide a plan for CBOC business in 2017.

3.         Objectives.       The CBOC objectives for 2017 are:

a.         Membership (Comradeship).

(1)        New Members. The Branch has 125 members but the average age remains high and the number of ex-servicemen low. Anyone wishing to join the Branch will be welcome but recruiting effort will go towards identifying and recruiting 5 serving and ex-service members under 60.

(2)        Colston Bassett Membership.    It is many years since a new member was recruited in Colston Bassett and attendance at events by Colston Bassett members has dropped off considerably. In 2017 we will increase and rejuvenate the membership from Colston Bassett.

(3)        Events and CBOC Gatherings. Run the following events and gatherings:

• 18 Feb Sat – Branch Spring Meeting at Blotts.
• 6 Apr Thur –. Meeting and Supper at Lime Kiln.
• ?? Mar (tbc) – Laurence of Arabia exhibition Civil War Centre Newark.
• 16 Apr Easter Sun – Support Martins Arms Easter Egg Rolling.
• 6 May Sat  – Belvoir Vale Wassailors Concert.
• tbd Sat May/Jun - Poppy Ball.                                                                 
•  7 or 8 Jun tbc – Supper on the Trent.
• 17 Jun Sat – Tombola Stand at the Cotgrave Festival.
• 15 Jul Sat – Talk and Supper. Main Fundraising Event.
• tbd Sep Sat – RAF Band Concert in Langar church. (Joint with GBD)
• 12 Oct Thur – AGM and supper at the Lime Kiln.
• 21 Oct Sat – Poppy Launch.
• 21 Oct to 11 Nov – Poppy Collection.
• 12 Nov Sun - Remembrance Sunday and Lunch. Location tbd.
• 13 Dec Wed – Christmas Gathering and supper.

(4)        GBD Members.            To return GBD to a full Branch.

             b.        CBOC Fund Raising.

(1)        Non Poppy Appeal.      Raise £2000 outside the Poppy Appeal from donations, talks and the following activities:     

• 16 Apr, Easter - Egg Rolling at the Martins Arms           (President)
• 8 May – Belvoir Wassailors Concert                              (Jon Carlton)
• 17 Jun – Cotgrave Festival Tombola                              (Secretary)
• 15 Jul - Supper and Speaker                                          (Events Members)
• tbd September – RAF Band Concert                              (Chairman)
• Quizzes and Raffles                                                      (Various Members)

(2)        Poppy Appeal.              To provide 450 people hours of collection for the Poppy Appeal mainly between 21 Oct and 31 Dec. Consider the following enhancements to the Appeal:

• Additional events throughout the year for the Poppy Appeal.
• Metal poppies ‘sold’ from Jan 2017.
• Develop a knitted Poppy source early.
• Collection at Morrisons and Waitrose in partnership with other branches.
• Involve 50 members and mentor new ones.
• Brief collectors.
• Expand House 2 House collections.

c          CBOC Maintain Awareness.

(1)        Branding.         Introduce the RBL ‘Live On’ Branding.

(2)        Schools.           Visit and talk to pupils at Cotgrave Church of England Primary School, Candleby Lane Primary School and Ash Lea Special School.

(3)        Remembrance Sunday. Support all 3 village communities on 12 Nov. Parade with Cadets and uniformed services in Cotgrave and run traffic control.

(4)        Social Media.   Reconsider the use of the Web Site, Facebook and Twitter. Maximise the use of the Cotgrave Community web site.

(5)        WW1 Names.   Continue to maintain and update www.CBOCGWP.co.uk.

(6)        Talks.   Visit and speak to external organisations and one Care Home in the area. Eg. WI, PROBUS, Methodist League, U3A.

(7)        Articles.           Write articles for newspapers and magazines such as Cotgrave Connections, The Cross, Wiverton News.

d.         CBOC Welfare.

(1)        Embrace the RBL ‘Branch Community Support’ initiative.

(2)        Use members and networks to identify eligible and needy cases and direct them towards the Regional welfare resources.

(3)        Maintain liaison with Cotgrave and Cropwell Bishop Medical Centres, the Churches, Police and Cotgrave Advice Centre.

(4)        Identify and support all Branch members in need of assistance.

e.         CBOC Structure.          CBOC Standard Bearer has now moved to University in Lincoln. He will be able to undertake some events but the Branch needs a second standard bearer. A new Treasurer will be recruited for Oct 2017.

f.          IT.        Office 365 presents an opportunity to do branch work more efficiently. We will organise training to help us embrace this system. The Branch web site requires attention now that David Myles has retired as our webmaster. We will find a new webmaster and update the site. The CBOCGWP web site cost £100 per year to run and we will investigate moving the site to a no cost location.

g.         Granby, Barnstone and District.             In accordance with the CBOC letter dated 8 Mar 2014 (as updated on the CBOC Committee minutes since then) GBD Sub Branch will continue to take all action except administration, finance and that for which CBOC trustees are responsible. They will continue to nominate one member to attend the CBOC Committee meetings.

4.         CBOC Officers, Committee and Conference Representative.       The following were voted in at the AGM on 13 Oct 2016:

a.         Officers.         

President                      Roy Evley (Voted in at a SGM on 13 Nov 2016)

Chairman                     John Ludlam

Vice Chairman             Pam Brooks (Voted in at a SGM on 13 Nov 2016)

            Secretary                      Peter McLaughlin

            Treasurer                     Josie McGuirk

b.         Committee.     

Chairman                     John Ludlam

Vice Chairman             Pam Brooks

            Secretary                      Peter McLaughlin

            Treasurer                     Josie McGuirk 

            Events Members           Gilly Cross and Bert Wragg

Welfare Member          Chris Cockayne

Poppy Coordinator       Ian Shaw

GBD Representative     Andrew Charlett (Nominated by GBD subcommittee)

c.         Conference Representative.       John Ludlam

5.         Chairman’s Tasks.

• Coordinate the recruiting of 5 new members under 60 who are serving or have served.
• Coordinate the increase and rejuvenation of members in Colston Bassett.
• Coordinate the CBOC Gatherings in Cotgrave.
• Identify Guest speakers as necessary.
• Arrange Remembrance Sunday parade in Cotgrave.
• Assist Suzi McCullough and Adele Poulson to arrange Remembrance Sundays in Colston Bassett and Owthorpe respectively.

• Write a newsletter twice each year, the first early in the year and the second running up to the AGM.
• Find a member to maintain a CBOC web site and make maximum use of the Cotgrave Community web site in order to inform, recruit and retain.
• Review the greater use of social media. FACEBOOK and Twitter.
• Provide presentations and articles when opportune.
• Coordinate the Branch website and the CBOC Great War Project.

6.         Secretary’s Tasks.

• With the Chairman all secretarial work for CBOC.
• Process all new members’ documentation.
• With the Chairman plan, advertise, organise and coordinate the AGM.
• Provide the main conduit into CBOC from other organisations or individuals wishing involvement.
• Train the new Standard Bearer.
• Assist the Poppy Coordinator to run the Poppy Appeal in Cotgrave involving as many members as possible.
• Take any necessary administrative action arising from Granby, Barnstone and District sub Branch.
• When required help organise events such as visits.

7.         Treasurer’s Tasks.

• Maintain the accounts on LOMAS, present them for audit and then present them to the AGM.
• Provide annual financial information to the timetable set by the RBL.
• Comply with the RBL financial regulations and advise the committee on all financial matters.
• Prior to and at the AGM advise the committee and members on the money available for donation and the maintenance of the Reserves.
• Act as banker for CBOC and GBD activities.

• Organise financial checks every quarter.
• Organise and act as secretary for 2 financial meeting each year to fill the gaps between Committee meetings.

8.         Events Members’ Tasks. (The GBD sub branch committee will run events in GBD area and will be invited to those organised by CBOC)

• Plan, advertise, organise and run the Spring meeting and Supper and Remembrance Sunday lunch.

• Plan, advertise, organise and run those CBOC Gatherings outside Cotgrave.
• When required help organise events such as visits.

9.         Poppy Appeal Organiser’s Tasks. (The GBD sub branch Poppy Coordinator will run the Poppy Appeal in GBD area)

• Recruit a Deputy Poppy Appeal Organiser/s and nominate area representatives.
• With the Secretary, Cotgrave Representative, Colston Bassett Representative, Cropwell Bishop Representative and Owthorpe Representative run all aspects of the Poppy Appeal 2017.
• Involve more CBOC members to carry out Street Collections in Cotgrave.

• Incorporate the cadets early in the planning and execution of collection.

10.       Welfare Member’s Tasks. (GBD sub branch committee will run Welfare in the GBD area)

• Lead on embracing the RBL ‘Branch Community Support’ initiative.
• Identify welfare cases in Cotgrave and the outlying villages and liaise with Regional Welfare Case Officers to provide welfare.
• Carry out welfare work for CBOC members in consultation with the remainder of the committee as necessary.
• Introduce a system whereby younger members maintain 6 monthly contact with members over 80 and those in need of assistance.
• Advise members on the possibility of becoming a Regional welfare volunteer.
• If essential, assist GBD with Welfare advice.

11.       Coordination.   The 2017 program will be coordinated through the CBOC Committee. One meeting was held on 9 Jan 2016 in order to ensure all understood the plan and asked for assistance as necessary. One meeting will be held on 25 Sep 2017 to prepare the 2018 plan and coordinate effort for the AGM (12 Oct), Poppy Appeal and Remembrance events.

Colonel (Retired) T J LUDLAM OBE - Chairman CBOC