Royal Canadian Artillery Association - Annual Meeting
The 89th annual meeting of the RCAA was held at CFB Gagetown 16-18 Oct 74 with the President, LCol JW Alward presiding. The Association was pleased to accept the invitation to Gagetown by LCol Jack Crosman who filled the bill as our genial host, and who saw to it that all our needs and requirements were handled in true gunner fashion. In addition to the executive committee and representatives from nearly all Militia gunner units, the meeting was attended by the Colonel Commandant, MGen HA Sparling; the Colonel Commandant designate, BGen EMD Leslie; DArty, Col A Sosnkowski, and several other serving Regular Force gunners.
The meeting lost no time getting down to business. Standing committee chairman presented reports in respect of finances, competitions, resolutions, history sales, and the RCAA centenary. The assembled delegates were broken down into syndicates and assigned definitive tasks. The constitution syndicate formulated amendments to Association rules which opened the door to membership by Regular Force officers. A revised set of terms of reference for competitions was produced by the competitions syndicate, and five resolutions were drawn up by that committee.
The Position Paper Committee briefed the delegates on the subject matter of the paper that would be prepared for presentation at the January 1975 meeting of the Conference of Defence Associations. Basically, the paper proposed to raise questions on the circumstances surrounding announced reductions of the Armed Forces, and whether a vastly reduced force would be able to adequately fulfil all its assigned roles. Remarks by the MND at the CDA denying that such reductions were being contemplated appear to have overtaken the substance of the Position Paper; however it was accepted as presented as a hedge against future reconsiderations at the political level.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the enthusiasm with which the Regular Force representatives participated in the syndicate work. Their support and good counsel in all aspects of the proceedings clearly indicated their great interest in the aims and objectives of the Association.
The traditional mess dinner was held in the Brownfield Mess. After dinner the Colonel Commandant, with the able assistance of BGen Roome, RCAA President in 1949, presented trophies and awards for the battery, gun and individual competitions. Five Life Membership scrolls were presented including LCol Crosman who became the first Regular Force officer admitted to membership under the new rules of the Association.
BGen Heitshu graciously extended an invitation to meet at Valcartier in 1975. The dates have now been confirmed as 25-27 Sep.
At the conclusion of the proceedings a new executive was elected and new committees appointed. LCol JW Alward, President 1973-74, turned the chair over to the new President, Col AE Sherwin of Victoria, B.C., LCol BS MacDonald of Toronto is standing in the wings as the Vice President.
The executive and the membership of the RCAA is most grateful to LCol Crosman and his staff for their excellent hospitality.
The meeting lost no time getting down to business. Standing committee chairman presented reports in respect of finances, competitions, resolutions, history sales, and the RCAA centenary. The assembled delegates were broken down into syndicates and assigned definitive tasks. The constitution syndicate formulated amendments to Association rules which opened the door to membership by Regular Force officers. A revised set of terms of reference for competitions was produced by the competitions syndicate, and five resolutions were drawn up by that committee.
The Position Paper Committee briefed the delegates on the subject matter of the paper that would be prepared for presentation at the January 1975 meeting of the Conference of Defence Associations. Basically, the paper proposed to raise questions on the circumstances surrounding announced reductions of the Armed Forces, and whether a vastly reduced force would be able to adequately fulfil all its assigned roles. Remarks by the MND at the CDA denying that such reductions were being contemplated appear to have overtaken the substance of the Position Paper; however it was accepted as presented as a hedge against future reconsiderations at the political level.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the enthusiasm with which the Regular Force representatives participated in the syndicate work. Their support and good counsel in all aspects of the proceedings clearly indicated their great interest in the aims and objectives of the Association.
The traditional mess dinner was held in the Brownfield Mess. After dinner the Colonel Commandant, with the able assistance of BGen Roome, RCAA President in 1949, presented trophies and awards for the battery, gun and individual competitions. Five Life Membership scrolls were presented including LCol Crosman who became the first Regular Force officer admitted to membership under the new rules of the Association.
BGen Heitshu graciously extended an invitation to meet at Valcartier in 1975. The dates have now been confirmed as 25-27 Sep.
At the conclusion of the proceedings a new executive was elected and new committees appointed. LCol JW Alward, President 1973-74, turned the chair over to the new President, Col AE Sherwin of Victoria, B.C., LCol BS MacDonald of Toronto is standing in the wings as the Vice President.
The executive and the membership of the RCAA is most grateful to LCol Crosman and his staff for their excellent hospitality.