Circular 55/23 Registration for RSL NSW Annual State Congress and AGM 2023

Further to Circular 45/23, registration for the Annual State Congress and AGM 2023 is now open. The deadline to register is Monday, 9 October 2023.

Event details: 

• Date: Sunday 22 October 2023 to Tuesday 24 October 2023
• Venue: NEX, Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre (309 King Street Newcastle West)

There are three types of registration this year:

• In-Person attendance – Sub-Branch or District Council delegate and alternate delegate in-person attendance
• Virtual (online) attendance – Sub-Branch or District Council delegate and alternate delegate virtual (online) attendance
• Proxy nomination –  Nominate a proxy to vote on your behalf

All email correspondence relating to Congress and the AGM will be sent to the official RSL NSW sub-Branch email address, for example samplesb@rslnsw.org.au.

Accessing the Registration Forms:

All Honorary Secretaries are required to complete an online registration form for their Delegate and Alternate Delegates. Use the following links to access the forms. (Please note: the registration form is applicable to both in-person and virtual attendance options.)

• Sub-Branch registration form (In-person or virtual) 
• District Council registration form (In-person or virtual) 

If the Delegate and/or Alternate Delegate registers to attend virtually, instructions on how to participate will be sent to the personal email address of the registered Delegate or Alternate Delegate.

Proxy Voting

Sub-Branch Delegates unable to attend Congress and the AGM, either in person or virtually (online), have the option to appoint the Chair, a Director of the RSL NSW Board, or their sub-Branch District Council Delegate as a proxy cast vote on their behalf, in accordance with clause 15.52 and Appendix C of the RSL NSW Constitution.

Follow this link for information on proxy registration.

Observers

There are restricted numbers for observers to attend in person which are dependent on the number of delegates and alternates delegates that register. Observers’ confirmation will follow a first come first to register basis, managed an ANZAC House team member. To express your interest, complete the online form here.

Please note that any observer must be an ‘Active’ member of RSL NSW, including Service, Affiliate, or Auxiliary members.

The expression of interest form is only applicable for in person attendance. All members will receive an email containing a link to watch the livestream as an observer (no registration required).

Attendance Requirements

Sub-Branches must comply with Clause 15.39 of the Constitution to be eligible to register Delegates and Alternate Delegates to attend the Congress and AGM. This means all sub-Branches must have submitted their 2022 SBA. Any sub-Branch that is not compliant and registers as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate will be contacted by ANZAC House and will have until 9 October to fulfill its obligations.

New! RSL NSW sub-Branch of the Year Award

The inaugural ‘RSL NSW sub-Branch of the Year Award’ is the recognition of the extraordinary volunteerism across the League as many sub-Branches strive to support veterans and veteran families and work extraordinarily hard to manage the administration of the sub-Branch as more and more obligations are having to be met to meet contemporary regulatory standards, governance, and administrative requirements.

To be eligible for this award to be presented at Congress, please respond to a set of selection criteria questions in the sub-Branch registration form.

Social and Sport & Recreation Program Activities

A meet and greet function will take place on the afternoon/ evening of Sunday 22 October, at NEX from 1700. Delegate and Alternate Delegate packs will not be available for collection at this event. Packs will be available for collection on Monday 23 October from 0800. After resounding success in 2022, all Delegates and Alternate Delegates are invited to join their fellow members from across the State on the afternoon of Monday 23 October for lawn bowls, trivia, or billiards/pool (non-competitive) and camaraderie at Bar Beach Bowling Club. This Sport & Recreation Program activities will take place from 1700, a shuttle bus and refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome regardless of whether they wish to participate in any activities. More information about this activity can be found here.

While completing the registration form, please indicate your Delegate and Alternate Delegates’ attendance along with their preferred activity choices.

The Delegate and Alternate Delegate will need to complete an online waiver form, this can be done online here.

Associated Travel Cost Assistance

If any sub-Branch requires financial assistance for the Delegate and Alternate Delegate to attend the Congress and AGM, please submit your application to the RSL NSW sub-Branch Support and Assistance Fund by completing this form.

Schedule of Events 

The following is a schedule of events for Congress and the AGM 2023. The full agenda will be included with the Notice of Meeting.

Sunday, 22 October 2023 

• 1700 to 1900
• Meet & Greet function
• Refreshments will be served
• Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre (NEX), 309 King Street Newcastle

Monday, 23 October 2023 

• 0800 to 1630
• Collection of delegate packs from 0800
• Official opening and awards from 0900
• Presentations from 1100 to 1630
• Sport & Recreation Program Activities at Bar Beach Bowling Club from 1700
• Refreshments (including at Bar Beach Bowling Club) and light lunch will be served throughout the day

Tuesday, 24 October 2023 

• 0830 to close of AGM
• Collection of voting devices (delegate only) from 0730
• Presentations from 0830
• Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 1030
• Refreshments and light lunch will be served

Notice of Meeting 

The Notice of Meeting will be issued to sub-Branches on 26 September 2023 (four weeks prior to the AGM).

Submit your Motions

In accordance with the RSL NSW Constitution Appendix C Clause 2, sub-Branches are required to propose motions for the AGM by 15 August 2023, 10 weeks prior to the AGM. Please see Circular 45/23 that was sent to sub-Branches earlier this year.

Please submit all motions for consideration by the Agenda Committee and Board by email to support@rslnsw.org.au. If you prefer to submit motions by mail, please allow sufficient time for the mail to reach ANZAC House.

Further Information 

All Honorary Secretaries, Delegates and Alternate Delegates are encouraged to regularly visit the Congress page on the RSL NSW website. This page will serve as the main source of up-to-date information leading up to the Congress and AGM events.

If you require further assistance with your online registration, please contact the Member Support Team at support@rslnsw.org.au or on 1300 679 775.