Page 5 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

It is August, the temperature is tropical and there is an air of lethargy. As I consider this report, I am minded of the last time I wrote the Gazette report. It was January and life seemed as it does in January ... post-Christmas reflection, a new year and what that would bring. Little did I know that by the time you received the Spring Gazette we were in lockdown and all that that entailed. Today I wonder what the Autumn will bring.
Lockdown brought several difficulties (not problems!) adjusting to home working, communications, meetings, to name a few. The central office team performed, we soon had functionality and connectivity. Our first review did indicate that we had difficulties accessing the database – as an example, those of you who belong to the headquarters roll may have felt left out. This matter is being resolved and we expect resolution soon.
Zoom has been something of a saviour; we know it is not an entirely secure system but bearing that in mind, we have continued our core business throughout this period. Delicate matters and benevolence cases are redacted, processed by e-mail or telephone, and resolved as soon as possible. Urgent cases are dealt with by an on-call quorum of trustees, and I must say the fastest time from receipt to resolution has been just under five hours.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to our central team, Sue, Alison, Sarah and Sally who have encountered some very interesting glitches and gremlins! My thanks too go to the trustees – it
has been an interesting time to say the least. I return to my initial paragraph ... what the autumn will bring. Well, I think we are ready for what may come.
During this last period the Association has not sat on its hands; during the initial phase of lockdown the Board knew that we had to energise our members to identify the vulnerable. Funds were released to the Branches to initiate enquiries; this appears to have been a success and the Branches are becoming a centre for varied social activities. Again, my thanks to all Branches – in the true spirit of ‘Friendship’ you have been extremely active.
For the coming year I would like a focus on membership. The new membership committee chaired by Simon Davies and mentored by Debra Ritsperis are to be given almost free rein to develop the case and increase membership. All too often I have noticed that in many benevolence cases, had the veteran been an Association member we may have heard of their problems sooner and been able to act. That said, many serving QAs do not seem to understand what the Association is or what it does. I would value the help of all members in this endeavour: please do pass on your Gazette on to a non- member once you have read it. Do you know a QA who is not a member? I shall leave that there.
We welcome Janet Kelly and Cally Brunton to the Board of Trustees; there is still one vacancy for a retired member. Do you have a voice that wants to be heard? More importantly do you have the time? Should you wish
John Quinn, Chair of the Association
to apply, the procedure is explained in the Gazette and I stand ready to speak to anyone thinking of applying. I must also mention we now have a vice chair, and welcome Merrill Bate to this new and developing role.
Our congratulations go to Rosie Hubbard, this year’s recipient of the Association Award; our thanks for your devoted work for members of the Welsh Branch, again a true example of ‘Friendship’ in action.
Finally thank you to the editor; with so many of you working on the front line and many unit activities curtailed it is quite a task to produce a balanced Gazette. A Gazette, I might add, that is much admired by other organisations.
The Gazette QARANC Association 3
Report from the Chair
Stay safe.
John Quinn Chair
Dates for your Diary
QARANC Association Board
of Trustees Meetings
28 January 2021, 29 April 2021, 29 July 2021, 28 October 2021. Trustees will be notified of any changes.
Branch Chairs &
Secretaries Meeting
Friday 23 April 2021 at 14:00 hrs. Leeds Marriott Hotel, 4 Trevelyan Square Boar Lane, Leeds, LS16ET.
QARANC Association Reunion and
Lunch
Saturday 24 April 2021 at 11:30 hrs. Leeds Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT.
QARANC Corps Day
Sunday 28 March 2021. The Royal Hospital Chelsea. Full details to follow.