The 17th ARCOIreland Annual General Meeting took place in the Defence Forces School of Catering on Saturday 1st October 2011. The Executive Committee elected for the coming year is as follows:
President: Col Brian O’Connor
Vice President: Brig Gen Liam Mac Namee
Hon Secretary: Lt Col Joe Ahern
Hon Treasurer: Lt Col Richard Cummins
Hon Membership Secretary: Col Dick Heaslip
Eastern Region Representatives
Col Mick Lucey (Subsequently retired; Comdt Mick Delaney co-opted)
Comdt Billy Campbell
Southern Region Representatives
Lt Col Seán Scanlon
Vacant
Western Region Representatives
Brig Gen Gerry McNamara
Col Senan Downes
DFTC Regional Representatives
Col Dick Heaslip
Col Con McNamara
Naval Service Regional Representatives
Capt (NS) Charlie O’ Donnell
Lt Cdr Peter Dunne
Air Corps Regional Representatives
Lt Col Richard Cummins
Capt Ray Bonar
The AGM was briefed on the review that had been conducted by ARCOIreland. Issues addressed in the review include the Association’s future Strategy, Structures and Activities. A total of 930 retired officers were surveyed. Responses were received from forty-five percent, including 136 non-members. More than 80 serving officers were also consulted at pre-retirement courses. The findings proposed new priorities for ARCOIreland: these are Pensions, Information Dissemination, Representation, Health Services and Social Welfare issues. The development of an enhanced web site and a new electronic means of communication were seen priorities.
As a result of work conducted by the Executive Committee a new Vision, Mission, Objectives and Goals are proposed for ARCOIreland. A rules sub committee will be established in the coming year to review and make proposals, which will be presented at next years AGM for the approval of members. ARCOIreland is also developing a financial plan to advance its new priorities and to this end it was proposed that the annual subscription be raised by 10 euro to 25 euro per annum to accommodate these changes. The meeting agreed to this increase with immediate effect.
A full account of the AGM proceedings will appear in the Spring Newsletter.
