How it is run (and the legal bits)
The RAMC Association was formed in January 1925 and became a registered charity in April 1993. In Jan 2007, after a lot of discussion, it amalgamated with the five other Corps Funds that existed at the time and a new Charity was formed, The RAMC Charity. The legal side of this is that the Charity is a Company limited by guarantee and is run by a Board of Trustees. The Association is a sub-committee of the Charity and is represented by the National Chairman who is a Trustee of the Board. The money that the Association needs to run its overall, National, affairs is allocated annually by the RAMC Charity at a Board Meeting.
At a National level, the association has a Management Committee that meets twice a year. This is composed of Regional Representatives, the web master and social media representative; it has a secretary, who is an Association member. However, what happens locally is very much run by the Branches. They set their own membership fees (these have to include the statutory amount set by the HQ) and run their own programmes, which include social events, dinners, attending local parades and looking after welfare needs.
Membership
The RAMC association is maintained by Full membership which must be renewed annually. Full membership is for people who are serving or who have served with the RAMC and for anyone who has, now or in the past, been associated with the RAMC. Medical personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Airforce are also eligible to join. For example, this could include members of other corps who have served with or alongside RAMC units and wives and partners of members. The Branches are responsible for the administration and process of the application forms. Members who previously took out a life membership will continue to enjoy all the relevant rghts and priviliges granted to them.
It is, also, important to know that all serving members of the RAMC are members of the Association.
Why join the Association?
Although the official way the Objects of the Association are defined (above) may sound rather dry, they are what it is all about. You will find people who have so much in common that friendships are easily made and meeting together is relaxed and good times are had; there are many occasions that will include families. One of the important parts of this is that there is a shared pride in everything that the RAMC has achieved in the past and continues to achieve.
When you join, you will be issued with a membership card and an Association badge. You may also like to think about subscribing to the Corps magazine.
In 1925, the RAMC Association was formed to further the camaraderie of WW1 Corps veterans with Sir William Leishman being the first President. There are now some 25 branches around UK with a predominantly veteran membership although most serving Corps members also are members centrally. The Association has traditionally been supported by Corps Funds and especially for the expenses of the branch standards and standard bearers.