(This is an extract of the Rules adopted on 19th November 2022 with the full set shown in the Members’ Area.)
1. NAME
The name of the Association is “The 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association” (“the Association”).
2. ADMINISTRATION
The Association and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with these Rules by the Committee of the Association (“the Committee”), and/or the Trustees of the Regimental Trust (the Trustees), as appropriate to the property or funds to be so managed or administered. For the purposes hereof the term “the Regimental Trust” shall mean the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles Regimental Trust, Registered Charity Number 259969 under the Charity Commission Scheme sealed on 20th June 1997 pursuant to which all pre-existing Charities for the benefit of 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles (“the Regiment”) are thenceforth to be administered and managed together as one Charity.
3. OBJECTS
3.1 The Association is a non-political organisation; any form of political activity, or any activity associated with the lobbying of politicians or of members of the public by any Member for any purpose on behalf of the Association whatsoever is expressly forbidden. The President, the Chairman, the Regimental Secretary and/or such other person as shall have been expressly nominated by the President or the Chairman shall be the sole persons who may speak for the Association in contact with the media; in the event that any Member is contacted by a media representative the Member shall refer such representative to the President or the Chairman.
3.2 The Objects of the Association (“the Objects”), which shall be achieved in such ways as the Committee from time to time shall, subject to these Rules, think fit, are:
Principal Object
To foster esprit de corps and comradeship, and to preserve the traditions and history of the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles (“the Regiment”), for all former members of the Regiment and members of the Association.
Further Objects
- To maintain contact between members of the Association, fostering mutual friendship among them.
- To maintain liaison between the Association and the Regimental Association of The Royal Gurkha Rifles, and with the serving members of that regiment.
- To provide for members of the Association to play a full part in the charitable activities carried out by The Gurkha Brigade Association and The Gurkha Welfare Trust in the relief of individual former members of the Regiment and their dependants who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, and further to act as a channel of communication between members of the Association in need and the many sources of welfare support and benevolence that may from time to time be available.
4. MEMBERSHIP
4.1 There shall be three classes of membership of the Association, namely:
- Full members
- Associate members; and
- Honorary members
each severally and collectively hereinafter referred to in these Rules as “Members”.
4.2 Full Membership
All persons who have served on the posted strength of the Regiment at any time shall be eligible for election to Full membership.
4.3 Associate Membership
All persons who, at any time, consider that they have ties by kinship or by association with the Regiment shall be eligible to apply for Associate membership.
All applications for Associate membership must be submitted to the Committee for approval.
4.4 Honorary Membership
- All widows/widowers of deceased Full members will automatically be invited to become Honorary members.
- Distinguished persons may be invited to become Honorary members if so approved by the President of the Association (“the President”) and the Committee.
4.5 Continuity of Membership
Subject to the continued payment, as and when required, of subscriptions in accordance with the provisions of Rule 11 hereof, membership shall normally continue for the life of a Member; notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Committee, at its reasonable and proper discretion, shall determine that a Member has in any way brought the name of the Regiment or the Association into disrepute, or has acted in a manner inconsistent with the Objects of the Association set out in Rule 3, such Member shall cease to be a member of the Association with effect from a date notified to the Member in writing by the Chairman.
4.6 Branches of the Association
There shall be a Branch of the Association established in Nepal (“the Nepal Branch”) and may be further branches established in such other places in or outside the United Kingdom as may be required by persons who have at any time worn the Regiment’s cap badge and are permanently resident in such other places PROVIDED THAT
- the objectives of the Nepal Branch and of such further branches shall be the same as those of the Association set forth in Rule 3 hereof,
- subject to (a) above and (c) below, the constitution and rules of the Nepal Branch and of such further branches shall be determined by their respective members, and
- membership of the Nepal Branch and of such further branches shall be open to all persons who have served on the posted strength of the Regiment.
- any further branches established and properly constituted must have been recognised by the Association at an AGM.