North Wales Royal Marines Association
(NWRMA) Membership

There are many myths about Royal Marines Association Membership
so lets lay a few to rest.

It costs £5 a year to be a Full or Associate member. Full members are
those who served in the Royal Marines or members of the Royal Navy
who served on the strength of a Royal Marines Unit. Associate
membership is for the close family of Full Members or Members of the
Armed Forces and Foreign Armed Forces with strong links to the Royal
Marines. This remains the cheapest former serviceman’s association
in the country. Subscriptions are not payable once a member reaches
the age of 80 and are frozen from the age of 65.

Benefits of North Wales Royal Marines Association Membership are:

• 3 Newsletters a year
• Photo membership card
• Introductions to many like minded people in local branches
• An annual reunion planned at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines every September
• A Central Office that fights members causes if asked
• Welfare and emotional support where needed
• Advance ticket sales for MFM and BR, thereby avoiding credit charges and postage amounting to £3.50 for 2 tickets to each function
• Heavily discounted solicitor services for will writing (50%), house selling and buying (20%), domestic law (10%) and personal accident cases (free). Irwin Mitchell is a very well respected firm and it operates throughout the country. This includes Central Office providing a complaints service where necessary.
• Centralised fund raising activities
• Liaison with the Serving Corps to give and receive help and comradeship
• Growing liaison with the Veteran’s Agency including help with grants to Branches
• Co-ordinating RMA Remembrance week activities

In 2006 Central Office was modernised with updating and getting accurate all the information for the Membership database. Once this was achieved Central Office was able to communicate with Branches and HQ Roll Members by any means they wish more regularly and more efficiently. Collection of subscriptions will also by by any method that branches and members prefer. Standing Orders and Direct Debits are available for those who wish to use them.

By the  end of 2006 the Royal Marines Association was in a position to concentrate on activities other than process. Fund raising for Corps Funds can be developed as can be developed as can establishing many more reunion opportunities for veterans of the myriad of campaigns since the Second World War at appropriate moments.

The long awaited hope to put pressure on HQ Roll members to join branches can be initiated and a system for encouraging new leavers from the Corps will be introduced. Central Office will be able to help branches more with local recruitment and part of the budget will be available to Branches to support these initiatives. 2006 has seen a concentration on the Diamond Jubilee and sorting out processes to ensure that a sound foundation is laid in Central Office. 2007 will see the aim shift to improving the profile of the Royal Marines Association throughout the country and supporting local initiatives. All ideas on this front would  be gratefully received.