The Sappers Association [NZ] Inc
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JOIN THE SAPPERS ASSOCIATION [NZ] INC.
30. Paragraphs 1 to 9 are found on the 'All RNZE' page, paragraphs 10 to 29 are found on the 'Members' page, both seperate to this page.
Joining
31. People who have been in the RNZE, RAE, RE, CME, US Engineers and other allied army engineering corps are welcome to join The Sappers Association [NZ] Inc. This also includes other corps where individuals have been posted to or attached to an RNZE unit ie RNZ Logistics Corps or RNZEME Engineeer Workshop etc.
32. To join, set up an account via Log in [top right]. For more background, see paragraphs 12 to 14 for instructions on how to do this. There are three types of membership:
(a) Service Member: This for those still in the army, RF or TF, and is free until discharged. At that stage the Service Member is expected to become a Financial Life Member (b) below.
(b) Financial Life Member: This for those who have left the army. It is a $60 one off payment for life [there are no annual subscriptions].
(c) Free Trial: This is for those who have left the army, but want to try a limited free trial for six months before becominga Financial Life Member (b) above.
For those that suspect they are a Financial Life Member already, but have lost contact over the years and can't login to confirm their membership, a two stage strategy is recommended. Become a Service Member (a) [if still serving] or opt for a Free Trial (c) [if left the Army] for free first. This allows you to view Menu / Members Current / Financial Life Members Roll once your interim membership has been vetted. If your name is there, just fix up your account [para 12] without paying. If you can't see your name, use the free period remaining until paying for Financial Life Membership (b).
33. On 2 June 2023 we activated Stripe 4.5% fee credit card payment for memberships linked to the account set up in para 32 [refunds are minus the fee]. In Profile select 'Memberships' [The '50 Years' is a work around for life membership, as Tidy HQ assumes repeat subscriptions and has no set up for life memberships. The 08-05-2018 is an original default setting which will be manually overtyped with acceptance meeting date]. Alternatively, pay NZ$60.00 into Bank of New Zealand 02-0727-0629870-000 by Direct Credit [if possible]. Particulars 'Membership' & Code 'your Regimental Number'. The difference between the two payment methods is $60 minus 4.5% credit card fee has $57.28 received, where as the direct credit has all of the $60 received. Chose either. This is a one-off payment for a life membership. There are no annual fees in this Association [see paragraph 3]. Payments can be stretched out with fortnightly/monthly/yearly automatic payments to branches who hold payments until they reach $60 and transfer the whole single amount to the Executive. A choice of branches and their accounts are:
(a) Era Decade Branch: bank account 02-0727-0629870-008 for Service Member multiple part payments. After attending a social function organised through this website, a Service Member may wish to set up a yearly automatic payment towards their eventual discharge. Say, $5 per year for 12 years = $60, $6 per year for 10 years = $60 or $10 per year for 6 years = $60.
(b) Northern Branch: bank account 02-0727-0629870-002 for Free Trial multiple part payments. After attending a social function organised through this website, a Free Trial Member may wish to set up a monthly automatic payment towards their Financial Life Membership. Say, $5 per month for 12 months = $60, $6 per month for 10 month = $60 or $10 per month for 6 month = $60.
(c) No other branches are organised to accept membership multiple part payments and transfer them to the Executive at this stage.
34. The young have a financial advantage:
| Join Age | Old Age | Years | Ave PA |
| 70 | 90 | 20 | $3 |
| 60 | 90 | 30 | $2 |
| 30 | 90 | 60 | $1 |
| 20 | 90 | 70 | $0.86 |
Note that the average per annum in the last two lines is pretty close to the interest earned in paragraph 3, without the rigmarole and expense of trying get members to pay an annual levy.
35. You may make a donation towards the "Serving Sappers Bursary Awards" if you wish, to the same account in paragraph 33. Preferably two seperate payments. This one Particulars 'Bursary' & Code 'your Regimental Number'.
36. The Executive Council meets about five times a year [by Zoom]. At each meeting the Council will consider each application to join the Association based on payment of the joining fee and details in the sprnz.tidyhq.com account. The next Executive Council meeting is early Sep24.
Acceptance
37. Upon acceptance of the joining process by the Executive Council, the check boxes the new member selected will automatically be put into address groups in sprnz.tidhq.com. This will then allow him/her, once logged in, to view such pages as their local district branch, their era for Decade Do's [see paragraph 4], members Roll of Honour etc.
38. A lapel badge and membership card will be mailed to the new member.
39. An invitation to join the Facebook page of the member's year joined RNZE Era will be sent to the new member [if that Era is active].
Young Sappers
40. It desirable that young sappers join the Sappers Association to form a voting block to change the re-write of the Constitution to a young person's perspective. The original 1961 Constitution was written by ex-Wortld War Two then youngish sappers in their forties who had been shot at together for six years. We now need a Constitution written by young sappers in their twenties reflecting a membership covering seventy years of enlistments with intermittent overseas deployments. Something along the lines of young sappers socialising with young sappers plus young sappers helping old sappers. Young sapper members can take over the $50,000+ [actual amount see paragraph 3] Association funds and in a responsible manner use them to achieve a new vision.
41. A new Association Serving Member category has been activated. It is free whilst the member is still serving in the Army. Upon discharge [or before] sappers can become financial members.
Join TF
42. Young fit people wishing to join the serving Sappers in the Territorial Force Auckland area can send an enquiry email to nth.tftp.sprnz@mai.tidyhq.com to contact the Northern Troop.
Join Returned Services Association
43. Young serving soldiers are encouraged to join a local Returned Services Association [RSA] Club. With many overseas deployments in recent years, most young soldiers qualify as 'Returned' or at least 'Service' members. These RSAs invaribly sit on valuable land in the centre of each city or town [good public transport to avoid drink driving] and most club constitutions specify that land disposal is only voted on by Returned or Service members [not Associate members]. In other words, young returned or service members can 'own' this conveniently located land. So, by filling out a RSA form, presenting campaign medals and paying a small membership annual fee, young soldiers can take over the land and redevelop it the way they want it. Returned or Service soldiers can join more than one RSA concurrently: perhaps the RSA near his/her camp and also the RSA in their home town or the town they intend to retire to.
44. The old returned guys are dying off. It wouldn't take too many young Returned or Serivice members to out vote the old ways [similar to paragraph 40 above]. If selling some of the land to a developer in exchange for a brand new building with all the conveniances makes sense, then young members can vote it through. But be aware that, in the absence of Returned or Service members having a majority, Associate members [who have never worn a uniform] are slowly changing constitutions to their own advantage.
45. The Sappers Association [NZ] Inc has been officially affiliated with the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association since 2023. The Sappers Association uses RSAs for functions often. Traditional RSAs [those not almalgamated with other clubs] regard military associations as 'kindred organisations' and treat them similar to themselves. Instead of charging a hire fee for a room, RSAs normally just want kindred organisations to put their money over the bar or into the resturaunt and they're happy with the increased turnover. Our association needs RSAs to survive for our association to flourish. If the Sappers Association has to use hotels or venues for hire, it's going to cost.
Unemployed or Starting a Business
46. Those professionals who are currently unemployed may wish to consider being an unpaid Treasurer or Secretary for an incorporated friendly society. It looks good on your curriculum vitae to show community spirit, proactive attitude and using your qualifications. For you, it perhaps lifts yourself out of depression and gives you a work routine [make your bed etc] during each day. Treasurer especially needs to lodge accounts online with the Companies Office, something that looks good to a prospective employer. At least one of our Sapper Association Treasurers has acheived employment this way. The RNZE Charitable Trust [see Home page] is also usually on the look out for a Secretary or Treasurer.
47. A person thinking of starting a small business can find dealing with the Companies Office as a Secretary or Treasurer a solid learning curve. Hands on experience operating two signature accounts on internet banking for business as well. For the Sappers Association it would mean committing to three years [see member login Administration / Past Office Holders para 12], so this time should be completed before starting a new business [a startup enterprise will probably have you working really long hours, so no time left for unpaid volunteer work]. Perhaps this volunteer work could be done in conjunction with using RF resettlement training to complete a NZ Institution of Management Certificate in Small Business Management, taking approximately three years. Remember that it is often the IRD that wipes out start up businesses in their second year for failing to put money aside for two years' tax. Some small businesses could be:
(a) Truck owner driver.
(b) Digger or crane owner operator.
(c) Builder, plumber or electrician sole enterprise.
48. Once a person becomes a member, s/he can login and view page Administration / Secretary Duties & Treasurer Duties.
49. Reserved.
28 Jul 2024 last updated.
