Ballots for the election of Lincolns Branch Committee will be distributed 1st March 2026 and will only be distributed to Branch Members. Ballots will be via our preferred voting platform Microsoft Forms which is GDPR compliant.

The ballot is secret, and a link will be sent to you via email. Voters without email addresses will receive their ballot by SMS text or if they wish can access the link via FB and our website.

I encourage you to register an email address with the Association as this will save the Branch time and money.

We respectfully suggest that you ensure that your membership and email address is up to date with the RAF Association. You can call the Association Helpline on 0800 018 2361 to check or use the link below.

If you are a Branch Member and have not received an email ballot by close of play Monday 2nd March 2026, please check your spam folder and Junk email folder before contacting the Branch.

We encourage you to vote as you will be having your say on how you Branch is run.

Powers and Duties of the Branch Committee - BR10

(3) The Committee shall be the governing body of the Branch and shall have the management and control of the affairs of the Branch.

(4) The Committee as a whole shall ensure that the duties and tasks of the Committee are achieved by delegating them across the       Committee, where appropriate, rather than relying upon a single member to execute such duties and tasks.

(5) The Committee shall be responsible to the Council and the Area Council for carrying out the functions of a Branch as set out below and the decisions made by the Branch in General Meeting.

i. (Rule 27) The primary unit of the Association shall be the Branch which shall, be responsible to the Council and, where appropriate the Area Council for:

(a) Furthering and attaining the objects of the Association;

(b) Giving effect to all decisions of the Council and of the Area Council;

(c) The due observance of Association Rules, Bye-Laws and Branch Regulations.

(6) The Committee shall also be responsible for:

i. Acting as the charity trustees for the Branch;

ii. Submitting the Branch’s annual return to the relevant charity regulator;

iii. Dealing with any application for membership of the Branch; and

iv. Taking proceedings to suspend or expel members of the Branch if appropriate.

v. Complying with UK Legislation and Regulation.

(7) All Committee members shall comply with Association Data Protection Policy and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that personal data held about Branch members is only used for legitimate Association purposes and that all personal data is kept under strict control and not inadvertently shared or made available for unauthorised use.

Responsibilities (Extract from BR10)

(8) The Chairman, as facilitator, shall be responsible to, delegating as appropriate within, the Committee for (but not limited to):

i. Ensuring that all members of the Committee are aware of their roles, what is expected of them and that they are carrying out the duties allocated to them. They should also ensure that a succession plan is in place for not only their own position but for the other Officers of the Branch;

ii. Chairing Branch Committee meetings and ensuring that the decisions of the Committee, providing such decisions are lawful and within the terms of the Royal Charter, Rules, Byelaws and Regulations, are implemented;

iii. Chairing the Branch’s Annual General Meeting using the same criteria as for Branch Committee meetings. However, they may delegate this role to another member of the

Branch for all or part of the meeting where a conflict of interest might be perceived, such as in elections;

iv. Identifying, with other members of the Committee and Branch, those members of the Branch who do outstanding work for the Branch and who may be deserving of formal recognition for their efforts and nominate them accordingly for either an Area or National Presidential Certificate or a State award;

v. Ensuring that any issues that may affect the future or reputation of the Branch or the Association are notified promptly to the Area Director;

vi. Ensuring that the Branch and its members comply with Charity Law and other relevant legislation and regulation e.g. Data Protection legislation and Association policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

vii. Liaising and coordinating the Branches representation with local RAF stations/units, UAS, military charities, Air Cadet Sqns and adjacent Branches;

viii. Ensuring that Branch members are kept informed regarding Branch activities, and that, within the resources available, their needs, particular for befriending and welfare services, are met;

ix. Encouraging and leading Branch membership recruitment and fundraising activities; and

x. Ensuring that the duties of the Welfare Officer and Wings Appeal Organiser are fulfilled where these posts are not appointed.

(9) The Secretary shall be responsible to the Committee for (but not limited to):

i. At the first meeting of the fully constituted Committee following the Annual General Meeting, drawing the attention of the Members of the Committee to their responsibilities as charity trustees as set out in relevant charity law and any guidance issued by Council;

ii. Dealing with correspondence addressed to the Branch (this may be by electronic means or via the branch website);

iii. Maintaining the records of the Branch;

iv. Taking Minutes of General Meetings and meetings of the Committee and ensuring that such minutes are promptly circulated to all members;

v. Coordinating the implementation of actions arising from General Meetings of the Branch and meetings of the Committee;

vi. Informing the Area Office of the names and categories of the Members of the Committee, compiling F1056 annually and forwarding to the Area Office; and

vii. Dealing with insurance matters for the Branch (see Finance Handbook para 4.7.1).

(10) The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Committee and the Branch for (but not limited to):

i. Receiving subscriptions; For overseas branches only: Paying the due subscriptions to HQ;

ii. Receiving and disbursing Branch monies, including monies raised from entertainment and other functions in aid of Branch or Association funds, and maintaining books and accounts in compliance with such instructions and guidelines as may be issued by or on behalf of the Council, in particular the Association Finance Handbook;

iii. Presenting to the Committee at each of its Ordinary Meetings a statement showing the current financial position of the Branch;

iv. Presenting to the Committee any specially called for Statement of Accounts and Report of the Auditor or Independent Examiner that will be or has been forwarded to the Area Office in accordance with Byelaws 25 and 26;

v. Presenting to each Branch Meeting (other than the Annual General Meeting) a statement showing the current financial position of the Branch;

vi. Presenting to the Committee and to the Annual General Meeting the Statement of Accounts of the Branch for the preceding financial year and the Report of the Auditor or Independent Examiner; and

vii. Submitting to the Area Office by 31 March each year a copy of the Statement of Accounts for the preceding financial year and the Report of the Auditor or Independent Examiner.

viii. Filing Branch account statements with the Charity Commission by October each year via Charity Commission website.

(11) The Welfare Officer shall be responsible to the Committee for (but not limited to):

i. Promoting the welfare by charitable means of those members of the Branch and those persons who are eligible for the welfare support of the Association under the terms of Article 2 of the Royal Charter in accordance with any guidance or direction issued by HQ or by the Area Office;

ii. Maintaining a record of welfare work and of receipts and expenditure for welfare purposes;

iii. Making regular reports to the Committee, the Area Welfare Officer and/or the Area Office and/or HQ on welfare work; and

iv. Coordinating Branch befriending activity and the work of Association volunteers in the Branch area of responsibility.

(12) The Membership Secretary shall be responsible to the Committee for (but not limited to):

i. Coordinating the Branch implementation of the Data Protection Act in accordance with Association policy and Standard Operating Procedures, and ensuring that Branch Officials sign the annual Certificate of Compliance for the protection of personal data;

ii. Dealing with members’ applications for registration with the Branch and informing the HQ and/or Area Office, noting requirements for ‘Home Branch’ status;

iii. In association with the HQ and/or Area Office, maintaining accurate and up-to-date membership records, issuing renewal notices and for overseas branches, recording membership fees together with the Treasurer; and contacting lapsed members in conjunction with the Welfare Officer to identify if they require any support.

(13) The Wings Appeal Organiser shall be responsible to the Committee for (but not limited to):

i. Organising the raising of funds for the Wings Appeal in accordance with any guidance or direction issued by the Fundraising Department of the Association or by the Area Office;

ii. Accounting for monies received for the Wings Appeal and any expenses incurred in raising the monies;

iii. Ensuring that any monies received are banked promptly;

iv. Providing such returns and reports on the fundraising as may be required by the Fundraising Department or the Area Office; and

v. Making regular reports to the Committee and the Area Office and/or HQ on the progress of fundraising.