Arborfield Old Boys' Association
AANM. Fund raising and publicity report, 7 September 2010Fundraising and Publicity Campaign 2010.
Secretary’s Report 7 September 2010.

There is no question, the prediction made by Max Warwick in October 2009, that the adoption of the Australian Ex- Apprentices idea regarding the sale of ComTabs would prove to be the main thrust of fund raising, was correct.
Supported by wide ranging advertising in Regimental and Corps magazines, the AANM and Sponsoring Association web sites, the publicity resulted in the sale (to date) of 339 Commemorative Tablets generating a very satisfactory £29,595 towards our target of £50,000:00p.
Since the last MSC meeting in May 2010, a portable publicity display stand (donated by the webmaster, Max Warwick) has been taken into use. The display stand with it’s vivid graphics, form an excellent background for the display of the sample ComTab, alongside the specimen fragment of the King George Sixth AAS badge, supplemented by briefing documents composed by the Secretary, give the viewer a very good insight into what the finished memorial will look like. The display was augmented with the framed artist’s impression of the memorial, mounted on an easel.
The display was first used on the 23 July 2010 at the REME RHQ Officers Mess and at the AOBA reunion the following weekend. On both occasions the display was well received. The display has been scheduled for use at the Armourer’s Association re-union at the end of August, at the BOBA reunion in September and the Harrogate reunion in October.
Friday, 30 July 2010, marked a very successful social evening at the AOBA reunion. The secretary, assisted by Mo Hope raised £615:00p by means of a raffle. In addition David Schofield and Anthony Church (AOBA members), between them raised a further £302:00p from the sale of 2011 calendars and souvenir mugs. The Treasurer also collected £164:00p in miscellaneous donations lifting the total for the evening to a magnificent £1081:00p.
In pursuance of the commitment outlined in minute 1 of the MSC meeting of 28 October 2009, the secretary has been in a three-way conversation (by telephone and e-mail) with Johnny McGahan and Paul Kennedy (NMA Liaison officer) regarding the information required by the NMA for a text to be published in the NMA guide outlining a brief history of the Army Apprentice.
An outline has been written and the secretary, on behalf of the Committee is preparing a dossier for presentation to the NMA. Mr Kennedy has already seen and commented favourably on the outline brief. The secretary has arranged for Johnny McGahan pass the dossier to Mr Kennedy for his perusal in order for him comment on the veracity of the content. The dossier is to be returned to the secretary for final edit in preparation for approval by the MSC, and presentation of the dossier to the NMA.
Finally at the beginning of August the secretary sent an update to Andrew Baud MD, Tapla PR, on progress in achieving our aim.