PVO MEETING – APRIL 2017
Gentlemen,
A brief report back of the amendments approved to the PVO constitution and decisions taken at the last National council meeting.
- Mike McWilliams was unanimously chosen as National Vice Chairman of the PVO, and will hold this position until the AGM to be held in August/September
- It was unanimously agreed that the individual paid up members of the canopies become members of the PVO rather than the Canopies. This would allow greater transparency, especially with the election of members to the National Council and NEC.
The electronic voting process will take place via the PVO website. A database to be created on the website of current active paid up PVO members who may vote (a vetting process is needed). Canopies must submit their databases before the end of May, so that it can be loaded onto the system.
- Nominations for the National council to be finalised by middle June 2017. The voting will take place around July/August when the AGM is held. The current National Council and NEC remain and serve the PVO until then.
- A new portfolio position in the PVO is the Complaints and Grievances Official. The NEC will approach different candidates to fill this position.
- MEMBERSHIP – INDIVIDUALS
- ORDINARY MEMBERS
Members must be a qualified jumper verified and under the auspices by 1 Parachute Battalion (Parabat) and a veteran.
Paratrooper veteran is defined as – Paratrooper veteran” means any South African citizen who rendered military service; and has completed his military training and no longer performs military service, and has not been dishonourably discharged The committee’s decision shall be final and binding.
They are paid members of PVO canopies and Cyber Canopies
Ordinary Members of the PVO enjoy the benefits of the PVO membership, may hold office if approved by a majority vote at the AGM.
- ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:
Those who have served as and/or qualified as a military parachutist in foreign airborne units may be considered for Associate membership of the PVO so long as they are able to prove their airborne credentials to the full satisfaction of the National Executive.
Associate Members of the PVO enjoy the benefits of the PVO membership, may hold office if approved by a majority vote at the AGM.
They are paid members of canopies
- AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP, INTERNATIONAL OR COUNTRY MEMBER
Whosoever has served in the SADF/SANDF and is or has been linked to The Parachute Regiment is entitled to affiliated membership.
International and or Country membership in the PVO shall be open to members outside of the Canopies’ boundaries who wish to join in an electronic-only based membership category.
Affiliate Members of the PVO enjoy the benefits of the PVO membership but may not vote or hold office unless approved by a majority vote at the AGM.
They are paid members of canopies
- SANDF PARABATS MEMBERS
Serving SANDF Parabats, personnel will automatically be considered as “affiliated members”, but do not pay PVO membership fees and will therefore not be eligible for a PVO blazer badge – until such time that they leave the service and decide to become members of the PVO. They will however not qualify for any of the benefits for veterans as described in the Military Veterans Act. They will have an open invite to meetings where they will be able to participate in all the activities.
SANDF Members are not entitled to vote at PVO meetings, or to hold office as an Executive Member of the PVO. They may however be co-opted to serve on the PVO’s NEC or sub-committees as observers in an advisory role.
- LIFE MEMBER
Life membership is available to any individual who qualifies as a PVO member and who has made an exceptional contribution or has been an active fully paid member for at least ten years, and approved by a majority of members at an Annual General Meeting of the PVO.
Life Members of the PVO enjoy the benefits of the PVO membership but may hold office if approved by a majority vote at the AGM.
They are paid up members of canopies
- HONORARY MEMBERS
Members shall nominate and motivate honorary members of the PVO, and approved by a majority of members at an Annual General Meeting of the PVO. Membership fees and annual subscription shall not be compulsory unless such honorary members shall elect to make payment of such fees and subscriptions. The appointment of such honorary members shall be for the duration of two years and can be re-elected. The widows of deceased members of the PVO will automatically qualify for honorary membership.
Honorary Members are not entitled to vote at PVO meetings, or to hold office as an Executive Member of the PVO. They may however be co-opted to serve on the PVO’s NEC or sub-committees as observers in an advisory role
They are paid members of canopies
- CYBER MEMBERS
Has completed his military training and has not been dishonourably discharged;
Applicant must be a qualified (Parabat) military parachute soldier verified and under the auspices of and who underwent the curriculum of and by 1 Parachute Battalion as per definition in PVO constitution,
Must reside more than 50km from the nearest recognised/existing PVO Canopy or Falcon,
- The membership categories and subs for 2017/18
| A. ORDINARY MEMBERS | R 50,00 |
| B. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS | R 75,00 |
| C. AFFILIATE, INTERNATIONAL OR COUNTRY MEMBER | R 80,00 |
| D. LIFE MEMBERS | R250,00 |
| E. HONORARY MEMBERS | Nil |
| F. CYBER MEMBERS | R 80,00 |
- The National Council agreed that there was a need for a bosberaad to be held, where all current organisations would meet to discuss a united Parabat Organisation.
- Memorabilia: The National Council felt that it was a free market system, and at present, only the five approved items are not to be produced by the canopies, without special written permission from the Board. That Bloemfontein continues producing the five items as agreed in August 2016, and canopies continue making their own memorabilia. However there had to be uniformity with memorabilia that carried the PVO logo, this included apparel produced by the canopies. A corporate manual would be issued in