RAF CLUB

[philrigger]

I have just received an email containing the following;

Civil Servants associated with supporting the Air Sector and the Royal Air Force are eligible to apply for Affiliate Membership of the RAF Club and would be welcomed if they sought to join.

The email continues to outline the benefits etc.

I suspect that this will upset a few of the us and them brigade!


Philrigger

[Courtney Mil]

We need more members to pay the rent. Will the usual rules apply about being proposed and seconeded by current members?

[Tankertrashnav]

On a point of detail the RAF Club owns the freehold of the premises, so no rent to pay, but I take your point - obviously huge overheads involved. There was a bit about this in the last club newsletter - they are obviously spreading the net wider.

[philrigger]

Courtney Mil

The email:

Sent on behalf of Air Mshl Sir Kevin Leeson, Chief of Materiel (Air):

Dear Colleagues,
At a time of considerable turbulence in our Civil Service manpower complement, I thought it might be worth reminding our Civil Service team (both those remaining in DE&S and those moving to pastures new) that our Civil Servants associated with supporting the Air Sector and the Royal Air Force are eligible to apply for Affiliate Membership of the RAF Club and would be welcomed if they sought to join. Full benefits are described on the website at home | RAF Club, London, but principally feature the use of a very nice club, spectacularly positioned in Central London with comfortable accommodation, good dining, sensible bar prices, like-minded clientele, a ‘distinct aviation atmosphere’ and highly competitive rates compared with the other clubs and hotels of the area. The joining fee is £134 with an annual subscription of £134. A double room is only £124 on a weekday night, less on the weekend. The Air Environment has many RAF Officers who are full members and would be happy to sponsor applications; I am certainly happy to support applicants. Please give this notion wide publicity in your Operating Centres.

Philrigger.

[Melchett01]

like-minded clientele

That clearly doesn't apply to the Civil Servants I work with who frankly frankly would struggle in a recce test to differentiate between a carrier pigeon and a C-130.

But being slightly less flippant, how many of the CS working in Defence actually associate themselves with Defence and how many view what they do as just a job i.e. as long as the pay cheque comes in each month it doesn't matter whether its MOD or some QUANGO?

It might appeal to those who come up to London relatively infrequently but need a bed down location for a day or 2, but I would then have to ask why would they go to the RAF Club when they have their own Civil Service Club in Whitehall with lower membership fees?

[salad-dodger]

I'm sure this will ellicit quite a reposne from some.................but I find it quite telling that the RAF would rather open up the RAF Club to the civil service than wider RAF use.


S-D

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Originally Posted by salad-dodger

I'm sure this will ellicit quite a reposne from some.................but I find it quite telling that the RAF would rather open up the RAF Club to the civil service than wider RAF use.


S-D

If you look at the costs involved what right minded OR would see 'a good deal' in what is on offer

[Exascot]

Even less chance of getting accommodation on my very rare visits to London. I am seriously considering cancelling membership after 33 years.

[Pontius Navigator]

Phil, you may have overlooked to survey that was offered last year. Other options included offering corporate membership to aviation related companies. They also suggested opening membership to our extended families.

Offering membership to civil servants is probably one of the least bad options. We already have many club exchange visitors in the club.

[thegypsy]

Standby for a response from the BEAGLE

[Melchett01]

Further to my last, and having had a think about it, just how far does the CS invitation extend? Bearing in mind the raison d'etre of the Club is for individuals holding commissions, has a cut off point been set? Without wishing to sound snobbish, the Club needs to be careful not to alienate existing members.

Working on the CS - military equivalency scales, a D-grade CS would be entitled to join, which is fine in its own right. But the Club needs to keep in mind the lengthy and demanding process invovled in getting through the commissioning programme vice the fact that anyone can apply for a D-grade job regardless of personal qualities (for that read officer qualities) as long as they meet the competencies set out in the job description. Membership of the Club is, rightly, a privilege and one of the few perks of being awarded a commission. We would do well to remember that and keep a watchful eye on the balance of CS / Military rather than just opening the flood gates on financial grounds.

[Pontius Navigator]

Melchett, there is of course a Civil Service Club too which after a brief glimpse seems similar to the Union Jack etc. That would suggest a demarcation line.

I presume they would also need a proposer and seconder. The point about cost/benefit is well made.

[ratty1]

That clearly doesn't apply to the Civil Servants I work with who frankly frankly would struggle in a recce test to differentiate between a carrier pigeon and a C-130.

But the Club needs to keep in mind the lengthy and demanding process invovled in getting through the commissioning programme vice the fact that anyone can apply for a D-grade job regardless of personal qualities (for that read officer qualities) as long as they meet the competencies set out in the job description.

I guess it doesn't apply to current RAF Officers who quite frankly struggle with repeating words and getting involved in spelling some words.

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Priceless

[Melchett01]

ratty,

Good point well made. Although I note your criticism seems to be more about my crap typing (happy to cough to that one) rather than the efficacy of the argument.

So, if all you can contribute to the argument is to take snipe and take pot shots at other peoples' typing, I suggest you would probably feel more at home at Shrivenham than the RAF Club. Or maybe even the House of Commons; they seem to be quite good at spending all day dealing in ad hominem attacks without actually bringing anything positive to the table.

Incidentally

I guess it doesn't apply to current RAF Officers who quite frankly struggle with repeating words and getting involved in spelling some words

You guess what exactly doesn't apply? You don't make that clear - is that what you Shrivenham types would class as hanging participle?

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Ratty,

Hooked a whopper there

[Rosevidney1]

The Victory Services Club at Marble Arch has members from all services, commissioned and non commissioned.

[ICBM]

I do wonder that if they waived the Membership Fee, made Membership Numbers one's Service No. and reduced the rate to around £70 pppn whether use would increase? Many Service personnel need to overnight in London and to do so here at such a price would save money and keep current military associated with the Club in far greater numbers.

Keep the annual fee and all Officers are life members while they continue to pay. Revenue is constant because the deal is attractive.

[NutLoose]

Surely you could take in DHSS referees, they tend to pay more than that for B and B to house them, you should be able to make a good profit...

I only ever went in the Union Jack club one and it reminded me of a YMCA... Never went back.

[Stanley Eevil]

Travel-lodge, 5 mins walk from Waterloo Station, one double room including TV, shower room etc was £30.00 (saver rate, no ability to cancel) when I stayed in London recently.
Clean room, comfortable bed. My wife and me were very happy with it.
Why pay more?