UKNDA (UK National Defence Association)

To campaign for sufficient, appropriate and fully funded Armed Forces that the United Kingdom needs to defend effectively this Country, its people, their vital interests and security at home and throughout the world.
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FOR THE UKNDA TO CAMPAIGN EFFECTIVELY FOR

SUFFICIENT, APPROPRIATE &
FULLY FUNDED ARMED FORCES

WE NEED TO DO THREE THINGS
To promote our MESSAGE
To acquire MANY MORE MEMBERS
To gather in MORE MONEY

To support our

"SUPPORT OUR ARMED FORCES CAMPAIGN"

JOIN US NOW

CEO'S COLUMN

The Chief Executive's (CEO) web-site message for 2009 – The UKNDA’s Year.
 
In 2007 the UKNDA was, after a two year gestation, struggling into existence.   In February 2007 our first introductory web-site was launched, and in June '07 the UKNDA opened its doors to subscribing membership.  Mr Winston Churchill agreed to be our first President and the rest, as they say, is already history.  Our hugely successful formal ‘launch’ on November 8th was followed just a few weeks later by the now famous House of Lords’ debate on “Defence”.  Five former Chiefs of the Defence Staff (three Patrons and two Vice Presidents of the UKNDA) spontaneously and to great effect spoke about the condition of our Armed Forces and the effect on the Defence of this Nation. The UKNDA, having been born, was already making its voice felt.

2008 - our first full year of active operation - was extremely busy.  The Association participated in the busy autumn Party Conference Season and issued our first main policy document "Overcoming the Defence Crisis" that was distributed to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff and his three Service Chiefs, all members of the Commons Defence Committee, well over 100 journalists and other media interests. 
 
2009 - The Year Ahead
 
We are now (early Jan 09) building on that solid start.  The UKNDA is gaining credibility and real influence by the day. I and our PRO (Andy Smith) last year met with Des Browne, then SofS for Defence, and he warmly welcomed the "valuable contribution that the UKNDA was making to the essential public debate on Defence".  We now plan to meet with Mr John Hutton, Des Browne's successor within the next couple of months as well as the Service Chiefs. Further plans for this year involve producing a colour quarterly magazine for widespread national distribution.  Our overal focus will be on the 2009 Party Conference Season because that is likely to be the last before the next General Election. The UKNDA will work to ensure that the next Government, of whatever persuasion, will accept the truth of the often quoted (but as yet unfulfilled) mantra that "Defence is the first priority of any Government".  Even in these times of financial crisis no government can afford to permit the safety and security of this country to be, as it is at present and for some time past, at risk by continuing to under fund Defence and our Armed Forces. 
 
Help us make all of our politicians sit up and take notice of the UKNDA and our message.  We neglect our Armed Forces at our peril.
  
Let us all make 2009 the UKNDA’s year.  I leave you with the basic tenents of the UKNDA's philosophy:
 
Ten Commandments for the UKNDA:
  1. Maintain the AIM.   A tried and tested military maxim meaning that, in all that you do, never forget what is your main aim – what it is you seek to achieve.   For the UKNDA our purpose is:

    To campaign for sufficient appropriate and fully funded Armed Forces that the Nation needs to defend effectively this country, its people, their security and vital interests wherever they may be.

  2. Work as a Team.   Working together is far more effective than individuals working alone.

  3. The Task, the Team, the Individual.   This is the ideal arrangement. Always remember the task in hand. Work together – but remember always that the Individual is important.

  4. Co-operate.  No inter-service squabbling – it is entirely counter productive.

  5. Be Positive.  Onwards and upwards.

  6. Be Inventive.   Observe the masses and do the opposite.

  7. Be Pro-active.  Seize the initiative. Don’t wait for things to happen – MAKE them happen.

  8. Be Persistent.  When bashing your head against a seemingly unbreakable brick wall, persevere. At least you’ll loosen a few bricks, and, with perseverance, the wall will fall down (though you may acquire a headache on the way). (With apologies to the late Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope – then better known as “ABC” whose saying I have plagiarised)

  9. LISTEN to others – take wise counsel.


And finally – and above all – as Sir Winston Churchill said when asked what was the secret of success:
 
“NEVER GIVE UP!”


 
John Muxworthy
 
Cdr, RN   CEO  UKNDA Ltd.                 1 Jan 2009
 

FOR UP TO DATE NEWS - READ UKNDA NEWSLETTERS

And now - having read my 'thoughts for the year' - to get up to date News about our progress thus far and our plans for the future, click on LATEST NEWSLETTERS (top left of this screen).
 
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Annex: Summary of the UKNDA’s web-site practices and procedures.

Copyright. Copyright of all content of this web-site lies with the authors of the articles where so identified, or otherwise with the UKNDA. Views expressed are those of the authors where names are given, and of the UKNDA when so identified as such.

Permission to reproduce any content of this web-site: Such permission will usually be given in response to a written (hard copy or e-mail) request on condition that the name of the author is featured with the reproduction and the fact that the copy came from this web-site, whose address: www.uknda.org is also to be given.

Contributions submitted for publication. The UKNDA invites and welcomes contributions from readers – either by way of comments, suggestions or criticisms, or as papers or articles for consideration for publication. In particular we welcome digital PHOTOGRAPHS, other illustrations, graphs, cartoons etc. to make this site ever more ‘reader-friendly’ and interesting. Please contact me or any member of our Policy & Management Board at: ndahq@btinternet.com