Rules of the Royal Naval Engineroom Association

Formed for the Fellowship and Benefit of all former and serving members of the Engineering & Electrical branches of the Royal Navy plus those charities it is thought worthy of support.

(1) Membership shall be open to all who have satisfactorily served in the branches mentioned.

(1a) All members other than Country Members shall be fully paid up members of the Nautical Club, Birmingham.
They will be made aware at the time of joining the RNERA of the membership requirements of the Nautical Club.

(1b) A member shall be deemed a Country Member who resides thirty miles or more from the club or suffers from infirmity.
Association meetings are held in the Mountbatten Room of the Nautical Club the first Thursday of each month at 1200 hours.

(1c) All ladies, be they wife or partner of a member shall be Honory Members In the event of a member crossing the bar his lady can continue as an Honory Member , on his number, and receive the monthly news letter should she so wish.

(1d) Associate membership shall be allowed subject to approval by the committee.
Prospective associate members will be proposed and seconded by full members on a Joining Form.
There will be no discrimination between male and female associates.
Any service personnel or civilian will be accepted.
Associate members will have no voting rights.
The annual subscription will be the same as a full member.
A spokesperson may be nominated to access the committee.
They will follow the same rules as amended by the secretary.

(2) Membership fees shall be paid annually from 1st January onwards, in an amount determined by vote of members present at the AGM.

Current fees are Five Pounds plus Five Pounds for members requiring a monthly news letter.
A joining fee of Three Pounds is paid by new members in addition to the Annual Fee.
Any member who has not paid his subscription by 1st.
March each year becomes a lapsed member.

(3) Members are expected to conduct themselves in a civilized manner; so as not to discredit the association.

(4) The committee shall consist of Chairman.
Chairman & Slops Officer.
Hon. Secretary.
Treasurer.
Social Secretary.
Welfare Officer.
Standard Bearer.

These officers will receive an honorarium of Ten Pounds per Annum.

(4) The AGM will be held at 1100 hours on the day of the Annual Reunion .
Nominations for committee members will be promulgated on the notice board 28 days prior to the AGM.
All nominees are required to be proposed and seconded by members who must attend the AGM.
The Offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman are held for a period of three years they will then stand down for one year before eligible for re-election. If however, there are no nominations for those positions; the incumbents can continue to serve under the terms in rule (4) All other officers shall be elected annually: unless they are returned unopposed, and are willing to continue in office. Any committee member may hold more than one office; providing it is not detrimental to the wellbeing of the association.

(Revised rules AGM May 2004.)
A serving or retired Royal Naval Engineer Officer will normally be invited to be President of the association.
Vice Presidents may be appointed as appropriate.
Revision of Rules 1st March, 2008. Made necessary by change of meeting times and increased cost of news letters.
Revision of rules 6th. July, 2010. Rule (1d) changed to accept associate members.
Revision of rule (2) 16th. May, 2014. Annual Subscriptions to be paid by 1st. March.

Signed:- R. J. Styants.
Hon. Secretary.
bob.styants@btinternet.com

The Royal Naval
Engineroom Association
(The Sweatrag Club)

The association was founded by a small group of ex-Engineroom ratings of the Royal Navy in Dean St. the market area of Birmingham, where the Nautical Club started.
This private naval club has had its own premises in Bishopsgate St. B15 1ET. Since the early seventies. Many other branches of the RN are affiliated to this club; including the Submariners; Fleet Air Arm; Royal Marines. Royal Naval Commandoes; Wrens and Royal Naval Associations hold their meetings there: so it was natural that the Engineroom didn't want to be left out.

Any Engineroom rating; or Officer; past present is eligible to join.

A committee was formed of a chairman and vice chairman: Treasurer; Secretary: Social Secretary: Welfare Officer and Standard Bearer. A set of rules was drawn up.

The President was always the incumbent Senior Marine Engineer Officer of HMS 'Birmingham' until the ship de-commissioned a few years ago: since when a previous incumbent who is now retired was persueded to take on a permanent position. As an ex junior rating; having risen through the ranks to Lt/Cmdr. he knows what we are all about. In the early days some of the crew used to come to the club and have "up homers" and we used to visit the ship when it was available.

A formal dinner has always been held in the March of each year.

In the early nineties the association branched out from the Midland area and went to National and International membership; with a monthly newsletter to keep the 'out of town members' in touch and interested. We also welcomed the Electrical Branch into membership, with the understanding that they also worked in machinery spaces.

The first reunion weekend in May 1993 was a huge success and has since been an annual event; with a get together on the Friday evening: it now incorporates the AGM on the Saturday forenoon, with a social/dance and 'buffet' on the evening.

Our old National Standard is laid up at St. Anne's Church, Moseley Birmingham, and we join the service there every Remembrance Sunday. The new standard was purchased to commemorate the Millenium.

The year 2002 saw the association plant it's own tree in memory of those Engineroom personnel that have "crossed the bar" in the service of their
country; at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alwrewas, Staffs.

This branch of the Royal Navy, as others, changed over the years, once Stokers; then Mechanics, and now Operators, has a lot to be proud of; and knows it can join its fellow branches of the service in comradeship.

An Annual Dinner/Dance is held each March.
The Annual Reunion and AGM is each May.

Various visits and events take place throughout the year. The Social Secretary is Bob Styants
'e'mail:- bob.styants@btinternet.com
tel:- 0121-422-4112.
or care of The Nautical Club