Defence Association, Veterans Associations - questions

[Michael Dorosh]

My understanding is that a Defence Association is a professional body such as the Canadian Infantry Association or Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association (Cavalry) that acts as a political lobby group, while a Veterans (or Unit) Association is generally oriented towards social activities like reunions or Annual General Meetings.

Is this an accurate perception?

Are there notable overlaps between the two? Both are interested in promoting the welfare of the soldiers, but I am thinking the Defence Associations are more externally focussed while unit or vet associations are more inwardly focussed.  Is this fair?

Second question - can anyone name a noteable instance of a Defence Association having brought enough attention to a specific issue that government policy was changed (or formed) as a direct response?

 

[old medic]

I believe the lines are fairly blurry.  Going through any newspapers from 1918 onward definitely shows that
The Great War Veterans Association (GWVA) was very politically active in post WW1 Canada. Especially in
medical care, job protection, skills training for veterans and land grants.

The RCL did a fair bit of political lobbying, especially during the second war.  Pearson certainly wanted the Legion's
support to change the flag.

 

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I believe the lines are fairly blurry.  Going through any newspapers from 1918 onward definitely shows that
The Great War Veterans Association (GWVA) was very politically active in post WW1 Canada. Especially in
medical care, job protection, skills training for veterans and land grants.

The RCL did a fair bit of political lobbying, especially during the second war.  Pearson certainly wanted the Legion's
support to change the flag.

Oh, I'm familiar with the biggies - RCL and GWVA I was thinking more of the "other" associations and the distinctions between a professional lobby group and, say, a group that holds reunions.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Quite right old medic.

The Conference of Defence Associations is a lobby group. Just like the Canadian Nuclear Association or the Canadian Homebuilders’ Association.  The aim is promote certain policies and to influence government.

I am a member of, inter alia the Ottawa Branch of The Royal Canadian Regiment Association, our aim is good fellowship, old friends, a bit too much beer on the last Friday of each month, maybe the occasional brief, interesting lecture, etc.

We Ottawa Branch Royal Canadians are also all members of the national Association which, amongst other things, manages our funds, scholarships, the museum, etc, etc, etc.  It is, also, a full member of the Canadian Infantry Association which, in turn, is a full partner is CDA so there is a direct link between our monthly ‘luncheons’ and the defence lobby.

Some Canadian military groups, e.g. The Association of Old Crows, are multi-national* and, in the US, especially, they are a powerful lobby group.

Murky, ineed!
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* See: https://www.myaoc.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx - there are Chapters of the AOC in some NATO countries and in a few other ‘allied’ nations including Australia and Taiwan.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Quite right old medic.

The Conference of Defence Associations is a lobby group. Just like the Canadian Nuclear Association or the Canadian Homebuilders’ Association.  The aim is promote certain policies and to influence government.

I am a member of, inter alia the Ottawa Branch of The Royal Canadian Regiment Association, our aim is good fellowship, old friends, a bit too much beer on the last Friday of each month, maybe the occasional brief, interesting lecture, etc.

We Ottawa Branch Royal Canadians are also all members of the national Association which, amongst other things, manages our funds, scholarships, the museum, etc, etc, etc.  It is, also, a full member of the Canadian Infantry Association which, in turn, is a full partner is CDA so there is a direct link between our monthly ‘luncheons’ and the defence lobby.

Some Canadian military groups, e.g. The Association of Old Crows, are multi-national* and, in the US, especially, they are a powerful lobby group.

Murky, ineed!
----------
* See: https://www.myaoc.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx - there are Chapters of the AOC in some NATO countries and in a few other ‘allied’ nations including Australia and Taiwan.

I've visited the site of the Ottawa Gunners -  based on your comments, the National Association is a lobby group while the Ottawa group is a regular unit association - with, apparently, membership in one providing membership in the other? That would seem to keep the two functions separate, no?

Perhaps my questions will be clearer if you see my aim:

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Conference_of_Defence_Associations

Just trying to define some of these organizations for my website hopefully with information deeper than just what is on the association's sites (ie what they say about themselves).

 

[muskrat89]

Don't forget Canada's oldest... ANAVETS, of which I am a member. I'm also a charter member and Past President of Unit #95 - something I'm pretty proud of.

www.anavets.ca

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Good point, Muskrat, I'll be sure to add them - we had an ANAF in Calgary for a while before it closed its doors, too.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Michael O'Leary may be of more help but, my understanding, (from the perspective of being the Acting, Unpaid would be LCpl Clerk here in Ottawa) is that membership in our Branch (the social club) is only open to members of The Royal Canadian Regoiment Association (the finance and musuem body) which means we are, ipso facto, members (paymasters?) of the CIA and CDA, the lobbyists.

I'm not sure there is a real distinction.  I gave the Regimental Asociation my money for membership - they give part of it to CDA (through CIA) meaning I help pay for CDA which means it lobbys for me, no?