TheFinnish Reservists’ Union (RES)RESERVILÄISLIITTO -Reservin Aliupseerien Liitto ry

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The Finnish Reservists’ Union

Finland is the promised land for associations – There exists a vast number of

associations, societies & clubs for every conceivable purpose.

Voluntary defence work is the subject of a large number of associations.

RES is the largest of the voluntary defence organizations.

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The Finnish Reservists’ Union What is it?

RES is a union consisting of 358 local associations.

Its purpose is to perform voluntary defence work, support the Finnish Defence Forces

and the national defence readiness.

Main activities: shooting, athletics & field activities, fostering the defence will.

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionMembership

In principle any Finnish citizen, at least 18 years of age, can join the local associations. The actual requirements vary from one local

association to another and usually male candidates are required to have performed

their national service.

All members have to pay an annual membership fee.

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionEstablished April 17,1955

1955-1995 the Reserve NCO’s Union.Due to new statutes adopted in 1995, allowing

for a wider membership, the number of members has steadily increased.

Several new associations, some especially for female members.

Women make up some 5 % of the total membership. Most of them have not

performed any military service.

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionIn figures

38 000 individual members» 32.000 Reserviläisliitto» 6.000 associated members: The ”Finnish Blue

Berets’ Union” 18 regional districts 358 local associations

» Approx. 190 reservist assns» Approx. 110 open-membership assns» More than 50 reserve NCO assns» 4 female assns

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionEconomy

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Annual Net Budget 350.000 €

Members, fees & donations c. 190.000 € or 52 %

Support from diverse foundations 92.000 € or 25,2 %

Own fund raising c. 53.000 € or 14,5 %

MoD c. 20.000 € or 5,5 %

Annuities etc. c. 10.000 € or 2,7 %

What does The Finnish Reservists’ Union offer its members? The membership fee is between 15 – 40€ per year The membership fee entitles to the following benefits:

The activities and services of the member’s own local assn The national Reserviläinen-magazine 8 issues per year The regional district bulletin The www.reservilaisliitto.fi service Shopping possibilities (incl. mail order) in the MPY Shop Insurance benefits Bank loan benefit Fuel benefits

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionActivities

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The member associations typically provide:Shooting trainingSports eventsField activitiesMeetings, Presentations, Excursions Ideological and traditional activities:

Honour Guards, Parades National Defence Day Festivities War Veteran Services

The Finnish Reservists’ Union Sports

The member associations arrange a wide variety of sporting events. They include Shooting Skiing Cross-Country Orienteering All-Terrain Marches Field Exercises

National Competitions are arranged by the Reservists’ Sports Association

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionTraining activities

Voluntary defence training was by law not allowed until 1990. RES has since then been one of the main partners actively involved in developing

training activities.

The organizations involved have formed the National Defence Training Association (MPK).

Members of RES and other organizations provide a large part of the instructors for MPK.

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LocalVoluntary

Units

Voluntary Defence Organizations in Finland

FROFRES DefenceGuilds

Women’sReadiness

UnionOthers

FinnishDefenceForces

VoluntaryRefresherTraining

CompulsoryRefresherTraining

OwnAssociation

District

Courses

Reservists’ Sports Association

National Defence Training Association (MPK)

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The Finnish Reservists’ UnionThe Coming Years…

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• Preparations for 50th anniversary in 2005 Projects & events; finances

• Staff planning Continuity, field work

• Training of the reserve Sufficient refresher training (FDF) New training systems Local defence system

• Supporting the local assns

Sufficient material support Training of assn leadership &

caring for basics

• Renewal of our concept Open membership, ”a union

for the whole people” Modern forms of activities

• Supporting the veterans

The Finnish Reservists’ Union International Contacts

RES has contacts with: Estonia Sweden Denmark Russia AESOR

Visits, information exchange, ceremonial events, training, sports

Some local associations and regional districts also have international contacts

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Thank you for your interest!

More information available onwww.reservilaisliitto.fi

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The Finnish Reservists’ Union