I can see you point Rob and the danger of dissappearing up our own backsides. This should be avioided. But in the UK at least, where I chair a Veterans Association. any group of like minded persons with a common experience or interest can form an association without it taking on a massive legalistic nature.

If terms are kept simple and general it is not difficult to draft a simple formation document stating simple terms. The authority of the Association would come from its demonstration of the joint total shares held be members.

The Association need only be invoked when an issue arises that is deemed jointly to merit joint intervetntion. It could communicat much as we do here now.

As an ex Boy Scout, being prepared is its real value.