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1 Volume Issue #6 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-BARRHAVEN BRANCH 641 November Editor: Ross Kerr ( theeditor641@gmail.com ) Branch Website: Comrades all: November is one of our busiest months. Our Poppy Campaign this year ran from Friday, October 25 to Monday, November 11, 2013 under the direction our Poppy Chairman and Third Vice Danny Desmarais. Danny had a record number of wreaths to be laid (a total of 61). Great job Danny. Thanks also to Monique Desmarais for making a lot of phone calls to the local Businesses. Thank you to the store Captains and all the Volunteers who worked the shifts. Thanks to our trap line Managers and Joyce Barr and her group for counting the cash every day. November 9 was our Remembrance Dinner and this Year s theme was the 60 th Anniversary of the Armistice for the Korean Conflict and I, as President, hosted this event. We had some great guests this year including Col Jang Min Choi, Senior Military Attaché for the republic of Korea and his lovely wife Eun Hyoung Son. A special thank you to both of you for visiting with us. Thank you David Cole for once again setting up the room and Doug Mason for the lovely floral arrangements. With reference to our Remembrance Day Parade, I would like to thank: Bert Boehme for acting as our MC, Ray Desjardins as Chaplin, Jim Ireland as Parade Commander and David Cole as Sergeant at Arms and for the setting up of everything. In attendance, for the first time, was the Cadet Band from the Falkland s corps. This proved to be a very nice touch. Thank you all. Thank you to Kathy Blomquist and her team for supplying and setting up all the food at both the Walter Baker Centre, and our Branch. THANK YOU ALL. Again this year we were able to send one of our Executive Members, Danny Desmarais, to the First Poppy kick-off at the Governor General s house and from all reports he thoroughly enjoyed himself. We underwent our Branch Inspection on Thursday October 17, 2013 and our report from the Zone Commander was excellent. Thanks to all that helped in collecting all the information required: Jim Duff, Kathy Johnston, John O Halloran and those on the Finance Review Committee: Victor Chan, Joyce Barr and Lloyd Conley. Again this year, we came home from the District Convention with the Leo Cunningham Memorial Award, as winners of first place in the District Scrapbook competition. This is the second year in a row that we have placed first in this competition. I am sure you all join with me in congratulating Laura Slattery and thanking her for her continued dedication and hard work in keeping our scrapbook, the one to beat. Our youth are our future. They will carry our legacy forward. David M. Sereda Home: Cell: This issue can be viewed on the website at

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3 Page 3 The main motto that is being focused on by the President of Barrhaven Legion Branch 641, David Sereda, is I want to focus more on the youth of our community and their views on the Legion and on the City of Ottawa. My main reason for this is that the youth are our future. It is a pleasure that we, Branch 641, are able to sponsor the Falkland Sea Cadets and are able to assist your core. This was part of a brief speech that Mr. Sereda gave to our Cadet core on October 2, As a Sea Cadet at Falkland Sea Cadet Core, I have seen three cheque presentations from Branch 641 to our core since I joined in December of There are many things throughout the year, that we, the Cadets, help out with at the Legion. One of the biggest is the Poppy Campaign. It is usually three weekends (Saturday and Sunday): two in October and one in November. We also have the :by Amanda Fuchs - Falkland Sea Cadet Core opportunity to participate in the Branch s Remembrance Day ceremonies alongside the legion. This year as a member of the Falkland band, there will be very high chance that I will be parading in the Remembrance Day march past.. There are so many opportunities that I can participate in as a Sea Cadet that help out the Community and my Cadet core. Some examples include: the yearly citizenship ceremonies that we can participate in, we can do three tag days a year to raise money for the Navy League of Canada and the Sea Cadet program and by doing these activities, Cadets that are in High School can earn community service hours. As a youth in the City of Ottawa, I view the city differently than I would view it as an adult. Considering I am a little under a year away from becoming a legal adult, that says a lot about me. As a youth in Ottawa, normally kids are looking for new spots to hang out in. If the youth were aware of the Legion and what it does for our Veterans and the people in the military, then there could be more chances to get more of the youth involved within the Legion. As a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, I am always asked to find more ways to get involved. Each year each member of the Legion should be helping out with the Poppy Campaign in some way. The youth contributes to the Legion in the form of Cadets. The Cadets help the Legion during Remembrance day/week by doing the Poppy Campaign. Normally there are eight cadets from each corps that the Legion sponsors. Now that the Poppy Campaign has concluded, the Cadets have raised over $10,000. This proves that the youth are the future of our legion and they are important in improving the way that the legion is viewed in the eyes of everyone. IN WATERS DEEP In ocean wastes no poppies blow, No crosses stand in ordered row, There young hearts sleep beneath the wave The spirited, the good, the brave, But stars a constant vigil keep, For them who lie beneath the deep. Tis true you cannot kneel in prayer. On certain spot and think. He s there. But you can to the ocean go See whitecaps marching row on row; Know one for him will always ride In and out with every tide. And when your span of life is passed, He ll meet you at the Captain s Mast. And they who mourn on distant shore. For sailors who ll come home no more, Can dry their tears and pray for these, Who rest beneath the heaving seas For stars that shine and winds that blow. And whitecaps marching row on row. And they can never lonely be For when they lived they chose the sea. Copyright October 11, 2001 by Eileen Mahoney

4 Page 4 :by Comrade Danny Desmarais It is with great pride and respect that we, the Royal Canadian Legion Barrhaven Branch 641, hereby acknowledge the generosity of the Barrhaven Community for their continued support during this year s 2013 Poppy Campaign. A special acknowledgement is also extended to all the Clubs, Organizations and Local Businesses for the laying of their wreaths during the November 11, 2013 Ceremony at the Cenotaph located at John McCrae School here in Barrhaven. Local Clubs and Organizations: Afghanistan Veterans Barrhaven Lions Club Canadian Forces Canadian Youth City of Ottawa Fisheries & Oceans Canada Government of Canada Government of Ontario Gulf War Veterans Hong Kong Veterans Association John McCrae School Korea Veterans Merchant Navy Veterans Nepean Area Scouts Order of St George Ottawa Fire Service Ottawa Paramedic Services Ottawa Police Service Peacekeepers RCN Benevolent Fund RCMP Peace Operations Royal Canadian Legion 641 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Rotary Club South Nepean The Salvation Army West Barrhaven Community Association 25 th Nepean Scouts 28 th Ottawa Field Ambulance 2332 Major Holland VC RCACC Local Businesses: Barrhaven Auto Centre Barrhaven Optometric Centre Capital Memorial Gardens CIBC Bank Farm Boy Inc Kelly Funeral Home La Porto A Casa Lovely Nail & Spa Nepean / Barrhaven EMC Ottawa Police Service (Private Member) Ross Independent Grocer Secondary Music Longfield-Davidson H Shoppers Drug Mart Taing Jewellers Barrhaven Business Improvement Area Betty Hillier Realtor/Kelly Williams VIP Realty Coldwell Banker Coburn Realty Brokerage Cole Funeral Services Fiamma Restaurant Ken Holmes Family Loblaw s Supermarket Ltd Musee de Nepean Museum Nepean Chamber of Commerce Pinelopi s Greek Kitchen Royal LePage Team Realty Nepean Serenity Salon & Spa Southpointe Dental The Works Restaurant Again, a sincere thank you to all the above Clubs, Organizations, Businesses, and the Community in general for the generous and ongoing support they have given us. Know that without you, we would never have achieved the success we have. Yours truly, Daniel Desmarais Poppy Campaign Chairperson

5 Page :by 5 Bert Boehme Remembrance Literary and Poster Contest Each year, Branch 641 Barrhaven sponsors the Remembrance Literary and Poster Contest, which is organized by the Branch's Youth Education Officer, Comrade Bert Boehme. The Contest is held to promote remembrance in the youth of our community and is conducted in conjunction with Veterans' Week. This year, Comrades Gus Este, John O'Halloran, Carson Henwood, Ross Kerr, Lois Laycock and Ross Stephen graciously volunteered and gathered at the Legion Hall on Sunday, November 17, 2013 to select the first, second and third place winners in the various contest categories from among several hundred entries. Not an easy task given the high quality of entries received. Winners were judged and selected based on the following criteria: Essays: Poems: Posters: originality of thought effect theme effectiveness of presentation clarity effect clarity of language pace and rhythm clarity composition composition The winners of this year's Contest will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held on January 12, 2014 at the Barrhaven Legion Hall. Cash prizes totaling over $2,000 will be awarded to the winners in the various categories and grade groups, including Colour Poster, Black and White Poster, Poem and Essay. The first place winners in each category will also move forward to compete at the Zone level. Members of Branch 641 are welcome to attend this presentation!

6 Page 6 :by Chaplin Ray Desjardins Volunteerism Our Greatest Asset or our Achilles Heel? There is no doubt in my mind that Branch 641 would not be where it is today if it were not for the fact that we are an allvolunteer organization. Having said that, I need to remind you that we are one of the very few Legion Branches that still is, and that our zeal seems to have deflated in the last two years or so. I would like us all to reflect on the word volunteer which the Oxford (Canadian Dictionary) defines as, a person who voluntarily offers to do something..without pay. The Poppy Campaign is now over for 2013 and it is timely that we think about what in fact happened, and has been allowed to pervade with respect to our Volunteers. Ask the organizers what happened as they tried desperately to man booths in four stores. They were so successful that they are actually contemplating dropping a store that only two years ago was our best location. A little strange don t you think? What ever happened to the oath we swore at our initiation to support Poppy Campaigns. Let us not look around at our few WWII and Korea veterans who might have been missing, for they have provided leadership and done their part for decades and decades. But rather let us look at where were the rest of us? Oh never fear we were there, at least the same few of us. But the majority of these same few were doing their volunteer contribution in a special place they almost claim ownership of. Many have worked the same functions for more than several years. This can prove to be a sure formula for disaster, as our other members do not get an opportunity to serve in these positions and both they and the Branch becomes stagnated. Should we set limits on just how long a person can serve in a particular position? Be it from set-up, to bartending, to hospitality and the myriad of the other committees and functions that exist within the Branch. To survive as a volunteer organization we need to grow a broad spectrum of our Members with experience in the many aspects of what it takes to run our Branch. We need maximum interchangeability, not just one or two experts. Thank God a number of our Members have followed this path, but they are the minority. Think about it! Do we want to rely on a selected few who have taken up the challenge, only to become stagnated? Or do we really want to be volunteers for the future of all and continue on our successful way? One of my greatest fears is, as many of us grow older, there will not be sufficient numbers of Members who have the broad Legion background and experience to continue our dream. Remember our ultimate goal is to have our own building with senior Veterans housing on the property to respond to the rapidly changing demographic of our population. The first baby boomers are now Seniors and this rapidly expanding group will be a huge blip on the system, with its demands for health services and housing. This will include our Veterans. We need to be building for that future and that includes our volunteer base and approach. If we want to feel ownership, let s recognize our challenges and do things now that will ensure our future. It s our Branch. How and where do you see your part? To our Great God be the glory. Ray

7 Page 7 Royal Canadian Legion s Friendship Award l to r : Present David Sereda, John Tan and his wife Josie David Sereda, President of the Barrhaven Legion presents John Tan, Owner and Operator of the UPS Store in Barrhaven, with the Royal Canadian Legion s Friendship award. This award exists to honour and recognize individuals and organizations who have rendered assistance, service and/ or co-operation to the Royal Canadian Legion beyond that which could normally be anticipated or expected. This award consists of a wall plaque, which has been signed by the Royal Canadian Legion s Dominion President. While not a member of Branch 641, John has been a big part of the Branch s history from when its beginning days were only a thought. The first address of the Branch, before and after, the granting of our charter was that of the UPS Store and remained so until the first official Branch was opened on Cedarview Road. With the limited funds available to the Branch, John donated many services at that time or when needed at a much reduced rate to help the Branch gain its charter and get on its feet, and he continues to do so today. To John it has never been about the money or the profit, only about helping the Legion and the Community at large. He often worked long into the night on his own time to help the young Executives complete urgent tasks that were required at the time and there was not a piece of paperwork that was not touched by him. John s attention to detail and wealth of services provided the Branch with a great deal of expertise that they did not have in the beginning. John still keeps all of the early archive available and stores it and the backups without charge to the Branch. Thank You John for all you have contributed to our Branch in the past, the present and hopefully into the future.

8 Page 8 :with Constable Timothy P. Murray of the OPS. I m often asked by residents: how can I best go about buying a home alarm system? Here is a handy checklist that can assist residents with their decision. TIPS ON BUYING ALARM SYSTEMS DO: Obtain at least three estimates and compare the equipment - part for part, sensor for sensor. Determine whether estimates are for purchase, rental, or lease to purchase. Find out how the system is monitored. What is the duration of the monitoring contract and does it include service charges? Where is the monitoring system? Ask for credentials of the sales representative. There tends to be a high turnover rate of sales reps in the alarm industry. Find out what the alarm company s policy is on verification. Does the company phone the residence when it receives an alarm? Enquire if the supplier carries liability insurance ($1 million is the accepted minimum). Find out about the warranty period and what is covered. Find out if the equipment is approved by the Underwriters Laboratory of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association, and the federal Department of Communication. Get a detailed list of what equipment is being installed. Check references. Make sure the system comes with proper documentation and instructions. Ask who is actually installing the system. In smaller companies, the person selling the system may subcontract the labour and the monitoring of two different companies. Be cautious in dealing with one or two person operations who do not have enough insurance. Do Not: Be pressured by scare tactics and sales gimmicks. Let the system be connected into your phone line unless you have a Bell Canada approved installation of a special alarm jack.

9 Page Membership Renewal Program September 1 to November 30, Membership Fees are unchanged at $50.00 Dues can be paid by cash or cheque, at the Branch or by mail to: Royal Canadian Legion Br Fallowfield Road Unit 3 Ottawa, ON K2J 4A7 Please make your cheque payable to RCL 641 and identify payment as 2014 Membership Dues. Within two to three days after your payment has been received (depending on the number submitted), your 2014 membership card will be available for pick up at the bar. Early Bird Draw To promote our Be An Early Bird Campaign 2014 Membership Renewal, your Executive Committee has approved three membership reimbursement draws. These draws will take place on: Friday, September 27, October 25, and December 6, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Three lucky Winners will be reimbursed for their 2014 Membership Fee of $ To participate in these draws, you only have to renew your membership for 2014 and remit your $50.00 membership fee. The earlier you renew the more chances you have to win, as your name remains eligible for all subsequent draws, unless you are one of the winners. Remember, the Early Bird gets the reward!!!!!!! As an added bonus, our Branch has the opportunity to win the Be an Early Bird Award from Dominion Command. In order to achieve this award, 75 per cent of our 2013 Members must have submitted their 2014 dues by November 30, So help yourself and your Branch by being An Early Bird. Danny Desmarais Membership Chair Tel: (613) dan.desmarais@rogers.com

10 Page 10 Landry Vanier BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES PUBLIC ROD A. VANIER B.A. LL.B. BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY PUBLIC 90 Centrepointe Drive, Bus: (613) Ottawa, ON Res: (613) K2G 6B1 Fax : (613) Strandherd Dr, Nepean ( ) vanier@vanierlaw.on.ca

11 Page 11 BMO Support Our Troops MasterCard 1516 Merivale Road, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 3J6 Comrade Doug Mason, Prop. COMRADES Don t forget to report any changes to your /postal address, or your telephone number(s) to the Membership Chair, Danny Desmarais, at: dan.desmarais@rogers.com

12 Page 12 Manotick - Barrhaven Darts Challenge November in Manotick Winning toss by Sadie Barrhaven The Contenders l to r, back Winston, Dwayne, Dave, Tom l to r front Sadie, Lise, Karen, Mitch This Month s Winners Barrhaven Mayor Jim Watson Inducts Comrade Ray Desjardins into the 2013 Order of Ottawa. CONGRATULATIONS The Order of Ottawa is recognition of some remarkable residents who are being honoured for their commendable services to our city, said Mayor Watson. I am pleased to recognize the contributions of these amazing people who have made a difference in the lives of others in our community through a variety of professional and civic-oriented endeavours.

13 Page 13 H O T Introducing the Barrhaven Legion Bullshooterz H O T For more than 12 years, Barrhaven has been home to a group of dedicated dart players. Originally playing at Greenfields Pub, they have since been a fixture at the Barrhaven Legion for about eight years. Game night is Wednesday when players turn out for an evening of fun, friendship and darts! COMMRADES WOULD YOU PREFER TO RECEIVE YOUR COPY OF THE ADVANCE VIA ? If so then contact our Secretary Kathy Johnston at: weasle1@rogers.com and get signed up End the surprises, the being left out, the last to know. Sign up today and get current.

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15 Page 15 Wall of Honour Memorial Bricks for the Barrhaven Legion If you would like to be a part of the past, present and future of the Barrhaven Legion, it s as easy as purchasing a Memorial Brick. These Bricks will be engraved with your name and mounted on the Wall of Honour at our Branch. Available in three different denominations: Copper Silver = $ = $ Gold = $1, These Memorial Bricks are also a wonderful way to honour the memory of a family member. For more information on how to purchase a Memorial Brick, please contact Ross Stephen at mr.stephen@sympatico.ca or at the Branch BARRHAVEN FUN DART LEAGUE Play Darts every Wednesday Start time 7:00 p.m. at our Legion Branch 641 s Clubhouse Everyone is welcome No experience necessary Reconnect with old friends and make new ones when you play with this bunch!! For more information call: Branch at: Terry at or Naz at Join us at the Branch Clubhouse for an evening of fun and prizes Every Thursday Start time 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome! For more information contact Sharron at:

16 Page 16 BARRHAVEN AUTO CENTRE Car Repairs & Service 890 Greenbank Road Nepean, ON Gisèle Grenier Miller (CRTS) GREG OGILVIE (Owner) YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD PUB Open Daily at 11:30 am Weekend Breakfast - 7:30 am - 2:00 pm 250 Greenbank Road, at Hunt Club Rd. W. (613) * Snow Removal * Landscaping * Lawn Care SELLING? Call these guys! CREP (2737)