The Advance ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-BARRHAVEN BRANCH#641 Volume 4 2008/2009 Issue # 9 MAR. 2009 www.rcl641.ca/ The President s Corner Greetings Comrades: I hope you receive this edition in time Gordon B. Ley before the Meeting, on Monday 16 March, because there are several critical decisions to be made at this meeting and your attendance is crucial. The landlords have informed us that they have an offer to lease the space adjacent to the Branch and since we have first right of refusal, we must answer their letter in a timely manner. The Housing Committee and the Executive Committee have compiled some information and made recommendations which will be presented at the General Meeting for your approval. If you have an opinion, attend the meeting and let your voice be heard. The start of this meeting is also the cut-off time for nominations for our new Executive Committee. If you are interested in running for office get your nomination form in before this time. It s very important that you attend the ELECTIONS - Annual General Meeting on Tuesday April 21, 2009 The Legion spring Conventions season is here. The Zone G5 Convention was held last week attended by myself and Comrades Ernie Hughes, Ross Stephen, Doug and Shirley Munroe, and Ray and Caroline Desjardins. Congratulations to Comrade Doug Munroe who was elected G5 Zone Commander for the next two years. The District Convention will be held 17-19 April in Brockville. To date the attendees will be Comrades Sharon and Jim Wilson and I. The Ontario Provincial Convention will be held in May in Burlington. Planned attendees are Comrades Dave Cole and Doug and Shirley Munroe. If any Comrade is interested in attending these, or future events, please contact the Branch Secretary or any member of the Executive. Finally I urge all Members to get down to the Branch to enjoy the functions arranged by your committees including the St. Patty s day party on the 17 March (when else?). See you at the Branch. Erin Go Bragh!! Yours in Comradeship Gordon Ley President Branch 641 The Legion - A Brief History (Excerpts from a Story on Long Branch 101, Ontario) The Great War (the war to end all wars) created the problem of returning Veterans in magnified numbers. More than 600,000 served in World War 1, over 60,000 were killed in action; between 117,000 and 137,000 received medical discharges. Canada and the Canadian Government had never before faced the problem of the mass return of men from war. There was no experience of war pensions and their administration. There was no united voice, no united effort, and no united representation. Veterans interests were represented by Regimental Associations in scattered, splinter groups. Their effectiveness was limited due to the vastness of Canada and the isolation of each group - each conceiving that their problems were peculiar to themselves and could best be handled and resolved by themselves. New Veterans groups sprang up almost every time a new problem arose. The Great War Veterans Association ("GWVA") was the largest and the most influential of the many Veterans groups. Formed in 1917, it comprised of more than 700 branches by 1925. In 1921 they started pressuring for the unification of all the various Veterans groups as being the best way to. represent the many Veterans In 1924, "The Veterans", the national magazine of the GWVA stated, "until the last Veteran goes to his final resting place - there will be problems arising from War service. But the major work of the GWVA in the future will be nation building. Prophetic words, indeed. The British Empire Service League ("BESL") was formed in November 1921. Its main inspiration was Field Marshall Earl Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies (including the Canadian Corps). He became the first Grand President of the BESL. - In 1923, he became interested in assisting: the unification of the multiple Veterans organizations in Canada. The GWVA acted as the Canadian voice of the BESL. In June 1925, the GWVA held its Dominion Convention in Ottawa, coinciding with the visit of Earl Haig. Haig addressed the convention, appealing to all Veterans groups in Canada to follow the example of the BESL, and amalgamate for more effectiveness A Unity Conference was held in Winnipeg on November 25, 1925. From this conference emerged "The Canadian Legion of the BESL", commonly referred to as "The Canadian Legion". (Continued on page # 4 ) Cof the Queen.
Page 2 The Advance ENTERTAINMENT ST. PATTY S DAY PARTY - TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2009 5:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. ENTERTAINMENT BY: CHILDREN'S MOVIE AFTERNOON AT BRANCH 641 BARRHAVEN LEGION - 3023 CEDARVIEW RD ORIGINALLY FROM DUBLIN JOIN US FOR GREEN BEER BUT BECAREFUL NOT TO HAVE TOO MANY! IRISH STEW $3.00 SERVED 5:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. Join us for an afternoon of children s movies on Sunday, March 29 starting at 2:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for Veteran s Casino Comrades this is to advise that the annual Casino Night at the Perley Rideau Veteran's residence hosted by Strathcona Branch 595 is being held on Wednesday March 18th. Shirley has asked that as many volunteers as possible come out and help our Veterans enjoy their evening. Volunteers should arrive around 6:30 so that you can assist the staff to bring veterans down to the auditorium. As you know many are in wheel chairs or using walkers. Sign-up sheets are available at the Branch (Children must be accompanied by an adult) Comrade Pam Champagne Chairman She would also like to know before hand approx. how many branch members will attend so please let me know by e-mail if you will be able to come out and help. The Veterans really enjoy the Casino Night and I am sure you will enjoy being a part of their evening. Thank You Kathy Johnston Zone G 5 Secretary kathy johnston <weasle1@rogers.com> MARCH Friday 20th - Smokey Rose (BBQ Pork Chops ) Friday 27th - Assembly Required (BBQ Steak ) Beach Party Entertainment/Hospitality APRIL Friday April 3rd - Ron Prescott of the Prescott Brothers (Lasagna Caesar salad) Friday April 10th - Unwound(Fish & Chips) Birthday Bash for April, May & June, Friday April 17th - Doug & Pam (BBQ Pork chops ) Hawaiian Luau Friday April 24th -The Classics (BBQ Steaks) MAY Friday May 1st - TBA Friday May 8th - TBA Friday May 15th -TBA Friday May 22nd -TBA Friday May 29th - TBA
The Advance Page 3 Youth Committee Remembrance Day, Literary and Poster Contest 2008 This month the curtain closed on the Branch s participation in the 2008 RCL Remembrance Day Literary and Poster Contest. The event is deemed a success. The participating students not only met the aim of the RCL Contest but in doing so were rewarded for their efforts by receiving cash prizes. The students, through their literary and poster contributions, aptly demonstrated their remembrance and on-going support for our Veterans and our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they made in past years and continue to make for us and our country. Nineteen schools in our Branch area were invited to participate in the 2008 Contest. Of the 19 schools, students from four schools ended up taking prize money: eight students from Mother Teresa High School won a total of $565.00; followed by 10 students from St. Luke Catholic School winning $400.00; and one student from Monsignor Paul Baxter School and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School each winning $35.00. Additionally, Becky Leese from St. Luke and Natasha Lomonossoff from Mother Teresa both had poems that won at the Zone level, both going forward to the District level contest. Norma McDonald, Principal of Mother Teresa Catholic High School, and John O'Halloran, Branch 641 Youth Education Officer, present Natasha Lomonossoff a cheque for $25.00 for winning Second Place - Intermediate Poem contest at the District "G" level. Natasha s poem submission won Second Place-Intermediate Poem at the District level. The total prize money won by students totalled $1,035. The Branch held its award ceremony on 14 December 08 with Councillor Jan Harder presiding at the ceremony along with Branch President Gordon Ley, Zone Contest coordinator Shawn Taillon, and our Branch Education Officer John O Halloran acting as the MC. We had seven winners in the Colour Poster contest; three winners in the Black and White Poster contest; three winners in the Essay contest; and seven winners in the Poem contest The students participating in the event are to be congratulated for their inspiring and thoughtful contributions. The teachers are congratulated for encouraging students to submit contributions. Thanks to all who participated in this event and a well done to the students. #30 John O Halloran, Chairman WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE Vesey`s Bulbs & Seeds Spring Fundraiser Place your orders in the Branch Clubhouse. (Its very simple) Just look in the catalogue and chose the bulbs or seeds that you want to order. Fill out all of the details against your name and, enter the price for each item, plus taxes and add total. Place your cheque in the envelope marked for Ross Stephen Who is the Chairman for Ways & Means. Your order will be shipped to coincide with the proper planting time-frame. The Branch receives a percentage of all sales made.
Page 4 The Advance Past President s Comments 2009 - A critical year Comrades: I do hope you are planning on attending our General Meetings on March 16th and April 21st. Our March meeting will be receiving the report of your Nominating Committee for this year s Elections. A number off your Comrades have agreed to run for office and you need to know who they are so that your vote at the Elections will reflect sober second thought. Why? Because those we vote for and elect are going to be the people that will lead the Branch in this most important upcoming year. We are starting a major Membership Drive (remember those 4000 Mounties are coming our way in 2009/2010), therefore, we are seriously reviewing the need for more space. We can t grow and offer new programs and activities living in a shoebox. We are reaching out to our community offering more Fun programs that we must deliver on. A lot of challenges to be faced, important choices to be made and a much higher optic for Branch 641. You know that Barrhaven realizes it has a Royal Canadian Legion Branch. In the next year our profile is going to be much greater and it will be important to grow our numbers and increase the participation of our current membership in all aspects of our activities. Our volunteers are simply tremendous - and it shows! Look at how we have grown from 50 to 220 in just a few years. Ultimately the sky is the limit in Barrhaven. Just look at the type of community we live in. This is a big place with a small town heart. We have Lions, Rotary and Knights of Columbus, plus just about every other service club you can think of. We have multiple business associations also involved in the community activities. How about the many Community Associations and their contributions to make. Barrhaven a better place to live in. What happens when we hear of a real need? Why everybody gets involved. Well Comrades we want the community to gravitate towards us and revolve around us because of who we are and what we do. How we serve and remember those who allowed us to have what we do is a fact. We have been able to pursue our lives in peace and freedom only. FROM THE EDITOR Comrade C. W. (Gus) Este jusgus@rogers.com 613-825-1168 Comrades all! Some of you may not realize it, but we have rapidly become known amongst the Ottawa Clubs, essentially all of those in Zone G5, as the Friendly Branch. I guess that this appellation is a good thing, so I began to wonder why and stated to observe, incognito, what was actually taking place in our Clubhouse. The first thing I noted was that almost immediately someone unknown enters, those in attendance quickly and in a friendly way, greet them do self-introductions and get to know a bit about the visitors. From there the Bar Manager and his volunteer staff are the perfect embodiment of efficient and polite servers. This friendly atmosphere is present during Wednesday night darts, Thursday night Euchre, and for sure, during our Friday night Dinners & Entertainment. I don't know exactly if we are just halfcut or merely a jolly bunch! Gus because of those who served and those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Keep in mind that time is moving on and so are our WW ll and Korea Veterans. They deserve our honour and respect and that must be obvious in everything we do, each and every year. Is 2009 important for the Branch - you betcha! Let's make it the best year ever. That's our individual and collective challenge. R.E. (Ray) Desjardins Founding President, Immediate Past President and Poppy Trust Chairman The Legion - a Brief History (Continued from page # 1 The word "Royal" was not added to the name until 1960, signifying recognition of the Queen. The Legion is organized in 10 provinces in Canada, five US States, and branches were organized overseas, where Canadian troops were stationed on a more-or-less permanent basis - e.g., Branch #002 in Lahr, West Germany. There is no uniformity in the manner in which Commands are divided. Some have Districts and Zones, other have Districts and no Zones, while others have Zones and no Districts. But all have at least one level of authority between the Branch and Provincial Command. Dominion Command, located in Ottawa, is the highest level of authority. Branches are numbered in the order in which they received their Charter, within their respective Provinces. Our Branch is 641 in the Province of Ontario - our Charter being granted in 2005. Although we are short in the history of the Legion, as members of Barrhaven Branch 641, we are justifiably proud of our Branch and its debut into this great organization's history. -30- APPOINTMENT President Gord Ley has announced that Comrade Gillian Goddard will join the Information Committee as the Sub-Chairman for the Scrapbook. She will also be responsible for producing the Branch - Monthly Calendar.
The Advance Page 5 The above flyer was created by the Special Events `Fun Committee` in cooperation with the Membership and the Public Relations Committees. Its main purpose is to attract potential new members and to provide an awareness to the general public about the purposes of the Legion and activities of our Branch. Initially a bunch of flyers are in the Clubhouse which members may distribute. Later, once a full membership drive has been authorized, these flyer may be circulated in spots within the community and eventually may even be placed as display ads in community newspapers.
Page 6 The Advance Veterans Independence Program (VIP) Program The Veterans Independence Program provides limited financial assistance to eligible veterans to enable them to remain independent and self-sufficient in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and to provide care in an institution when such care is needed. The program covers a number of services and is designed to complement (rather than duplicate) existing provincial programs. These services include: Home Care direct patient care personal care and support basic housekeeping and grounds keeping nutritional support, including meals on wheels Nursing Home Care Ambulatory Health Care special care available through clinics, out patient departments, day care centres etc., including travel to day care centres Home Adaptations alterations to veteran's residence to enable him to carry out the normal activities of daily living Social Transportation for low income veterans to carry out day-to-day social activities Services are provided on a needs basis to the following two main groups of veterans: Disability pensioners whose needs for services are related to their pensioned condition and frail pensioners who meet VAC's definition of 'frailty' may also qualify for non-pensioned conditions. Income qualified veterans as follows: WVA recipients over age 65 Merchant Navy Allowance recipients over age 65 near recipients (veterans who would be receiving WVA if not for the receipt of Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement or spouse's allowance) Canada Service Veterans of WWI or WWII, with 365 days of service in wartime, over age 65, and who meet the same financial criteria as WVA recipients and near recipients NOTE: A WWII Canada Service Veteran must have served 365 days prior to August 15, 1945, to qualify as a Canada Service Veteran. V.I.P. recipients (other than Regular Force pensioners) are automatically covered for general treatment benefits and receive a Blue Cross /card which identifies coverage for all programs (to the extent that they are not covered by Provincial programs). This means that once a disability pensioner is approved for V.I.P. services, the medical benefits are expanded to include treatment for non-pensioned conditions as well. Appeal of Decisions Relating to V.I.P. or Health Care Benefits An applicant or recipient may request a review of decisions relating to the Veterans Independence Program or the provision of health Care Benefits by writing to the Ontario Regional Director General. If still dissatisfied once the review has been completed, a further appeal may be made to the Director General - Health Care Division or Assistant Deputy Minister - Veterans Services, within 60 days of the review decision. For more details about VIP, or to request assistance, please contact the Branch 641 Service Officer, Comrade C.W. (Gus) Este at: Telephone: 613-825-1168 or e-mail: jusgus@rogers.com
The Advance Page 7 Original copy signed by: Comrade Ray Desjardins, Chairman Our Advertisers support us - Please support them! For details on ad space Contact Comrade Jerry Jodoin SELLING? Call these guys! 235-CREP (2737)
Page 8 The Advance Zone Commander Doug Munroe From Barrhaven Branch 641 Buy a Building Brick The Executive Committee has accepted and endorsed a proposal, from the Special Fundraising Committee, to sell commemorative bricks for our eventual new building. The categories are Gold - $500, Silver - $300, Bronze - $100 and, as a contributor those on our back brick wall, for donations under $100. Payments can be made at the bar and receipts will be issued. Contact Chairman Jerry Jodoin - Tel: 613-823-5723 ELECTION RESULTS - 2009 At the Zone G-5 elections held on March 1, 2009, Comrade Doug Munroe was elected as Zone Commander, with Comrade Sue Fraser, of Strathcona Branch 595 elected to the position of Deputy. Doug joined Nepean, now Westboro Branch, in 1972 and has been elected and appointed successive times to hold all the Branch Offices including President. Doug was Zone Sports Officer in 1980 to 1988 and Local Arrangements Special Projects Chairman for the Dominion Convention 1988 when he was transferred to Yellowknife, NWT. He served as Constitution and Bylaws Chairman at Vincent. Sports & Games at Other Branches (Schedules are posted in the lobbyjust sign up and you will be registered automatically by the branch ) For further information call the Sports Chairman, Comrade Dave Sereda at: 613 843-8691 Play Darts every Wednesday in our Clubhouse - 7:00 P.M. Massey Branch till 1990 when he returned to Ottawa. He was Zone Special Events Chairman, Zone Leadership and Planning Chairman for 4 years and was elected Zone G5 Commander in 2001 serving till 2005. In 2005 he became Chairman of the 2008 Local Arrangements Committee for the Dominion Convention and District G Poppy Chairman for the past 4 years. Doug transferred to Barrhaven Branch in 2008. He has been awarded Branch and Zone Past Officer Medals, a Life Membership, Legion Meritorious Service Medal with Palm Leaf and the Queen s Diamond Jubilee Medal. BARRHAVEN LEGION - BRANCH 641 INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR EUCHRE ON THURSDAYS - 7:00 P.M. EVERYONE S WELCOME TO ATTEND CALL (613) 843-8691 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION