Royal Canadian Legion Bow Island Branch 197
Box 749, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0
October 2011
President’s Message
Feast or famine, flood or drought, the best of times the worst of times. Seems it's hard to find a happy
medium wherever we look. Unfortunately our Branch is slipping into this situation. Although in a lot of
respects the Branch is in the best shape that it's been in for numerous years, we are starting to struggle
with the operation of the Branch.
We are financially stable and the Hall is the best shape it's ever been in. We have not required significant
volunteer help for 'work parties' due to a CAF grant which allowed us to upgrade the hall exterior using
contractors. There will always be minor projects that the Members will undertake but we generally have
enough helping hands for these projects, but would never turn away extra help.
Our contract cleaners do an excellent job of ensuring the Hall and property is maintained to a high
standard and our rentals are very well looked after by Rachel at Forty Mile Community Resource Centre,
so there is little burden to the Members in the daily operations of the Branch.
Where we are having difficulty is at the executive level. The same 8 – 10 people have been keeping the
Branch alive for the last 8 – 10 years and some of us are getting tired. Our dedication to the Branch is still
strong but people's lives change, priorities have to be re-adjusted, other commitments take time, and most
of the executive struggle with keeping it all balanced. We have operated without a Secretary for a year
now and other executive positions will be vacant at the end of this year so we need new blood and fresh
ideas.
To all Members I say please consider volunteering some time by attending meetings, taking an executive
position, and bring new ideas to the Branch. We meet once a month on the first Thursday of each Month
and our election meeting will be December 1 at 7:00 PM.
In closing I would like to thank our Members who constantly donate their time, convenient or not, to make
sure that the numerous Branch obligations are taken care of.
Doug Beierbach
President Branch #197
Darts are held at the Legion every
Wednesday evening at 7:30 beginning
October 19. Call Barb at 403-545-6030
for more information.
Bingo at the Legion begin on Monday,
October 17. Doors open at 6:30; Bingo
begins at 7:30.
Bingo is held every Monday evening.
Call Walter or Carol at 403-545-6589 for
more information.
Editorial Page
Ruling Severely Affects Branch Operations
Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has made a ruling that no “executive positions are (to be)
held by persons with the same surname, or the same residential address and/or the same
residential phone number”.
What does this mean to our branch? It is the single most significant reason we don’t have enough
people to fill all the executive positions. Some of our members who are willing to step up and fill
positions vacated for various reasons are restricted from doing so by this ruling.
This ruling restricts my children from taking executive positions if I hold one; however, if I had family
members with a different last name there would be no restriction based on name.
If there is another family with the same last name who are members, but no relation to me, they
cannot take an executive position if I hold one.
Brothers and sisters, if they have the same last name, cannot both be on the executive, however if
they had different last names due to marriage, blended families, etc. this ruling wouldn’t apply.
If I had a tenant, that person would not be able to serve on the executive (same address).
If I ran an answering service as part of my business, all my customers would be restricted from
serving (same phone number as my residence & business phone number are the same).
Our branch has several husband/wife members and several of those have children who are also
members. While the ruling doesn’t affect all of them, it does affect a significant number.
This ruling only applies because we have gaming licences - Bingo, Nevada Tickets and Casino. We
cannot give up these licences as they generate revenue for donations in the community as well as
covering costs associated with the building (utilities, janitor, maintenance, etc.).
We have tried to argue this ruling with support from all the levels of the Legion, but AGLC remains
adamant that this is a necessary restriction.
Our only solution is to have more members step up and fill some of our executive positions.
Elections will be held December 1 at our regular general meeting. We encourage members to attend
meetings prior to this and come December, allow their names to stand to be elected to the executive.
Branch Raises Funds through Spring Casino
The Branch worked a casino in the spring which resulted in raising $19,782.95. Of that, $14, 837.21
went to the building account to pay for such things as utilities, janitor, maintenance and hall supplies.
Thank you to everyone who worked the casino, in most cases both days.
If you would like to volunteer for our next casino which will most likely be in the summer, please
contact Casino Chair Janet Popel at 403-545-6536. Shifts are 2:00 - 8:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. to close,
and count room (generally starting at 10:30 p.m.) Positions are General Manager, Cashier, Banker
and Chip Runner. No skills are necessary - our advisor gives us detailed instructions on the position
and is always available should we have questions or run into difficulties. Each shift is allowed one
meal per person so you don’t have to worry about going hungry! Casinos give us the majority of our
capital for building expenses, so please consider volunteering!
Membership
SERVICE OFFICERS REPORT
Comrades:
It is that time of year again. The 2012 early bird
membership renewal program is underway. Last year we
attained an early renewal of over 60%. Let us try to
maintain that status or improve on it. The dues for 2012
memberships will be $40.00. Please remit as soon as
possible after you receive the newsletter. Dues not paid
by January 31, 2011 causes a lapse in getting the Legion
Magazine.
Please find a stamped return address envelope
provided for your convenience and take the time to fill
out a cheque and drop it in the mail before it gets to the
bottom of the paper pile on your desk. Make cheques
payable to Royal Canadian Legion Br. 197. If by mistake
you do not get a stamped return address envelope please
take the time and mail a dues cheque addressed to me.
This makes it easier for me to track dues payments. If you
have any questions please call me. If you are not
renewing please let me know so branch membership
records can be adjusted accordingly.
David Hyland
Box 504
Bow Island, AB
T0K 0G0
Phone: 403-502-5171
Yours truly
David Hyland
Membership Chairman, Branch 197
The Royal Canadian Legion has a national network
of service officers who assist veterans, serving
military and RCMP members, and ex-serving
military and RCMP members with claims for
disability pensions involving their service with those
agencies or with financial problems following
retirement. For full details, people with claims can
contact a service officer at a local branch of the
Legion, a Provincial Command or the Dominion
Command offices (Legion membership not
required) or Veterans Affairs Canada.
David Hyland
Service Officer
Branch 197 Bow Island
The Branch received $675.78 as
their share of the proceeds from
the Legion Million Dollar Lottery.
Of this, $506.84 was placed in
the building account.
The Branch is once again participating in this
fund raiser. Remember when you order your
tickets, designate Branch 197 on your order.
This ensures your order is credited to our
branch sales.
The Lottery will begin in January 2012.
Branch Donations
The Branch has been able to make several
donations throughout the year to various
causes. Donations to September 11 include:
General Fund:
Pleasant View Lodge
Darren Loutit
$250.00
$1,000.00
(Darren is a young boy who required a
liver transplant. This surgery was done
in Edmonton earlier this year. Darren is
required to stay in Edmonton while the
success of the surgery is being
monitored and his mother must stay
with him. Community donations have
somewhat eased the financial burden on
the family.)
North 40 4-H Beef Club
$85.00
Casino Fund
Trees of Hope
HALO Air Ambulance
Salvation Army
Prairie Roses 4-H Multi Club
Million Dollar Lottery
Community Halloween Party
Joy of Giving
Bow Island Health Centre
$250.00
$250.00
$250.00
$215.00
$100.00
$200.00
$200.00
Donations from the Poppy Fund have not yet been
done for the year.
Legion Website & Email
Did you know that our branch has a website? Check it out at www.bowislandlegion.com
There is a variety of information on our website, and updates will occur once this newsletter is published.
There are also links to Alberta-N.W.T. Command and to Dominion Command, which will put a wealth of
information regarding the Legion at your disposal.
Should you wish to contact the Branch or any of the committee members, you may do so by email to
[email protected] Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person.
You can also book the hall on-line. Prices are listed; simply fill in your requirements. Legion members in good
standing receive a 10% discount on hall rentals for personal use. The Bow Island Community Resource Centre
has agreed to handle our hall rentals. Call Rachel at 403-545-6222 for any hall rental requirement or for
information. The Branch is very grateful for the CRC agreeing to manage hall rentals for us.
Thank you to Chelsey for maintaining our website!
Christmas Craft & Gift Sale
The annual Christmas Craft and Gift Sale will be held the Friday, November 25
from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you wish to book a table, please download the form
from our website and send it, along with your payment, to Craft Sale, Bow Island
Legion, Box 749, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0. Tables are $20.00 each. You
may also email the form to [email protected] , however the booking
will not be confirmed until payment is received. The sale fills quickly, especially
the tables with power, so book soon. There is an on-site concession, door prize
draws and a variety of vendors.
Call Carol at 403-545-2449 for more information.
Legion Sports
The Legion has a sport program in which
members can participate at different levels:
Area, District, Provincial and Dominion. Events
are held at various branches, and winners
advance to the next level.
The Legion Sports Program includes
•
8-ball pool (singles and doubles)
•
shuffleboard (men’s & ladies, seniors)
•
cribbage (Legion, pairs and seniors)
•
darts (Legion, mixed and seniors)
•
golf
•
euchre
The sports calendar will be posted on the
website. Contact Tom Kitchen to participate or
for more information at 403-545-6300.
Legion Meetings are held the first
Thursday of each month except July
and August at 7:00 p.m. in the Legion
upstairs room. All members are
encouraged to attend.
The Branch would like to continue with
renovations in the hall, including the kitchen
and flooring. In order to do this, we need
someone able to take on grant applications
and reporting. The Treasurer will work
closely with that person. If you are able to
take this on, please contact us.
Poppy and Remembrance
The mission of The Royal Canadian Legion is "to serve veterans and their dependants, to promote
Remembrance, and to act in the service of Canada and its communities." In essence, the purposes
and objects of the Legion were born of the need to further the spirit of comradeship and mutual
assistance among all who have served and never to forget the deeds of the fallen.
The Poppy Committee has one of the largest areas of responsibility in the Legion. They are charged
with organizing honouring our veterans, promoting remembrance and managing the poppy campaign
- no small task.
On September 13 our annual Veteran’s supper was held. There are 26
veterans in our community, and all were invited for a supper paid for by the
branch. Following the supper was a presentation on a trip to the war
memorials of Europe.
Tickets for the supper were also available to Legion members and the general
public - anyone who wanted to come out to honour our veterans. This year
approximately seventy attended the supper.
We encourage our membership to attend next year’s Veteran’s Supper to
honour our veterans. It is usually held in the fall, so contact the branch if you
are interested in attending and we will make sure you receive notification of the date.
The Poppy Campaign begins this year on October 28 and runs until November 11. Members
canvas local businesses and non-profit groups; as well, many families choose to remember with a
wreath. If you are interested in purchasing a wreath, contact Poppy Chair Mary Ann Milton at 403545-6491 or Janet Popel at 403-545-6536. Wreaths come in a variety of sizes and prices. All funds
from the sale of wreaths and from poppy donations go to support our veterans and their families.
The Remembrance Day Service will be held November 11 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legion hall. A lunch
will be available following the service. The bar will be open and members can enjoy socializing in the
afternoon.
The Poppy Committee has a huge job, especially between October 28 and November 11. If you are
able to help in any way, please let us know. Opportunities for volunteering include canvassing,
visiting schools as a Legion representative, participating in the Colour Party (uniform required), set up
for Remembrance Day on November 10, take down on November 11, helping with the lunch
(cooking, serving, or clean up).
Poppy Protocol
The Poppy is the international symbol of Remembrance. When you wear a Poppy or display a
Wreath, you honour the war dead and help Veterans and their dependants.
The Poppy is always worn on the left breast, close to the heart. It is worn during the Remembrance
period, which is from the last Friday in October to the end of the day on November 11. When you
remove your Poppy, you may wish to place it at the bottom of the Cenotaph following the
Remembrance Day Service.
The Legion’s position on the Poppy is that it is a symbol of remembrance and should not be defaced
in any way, such as using a flag pin to attach it to clothing.
Legion Children’s Christmas Party
The annual Legion Children’s Christmas Party will be held on Sunday,
December 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. All children and grandchildren, 12 years
of age and younger, of Legion members are welcome to attend. Each
child will receive a gift and a candy bag. The afternoon will include
games, a visit from Santa and hot dogs. Please have names in to Carol
Krysiak, 545-6589, by November 25, 2011. Forms can be mailed to
Children’s Christmas Party, Box 749, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0.
NOTE: Children must attend to receive their gift.
Please Print Clearly
Name
Boy/Girl
Age
I would like to donate $
to the Children’s Christmas Party.
Donations may be sent to the address above, attention Carol Krysiak.
Sponsoring Member