President’s Message for March 2025

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FOR MARCH 2025

Hello members!! Isn’t it wonderful to know that spring is just around the corner? March sure came in like a lion this year! I hope all of you “weathered” the storms with no issues.

Our main focus at the moment is the continued professionalization of the Branch, as part of the Business Development Plan (that is still unwritten at this point!). This has been a long journey, and we are starting to see some results from the work. We are thrilled to welcome a new Fundraising & Special Events Chair, Lucie Lafleur, and she is focused on bringing in funds for our Building Maintenance Fund. This fund will allow us to address major projects that are looming on the horizon, including some much-needed renovations of key areas.

I will be moving to the Past President’s position at the end of this term, so you will get one last message from me before the end of May. I have complete confidence that whomever is elected next month as the new President will be capable of rising to the challenge of continuing the work that’s been started.

As always, please send me an email to let me know if you have questions, or suggestions, or if there is something you want addressed in this message. rcl632orleanspresident@gmail.com

ELECTIONS

Elections are almost here! It’s just a few more weeks until 15 April 2025, when we will have our Elections General Meeting and I hope to see a good turnout. The doors open at 7:00pm for registration (bring your Legion membership card), and the meeting starts at 7:30pm sharp!

We still need nominations for 1st Vice, 2nd Vice, and 3rd Vice. If you want to have a say in how the Legion operates, this is your opportunity to get involved! The Elections board is up in the Lounge, and that’s where you can find the nomination forms!

BRANCH HAPPENINGS

Our New Year’s Levee was a resounding success! Thank you to everyone who came out to socialize!

We continue to see a lot of new faces coming out for our various Entertainment events, with the accompanying increase in revenue. I think our Branch is becoming known for being the place to go to have a great time!! The two paint nights have been sold out, the line dancing had to move downstairs because of the crowd, and karaoke remains a popular favourite! Have you checked out the Theme dances? Those are well-attended also. Big KUDOS to our Entertainment Chair for the work she is doing! It’s really bringing in the results!

Our annual Honours and Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, 4 May 2025. If you have anyone who you think should be nominated for recognition, please send your nominations to Marty Keates before 31 March 2025. rcl632orleansawd@gmail.com. She is also available to assist you if you need help with the nominations.

The Military Service Recognition Book is in its 12th edition!!! This book is for ANY Veteran anywhere in Canada who wishes to have their service recorded. ON Comd publishes the book and uses the revenue from the advertisers to support Veteran programs in the province. If you or a Veteran you know has not yet submitted your photo and a short bio (max 200 words), please contact Mike Adams (rcl632orleans3rdvice@gmail.com) to get your submission in. You do NOT have to be a member of the Legion to be recognized in the book!!!

The next few months will be busy with getting prepared for handing over to the new Executive Committee taking over on 1 June 2025. Additionally, there are 3 conventions. We are hosting the Zone Convention on 30 Mar 2025 at the Branch. The District Convention is in Pembroke from 11-13 March. The Provincial Convention is in London, ON from 10-13 May.

VOLUNTEER CORNER

Charitable Gaming:

I’m happy to report that the package was submitted to the City, and we are allowed to keep 80% of the funds from the Lola Bingo up to the end of December 2025! We have to re-apply at that point to see if we are allowed to continue. These funds are earmarked for our Building Maintenance Fund and the big-ticket projects that are on the horizon. A HUGE thankyou to Jacques, who tackled this.

Volunteers needed:

The Legion runs because of our volunteers who do the work. If we don’t have new people stepping up to help, we will struggle to operate the way the Provincial By-laws for Branches mandate. We are very aware of the demands on your time and try to make it as pleasant as possible for everyone on the team. We hope you will consider joining us! Below are the most urgent places we need help.

➔ FUNDRAISING/SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE Our new Fundraising & Special Events Chair has been hard at work planning some fundraising events for our Building Maintenance Fund. She really needs help to accomplish this. This is the perfect opportunity for people who like to plan events and raise funds while having a great time! Please consider helping us by joining this team!! Time commitment varies depending on what event or function you choose to help with. The more people who join this team, the less work for everyone!

➔ ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE We are still looking for people to join the Entertainment Committee. Our Entertainment Chair has a LOT of energy, but can’t do it all herself. This committee will work collaboratively with the Fundraising Committee, so you could be on both if you were so inclined!!

➔ SENIORS & VETERANS 65+ The Chair of this portfolio could really use a small team! If you are interested in helping to organize visits to Retirement Homes in the Orleans area to visit Veterans, helping to organize the Over-80 Christmas Lunch, helping with events for our Veterans at the Perley, and other related activities, please let us know! Time commitment varies, with the bulk of it being in the fall months.

➔ GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS There are a number of Committee Chairs who have been managing their portfolios for several years, and would like to pass the torch on to others. We need new volunteers who are willing to team up with these Chairs to learn the jobs with the goal of taking over the portfolios. The time commitment varies with each Portfolio from 2-5 hours each month.