President’s Message for May 2024

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE F0R MAY 2024

Hello members! I’m so excited that summer is just around the corner! I know I’m looking forward to getting out camping in the sunshine.

We are closing in our year-end this month, so we are very busy getting all the paperwork together for that. We are also starting our preparations for Canada Day as that is just six weeks away! Hope you will join us at the Branch for this event.

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

ELECTION RESULTS

Elections took place on 16 April, 2024, and here is the list of Comrades who you have trusted with the running of the Branch. These members were all formally installed at the GM.

Senior Executive

President – Wyn Fournier

1st Vice – Kevin Piccott

2nd Vice – Jeanine Mader

3rd Vice – Mike Adams

Secretary – Shelly Yerburgh

Treasurer – Pierre Mayer

Elected Standing Committee

Richard Guitar – Poppy Chair

Lucie Goderre – Poppy Trust Treasurer

Kim Levesque – Membership, Volunteer Coordinator

Marty Keates – Honours & Awards, Leadership & Development, Webmaster

Cathy Stoddard – Seniors’ Chair

Joyce Bisson – Public Relations

There will be three other members added to the Elected Standing Committee at the GM on 18 June, 2024.

BRANCH HAPPENINGS

The Branch and the Ladies’ Auxiliary held their Honours and Awards on 5 May. Congratulations to all recipients! Along with several Certificates of Appreciation and Certificates of Merit, we awarded the Legionnaire of the ear for 2022-23 to Kim Levesque, and for 2023-24, it was awarded to Joyce Bisson. Very well deserved to both!

The Ladies’ Auxiliary will be hosting a Strawberry Social in June. Watch for those posters!

The NEXT GENERAL MEETING will be held on 18 June, 2024. Please come out to this meeting if you are able so that we can get membership approval on a few things we are planning for the coming months.

Canada Day will be held at the Branch on 1 July. Watch for information in upcoming broadcasts!

I would like to thank the Ladies’ Auxiliary for their amazing donation of $4500 to the Branch! They requested that we use the money to purchase things that the Branch needs instead of using it for accounts payable. We will use this money to purchase two smart TVs and wall mounts for the lower hall as well as add to our inventory of tables and chairs for events. We are also planning on purchasing three chair dollies to make it easier for the set-up crew to move chairs around when setting up for events. A donation that will be put to very good use!

VOLUNTEER CORNER

Charitable Gaming: We have completed six weeks with the Charitable Gaming Association already and it’s going very well. In April we had just one 2-hour shift, and in May we were given a second shift. We are still looking for a few more volunteers to join us. It’s a very easy job! You have to do online training which takes about one hour, and then do in-person training by doing a shift under supervision. During the shift, you help verify bingos, clean up garbage from the tables, wipe down tables and machines, and socialize with patrons. If you are willing to commit to doing one shift every 3-4 weeks, please send me an email that includes your phone number.

We still need volunteers for the following positions:

HOUSING TEAM: We are trying something new by looking for 2-3 people to share this job, instead of one person. Are you handy with tools and available to do general repairs of things around the building? (changing light bulbs, minor plumbing, minor repairs, putting up items on walls, grounds keeping, window washing, etc.) This is the position for you! Having this position filled helps the Legion save money as we don’t have to call in a contractor to do the work.

FUNDRAISING/SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE: This team is up and running, but could use 2-3 more members! This is an ideal position for people who like to plan events and raise funds. Please consider helping us improve our Legion by joining this team!

SPORTS CHAIR: We are in need of someone to take on this important position. It involves being the point-of-contact to the 3rd Vice for the various sports teams housed in the Legion (darts, cornhole/poches, horseshoes, snooker/pool, cards, etc.). Additionally, this person would ensure that entry forms are filled out for Zone and District competitions. If this sounds like something that suits you, please let me know.

CLUB 200 and the POINT-OF-SALE (POS) SYSTEM

The Club 200 was sold out in early April, and the draws take place of Fridays. If you win, you will be contacted by the Branch. Thank you so much to everyone who purchased a number! The new POS system was installed in early May and is a welcome addition to the bars.

As we were meeting with the company installing the POS system, we were approached unexpectedly by a person with a cheque for $2600 to pay for the system. This person wishes to remain anonymous, and we are very appreciative to this donor!

This unexpected donation left us with the $3000 raised specifically for the POS system. As luck would have it, a few days after the donation we discovered that there was some electrical work required in order to meet the building code requirements. This work has a direct impact on the operation of the POS system and will cost $2530. It was decided that this was an acceptable use for the money raised for the POS.Your Content Goes Here