THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
                    BRANCH 202
                    P.O. BOX 302
                    LION’S HEAD, ON N0H 1W0
November 2013 Newsletter
The regular meeting of Branch 202 was held on November 7, 2013 with 23 attending.

Presidents Report

I attended a small meeting on Branch Regulations in Tara on 7 October 2013. Will make a Notice of Motion to create Branch Regulations 7 Nov 2013 to be presented at the next General meeting for approval (5 December 2013).

 Remembrance Day is fast approaching please attend both parades if at all possible as this is the very important day for the Legion. And we all swore to help sell poppies please see Richard or any member of his team to help.

 Also 17 November is the thanks to Trillium foundation for our BRIGHT new roof, please come out to help celebrate this occasion. Hats off to Mary Smith and Fred Vantooren for their efforts over the past four years in making this happen.

Upcoming Events

Grey Cup Party at the Hall

Sunday November 24, 2013
5:00 p.m. – Pre-game festivities
Chicken Wings
6:00 p.m. Kickoff

Sports
Monday Darts – 1:00 p.m.
Darts for Meat Saturday November 30th and December 14th
Thursday Darts & Cribbage – 1:00 p.m.
Friday Bridge – 1:00 p.m. and Euchre – 7:30 p.m.

Auxiliary
Thursday, November 21 – Fun nite for cards 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23 – Christmas Bazaar 8:30 a.m.
Auxiliary Christmas Party – December 10 – 12:00 p.m. Potluck – Items for food bank
Branch and Auxiliary Christmas Party – December 19 – 12:00 p.m. Potluck

Committee Reports:
Membership:
Membership renewals are due. For 2014 $50.00
Make cheques payable to RCL Branch 202, P.O. Box 302, Lion’s Head, ON N0H1W0
Dues paid after December 31st will be $55.00. The early bird draw was made for a free membership and the winner was new member Brad Lucas.

 Poppy

 On October 25, 2013 the Poppy and Remembrance Campaign began with the canvassing at Hellyer’s IGA in Lion’s Head. The first two days of tagging (October 25 & 26) took in about $200 less than last year. During the second week-end of tagging an unplanned power failure on Friday, November 1 caused a cancellation of the tagging at both Hellyer’s and the Liquor Store. As a result the take was about 2/3 of what it was last year.

 The current balance in the Poppy Account as of November 6, 2013 is $7007.84. While the balance may appear large, the Poppy Fund has not yet been invoiced for the campaign materials of poppies and wreaths. Until the campaign is finished, all the bills are paid and all the revenue is in, I am asking that there be a moratorium on spending any Poppy money.

 This year, as usual veterans and escorts are needed at both cenotaphs to escort those people who are laying wreaths. My thanks to those of the branch as well as to those of the Ladies Auxiliary who will escort people to the cenotaphs.

 At Monument Corners the Branch is privileged to have MPP Bill Walker lay the wreath on behalf of the Province of Ontario. At the Lion’s Head Cenotaph the entire Bruce Peninsula District School and the school band will be on hand. The band will accompany the singing of “O Canada” and “God Save the Queen”. The Branch is also pleased to have Captain Jason Mervyn with three cadets in attendance who can help in any way needed. Dr. Jim Thomson is again going to be present at both Cenotaphs to play the “Last Post” and “Rouse”.

 This year the Poppy Committee featured two new items: the poppykeeper that is used to prevent the poppy from falling off and the poppy lapel pin. The poppykeepers have been given to those purchasing poppies in both Hellyer’s and the Liquor Store. While I have heard no feedback on the poppykeeper, the lapel pin has proved very popular. This week I sold ten of them to the staff at Golden Dawn, and they have ordered 50 for next year.

 About two weeks ago I was speaking with the Zone Poppy Chairman Kathryn Eastwood about several poppy-related matters. We discussed the proper procedure for the spending of Poppy money. What she told me was that anyone wishing to propose the spending of poppy money for any purpose first needs to communicate that proposal to a member of the Poppy Committee. The members of the Poppy Committee are Susan Uren, Ruth Tomlin, George Bowman and I. The Poppy Committee then discusses the proposal. If agreement is in the affirmative, then as Poppy Chairman and administrator of the fund, I take the proposal to the Executive. If agreement is reached with the executive, I then make a motion at the membership meeting to be discussed and voted upon. Kathryn reminded me that the person making a motion to spend Poppy Money is the Poppy Chairman as the administrator of the fund. She also reminded me that the Poppy Fund is a Trust Fund and the money is public money. Failure to follow this procedure could cause the branch to be red-flagged.

 Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has or will be involved in making this year’s Remembrance Day a success. As many of you are aware, the Poppy Committee starts at the beginning of August and works hard until the end of Remembrance Day.

 New Business

 Rick made a motion that a Notice of Motion is hereby given for the attached proposal (a copy is on the board) to be presented at the December meeting of the branch for consideration of the new Branch Regulations. Seconded by Kim. Carried. Members have 30 days to review.

 Lottery
Don Colter reported $467.00 in account. 50/50 draw for $56.00 was won by Bill McLeis. Congratulations

Sue Halliday, Secretary