BURSARY APPLICATIONS 2020

Comrades, where do I start? As a result of the Covid-19 we were ordered to close by Public Health, Provincial Government, Federal Government, A.G.C.O. March 16th 2020. This result has put us in a situation of Financial Loss. Our hall rentals, bar sales, sports events and fund-raising initiatives all ended. To date we have had 9 rentals cancelled and I expect more. The other losses from our bar sales, sports events, fund raising are in the tens of thousands. I have submitted a claim to PIB Insurance on April 14th 2020 for a Business Interruption Claim.  Acting on the advice of Ontario Command to make this claim, I am hoping we can recover some of our loss since our closure. At the time of writing this report I have not heard back but expect some response in the near future.

At this time, I thought I'd give a report in regards to our water damage and fire that occurred in February and March 2020. The roof leak and fire caused significant damage to our branch. The loss is well north of $75,000.00. I don’t have an exact figure of the loss as it is still being calculated. I’m sure many of you are asking what happened to cause the roof leak and fire. Well the roof leak was caused by ice build up between the flat roof and the peak roof. The fire was caused by water traveling down the hydro stack into the conduit into the main electrical panel causing the fire. (Water and Electricity Don’t Mix!)

Since our branch closed on March 16th 2020, many things have been happening behind the scenes. I would like to give you an idea of the work done since we have closed.

1. Pool Room: ceiling replaced (new drywall, new insulation & paint), walls painted, new trim throughout.
2. Entire floors replaced with high grade vinyl flooring in the sports room.
3. The entire half wall painted in sports room with new quarter round trim installed.
4. The Lounge: the carpet has been removed and high-grade vinyl flooring has been installed. The water damage below the air conditioner in the lounge has been repaired and painted.
5. The ceiling and bulkhead in the hallway have been replaced and painted. The south and east wall has been repaired and painted.
6. The stairs' carpet will be replaced at the end of April with a new rubberized material with anti-slip and vision impairment materials.
7. The railing upstairs and the railing leading downstairs has been painted
8. The men’s washroom has been completing renovated and repaired. The floor was completely removed due to water damage and replaced. All the walls were removed and replaced due to water damage. The toilet was moved more to the center to allow people with disabilities to use the bathroom. A larger wall-mounted sink was installed with wing tap handles to help folks with disabilities. Ceramic flooring was installed including four feet up the wall. Paint was applied to all walls.
9. The flooring in the office was replaced with high grade vinyl flooring and new trim throughout.
10. The beer room flooring was replaced with dry core and vinyl flooring installed.
11. The ice machine in the beer room was damaged and written off due to fire. A new ice fridge was installed in main bar for the convenience of our bartenders. (New plumbing and platform for ice machine was installed)
12. The taps in the main bar were damage when the water was shut off during the fire closure. Debris travelled into the mechanism causing poor water pressure. The taps were replaced.
13. The taps in the furnace room and women’s washroom downstairs were replaced.
14. The taps in the kitchen were repaired.
15. The men’s urinal in downstairs bathroom was repaired.
16. The banquet floor downstairs was stripped and waxed.
17. A new fire-rated door will be installed at the emergency exit at the west end of the building.
18. A new prep table and shelving has been ordered for replacement in kitchen due to fire damage.

Comrades, I am pleased to report your Branch was nominated in the category for top service club in the myFM Spirit Awards. Also, Comrade Chuck and myself were nominated as top volunteers in myFM Spirit Awards.  MyFM had planned to have the awards held right here at our Branch on April 16th 2020. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen in our current climate. I’m pleased to report our Legion placed in the top three in the entire county. Congratulations to our current Executive, Staff, Membership and Ladies Auxiliary for our great showing. I also would like to express to everyone, a thank you for all their votes in supporting me also. I placed in the top three volunteers in the myFM Spirit Awards. I have to admit during this time as President I have not had a boring year. It's nice to know I have so much support throughout the community and my comrades. It takes a team to accomplish what we have done so far this year. It takes a team to keep this branch operating not any one individual.

During these unprecedented times our Dominion Council and Ontario Command have made a decision to return some of our per capita tax back to the branches to help ease some of the financial strain during these times. We will be receiving approximately $3,000.00 back from Dominion and Provincial Command. This money will help with our Utility Bills over the past and coming months.

Decisions in regards to elections and commencement of our Executive and General Meetings are still on hold. Dominion and Provincial Command have not made any final decisions in regards to this. The only decision that was made was the current Executive and Branch Officers are to continue in place. I look forward to our Branch opening again and business continues. I will say, I plan on running for President again and hope many of our current Executive will also. I look forward to a normal process once again.

Yours In comradeship, Stay Well & Stay Safe,

Barry Kimber, President, Branch #233

rcl233@rogers.com 519-942-4895