PRESIDENT'S REPORT OCT 14TH 2020

Comrades, 

Our branch is performing better on a 3-day schedule.  Our losses are less and more sustainable.  The fundraising initiatives and community support will keep us going for another year.  Our members, private citizens, local businesses, and local clubs have all been instrumental in dealing with our financial needs.  I can't say thank you enough.

I did apply for a "Resilient Communities Grant" through the Trillium Fund.  We should know by November if it was approved.  These funds, if approved, are not allowed to be used for general bills, but can pay for fundraising initiatives and covid supplies, like sanitizer and PPE.

At the time of this report, I'm waiting for a response from the Dufferin/Wellington Health Unit in regards to our poppy campaign.  Once we have more information, we will post on Facebook and our branch website.

Please see the direction from Ontario Command below in regards to Elections:

Branch Elections

a.   Any annual Branch Election, and Nomination Meeting (if applicable), previously scheduled for earlier in 2020 and subsequently suspended due to COVID-29 will be rescheduled to the appropriate date(s) in 2021 pursuant to their applicable Branch Regulations.

b.   Any biennial Branch Election (even-numbered years), and Nomination Meeting (if applicable) previously scheduled for 2020 and subsequently suspended due to COVID-29 will be rescheduled to the appropriate date(s) in 2022 pursuant to their applicable Branch Regulations unless the Branch through approval at a General Meeting chooses to exercise on of the following options:

c.   Process an Amendment to their Branch Regulations and approved by Command respecting resorting to a one-year term of office which will take effect on the 1st day of June 2021;

          or

     Convene the Elections, and Nomination Meeting (if applicable), on the appropriate day(s) as per their Branch Regulations, in 2021 to become a one-year Term of Office effective on the 1st day of June 2021 after which Elections and Nominations (if applicable) will revert back to a two-year term of Office becoming effective on the 1st day of June 2022.

In other word, Comrades, there will be NO elections until 2021 for those on a 1-year term.  All current officers will remain in place until elections are held next year.

I can't thank our Executive, Ladies Auxiliary, Community Partners and Citizens of Orangeville for their continued support.

Yours in comradeship, Lest We Forget

Barry Kimber, President, Branch #233

Comrades, I can’t express enough how great our community has been coming forward to give such financial support. Our GoFundMe fundraiser, private donations and local media have been instrumental in helping us through these unprecedented times. Many other suggestions for fundraising have been put forward by our membership; these ideas would help a lot, but under current health restrictions, reduced capacity and added costs, most would not work in the current pandemic climate. The road ahead is hard to determine, but your Executive and Ladies Auxiliary are looking at all options. Our roofer has informed me he is almost done  with just a couple items left. The fire repairs are the final item; our new fire exit door was installed this week and just requires a bit of paint and some sealing. 

Our Branch has been open three weeks and performance is very low. Our daily receipts are in the negative. Unfortunately, our income doesn’t cover our labor and increased utility expenses. Many Legions are operating at reduced hours and days. Some Legions have not even opened due to current health restrictions and reduced capacity. Tough decisions will have to be made in the best interest of our Branch. 

    RE: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FUND ANNOUNCED BY OUR PROVINCIAL GOV.

         -STATEMENT FROM PROVINCIAL COMMAND PRESIDENT- “QUOTE”

"While we appreciate the support expressed by our provincial government, right now we’re not sure if what’s being offered will get us through this most challenging time when operational costs continue to accumulate. We are still researching the program details however we feel that the Resilient Communities Fund is not designed to help Legion Branches with urgently required financial assistance.  Our Branches need help to cover rent, mortgage payments, hydro and other costs until such time as they can fully re-open and continue the valuable support they provide to their communities. We fear that without assistance from all levels of government some Branches will close forever and this will be a great loss to communities .” 

           Garry Pond, President

           The Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Provincial Command

YOURS IN COMRADESHIP

Barry Kimber, President, Branch #233 Orangeville

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SOLICITOR GENERAL MPP SYLVIA JONES DUFFERIN/CALEDON FOR ATTENDING OUR CANADA DAY PARADE. THANK YOU TO THE 10 MEMBERS OF OUR COLOUR PARTY FOR PARTICIPATING. SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CURRENT HEALTH DIRECTIVES WERE OBSERVED.

OUR LEGION IS STILL HERE DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WE CONTINUE TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE ARE CONTINUING HELP FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH OUR BURSARY PROGRAM WHICH WILL ASSIST THEM IN POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE DEADLINE IS JULY 17TH 2020 FOR SUBMISSION.

I HAD THE PLEASURE TO PARTICIPATE IN TWO VIRTUAL ACR’S WITH THE 1849 LORNE SCOTS ARMY CADETS & THE 85 TORNADO SQUADRON AIR CADETS.  I PRESENTED ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION CADET MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE TO: MWO GRIFFIN SCULLINO 1849 LORNE SCOTS AND WO2 SULEIMAN SUFYAN 85 TORNADO SQUADRON. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH RECIPIENTS.  

COMRADES, OUR BRANCH HAS HAD SOME STRONG CHALLENGES IN RECENT MONTHS AND RECENT DAYS. WE AS LEGION MEMBERS, ARE THE KEEPERS OF REMEMBRANCE. WE WILL PROTECT OUR MONUMENTS, OUR CENOTAPHS, OUR PARKS. IT’S OUR DUTY TO OUR FALLEN, VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR HISTORY.

LEGIONS ACROSS CANADA ARE IN TROUBLE, I ENCOURAGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL’S TO FIND WAYS TO HELP. THE LOSS OF LEGIONS IN COMMUNITIES WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO OUR VETERANS, OUR SENIORS, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE STILL OWE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO BRYANS ROOFING. WE HAVE PAID $16,000.00 IN THE LAST YEAR. WE STILL OWE $10,533.00.  OUR EXECUTIVE CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR BRANCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION.

YOURS IN COMRADESHIP

BARRY KIMBER, PRESIDENT BRANCH #233