FEBRUARY 2019

DISPATCH

Saturday February 23rd., 2019

Royal Canadian Legion Br. 2596 Great Northern Rd

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6B 4Y5

Office: 705-945-8721 Fax: 705-945-6372Ladies Aux: 705-256-2941 Lounge: 705-256-6921

E-mail: rclbranch25@shawbiz.caWebsite: www.branch25rcl.org

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President’s Report – Respectfully submitted by Wilma Oliver

January proved to be a very busy month here at the Branch. We hosted another successful Robbie Burns event as well as a District Dart tournament.On January 25th, we received a very generous donation from the Greyhound Organization in the amount of $10, 760.00, towards the 2018 Poppy fund campaign. This donation is the result of the Jersey raffle at their Remembrance Day game at the Gardens on November 4th.

Branch 25 hosted the Special Olympians for a couple of meals during the winter games. Thanks to the hard work of our Ladies Auxiliary and their many volunteers.We will once again hold a Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper on the 5th of March – as well as our regular pancake breakfast on the 24th.

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Please be aware that this is an election year for your Branch. What will your Branch look like next year? You will be electing your Executive for the coming year.Please think about serving your Branch or approaching someone to run for the Executive Committee Positions. A listing of the responsibilities of various positions will be posted near the nomination box in early March so you can get an idea of what each committee chair is responsible for. The ballot boxes will be up March 4th. Please feel free to nominate any member in good standing for any Executive Position. There will be ballots available depicting who you would nominate for what position. Further nominations will take place at the General Membership meeting April 3rd. with elections taking place at the May 1st. meeting. You can nominate anyone for any position. BUT if you are not in attendance at the May meeting, you cannot vote. Please try to attend. There have been some major changes and you should be aware.The one caveat is that you must have been at 3 meetings within the last year in order to be eligible to run.

Ladies Auxiliary President Report – Respectfully submitted by Gail Carter-Hill

Comrades, now that all holidays are behind us, except those lucky people who head south, it is time to settle down and get to work.The Ladies are still holding Family Pasta dinners on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Much to our glee, they are still popular with the public.

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A great vote of thanks to our members who come out to roll meatballs and send in baking for these events.Bursary forms are available to Auxiliary family members; i.e. sons, daughters and grandchildren. This is an Ontario Provincial Command initiative, and unfortunately not many of our members take advantage of it. Applications are available in the office and at our General meeting on February 13th. It is vital to make application soon as the deadline is the last Friday of March.

The family of Elva Marshal held a surprise (ha ha) 90th

birthday party for her. It was a lovely party and great for her to visit with many friends and relatives. Best wishes for years to come.My apologies to Auxiliary members who were not notified due to changing of the phone convenor.Special Olympics was held February 1, 2, 3. The auxiliary was asked to do some catering.HELPFUL HINT: Is your carpet stained badly and company is coming in half an hour? No sweat! A little ammonia cleans it as good as new in five minutes.

2 nd Vice President/Service Officer/Museum respectfully submitted by Ron Rouleau(excerpts from “Monument a Reminder of Korea War dead, kin) written by Andrew Burtch special to postmedia network)On the Mackenzie King bridge in Ottawa, there’s a bronze statue of an unarmed Canadian soldier standing with two Korean children.

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The Monument to Canadian Fallen, designed by Vincent Courtenay, a Canadian veteran of the Korea War, and made by Korean artist Young Mun Yoo in 2002, is inscribed with the names of 516 Canadians who died in that war.Many pass by the monument every day.

Most have no idea that an identical monument stands nearly 11,000 kilometers away, in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea, among the headstones of the 378 Canadians buried in Korea is the identical monument. The two memorial statues face one another, over a continent and an ocean, bound by solemn remembrance.This year marked the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korea War. Beginning on June 25, 1950 when North Korean forces invaded South Korea, the war ended with an armistice, if not a peace, on July 27, 1953. More than 26,000 Canadians served in Korea. In 1950, they rushed to enlist, a mix of young men too young to serve in the Second World War, and veterans of the last war who desired a return to military life.In the early months of the war, North Korean forces swept over and nearly overwhelmed the surprised South Koreans and American defenders before the audacious September 1950 Inchon landing, and an early UN victory appeared in reach before the surprise entry of Chinese troops into the conflict. Headlines announced the first Canadian troops’ arrival in the front lines just as the UN launched its counter-offensives and the Canadians’ dramatic defence of Kap’yong in April 1951.

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But as armistrice talks began and the conflict dragged on, public attention turned to domestic concerns. And yet, Canadian families at home still received the dreaded notification that their loved ones were wounded or dead. Amid grief, families of the dead appealed to military authorities to bring their loved ones home.

Consider their families, and the grieving who never had a chance to say proper goodbye.

There is more to the article if you wish to read it, it is in the Office.

If you are looking for a good read on our ‘young’ Vets, please go to: https://nationalpost.com/sponsored/news-sponsored/the-royal-canadian-legion-serves-todays-generation-of-veteransCopy & paste – it may give you some insight into what our current Vets or recently released Vets are going through.

Poppy Report Respectfully submitted by Rob Gardner

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On Wednesday January 30th., 2019 Branch 25 presented ARCH with a cheque for $24, 848.02 for the new Paedatric section. L-R above is: Poppy Co-Chair Comrade Orville Halverson; Poppy Chair Comrade Rob Gardner; Poppy room personnel Elane Turner; Theresa Mudge, Executive Director; Julie Premo, Manager of Support Service; Jen Woods, Registered Practical Nurse; Bree Bennett, Marketing and Events Associate; Comrade President Wilma J. Oliver; Poppy room personnel Comrades Gwen Dinsdale and Ann Robichaud.

Reports Respectfully submitted by Mary Anne Martin

Sick & Visiting – The goody bags for January have been delivered to the nursing homes. My heartfelt thanks go out to my delivery volunteers for going out in the extreme cold temperatures to get the job done.

Seniors – Both the matinee dances and carpet bowling continues through to May and our Grand Finale.

Entertainment - The Saturday Band line-up for February is as follows:

2nd. Full Circle 9th. Dusty Roads16th. R.F. Wave 23rd. Full Circle

There will be free draws on the 16th. Please remember that you must be in the lounge to win.

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Bursary – Respectfully submitted by Warren Pihlaja

Bursaries are available to: Veterans, their children or grandchildren. Branch Associate members and their children ONLY.Please be aware that anyone intending to apply for the Legion Bursary needs to have their paperwork in to Ontario Command before the last Friday in March. The Bursary is worth $750, but if you don’t fill out the application and send it off in time, you don’t have the chance to get it.

Membership– Respectfully submitted by Helen Stewart

Our membership base keeps growing!

We need all of our members’ to support the Branch in any way they can. Remember our oath ‘to be true to the purposes and the objects of the Royal Canadian Legion’.

On a different front – I have been told twice now that people are receiving ‘phishy’ e-mails from the Branch. If the subject matter does not say something you recognize, or if the e-mail address it comes from is not ours, please double delete these. I don’t believe we have been hacked, but there is certainly something ‘phishy’ going on – better safe than sorry.

Track & Field and Cadet Report – Respectfully submitted by Pierre Breckenridge

Track & Field – no report8

Cadets – The units were involved in the Area Biathlon Competition this past weekend. The temperatures were challenging for the Cadets and staff. We were able to run the race on Saturday but with Sunday temperatures running around minus 33, factoring the wind chill, it had to be cancelled.46 Sea, 2310 Army and 155 Air units along with 19 other units from all over Northern Ontario competed to earn a chance to advance to the Provincial competition in February.Two cadets from 2310 Army advanced to the Provincials by winning gold in the open girls team competition.MWO C.Breckenridge also won Gold as the fastest Sr. Girl which MWO K. Marcil won Silver in the youth girls race. We wish them luck as they prepare for the Regional competition.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize the good work the staff and volunteers are doing at the Newman Navy League Corps. They are doing a great job of rebuilding the unit and the numbers are on the rise. Keep up the good work and thanks to all that are contributing.

Congratulations to all of our biathletes! Junior Boys: Cpl Gallant 11th, Cpl Beckett 28th out of 45 competitors.Junior Girls: Cdt Ettinger 24th out of 33 competitors.Senior Boys: LCpl Wilson 15th out of 30 competitors.Senior Girls: MWO Breckenridge 1st place.

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Youth Girls: MWO Marcil 2nd place. Youth Boys: MWO Beckett 4th place.

Team Results: Junior Boys placed 6th. Open Boys placed 5th. Open Girls placed 1st.

Advancing to the Regional (Provincial) Competition are MWOs Breckenridge and Marcil!

Below: LCdr. Rob Pihlaja, presented individual medals to MWO Marcil, second from right. The other 2 competitors are not local and their names are unknown.

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Again, with LCdr. Rob Pihlaja extreme right is MWO Breckenridge

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LCol. McNeil, RCSU Chief Training Officer/DCO from Borden, stands with the gold medal relay teams (to right of LCOl. McNeil is MWOs Marcil and Breckenridge).

Building & Sports – Respectfully submitted by Rick PihlajaBuilding – we have now 4 quotes to repair the back stairs and treads. We will notify the winning bidder shortly and have that repair up and going if the members vote in favour.

Sports – Branch 25 hosted District Darts on Saturday January 19th. There were 80 dart players – all ready and willing to go to the next step.

We thank Branch 25’s dart team for their continued success and their patience in playing in less than ideal conditions.

Winners of this event were:

Teams – Tim SchryerTom VanHoofChad Bowan

Darcy StewartDoubles - Tim Schryer

Tom VanHoofSingles - Tom VanHoof

Congratulations! This means that Branch 25 will be hosting District Darts again January 18, 2020.

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Anyone out there interested in a Legion cribbage night? We are thinking Tuesday nights in the Lounge. Open to everyone, but only Legion members can move to competition. Let us know what you think so we can make it work for you.

Youth Education Respectfully submitted by Pat Vardy

You are Invited toRoyal Canadian Legion

Branch 25’sPUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST

ALL Elementary andHigh School students

Are invited to take their school oralTo the next level

On Saturday February 23, 2019

Here at the BranchYou don’t have to win at the school level

NORDo you have to speak at the school level

To participate

Pre-Registration is appreciated – call 705-945-8721

There is an attachment to the Dispatch explaining the rules and offering up a registration form. Please spread the word.

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This is the time where we ask for assistance in ‘grading’ the speakers. We need English and French adjudicators. Please contact the office if you are available.

LAST POST – WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Veteran Bill HarrisVeteran Helen Simms

Veteran Helen MacDonald

Wishing our February Veterans Happy Birthday

James McGrath, Mel Mizzi, Ron Wilson, J.P. Greely, Bill Huckson, Brian Miron, Laurie MacKenzie. L.G. Gorman, M.A. Smith, Tammy Guay.

Pierre Breckenridge, A. E. Darlow, Rick Thorold, Brian Holmberg, Peter Petainen.

January Monthly Draw Winners

$2000 – Noreen Mason – Ticket # 5314$1000 – M. Buckley – Ticket # 3923$500 – Peter Bonin – Ticket # 3279

CONGRATULATIONS!!

January 2019 winners of calendar lottery

Lyle Diotte, Chris Smith, Catherine Stewart, Mel Andreola, Lorrie Sawchyn, Holly Ann Bernard, Eddy

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Pigeau, Cory Laframboise, Evelyn Lewis, Patricia & Carl Falls, Rob Rancourt, Kenny Frigault, Sara Tessier, Debbie Smeltzer, Elsie Rainbird, Laura & Mike McKinnon, Jan Suurna, Shawn Morreau, Brenda & Ray Sartor, Leonard Hunter, Jean Louis Nicol, Helene Henderson, Heidi St. John, Steve Harnden, Ingo Weber, Phil & Kathie Zuccato, Maria DiTommaso, George P. Patterson, Sue Nicolak, Dorland Seppala.

**NEW** Legion HapKiDo

New Classes are Forming Now – Register Mondays between 5:30 and 7:30 pm at the Branch.

Learn:Self-defense

FitnessBully proofing

Character buildingSelf esteemCompetition

FunSeniors and adultsKids age eight & up

Awesome family rates

If your child or grandchild lacks self-esteem, is being bullied, or hangs around with the wrong people, you can’t afford to ignore it…you need to take action!Special rates for joining the Legion.To date, we have brought in 2 new members.

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We are also having a fundraiser here at the Branch on Friday February 22nd., and would invite everyone to purchase a ticket and come out to support the Branch. Tickets are:

DON’T FORGET W E STILL COLLECT

1. Pop Tabs: Every tab you bring in is gratefully received. Please continue to bring them.2. Pop cans for the Shriners to compact and sell the scrap metal for donations to their children’s hospital projects.3. Canadian Tire Money is used for the children’s Christmas Party.4 Used eyeglasses are shipped to third world countries along with used hearing aids.

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Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 - 5:30 pmLegion Hall, 96 Great Northern Road

Stag and Doe Fund Raiser

Proceeds to purchase safety equipment for theLegion Hap Ki Do Club

Pasta and Meatball Dinner - Cash Bar - Tickets $25.00

Door prize, Games, Raffle, Martial Arts Demonstration

5. Lock City Milk Bags. All of the money must be used for youth activities so we basically use it for our children’s Christmas party.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – February 24th., 2019 – 9:30 am – Noon

THE LADIES AUXILIARY FAMILY PASTA SUPPER on Wednesday February 27th. from 5pm – 7 pm

Interesting but Useless February

Information

Like we have any more drawer space in our brains for this, but maybe there is something here that will make you say hmmmmmmm!

1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

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Before 2002, Super Bowl Sunday was held the last Sunday in January, but since 2002 it is more commonly held the first Sunday in February.

Groundhog Day, celebrated on February 2, came about because of a German superstition. The first Groundhog Day was observed in Punxsutawney, PA in 1887.

1884 – the Oxford Dictionary debuted. (ask any kid now what a dictionary is)

The coldest weather ever recorded in North America was at Snag, Yukon -63 C or -81 F.

1957 Smith-Corona began selling portable electric typewriters. (A what??)

In the year 278 – Valentine, a priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was beheaded for performing (illegal at the time) marriage ceremonies.

1929 – Sir Alexander Fleming left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, and noticed the mold had killed much of the bacteria. He identified the mold as penicillium notatum, shortened to Penicillin.

Two Thirds of a Pun - PU

1. Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead racoons. The stewardess looks at them and says, “ sorry gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger”

2. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time which produced an impressive set of callouses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he

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suffered from bad breath. This made him (you ready for this)

A super calloused fragile mystic hexed with halitosis.

3. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, “Dam!”

4. These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to “persuade” them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he’d be back if they didn’t close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that:

Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused

Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. “but why?” they asked, as they moved off. “Because”, he said, “I can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer”.

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7. There was this person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Hope these brought you some chuckles!!

Happy Valentine’s Day

2017-2019 Officers/Executive & Committee Chair

President – Wilma OliverPast President– Marilyn Isaacson

1st. Vice/ Sgt. @ Arms & Honours & Awards and T.O.D. – Ernie Bremner

2nd. Vice – Ron Rouleau – Service Officer & Museum Curator

3rd. Vice – Wm. Bennett – Cenotaph & Donation ReviewSecretary/Poppy Chair – Rob Gardner

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Srs/Entert/Sick & Visiting – Mary Anne MartinTreasurer – Carol Piper

Youth Education – Pat VardyBranch Padre(s) Rev. Phil Miller

Capt. Pat VardyMrs. Helen Smith

Bar Chair – NONEBuilding & Mtce. and Sports – Rick Pihlaja

Bursary – Warren PihlajaMembership – Helen Stewart

PRO – Debbie RouleauT&F and Cadet Liaison – Pierre Breckenridge

Burial – Elane TurnerWays & Means – Betty Irvine

If there is anything any one of us can do, please do not hesitate to contact the office (705-945-8721). The Legion is here to help, please help us to do that.

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