FALL is COMING!

Updated September 14, 2016

     What do you think of when somebody says "fall"?  Well, you think of Fall Suppers, of course! The annual Fall Supper here at Branch #52, Stonewall, will be held on Sunday, October 16. This is a co-operative event, and we look forward to having participation from lots of our Members. Work Parties will be held in the Hall on October 14 and 15 at 9 a.m. to prepare for the supper.

     In case you didn't know, Shaw wifi is available at the Legion for those who are Shaw customers.

     The big news from August is that on August 31, 2016, our Chase the Queen event saw another big winner! The draw was worth $30487...congrats Denis and Karen. Denis picked the Queen of Clubs! The 50/50 was worth $2070.50.

     President Tim Williams commented:  Another successful 52 week run! Congratulations to Dennis and Karen on their win. Big thank you to all of the volunteers and patrons that keep coming back week after week to try their luck. Trying something new next week with 50% of the nights sales going into the pot and the individual that gets the opportunity to pick for the Queen will automatically win 10% of the nights sales and the Legion keeping 40% to give away as donations! Since we started in 2014, the lucky 7 individuals have won a combined total of $115,787! Hope to see you next week! And of course there is still the 50-50!

     Comrade Williams further commented that he wishes to thank the many people who worked so hard to pull off yet another successful Quarry Days Weekend! We could not do it without you-- all of you! Thanks are also extended to those who have volunteered to run our barbecues each Friday night throughout the summer season. Job well done! The last barbecue of the 2016 will be from 5:30-7 p.m. on September 23.

     Did you wonder what we do with all the money from our fundraising efforts? Check out our web page to see a list of the community groups and charities that we support every year. In addition, we undertake special projects from time to time. Thanks to the efforts of our many dedicated volunteers, we are able to help others. A project that we are hoping to start soon is to replace the 3 awfully uncomfortable gurneys in the ER Observation Room at our local hospital with proper  beds. We will be working very closely with hospital administration and staff on this endeavor.

     If you are wondering why your Membership Dues seem to be a bit higher than last year, it is because Dominion Command has raised their rates and we have to raise ours to cover the increase. Get your 2017 Membership by November 30, 2016 and have your name entered into the EARLY BIRD DRAW to win a FREE Membership for 2018! Don't wait! Don't procrastinate!
The new fees are as follows:
Early Bird for Members over 70 years old with 3 years service:  $35.00
Early Bird for Members under 70 years old:                                 $40.00
Regular Membership Renewal after Nov. 30/16:                           $45.00
Renewals are available at the Bar in the Club Room, or from the Secretary. If you qualify for the "over 70" discount, be sure to mention it!

Answering the Call, Honouring All Who Served

     The Stonewall Municipal Heritage Committee is seeking photos of local residents who served or are currently serving in the Canadian Forces, for inclusion in this year's Stonewall Remembers exhibit entitled "Answering the Call, Honouring All Who Served", from October 31- November 13, 2016.
     If you have any photos or artifacts you would be willing to share, please contact Catherine Precourt, Quarry Park Heritage Arts Centre, 204-467-7980; catherine@stonewall.ca

Here's what we will be doing down at the Legion in the next couple of months:

    

Sept. 2:  Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Sept. 9:  Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Sept. 13: Exec meeting 7, General meeting 8 pm

Sept. 16: Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Sept. 18-24:  Legion Week

Sept. 18:  Church parade on Sun Sep 18 at 10 am at the Catholic Church

Sept. 22:   Alzheimer Tea, including a presentation & Bake Sale

Sept. 23: Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Sept. 24:  Members’ Night at 7 p.m. in the Club Room; HALO JUMP is the band

Sept. 30: Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Oct 6:  Crib starts 7 p.m. sharp

Oct. 7:  Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Oct. 10: Thanksgiving; Club Room Closed

Oct.  11: Exec meeting 7, General meeting 8 pm

Oct. 14: Meat Draw 6:30-7:30; 50-50 8 pm

Oct. 16:  Annual Fall Supper in the Hall

Nov 5:  Vets Dinner and Dance; cocktails at 5:30, dinner at 6:30; the band FLASHBACKS starts at 8

Nov. 11:  Remembrance Day service in the Hall starts at 10:45 a.m., followed by refreshments

Dec. 3:  Breakfast with Santa in the Hall
Dec. 31: Celebrate New Year's Eve with the band CELEBRATIONS
Feb. 18:  Bonspiel Weekend entertainment in the Club Room with the band MARVELS

Reminders of Weekly Events    For further information, phone 204-467-2261

Bingo – Mon nights at 7 for the Early Birds

Seniors’ Bingo – Tues afternoons at 1:30

Chase the Queen – Wed evenings 7:30 – 8:30

Crib – Thursday nights at 7 sharp

Meat Draw – Friday nights starting at 6:30

It's Spring!

May 02, 2016

     Next month, June, will typically be the last General Meeting of the summer. General Meetings will resume on the second Tuesday in September.
     Here is what we expect to get up to in the next couple of months:

May 6   Meat Draws start at 6:30

May 7   Members Night  7 pm; Celebrations at 8

May 10  Exec Mtg 7 pm; General Mtg  8 pm

May 13  Meat Draws start at 6:30

May 20  Meat Draws start at 6:30

May 23  Victoria Day — Club Room Closed

May 27  Meat Draws start at 6:30

June 3  Meat Draws start at 6:30

June 5  Decoration Day; March off from the Legion at 1:30

June 10  Meat Draws start at 6:30

June 14  Exec Mtg 7 pm; General Mtg  8 pm

June 17  Meat Draws start at 6:30

June 24  Meat Draws start at 6:30

July 1  Canada Day — Club Room Closed

Reminders

Bingo – Mon nights at 7 for the Early Birds

Bingo – Tues afternoons at 1:30

Chase the Queen – Wed evenings 7:30 – 8:30

Crib – Thursday nights at 7 sharp

Meat Draw – Friday nights starting at 6:30

Here's something we can all get behind

The following appeared at Legion.ca. 
There is a lesson here for all of us. 
What can each and every one of us do to make OUR Branch more welcoming?

Every effort is being made at the Dominion, Provincial, Zone and Branch levels to recruit and retain Legion members. The media loves sounding the death knell for our organization, and we must fight it by working even harder at our membership numbers. We know many Branches have focused on this, ensuring their Branches stay welcoming, inclusive and relevant… and these Branches see growth because of this.

What we continue to struggle with is the reception people get at some of our Branches. We hear of experiences from across Canada that makes us cringe…

• An Ordinary member (in his forties) went for dinner at a Branch in a town where he was working temporarily. Upon entering, the entire place turned and stared at him, and not one person greeted him. He felt too awkward to stay, so he left.

• Another person attempted to join a Branch, and asked if he could be an Ordinary member as a Paramedic. He got a flat “No” and no one took the time to explain or offer information on any other category of membership. He left.

• A group of people belonging to a local softball club went to their Legion Branch after a game. Rather than taking what could have been a great opportunity for the Branch to welcome the team, tell them about the Legion and let them know about membership, a group of ‘regulars’ (members that occupy the same table each night) shouted at the team to remove their baseball caps the moment they walked in the door. The team turned around and left.

This kind of behaviour is creating a perception across the organization that is killing our efforts in welcoming potential new members. We must address this final and critical step of recruitment. For this organization to attract new members we must all, even the folks at “that table” in your Branch, be less grumpy. In fact, why are we not more like hosts?

Put bluntly, the Legion cannot survive on its current membership alone; to continue our mission of Remembrance, we must embrace those that walk through our doors, regardless of background, age, or profession. It’s time to get the grump out of the Legion!

Let’s start to get the word out about being a good host. Here are 6 ideas to assist your Branch in ways to welcome new or visiting people:

1. Agree that if there is any member of the Branch Executive in the Branch, that it is set up that that they watch for people who look out of place and uncomfortable, and greet them.

2. Put up a small dry erase board at the entrance that says: New to our Branch? We want to welcome you! The greeter of the day is: (name of volunteer) . Please ask for me.

3. Talk to the bartenders and servers to approach and welcome people when times are quiet. We hear stories of people being completely ignored by bar staff in some Branches. Not ok. Sometimes they are the first people that a new person would approach and they should be personable.

4. Understand that most people don’t really know how things work in our Branches or what activities are available in our locations. If we welcome our guests a bit better and make them feel comfortable with the Branch events, then it won’t be so intimidating to come in the next time – perhaps with another guest.

5. Having trouble getting a new member to come for their initiation ceremony? It should be done at a general meeting, but it doesn’t have to be. Invite them to an event, or even do it with a couple of Executives hosting their visit. Have an Executive member accompanying the new member at the meeting at which they are to be initiated and explain the initiation process in advance of the event – this could make a new member more comfortable; anything that forms the relationship helps.

6. Why not have some pin-on buttons made and ask some of your outgoing and pleasant members to wear a “host of the day” pin and have them welcome people? These are easy things that friendly people do well. Above all, deal firmly with the grouches and those members who “welcome” guests by yelling “remove your hat” – they are hurting your Branch.

We know that some Branches are doing an extraordinary job of being friendly and welcoming from the minute a guest opens the front door. So if you are doing it right and having success, or have good ideas to welcome your visitors, please share them with Dominion Command so we can start conversations across the organization.

Let’s show Canada just how friendly the Legion can be!