MINUTES OF THE ZONE MEETING HELD AT

BRANCH 001 IN SÖLLINGEN

ON SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2008

In Attendance:

Zone                                      Zone Commander                                          Reg Bonnar

                                             Deputy Zone Commander                              Girard Lemay

                                             Sgt-at-Arms                                                  Jocelyn Gelinas

                                                                                                                 

Branch 001                            President                                                       Kevin Grainger

                                             2nd Vice President                                          Stew Merlin

                                             Membership                                                  Cam Audet

                                             Treasurer                                                      Geoff Sanger

                                             Secretary                                                      Byng Giraud           

                                                                                                                 

Branch 002                            President                                                       Bill Fairley

                                             Past President                                               Alfons Deguire

                                             1st Vice President                                          Ken Gardiner

                                             2nd Vice President                                          Franz Leppla

                                                                                                                 

Branch 003                            Branch Representative                                   Val Corbeil

                                                                                                                       

Branch 004                            President                                                       Gaetan Bienvenue

                                             1st Vice President                                          Harry Irish

                                             Treasurer                                                      Erika Bienvenue

                                            

Branch 005                            President                                                       Marga Timmerman

                                             Secretary                                                      Bob Veenstra

                                             Sgt-at-Arms                                                  Hendrik Kuiper

Observer Members in Attendance:

Branch 001                            Member                                                        Heinz Birnesser

                                             Member                                                        John Wallace

                                            

Branch 004                            Member                                                        Irma Irish

                                            

Branch 005                            Member                                                        Hans Dob

                                            

Item                                                               Description

Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Zone Commander distributed to each Branch an information folder. The contents of the folder will be listed as Annex A.

1.      The Zone Commander opened the meeting at 1400 hours by welcoming all in attendance and stated before we begin with the business of this meeting we will pause for a few moments and reflect on the life of Comrade Thomas (Andy) Andrews who passed away on 18 April 2008 .

The Zone Commander thanked all members for their participation at the memorial service. There was an exceptional turn out of members from all over Europe Belgium, France , The Netherlands and Germany . Work colleges from the former Canadian Forces Base Lahr and local community members it was estimated approximately seventy people attended the service. Thanks was extended to Branch 001 for the colour party and a special thanks to Comrade John Wallace for the excellent eulogy. Collectively you all have done him proud. A reception was held at Branch 002 following the service.

Following the elections we have a number of new executive members with us today so it is appropriate to introduce everyone. The Zone Commander introduced the head table and asked the others to stand in succession and introduce themselves by name and executive position if applicable.

Continuing his opening remarks he gave an update on the condition of our last remaining war veterans in the Lahr area.

George MacMullen; George although confined to a wheelchair continues to do well; he is in good humour and alert. The Zone Commander said there are a lot of horror stories about care facilities for the elderly but he is pleased with the way George is being treated and cared for in this facility.

 2.      The Deputy Zone Commander read the minutes of the last Zone Meeting held at Branch 002 in Reichenbach on 26 January 2008 .

There being no observations of errors or omissions to the report a motion to adopt the minutes as presented was made by Comrade Ken Gardiner and seconded by Comrade Josh Gelinas.

Motion Carried

3.   The Zone Financial Statement was reviewed. There being no observations raised the financial statement was adopted as presented by Comrade Kevin Grainger and seconded by Comrade Geatan Bienvenue.

Motion Carried

Old Business

4.   Elections

All Branches have had successful elections. The Zone Commander extended his congratulations to Branch Executive Members and wished them all a successful term of office.

5.   Langenwinkel Celebration

The theme of the celebration was “before and present day” since Canadians made up more that one third of the population of Langenwinkel for about 30 years they wanted some Canadian participation so we attend with members from the Lahr and Baden Area. Members marched the colours on stage while a bagpiper done a routine Comrade Jacques Cote done commentary about the Royal Canadian Legion which was well received by the community.

New Business

6.       4-5 May Liberation of the Netherlands Ceremonies

The Zone Commander gave a briefing of events that we will participate in during our visit to the Netherlands .

On Sunday 4 May we will depart Ede at 0730 hours have breakfast on route to Holten. Arrive at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten at approximately 1000 hours. Ceremony will commence at 1100 hours. Branch 005 will provide the Colour Party. Other members are to be prepared to take part in the Colour Party if necessary. Other branches who wish to include their branch banners as part of the Colour Party at this ceremony are welcome to do so. Following the ceremony in Holten we will visit the club house of Branch 005 in the town of Lochem where we will have lunch and spent a few hours with our host and the proprietor’s Comrades Yvonne and Berry Swarthoff.

At approximately 1600 hours on our way to Apeldoorn we will stop in Wilp to meet with the PPCLI RE-Enactment Group who will be setting up camp for there annual event of remembering the struggle of the PPCLI that liberated this area. Dressed in PPCLI uniforms and with many vehicles, tents, a good old army kitchen and weapons of that time through displays and re-enactment keep alive the battles which the PPCLI had in clearing the area and getting across the Ijssel River on their way north to Groningen .

At 1900 hours by invitation from the mayor of Apeldoorn Comrade Fred De Graaf we will met at the city hall and take part in the silent march and wreath laying ceremony at the memorial located in the near by city park. Following a short reception at city hall we head back to Ede for a late supper.

On Monday 5 May we will participate at the parade in Wageningen for the annual National Commemoration Capitulations 1945 Ceremony. We are in cluster 5 behind Piet and his band. Hendrik will form the Colour Party with members present. Although the parade takes place around 1500 hours we should be in Wageningen by 1000 hours or you will find no place to park. Final details will be discussed on arrival in the Netherlands .

7.   4 May Branch 003 Annual Ceremony at Hotten and Bure in Belgium

The ceremony will take place with final details forth coming.

8.   7-8 Jun Branch 004 Ceremony in Werl

The president of Branch 004 will include this item in his report by branches later in the agenda.

9.   Dominion Convention

Prior to the last zone meeting the Zone Commander requested the Branch Credential Certificates be forwarded to him or at the very latest to bring them for presentation at the meeting. Since that time the Zone Commander again requested them to date he is still waiting. Obviously you don’t understand the importance of the credential certificates without them we are unable to represent your branch and we will have no voting rights at the convention. The Zone Commander ordered the Sgt-at-Arms to lock all doors and no one leaves until he has the credential certificates completed by the branches.

10. 1 July Beaumont-Hamel Memorial Service

Prior to the Zone Commanders departure to Canada he will organize the trip. Accommodations have already been tentatively booked at the Hotel Campanile in Arras . Our Sgt-at-Arms will finalize bookings etc. I request Branches to submit your list of names not later than 24 May 2008 . The Zone Commander arrives back from the convention on 27 June and plans to attend the ceremony but will need a ride with someone.

11.  Branches Canada Day Celebrations

This item will be covered under report by Branches later in the agenda.

12.  19 July Nijmegen March Ceremony

Branch 005 will provide a Colour Party for the ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek in support of the Canadian Contingent that participates in the Nijmegen March. As in the past if members wish to attend this ceremony be there early or you will have no chance of getting to the cemetery.

13.  Poppies and Wreaths

The Zone Commander has been in touch with Dominion Command Supply requesting a shipment of poppies and wreaths. Without the use of the military CFPO forwarding address it becomes a very expensive venture. Given the nature of this request and the support the Legion gives to the military during their annual remembrance ceremony in Groesbeek and others they would grant us the use of their forwarding agency if approached.

The Zone Commander sent a letter to the President of Branch 003 Sgt Brian Burchart to investigate the possibility of using the CFPO services through base military channels. The result of the enquiry is that the Base supports our request and are grateful of the support provided by the Royal Canadian Legion but the actual legal approval would have to be made through an official request to J4 Post, Lieutenant Colonel G. Goyette. The interim solution suggested was the president will forward me names of service personnel not connected to the Legion and supply can post our shipment to them.

The Zone Commander now has a copy of the directive and will discuss the issue in further details with Dominion Command at the Dominion Convention.

14. Membership

The Zone Commander advised the Branch Presidents to sit with their membership chairperson and action any short comings that exist.

15.  Correspondence

Letter sent to the Belgium military requesting accommodations for 2008

Letter received from Sandra Arundell from England reference the Adegem burial (Attached)

Letter received from Ed Arundell from Canada reference the Adegem burial (Attached)

Letter received from the Hollett family from Newfoundland requesting information regarding the burial location of James Hollett. James was taken prisoner during the Napoleonic War and died in prison in Arras , France in 1811. Personally I thought chances would be slim given the time and two more wars pounded the country since. I sent the request to Iris and Daniel Van Landschoot who made a trip to Arras and compiled an amazing amount of material, set up meeting places for the family who will visit in May. I am confident the family will find the location and they were grateful and quite overwhelmed with the material they received.

Other correspondence of importance is included in the handouts.

16.  Report by Branches

Branch 001; The Branch President Kevin Grainger thanked everyone on behalf of the branch for their participation at Andy’s memorial service and in particular members that travelled a long distance. He gave a special thanks to the Zone Commander for organizing the service and the reception that followed at branch 002. He believes the members are happy with the new branch location and they are getting excellent support and cooperation from the Gasthaus owner and staff. Normal branch activities are continuing as scheduled. As the newly elected president with several new executive members they are looking for a better future and will have a more thorough report at the next meeting.

Branch 002; The newly elected President Bill Fairley believes his biggest challenge will be to bring the membership together and back to the branch. He outlined several ideas with branch functions and trips as a possibility which he will table at the next executive meeting and present them at a general meeting in the near future. He as well will have a more detailed report at the next meeting.

Branch 03; The Branch Representative Val Corbeil presented a report on behalf of the president who was unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments. Val reviewed the executive members of the branch following elections. Branch revenues are down slightly most likely because of the no smoking policy but hopefully it will be a temporary situation. The branch, however, continues to have a good turnout for events first Friday of the month chicken wings second Saturday Texas Poker and other planned events. Branch expenses are up considerably due to the cost of heating oil. Reviewed the upcoming ceremonies and reported having at present 114 paid up members.

Branch 004; The President Gaetan Bienvenue gave a review of the branch elections and is looking forward to another successful term of office. On 5 April the branch had a successful turkey dinner with some 35 members in attendance. On 24 May the branch will have an open house commencing at 1730 hours at the Siedlerheim in Kippenheim menu will be Zigeuner Goulash with salad, spätzle and bread for €7.00 and everyone is welcome. Bingo will follow at 2000 hours. The Werl Ceremony on 7-8 June is organized and they are expecting a good turn out of members and several special guests will join them. We welcome the Royal British Legion Sauerland Branch will be there with their Branch Banner, The District Commander of the Royal British Legion Minden Branch will be in attendance with their Branch Banner and a Piper and The Canadian Military Attaché from Berlin Colonel Batista. The branch will host a Canada Day Celebration on 29 June at the Lake in Langenwinkel commencing at 1330 hours with a BBQ, drinks, games and prizes everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there.

Branch 005; The newly elected Branch President Marga Timmerman reported the branch had successful elections with a good turn out of members considering the membership is spread out all over the Netherlands. She named her executive and is looking forward to working with them. The branch is planning a five year celebration in August. Her objectives for the future are to increase membership and find a way to increase revenue of the branch. She said she enjoyed the meeting as a learning experience and a more detailed report will be presented at the next meeting.

17.  Open Discussion

The Zone Commander said concerning the “Last Post” section on the Zone Webpage that was discussed at the last meeting he has been able to do the entry for Branch 002 and has received a list from Branch 001. If other Branches would like to participate just forward the information. A sample is included in your handouts.

18.  Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business to discuss a motion was made by Comrade Bill Fairley and seconded by Comrade Marga Timmerman that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 1610 hours.

Note: The next Zone Meeting will be hosted by Branch 003 in Geilenkirchen on Saturday 2 6 July 2008 at 1400 hours.

Patrick Gaussiran

Zone Europe Secretary
 

Reg Bonnar

Zone Commander, Europe

Approved / Not Approved
 

Annex A to the

Minutes of the Zone Meeting

Held on 26 April 2008

Contents of the Folder,

Annex B to the

Minutes of the Zone Meeting

Held on 26 Apr 2008

Hello Reg,

 I have just read the account of the ceremonies at Moerbrugge and Adegem. Unfortunately my computer is playing up and I haven't managed to open all the photographs yet.

Once again I want to Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kindness you showed to myself, my sons and my cousin and his wife but mostly for the respect shown to my Mother and Father. Even as I write this e-mail I can feel a lump in my throat as I remember you all saluting my Father's headstone and laying your poppies there. The whole ceremony was beautiful and I really was not expecting anything like it!

Can we join the Legion? We would like to be part of it in some small way. Please let me know.

I hope to go back to Belgium sometime this year and renew some of the friendships I hope I made. Iris and Daniel (along with Romain) as you know found where my Father was first buried and I dearly want to visit the site myself. Also I intend bring my Father's uniform over and giving it to the museum.

I don't expect I will be lucky enough to meet up with any of my Legion Friends so would you please give them all my fondest Love. Maybe we will meet in 2009 when I hope to attend the ceremony in Adegem again.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

With Love and Thanks,

Sandra

(Arundell)

Annex C to the

Minutes of the Zone Meeting

Held on 26 Apr 2008

Just read the story on the burial at Adagem - god bless you all and our best wishes to all of your colleagues and friends. What a treasured memory.

I also hope yesterday’s budget with its $282 million over this and the next two years to expand the Veterans Independence Program may benefit some of you. Like most governments though, they probably got it wrong! There is always more we can do.

Elaine and I truly hope we can meet you all again some day.

Ed Arundell, President

Arundell Solutions Inc.

987 Vanier Drive

Mississauga , On,  L5H 3T8

Direct: (905) 609-0125

Home: (905) 891-2019

earundell@rogers.com

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