MINUTES OF THE ZONE EUROPE MEETING HELD AT

BRANCH 005 IN APELDEOORN ON 02 OCT 2004

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Motion Carried

Motion Carried

OLD BUSINESS

29 AUG 2004 BRANCH 003 CEREMONY AT DE LA HAYE, MEMORIAL IN BELGIUM

6. Val and Elizabeth gave the members a briefing of the ceremony that went very well with the Branch Colour Party and members in attendance. The ceremony commenced with a church service followed by a march to the town memorial in the village where wreaths were laid and a final ceremony at the crash site monument. Two veterans of 77 Squadron from England were present for the occasion.

05 SEP THE CEREMONY AT THE MOORBRUGGE MEMORIAL IN BELGIUM

7. The President of Branch 003 with the Belgium members provided a Colour Party for this ceremony. According to reports from the Belgium members the ceremony went very well. The ceremony commenced with a church service in the village church followed by the Colour Party and Legion members leading the procession to the monument on the other side of the Gent-Brugge canal. The ceremony took place commemorating those who lost their lives during the first fighting in Belgium on this date 60 years ago.

8. A special thank you to Iris & Daniel Van Landschoot, two of our Belgium members for their dedicated service in arranging everything in Belgium including organizing members for the Colour Party.

11 & 12 SEP 2004 THE ANNUAL LIBERATION OF BELGIUM CEREMONIES

9. Members from all the Branches were represented at these ceremonies where accommodations were arranged at the Military Naval Station near Brugge. On Saturday at 0900 hours we provided a Colour Party for the ceremony at Moerbrugge which started off the Operation Switchback March and a dedication ceremony at the Memorial. Following this ceremony we attended the unveiling of a small plaque in the village centre. At 1100 hours we provided a Colour Party at the monument at Moerkerke a village on the Leopold Canal. Present at this ceremony was a group of Canadian Veterans from across Canada. In the afternoon we went to a reception held in honour of the visiting Canadian Veterans. We provided a flag party to march the Veterans along with a pipe band into the reception area. At 1900 hours we attended another ceremony in Brugge ending what was a long day.

10. Sunday at 1000 hours we provided a Colour Party of three Branches for the Liberation of Belgium Ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adagem. We were honoured once again with a piper to lead the Canadian Veterans into the cemetery. HRH Prince Filip of Belgium was the guest of honour and the highlight of the ceremony had to be when the Prince made a walk about and spoke with each of the visiting Canadian Veterans. The other notable highlight was the number of young people present at the ceremony and the school children who lay flowers at the cross of remembrance. Following the ceremony there was a reception at the community centre in Adegem.

11. The Acting Zone Commander once again accredited the success of the weekend activities to the efforts of Iris & Daniel Van Landschoot for the arrangements made in Belgium. Everything from accommodations to escorting us from one location to the other ensuring we arrived at the right place and on time. They even managed to get a local cafeteria to open early on Sunday morning to serve us breakfast prior to the Ceremony.

NEW BUSINESS

SUNDAY 03 OCTOBER 2004 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WILL HOLD THEIR ANNUAL 450 CEREMONY AT BENSCHOP, JUST SOUTHWEST OF UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS.

12. The instructions for this ceremony went out to all Branches at the last Zone meeting. We are here so I have little more to add at this time since the ceremony takes place tomorrow. The protocol for tomorrow's ceremony and activities are included in your handouts. Since we are accommodated in two different military locations here in the Netherlands we will meet tomorrow at noon in Benschop.

13. Since the 450 is a Royal British Legion Ceremony we do not want to dominate by having a full Colour Party from each Branch so Branch 005 will provide the Colour Party and the remainder will carry only the Branch Flag.

06 & 07 NOVEMBER THE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES AT BEAUMONT-HAMEL AND VIMY.

14. The instructions for these two ceremonies I have included in the handouts to the Branches along with a sign-up sheet of those members wishing to attend. I want to know from each Branch not later that Monday 18 Oct 2004 who will attend these ceremonies. I will elaborate further on this situation when we discuss accommodation arrangements for Zone Events.

BRANCH REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES.

15. This item can be part of the Report by Branches later in the agenda.

ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR ZONE EVENTS

16. At the first Zone meeting each year Zone provides a Schedule of Events Calendar which is amended accordingly, as information becomes available. A copy of this schedule should be posted in your Legion Branches and discussed at your Branch General Meetings. Even at this early stage members at that time should know the events they can or can not attend. Presidents should have a good idea, which of your members attend ceremonies I see a lot of the same people at these ceremonies. If the member works it means that in most cases he has to apply for time off work which would tell you in lots of time if the member is going to attend the ceremony.

17. In plenty of time prior to the event Zone forwards a ceremonial instruction for the specific event along with sign-up sheet. The problem is that most Branches fail to give Zone the information requested in a timely manner to make accommodation arrangements. To eliminate this problem in the future Branches are hear by advised that Zone will include a cut off date for returns from the Branches as part of the ceremonial instruction. After this date it doesn't mean you can not attend the ceremony but either the member or the Branch will be responsible for making all arrangements including financial support.

18. We have been very fortunate in the past when travelling to ceremonies in Belgium, France and the Netherlands that the Military would provide us with accommodations. This is about to change since these countries have fazed out national service and as they like to say have now a professional military all the old run down military establishments are closing even the Kaserne in Ede will be fazed out by the end of the year. This means now we will have to provide hotel rooms for most of the trips putting further restraints on our small budget. This development adds to the importance of having the correct information from the Branches when organising these trips.

19. This weekend trip to the Netherlands is an example of how difficult it is becoming to find military accommodations. Zone had to put a restriction on the number of members who could attend because there simply was not enough rooms available for all those who originally had signed up to attend. The Acting Zone Commander thanked Branch 005 for their persistence in arranging accommodations and providing us with what was available under the circumstances.

COLOUR PARTY AND CEREMONIAL DRILL

20. The Acting Zone Commander explained that he is not dissatisfied with anyone performance taking part in the Colour Party but there are a few things I would like to bring to everyone's attention. In today's world when we do a ceremony in the morning here in Europe all of Canada watches it on the 6 O'clock news that afternoon so it's important for our Colour Party to look sharp and do the drill movements together. With that the Acting Zone Commander gave a demonstration of the flag drill movements.

REPORT BY BRANCHES.

21. Branch 001 - Comrade Harry Irish reported that the Branch is doing very well with good attendance at barbecues, raffles and cribbage tournaments which the branch will continue to have. They have noticed with pleasure the Branch is being accepted by the community in a more positive way and the plan for the future is to get more involved as an organisation in community projects. The Branch Remembrance Day will be held on 11 November commencing with a church service in the village church. The actual ceremony will take place in the Canadian section of the local cemetery. Military members from Heidelberg, Ramstein and Geilenkirchen have indicated they will attend. A reception will take place in the Legion clubhouse following the ceremony.

22. Branch 002 - Comrade Ray Robbins reported the summer months were quiet but they managed to keep good attendance at their bingo's. The Branch will hold their Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Canadian section of the Lahr Berg Cemetery. The Mayor of Lahr has indicated he will be there to lay a wreath on behalf of the city. Plans are in the making for a special turkey bingo before Christmas.

23. Branch 003 - Comrade Frank Maher introduced Dan Gates as their new Sgt-At-Arms. Dan since arriving this summer has also set up a Branch Webpage that can be accessed at www.geocities.com/gklegion/index.htm where they have a special monthly calendar of events so anyone wishing to know what is going on at the Branch can easily get the information. The Branch Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place in conjunction with the military on 07 November 2004 at the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek, the Netherlands. Members of the Branch will also with a Colour Party attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony on 11 November with the Royal British Legion at Rheindahlen. A Halloween dance is scheduled for 30 October with Christmas and New Year activities in the planning.

24. Branch 004 - Comrade Rorie Tryhorn said the Branch took a summer break and is now back in operation and also having good turnout at bingo. The Branch plans a special Christmas bingo on 04 December and a Christmas party on 11 December every one is welcome all you have to do is bring a Xmas gift and you will go home with one. The Branch is getting good support from the local community. The Branch Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held on 11 November at the new Memorial that has been erected by the Post War Military Graves Project in the Kippenheim cemetery.

25. Branch 005 - Comrade Ben Zonnenberg said that membership in the Branch is still growing steadily. The problem at the moment is they don't yet have a clubhouse although there is negotiations going on at this time and it looks positive so in the near future they hope to have a place to call home. The other problem is that members a spread all over the Netherlands so to get together means a fair distance to travel for some. There is a social evening planned for 23 October where everyone is invited to spend the afternoon and evening followed by a Royal Tour after breakfast the next morning. The Branch plans to hold a Literary Contest in the Netherlands much the same that is done in Canada. They will first hold it in a couple of the provinces and if successful will expand as it develops. They will hold a Remembrance Day service on the 11 November either at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek or in Apeldoorn.

OPEN DISCUSSION

26. The Acting Zone Commander opened this session by saying he hates to keep harping on membership but until we get it right I am afraid I will be on the subject. I should not have to remind you that in order to be a member of the Royal Canadian Legion you must be registered at Dominion Command. Paying membership dues to the Branch and receiving a membership card does not make the person a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Once again, if you are not registered at Dominion Command you are not a member in good standing and it will result in the member loosing years of continuous service.

27. The Acting Zone Commander receives a report from Dominion Command called the Membership Register, which is a list by name and by Branches of the Zone Membership. All Branches have a fair number of members with many years of continuous service who are not paid members for 2004, could this be an oversight of the membership chairperson? All Branches have quite a few members in the Affiliate non-voting category with a fair number of year's continuous service. These members after two years service can become Affiliate Voting Members if you send in a change of status form. Presidents are once again requested to sit with your membership chairperson and sort out your Branch membership.

28. In preparation for next years schedule of events the Acting Zone Commander contacted the Director of Vimy, Al Puxley to inquire if he planed to have a ceremony on 09 April that may require a Colour Party to be present since the Canadian Government has officially sanctioned the 09 April as Vimy Ridge Day - "National Day of Remembrance" to commemorate this famous battle where Canadians done what others could not; capture Vimy Ridge.

29. His response was that so far this event has not meant a lot in terms of what we are able to do here in France. The first year it went virtually unnoticed as the announcement was made only four days before the date. Last year I did have a very small ceremony, with only about 40 people attending, most of them were staff, guides, and visitors, but certainly nothing as elaborate as we do in the fall. I am doubtful that this will change a lot. The focus seems to be on events in Canada.

30. The 1st Vice President of Branch 005 believes she is missing 2 years continuous service probably due to the fact that when she joined she was in the Affiliate-Non-Voting category and when she became an Affiliate -Voting member her time of service started over.

Acting Zone Commander to Action.

31. Branch 003 raised an observation that when we are at a ceremony there should be only one person in charge and not have two or three other people getting involved in giving orders.

Acting Zone Commander to Action.

32. Branch 005 is still having a problem with Dutch Citizens claiming to be a member of a Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Canada. These individuals produce a membership card from a Branch in Canada and say why should we join your Branch when we are already members! Apparently these particular people have no problem with being a member of Branch 005 but since they consider themselves members of a Branch in Canada what's the problem.

Acting Zone Commander to Action

MOTION TO ADJOURN

33. There being no further business to discuss a motion was made by Comrade Val Laucke and seconded by Comrade Cam Audet that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 1530 hours.

Motion Carried

The next Zone Meeting is scheduled for Saturday 29 January 2005 at 1400 hours at Branch 004 in Kippenheim.

Annex “A”

1. Copy of the meeting agenda.

2. Minutes of the Last Zone meeting 24 Jul 04.

3. Copy of the Zone Financial Statement, 25 Jul 04 to 29 Sep 2004.

4. Dominion Command Membership Summary, Zone Europe by Branches.

5. Summary of Monthly Contribution to Zone by Branches.

6. Itinerary for the 450 Ceremony 03 Oct 2004

7. Beaumont-Hamel & Vimy Ceremony 06 & 07 Nov 2004