MINUTES OF THE ZONE MEETING HELD AT

BRANCH 001 IN SÖLLINGEN

ON SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2007

In Attendance:

Zone                                      Zone Commander                                          Reg Bonnar

                                             Deputy Zone Commander                              Gerard Lemay

                                             Zone Secretary                                              Patrick Gaussiran

                                                                                                                 

Branch 001                            President                                                       Mathew Guyea

                                             1st Vice President                                          Kevin Grainger

                                             2nd Vice President                                          Hanz Birnesser

                                             Treasurer                                                      Geffory Sanger

                                             Membership Chairman                                   Cam Audet

                                             Past President                                               John Wallace

                                            

Branch 002                            President                                                       Alfons Deguire

                                             1st Vice President                                          Bill Fairley

                                             2nd Vice President                                          Franz Leppla

                                             Secretary                                                      Rosemarie Miltner

Branch 003                            Past President                                               Frank Mahr

Branch 004                            Past President                                               Lasca Monrose

                                             2nd Vice President                                          Hubert Genswein

Branch 005                            President                                                       Ben Zonnnberg

                                             Treasurer                                                      Piet Polderdijk

                                             Sgt-at-Arms                                                  Hendrik Kuiper

Observer Members in Attendance:

Branch 001                            Member                                                        Trudy Hancock

Branch 002                            Member                                                        Frances Leppla

                                             Member                                                        Patrick Schütze

                                            

Branch 003                            Member                                                        Elisabeth Hine

Branch 004                            Member                                                        Harry Irish

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. The Zone Commander said that Geatain Bienvenue the president of Branch 004 is unable to be with us today. We are saddened to announce his daughter Diana has lost a long battle with cancer. Our condolence is extended to Geatain, his wife Erika and the family. Our thoughts will be with them in this time of their grievance and Gods Blessings.

Continuing his opening remarks the Zone Commander gave an update on the condition of our two remaining War Veterans in the Lahr area:

George MacMullen; George continues to do very well he is up and around and seems quite happy with his arrangements. I am pleased with the way he is being cared for in this facility.

Thomas J Andrews; Andy is not doing so well takes fluids and nourishment through tubes and is unable to eat and digest food through normal eating. Personally I have been unable to speak with him for some time since during my visits he is always asleep but his daughter Kate said he is recovering slowly.

2.       The Zone Secretary read the minutes of the last Zone Meeting held on 27 January, at Branch 004 in Kippenheim. There being no observation of errors or omissions the minutes were adopted as presented by Comrade Bill Fairley and was seconded by Comrade Kevin Grainger.

Motion Carried

3.       The financial statement was presented and there being no observations raised the financial statement was adopted as presented by Comrade Gerard Lemay and was seconded by Comrade Cam Audet.

Motion Carried

Old Business

9 Apr 2007 the Vimy Memorial Re-dedication Ceremony

4.   Other than what has become a normal SNAFU at ceremonies when VA Canada and Canadian Military are involved with organizing the ceremony the event went very well. The Canadian presence was outstanding highlighted by the attendance of students and cadets from across Canada .

The Zone Commander submitted a report to Dominion Command that summarized our concerns with the way in which we are treated at ceremonies and hopefully the issue of dipping our colours during ceremonies will be resolved in the future.

New Business

3-5 May 2007 Liberation of the Netherlands Ceremonies.

5.   The Zone Commander presented an itinerary for the ceremonies and activities in the Netherlands . Members from the Lahr and Baden area will travel to the Netherlands on Thursday 03 May where accommodation have been arranged at the Dutch Military Kaserne in Ede probably for the last time since this establishment will close in the near future.

0730 hrs Friday 04 May - If breakfast is available at the mess we will have breakfast and if not we will have breakfast in Apeldoorn on our way to Holten where we will take part in the Ceremony with a Colour Party at the Canadian War Cemetery at 1100 hours.

1300 hrs Friday 04 May - Following the ceremony in Holten we will visit Branch 005 at their clubhouse in Lochem for lunch.

1700 hrs Friday 04 May - If time permits on route to Apeldoorn we may stop in Wilp to meet our friends the PPCLI Re-enactment group that will be setting up camp.

1900 hrs Friday 04 May - we will participate in the Silent March and wreath laying ceremony at the monument in the city center of Apeldoorn . Following a short reception at the city hall with the mayor at approximately 2030 hrs we will return to Ede for supper.

0800 hrs Saturday 5 May - If the mess is not open we will have breakfast in Apeldoorn . Following breakfast we will travel to Wageningen and participate in the march with our band and Colour Party through the streets at 1400 hours. We are expecting a group of Canadian Veterans to join us for this march.

Sunday 6 May most members will travel home.

6 May ceremony at Oudenaarde , Belgium

6.   The town of Oudenaarde in Belgium are having a ceremony to commemorate their liberation by the Canadians and the soldiers that are buried there. In addition the crew of an aircraft that was shot down and crashed but avoided ditching the aircraft into the village. The pilot who survived the ordeal lives in Canada and will attend the ceremony as an honoured guest.

We are to meet at a police parking area in the town at 0930 hours. The ceremony will commence at 1000 hours with the mayors address followed by the unveiling of a new commemorative monument and a floral tribute to the Canadian graves.

To make this ceremony work the Zone Commander and small group of Legionnaires will depart for Belgium following the parade in Wageningen. Additional Colour Party members will be provided by our Belgium members.

24-27 May Dominion Command Visit to Europe

7.   The Zone Commander reported that the Dominion President Jack Frost with his wife Lynn and the Dominion Secretary Duane Daly and his wife Sharon will make a visit to Zone Europe. Unfortunately the visit is too short to visit all the European Branches. The Zone Commander also said he feels it is important that all Branches be represented during this visit and therefore Zone is prepared to support a small contingent of executive members from Branch 003 and Branch 005 to join us here in Lahr for this visit.

The Zone Commander will complete an itinerary for the visit following this meeting which will be forwarded to the Dominion Secretary in a separate letter.

Frequency of Zone Meetings

8.   The Zone Commander said it had been brought to his attention that as a cost saving measure and the fact that communications of our time is easy that perhaps four zone meetings a year was not necessary. In particular the meeting in January since very little happens from November to May that need to be discussed and the weather conditions at that time is not the best for travel.

     

The Zone Commander further added that communications is supposed to be a “two way street” he said he send information to the branches and often request information but never get a response! The Zone Commander said he was willing to compromise a decision with the Branches as to the number and frequency of Zone Meetings.

                                            

A debate took place with pros and cons being discussed. The Zone Commander then called for a vote to resolve the issue. It was unanimously agreed that four zone meeting and the dates of the meetings would continue.

Attendance at ceremonies

9.   The Zone Commander said that he is still receiving phone calls from members of branches who want to attend ceremonies. He said he does not decide who from a branch attends a ceremony that is entirely up to the president of your branch.

The policy was and will continue to be that the Zone Commander announces the ceremony and on occasion for financial purposes has to limit the number of members from each branch that can attend. The branch president will then send a list to Zone of members from the branch that will attend.

Wreaths

10. The wreath allotment for this year has arrived and is held at Branch 003 in Geilenkirchen. We meet often enough either at ceremonies or meetings that branches can arrange to have wreaths for their up coming ceremonies brought to them which worked previously so no need to change the system.

1 July Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Service

11.  Although the official invitation has not been received at this time as in previous years we will travel to Arras on Saturday 30 June and attend the ceremony on Sunday 1 July and return home Monday 2 July. Accommodations have been arranged at the Hotel Campainelle in Arras . Branches were advised to inform the Zone Commander of those wishing to attend not later that 8 June. Details of the event will be forwarded to the Branches when received and posted to the zone website.

5-19 July Dominion Command Pilgrimage of Remembrance

12.  The Zone Commander distributed a copy of the Dominion Command Pilgrimage of Remembrance to the Branches for information in case you should be in the area during their visit it would provide an excellent opportunity to meet visitors from Canada .

Correspondence

13. The Zone Commander sent a letter to Dominion Command requesting consideration of raising our annual grant to assist with our participation in ceremonies. Initial response has been positive and the request will be raised by our representative Comrade Mike Cook at the sub-executive committee in June.

The other letter of importance was the letter regarding our policy of dipping the colours at ceremonies which we have already discussed. No reply to date.

Report by Branches.

14.  Branch 001; The Mathew Guyea reported that in general the Branch is doing well. Activities and events are being kept to the minimum for this time of year but still getting members to support Bingos , Canada Day and Remembrance Day. In regards to Dominion Command visit Branch 001 would be honoured to host the guest in the Baden-Soellingen area and I request this be considered in the itinerary.

15.  Branch 002; The President Alfons Deguire reported that the Branch is doing well and finally the Branch is debt free. The branch had good representation at the Vimy Ceremony. Comrade Ken Gardiner is in the hospital recovering from an operation that removed a portion of his intestine. He is doing well and expected to be home in early May. The branch had a general meeting on 22 April and finally had a good turnout of members. It was approved at this meeting to replace our aging flags. Alfons also requested the names of members from other branches that will attend the function on the occasion of the Dominion Command visit. On 1 July most of the executive members of the branch will support the ceremony in Beaumont-Hamel so no official function will be held by the branch on Canada Day but his members have been invited to attend the Canada Day function with branch 004. Bingo’s are still popular and will continue every second Sunday. In the planning stages is Branch BBQ in June and July details will be announced.

16. Branch 03; The Past President Frank Mahr reported that he has been posted to CFB Cold Lake and will be returning home in July and this would probably be his last meeting. Branch elections were held recently and Comrade Brian Burchart has been elected as the new Branch President. There will be a new contact list made available with the names of the Branch 003 executive. In February the Branch held a fund raising event that was very successful and the money raised was donated to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan . The Branch is doing well.

17. Branch 004; The Past President Geatan Lasca Monrose reported that the Branch is doing well also financially as they finally have some money in their bank account. The Turkey dinner event in February had around 40 people attending. All present was reminded to join the BBQ and horse shoe tournament on 26 May starting at approximately 1500 hrs. This event that had been scheduled for months and is taking place same time as the Dominion Command visit so we hope many members will turn out to participate. The Werl Ceremony of Remembrance will take place on 16-17 June. Members from all Branches are welcome to attend so please confirm your participation for accommodation purposes. It was also remarked that Branch 004 sends out many invitations for their events and requested others Branches to schedule their own activities on alternate dates to allow interested members to attend as many events as possible.

18. Branch 005; The President Ben Zonnenberg reported that the Branch is doing well. The Branch supports and is present at a many ceremonies as possible. At the present time we have two members that are experiencing health problems and we wish them a speedy recovery. The Branch members and executive would like to see as many members from other European Branches as possible attending the May ceremonies and any other time you are always welcome visitors to the Netherlands .

Open Discussion

19.  The Zone Commander said the Clue family from Belgium have forwarded a request that all family members belong to the same Branch. The family wishes to belong to Branch 003 in Geilenkirchen since they attend the remembrance ceremony each year in Groesbeek and visit the branch. In honouring their request the Zone Commander requested that Branch 003 initiate the transfer of Christine and Martin Clue from Branch 002. Ernie Clue was also a member of Branch 002 in 2006 but apparently has not renewed his membership.

Meeting Adjournment

20.  There being no further business to discuss a motion was made by Comrade Rosemarie Miltner and seconded by Comrade Syd Phillips that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 1700 hours.

Note: The next Zone Meeting will be hosted by Branch 003 on Saturday 28 July at 1400 hours in Geilenkirchen.

Patrick Gaussiran

Zone Europe Secretary
 

Reg Bonnar

Zone Commander, Europe

Approved / Not Approved
 


Annex A to the

Minutes of the Zone Meeting

Held on 28 April 2007

Contents of the Folder,

Back to Minutes