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Legion Dispatch
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| Forward this email to your Branch Executives, Committee Members and other members to keep them up-to-date on important updates and information.
| | All Branch emails are also available on the Member Services Website
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| In this edition – March 2020
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| Join your Comrades at Dominion Convention 2020! | | The Legion’s 48th Dominion Convention will be held in Saskatoon, SK from 22–27 August 2020. | | The Convention Call, mailed to every Branch, includes everything you need to know to help with your planning. This information is also available online. | | In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, Legion National Headquarters is developing a preparedness plan to address the potential operational impact on the 2020 Convention. We are continually monitoring Public
Health Agency of Canada for updates as they re-assess the situation throughout the country. At this time, Convention in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is taking place as planned. Should these updates necessitate a change
in our plans, immediate communication throughout the organization will occur. | | Please see the link below for more information and updates. | | View Convention Information ‣
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| Host a Legion OSI program at your Branch | | The Royal Canadian Legion Operational Stress Injury Special Section (Legion OSI) recently launched two programs aimed at supporting Veterans and their families: Buddy Check Coffee and Operation VetBuild. | | Buddy Check Coffee is a Veteran-run peer program offering comradeship in a relaxed environment, encouraging Veterans to connect and support each other. Operation VetBuild is a veteran-to-veteran peer support program
that incorporates hobbies such as plastic scale model building as a means to alleviate the symptoms of OSIs and PTSD. Watch this video to learn more.
| | Legion OSI is looking for Branches and members to host and coordinate these programs for Veterans in their community. For information, contact:
| | Buddy Coffee Check: chris.richardson@bsovetsosi.com or joe.elliott@bsovetsosi.com
| | Operation VetBuild: ovb@bsovetsosi.com
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| Host a 2022 Member Sports Championship | The Dominion Command Sports Committee is calling for Branch applications to host any one of the 2022 Dominion Member Sports Championships:
- Cribbage: Friday 22 April – Monday 25 April 2022
- Darts: Friday 29 April – Monday 2 May 2022
- Eight Ball: Friday 27 May – Monday 30 May 2022
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| The application deadline to Provincial Commands is July 31, 2020.
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| Facebook Town Hall with the Legion Dominion President | | Have you heard? Dominion President, Thomas D. Irvine, CD, will be conducting a Q&A session live-streamed on Facebook on April 27, 2:00-3:00 pm EST. Don't miss your chance to get your questions answered by Tom,
along with Dominion Command Senior Executive Officers and Committee Chairs. | | Submit your questions to townhall@legion.ca by April 23 at midnight and tune in on April 27 for the live Q&A here:
Facebook.com/CanadianLegion. | | RSVP here to ensure you get a Facebook reminder of the event! |
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| Branch Membership Administration | | Resources and tips to support your Membership Chair. | | Branches can login to portal.legion.ca with the username and password provided. | | View members who renewed online | | Over 30,000 members have renewed their membership online. Membership Chairs can check to see if their members have renewed online by logging in to their Branch home page on the Member Services Website and clicking on Reports under ‘IN THIS SECTION’. Open the report titled Membership – Branch Online Member Reports.
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| Get access to Marketing and PR resources |
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 | | Marketing
| | Get your custom Branch logo
|  | | Legion Headquarters can assist Branches in adding their Branch number and town or city to the Legion logo, for use on websites, posters and more. Simply email marketing@legion.ca with your Branch number and Branch town or city. We will then develop the logo and provide your Branch
with an .ai file and a .jpg file.
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 | | PR Tip of the Month
| | Spelling and grammar count
| | There’s nothing like the first impression that comes from poor spelling or grammar. Ideally, important internal or external communications or advertisements are first proofread
by a colleague or other professional. Your Legion communications reflect the Legion as a whole.
| | Have questions or need advice? Contact your Command Public Relations Officer or Nujma Bond, Dominion Command Communications at nbond@legion.ca.
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| Your Legion calendar: April – May 2020 | | Promote important dates and organize activities at your Branch with this list of upcoming days that raise awareness of an issue, commemorate a group or event, or celebrate an important topic. | | DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR ‣ | | Lower your flags on Vimy Ridge Day – April 9 | | The Legion joins federal, provincial and municipal institutions in lowering the Canadian flag from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, April 9 in observance of Vimy Ridge Day. The day honours and remembers those who fought
during the fierce Battle of Vimy Ridge in France in 1917, a defining moment for Canada as soldiers from several divisions battled together. |
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 | | Legion member selected to participate in the Nijmegen Marches
| | We are pleased to announce that Comrade Joan Cook, member of the Kemptville, Ontario Legion Branch #212, will be representing the Legion at the International Four Days Marches
Nijmegen held in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in July 2020. A 14-year Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Joan will join the Canadian Armed Forces marching contingent on
four days of walking more than 40 kilometres per day carrying a 10-kilogram backpack.
| | Read more ‣
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 | | Discover a Legion Branch success story
| | Branch 13 in Scarborough, Ontario is seeing their recruitment efforts pay off! | | “It’s great to see the community getting behind a landmark that’s been here for almost 100 years,” said Birch Cliff resident Sandy Robitaille. | | Read more ‣
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| Messages from Veteran organizations |
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| The RCMP is recruiting
| | The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are recruiting across Canada. Print and post these posters at your Branch and help promote exciting career opportunities within the RCMP.
| | Download poster ‣
| | Changes to service medals
| | The Government of Canada recently announced the time criteria for several medals has been reduced, and the Special Service Medal has been amended to expand eligibility to Canadian
civilians. | | Learn more ‣
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| Veteran Service Card
| | Veterans Affairs Canada recently announced the Veteran’s Service Card is now available to all former Canadian Armed Forces members who have completed basic training and have
been honourably released.
| | If a Veteran transitioned out of the military before September 2018 or meets the updated criteria, this information may be of interest.
| | Learn more ‣
| | Veterans Ombudsman Annual Report
| | The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman released its annual report highlighting their work in support of Veterans and their families in 2018–2019.
| | Read the report ‣
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| Partner promotions | | The following is brought to you by our partners, highlighting special offers and other information. |
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| Special offer from Legion Magazine |
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If you have any questions, please contact Member Services and we will be pleased to assist. 1-855-330-3344 or membership@legion.ca
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
|  | | Working together to serve Canada’s Veterans.
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