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Branch updates and information
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| Keep your Branch informed
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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 – February 2021
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| Pre-paying pays off | | Between February 22 to May 30, 2021, members who prepay for five years will receive a FREE Limited Edition Poppy Watch, designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy. See terms and conditions for more details. | | A limited number of these watches will be available for purchase on The Poppy Store starting in late May. Keep an eye out – they’re expected to go fast! |
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| Encourage your members to recruit | | Don’t forget to invite your members to recruit their family and friends to the Legion. | | When members* refer an eligible friend or family member to join the Legion, they could EACH be entered to win a $500 Canada Post Visa gift card. Tell your members to send their new recruits here to sign up using promo code REFER before April 30, 2021. | | The bigger our membership, the bigger the impact the Legion can make in the lives of Canada’s Veterans. | | * Referring member must be in good standing as of January 31, 2021. See full Terms and Conditions. |
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| A Dominion Convention update from the National Executive Director | | Comrades: | | As you are well aware by now, the 2020 Dominion Convention set for Saskatoon, SK was postponed by the Dominion Executive Council on 16 April 2020. | | Currently and based on the information provided in a rapidly changing environment the intent is to stage the 48th Dominion Convention August 12–19, 2021 in Saskatoon. As there are many factors involved, including the vaccination rollout and provincial restrictions, there will be a delay in sending out the Convention Call until a clearer picture develops. In the meantime, all other timings are still in effect, including the submission of resolutions to Dominion Command by 24 April 2021. | | Regardless of what confronts us in regard to staging the Dominion Convention, it will happen in 2021 in one form or another. An update will be provided in March 2021 or earlier if the situation becomes clearer. | | In Comradeship, | | Steven Clark | | National Executive Director |
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| Members of the Shediac Legion build a Veteran apartment complex | | When you dream big, great things can happen. Canadian Veteran and Legion member Leo Doiron and members of the Shediac Legion in New Brunswick came together to fundraise and build an eight-unit apartment building in their town to home Veterans and their families. | | Read the inspiring story ‣ |
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| The Legion Scholarship has been awarded | | On January 27, Dominion President Thomas D. Irvine announced this year’s Veteran Health Research scholarship recipient. Dr. Abdelhakim Khellaf of the University of Toronto has received $30,000 to continue his work studying traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Veterans. | | Through the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, the Legion rewards this scholarship each year to a student specializing in the critical care and support of Canada’s Veterans. | | Congratulations, Dr. Khellaf! | | Read more ‣ |
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| Legion responds to Office of the Veterans Ombudsman report | | On January 19, the Legion Dominion President released the following statement in support of the Veterans Ombudsman’s report: | | “The Royal Canadian Legion supports all recommendations released in the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman’s report. Of particular note, we ask Veterans Affairs Canada to push for legislative and financial changes to ensure that family members including former spouses, survivors and dependent children, can access federally funded mental health care when their illness is related to the conditions of a Veteran’s service. This should happen whether or not the Veteran is in treatment. We believe mental health care must extend to family members in their own right who provide a crucial support system for our Veterans.” | | –Thomas D. Irvine, CD, Dominion President, The Royal Canadian Legion | | Read the full report ‣ |
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| Branch Membership Administration | | Resources and tips to support your Membership Chair |
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| + Check your Legion email for members who joined or renewed online | | Many new members are joining local Legion Branches online. In the last three months, over 5,000 members have joined their local Branch through Legion.ca! Be sure to check your Legion.ca email account for notifications of new members, or read the “New Online Member Report” on your Branch profile on the Member Services Website. | | If you need help accessing your @legion.ca email account, please contact Member Services. |
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| + Renewal reminders are being mailed | | Legion Headquarters will be sending a direct mailing to all non-renewed members later this month. Please encourage your members to renew their Legion membership for 2021. | | You can also use this opportunity to encourage members to prepay for the next five years with the Legion’s Poppy Anniversary watch promotion. |
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| + Sign up for Direct Deposits from Legion National Headquarters | | Sign up to receive Branch payments from Legion National Headquarters through direct deposit to your bank account by completing the attached Direct Deposit Form. No more bank runs or waiting for your cheque to arrive! Simply download and complete the form and email it to DirectDeposit@legion.ca. | | For questions, please contact Tiffany Patterson at the Legion National Headquarters Finance Department by calling 613-591-3335 ext. 262. |
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| We are here to help! | | As per Ontario Health recommendations, most Legion House staff members are working remotely. Member Services is business as usual with some delays in card distribution and mail-in member processing. | | Our team is here to help, Monday through Friday, 8:30–4:30 pm EST by email and by phone. |
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| Get access to Marketing and PR resources |
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| Marketing Resources | | It’s time for members to renew | | Find a wide variety of recruitment and renewal resources on the Member Services Website, as well as free materials through the Legion Supply Department. | | View resources ‣ |
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 | | PR Tip of the Month | | Reach out to correct | | When you see a media article that contains errors or omissions related to your Branch, remember to take action – approach the reporter in a friendly way. Explain what you’d like to see fixed and why it matters. In many instances, changes will be made in the interest of accuracy. | | 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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| Share the benefits of MemberPerks® | | MemberPerks® is more than a member benefit package. It’s also a tool Branches can use to promote membership. Plus, you can partner with local businesses in your community to offer exclusive discounts for your members. | | In 2020, Legion members saved almost $150,000 using MemberPerks®. Promote MemberPerks® at your Branch using the MemberPerks® poster. | | Order online through Legion Supply at supply@legion.ca or by calling 1‑888‑301‑2257. |
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| Your Legion calendar: 2021 | | 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 ‣ |
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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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