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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 – September 2021
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| Take the five‑second survey | | Is your Branch open for business? Many Branches are now starting to re-open their doors and resume Branch activities. Take this single-question, multiple choice survey to let us know if your Branch is currently open to members and the public. | | If you responded previously, please take the survey again so we can see how Branches are doing as things start to open. |
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| Royal Canadian Legion releases “It’s our Duty” position paper | | Last month, the Legion released its 2021 “It’s Our Duty” position paper to all Canadian Members of Parliament. The paper outlines the organization’s current advocacy agenda, which includes tackling the backlog of disability applications and widespread improvements to the long-term care system. | | Read more ‣ |
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| Our statement on the Afghanistan crisis | | Legion Dominion President Bruce Julian issued the following statement regarding the current crisis in Afghanistan: | | The Royal Canadian Legion stands ready to support our Veterans impacted by the ongoing tragic events unfolding in Afghanistan. We know there is great distress right now and we are here to help. Please reach out to our Branch or Command Service Officers if you need assistance. Our thoughts and prayers remain with you, your families, comrades, and Afghan friends. | | Support is available for Veterans in need of assistance. | | Read more ‣ |
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| Add your local Legion Remembrance Day Ceremony to Legion.ca | | People visiting the Legion’s website will soon be able to search for the location of their local Remembrance Day Ceremony here. | | We encourage all Branches hosting a Remembrance Day Ceremony to add your event to the site. This tool, which will be widely promoted during the Remembrance period, will allow Legion Branches to share when and where they are holding Remembrance Day ceremonies. Branches can submit their ceremony details through the online form. | | Add your Ceremony ‣ |
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| Reminder to process member payments | | Member renewal campaigns are getting underway. Legion Headquarters will be reaching out to current and lapsed members by direct mail and email over the coming months. Please ensure your Branch’s member renewal payments are processed through Legion House at least monthly. |
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| Convention presentations, reports and questions | | Presentations, reports and answers to questions asked during the 2021 Dominion Convention will be available soon. Stay tuned. |
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| Share our Poppy 100 anniversary graphics | | To help branches promote the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy in Canada, the commemorative Poppy pin, and membership, you can now easily access the promotional images for social media and your website here. |
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| CDA Institute still looking for volunteers to help resettle Afghan refugees | | Over 3,000 Canadians have offered to volunteer for the CDA Institute Afghan Refugee Initiative so far! But that need continues to grow. Please help CDA reach its target of 5,000 volunteers by signing up and sharing the call with your family and friends. | | Volunteer today ‣ |
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| Reminder: Important updates to Branch payment options |
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 | | Electronic payments to Branches starting September 2021 | | Legion Headquarters will discontinue issuing cheques as of September 1, 2021 and implement payments by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) only. EFTs reduce costs, require less administrative processing, provide Branches faster access to their funds, are more secure than cheques and simplify reconciliation and accounting. | | Branches are asked to contact Dominion Command Accounting at 888-556-6222 extension 288 or by email at DirectDeposit@legion.ca to provide banking details for their Branch General Account and their Branch Poppy Account. |
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 | | Branch payments for online transactions to be Interac or credit card only starting in 2022 | | Legion Headquarters is continuing to experience significant payment delays for online membership transactions when Branches submit payment by cheque. Starting in 2022, cheques will no longer be accepted for online membership portal transactions. Dominion Command will require all online membership transactions be paid by Interac or credit card. Please do not send cash. | | Branches may contact Dominion Command Accounting at 888-556-6222 extension 288 or by email at DirectDeposit@legion.ca for information on how to set up electronic payments. |
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| Branch Membership Administration | | Resources and tips to support your Membership Chair |
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| + 2022 Renewal Stickers were mailed in August | | The 2022 Member renewal stickers were mailed to all Branches in late August for all members paid for 2021 by July 30, 2021. If you have not received your 2022 stickers, please contact member services. |
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| + Verify and welcome new members at your Branch | | 85% of new members joining online are selecting a local Branch to join! Branches are encouraged to reach out to new member applicants within 30 days of their application to let them know the process for their application or, if approved, welcome them to the Branch. | | The Membership Committee’s recommended 30-day application review period is a suggested timeline to ensure our organization is maintaining strong customer service practices for new members wishing to join and support the Legion. If a Branch is unable to meet the suggested 30-day time period for a General Meeting or Executive Committee review of the application, it may still follow its own process to approve/decline a member and the procedure for that continues to follow the communicated policy. | | Be sure to check your Legion.ca email account for notifications of new members or check the New Online Member Report on your Branch profile on the Member Services Website. | | + Reminder: Digital Membership Card coming soon | | Coming later this fall, new and returning Legion members will have the choice of the traditional plastic card or an electronic membership card downloadable to a digital wallet. These digital cards will allow the Legion to save time and money producing, mailing and replacing plastic cards. Stay tuned for more details. |
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| We are here to help! | | Our team is here to help, Monday through Friday 8:30–4:30 pm EST. |
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| Get access to Marketing and PR resources |
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| Reach out to lapsed 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 | | It’s the Poppy’s 100th | | Take every opportunity you can to engage media and your community about the Poppy’s 100th anniversary in 2021 – it’s also a chance to share more about the Legion’s work. Tell people to watch for the special Canada Post stamp and Royal Canadian Mint coin being released this fall. | | 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: 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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 | | MemberPerks®: Exclusive offers and preferred pricing through Venngo | | 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. | | Learn more ‣ |
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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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