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Branch updates and information
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 Share this email
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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 2022
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| Take the five‑second survey | | Is your Branch open? Recent pandemic restrictions are impacting Branches. Take this month’s 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 the pandemic evolves. |
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| The Legion condemns protesters violating the National War Memorial | | On January 29, 2022, Dominion President Bruce Julian issued a public statement condemning the protestors who disrespected the site of the National War Memorial in Ottawa: “The Royal Canadian Legion strongly condemns the shocking actions of protestors who encroached upon the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Saturday. They jumped on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and parked vehicles on the surrounding grounds. This sacred memorial site commemorates those who fought and fell for the very freedoms that allow people in Canada the right to protest peacefully. We are dismayed and saddened by this overt lack of respect.” |
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| Promote the 5-year membership special offer | | Members who pre-pay for 5 years of membership can wear their support proudly with a free Poppy toque, mitts and scarf. Share this offer with new and renewing members! The deadline to pre-pay is March 15. | | Learn more ‣ |
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| Recent Manual Updates | | The Legion’s General By-Laws, Ritual, Awards and Protocol manual and Rules and Procedures manual have been updated. Please see the recent amendments to the following manuals and update your copies. | | General Bylaws: | | Amendments ‣ | Updated manual ‣ | | Ritual, Awards and Protocol Manual: | | Amendments ‣ | Updated manual ‣ | | Rules and Procedures Manual: | | Updated manual ‣ |
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| Member sports cancelled for 2022 | | The 2022 Dominion Member Sports Championships have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and associated risks. | | The host branch locations for the 2022 Dominion Championships will host the 2023 Dominion Championships as outlined below: | Dominion Cribbage
21 – 24 April 2023
Host: Branch #02-015 Men of Vision
PO Box 183 Stn Main
Cochrane, AB T4C 1A5 | Dominion Darts
28 April – 1 May 2023
Host: Branch #01-265 Aldergrove
26607 Fraser Hwy
Aldergrove, BC V4W 3L1 | Dominion 8-Ball
26 – 29 May 2023
Host: Branch #02-104 Innisfail
1-5108 49 Ave
Innisfail, AB T4G 1R1 |
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| Collecting member emails | | Dominion Command will be calling members in March who have a phone number on their profile but do not have an email, to acquire their email to ensure members consistently receive membership notices, Legion updates and member opportunities. | | Branches are reminded to keep their member contact information up to date with Legion Headquarters and include emails whenever possible. Branches can update a member’s email online, or use this Excel template to share member emails with Member Services. |
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| Class action regarding annual adjustment of benefits administered by Veterans Affairs Canada | | The Federal Court has certified a class proceeding dealing with errors in the annual adjustment of disability pensions payable to Canadian Veterans. Please share the Notice below with Veterans at your Branch. | | Virtually every Canadian Veteran who receives a monthly disability pension is a class member. There is no cost to class members to participate in this proceeding. Members do have the option to opt out – details and the deadline to do so are on the Notice. | | Read the Notice ‣ |
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| VAC wants your opinion! | | Veterans Affairs Canada wants to know how it can better communicate with the Veteran community. Tell them how you like to receive information and what you know about their services, by taking part in the survey below. | | If someone you know served in the Canadian Armed Forces or RCMP, Veterans Affairs Canada want to hear from them. www.ekos.com/veteransurvey. |
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| Legion participation in the Nijmegen Marches | | The Canadian Armed Forces has postponed their participation in the Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands until the summer of 2024. As a result, the Legion will not be selecting a candidate for the CAF contingent for 2022 or 2023. We wish to express our sincere thanks for all the interest received this year and remain hopeful for 2024. |
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| Branch Membership Administration | | Resources and tips to support your Membership Chair |
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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. | | + REMINDER: Branch Membership Payments to Dominion Command | | To improve efficiencies and reduce growing Branch accounts receivables, the Dominion Finance Team will be eliminating accepting cheques by the end of 2022. As this plan develops with Provincial Commands, we wish to clarify the following: | | Until further notice: | - Memberships processed on the portal can be paid by the Branch using a credit card (preferred method of payment) or by cheque mailed to Dominion Membership.
- All memberships processed manually (not on the portal) can be paid by credit card over the phone or by cheque mailed to Dominion Membership.
- Cheques will be accepted until other options of payment outside of Visa and Mastercard have been explored, tested, implemented and fully communicated (target end of 2022).
- Please do not send membership payments via direct deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer or E-Transfer. We are unable to accept these payments.
- Direct deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer payments are only used to transfer funds from Dominion Command to Branches, NOT for Branches sending funds to Dominion Command.
As we continue to work towards other Branch Membership payment options, we will keep you updated. |
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| + Reminders to lapsed members | | A renewal reminder has been mailed to 46,000 members in February. Renewal reminder emails also continue to be sent to lapsed members with an email on file. Please ensure members paid through 2022 are processed through Member Services as soon as possible. | | + Reminder: Updated membership application forms | | Updated membership application forms are now available. Please download and update your forms and order new printed forms through Legion Supply. | | (Item number 800293 – English / 800294 - French) | | Download and update your forms: |
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| + Reminder: Promote the Veteran Welcome Program and Family Welcome Program | | Spouses and children (18+) of Veterans can now register to receive their first year of membership free! Promote this opportunity by downloading the printable poster. | | Eligible applicants can fill out an application form online. Print-ready Branch Application Forms can be downloaded from the Member Services Website. |
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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 | | Brush up on advocacy | | We regularly push for various changes to make life better for our Veterans and their families. Read up on them by visiting Legion.ca regularly and checking out the News and Advocating sections. | | 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 | | 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 2022 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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