The local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is on a mission to increase its membership and inviting everybody to a meeting and open house November 24 to get more information.
Many people, for example, simply do not realize you do not have to be a veteran to join. All Canadian citizens are welcome.
Remembrance Day last week saw one of the best turnouts at the Gallagher Centre ceremony in recent memory. This was also the case in many places all across the country. Pundits speculated that the recent tragic murders of two soldiers on Canadian soil coupled with a new combat mission for Canadian Forces in Iraq raised the profile of the annual tribute to veterans.
Despite this renewed patriotism, the local Legion is struggling to survive. Area veterans are aging and the next generation has yet to step up to revitalize the venerable organization. This phenomenon is not restricted to the Legion. Service organizations of all stripes are suffering explained legion member Bill Stubbings in a letter to the editor.
"With falling membership and decreasing attendance, along with the reluctance of members to take their turn at the helm, many of these clubs and organizations began to fade away, while those remaining struggle to remain viable and effective," he wrote. "Thus, significant sums that once flowed to those in need greatly diminished or dried up. Funds for local projects were no longer available, thus the welfare and progress of many of our communities was seriously affected."
There are three classes of membership. Any one who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces, many of our allies' militaries and others such as RCMP and Coast Guard members qualify as Ordinary members.
Persons closely related to veterans who qualify for ordinary membership and those who have served in various paramilitary capacities such as cadets and firefighters and some others may join as associate members.
Anybody who is a Canadian Citizen qualifies as an affiliate member.
The information session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday November 20 at the Legion Hall on Broadway Street West.
