LITTLE CURRENT—In order to keep the Little Current Branch 177 of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) open, the positions of president and secretary-treasurer will need to be filled at a nomination meeting being held later this month.
“Legion president Ruth Eadie wants to step down, and with Kathy Morrison having moved off the Island Linda Bowerman has filled in over the past couple of years as secretary-treasurer,” said Judy Miller, membership chair of the Legion. “Linda is definitely willing to remain and help out as a member but doesn’t want to continue as the secretary-treasurer.”
“Ruth had given her notice on January 1 that she would like to step down,” said Ms. Miller. “So, we need two additional positions to be filled to continue to operate; the positions of president and secretary-treasurer.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been challenging,” said Ms. Miller. She pointed out, that a lot of Island residents don’t like to do many things online, “and with our general membership meetings, we used to get about 20 members in attendance, but at our last meeting we had six members attend.”
In a letter sent out to all RCL branch 177 members, Ms. Eadie wrote in part, “Branch 177 is now holding monthly general meetings, and after two years, is able to hold an election. The next general meeting will be held on Thursday, April 21 at 7 pm in the Legion hall. This will be a nomination meeting for a new executive of the branch for the 2022-24 term.”
“General meetings are open to all members in good standing with the branch,” wrote Ms. Eadie. “The present executive has continued to hold their positions during the pandemic, even though their term of office was up in June of 2020. Some members are willing to stand again but the president and secretary-treasurer have indicated they will not be running again. All positions must be filled in order for the branch to remain open. Failing to fill these positions, the branch could be looking at being closed. Please plan to attend this meeting.”
“If all positions are filled, then installation of the executive will take place on Thursday, May 19 at the Legion hall,” wrote Ms. Eadie.
“We want to make sure the Legion stays open, and for this we need members’ support,” said Ms. Miller. “We know there is members support, but yes, this is serious. The Legion could close if all the executive positions are not filled. Even if we could get members that would split and rotate roles, this would work.”
To become a member or apply to fill one of the executive positions, those interested can contact Ms. Miller by phone 705-968-0091 or by email at jmiller@nemfht.ca.
