The Kamsack branch of the Royal Canadian Legion held its annual installation of officers for 2018 on January 9 during an event that began with a supper and opportunity for members to relax and visit before the ceremony.
Jim Woodward introduced Lavern Sobus of Nokomis, who is the District 4 commander and as such installed Woodward as president for another term.
After addressing the gathering, Sobus apologized for having to leave early, citing weather concerns.
Woodward installed the other members of the executive committee and discussed his vision for 2018 with a “state of the Legion address.”
After identifying some of the necessary requirements for the building, Woodward urged members that they could not take the branch for granted.
“We need everyone’s support to survive,” Woodward said, adding that it was very unfortunate that many of the community’s service groups had digressed to near extinction.
Kamsack can ill afford to lose these organizations because of the valued support they extend to the community, he said.
“The Royal Canadian Legion has been instrumental in supporting our veterans and families for over 90 years and with the many new cases of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) affecting all walks of life, (the Legion) will remain vigilant in supplying awareness and support for many years to come.”
Woodward said that the Legion’s sponsorship of the Kamsack air cadets would remain in place and commended the cadets on their visibility in the community.
He said that fundraising is crucial in all Legion branches and Kamsack’s main project will be raising money for a badly needed elevator. He said that dollar raffles seem more successful and are always under review and pointed out that the branch has a building that many Legion branches envy.
But a building is nothing if one can’t use it effectively, he said. It is extremely hard for small communities to fundraise and maybe it is timely for all organizations and groups to team together to work on a shared community event.
Woodward said the Legion would continue to support the scholarships that have been awarded in the past along with the summer camps for the ones who qualify again this year. He said that the executive committee will continue to look at levels of entertainment that will interest Kamsack and community.
He said that over 2,000 entries were submitted from the zone to the Legion’s annual Remembrance Day poster and poem contest and many outstanding submissions had been forwarded to the district competition.
“Everyone should be commended for his or her efforts,” he said.
The Legion’s provincial rally is to be held in Prince Albert in March and the Dominion convention is scheduled for Winnipeg in August.
