“WHAT’S HAPPENING ……. at the Colborne Legion?”

Hello everyone. Hope you all enjoyed your summer … what there was of it! It doesn’t seem possible that it is almost over and the children will soon be back to school. Time just seems to fly by.

If you missed my last column I would like to introduce you to our new executive that took over June 1st. Our President, Patti May, has agreed to continue in this very challenging position. Here is the remainder of the executive: 2nd Vice President is Ira Wile (Legion Seniors, Nevada); Secretary is Paul Coleman; Sergeant-at-Arms is Bill Bachellier (Service Officer, Poppy); Honourary Treasurer is Gord Gray; Chaplain is Rev. Barbara-Anne Ramer; Immediate Past President Jack Heighton; Marilyn Babcock (Ways & Means); Ray Babcock (Bar); Sandra Boland (Trillium); Shaun Godfrey (Sports); Marlene Harnden (Membership); Nancy Heighton (Bingo, Shop & Support); Gerry Ivanski (Trillium); Jim White (House & Property) and Faye Wile (Public Relations, Honours & Awards).

As I’m writing this we are preparing to have a gathering in the clubroom to say farewell to Kim & Scott Hickson. They have to move back to London due to Scott’s health. We’re going to miss both of them but Kim is sure she’ll be back for visits in the near future.

Our hard working Ladies Auxiliary has a new executive as well.
President is Tracey Loveless; Immediate Past President is Ruth Millar; 1st Vice President is Pam vanVelzen, Secretary is Kathy Marcellus; Treasurer is Nancy Heighton; Sports Officer is Susie Smith; Executive Committee consists of Sandra Boland, Carol Barkhouse, Grace Middleton, Seana Heighton and Norma Ainsworth.
If you would like to rent our Banquet Room and have the Ladies Auxiliary cater your next event for you, you can call Tracey Loveless at 905-355-3488 or call the Branch at 905-355-5479 and leave a message with the bar steward.
The Ladies Auxiliary do a wonderful job with very reasonable prices.

As most of you probably know, the first Friday of every month we have a delicious roast beef dinner. Actually, our next roast beef dinner will be Friday, October 2. Our September 4 roast beef dinner is cancelled because the very next evening, Saturday, September 5, we are having our annual Steak and Hamburger BBQ Dinner. The attendance at this event grows each year so come early to enjoy the great food and the fun time we always have. We start serving at 5:00 p.m. until about 6:30 p.m. For $12.00 you get a fabulous steak, baked potato, corn on the cob, broccoli and cauliflower salad, a salad bar with all the fixings, special biscuits, tea and coffee, and a delicious apple crisp with ice cream for dessert. For $8.00 you get a scrumptious hamburger with all the above sides as well. Tell your friends – everyone is welcome.

On a side note, you will be seeing our newly installed floor in the banquet room. There is more work to be done yet but we’re really enjoying the new look that has started to emerge.

The theme for our September 18 mid month meal is back by popular demand. We are serving a variety of Shepherd Pies. A traditional shepherd’s pie with hamburger meat topped with mashed potatoes, a turkey shepherd’s pie topped with dumplings and a Mexican shepherd’s pie topped with corn bread. Something for everyone … or a scoop of each if you want. This will be served with Caesar salad, fresh baked corn bread and a fabulous graham cracker pie. Yum. All this, with tea and coffee, for $10.00.

We are always trying to think up new ways to keep The Colborne Legion alive and well. Our next fundraiser will be a Gift Certificate Draw. Tickets are available at the bar in the Clubroom and at all of our dinners and are $2 each or 3 for $5.00. The lucky winner will receive $500.00 worth of certificates from our Shop and Support vendors. There are many well known retailers available through the program including grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores and gas stations. Wow, what a great opportunity to win some great gift certificates while helping to support the Colborne Legion Branch operations. This Certificate draw will be held on November 11th --- Remembrance Day.

I would also like to remind you that Darts are starting up again on Thursday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. You don’t have to be a Legion member to join this great, fun league.

Line Dancing is also starting back up on Tuesday, September 22 at 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Come on out and, for only $5.00, get some exercise while having some real “yeehaw” fun for two hours.

Our 55 Club is always looking for new members to play cards and darts every Tuesday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. All are welcome and everyone seems to have a very enjoyable afternoon.

The 4th Sunday of every month, except during the summer, we have a pool tournament. The first one will be on Sunday, September 27, 2009. For more details call the Branch at 905-355-5479.

Traditionally, every year LEGION WEEK starts on the third Sunday in September. The Colborne Legion will be open to the public for this week. Everyone is welcome to come out during our week of ”Open House” and enjoy what we have planned for our members and the general public. During Legion Week we will have our branch open and some of our executive members will try to be available to show you around and answer your questions or just to enjoy a beverage with you. Bring some friends and enjoy a game of pool or play some card games – euchre, crib etc.

If you would like to become a Legion member, we will have application forms available. We will try to let the public, and all veterans whether members or not, know how important Legion branches are to their communities and how we can help. Come on out and see how this great organization works. Our Branch is open every day at 1 p.m. Closing times are: Sunday to Wednesday at 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday we close at 8 p.m. Remember, everyone is welcome and we hope to see many, many people during this week. You don’t have to be a Legion member, during Legion week, to enjoy what we have to offer. Comrades, come on out and support your Branch.

Just a reminder about our ongoing events. The first Friday of every month, except September 4, we have a delicious roast beef dinner from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. This is really growing in popularity and from what I’ve heard, everyone really enjoys the quality of the dinner as well as the low price of just $10.00. The third Friday of every month we have a different themed dinner. In the past we have had a chicken BBQ, Fish Fry, Christmas in July, Pasta Dinner, and for October, yup, you guessed it, it will be an Octoberfest theme. All of our meals include a couple of vegetables, soup or salad, bread or rolls, tea and coffee and a scrumptious dessert. Every Saturday we hold meat draws. You have a chance to win 3 pieces of meat at 3 p.m., 3 pieces at 4 p.m. and 3 pieces at 5 p.m. Our patio is open and the comradeship is great. Come on out and see why the Colborne Legion is called the friendly Branch.

I’ll sign off for now and look forward to seeing you at some of our events. And remember, I continue to advertise in the local papers and the radio station and we have colourful flyers placed in and around the Colborne area to keep you informed of “what’s happening ….. at the Colborne Legion”.

Bye for now, and see you soon.

Yours in comradeship,
Faye Wile
Public Relations & Communication
The Colborne Legion