Erickson Legion Ladies Auxiliary surrenders charter
- Details
- Published on Friday, November 18, 2016
By Evelyn Lewandoski and Linda Squance
Erickson Legion Ladies Auxiliary
In October 2016, the Erickson Legion Ladies Auxiliary surrendered their Charter after 77 years.
In December 1939, a charter was granted to the Ladies Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion Erickson Branch #143. The objective of the Auxiliary was to serve the members and comrades of the Legion and to fundraise.
During the war years, the Ladies sewed, knitted, wrote letters, sent parcels, and supported hospitals, especially Deer Lodge. In more recent years, the Auxiliary has donated to the Century Tub and the Palliative Care Unit at EDHC. We have presented a $300 Scholarship to an ECI student each year, supported 4-H Public Speaking, and Wounded Warriors.
Over the years, the Auxiliary has held many fundraisers – dances, card parties, raffles, teas and luncheons. Our first Poppy Day Tea was held in November 1942 and our final November event (a coffee party and cookie sale) in November 2015.
It is the duty of an Auxiliary to serve their branch. We have been faithful in this over the years.
The Auxiliary has paid toward the loan for the building of the present Legion Hall, paid the taxes in 2004, donated toward the installation of geothermal heat and toward hall renovations and have paid the Hydro bill since 2004.
In 1972, the Auxiliary began operation of the weekly Bingo Canteen. This will continue, but under the umbrella of the Legion Branch.
With a dwindling number of members that are still able to remain active, we began to ask ourselves, “How long can we continue?” The task of attracting new members has become impossible. Life today is very busy – trying to juggle a career and a family is very challenging and most do not choose, nor find the time, to belong to an organization.
Thus, with great reluctance and very heavy hearts, we decided that the time had come for us to fold. And so we inquired as to the steps that needed to be taken for this to occur.
The first step was the vote. This was not an easy decision, but in June 2016 the vote to surrender our charter was unanimous. And so we began the process.
The second step was the disbursement of our funds. After much discussion the following donations were made:
$200 to each of: EES Parent Advisory Council; EDHC Activity Director; Erickson Fire Dept.; Erickson Kiddie Kollege; Erickson Palliative Care; Erickson Rec Centre; Erickson Skating Rink; 4-H Beef Club; Service to Seniors; Joint Visiting Committee of Provincial Command.
$500 to each of: Neepawa & Area Cadets in support of their 2017 trip to Vimy Ridge 100th Anniversary; Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund; Dwight McMillan family to aid with medical expenses; Nick Ewasiuk to aid with medical expenses.
$2,500 to the Dr. Ajai Khandelwal Primary Care Centre in Minnedosa.
$5,000 to the Erickson Endowment Fund.
According to Auxiliary By-Laws, all Auxiliary properties and remaining money (approximately $7,000) will now become property of the Legion.
Thank you to all who have supported us over the years to make these donations possible.
Whether holding an executive position, serving on a committee, making soup, washing dishes or knitting socks, a bond of friendship formed which lasted a lifetime. This camaraderie still exists.
Several of our Auxiliaries are joint members of both the Auxiliary and the Legion Branch. Others have applied to become Legion members. There is strength in numbers. Thus, it is our hope that some of our activities will continue through the Legion branch – operation of the Bingo Canteen, serving of lunches at funerals, teas, and on Remembrance Day.
Times change and we must adapt to this change. However, we cannot let the message of the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom go untold. Our work continues. We cannot let this message, nor the Legion, die.
“To you, with failing hands, we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high,” is our message to today’s generation.
Lest we forget.
