THE RCR ASSOC. SPRING NEWSLETTER 2009The RCR Association mail:
thercran@execulink.comWolseley Barracks Phone: 519-850-0946
701 Oxford Street, E., London ON N5Y 4T7
www.thercr.ca April 21, 2009
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R.T. Walsh, Chairman, Cliff Collison, President.Russ Smith, Vice President. Barrie Graham, Treasurer, Joe Bennett, Secretary. Bob Burns, Director, Vic Dingle, Director, Al Fowler, Director. Ed Laporte, Director, Don McKelvay, Director John O’Quinn, Director Steve Ricketts, Director
The RSM of each Battalion is an ex-officio member of the Board
Monique Southwell, Spouses Representative, Rev Lyman Coleman, Chaplain, Oscar Lambert, Past Chairman and Capt T. Robinson, MMM, CD, Regtl Adjt
At the Annual General Meeting of the Association (AGM) this year the gavel will pass from Chairman R.T. Walsh to Cliff Collison, who is now the Association President. Two members of the National Board of Directors, R.T. Walsh and Vic Dingle will be leaving the Board on completion of several terms each. It is expected that new Directors from Eastern Ontario will be elected to fill the vacancies as a step towards the planned move of the Board to the Eastern Ontario region. The formal notice of the AGM and Call for Agenda Items is included as Annex A to this newsletter and a Proxy Vote Form is at Annex B.
BURSARY PROGRAM 2009
We are again offering three bursaries of $1,500 each to qualifying students who are entering their first year of post secondary education in 2009. The competition is open to children and grandchildren of serving, former serving or deceased members of the Regiment and to cadets who are members of RCR affiliated Army Cadet Corps. Serving soldiers of the Regiment and their spouses are also eligible. The bursaries are awarded in recognition of scholastic achievement, community service and military/cadet service if applicable. Entry forms will be printed in our Regimental journal “Pro Patria 2008” or can be obtained by writing, phoning or emailing the President of the Association at the addresses/phone above.
HEARING DISABILITY CLAIMS
Association members who have hearing problems and have not previously put in a claim for a hearing disability might consider doing so now. Some Association members report that their recent first applications were quickly and favourably handled by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). Contact VAC at: 1-866-522-2122.
Members who have previously applied for a service related hearing disability pension and who were declined should ask for a review of their claim. If you decide to do this, send a letter to the following address identifying your earlier, declined claim by name, date and file number and ask for a review of your claim under the revised policy. It is important that you ask for a review not an appeal:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Bureau of Pensions Advocates
900-605 Robson Street
Vancouver BC V6B 5J3
CHAIRMAN’S NOTE
On leaving the position of National Chairman, I want to thank all of the members of the Board for their wise advice and patience. Treasurer Barrie Graham does a terrific job of looking after our money and is keeping your Association is in a very good financial position. Come to the AGM and get Barrie’s full report. Vice President, Russ Smith has been a calming influence whenever anxiety threatened and his common sense (which is not common) is appreciated. The Secretary, Joe Bennett has shown remarkable forbearance and tolerance in putting up with the strange ways of the Chairman and I thank him for that. Our Spouses person, Monique Southwell also looks after our membership matters and has done an outstanding job. The challenge of leading the Board for the next two crucial years has been accepted by Cliff Collison and no one is better qualified for the job. His knowledge, energy and enthusiasm will pull the Association through the next couple of years as the winds of change blow strong. The inspirational leadership provided to the Association by the Colonel of The Regiment, MGen Walter Holmes and his talks to the Board of Directors and Branch Presidents during the past year gave well appreciated guidance and direction to all.
Pro Patria
R.T. Walsh, National Chairman