It's time to pass the Royal Canadian Legion's torch to the next generation by laying a foundation of good communication.
That was part of the message given by Peter Piper, the provincial past-president, when he spoke at the Estevan Legion's past president's night on Saturday at the Memorial Hall.
"It's good to be back in Estevan again and to honour your past-presidents," said Piper. "They have been a wealth to your whole branch."
He continued however, with a note of caution and a message that the future holds no certainty.
"But in saying that, behind every good thing, we have the odd negative thing. We need leaders that will bring new members in and mentor them to become legionnaires."
Piper has been a legionnaire for 33 years, including 10 years with Provincial Command. He said mentorship is the key to continuing the Legion in the traditions it has grown.
"We've had to mentor a lot of people along the way, and I've had mentors on my way, and only too glad they were there. I know tonight is a happy night, and I want it to be that way."
He said he was speaking to those most dedicated to the Legion, who must make strides in continuing to ensure prosperity.
"They are the lifeblood of this organization. Without you as members, without you as presidents, leaders, we'd have nothing. We would fold."
Piper said he is upset to see what is happening in some of the branches he goes to, but he was encouraged by the younger faces he saw at the Estevan banquet, challenging them to become leaders in the organization.
"To become a good leader, you've got have good communication skills. From the top, it works its way down. Everybody says things run downhill, well that's right. Let's mentor these people and help them become good, strong legionnaires. Without you, the lifeblood of the organization, we won't have a Legion. It's that simple."
Eileen Rosner, the Estevan Legion Branch No. 60 president, echoed Piper's sentiments saying that, "we're getting to be an older group, and we need the younger ones to take over,"
She then went over some matters of importance from 2011, noting that for three months, they gave the Red Cross the use of the Jubilee Room, which set up there to help flood victims in the spring. She noted the organization's participation in the opening of Spectra Place, before lamenting some of the problems they are now encountering with their building.
"As you all know, we had water damage in the club room, which we had to repair. We also had four compressors burn out in a matter of six weeks, and now we just had to replace a new water heater. It just seems this old building is nickel and diming us to death," she said.
While there will still be bingo at the Legion, Rosner noted they have shut down Wednesday afternoon bingo, as it was starting to cost them money. She celebrated the success of the poppy campaign however, noting that they raised $22,606.21, and with that, they donated $2,500 to Creighton Lodge for furniture purchases.
At the end of the night, the local branch installed three new officers. Major Len Millar, Joe Heidinger and John Gulak were all installed as officers along with Romuald Kawecki and Gary LeBlanc who were absent from the banquet.
