Even after 100 years, change is inevitable.
The folks overseeing operations of the Royal Canadian LegionB次元官网网址檚 Britannia Branch No. 7 in Victoria, which recently celebrated its centennial, are managing that change well, at a time when membership is diminishing at other branches and their futures lay in jeopardy.
Keith Yow, in his fourth term as president of the branch and also its volunteer office manager alongside Maxine Hanson, says the executive B次元官网网址� made up largely of couples B次元官网网址� takes a businesslike approach to operations. To continue the branchB次元官网网址檚 charitable work in the community, theyB次元官网网址檝e realized they need to grow the membership base and that has meant going younger, while respecting the older members.
Offering a venue and a welcoming social atmosphere to such recreational groups as Darts Victoria and the Victoria 8-Ball League B次元官网网址� and community service opportunities B次元官网网址� has prompted many players to join the Legion.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to market it properly, bring in the younger people to keep it going,B次元官网网址� Yow says. B次元官网网址淎s opposed to some Legions where the mean average [age] is about 63 and a half, weB次元官网网址檙e starting to attract [new members].B次元官网网址�
Addressing its dwindling numbers, the Royal Canadian Legion recently opened up its membership to the public B次元官网网址� no connection to veterans or the military is required. Now branches can market themselves to prospective members like any other social or service club.
YowB次元官网网址檚 wife, Irene Harrison, who serves as the branchB次元官网网址檚 recording secretary and heads up the public relations and events committees, points out that BritanniaB次元官网网址檚 motto is B次元官网网址渢he friendly branch.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎nd heB次元官网网址檚 one president who, if he sees someone walk in the door who heB次元官网网址檚 never seen before, he always goes over and shakes their hand and welcomes them, and that goes a long way,B次元官网网址� she says.
Financially, the branch has no debt and owns a valuable chunk of land the club sits on at Summit Avenue and Nanaimo Street, as well as adjacent property. It rents clubhouse space to current and past members of the RCMP B次元官网网址楨B次元官网网址� Division and occasionally offers musical acts a venue to stage a dance or concert.
Keeping close financial watch on things is YowB次元官网网址檚 forte, says Harrison. B次元官网网址淗e has a good business mind and knows how to market it.B次元官网网址�
Not only did he take on the office manager job so the branch wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to pay someone, Yow and first vice-president Dave Neilson are adept at applying for the multitude of grants that are available. They helped Britannia save thousands on a new oven and stove for the kitchen, as well as a cooler and a glass washer for the lounge.
Evelyn Elliott, who lives in Metchosin but plays darts out of the Britannia branch, says she wanted to support the branch and its members and so took out a membership with her son.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to support them and I like the branch,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭he members are friendly; as soon as we walked in the door, a [different] gentleman said B次元官网网址榟ello and welcome.B次元官网网址� I liked that.B次元官网网址�
With five teams playing darts out of this Legion and eight or more people on a team, thatB次元官网网址檚 upwards of 50 prospective members. Like Elliott, a number of the dart players have signed up.
Yow admittedly wasnB次元官网网址檛 enthusiastic about making a big deal of celebrating the branchB次元官网网址檚 centennial, but says past-president Ken Holding headed up the committee and carried it off well.
The event, held 100 years to the day the organization was established as the Great War Veterans Association Victoria Branch, gave a good reminder that this Legion is worth saving.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a vision and a legacy of whatB次元官网网址檚 supposed to go on,B次元官网网址� Yow says. B次元官网网址淔or the first 100 years, it was nice once you thought about it. But to go forward for the second 100 years and be here, people have to change, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�
To learn more about Britannia Legion No. 7 and its activities, visit .
