Working to dispel the dated perception of the legion being a closed door, beer swilling, cigar smoking old boys91裸聊视频� club, the Sicamous branch is updating its look to reflect that, and what the organization actually does for the community.
91裸聊视频淲hat we91裸聊视频檙e learning is, we91裸聊视频檝e done so much in this community, and a lot of people really don91裸聊视频檛 understand who the Sicamous Legion is, and what we do,91裸聊视频� president Bill Moore said, with the executive board aiming to change that. 91裸聊视频淚n the last two years, we91裸聊视频檝e probably given back over $100,000 back to the community for different programs.91裸聊视频�
He added that they can91裸聊视频檛 keep any of the money made from the meat draws, just 15 per cent over a year for administrative costs, but the rest has to go back to the community with clear guidelines set on which groups they can give that funding to.
The Poppy Fund has an even stricter mandate on who that money can go to support as it91裸聊视频檚 solely for veterans, and recipients have to be approved by Legion BC/Yukon Command, such as the donation Sicamous was authorized to donate $10,000 to Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) last year.
Moore explained that the PADS organization trains PTSD dogs, which costs approximately $40,000 to do, and has heard they91裸聊视频檙e currently training a dog that may be going to a veteran in Sicamous, which is really what the Poppy Fund is all about.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very controlled, and that91裸聊视频檚 the part that people need to understand. Operation money is a hundred per cent from beer sales91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 the income here,91裸聊视频� board member Jeff Mallmes said, adding that hall and Gardom Lake cabin rentals also contribute to that. 91裸聊视频淎nd that all comes from the membership coming in here and supporting us.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 not only the local membership, however, with the Sunday meat draw attracting people from Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong and even Kamloops, with some having told Moore that while they91裸聊视频檙e members elsewhere, Sicamous has the best legion around.
Through that support, and three New Horizons grants, the Sicamous Legion has been undergoing renovations and upgrades over the last five years to update the facility and attract more people. That includes an outdoor patio, new floor and ceiling installed last year, upgrades to the bathrooms and kitchen, a new fa莽ade on the exterior and will soon be redoing the bar. They also installed their own sound system so when they have live music, the band can just show up and play, saving a lot of time on set up and tear down. That, in turn, gets the legion a lower booking cost.
In addition to updating the bricks and mortar of the legion, the board has also updated the long-standing rule of no hats, finding it excluded a lot of the younger generation they91裸聊视频檙e trying to attract, 91裸聊视频渂ecause every young person is wearing a hat,91裸聊视频� Mallmes pointed out.
That was voted on by the general membership, as was a proposal to allow kids in the legion until 8 p.m., like any other licensed restaurant.
Mallmes added that these changes and advancements are only possible because of the people involved with the organization.
91裸聊视频淚f it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for the people that are involved in executive board, and volunteers91裸聊视频� it takes the right people to make it successful,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淓verybody91裸聊视频檚 got to be rowing in the same direction,91裸聊视频� board member Judy Moore added.
While the board has been modernizing the Sicamous branch, she also stressed that it is still an organization that is about the veterans.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e kind of unique in some aspects in that we do have some of the memorabilia and the medals91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd when people come in here, yeah we91裸聊视频檝e kind of fancied it up a little bit, but we91裸聊视频檙e still honouring the veterans.91裸聊视频�
Membership is $55 a year, with announcements of the many events held there posted on the page.
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