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Ladies Auxiliary

 

 

Ladies meet September thru June, second Monday of each month. Membership fee to join (regardless of age) $25. Then yearly under 65 years of age $25 and over 65 years of age $20. Membership forms may be picked up at the front desk at the Royal Canadian Legion.

 Tree of Remembrance Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall tea and fashion show huge success 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Royal Canadian Legion #4 Ladies Auxiliary held their Annual
 General Meeting on Monday November 9  and elected the following members to serve on their executive.

 Past President Mary Insley

President  Lynda Bly

1st Vice President Diane Poynter 

2nd Vice President Marg McKay

Secretary Jeanette Lewko

Treasurer Carolyn McLennan

Membership Secretary Mary Insley

Sgt. at Arms Kelsea Bly

Executive Council Annie Dostie,Cory Hann,Millie Filatoff and Betty Enander

Installation will take place January 4/2010 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 Ladies Auxiliary 2008-2009 Executive

 

Back row left to right Gladys Archer Sgt-at-Arms , Annie Dostie, Diane Poynter,  June Hood Past President, Mildred Filatoff, Cory Hann and Betty Endander.

Front Row left to right  Jeanette Lewko Secretary, Margret McKay Second Vice President, Mary Insley President, Lorraine Jensen First Vice President, Carolyn Mclennan Treasurer and Lynda Bly Membership Secretary.

 

Cadets receive awards sponsored by the Ladies Auxilary at year end parades

 

one year perfect attendance

AC E Robert

AC K Robert

AC C Stoperski

 

4 years perfect attendance

PO K Bowman

PO Z Dewart

PO J Lutwick

 

 

 

Eleanor Mehrer says a few words after accepting the award of Legionaire of the year 26 Feb 08

 

 

 

Ladies Auxillary president June Hood (left) escorts Eleanor Mehrer to be presented the Legionaire of the year award as proud members of the Ladies Auxillary look on  

 

 

 

HISTORY OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY

 
During the 1930’s at the Dominion Convention of the Royal Canadian Legion all Provincial Commands were requested to set up Provincial Ladies Auxiliary Commands. On September 6th, 1934, the Alberta Ladies Command received its’ Charter.
 
An organizational meeting was called in October 1944, to form a Lethbridge Ladies Auxiliary. This meeting was held in the Legion Hall in a building formerly known as the Land Titles Office. A Provincial Ladies Auxiliary Command Representative was in attendance to assist the 17 Ladies with the formation of the Lethbridge Ladies Auxiliary.
 
On February 24th, 1945, the Ladies Auxiliary of The Royal Canadian Legion Lethbridge Branch received their Charter.
 
Our first President was Merle Cook and our Secretary was Frances Mullock. Our last remaining Charter Member, Frances Mullock passed away on January 18th, 2003.
 
The Branch presented the Ladies Auxiliary with $25.00 to help them get started and the Ladies immediately started their Fundraising and Volunteer services.
 
The Ladies Auxiliary set up a Cloak Room at the regular Friday night dances at the Legion. Coat hangers were donated and the Ladies took turns manning the Cloak Room to make a few dollars for the Auxiliary. Committees were set up to visit ailing Service Personnel in both City Hospitals and to assist Travelers Aid meeting troop trains with returning Service Personnel and their War Brides.
 
In early 1945 Mayor Shackleford approached our Ladies Auxiliary President, Merle Cook, saying, “We have a responsibility to our returning Boys and Girls and providing the Ladies Auxiliary can obtain permission from the C.P.R., the City of Lethbridge will provide a small hut with electricity to be located next to the train station. Returning soldiers and their War Brides could then be welcomed home with a nice hot cup of coffee and a doughnut.” Permission was granted by the C.P.R. with the condition that the area is kept ‘neat and tidy.’ Lumber for the Hut was provided by the Lethbridge Brewery and construction was completed by Prisoners of War. When completed, the Hut measured 12’ X 24’. The only furniture was a cupboard, table, benches, small coal heater and coal box. The Ladies Auxiliary did the interior decorating in the hut, painting the walls with donated paint and material donated for curtains were sewn by Auxiliary Members. Mr. Botterill from C.J.O.C. donated a rug for the floor. The supply cupboard contained a broom and dustpan, towels, soap, diapers, blankets, cups, saucers and utensils. Purity and Crystal Dairies donated milk, Jenkins Groceteria donated coffee and Weston and 4X Bakeries donated baked goods.
 
Each day four trains were met by the Ladies Auxiliary and a Representative from the City of Lethbridge. From the opening of the Hut in October 1945 to December 1945, the Auxiliary served over 540 returning Soldiers, countless War Brides and their babies. Eventually the ranks of returning men and women thinned and on April 30th, 1946 the “Welcome Home Hut: was closed down. The Members then put their efforts into a National Clothing drive. They worked tirelessly to sort through the mountain of used clothing that had been dropped off at the old ice arena on 2nd Avenue South. Clothing that wasn’t useful was stripped of its’ zippers and buttons and shipped to a Factory in the East where they were shredded and re-appeared as warm blankets.
 
In the early days the Annual Tea was held in the Gas Company Auditorium and some of the larger Social Events were held in the Old Catholic Parish Hall. Smaller functions such as card parties, strawberry teas, showers, etc. were held in Member’s homes.
 
Over the years there has never been a shortage of projects for the Ladies Auxiliary to put their energy in to. They have always been there to assist the Branch. In 1958, a fire broke out in the basement of the Legion requiring extensive renovations. The Ladies Auxiliary was there every day providing lunch for Volunteer Workers.
 
For several years in the 1950’s, Band Festival participants were served lunch by the Ladies Auxiliary.
 
In cooperation with the Ladies of the I.O.D.E., sprays for the Veteran’s Graves were made and laid for Remembrance Day. The Ladies have also paraded and served lunch at the Legion on Remembrance Day.  
 
Numerous other functions that the Ladies Auxiliary have volunteered and participated in are:
·        Poppy Campaign
·        Blood Donor Clinics
·        Canada Day Celebrations
·        Scholarships to local Students
·        Awards to local Cadets
 
Catering has always been a good source of funds for the Ladies Auxiliary. The Auxiliary ran the Lunch Counter at the Legion and ran Concession Booths at various functions, such as:
·        The Bull Sale
·        Wilf Carter Show
·        The Hell Drivers Car Rally
·        Raffles and Teas
 
In addition, the Ladies Auxiliary Meat Pie Sales have been a huge success over the past few years due undoubtedly to the quality of the pies being baked. Many thanks to Mary Insley and her Committee for their hard work in this successful fundraiser.
 
Funds were dispersed to such Organizations and causes as:
·        Polio Fund
·        Cancer Fund
·        March of Dimes
·        A.C.T. Band
·        Cadet Band
 
Bingos are another source of fund raising. Our share of the profits is dispersed annually to the:
·        Branch
·        Command Bursary Fund
·        Command Hospital Fund
·        Command Sports Fund
·        Stars Ambulance
·        Special Olympics
·        Fifth on Fifth
·        Arthritis Society
 
In 1951 the Lethbridge Branch hosted the Provincial Convention. Opening Ceremonies were held in the old Capital Theatre and the Banquet was held at the Civic Sports Centre. During this Convention one of our Members, Margaret Smith, was elected to the Provincial Command and served for 10 years.
 
In 1952, the Lethbridge Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion became known as the General Stewart Branch, No. 4, in honour of Brigadier General J.S. Stewart, a Veteran of both the First World War and The Boer War. He served as Honorary President until his passing at age 93 in 1970. His wife, Ella, served as Honorary President of the Ladies Auxiliary from 1960 until her passing in 1981.
 
Prior to 1919, the Legion was located in the Land Titles Office. From 1919 to 1948, the Legion was located on 1st Avenue across from the C.P.R. Station and in 1977 a Loblaws Food Store on Mayor Magrath Drive was purchased and renovated which is our current home.
 
In 1982, Gladys Archer and the late Edna Hagen were instrumental in designing a Certificate for presentation to Life Members. Command received permission to use this Certificate and it is being used by all Ladies Auxiliaries across Alberta.
 
From the 17 original Charter Members in 1945, the Ladies Auxiliary has had membership exceeding 500 Ladies and currently our membership exceeds 350 Members including 22 Life Members which is the highest Award available at the Alberta-N.W.T. Command level.
 
The highest Award that a Ladies Auxiliary Member can receive is the Meritorious Service Award granted to members of the Ladies Auxiliary who have rendered outstanding service to the cause of the Royal Canadian Legion and for work done for other Organizations and Committees. The Lethbridge Ladies Auxiliary is proud to have the following recipients of this award:
·        Flo Bates
·        Sharon Harper
·        Rita Penney
·        Gladys Archer
·        Betty Wigelworth
·        Blanche Stewart
·        June Hood
·        Adrienne Herter
 
The Palm Leaf to the Meritorious Service Award is a bar awarded to a Member already holding the M.S.A. and is for subsequent additional Meritorious Service. We are very proud that Blanche Stewart is a recipient of this Award.
 
The Ladies Auxiliary today still carries on the same tradition of ‘service’. Our Veterans need both our moral and financial support.
 
There are also many Community areas to support. We continue to support our Branch with:
·        Poppy Drives
·        Tag Day
·        Remembrance Day
·        Lunches for Auxiliary and Branch Member’s Funerals
·        Raising funds for general upgrading of our Legion.
 
We wish to honour all the dedicated Ladies both past and present who have contributed so much to our proud Legacy and trust that we can continue to ‘serve’.
 
 
 
 

 

 

The Royal Canadian Legion #4 Ladies Auxiliary invite members and friends 
To attend their  Annual Christmas luncheon with a Fashion Show
Tickets $10.00
This will begin at 12:00 noon  Saturday November 21 , 2009.
Hope to see you all there.