Monthly Report

The Color Party was involved in the following events since the last bulletin:

November 21, 2002 Color Party participated in the General Meeting:

Color Party: Gary Macdonald Sgt.-at-Arms
Betty Zarney Canadian
Vicky Bilecki Union Jack
Marie Sawatzky Legion

November 28, 2002 Color Party participated in Initiation:

Color Party: Don Smart DeputySgt.-at-Arms
Peter Sawatzky Canadian
Herb Nicholson Union Jack
Betty Zarney Legion

December 3, 2002 Color Party had their monthly meeting:

Attended: Gary Macdonald Sandra Macdonald
Peter Sawatzky Don Smart
Herb Nicholson Marie Sawatzky
Betty Zarney
Absent: Bernie Davis, Connie Lightfoot, Vicky Bilecki

December 5, 2002 Color Party attended the funeral of Percy Wake.

Color Party: Gary Macdonald Sgt.-at-Arms
Sandra Macdonald Canadian
Herb Nicholson Union Jack
Don Smart Legion

December 9, 2002 Color Party attended the funeral for Jim Fergusson:

Color Party: Gary Macdonald Sgt.-at-Arms
Peter Sawatzky Canadian
Herb Nicholson Union Jack
Connie Lightfoot Legion
Sandra Macdonald Navy

TO ALL COMRADES:
Color Party School will be starting Sunday, January 12, 2003.
Location: McGregor Armoury at the corner of Machray and McGregor Street.

     The training is absolutely free of charge to all Legions, Ladies Auxiliaries, and other veterans groups.
     Upon completion of the training, each participant receives a certificate. All participating Color Parties will have a chance to perform in a final competition on the date mentioned below. Following the competition all persons attending the training sessions are invited to a dinner/banquet windup at which the winners will be announced and awards presented. This banquet is not restricted to Color Party members only.

Schedule of Training Sessions:
January 12 2:00p.m.- 4:00p.m. February 23 2:00p.m-4:00p.m.
January 26 2:00p.m.- 4:00p.m. March 9 2:00p.m.- 4:00p.m.
February 9 2:00p.m.- 4:00p.m. March 23 2:00p.m.- 4:00p.m

     The final competition is set for Sunday, April 6, 2003 at 1:00 PM followed by a banquet and awards presentations at Prince Edward Branch 81.

     Anyone interested in attending the Color Party training sessions can get in touch with the Legion office at 888- 2860.

     This will be my last bulletin as Sgt.-at-Arms. It was with regrets that I tendered my resignation. Now that I am living out of town, I feel that I cannot fulfill my commitments as Sgt.-at-Arms.
     I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to each and every one of the members of the Color Party. Your dedication, professionalism and commitment to the Color Party is exemplary. I was very proud to have been your Sgt.-at-Arms for the past two years.
I would like to thank my Deputy Sgt.-at-Arms, Don Smart, for all the help he has given me. Don, it was truly appreciated.
     To the three rocks of the Color Party, Peter Sawatzky, Herb Nicholson and Marie Sawatzky, for all your guidance, patience and understanding, I will always be indebted.
To our newest members of the Color Party, Betty Zarney, Vicky Bilecki, Connie Lightfoot and Sandra Macdonald, we all started learning together and we came together as a team to win the Color Party School competition. A very proud time for all of us.
     The Color Party does our Legion proud at every single event that they attend, whether it be a parade, a funeral or a branch function. The next time you see a Color Party member, take a second and say thank you to them, because they deserve it and I thank each and every one of them.

The next Color Party meeting will be Tuesday, January 7th, at 7:30 PM.

     Members who are interested joining the Color Party, there is still time to enrol in the Color Party School. If you are interested in attending, please contact the Sgt.-at-Arms, Gary Macdonald, at 788-1675 for information or the Legion office at 888-2860.