Legion News!!! Friday evening ... the Chase the Ace didn't go. Saturday evening ... there were eight Royal Canadian Legion hosts at the Virden Oil Caps game against the Selkirk Steelers. Virden won. The hosts were: Barb, John, Frank, Frank's daughter, Kevin, Ross, Bill, and Kel. You can be a host, too, by just phoning Barb saying that you'd like to help with this fundraiser for the Legion. The next hosting is this coming Friday. More News 1. Royal Canadian Legion District 2 Zone 26 Meeting is being hosted by the Kenton Legion Branch #118 on Sunday, February 25th, 2018 starting at 1330hrs (1:30 pm). All Branch Presidents and Vice Presidents are urged to attend. No limit to numbers attending from each Branch; but limit of up to 4 voting members per Branch. Zone Commander John Stowe would like to know how many are coming by February 19th. 2. Our Branch's Curling Funspiel is this coming Saturday. Cost per rink is $100.00 and includes two games and supper. If you only want to come for the exceptional supper then let the Duty Bar Steward know and get your name on the supper list. Legion number is 748-1668. 3. Board Game Night is on Friday, February 23rd at 7:30 pm if you want something to do and have some fun. Location is the Legion Club Room.1. 4. The Virden Legion Cadet Corps ... the XII Manitoba Dragoons .... meets every Monday evening at 6:45 pm for activities. Great youth programme for town and area youth aged 12 to 18.

Things you ought to know: 1. Chase the Ace at the Virden Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is now, at this very moment, worth $10,150.00 ... and it will be worth more when all of Friday's tickets are sold. 2. There are only 18 (eighteen) cards left. 3. You just can't walk in to the Club Room and say I'm here. Way, way, way back in December a Motion was passed which basically said: A Legion Member can bring in their spouse and four (4) guests only. A Ladies Auxiliary Member can sign in one guest. Note that when the person who signed you in gets up and leaves the Branch you can't stay behind. You have to leave with them. Now you know for sure. 4. If you wish to enter a rink in the Branch Curling Funspiel then act very fast because time is coming close ... cost is $100.00 for two real games and a supper for each member of the rink. Enter now and don't leave it until the last minute. Now that would be dumb. If you wish to come to the Legion Branch Curling Funspiel supper only then see the Duty Steward in the Club Room and get your name on the list for supper only. You better not waste time in doing that either because the Ladies Auxiliary aren't mind readers ... they have to have a hard number. 5. We sponsor the Cadet Corps that parades and trains here on Monday evenings at 6:45 pm. It is a cool youth group and it's Federal Government Funded. Therefore, no registration fees, no uniform fees, no training fees, and no insurance fees (insurance fees paid for by the Army Cadet League). We, Branch #8, highly recommend this youth group ... ages 12 to 18 ... five star levels ... Green, Red, Silver, Gold, and the other one I don't know. Though I believe it's called Master Cadet. The Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Erin Gray. A great group of 12's and teens. 6. The new lights in the hall make the place look brand new. 7. If you wish to be a Legion Oil Caps host then see Comrade Barb Noel. 8. Come read the outdoor Legion sign and see the bulletin board in the main foyer. 9. The Ladies Auxiliary had their Zone Meeting on Saturday in the Club Room. 10. The Ladies Auxiliary is looking for more members ... yes, you could be a member. The President is Chris Dunning. The Zone Commander is Glynis Whittle. There are I believe 36 members. 11. Note that the Club Room has a shuffle board for you to use plus a pile of dart boards. There are also a pool table and a billiard table if you wanted to teach your daughter or son the game. That also could be together time for the Granddaughter or Grandson. No better way to get to know young people by doing things with them ... like in the Legion Club Room. 12. There are a pile of new membership cards that need to be picked up with the owner paying the $50.00 fee. Come get the membership card ... it's not coming in the mail. The Legion opens at four from Monday to Saturday. Lest We Forget! Lest We Forget! Lest We Forget! THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION SERVING FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST IN THIS DOMINION OF CANADA. OUR CANADA. JOIN THE LEGION AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.

Many Legion thanks to all those members who were able to be part of the late Comrade Fred Tapp's Honour Guard and to Acting Sgt At Arms Hank Kyle for looking after the Legion portion of the funeral service. Thanks also to our President and Padre. The funeral took place last Saturday here in Virden. Lest We Forget! Lest We Forget!

Executive Members and the General Membership are reminded of the District 2, Zone 26 Meeting on Sunday, February 25th, 2018 at the Kenton Legion Branch #118. The meeting starts at 1330hrs (1:30 PM). All are invited but our Virden Branch has only four votes as do other Branches in the Zone. The Chase the Ace didn't go last Friday at the Branch. Doors open at four. Remember that you need to sign in .... Members can sign in their spouse and four guests. Ladies Auxiliary Members can sign in one guest. This Saturday, the Ladies Auxiliary will be having their Zone Meeting in the Club Room. Our foyer evergreen tree is decorated for Valentines as is the Club Room. Our thanks to Kathy for doing the decorating. It looks great. The evergreen tree is decorated for many events. It's not just a tree for Christmas. Come check out your local Legion Branch here in Virden, Manitoba. Leaving the most important item for the end. Branch Members are reminded of the funeral service on Saturday afternoon at two for our Comrade Fred Tapp who was one of our few remaining World War Two Veterans. He served King and Country. If you wish to be part of the Honour Guard then be at the funeral chapel ... that's just down the street from the Legion ... be there for 1:30 pm. We will enter together and sit down together. Our President will give the Act of Remembrance. Comrade Hank Kyle will be the Acting Sgt. At Arms for this funeral service. Please, be on time ... that's 1:30 pm in the foyer of the chapel in Legion Full Dress with medals. Lest We Forget! Lest We Forget!

Many thanks to Fort La Bosse Educator Darren Denty for offering to fix our five parade flag poles for the Branch. It was much appreciated. Many thanks from a grateful Legion Branch.

It is with regret that we inform our members and the community of the passing of Branch Member Fred Tapp. He was one of the few remaining World War Two Veterans in the community. He served King and Country. The Funeral Service for Comrade Fred Tapp is on Saturday, February 3rd, 2018 at two o'clock at Carscadden Funeral Chapel (383 Wellington Street West) here in Virden. The family has asked for Legion Branch participation. Comrade President Shae Aplan will deliver the Act of Remembrance. We will have an Honour Guard. If you wish to be part of the Honour Guard for Comrade Fred Tapp then meet in the lobby (foyer) of the Carscadden Funeral Chapel at one thirty in Legion Dress. Please, be on time. We will enter together and sit together as a group. Poppies will be available. LEST WE FORGET! LEST WE FORGET! LEST WE FORGET!

The Virden Branch (corner of 8th Avenue South and Wellington Street West) will have the Ladies Auxiliary Zone Meeting in the Branch Club Room on Satuday, February 3rd, 2018. The Zone Commander is our very own Comrade Glynis Whittle. The Virden Ladies Auxiliary is hosting the event. Ladies Auxiliary Units from across the Zone will be here. The Branch is honoured that they are coming to Virden for their Zone Meeting. Welcome to all! We hope that they enjoy their visit to the Oil Capital.

For more news about Branch #8 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Virden, Manitoba then read page 22 of the January 26th issue of the Virden Empire Advance which is available at local drugstores, the COOP, and at their office. Too much news to tell it all here ... get a paper.

The new liquor pricing and rental fees were finalized last night after much thought at the Committee Meeting with five members present. It will be typed up and submitted for approval at the next Executive and General Membership Meeting in February 2018 ... that's on the 21st with the Ex Mtg at 6:45 pm and the Gen Mtg at 7:30 pm. Friday, February 26th, 2018 is the Legion Dance with the live music of the Frank Keller Band in the Assembly Hall on a wooden floor. It starts at 7:30 pm and ends at 11:00 pm. The cost of admission is $15.00 per person. You'll have a fine time dancing or listening to great music. The bar in the Club Room will be open for your use.

The Chase The Ace did not go on Friday... as in January 19th. You need to sign in. Branch Members can sign in their spouse and four guests. Legion Auxiliary Members can sign in one guest. People just can't walk in and say I'm here. We have been telling people about this for a long time. The Motion was passed on December 20th, 2017 at a General Membership Meeting which was open to ALL Members. We are not throwing this out right now. It's been common knowledge and has been in effect since December 20th, 2017. If you plan on coming and you aren't a member then you better have a friend or relative that is who can sign you in. THE BETTER IDEA IS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BY JOINING BRANCH # 8 HERE IN VIRDEN, MANITOBA. THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO BEING A MEMBER ... ONE BEING THAT IT LETS YOU COME IN TO ANY LEGION IN THE COUNTRY PLUS VFW POSTS THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND LEGIONS IN THE UK. Legion Members are always welcome in America plus the UK. Cost of Membership is $50.00. See the Stewards in the Club Room for an application. We had six new Members accepted in to the Branch at the General Membership Meeting on January 17th, 2018. BE A MEMBER OF THE BRANCH! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)