NATO Veterans Organization of Canada
Organisation canadienne des vétérans de l’OTAN
A Voice for today’s Veterans ~ Une voix pour les vétérans d’aujourd’hui
President's News
Updated - July 19 2013
Presidents September Status Report
Vol 2 Issue 9 - September 1, 2010
Presentation from Minister's Meeting with Veterans' Organizations
Greetings to Members of NATO Veterans Org of Canada
There has been daily some item in the media about veterans –The New Veterans Charter, veteran pensions, phasing down Veterans Affairs or amalgamation, the Ombudsman and his resignation, modern day veterans etc. This is happening just as NATO Vet Organization is finishing setting up at HQ in Ottawa and at various stages of organization across Canada.
So what to do? Well most of the items mentioned above are “reactive” - items we can’t plan for - and stretching our formative NATO Veterans Org to adequately react. The Minister of Veterans Affairs has ask NATO Vet Org to attend a meeting in the Ministers Office in Ottawa on 15 Sept 2010, with six other well established veteran organizations - The Royal Canadian Legion – Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada ,- National Council of Veterans Association,-The Canadian Association of Veterans of United Nations Peacekeeping –The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, and The Gulf War Veterans Association of Canada.
The Minister is to brief us on:
- the rumors of Veterans Affairs downsizing (or amalgamating),
- the "lump sum payment approach" to pensions in the future for veterans
- the Ombudsman
- and of course, The New Veterans charter
Next, our lawyer advises us that NATO Veteran Organization of Canada. cannot hold a Annual General Meeting until our Constitution /Bylaws and Incorporation have been completed .We are in “final boarding process “ but these definitely will not be finished by 2 Oct 2010! So what to do?
The only practical alternative is to carry on as we have organizationally until Constitution and Bylaws have been approved (at which time they will forwarded to each of the members.
We will still have the electronic Conference Call on the 2 Oct, 2010 for all the HQ and Regional Exec at 1130 EST. A Special information Package will be sent out prior to the Oct 2, 2010, The Conference Call, and will contain a complete Organizational Chart of all your Directors, Executive, and Regional Presidents and their Assistants, on a Coast to Coast basis, along with an up to dated Financial Statement and a questionnaire in regard to pensions. In this package you will be advised of who is filling each of the current available Positions, until the Official Annual General Meeting that will follow incorporation and approved constitution.
Finally, for the period or “Phase four” from now till 1 Jan 2011 , NATO Vet Organization of Canada, will be focusing on an increase in our numbers. To be “a Voice to be listened to” -for modern day veterans OR put another way -post “Korean War Veterans“. Regions who are organized will be reaching out – newly established regional Units will have this as their next priority- our HQ Regional Vice President Doug Brunton and his Deputy Gerry Brian –our Public Relations Officer Dick Stooke –will all help the regions. We are targeting 2000 members by beginning New Year. We are just starting the Recruiting campaign – more to follow! We have already placed our first Recruiting advertisement in this issue of Legionnaire magazine!
Other matters you should know of:
- no more Life Membership for $100 effective 1 Jan 2011
- dues will be $15 effective 1 Jan 2012
- our Strategic Plan is being drafted with our objectives and planned phases for our growth “spelled out”
So from above- Ministers Meeting – Constitution/By Laws – Recruiting Campaign -we are active and growing and becoming more recognized
Best Regards
Gordon Jenkins President NATO Veterans Organization of Canada
Email : gordjenkins@sympatico.ca
Last modified
July 19 2013