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Fellow Riflemen,

We are planning a celebration for 2015 to erect a Memorial Stone Marker at both Gander and Botwood in Newfoundland in Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the posting of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada to these two locations in 1940. More information may be found on our web site. We are looking forward to seeing members from all Branches of the Association here for this event.  We have had a 2015 Events Organizing Committee in place for a year or so. Here is a brief overview of some of the activities of the committee thus far: You may download a printable copy here: Meetings have been held with the mayors in their council chambers with their Events Representatives in the Town of Botwood and on a separate day in the Town of Gander. They have offered their full support. We have been invited by the Legion in Botwood to attend their Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony held on Sunday, June 30, 2013. Some pictures are posted here.  On Canada Day, John Metcalfe, Ed Jackman, Wayne Thomas and I paraded with the Botwood Legion and placed a wreath. After the parade and back at the Legion, one of the ladies on parade came along and talked about how much she enjoyed her time with the Queens Own Rifles when they were stationed in Botwood. Enquiring her age, she was in her 90th year. She has some fond memories.  On another occasion we have made verbal contact with the Gander Legion.  The dates for the celebration event have been set for Friday, August 7, 8 and 9 of 2015, with Friday being the Meet & Greet and AGM in Gander. Stone Marker ceremony on Saturday in Gander followed by dinner/dance, etc, that evening. Finally on Sunday, we travel to Botwood where the RMS Duchess of Richmond first dropped anchor and we will perform the Stone Marker ceremony and closing ceremony. This is tentative - Order of events to be confirmed. We have invited General [Ret'd] Rick Hillier to be the keynote speaker at our reception on August 8th, 2015. General Hillier has accepted this invitation, conditionally on work commitments, but said he will vigorously guard these dates.

1The Queen’s Own Riflesof Canada AssociationNEWFOUNDLAND & MARITIMES BRANCH17 Riverview ExtensionClarenville, NL., CanadaA5A 4N2

 We have invited members from the other branches to join our Organizing Committee. We have received acceptance from:

Bob Dunk, National President, Dave Lavery, National VP's and Toronto branch president. Tom Martin, National VP and president of the Victoria branch.

We have the Support of John Fotheringham, a former CO of the Regiment. John is responsible for all the memorials belonging to the Regiment in Canada and through-out the world as well as overseeing new monuments. John will assist us and point us in the right direction for government grants as well as requesting funding assistance from the Trust Fund. We have not yet had any replies from the Calgary Branch.

We have visited the sites of two stone suppliers, one in Grand Falls-Windsor and one in Clarenville investigating the cost for an appropriate solid stone monument for each location. The stones we are pricing are very similar to what is shown in the picture to the left. We have negotiated the cost of two stones at $4060.00 including shipping to each site with taxes included. This does not include installation. The thickness of the stone will be 6”. The height and width will average 32”. The stone is jet black in color where polished and will appear charcoal elsewhere. This quote appears to be the best deal we can obtain in Newfoundland at this time.  We are hoping we will get the approval of John Fotheringham soon so we can place the order before the end of December at after which time the prices may

change. We are hoping we can raise sufficient funds to have these stones mark this special occasion in both towns. We have had various internal meetings and discussions about methods for raising funds to cover this cost. We applied for a 50-50 lottery license and have been waiting for approval which we received. The Licence number is – 13-10299800LT and is good for only a period of 12 months. We will be running 50/50 draws for a period of 12 months within the ranks of the association branches for members only. We will NOT sell tickets. SO. . .

How will it work? We will use the Association membership numbers of all members in the Association. These numbers will be printed on identical size discs and placed in a drum. All members will have their number in the drum if a purchase is made or NOT. To be an eligible winner you must have your dues up to date and the $5.00 per draw

paid before the month of the draw. Each member can only purchase their own number and only once per draw. The minimum amount set for a purchase is $5.00 per draw.

We will meet on the first Friday of each month and make a draw. We will check with your branch on the status of that number to verify it belongs to a

member in good standing We will verify the draw fee is paid to our account for that month. If the fees are NOT paid for that drawn number than there is no winner. The next draw begins with the collected amount in the pot. If the drawn number is in good standings as stated above, the member will take half of

the funds collected since the last winning draw. The other half will go toward the QOR 2015 Botwood and Gander Monument Costs and

the pot returns to $0.00. Numbers are re-placed back into the drum and another draw will take place the following

month and each month after for twelve months. In the case of the final event draw we will draw until we have a sure winner. Lucky numbers along with raised amount will be shown on our website.  

If this lottery does not appear to reap the funds we need we will have to apply for other lotteries including people outside of the Association. On the other hand; what we receive in excess of the cost of two markers will be donated to our Trust Fund. Important Notes about the Draw(s): Purchase all 12 months at once and get one month FREE.  Totall $55.00 (you are set for the whole game duration). The amount of the pot will depend on the number of people who participate. If you count all our members we have just over 800. Last count we had 440 members in the Association in good standing for 2013. This will no doubt grow as members pay up their dues. If all the present members in good standing played the 50-50 it would be $2200.00 per month for a winning of $1100.00 per draw. So get your money in, your number is already here. If you are not in it, you can’t win it. How will you pay?      You may pay by Cheque, Money Order or by Phone.

Cheque and money orders can be made payable to 2015 QOR NL Association and mailed to:2015 QOR NL Association                                    Download an order Form17 Riverview Ext.Clarenville, NLA5A 4N2

 Pay by Mobile like a Smart Phone.  Interac  e-Transfer is a simple, convenient, and secure  way to send and receive money directly from one bank account to another. All you need is access to online or mobile banking through your financial institution, and you can send money to anyone with an email address or mobile phone number and a bank account in Canada without sharing any personal or financial information. It's a great alternative to cheques and cash.

Just Login to online or mobile banking at your financial institution. Choose Interac  e-Transfer within the Transfer/Payment menu options.

Select a recipient by entering an email address and/or mobile phone number. Fill in the Interac  e-Transfer information (dollar amount, account from which to

withdraw the funds, a security question that only the recipient will know the answer to (like your National Membership Number) and a personal message that its for the 50-50 draw and your Name as it is on your membership card.

Follow the instructions to confirm the information and to complete the transfer. You’re done.

To learn more Go here:http://www.interac.ca/en/interac-etransfer/etransfer-detail  Most banks offer pay-by-phone. Here are some examples with demos:BMO-  http://www.bmo.com/mobile/demo ING-    http://www.ingdirect.ca/mobile/index.htmlRBC-  http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/mobile TD  -   http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/products-services/banking/electronic-banking/tda-ph.jsp NOTE: Right now there is a deal on till December 31 at CIBC. If you have a CIBC account and a smart phone or tablet you can get $15.00 to go towards your purchase by downloading their App leaving you only $40.00 to make your number eligible to win in all of 12 draws. Join the fun and Good Luck! Some other NotesSome people have already planned to make the Rock an extended holiday and were wondering about the possibility of extending the time frame. We have had discussions on just such a matter. If there is enough request and desire to do so we can arrange other outings, for example if the group wanted to take a bus tour to Twillingate (2 hr from Gander) area with maybe an early dinner [that’s supper in NL] in Hillgrade (1 ½ hr from Gander), on the wharf at the Lobster Pound, where you can pluck your own lobster(s) from the pool and have it cooked, while you enjoy fresh steamed mussels over a cocktail. Than we can do that. Other meal choices are available for those not so inclined. Other more adventurous trips can also be planned if the desire and interest is there to do so. Your contact for additional travel request and or suggestions should be forwarded to Wayne Thomas- waynethomas@qor-east.com.  Suggestions on Government liaison items/suggestions should be forwarded to John Metcalfe – john@qor-east.com    Suggestions on what we might be able to add to the planning agenda should be forwarded to Ben Turpin - ben@qor-east.com   

A quick request - is that if any member of any branch is aware of any Rifleman that may be alive today, and served in Botwood or Gander during the 40’s, we would like to make contact with them. Spread the word. Will be expecting you here to take away some fond memories. Benben@qor-east.com    -   http://www.qor-east.com