All members are welcome and encouraged to attend our monthly general meetings, which provide a valuable opportunity to stay informed about branch activities, decisions, and achievements, while gaining a deeper understanding of our goals and direction.
When you attend meetings, you have the opportunity to build relationships and discover new ways to get involved and collaborate. Your voice matters! Member participation is invaluable in shaping the Branch’s growth and driving positive change.
Below, you’ll find more information on how we run our meetings and an overview of our governance structure, so you know what to expect and how decisions are made.
Meetings
General meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm (19:00) and all members are invited and encouraged to attend and participate. The business and motions approved by the Executive Committee are put forward to the general membership at these meetings. Please see the Calendar of Events for details.
Executive Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm (19:00) where the business of the branch is discussed and motions presented and voted upon by the elected Executive Committee.
- The General Meeting is the senior authority of the Branch.
- The Executive Committee is the administrative body of the Branch.
- The Executive Committee reports to the governing body for approval of its activities.
- The method of reporting is through minutes of meetings.
Adoption, accepting, receiving of minutes is normally carried out by the body initiating the minutes. However, when reporting to a senior body, minutes (reflecting action taken) are presented to the senior body. It is mandatory that the minutes of a Branch Executive Committee meeting be presented to the next Branch General Meeting for the knowledge and oversight of the senior authority.
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Governance
Governance means the rules, structures, policies, and procedures that help Royal Canadian Legion members work together. It shapes how we make decisions, use our resources, and decide what behaviour is acceptable. Good governance also helps us set our direction, meet members’ needs, and solve problems.
Below you’ll find downloads for Branch 641 governance documents as well as links to those from provincial and national levels.
- Branch 641 Regulations (external pdf)
- Branch 641 Policy and Procedures Manual (external pdf)
- Branch 641 Clubhouse Rules (external pdf)
- Branch Elections (PDF)
- Order of Business for Meetings (link to Ontario Command forms)
- General Meeting (Branch 641 Template, external .pdf)
- General Meetings And Biennial Nominations
- Annual General Meetings
- Annual General Meeting And Biennial Elections
Branch Officers
The Executive is comprised of elected members (volunteers), with the Past President serving in a non-elected role.
President
The President, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Branch, exemplifies the fundamental qualities of leadership to the membership. As its leader, they have the ultimate responsibility for whatever happens, and their function is and will remain that of directing the members. As the Chief Administrator of the Branch, they are its representative in the community, and their character must demonstrate a combination of discretion, enterprise, integrity, responsibility, decisiveness, and judgment. While exercising leadership, they will accept direction from the Branch.
Immediate Past President
A President becomes the Immediate Past President on the election of their successor. The Immediate Past President shall be an Officer and member of the Branch Executive Committee. The Immediate Past President has knowledge and experience, which can be an invaluable resource to the President, the Executive Committee, and the Membership in general. The Executive should make use of the experience as an advisor or Standing Committee Chair.
Vice-President(s)
The importance of a Vice-President should not be underestimated. The office of the Vice-President is your assurance that your Branch will have knowledgeable Presidents in the future.
Secretary
The term “Branch Secretary” refers to the unpaid member, elected or appointed, who attends all regular and Executive Committee meetings and keeps a complete and accurate account of all business transacted.
Treasurer
In addition to day-to-day banking, the Treasurer is responsible for the required monthly remittances to various government agencies (e.g., HST) and for preparing monthly income/expense statements and balance sheets.
Sergeant-at-Arms
The Sergeant-at-Arms’ responsibilities include assisting the President in maintaining order during the meeting; ensuring that only those eligible are permitted to attend the meetings; being responsible for the colours and Branch Insignia; performing Ceremonial duties; and performing other duties assigned to them by the President.