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MESSAGE
from the NATIONAL PRESIDENT 
December 2007
Dear Colleagues: On behalf of the Executive of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping(CAVUNP) I bring you greetings and best wishes. It has been a busy year for our Association with our attendance in front of many committees including making submissions with respect to The Veterans Bill of Rights, The Veterans Ombudsman and National Peacekeepers Day (Federal). We have also appeared (several times) in front of the Standing Committee of Veterans Affairs (Ottawa) as well as appearing before the Province of Nova Scotia’s Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (Halifax). Our Association has been represented on The Gerontological Advisory Council as sponsored by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) well as on The New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, once again, under the guidance of VAC. We have welcomed a new chapter in the Niagara Region with the President R. Donald Bowman, UE, CD. We wish them every success in their ventures. On November 16th, 2007 a delegation from the CAVUNP consisting of Chairman Robert O’Brien, National Secretary Treasurer Paul Greensides and myself attended a meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) at Legion House in Kanata as a result of an invitation from the RCL to discuss forming a new veterans organization that “may” be called The Royal Canadian Legion Federation of Veterans. On November 26th, 2007 a delegation from the CAVUNP consisting of Chairman of the Board of Directors Robert O’Brien, National Secretary Treasurer and Membership Paul Greensides and Veterans Affairs Liaison Officer Don Ethell as well as myself attended and met the newly appointed Veterans Ombudsman Pat Stogran. We spoke for about 90 minutes on issues that pertain mainly to Veterans. We appreciate that the appointment was effective 11 Nov 07 and to form an opinion after such a short period would be incorrect. We wished him every success in his endeavors and indicated that if requested we would assist him in any way we can. The meeting was attended by approximately 17 veterans organizations. The meeting was well presented and very professional. An email has been distributed to all chapters and Association executive describing the meeting and possible pros and cons. It is expected the next meeting regarding this proposal will be held in October 2008. It is also expected this item will be on our agenda at our General meeting in Winnipeg in September 2008. If there is any information flowing from this meeting from the RCL it will be shared immediately with the Executive and Chapters. The CAVUNP is also involved in the following committees:- The “Joint VAC/DND OSISS Advisory Committee” which has been in existence and contributed to the welfare of Veterans for over three years. It should be noted that our colleague Don Ethell is Chairman of this and other Committees mentioned. This position is separate and apart from his involvement with the CAVUNP.It was an extreme pleasure to witness the events as attended by the various chapters over the last year. Your activities have been very rewarding to the CAVUNP, your communities and to your chapters. You have every reason to be proud of your accomplishments. I look forward to witnessing the events in the coming year. They make a person stand taller and very proud to be a member of our organization. Keep up the excellent work. On behalf of the Executive of our Association I wish you the very best over the holiday season and a prosperous and successful New Year. Kindest regards, Ron Griffis National President CAVUNP 2246 Brow Mountain Road, R. R. #5, Berwick, N.S. B0P 1E0 Tel: 1-902-538-3399 e-mail: griffisgrove@xcountry.tv |
