Public support needed as Legion ponders future

By Bradley Bent

The local branch of the Annapolis Royal Legion Community Events Facility needs your support. We would like to invite you to a public meeting to discuss the future that we as a community events centre would like to see considered and addressed over the future months and years. This meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 at our facility in Annapolis Royal.

The rising cost of fuel and the need to re-evaluate the exact cost of operating such a large facility, has come under our own scrutiny early on, giving us time to make changes. This is quite serious for our organization and the town. It stands to reason that we as an organization have to lower our operating costs in the immediate future. It is this kind of information that we would like to address and discuss with the local community for input and suggestions. We would welcome all participation with the public.

We are proud of our well earned role as the number one location that local people choose for their weddings, anniversaries, special events, New Year balls, BBQ’s, fund raising venue for local charities, auctions, parties, dances, and tourist functions goes without saying. Our “Raise the Roof” fundraiser was a huge success, and that was a success because everyone pitched in and helped us address the cost of a new roof, and still had fun doing it.

However, the hard facts are these – it costs too much to run facilities such as ours the way we have been doing in the past. Heating costs are different now and we can’t afford to have oil bills wiping out all our hard earned revenues. Discussion for a new furnace is in the works. We must consider isolating areas for event heating, and possibly shutting down throughout the winter months sections that are not revenue generating.

We need to get the message out to all our patrons, neighbours, and community organizations that provide the necessary social and recreational activities for the town and surrounding area, that we value their point of view and would welcome their participation in this difficult period of transition.

For further information and questions about coming to our meeting, all can be addressed by calling the following resource people: President Bradley Bent at 532-5196 (the Legion); Secretary Judy Geshue at 532-5339; Wallace at 532-2175 or Shela Breau at 532-0868.

BRADLEY BENT is president of Annapolis Royal Legion, Branch 21.