Minutes of a meeting of The Toronto Gunners (TG) held on Monday, 20 April 09 at
Moss Park Armoury
Members Present:
LCol Bill Kalogerakis, HLCol Bryan Stephenson, HCol Jim Hubel, David Burnett,
Paul Kernohan, Jim Brazill, Brenda Lightfoot, Kati Lightfoot, Ron Paterson,
Larry Goucher, Jim Irwin, and Steve Zurbrigg
At 1930 hrs David Burnett, President took the chair and Larry Goucher acted as
Recording Secretary for the meeting.
On a motion made by Brenda Lightfoot and seconded by Jim Brazill, it was
resolved that the minutes from the meeting of 16 Mar 09 be adopted.
CO's report
CO’s Report for 20 April 09:
Operations:
1. Task Force 3-08. Five of our soldiers have come home with the
remaining four coming back over the next two weeks. They are being met at
Pearson Airport by their families and a welcoming committee from the Regt. We
will be having a reception for them, their families and their employers in the
Officers’ Mess 15 June. More on that below.
2. TFA 1-10 deploying in Feb 2010. So far we have 1 Capt and 1 Sgt in
Petawawa conducting work up training. We have another 12 personnel going through
the paperwork and if chosen will report to Petawawa in April.
Training:
1. Collective Training: The Regiment went to Petawawa on the weekend
of 3 - 5 April to conduct live pairs and group firing with the C7 Assault rifle.
This was something new for us and will be done every year going forward. The
next and final live fire gun exercise before the summer will take place in
Meaford 1-3 May.
2. Individual Training: Along with providing instructors and
candidates to the 32 Brigade Battle School for the BMQ, SQ and PLQ courses, we
just started the Arty CP Tech Mod 1 course and the Arty Communicators course.
Also Artillery Regional Summer Training (RST) in Sault Ste Marie is standing up
and once again MWO Charles Harpaul will be the BSM.
Recruiting:
1. Recruiting continues to go very well. In addition to 8 on the regular BMQ courses we have 20 candidates on the CO-OP course being run at Moss Park Armoury. The proposed unit target for 2009/10 is 30. This is down from the 38 we received last fiscal year, however the numbers of recruits across the Brigade were cut by 25% to 300. As of the March 2009 LFCA report, the 7th Toronto has 185 soldiers on effective parading status.
Points from the Artillery Advisory board 2-3 Apr 09 Victoria BC
1. Reserve Equipment Deficiencies - The results of the survey taken earlier
this year were presented. Basically every unit has more or less the same
holdings. It was noted by DLR that there exists 38 LSVW CPs in stock and these
will eventually be distributed to the Res Arty units with quad radio trays. D
Arty is working on a common Res Arty unit equipment list as part of the Post
2011 Future Force Army structure. A working group will be held this summer in
Ottawa to define the Res Arty structure and equipment holdings Post 2011. A CO
from each area will be requested to participate.
2. Res Op Tasks were presented again. No change for us. However D Arty wants
us to provide feedback to CO 2 RCHA by 1 June regarding our Op tasks and our
view on what type of training and eqpt we require to achieve the expeditionary
tasks.
3. Res Digitization - The intent is to digitize comms/data between the OP to
the CP and then to a Det Comd Display on the gun. The gun will not be digitized.
No timelines given.
4. An SSO Arty will be introduced in each Area. D Arty will be meeting with
each Area Comd shortly to discuss Arty transformation and the SSO position will
be brought up.
Social:
1. Our annual Artillery Day Dinner will be held Sat 23 May 09, 1730 for 1900
hrs at the Canadian Forces Staff College's Armour Heights Officers' Mess. We
have invited MGen S.A. Beare, CMM, MSM, CD to be our Guest of Honour. This
dinner will also commemorate the retirement of Hon Col Jim Hubel and be my
farewell dinner as well.
2. The official Change of Command ceremony will take place Monday 15 June 09
at 2100 hrs in the Officers' mess. This immediately following the reception for
the returning TF 3-08 members. All are welcome. An invitation will also be sent
out. The Change of Command parade will happen in the Fall, and the date will be
decided upon shortly.
Ubique!
B. (Bill) Kalogerakis
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
7th Toronto Regt
www.7TorontoRCA.com
Note that 7th Toronto's web site is temporarly unavailable
as it needs to be changed to conform with Treasury Board directives
Top
RCA Business arising from the Minutes and Updates:
None
Financial:
Paul Kernohan reported that a breakdown of total payments ($8776.50) received to
date from 94 contributors is:
Unit Support Payments: 77 payments for standard Unit Support Dues - $3,850.00
Payments for Unit Support Dues - Extra Contribution - $1,445.00
LG Support Payments: 77 payments for standard LG Support - $1,925.00
Payments for LG Support – Extra Contribution - $731.50
RCAA Payments 55 payments for Associate Membership in the RCAA - $825.00
Paul commented that over the 3-year period 2007 - 2009 a total of $29,435.02 was
contributed for TAA dues (now Unit Support)/LG Support. The LG benefited by a
30% +/- increase in funding from the period of 2007 to 2008 during the merger of
the TAA and LG.
David and Paul are actively working on increasing the paid up support.
Approximately 40 personal reminder e-mails have gone out from the President
seeking support from members who have not renewed in 2009. Personal letters with
a reminder for support will follow in due course.
Our goal of 150 members for 2009 is achievable
Top
Limber Gunners Report:
Ron Paterson reported that May and June will be very busy for the LG with the
Quad, Limber and Gun scheduled to appear at:
- 18 May - Royal Salute with 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA at
Queen’s Park
- 22 - 24 May - Canadian Air & Space Museum Wings & Wheels
Heritage Show at Downsview Park.
This is a paid appearance for the LG with a minimum
scheduled firing at 1200 hrs on Saturday for the official event opening
ceremonies. More firings may be negotiated as the event gets
closer. This event will require a maximum support from all LG
members both for firing and display purposes.
- 30 May - OMVA Spring Show at the Ontario Regiment Museum,
Oshawa. Possibility of a firing during the mock battle
on Saturday afternoon.
- 6 Jun - Anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon - Hungarian
Independence Day. This is a paid appearance with 5 rounds
scheduled to be fired.
- 20 Jun - Highland Creek Heritage Festival. This is a paid
appearance for the LG.
- 1 Jul - Canada Day Parade and Remembrance Service at RCL
Branch 258, Scarborough.
This is a paid appearance with 3 rounds scheduled to be
fired.
It was mentioned that it would be appropriate for the Foundation to initiate an
informal fund raising process to add Herb Danter’s name posthumously as a
Permanent Member of the Toronto Artillery Foundation.
David Burnett has 2 sample baseball caps embroidered with the artillery crest
that he was able to source. Approximate cost is $10.00 +/- per hat. David will
arrange for the caps to be delivered to Ron Paterson.
Jim Brazill indicated there has been preliminary discussions about having 25
Pounders from Southern Ontario assemble at Guelph during the RCAA AGM September
17 - 20, 2009.
Ron Paterson will investigate if there is interest in forming a 25 pounder
association at the regional/national level to share ideas.
A complete listing of LG and TG events can be viewed online at
http://www.limbergunners.ca/html/calendar_of_events.html
Please refer to the LG Schedule of Events that has been incorporated into the TG
Schedule of Upcoming Events attached to these minutes as Schedule "A". The TG
Schedule usually extends out a minimum of six (6) months so that members can
mark their calendars well in advance for upcoming TG/LG events.
Top
Communications Report
Steve is attempting to get up-to-date e-mail addresses for Regular Forces
contacts. Their e-mail structure was recently changed.
Steve has set up the LinkedIn site for the TG. Send an e-mail to Steve at
vicepresident@torontogunners.org and Steve will respond by e-mail containing the
link to get you enrolled. Once sufficient members get in the group we will be
able to initiate discussion forums and post events of interest to the TG. Paul
will provide an e-mail list of TG members to Steve so Steve can invite members
to join our LinkIn group.
Top
Annual Fund Raising
Jim Irwin and Brenda Lightfoot reported:
1. Golf Tournament:
• Base Borden 9 hole golf course has been booked for Saturday, 18 Jul
09.
• Tentative numbers provided were 20 (5 foursomes). This is a minimum
requirement
• Tee off time is 1030 hrs. No power carts are available for the day
since a tournament has booked all of the carts.
• The meal only will be $40.00 for those that do not golf.
• A rate of $100.00 was agreed upon including green fees, dinner and
donation to the TG
• A major sponsor has been arranged - Auto Action Parts & Supply. TG
will supply supper to the sponsor.
2. Race Night - 2009 - Exercise Home Stretch 2
• Woodbine Racetrack has been booked for Wednesday, 10 Jun 09 and a
minimum payment made for 22 people.
More can come, but we have to provide a number of attendees no
later than 1 Jun 09
• 6:00 pm for dinner.
• This event is open to all associates, regimental members, Gunner
friends and guests.
• $60.00 per person
• A voucher for a free dinner for 2 has been provided by Woodbine.
This will be raffled off during the event.
• Other fund raisers for the evening are a raffle for a horse
blanket, 50/50 draw and Brenda is working on some door prizes.
• Advertising for the event accompanied invitations to the Artillery
Day Dinner. Another copy is attached to these minutes as
Appendix "B".
• Reservations/Payments can be made through Brenda at
kevinlightfoot@sympatico.ca
• Deadline for confirmation of attendees is 1 Jun 09
3. Annual Toronto Artillery Foundation (TAF) Fund Raising Dinner hosted
by the HCol & HLCol of the 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA
• Date in October to be finalized around availability of HCol Jim
Hubel.
• Appearance of the Regimental Band Quintet should be investigated.
• It was agreed the event would be black tie, or business suit since
we are opening the event to guests.
• After discussion it was agreed that the subscription price would be
$200.00, with a tax receipted donation of up to $100.00
to the TAF included, depending on the final cost of the dinner.
Top
RCAA Report
The President informed the meeting that Brian McGrath has a family member in the
hospital and could not attend tonight’s meeting. David offered thanks to Brian
and Jim Brazill on the work they did to arrange for the delivery of future
editions of the Quadrant to our members who chose to become Associate Members of
the RCAA.
The Treasurer will send the cheque for the Associate Members and attach a copy
of the e-mail trail confirming the mailing policy to expedite processing at the
RCAA.
Informational Presentation to the Regiment
All presentations have been received. Jim Brazill will assemble the text and
pictures into 4 - 10 minute presentations. No date will be scheduled for the
presentation until its content is complete.
Top
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Ron Paterson will investigate if there is interest in forming a 25 Pounder
association at the regional/national level to share ideas. HLCol Stephenson
indicated a short article with a picture in the Quadrant would be an appropriate
way to solicit for interest.
HLCol Stephenson requested that Steve Zurbrigg investigate how the TG could use
the Internet for a virtual meeting.
Top
Next Meeting
Due to the 3rd Monday in May being the Victoria Day Holiday it was agreed that
the next TG monthly meeting will be held Monday 1 June 09 in the
Sergeant’s Mess, Moss Park Armoury at 2000 hrs following the
completion of the LG meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further business David Burnett declared the Meeting adjourned at 2140 hrs.
Attachments : Appendix “A” - Schedule of Upcoming Events – 2009 -- deleted
Appendix “B” – Exercise Home Stretch 2 -- deleted