Now that the re-union is over, it’s time to get back to the business of the Association and eagerly await the next re-union in Summerside.

It seems that in every Canopy we use a lot of print on the subject of membership dues and change of address, to the extent that we may have offended a few of you and for that I apologize. We should never have named names in the Winter 2008 edition, but in our zealousness to get the job done sometimes we err, luckily not always in error. In hindsight, I should have talked more about how you would know when you are overdue and suggested remedies for same.

The members of the Board and I make the following recommendations:

1. When you check the envelope this newsletter came in, you will find the expiry date of your membership right beside your name.

2. Your dues are $20 per annum but nothing precludes you from paying for multiple years. Make payment to your section rep ASAP so he does not have to hunt you down, or pay by cheque or money order to, Para Rescue Association of Canada, P0 Box 3816, Courtenay BC V9N 7P2.

3. The Association has a very clear-cut policy for dues payment, and you will find it within this edition.

4. We will place in all copies of the Canopy where the member owes annual dues, a self addressed envelope with the dues owed on a separate paper. DO NOT

FORGET YOUR DUES FOR 2010 ARE PAYABLE BY THE 01 JANUARY 2010.

5. We are sending Newsletters to all of you whose membership has expired but were paid up until 31 Dec 08, there will be a special pink slip enclosed; after this you will have to be a paid up member to receive a Winter Edition Copy.

6. From now on we will make no special effort other than a reminder in the Summer Canopy to collect the dues, other than to check our records 01 October to see where we stand.

7. Another cross that we have to bear is that a lot of you move or change your e-mail address though the yeas, and if you don’t inform us it becomes a costly exercise tracking you down and resending your copy of the Canopy, we have no mind readers on the Board.

8. To get the Canopy out by the first week in June and December, we have to have your articles to the editor by the end of April and October, there is a lot of work involved in publishing it from putting it together to editing, please send in your articles early (note the new address it is now prassn@shaw.ca).

Now for some good news. We have instituted a Para Rescue Association Bursary of $500 for members dependants education, you will see the notification and rules in this edition.

A huge thank you to those who donated to the Association this year, we appreciate your support and it goes a long way to helping us to remain financially healthy.

Please don’t forget your Board of Directors needs feedback from you, and it can be in any form constructive criticism, recommendations, questions ot-even a little praise for your volunteers now and again. Send to P0 Box 3816, Courtenay BC V9N 7P2 prassn@shaw.ca or call me at 250 339 5829 rodpat@shaw.ca. I will bring each and every query to the Board of Directors and personally get an answer back to you.

On behalf of the members of the Board, Pat and myself, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy prosperous New Year.

Rod Verchere

President