JULY 2024

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“When I believe in something, I’m like a dog with a bone.” —Melissa McCarthy

MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES:

From the Outgoing Executive Committee

Dear Ladies,

It has been our pleasure to plan reunions and manage the daily general tasks working up to each monthly newsletter for the last seven years. We can't thank you enough for putting your trust in us.

This 16th reunion was going to be our last with the hope that someone else would step up and continue on to the next reunion.

It was down to the wire but one member's, bound and determined not to let things drop, decided to volunteer to take over! Brenda Bailey volunteered to become the Chair of the next Executive Committee, Shannon Hale is taking on the newsletter and Anne Marie Smith will be the new Treasurer.

Please check out the August newsletter to see what Brenda and her committee members are planning for the next reunion!

From the New Executive Committee

Ladies,

Brenda Bailey:

I joined the RCAF in 1958 on Course 5844. I had to leave in 1961 when I became pregnant as was the norm in those days. I have 2 adult children, 1 foster daughter, 8 grandchildren and 8 great granddaughters. I am looking forward to this new challenge and hope I can serve the members every bit as well as the outgoing executive. I also want to thank the outgoing executive for their excellent contribution to the Association.

Thank you, Tracey Everett, Pat Brennan, Claire Williams for all the great work your committee has done over the last seven years!

We are all aware that the R.C.A.F Airwomen's Association is not sustainable in its present format. In order to make the transition to a tri-service as easy as possible for some of our members, my suggestion for the next reunion (if it takes place) would be to call it the 17th R.C.A.F. Airwomen's Association Reunion/1st Canadian Military Service Women's Reunion.

I am waiting for the results of the survey before looking for a co-chair. If we are transitioning to tri-service then I would like, if possible, to have someone from the navy as co-chair.

Shannon Hale:

Hello ladies my name is Shannon. I’ve met you beautiful ladies at the last two RCAF reunions. My beautiful grandmother allowed me to escort her and I was so honoured. Your ladies paved the way so that I could join the military.

I enlisted in Nov 1996 and retired in Nov 2018. I was an artillery man for 10 Years and a Clerk for 12. I have two tours to Afghanistan and I look forward corresponding with all of you.

Anne Marie Smith:

Anne Marie joined the RCAF in 1959 on course 5944, she was a Meteorological Technician. She has attended the last three reunions and has volunteered her services as the Treasurer.

REUNION 16:

You can now see some of the photos from R16 on the Reunions page on this website.

COMMENTS AND REPLYS:

Ilene Terry writes:

It was a great fun filled reunion! Thank you and all contributing people and organizations!

Shirley MacIntyre writes:

Thanks to the P.E.I team for a great reunion. The venue was second to none, great hospitality, and above all so great to see so many old friends. cheers ladies

Thank you for your participation in this section. Ladies who wanted to connect were able to contact members here. If you would like to share a memory, please click the link below.

You can comment by replying to the newsletter email.

LUNCHEONS:

You don't have to be a member of the RCAF Airwomen's Reunion to attend a luncheon in your local area. If you are interested in meeting up with women you may have served with or whom served at the same time as you, get in touch with the facilitators to see what it's all about.

Some luncheons are monthly, year round. Some have their own annual schedules.

Edmonton, AB

Our next lunch meeting will be on July 10th at Tony Roma's in the Londonderry Mall, 6604 137 Ave NW at 1:00 pm. We hope as many as possible can attend and of course husbands or significant others are always welcome. Any questions, please call me, Elke Carr, at 1-780-912-9242 or e-mail me at wecarr@telus.net.

Charlottetown, PE

The next PEI Military Ladies Luncheon will be held at Northport Pier, 298 Route 152, Alberton, PE C0B 1B0 on Thursday 12 September at 12:00. Please contact Debbie Reid at debbie.reid1234@outlook.com if you would like to join us or if you have any questions.

EVENTS:

Women in Uniform to meet in Orleans, ON "EVENT IN SEPTEMBER!"

Heads up! There will be a get-together in Orleans, ON.

Jeanine Mader writes:

Hope to see as many of you there as possible. Anyone from the Ottawa area are more than welcome. Even if you live further away and happened to be in the area, please come by.

When: September 14 ,2024

Time: 11:00 am until 3:00 pm

Venue: Orleans Legion, 800 Taylor Creek, Orleans, Ontario

If you would like to attend this event or need more information, please send an email to servinggalsgettogether@gmail.com

*If you host a regular luncheon please contact us let us know where you are. You do not have to publish your information in the newsletter but if we know your group exists, we can contact you if ladies in their area are looking for a luncheon group to join. Thanks so much for participating!

LAST POST:

As the members of the committee update the nominal roll, we are discovering that some of our members have been with the angels for several years. We include them in our monthly newsletters as we find them. If it has been more than five years their names go directly in the Last Post list on the website, but do not appear in the newsletter.

Last Name	First Name	Maiden Name	Date of Death	Age	City	Prov
Bole	Phyllis Olive	Bole	14 May 2023	90	Manotic	ON
Brandstad	Eunice Lenora "Lee"	Peters	29 Mar 2021	86	Truro	NS
Gustafson	Lillian		1 Jul 2022	97	Victoria	BC
Nielsen	Mary Corinne	Barton	15 Aug 2020	79	Brampton	ON
Overton-Gaudet (Amirault)	Doreen Frances	Overton	7 May 2024	88	Penticton	BC

If you have a notification of a member who has died and you do not see their name in the Last Post on our website, please let us know here. Thank you.

BIRTHDAYS:

A “Very Happy Birthday!” to our July birthday ladies.

YOUR COMMITTEE:

Executive Committee

Brenda Bailey - Chair

Anne Marie Smith - Treasurer

Shannon Hale - Newsletter

NEWSLETTER