A dire warning from the financial officer of the 91原创 Royal Canadian Legion Branch #21 paints a potentially grim picture for the organization鈥檚 future.

鈥淚 foresee our doors closing in the very near future,鈥� Jerry Gibbons wrote in the organization鈥檚 newsletter, 21 Gun Salute, last month. 鈥淭hings will have to change drastically for our Legion to survive.鈥�

In 2010, as a cost-saving measure, the Legion downsized from its long-time location on Eastleigh Crescent to a smaller building on 56 Avenue. Even that move doesn鈥檛 appear to have solved the organization鈥檚 financial troubles.

鈥淗ere we are one year later, and approximately $200,000 in the 鈥榬ed,鈥� something we did not expect or imagine,鈥� wrote Gibbons.

In that time, Gibbons added, Legion membership has dropped by 25 per cent.

The newsletter also contains positive information about upcoming entertainment and awards, but peppered throughout are references to the organization鈥檚 financial troubles and lack of support from its members.

鈥淚t has been a very stressful year for myself and our executive,鈥� wrote Gail Reid, president of the Legion branch. 鈥淲e have many finance problems, so we cannot keep our doors open if we don鈥檛 make money.鈥�

Of the Legion鈥檚 800 members, only about 50 are active and 鈥渟upport us all the time,鈥� the president wrote in her remarks.

The Ways and Means portion of the notice asks members to commit to donating $20 per month each. If that goal is realized, the newsletter states, 鈥渁 critical position could become a positive one.鈥�

Member Mike Harvey sees at least a partial solution to the Legion鈥檚 financial woes in its annul poppy campaign. However, current national and provincial rules don鈥檛 allow any individual branch to benefit from sales of the lapel pins.

鈥淭he law is now constituted that every dollar collected in the sale of poppies must go to charity. Not one penny is allowed to support any Legion Branch that institutes the drive and ensures that members are out selling the poppies,鈥� Harvey wrote in a letter to the editor of The Times (see page 7).

鈥淚n numerous letters I have suggested that the law be amended so that a small proportion of the funds raised can support the Legion branch that implements the sale helping to ensure the branches survive so that the poppy drives can continue. Unfortunately both B.C. and Canadian Command chose to ignore my plea, without even the courtesy of reply.鈥�

Reached for comment after The Times went to press, Reid said the money raised through the annual poppy fund is earmarked for a number of items which benefit local veterans 鈥� from donations to 91原创 Lodge and 91原创 Memorial Hospital to Lower Mainland seniors homes which cater exclusively to veterans as well as to 91原创 Meals on Wheels.

The money also goes to help individual veterans in need, she added, whether that means purchasing dentures, hearing aids or groceries for those who can't afford them.

91原创 Legion Branch #21 collected and donated $76,000 last year, Reid said.

While she admitted she is very concerned for the future of the 86-year-old organization, Reid said the money from annual poppy sales won't be used to prop it up.

For that, she said, it is up to the membership to support it by stopping in for a drink or a meal and attending special events. The Legion is also raising membership dues by $2 per year for the next five years to help offset costs.

There is no fixed date by which the Legion must turn itself around or face closure she said, but that was the situation it was facing in its old building.

"We had no other choice but to sell it and move."

However once in its new facility, the Legion found it was facing a host of unexpected costs, including a number of upgrades required by the City.

"We had to go ahead. We couldn't quit part way through," said Reid.

"We thought this year would be easier, but it hasn't been," she said.

"We're inching along."

Meanwhile, work on the new cenotaph in Douglas Park will continue as planned, irrespective of the Legion鈥檚 fate, said 91原创 City Mayor Peter Fassbender.

With or without a local Legion branch, the City will continue to hold Remembrance Day services each November, but that won鈥檛 be the extent of the monument鈥檚 uses, he added.

Fassbender sees the cenotaph as an ideal location for other public services of remembrance and celebration.

鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 have built it if it was for a single use (each year),鈥� he said.

The City is paying for the $216,000 cenotaph and has applied to Veterans Affairs for a $50,000 grant to offset the cost. The local Legion is not being asked to contribute to the war memorial.

Still, the mayor is hopeful the Legion will find a way out of its financial problems and lauded the efforts it has already made.

鈥淒ownsizing was a prudent move,鈥� said Fassbender. 鈥淢y hope is they continue to operate and continue to be a part of the City.鈥�