101Squadron Contrails Spring 2014

I learned in high school that Vancouver Island has a “Mediterranean climate.” Now high school was a LONG time ago and things do change – but did anything out there feel Mediterranean this month? Oh well, Mark Twain had it right, “Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”

Good thing 101 has been too busy to notice the weather. Back in February we supported the Wounded Warrior 600km Relay. Along with the Chamber of Commerce, RCMP, Fire Department, and the Rangers 101Sqn held a meet and greet at the Lyon’s Den on the 15th.The Legion that night hosted the team with finger food laid on for the guests. The next morning the Chamber of Commerce opened their doors at 0530hrs for the 0600hrs start time of the run.  Down the road, our associates at Port McNeill Airport hosted them for a morning breakfast at West Coast Helicopters. The typical North Island support was a good start to the event. 

March saw us putting things in place for our 4th Annual Silent Auction, held once again at the Thunderbird Mall in Port Hardy. There is a surprising amount of groundwork needed for an auction to succeed and that means lots of planning sessions at our office - the Lyon's Den. No surprise, we are always unselfishly enthusiastic about those planning sessions. Still, being dedicated RCAFA members, as April 1st rolled around we took time off from such strenuous planning to join our comrades at 888 Wing for the Mess Dinner.  We really had a good time there, and we are particularly proud (once again) that we didn't get into too much trouble and embarrass ourselves. And of course, for us youngsters it is always nurturing to see our parents getting along okay still.

Recently our 101 Challenge Coins arrived and a number of them were dropped off surreptitiously at the Wing. The initial response to the coins has been enthusiastic, and we encourage you to purchase one or two to show you are all swell fellows!! To show how the coins can be used to bribe politicians 101 recently presented one to Port Hardy's Mayor at a recent Council meeting, and shortly afterwards another was presented to the Lieutenant Governor on a visit to the North Island. Darned if she wasn't prepared with her own and didn't have to buy a round!!

Back to our Auction... the final day was April 26th with bidding brisk and steady. In the end most items sold at a good price – customers were pleased with the deals they got, and 101 is delighted to have sufficient funds to fulfil our tasks for the coming year. (That doesn't mean you can stop buying our Challenge Coins!)

Straggling in to the Lyon's Den after Auction cleanup, 101 members met retired military member Art Brochu and his stalwart crew. These amazing people were preparing for Art's cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for kids who were sick, injured, hungry, and most of all without hope as the parents of most of them had been killed or detained and unable to care for their children in war zones.
The ride starts from Mile “0” - Carrot Park in Port Hardy. One or two of you may have fond memories of the glorious North Island sunshine at our Battle of Britain Parades at Carrot Park, and we have promised Art he will have summer temperatures to peddle off into. Let's hope the rest of Canada treats him as civilly!

Our President, Jim King, is meandering his way to Penticton to take part in the AGM. We hope it offers a bit of relaxation for our prez - Jim did an amazing job encouraging people to donate items to our auction. To the many people who helped steer items our way – THANK YOU!