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Index 1. AGM 2016 Minutes page 3 2. President Report.page 5 3. Membership Report.. page 7 4. Travelling Library.. page 8 5. Secretary Report. page 9 6. Genealogist Report....page 10 7. Corresponding Secretary Report.. page 11 8. Nominating Committee Report...page 12 9. Education Outreach Report page 14 10. Treasurer Report.page 15 2

THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS OF CANADA GRAND RIVER BRANCH Best Western Plus Brant Park Inn, Brantford, ON March 20, 2016 Annual Meeting Attendance 61 Welcome: President Paul Smith welcomed each one in attendance to the meeting. 1. Presentation of Colours and Royal Anthem Following the presentation of the colours, the Royal Anthem was sung to open the meeting. 2. Memorial Moment and Loyalist Prayer Ellen Tree led a memorial for Cathy Thompson UE, branch genealogist, who passed away February 10, 2016 and the members who had passed away during 2015. They included Mrs. Lenore Winger-Tupper UE January 14 Mrs. Barbara Vrooman January 22 Mrs. Lola Timson UE February 22 Mrs. Dora Mae Blayney April 27 Mrs. Melba Merritt UE July 29 Following a moment of silence Ellen Tree UE led in the Loyalist Prayer. 3. Business a. Minutes of Annual Meeting March 15, 2015 It was moved by Bill Terry UE and seconded by Bev Balch UE that the Minutes of the Annual Meeting which was held on March 15, 2015 be accepted as circulated.....carried b. Annual Reports It was moved by Mary Lou Harrison and seconded by Marilyn McDonald UE that the annual reports be accepted as circulated. Carried c. Nominating Committee Report The following report was presented by Past President Bev Balch UE: Vice President vacant, call for nominations three times with no response Genealogist Heather Smith UE Loyalist Library Liaison Michael McMillan It was moved by Irene MacCrimmon UE and seconded by Doris Lemon-Miller UE, that the report be accepted as presented. Carried 7. Installation of Officers for 2016 Bev Balch UE led in the installation of the following slate of officers: President Paul J Smith UE Past President Bev Balch UE Vice President Vacant 3

Secretary Dorothy Ellis Treasurer B. Ellen Tree UE Corresponding Secretary Janice Chmarney UE Membership Coordinator Paul Shaver UE Genealogist Heather Smith UE Outreach and Education Bill Terry UE Travelling Library Jerry Tree UE Newsletter Bev Balch UE Loyalist Library Liaison Michael McMillan Chiefswood Marilyn McDonald UE Webmaster David Hill Morrison UE Adjournment Norman Ellis moved adjournment at 2:55 pm J Paul Smith UE President Dorothy Ellis Secretary 4

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Grand River Branch UELAC Secretary Annual Report 2016 The following meetings have been held March to November 2016 Date Place Attendance March 20 Best Western - Brantford 61 April 17 Best western - Brantford 44 May 15 Best Western - Brantford 46 June 19 Christ Church Anglican - Vittoria 65 July 17 Norwich Museum 32 Aug. 21 Cambridge 32 Sept 18 Best Western - Brantford 36 Oct. 16 Best Western - Brantford 38 Nov. 19 Best Western - Brantford 30 Respectfully Submitted, Dorothy Ellis Secretary 9

Grand River Branch Genealogist Report for 2016 I took over the position of Grand River Branch Genealogist from Catharine Thompson UE in March 2016. Her passing was a sudden loss for everyone and I have missed her and all that she knew. Early in 2016, we received approval of nine applications that Cathy had worked on with the applicants in the fall of 2015. Throughout the rest of the year, we received approval for another 11 applications. In total, 20 Grand River Branch members had certificates approved in 2016: Mary Louise Mitchell UE Mitchell Andrew Merucci UE Jessica Mary Merucci UE Avelyn Victoria Brooks UE Darlene Cheryl Ruch UE Jennifer Louise Shaw UE Jacob Lorne Shaw UE Sarah Anne Shaw UE Megan Louise Shaw UE Barbara Ann Seitz UE Barbara Ann Seitz UE Arthur Edward Collver UE Bonna Weiser UE Bonna Weiser UE Margaret Genevive (Strong) Riley UE Deborah Ann Jackson UE James Paul Spencer Smith UE Rowan James Mueller Smith UE Isaac Albert Smith Mueller UE Sandra Boughner UE John Dingman John Dingman John Dingman John Dingman Albert Berdan George Henry Loyd George Henry Loyd George Henry Loyd George Henry Loyd James Matthews Phillip Force Jabez Collver Adam Cline Adam Rupert Edee Burtch Edee Burtch Albert Berdan Jonathan Williams Jonathan Williams Isaac Henry Gilbert Each application is such a unique case and I learn more about the process (as well as Loyalist history) with every application. This year saw the change to a new application form and a new set of guidelines. The new form, as well as the more stringent rules surrounding what constitutes a proper proof, are a challenge. I want to express my gratitude to the Dominion Genealogists Angela and Peter Johnson as well as my parents, Paul and Marlene Smith, who have done all they could to support me in this new position. Thank you all for this opportunity to serve as the Grand River Branch genealogist and I hope we have a strong year with many applications in 2017. I have many times felt Cathy her looking down at me and mostly rolling her eyes at the things I have said or the way I have handled things. I hope in the next year to cause less eye-rolling Genealogist Report for the Grand River Branch UELAC respectfully submitted by: Heather Smith, UE 10

GRAND River Branch, UELAC 2016 Corresponding Secretary Report Feb 10/16-2/14 May 2/16 Apr 30/16 - May 2/16 Apr 27/16 - May 2/16 Muth Apr 30/16 - May 2/16 May 29/16 - Jun 1/16 injury Jun 1/16 - Jun 6/16 surgery Don Thompson - sympathy card - death of wife Cathy Ronald Fink ue - Thinking of you card Claire Machon UE - Thoughts of you today card Rev. Malcolm Muth UE - Sympathy card - death of wife Marie Marilyn McDonald UE - Thinking of you card - cataract surgery Marion Tait UE - Speedy Recovery - accidental fall - knee Marilyn McDonald UE - Get Well Card - 2nd cataract Jun 3/16 - June 6/16 Bill Cronk UE - sympathy card - death of wife Anita Marie (Horlick) Cronk May 28, 2016 Jun 28/16 - Jun 29/16 Marilyn Pankhurst Jeannie Hornsby UE died - sympathy card sent to daughter, June 28/16 - June 29/16 Mrs Mary-Lou Harrison UE - sympathy card - death of mother, Mary Mitchell 11

Nominating Committee for 2017 Members: Balch UE, Sue Hines UE, Marlene Smith, Cynthia Stapells UE Thank you to the members of the nominating committee: Sue Hines UE, Marlene Smith, and Cynthia Stapells UE. Your suggestions and input were invaluable. Before we started our search to find a candidate for President and First Vice President, we discussed how we might make the positions in the executive to be more doable and hopefully attract younger members. Our membership is widespread, so travel time and highway driving was one issue. Another issue is the number and timing of the meetings. Members both not retired and retired have many obligations that make an additional commitment difficult to fit in. To address these issues we are looking at sharing both the President and Vice President positions. This is new to us, although other Branches do this. So the first item of business for the executive is to look at who does what in the shared roles. And I would think that the individuals will take on the parts that reflect their particular strengths. Next we are looking a reducing the number of face to face executive meetings and using e-mails, FaceTime or Skipe or conference calls. This too will need to be worked out by the new executive. After much discussion it was decided that we would combine Membership and Treasurer. There is so much overlap that frequently great confusion and duplication. I want to thank all the people that we contacted for their thoughtful replies. They may not have been able to step in at this time, but I feel we have planted the seeds for the future. Slate of Officers for 2017 *President: shared by Paul Smith UE and Bev Balch UE *1st Vice President : shared by Lori Scott and Bev Balch UE Secretary: Dorothy Ellis UE Treasurer/ Membership: Ellen Tree UE Genealogist: Heather Smith UE Co responding Secretary: Janice Chmarney UE Outreach and Education: Bill Terry UE Webmaster: David Hill Morrison UE Chiefswood Liaison: Marilyn MacDonald UE 12

Eva Brook Donly Liaison: Mike McMillan UE Colours: Cynthia Stapells UE Newsletter: Bev Balch UE Chaplin: Rev. Malcolm Muth UE. 13

THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA GRAND RIVER BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT 2016 EDUCATION OUTREACH 2016 has been another very successful year for the Grand River Branch UELAC. A number of opportunities occurred that helped to advance the purposes of the branch and the association as a whole. At our regular meetings many shared and offered assistance to others in their endeavours to complete their personal research and to learn of the many contributions of the Loyalists in general. Our webmaster, David Hill-Morrison, UE, continues to provide wonderful help and assistance through the branch web-site. The site is a wealth of branch history and of general information that is helpful to those pursuing the history of the loyalists. Marilyn McDonald, UE, who does such a fine job of placing notifications of our meetings and activities, continues in her own way to advance the story of our loyalist ancestors. The efforts of both David and Marilyn are so much appreciated and go way beyond in advancing this special part of our Canadian history. The branch newsletter, edited by Beverly Balch, UE, provides yet another excellent opportunity to advance the purposes of our branch and the association. In June, at the time of Loyalist Day in Ontario, we celebrated and shared so much with members and guests through a very successful event at Vittoria. The highlight, of the event, of course, was the participation of our Dominion President, Barb Andrew, UE. A fine follow-up account appeared in the local paper the Simcoe Reformer. It included photos and a well written account of the event. All present had a very pleasant learning experience. Once again, in September, we had a table at the annual Norfolklore and there was good involvement by visitors to that event. A number of participants visited our display and there were opportunities for them to have their questions answered. Respectfully submitted C William Terry, UE 21 Feb 2017 14

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