President’s Message November 2022
Good Evening Ladies!
We are well into our 2022 season. And, I must say it feels really good.
Next month, November, we honour and celebrate the men and women here and abroad who over the years, past and present, have devoted their lives to the military to keep us and others safe and free.
Some are still with us, some sadly are not.
More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in uniform, both here at home and around the world. Over 45,000 of our brave men and women in uniform gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded. The Second World War was a pivotal chapter in our country's history. The average age of living Canadian veterans from WWII is 94. In 2021 it was estimated that 617,800 were still living.
As of 2022 the Canadian Army has 23,000 regular soldiers, and 19,000 reserve soldiers (including 5,300 members of the Canadian Rangers), for a total of 42,000 soldiers. The Army is also supported by 3,000 civilian employees from the civil service.
Please join us in paying our respects. We again will gather on Wednesday, November 9th at Kelsey’s in the Sam Brown room. Leah has arranged for an amazing speaker to attend with us.
Still looking for someone to head up organizing volunteers to help the Salvation Army during their Christmas Kettle Drive. They are just asking for 1 hour of your time. Indoors, accepting donations. Please, let's not let them down.
Stay safe, stay healthy. Until we meet again,,,,,,,,,,Soon.
With Warmest of Regards,
Sharon L. Van Noort, OBWA President
November Dinner Meeting will be held at Kelseys Roadhouse Restaurant, 405 Memorial Ave.
Orillia, L3V 0T7
The restaurant will be following the Covid Protocol that is currently in place at their establishment
You must e-mail OBWA at: reserve@orilliabusinesswomen.com by 3 p.m. Friday Nov. 4, 2022
to reserve your dinner reservation. Our RSVP numbers are submitted to Kelseys that day as they need to know numbers for staffing. If you reserved your dinner spot please contact as soon as possible if you are unable to attend so that we can try and fill the spot with someone else that may be on a waiting list
There will be an event charge
of $5 for members and $10 for non members
payable at the door
You will order and pay for your meal plus your tip at the restaurant
As always we welcome all women to the OBWA and we are encouraging our members to bring a guest or two to our November meeting!
We are bringing some of our old traditions back to our OBWA Dinner Meetings! Toonies for Tampons where the money collected goes for feminine hygiene products for those in need in the community! We will be collecting non-perishable food items and as well Clean Reusable Grocery Bags which we will donate to the Orillia Sharing Place!
As well we will be doing a 50/50 draw at each meeting!
5:30 – Networking – please bring your business cards & brochures with you
5:50 – President’s Welcome
6:00 p.m. – Members will order their dinners
6:15 pm – Business of the Month – Charlene Mackenzie- Legal Shield
6:20 p.m. – 30 Second intro & our business updates
(please respect each other by keeping to the time limit)
7 p.m. – Guest Speaker – Chief Warrant Office Lori Flowers, MMM, CD
Chief Warrant Officer Lori Flowers is originally from a small town on the Gaspe Coast in Quebec. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989 as an Administration Clerk, after a posting to Canadian Forces School of Communication and Electronics in Kingston she released. She joined the Primary Reserves and spent time with 33 Medical Platoon in Halifax NS from 1992 – 1996 as the Chief Clerk. In 2002 she made the decision to transfer back into the Regular Force and was posted to 2nd General Service Battalion in Petawawa ON as a Resource Management Support Clerk. In 2003 she deployed on a 6 month tour to the Golan Heights as the support clerk managing the yearlong posted personnel, in Dec 2003 she was posted to the release section at CFB Petawawa.
In 2007 she served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR) as the L Coy Clerk in Gagetown, NB. In 2008 she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and appointed as the supervisor in the Orderly Room at Canadian Forces School of Mechanical Engineers. In 2011 she was posted again to 2 RCR as the supervisor in the Orderly Room and prepared for deployment on OP Attention Roto 1 in February 2012 for a nine month tour as the assistant Chief Clerk for the National Command Support Element.
Upon returning from Afghanistan in July 2013 she was promoted to Warrant Officer and posted as the Chief Clerk of the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Petawawa, ON. During her time there she deployed as the Superintendent Clerk on OP IMPACT Roto 1 in Kuwait for 7 months. In January 2017 she received the Commander Canadian Joint Operation Command Commendation for her deployment on OP IMPACT.
In July 2016 she was posted to the Combat Training Center in Gagetown as the Formation Chief Clerk. She was reunited with her husband Chief Warrant Officer Harvey Flowers 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment who was posted there in January 2016.
In 2017, she was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and appointed as 5th Canadian Division Support Base Personnel Support Services Sergeant Major. In 2018 she was appointed Member of the Order of Military Merit by the Governor General of Canada. In 2019 she was posted to the language school for a yearlong French course. Upon completion of that she was posted to 5th Canadian Division Headquarters in Halifax as the Human Resource Superintendent.
Chief Warrant Officer Flowers was promoted to her current rank and appointment as Technical Services Branch Sergeant Major in Borden, ON June 2021. She has 4 children Shawn, Samantha, Stephen and Shannon and a 2 year old grandson Samuel, a 7 month old granddaughter Quinley as well 2 step children Colby and Caleb, all of which have been very supportive over her military career. This is her third posting away from her family. When not busy with the kids she enjoys hockey, kayaking, biking and spending time at their cottage in New Brunswick.
7:30 p.m. – Closing words from our President
Please welcome our newest OBWA Member
Montana Hazzard- Northern Roots Hair Studio
&
We would like to welcome back the past members of the OBWA that have renewed their memberships
Please note: All memberships are due & needed to be paid by Sept. 1st, 2022 in order for you to be a
member in good standing
The OBWA is now changing when our annual membership fee of $100 will be due. All members will have a renewal date of Sept. 1st. each year for their annual membership. The majority of our members have not paid their dues during the pandemic. On Sept. 1, 2022 everyone will pay their membership dues which will cover their membership for Sept.1, 2022 until August 31, 2023 in order to be a member in good standing. Members in good standing have the privilege of posting on social media & have their information about their business and themselves on our website as well as posting on Face Book. Non-members can attend meetings though without the other privileges. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our executive members. Paypal payments accepted only: https://orilliabusinesswomen.com/OnlinePayments
We are looking for Sub-committees to help Organize the Salvation Army Kettle Drive this Holiday season as well as The Canada Day Parade in July! Please contact the OBWA or ask our Executive if you are able to assist us!
OBWA is opening up a new position to be filled by an OBWA member. The new position of Executive Assistant will assist the OBWA in any area where needed. We are requesting anyone putting their name forward to please read over the OBWA Policy and Procedures before applying for the position. The Policy and Procedures are posted on the OBWA website. If you have any questions please contact a member of the Executive for more information. We are accepting applications now! Voting will take place at our October meeting.
Our 2022 Gala Sponsors
