Firebird Club of Canada
Written by Heather McMillan for My Husband Murray
September 29th / 2024
A Meeting Was Held Between Murray McMillan Firebird Club Of Canada Founder / Ontario Chapter President & National President & Danny Pearce National Vice President Firebird Club Of Canada & Ontario Chapter Vice President to Discuss Murray’s Retirement from Running the Club & Organizing Bandit Run Canada
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL FIREBIRD CLUB OF CANADA MEMBERS
Your founder and National President will now begin his transition to Retirment.
What This Means!
As most of our members already know, Murray is the only organizer for Bandit Run Canada. Murray gets the permit, the insurance, organizes all the police and fire escorts, updates the website and builds the Eventbrite Ticket sales page, sets up the Make a Wish Fundraiser page, acquires the DJ’s and Drone operator, gets the DJ. Gear sponsored by L&M, organizes the Make a Wish Family and Make a Wish Rep to appear at the event, gets all the sponsor prizes for the give aways, organizes the other clubs and their sponsored trophies, and that is just part of what it takes to get Bandit run Canada ready each year.
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THE ISSUE FACING BANDIT RUN CANADA AND THE FIREBIRD CLUB OF CANADA IS – WHO IS GOING TO DO All THIS WHEN MURRAY RETIRES?
UNLESS SOMEONE STEPS UP TO DO THIS WORK
BANDIT RUN CANADA WILL OFFICIALLY END IN AUGUST 2027 WHEN MURRAY TURNS 75
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Danny Pearce is also getting ready to retire and very possibly will move where his children and grandchildren are located, to Eastern Canada.
There is A Plan for Our Future
Murray’s workload will now begin to be reduced. Today Murray turns 72 years old and he is satisfied with what he has accomplished for the Membership of our Club. As his wife, I know better than anyone the long hours he has given now for 12 years for this membership and the financial costs we have carried.
Bandit Run Canada
Murray created an event that is recognized as a Canadian National Car Event For Make a Wish Canada. Something every member all across Canada can be very proud of. Bandit Run Canada has gone from 54 Firebirds in 2018 to 137 Registered Vehicles in 2024 and will probably surpass 200 Vehicles in 2025.
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A NOTE CONCERNING PROVINCIAL CHAPTERS
Murray has given total independence to all the provincial chapters he created. He has never interfered in those chapters. Their members are in complete control, and if needed, they can, vote and appoint new leaders in the future for their chapters as they always have been able to do.
Murray created all our Provincial Chapters from British Columbia to Newfoundland and appointed every leader for them so they could be totally independent.
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As far as the provinces are concerned, the only thing Murray will continue to make sure happens is New Members are signed up all across Canada and they get their Member Shirts with all the Patches delivered to them as long as he is healthy enough to do so. Murray will continue to help all our Chapters set up their Make A Wish Fundraiser pages and get their own Provincial Bandit Run off the ground, if he is asked for that help.
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ONTARIO CHAPTER
IS UNIQUE FOR TWO REASONS – NUMBER OF MEMBERS AND BANDIT RUN CANADA
CHANGE IS NEEDED NOW
Your, Ontario Chapter has Murray as Ontario Chapter President and Danny Pearce will resume the vacant position here as Vice President. Murray has always been able to count on Danny’s loyalty and support and a Club cannot function unless all our Officers act with the same respect and professionalism Danny has shown over the years. Each Officer must support and respect every other officer, or we cannot count on them in leadership positions. A professional, drama free work environment is required if anyone is to hold a position in our club.
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After a long discussion, both Murray and Danny have agreed, the time has come to train Three Officers for Bandit Run Canada, who will learn the ropes in the next couple of years to take over organizing and hosting Bandit Run Canada for Make A Wish As well As Be Considered For Ontario Chapter President and Vice President.
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IMPORTANT
If 3 Officers are not found to take over this work – Bandit Run Canada Will Hold Its Last Event July 2027.
Murray’s Dream Is That He Remains Until $100,000.00 Is Raised for the Kids – I Know He Would Really Like to Accomplish That Life Goal With Our Members Help & Support.
Moving Forward
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HOW WILL MURRAY’S WORKLOAD CHANGE?
All Of Murray’s Responsibilities Will Begin To Be Phased Out Now As The Officers Become Familiar with Their New Positions
1. Murray will continue to sign up New Members and Update The Website as well as Ship Our Membership Shirts to All New Members across Canada as long as his health allows him to do this and he will retain for life “Founder & National President Of The Firebird Club Of Canada”.
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2. Murray Will Acquire Permits and Insurance for Bandit Run Canada and Continue to Organize with the Support of Danny Pearce Your National V.P. Until 2027 when The New Ontario Chapter President and Vice President will take over this duty after the Ontario Chapter President is elected.
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3. Murray will acquire all trophies and awards for Bandit Run Canada with proceeds from our event the previous year until 2027 when the new Ontario Chapter Chap[ter President will take over this duty. Trophies for Non-Firebirds Will Be sponsored By Interested Clubs.
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4. Murray will manage all registrations for the event through our website / via / eventbrite with all proceeds going to the club for flyers, business cards. permits, insurance, office costs, website hosting, truck fuel allowance every year $250 and any other costs associated with running the club and hosting Bandit Run Canada. Murray will no longer cover any costs himself as he has been doing these past 11 years, to build this club and bring Bandit Run Canada to profitability. Murray will do this until The New Ontario Chapter President will take over this duty in 2027.
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5. Murray will continue to set up our Make A Wish fundraiser page and work to secure donations for the kids.
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A smooth transition must be just a couple of years away, where Murray is just the Master Of Ceremonies for Bandit Run Canada, and the work is handed over to the Next Generation of dedicated leaders in our Club. Mature professionals are needed who can represent your Club in the best possible light and protect our brand and association with Make A Wish Canada.
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The Ontario Chapter President Election will be held every 2 years on September 29th Beginning In 2027. As With All Chapter Presidents, The Person Who Becomes President Will Then Have the Right to Choose Their Own Vice President, so a Workable Relationship Is Guaranteed to Best Serve the Membership.
The 3 Officer Positions Are
Bandit Run Canada – Parking Supervisor
To organize 5 parking attendants and show them their duties for Bandit Run Canada. Manage all Bandit Run Canada Parking in a Professional and well Organized manner.
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Bandit Run Canada – Route Supervisor
You will be introduced to all Fire Department and Police Department Personnel involved as our Escorts and you will visit them in person each year as I do now to remind them of the date and time they are required – to make sure they are In place and ready. You will get the free Route Sign Permit, Place The Route Signs 1 Week before event and then Retrieve them After the Event.
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Bandit Run Canada – Judging Supervisor
You will be Responsible each year to have all Independent Judges in Place by working with the other clubs and especially Paul Freeburn from Kool Ridez who will again sponsor several non-firebird divisions. You Will make sure each Division is parked together with Appropriate Signs to speed up the Judging Process. Judges will no longer have to look for their respective categories at the show. Clubs Will No Longer Park together as explained in the previous statement.
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Preparing For the Future and a Smooth Transition So Murray Can Become – “Founder of the Firebird Club of Canada & Master of Ceremonies for Bandit Run Canada” only, Begins Now.
Murray and Danny will now be accepting Resumes from both men and women who want to become part of a Professional Team to take Bandit Run Canada and The Firebird Club of Canada into The Future here in Ontario.
Both Murray and Danny Would Like To See More Involvement From Our Lady Members, So Please Send In Your Resumes and Specify What Officers Position You Are Interested in.
Please Note : Murray And Danny have already received a request from a member to be considered as our New Route supervisor and this is now under Review.
Send Your Complete And detailed resume Too mcmillanm77@yahoo.ca – Only Ontario Chapter Members Will Be Considered For These Officer Positions.
Thank You To All Our Loyal Members
This Official Club Notice Was Written For Murray – By His Wife Heather A. McMillan
Thank You Heather for taking all my Notes and the Notes from, Danny and my meeting and trying to make sense of it all.