SHEARWATER OFFICERS’ MESS
CONSTITUTION
1.
The Shearwater Officers’ Mess is hereinafter referred to as the Mess.
AUTHORITY FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION
2.
The Mess is established under authority of QR&O 27.01. It shall be
operated in accordance with regulations and orders governing the operation of
Messes in the Canadian Forces and the instructions contained in this
Constitution.
3.
The Wing Commander remains the final authority for all policy and
procedures relating to the operation of the Mess.
PURPOSE OF OPERATION
4.
The Mess shall be operated for the purpose of providing services and
amenities to its members. The following are examples of events sponsored,
supported or hosted by the Mess:
a.
a common meeting ground;
b.
a focal point for social and recreational functions;
c.
a home for living-in personnel;
d.
a facility for meals and lodging;
e.
a venue for the conduct of meetings, conferences and official
ceremonies;
f.
a facility for official entertainment; and
g.
a suitable place for the display of memorabilia.
MEMBERSHIP
5.
All regular force officers are required to belong to an established Officers’
Mess and pay monthly membership dues. Such fees, together with income from
bar sales and other revenue, shall be received and accounted for in accordance
with CF regulations and orders. An up-to-date list of Mess membership, by
category, shall be maintained by the Mess Manager and be available upon
request. The membership of the Mess shall consist of:
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a.
Ordinary Members;
b.
Associate Members; and
c.
Honourary Members.
ORDINARY MEMBERS
6.
Only Ordinary Members may serve on the Mess Committee and vote at
Mess meetings. The following persons are Ordinary Members of the Mess:
a.
all officers of the Canadian Forces based at 12 Wing or one of its
lodger units; this includes those officers on temporary duty at the
base in excess of 14 days;
b.
officers of the Armed Forces of other countries who are on
exchange, secondment or on loan to the Canadian Forces and
employed at 12 Wing or one of its lodger units;
c.
upon application, officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre of directly
sponsored cadet units who use 12 Wing facilities; and
d.
civilian instructors, as defined in QR&O 3.10, called out on
continuous duty with a unit served by the Mess; said membership
will apply only for the duration of their duty.
7.
Ordinary members are responsible for ensuring that the Mess Manager is
advised of any change to their status (i.e. mailing address, temporary absence,
posting etc. ).
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
8.
Persons falling into one of the categories listed below may, upon
application and subject to the approval of the Wing Commander, become
Associate members of the Mess. The maximum number of associate members
may be set from time to time by the Mess Committee.
a.
Retired. This category comprises:
i)
retired officers of the Regular Force who were honourably
released and are entitled to an immediate or deferred
Service annuity;
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ii)
b.
c.
retired officers of the Reserve Force who were honourably
released and had accumulated a minimum of 12 years
service.
Working. This category comprises:
i)
DND civilians of officer status employed at 12 Wing, one of
its lodger units, or some other element served by the Mess;
ii)
retired DND civilians of officer status who had a continuous,
unbroken Mess membership with any CF Officers’ Mess for
a minimum of 20 years, who have been honourably released
and receive an immediate or deferred service annuity
iii)
other civilians of officer status similarly employed at or in
connection with 12 Wing, one of its lodger units, or some
other element served by the Mess;
iii)
officers of the Supplementary Reserve, Cadet Instructor
Cadre or Canadian Rangers; and
iv)
officers of the regular armed forces of other countries
serving in the vicinity of 12 Wing Shearwater.
Other. This category comprises
i)
Social: personnel other than those mentioned in
subparagraphs a or b who may be admitted to membership
for a term not exceeding one year (without prejudice to
renewal thereof for further one year terms), upon the
recommendation of the Mess Executive Committee, the
majority vote of those present at a General Mess Meeting
and the approval of the Wing Commander.
ii)
ROTP and UTPNCM officer cadets attending a university at
which a Mess has not been established
9.
An Associate Member shall be afforded the privileges of the Mess but may
not serve as a voting member. An Associate Member may assist the Mess
Executive Committee or any subcommittee but by doing so, assumes no
responsibility.
10.
Associate Membership shall be reviewed at the same date each year.
Temporary membership may be granted until the next General Mess Meeting
upon approval of the Wing Commander after approval by the Mess Executive
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Committee. Associate Membership is not transferable from one Mess to another;
however, a person may have Associate Membership in more than one Mess but
shall pay dues in each Mess. Associate members shall not solicit nor transact
non-governmental business in the Mess.
11.
Upon the death of an Associate member in good standing, membership
will be transferred to the surviving spouse for the balance of that membership, or
for up to six months (whichever is longer). All membership dues will be waived
during this period.
12.
A person who is eligible to become an Associate member but who does
not join the Mess shall not be permitted to use the facilities of the Mess. Under
these circumstances, this person may be permitted to use only the dining
facilities with the concurrence of the WComd.
HONOURARY MEMBERS
13.
An Honourary Member shall be accorded the privileges of the Mess but
shall pay neither Mess subscriptions nor serve the Mess in any capacity.
Honourary Membership is intended to recognize an individual’s position or
contribution to the nation or to the military by providing opportunities for the use
of the Mess. Honorary memberships, other than Lifetime Honorary
Memberships, shall be reviewed and confirmation of renewal made prior to the 1
April each year
14.
Officers of the Canadian Regular Force or Primary Reserve are Honourary
Members of every Officers’ Mess, except in the Mess in which they are Ordinary
or Associate Members and in seagoing ships. Any distinguished person may be
invited to become an Honourary Member of the Mess for a term not exceeding
one year, without prejudice to renewal of membership for further one year terms,
upon recommendation of the Mess Executive Committee, majority vote of those
present at a General Mess Meeting and approval of the Wing Commander.
15.
The Mess may honour a retiring or retired member by granting an
Honourary Lifetime Membership, which would be valid only at Shearwater
Officers’ Mess. Honourary Membership granted by other Messes will also be
honoured at the Mess on an infrequent and casual basis. If the holder of an
Honourary Lifetime Membership wishes to become an Associate Member of the
Mess appropriate to the holder's former rank, the holder may apply to the Wing
Commander through the Mess Executive Committee.
16.
According to a former policy, numerous Lifetime Honourary Memberships
were granted to former RCAF personnel. RCAF Honourary Memberships that
were granted prior to 01 Feb 68 shall only be rescinded with NDHQ approval
Another former policy granted “Gold Card” to various persons; this Mess shall
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grant any person holding a Gold Card a Lifetime Honourary Member and that
person shall receive all the privileges associated with this type of membership.
17.
An Honourary Member may be assessed a proportionate share of
expenses associated with any Mess function or entertainment attended.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
18.
The Mess shall be administered by an Executive Committee appointed by
the Wing Commander and elected by and from the Ordinary Members at a
General Mess Meeting. The Mess Executive Committee shall consist of:
a.
a president (PMC), appointed by the Wing Commander for a one
year term (without prejudice to appointment for further one year
terms);
b.
a vice-president (VPMC), appointed by the Wing Commander for a
one year term (without prejudice to appointment for further one year
terms);
c.
the Mess Manager (as an ex-officio member);
d.
a secretary, elected from and by the Ordinary Mess Members for a
one year term (without prejudice to election for further one year
terms);
e.
a finance officer elected from and by the Ordinary Mess Members
for a one year term (without prejudice to election for further one
year terms);
f.
an entertainment officer, elected from and by the Ordinary Mess
Members for a one year term (without prejudice to election for
further one year terms);
g.
an Entertainment Sub-Committee Chairperson, elected from and by
the Ordinary Mess Members for a one year term (without prejudice
to election for further one year terms);
h.
a sports officer, elected from and by the Ordinary Mess Members
for a one year term (without prejudice to election for further one
year terms);
i.
a living-in representative appointed by the PMC from the living-in
members residing in the Officers’ Mess Accommodations;
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j.
a Mess improvements officer, elected from and by the Ordinary
Mess Members for a one year term (without prejudice to election for
further one year terms);
k.
a representative of each unit at Shearwater appointed by their CO
as ex-officio members; and such other members as required.
19.
The duties and responsibilities of Executive Committee members shall be
as set out in Terms of Reference promulgated by the PMC at the beginning of
each person’s term. All positions except the PMC and V/PMC may have
deputies.
MEETINGS
20.
Meetings shall be held as follows:
a.
b.
c.
the Mess Executive Committee shall meet once a month; and
General Mess Meetings shall be held at least once during each six
month period. Mess Executive Committee meetings shall be held,
at the call of the PMC, to consider:
i)
approval of expenditures that come within executive
authority;
ii)
approval of financial statements; and
iii)
any other matters concerning the operation of the Mess.
General Mess Meetings shall be held, at the call of the PMC, to
consider:
i)
financial matters
ii)
proposed Mess activities;
iii)
election of officers; and
iv)
any other business concerning the Mess.
Extraordinary General Mess Meetings may be convened by:
i)
the Wing Commander;
ii)
the PMC; or
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iii)
the written request of 25 ordinary Mess members.
21.
A quorum at either a General or an Extraordinary General Mess meeting
shall comprise at least fifty percent of the Mess membership. All matters for
decision shall be determined by a majority vote of the ordinary members present,
subject to the approval of the Wing Commander.
AMENDMENTS
22.
Proposals to amend the Mess Constitution shall be made in writing and
shall be submitted to the Mess Executive Committee Secretary. The Secretary
will post the proposal on the notice board for a minimum of fourteen days. The
proposal shall be considered at the next General Mess Meeting.
23.
To be approved, a proposed amendment required a two-third majority vote
of the ordinary members present.
a.
If a conflict arises between the Mess Constitution, Mess Bylaws or
CF Orders, the Constitution and Bylaws shall be amended
administratively by the Secretary to reflect the directives. This may
be done without reference to, or approval by, the Mess
membership.
TESTIMONIAL FUND
24.
A Testimonial Fund is established for the benefit of the members of the
Mess to provide appropriate recognition of retirements, postings, family grief, and
hospitalization. A monthly Testimonial Fund assessment, at a rate fixed from time
to time by the Mess Committee, shall be charged to all Ordinary and Associate
Members. Only Ordinary Members are expected to contribute towards the
purchase of departure gifts on posting of Ordinary Members.
25.
The PMC or the Mess Manager may authorize expenditures from the
fund up to, but not exceeding, the amounts shown below:
a.
$100 as a token of sympathy in the event of the death of a Member
or their immediate family as determined by the PMC. This may be
a floral tribute or an equivalent charitable donation, in accordance
with the desires of the family;
b.
$100 in amenities to Hospitalized Mess Members. If an ordinary
member in good standing is hospitalized in a military or civilian
facility for a period of five days or more, that member will be entitled
to a gift basket and an appropriate card;
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c.
$150 for the purchase of a retirement gift for an Ordinary Member
retiring with not less than 20 years of service with the Canadian
Forces;
d.
To purchase a memento for each Ordinary Member departing on
posting depending on the length of their membership at the
Shearwater Officers’ Mess and is divided as follows: 12-24 months
$50, 25-48 months $100, 49-72 months $150, 73+ months $200;
e.
$500 for the purchase of a gift for the departing Wing Commander;
f.
$150 for the purchase of a gift, or as part of a larger gift in
conjunction with the other Messes, upon the retirement or posting
of the Wing Chief;
g.
$50 token of congratulations to be given to an Ordinary Member on
the birth/adoption of a child in the form of a baby hamper or gift
certificate; and
h.
$100 as a token of sympathy in the event of the death of a member
of 12 Wing, regardless of rank or whether the member was
employed as a regular force member, a reservist or a DND civilian
employee. This may be a floral tribute or an equivalent charitable
donation, in accordance with the desires of the family.
26. Upon being posted to 12 Wing Shearwater, members will receive an
engraved mug to be kept in the Mess until the member is posted out. The cost of
the mug will be subtracted from their eventual memento entitlement as covered
in para 25.d.
27.
Posting gifts will consist of a range of products approved from time to
time by the Mess Committee. They may include prints, mugs, books, or
plaques. These gifts will be available in the Mess office. Due to the size of the
Mess membership, normally the presentation of these gifts will be the
responsibility of the Mess Member's unit or section.
28.
Expenditures for retirement gifts may be for any item, or portion thereof,
up to the authorized amount. Normally the selection and presentation of this gift
will be organized by the Member's unit or section, taking into account the desires
of the Member. When feasible or appropriate, this gift will be presented at a
special, or already planned, Mess function in order to receive the widest possible
recognition by the Members. Payment will be made by the Mess office on
presentation of a receipt and appropriate information on the officer to whom the
gift is being presented.
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