Constitution

NAME

1.The warrant Officers' & Sergeants' Mess of Edmonton Garrison shall hereinafter be referred to as the Mess.

AUTHORITY FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION

2. The Mess is established under the authority ofQR&O 27-01 and CFAO 27-1. The Mess shall be operated in accordance with CFP A-AD-262-000/ AG-O 00, existing regulations and orders governing the operation of messes in the Canadian Forces, this constitution and the By-Laws which amplify it. These instructions shall be administered by the Mess Committee responsible to the Garrison Commander or their designated representative of Edmonton Garrison.

PURPOSE OF OPERATION

3. The Mess shall be operated for the purpose of providing services, social amenities and certain merchandise to the members. The Mess shall receive and account for all payments, dues, allowances, donations and monies, which apply, to it.

MEMBERSHIP

4. The membership of the Mess shall comprise of Ordinary Members, Associate Members and Honourary Members.

5. Ordinary Members. The following persons are Ordinary Members of the Mess in accordance with CFAO 27-1 para 12 and the By-Laws:
a. All currently serving Canadian Regular Force and Primary Reserve Warrant Officers and Sergeants,
b. Members of the Forces of other countries, of appropriate rank, who are on exchange with or on loan to the Canadian Forces and who are employed at abase, Station, unit or ship served by the Mess and,
c. of the Reserve Force of appropriate rank, when performing Class "A", "B", "B/A" or "C" Reserve Service at a Regular Force establishment.

6. Associate Members. Subject to the approval of the Mess Committee, Associate Members of the Mess may comprise of:
a. Former Warrant Officer or Sergeants or equivalent ranks of the Canadian, Commonwealth and NATO member forces which have been honorably released and are entitled to an immediate or deferred service annuity,
b. Personnel of appropriate rank who have been honorably released from the Primary Reserve and have accumulated twelve or more years of service and
c. Any person who meets the requirements laid out in CFAO 27-1.

7. Honorary Members. Honorary Members in the Mess may be granted on the recommendation of the Mess Committee and the approval of the Garrison Commander, or their designated representative, to holders if prominent positions in the community. These memberships will normally be granted for a one year term and entitle the Honorary member to the privileges of the Mess. Honorary members shall not pay Mess subscriptions but may be assessed a proportionate share of expenses associated with any function or entertainment to which they are invited. See CFAO 27-1.

8. Temporary or Attached Duty. When a member proceeds to another unit for a period in excess of 14 days, upon their return from temporary or attached duty, the cost of Mess subscriptions incurred al the temporary or attached duty unit may be reimbursed, with appropriate receipts, only up to and including their home Mess subscription.

9. It is the responsibility of each Ordinary Member to ensure that the Mess Manager is kept informed of any changes in the members status, such as:
a. reporting in or posted out,
b. temporary absences,
c. moving from or to barracks and
d. changes in unit, work location, mailing address, or phone number.

VISITS TO MESS

10. A member of a mess, except in the course of duty , shall not enter another mess inappropriate to their rank or attend social functions at such messes without a proper invitation sanctioned by the Garrison Commander, or their designated representative. Such invitations are normally limited to official and traditional visits, such as visits by Officers at New Years Levee in the Junior Ranks Mess.

11. One guest of either higher or lower rank may attend open social functions at the Mess. For closed functions, permission must be obtained from the President of the Mess Committee (PMC).
NOTE: (TGIF is a closed function to all other ranks.)

MESS COMMITTEE

12. The Mess shall be administered by a Mess Committee appointed by the Garrison Commander, or their designated representative or elected by and from the Ordinary members at a General Mess Meeting, as set out in the By-Laws.

13. The Mess committee shall consist of:
a. Honourary PMC,
b. President,
c. Vice President,
d. Secretary,
e. Assistant Secretary, (if required)
f. Bar Officer, (ifrequired)
g. Housing Member,
h. Hospital Member,
i. Living-in Member,vchairperson of the Sports Committee,
j. Chairperson of the Entertainment Committee,
k. Retirement/Departure Member,
l. And such other members as required

14. The duties of committee members are set out in the By-Laws, Section Four.

15. Where a Garrison ChiefWarrant Officer Position is established, he/she shall assume the duties ofHonourary PMC.

MESS MEETINGS

16. Meetings shall be held as follows:
a. Mess Committee Meetings -at least monthly at the call of the PMC,
b. General Mess Meetings -not less than twice per year at the call of the PMC,
c. Extraordinary General Mess Meetings -at the request of,
• The Garrison Commander, or their designated representative,
• The President of the Mess Committee,
• The Honorary PMC, or
• The PMC on receipt of a written request signed by at least 25% of the Ordinary Mess members.
d. Entertainment Committee Meetings -at least monthly and
e. Sports Committee Meetings -at least monthly.