Mess Membership and Mess Dues

For many years, the Mess has served as a vital hub for fellowship, tradition and community to Canadian Force Members across Canada.

 As an active Canadian Force Member, you are required to pay mess dues to your home mess, mess dues are outlined as follows:

Reserve Mess Members:

 The Mess Administration Office does not have the ability to deduct ReserveF Members pay directly via DMIL PAY.

ReserveF Members have the option to make payments through their Orderly Room or to setup monthly payments via PA-CCD through Mess Administration Office.

 The excerpt below includes information ref standard practice concerning Mess dues. 

 Please ensure that you have cleared into the Mess and regularly check your NPF statements to verify Mess deductions in the appropriate amount.

 How Mess Dues Are Calculated:

 Per DAOD 5045-0 DND and the CAF must operate IAW the directives as follows:

      i. A-PS-110-001/AG-002; and

     ii. the Personnel Support Programs Policy Manual

 Per QR&O: Volume II Article 208.01 a deduction is an amount chargeable against the pay/allowances of an officer or non-commissioned Member imposed under article 27.38 (Administrative Deductions – Overdue Non-Public Accounts). This deduction does include Mess dues as a mandatory subscription.

 Mess dues are to start based upon a Member’s COS date to their new unit in Wainwright. In clearances wrt any INCOMING COURSES: are required to sign in clearance with their Course Admin Clerk and Should NOT be completing the clear in form on the website. Members are expected to clear into the Mess and dues will be applied for any courses, tasking and CFTPO. Receipts will be issued to Members towards the end of their tasking – to be presented at their home Mess for reimbursement. 

 The exception to Mess dues as per outlined in Ch 9-1 para 25 which reads as follows:

•  “When a member proceeds on TD or AP less than 14 days no action is required at either unit. For TD or AP over 14 days, the member should request their mess subscription be suspended at the losing unit.”

In addition, Mess dues are not charged while a member is on LWOP or while deployed.

Please note that every effort is made by our office to start Mess dues accordingly. 

The onus is ultimately on the Member to ensure that Mess dues are being deducted properly from their accounts, IAW PSP Policy Manual Chapter 9-1 para 50 which reads as follows:

• “Every effort will be made to ensure that mess dues have been started. However, it shall be the CAF Member’s responsibility to check their pay statement to ensure that mess dues have been started.”

 As mess dues are processed one month in arrears, Members should be able to see deductions for the previous month’s Mess dues on their NPF statement. 

For example, April’s Mess Dues will be reflected on your May NPF statement. Mess dues are deducted for a total of $25.00 per month and will read as -$25.00 on your NPF statement. Please refer to a copy of an NPF statement for comparison.

 If for any reason you do not see Mess Dues deducted off your NPF statement, please contact the Mess Admin Office to advise and we will action further. 

Note: If you have an outstanding Mess Balance, your Out-Clearance can only be approved after any outstanding balances are cleared. 

 The Mess staff will advise if you have an outstanding balance when you request out-clearance at the Mess. 

 Etransfer to Clear Up Outstanding Balances:

 Payments can be made via EFT by transferring funds to 101-5255-WWNPFPMTS@cfmws.com. Please include in the Message your Service Number or CF1 number to avoid any confusion. 

Once your payment has been processed and is completed, you will receive a receipt.

 Associate Membership Applications:

An Associate Member is a Member of the Mess that is not a current active Canadian Forces Member. You may be a civilian, part of the Defence Team Community, or a retired veteran of the Canadian Forces that would like to maintain a member of the mess and attend weekly functions.

 An Associate Membership comes with many perks, including weekly meals and monthly draws.  

 Associate Member applicants must fill out the Associate Membership Application.

All Associate Members applicants require an Ordinary Member of the Mess to sign as their sponsor for application. 

Please note that Associate Members can only be active Members of one Mess at a time. 

Please email completed applications to +WRTMessBookings account or Lisa.Humphreys@forces.gc.ca

For further information regarding Associate Membership please refer to the Wainwright Officers, Warrants and Sergeants Mess Constitution & By-Laws Para 32. OR Junior Ranks Mess Constitution & By-Laws Para 32.

Once the application is received, it will be sent off to the PMC and for review at the next Mess Committee meeting. 

If the applicant receives more than 75% majority vote from the Mess Committee, they will be granted temporary Associate Membership until the following AGM at which they will be presented will all other Associate Members for yearly renewal of Membership.

Once approved, the Associate Member will be contacted by the Mess Administrative Office when their membership card is ready for pickup and can pay dues on a monthly or (more commonly) yearly basis at the Mess Administrative Office. You will be asked to present this card at your associated Mess for various functions or draws.

The Associate Member is responsible for keeping their account in good standing, if they fail to do so they will be removed from the Membership list and must start the application process again.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an Associate Member, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!

 We appreciate your cooperation throughout the clearance and membership application process.