The Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Association

The Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Association (EMEA) has more than 200 members, spread across Canada, and includes regular force, reserve, and retired EME personnel. The Association was organized on 1 January 1994, and succeeds and perpetuates the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps Association, which operated continuously from 1946 until 1973, the Land Ordnance Engineering Association, which operated continuously from 1973 until 1984, and the Land Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Association, which operated continuously from 1984 until 1994.

Objectives

The objectives of the Association are:

• To foster the principles, practices, identity and cohesion and further the development of the EME Branch in the Canadian Forces.
• To provide a forum for the continuation of "service" friendship, principles and ideals for all members, including Regular, Reserves and Retirees, at the National and local Chapter levels.
• To represent the interests of the EME Branch to the Conference of Defence Associations and through it or directly, to proffer professional council to the Federal Government in matters of national security and defence.
• To cooperate with all other Branches, with a view to improving operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Membership

Membership in the Association may be as a regular, affiliate, student, or honorary life member.

A Regular Member is a gentleman/lady:

• Who has served or is serving in the EME Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces, Regular or Reserves.
• Who has served in the Regular or Reserve components of the Engineering Branch of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, or the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, or the Land Ordnance Engineering Branch or the Land Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch.
• Who has served in any of the Commonwealth Forces in the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers or in comparable elements of Allied Arms Forces and is now a Canadian citizen.
• Who has served in any rank in the Canadian, Commonwealth or Allied Forces, and who is registered as a Professional Engineer or otherwise technically qualified to the extent required for commissioning in the EME Branch in time of war and is now a Canadian citizen.
• Who is a registered Professional Engineer or who has technical qualifications that would qualify him to serve in the EME Branch in time of war, and who has been approved for membership by a Chapter Executive upon sponsorship by two regular members of the Association.
• Who is a civilian employed on a full time basis in the civilian complement of an EME establishment.

An Affiliate Member is any gentlemen/lady who is i nterested in fostering the Association's objectives who is elected by any Chapter or by the National Executive.

A Student Member is a student EME officer who is undergoing officer training.

The cost of membership in the Association varies by chapter, but averages less than $30.00.

Organisation

The Association is organized on a national basis, and consists of a national executive committee, local chapters (where an adequate number of members is available), and non-affiliated members (who are located too far away from a local chapter). Currently, chapters exist in Victoria, Toronto, Kingston, the National Capital, Montreal/Québec, and Halifax.

Activities

Local chapters hold regular meetings, frequently with a guest speaker on a topic of interest to the EME Branch. They welcome members from regular force and reserve service battalions, and offer an easy way to connect with serving and retired EME personnel.

The Association holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in CFB Borden every October. This provides a unique forum where regular force, reservists and retired EME personnel can meet and share experiences or ideas. Members can have candid, effective, and personal discussions with the EME Director General and Branch Advisor on issues that affect the Branch. The Commandant of CFSEME and senior members of his staff attend the AGM, providing Reserve units with an opportunity to address training problems, including course loading, directly with the school. A mess dinner is normally held in conjunction with the AGM.

The EMEA also fosters the role and contribution of EME personnel within the reserve service battalions, through annual Best Craftsman awards. This provides a means of rewarding excellence in young soldiers.

National Executive as of October 2005

President LCol (ret'd) Pat Read
Past President Maj (ret'd) Gord McCulloch
Honourary Vice President Col (ret'd) Murray Johnston
Vice President (Western) LCol (ret'd) Don Tiller
Vice President (Central) LCol Brian Harris
Vice President (Québec) Col (a la retraite) Jean Forget
Vice President (Atlantic) Capt Fred Mailman
Secretary Maj (ret'd) Doug Knight
Treasurer LCol (ret'd) Lucas Hellemans

Chapter Chairpersons

Victoria Maj (ret'd) Dave Baird
Toronto Maj Charles Jansen
Kingston LCol (ret'd) John Morrison
National Capital LCol (ret'd) Brian MacDonald
Québec Maj (a la retraite) Léandre Vachon
Halifax Capt Fred Mailman

Ex-Officio Members

Colonel Commandant Col Gilles Nappert
EME Branch Advisor Col D. Wingert
Senior EME Militia Officer LCol Brian Harris
EME Branch CWO CWO A Dalcourt
President RCEME Assn CWO (ret'd) Joe Sibelli

For More Information

For more information, contact the EME Branch Adjutant at STG-CFSEME-Branch@forces.gc.ca or (705) 423-2598.