January 2, 2010

Dear Member

2010 is here and it is time to renew your Membership with the Royal Alberta United Services Institute for the upcoming year!  A lot has happened in the past few years and we're looking for even more promising events and activities from an Institute perspective.  Our in-house caterer continues to provide our membership and their friends an excellent lunch as the Kitchen is always open for daily lunches on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for more than 4 years.  This has helped RAUSI to continue in all its endeavors, one of which is connecting the Calgary civilian and business communities to our military by using the Officers’ Mess as a focal point. 

In order to continue Institute activities, your membership is essential.  Just as important is your participation in scheduled social events and taking the opportunity in having lunch at the mess.  This participation in RAUSI is the pivotal cornerstone towards RAUSI’s strength and success.  Our website is up and running, many of our activities are posted along with the very popular newsletter.  Kim, our new secretary, is available Monday through Friday from 1000 to 1400 hours for any of your queries.

In the past few years, we held very successful Candlelight Dinners in February with a live band providing dance music.  This was followed by our Mothers’ Day Brunch and then the annual Spring Mixed Mess Dinner in June.  Over the summer, we normally host the annual Stampede Brunch and our popular summer BBQ featuring the Pipes and Drums from the Rocky Mountain National Army Cadet Camp, followed by our Golf Tournament.  We kick the fall off with a Meet and Greet for new and past members.

Throughout the year we have held monthly happy hours and business luncheons.  Capping off the fall was our very successful annual Fall Mess Dinner.  

We hope 2010 will see an expanded calendar of events.  In order to do all of this we need you!  There are vacancies on the Board of Directors and there is a need for volunteer help to coordinate some of our activities.  I would encourage you to renew your membership with the Institute.  I would also encourage you to ask former members to come back and to encourage new members to join, finally I would ask that you support the Institute in all its activities. 

Looking forward to 2010

President