Guest Policy

As of 26 Sep 07

Guest Policy. When a HMCS BYTOWN member brings a spouse/partner/date to a mess function, that person will be charged the member rate. If a member brings a person that is not a spouse/partner/date, that person will be charged the guest rate. Any additional guests will be charged the guest rate, except where children rates apply. Note, that in cases where a member is granted permission to bring an unofficial guest to a mess dinner, the guest will be charged the guest rate.

There is an agreement with the other officer messes in the NCR (Air Force, Army, Naval Reserve) that ordinary members of one mess can attend events at the other messes and they will be charged the member rate. This agreement applies to all HMCS BYTOWN events with the exception of those identified for members only. The pricing policy described above will also apply to guests of ordinary members of other messes.

Mess Dinner Guest Policy. In accordance with CFP 110 (which describes the policies in support of the CF Welfare and Morale Programs), an activity, such as a mess dinner, which enhances unit cohesion and effectiveness, can be classified as an official mess function. Mess food services staff is provided at public expense for official mess functions, attendance at which is limited to members of the CF, civilian employees and a limited number of official guests. Spouses of attendees and unofficial guests are not normally included.

BYTOWN's Spring and Fall Mess Dinners are official mess functions and as such they receive public subsidization. Accordingly, attendance at these events must be limited to mess members, ordinary members of other messes, civilian DND employees (invited by mess members as guests) and a limited number of official guests. Spouses of attendees and unofficial guests are not normally invited. Requests can be submitted to the PMC who has the discretion to approve guests.