| Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island | ||||||||||||||
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Welcome to the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island (RUSI of VI). The Institute, founded in 1927, was granted the honour of adding the prefix Royal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in 1972. The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, is the Institute's Honorary Patron.
Over 200 serving and retired officers from the Canadian and Commonwealth Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and allied nations, are currently members or associates of RUSI of VI.
Members of every commissioned rank, who may be regular or reserve and serving or retired all pay the same dues and all share in the same rights and privileges. Younger members have the same freedom and opportunity as older members. Also, associate membership may be offered to distinguished citizens, who did not serve in the Armed Forces or, who did not hold a commissioned rank.
Direction of the Institute is vested in a Board of Directors consisting of a president and elected directors from the navy, army, and air services and the RCMP. Members are encouraged to take an active part in choosing Board members and to stand for office themselves, if they so desire. Meetings and social functions occur monthly except in mid-summer. Meetings are held in Victoria unless the meeting entails a trip at sea, or a visit to another base or station. Regular meetings are held in a variety of settings, befitting the occasion.
Individuals of prominence and qualifications are invited to speak at our meetings. In recent years, the trend has been toward a wide range of speakers offering varied topics from military technology to world affairs. Guests -- hopefully potential members -- are always welcome at the meetings.
A quarterly Newsletter, to keep members informed of Institute activities, is mailed to all members. Those with Internet access may receive newsletters and other updates of general interest via this media. A telephone messaging system informs members in advance of the various meetings.
Membership in our Institute accords visiting access to other Institutes in Canada and the United Kingdom. Some Institutes operate their own club including dining and/or accommodation facilities. Accreditation enquiries should be addressed to the RUSI VI Membership Director, by standard mail to the address found on the Board of Directors page.
There is no argument that members of the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island, like to: meet old friends, listen to interesting speakers, and reminisce by sharing a few old stories.
However, there is a deeper purpose for this Institute: members support the enhancement and maintenance of:
Members also foster a link between the public and the Armed Forces so that the roles and needs for adequate Armed Forces can be better understood by all Canadians. The Institute supports Canadian youth in their interest in the Canadian Forces through prizes, bursaries and grants to officer cadets and students of military and strategic studies at university and to the many Cadet Corps located on Vancouver Island.
Annual membership dues are: Single membership is $30.00 and Family membership (for 2) is $40.00. Application forms for membership are available from the Institute's office. Please feel free to e-mail or write to the Institute for more information.
The Federation of Military and United Services Institutes of Canada (FMUSIC) was formed in 1973. There were 19 charter Institutes and LCol J.F. Picking, President of our own Institute, was elected the first National President.
FMUSIC co-ordinates administration between National Defence Headquarters and
the 28 autonomous member Institutes. More importantly, it develops major
defence policy briefs and position papers for submission to Parliament and to
the public. 
