The Signallers Club of Canada
Genesis
Per Semaphorum ad Satellites (From Semaphore to Satellites)

A small group of ex-members of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals got together in Kingston on the 24th of October 1979 to commemorate the Corps Birthday. "Why not do this more often?" was the consensus. Some aims were formulated on the spot - to renew old acquaintances, maintain esprit de corps, get to meet every now and then on a social basis, maintain liaison with the modern-day version of the Corps and perhaps in some small way assist ex-Sigs types who may not have been as lucky as the rest of us.

The first meeting of the new club was held in March 1980. A viable Constitution and Bylaws was developed and subsequently approved.

In the late summer of 1984 the Signallers Club (Kingston) applied to the Federal Government to become an incorporated entity. After the usual submissions, filing of documents, answering questions, etc., on 11 October 1984 we were granted our "Letters Patent" and incorporated under the name "The Signallers Club of Canada"

The purpose of the Signallers Club of Canada is:

To serve as a social focus and a means of mutual assistance to club members;

To keep alive the spirit and camaraderie of military Communications; and

For the above purposes to cooperate with other organizations whose purposes and objectives are wholly and or in part similar to those of the Signallers Club.

We have grown from the original 18 who attended meeting number one to approximately 700 members and every month our membership increases encouragingly. We're a trans-Canada club and also have members in the USA, England, Ireland, Australia, and Singapore. We also have "serving" members who are on UN Peacekeeping duties.

There are two main requirements:

First; you served in the Armed Forces, principally in the field of Military Communications.

Second, you were honourably released - or - you are still serving.

If you meet these criteria, we welcome your application to join. (Other types of membership are described in the Constitution).

Our Club is not restricted as to "rank". We have members from Signalman/Private to Major General and all the rungs of the ladder in between!

If you meet the membership criteria, complete the information sheet (Application Form) and select one of the two membership options indicated.

(NOTE THAT THERE IS A ONE-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $10.00 FOR EITHER OPTION)

Fill in and mail the information sheet with your cheque/money order to us at:

First, your Membership Card, Name Badge and a full-colour Window Decal, plus a copy of our Constitution and an up-to-date Nominal Roll of our members will be forwarded to you as soon as possible;

Second, the Club does the following:
- supports and assists in organizing of the Corps/C & E Branch National Reunion every five years;
- administers the Sigs Club including mailings, list keeping and providing address labels;
- sends Minutes of General Meetings to all members;
- produces our newsletter "THE SIGNALLER" twice a year;
- donates $30.00 to the Communications & Electronics Museum on behalf of a Deceased Member;
- donates money for appropriate purposes as decided by the members at meetings (e.g. Military C&E Museum projects, Korean Wall project);
- includes a list of New Members with each General Mailing and at least once a year sends out an updated Club Nominal Roll (generally with the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting);
- Maintains an up-to-date list of members who are on the Internet.

Our club holds two meetings each year. The Annual General Meeting which is held on the third Sunday in April and a General Meeting which is held on the third Sunday of September. (for exact dates, times and location of these meetings please see Club Meetings)

The Signallers Club of Canada normally holds three functions a year in Kingston which are self supporting and any funds that they may generate are turned over to the club treasurer. Members at any great distance are certainly not expected to attend the functions, but if you can make it please be assured that you will be made most welcome. These functions are a BBQ in July, a Club Birthday Party Dinner/Dance in late October (normally to coincide with the Corps and Branch birthdays) and a Christmas Bingo/Dance in December. (For exact dates and times of these events please see Upcoming Events)

A club without objectives (projects) will never survive! To this end the Sigs Club executive shall review all requests for support and bring before the general meetings those projects that are felt worthy and in support of the club's purpose. In addition, the executive will review any other request for support that is in support of any organization that is connected to communicators, both past and present. (For further information on what projects the club is or has supported, please see Club Projects)

It would've been impossible for the Sigs Club to accomplish the things it has during the past years if we had to go it alone! A constant liaison is maintained with the following units:

Our Club has experienced superb support and cooperation from all units and members of each organization.