Marine Engineer Retirement Function

Tool Kit 

So you have been asked to organize a retirement function for a colleague or you have taken it upon yourself 
to look after this worthy task. The following tool kit will provide you with ideas, contacts, examples etc and have 
been placed in somewhat chronological order. We hope that it will be useful and contribute to many successful 
events, it was made on the east coast therefore the contacts are not applicable but the ideas are, contacts for the 
west coast can be added as this tool kit is improved. To correct or add information to this page 
please e-mail the Chief of the Watch.

 The following is the work of Paul Swallow who has organized many successful events on the east coast. You may 
contact Paul Swallow if you have any questions regarding the information below.

Biography: Have interview with member, review UER and make up a biography, determine a retirement party 
date, what he/she wants, who he/she will bring, if flowers required for better half, date of release, what he/she 
plans to do after release, review ships sailed, etc

	Certificate from Prime Minister: to request a Certificate from PM send fax (see fax example) allow minimum 6 weeks, do follow  up phone call.
	Certificate from Halifax Mayor: to request a Certificate from Mayor send fax (see fax example) (allow min. 6 weeks, do follow up phone call).
	Certificate from Lieutenant Governor: to request a Certificate from Lieutenant Governor send fax (see fax example) allow min. 6 weeks, do follow up phone call.)
Coming Soon	Certificate from NS Premier: Call PM’s office 902 424 6600, fax 902 424 7648 Ms Andrea  Kelly requesting Certificate, she will tell you to fax her (see fax example) allow min. 6 weeks,  do follow up phone call.)

Certificate of Service & Pin: call CSOR release cell 8152,8617,8618,8615, they’ll require members application for release and memo prior to proceeding (needs 10 working days and member's signature) Note: Member must go to CSOR/release section to see them, sooner the better.

Naval and Spousal certificate: E-mail CWO Allen (D Mar Pers 2-3-2, NDHQ) requesting Certificates. He will 
tell you to E-mail him with members and wife or common-law’s particulars (if applicable). (see E-mail template) 

Engraving: D-200 (FMF Cape Scott)  Dave Johnson (phone. 2869 or 3148)  done by walk-in’s MAF may be 
required. 

Flag: (3x6) buy  printed flag for $29 or custom $45 (leaf sewn on) (Flag Shop Dartmouth)

Fly the Flag: Over last unit served in (converse with units Coxn) or Maritime Command  (see commissioner 
Sgt. Byran @ Mar Com) just run it up pole and take it down, don’t get it dirty.              

MARGEN Message: draft up what you want to say or use template. Message is sent with SIC 
code AIG 1704. 

Email:  e-mail a message ,similar to MARLANTGEN text, to all units you have rights to, then request members from other units to forward a copy internally for you. (see examples)
Send an e-mail to the Chief of the Watch of “Stokers on Line”

Book Mess or appropriate venue: For Halifax Mess phone Mess Manager 4492, ensure he
tells galley of extra personnel may eat there. Don’t forget items like microphone. 

CFB Halifax-Honorary life membership - Mess Card: call Mess Manager at the C&PO Mess 8182 
(fill out form, have member sign and return form to C&PO’s mess manager Stad, pick up card prior to 
date of presentation ) requires at least 4 weeks. 

Honorary life membership - Mess Card Presentation: call PMC (PLQ Trg O) 4609 Mess 
President Ask him if schedule open and able to present card. 

Mess Money/ Gift: For CFB Halifax you get $50 for gift (you buy, mess reimburses form mess) Member also 
entitled to up to $60 for meal/drinks if they decline dinner/dance (you pay and get reimbursed from mess)

Wooden Binder: (C2 and higher only) Base Chief’s Office 8287 request Binder (no paper work required) on 
receipt, put in all the letters, anecdotes, pictures, etc (use doc protectors) 

Shadow Box: (C2 and higher only) Base Chief’s Office (Main Gate Stad) request Binder (no paper work 
required) on receipt, have them fold flag and install 

Retirement Card: Buy one and get it signed when you pass the hat.

Request Gift Presenters/Speakers: Commander, Div Commander, Officer Boss (give them info on what 
they are to do)

Phone: Call to ships CERA’s one day before party. Ensure they info troops for a good showing 

Door Man: Find a volunteer that isn’t shy, put him on Mess door to get card signed & collect money.

Bartender : Arrange for him to keep tab on member and guest’s beer bill.  Info you at max money. 

Windsor Park Galley: Call Galley Ext. 1845 to arrange and inform number of expected retiring members
and guests to let them prepare for approx number of meals for dinner.

Digital camera: Try to obtain camera and camera-man to take pictures of retirement dinner, send pictures to 
Stokers on Line.

Tribute to a spouse: see example of text.

Framing of spousal and member certificates: Contact CFNES SOR and give them certificates, they will distribute them to base photo for framing. Members must be from CFNES to receive funding, otherwise funding will have to be from releasing unit.

Ideas for retirement gifts:

The following are examples that could be used

Example of text for a MARLANTGEN

PO1 _________, LS _________ ARE RETIRING FROM THE CANADIAN NAVY AFTER MORE THAN __ COMBINED YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE.  THEY ALL BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME TO SWALLOW THE ANCHOR

THEY INDIVIDUALLY HAVE HAD VERY DISTINGUISHED .THE TRADE AND THE NAVY HAVE BENEFITED GREATLY FROM ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. 

TO HONOUR THEIR CAREERS, THERE WILL BE A FAREWELL GATHERING FOR PO1 _______, AND LS _________, THURSDAY, 07 MARCH 02 BEGINNING AT 1130 HRS AT THE ______________ MESS. A SMALL NOMINAL FEE WILL BE COLLECTED AT THE DOOR TO DEFRAY ASSOCIATED COSTS 

ANY CONGRATULATORY MSGS, ANECDOTES WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED AND CAN BE FORWARDED BY MSG, EMAIL OR FAX (902) XXX-XXXX ATTN: PO1 _____. 

 ________, _______, WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THEIR FRIENDS, SHIPMATES AND COLLEAGUES FOR AN EXHILARATING CAREER

Examples of Invitations

Come out and join us on the (date), (time), in the (Room), (Place), to say farewell to (Name), who after (#) years of service, has decided to hang up his sea boots and stow his anti-flash gear for the last time!!! 

There will be a sandwich and wet bar available prices will be posted.   

If you would like to say a few words on (Name) behalf during the presentation, or if you are unable to attend, please feel free to submit any salty dits about (Name) illustrious gun buster career to (Name) loc (Phone Number) or (e-mail).

Hope to see you all there.

(Name), an ICON within the (Place of employment), will be retiring after (#) years of service in the Navy.  (Name) spent (#) years of his career in the Navy and has touched the lives of many sailors and staff that have come through or worked at the (Place).  (Unit) staff will be holding a celebration of (Name) illustrious career as follows:

Date  - 

Place -

Time  -