Skål is an international association of professional managers employed full time in the travel and tourism industry.  Skål had its origins in 1932 when the Paris Club in France was established on December 16, shortly after the first inaugural air service between Stockholm and Paris.  By 1934 twelve other Clubs had been formed and Florimond Volckaert conceived the idea of uniting them into an international organization.  It resulted in the Association International des Skål Clubs (AISC) being created on April 28, 1934 with Volckaert as its Founding President.  Today the Skål movement world-wide has about 25,000 members in 500 Clubs across 90 countries.  In North America 123 Clubs are home to 5,435 Skålleagues. The Skål movement is headquartered in Spain, administered by an elected Board of Directors and a General Secretariat.  The basic unit of Skål is the local Club.  In Canada there are 17 local Clubs with a membership of approximately 900. 3 of the 17 Clubs are in Alberta - Edmonton, Calgary and the Canadian Rockies.  The Edmonton Club was founded on June 12, 1963. It was the first Club established in Alberta.  Additional Clubs are located across Canada in Victoria, Vancouver,  Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, London, Ottawa, Toronto, Toronto North, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John's.  These 17 Clubs comprise Skål International Canada (the national body in Canada).  Similar committees exist in the USA and Mexico.  These 3 national committees together with affiliated clubs from the Caribbean constitute Skål International North America.  North American congresses are held annually in May on a rotational basis through the four geographic regions.  The International Congress is held each year in October or November. The word Skål is Scandinavian and roughly translated means "Cheers"!  It capsulizes the intent of the Skål Toast: "To Fellow Skålleagues Everywhere: Happiness!  Good Health!  Friendship!  Long Life!  Skål!".