The Winnipeg Robert Burns Club is proud to be members of both the Robert Burns Association of North America (RBANA) and, since 1911, of the Robert Burns World Federation.

A casual remark in London’s Embankment Gardens led to the formation of the organization known today as the Robert Burns World Federation.
In the summer of 1884 prominent Burnsians had gathered in London to attend the unveiling of a bust of Robert Burns in Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. Shortly afterward, three of them, Provost David Mackay and Captain Sneddon of Kilmarnock and Colin Rae Brown, President of London Burns Club were strolling along the Thames Embankment and in the course of the conversation Provost Mackay remarked that it would be a good thing to establish a federation of Burns clubs and societies throughout the world. That chance remark led to a preliminary meeting, in London in February 1885 and an inaugural meeting in Kilmarnock on July 17 to form the Burns Federation.
17 gentlemen were at that initial meeting, 14 from Kilmarnock, two from Glasgow and Mr Rae Brown, a Glaswegian then resident in London. They decided unanimously to form the Burns Federation and subsequently every club and society throughout the world, known to have a Burns or Scottish character, was notified.

Perhaps the notion of a Federation was too abstract a concept at the time, as it was slow to generate interest in the beginning, though by 1890 some 49 clubs had become affiliated. A major step forward, however, was the launching of the Burns Chronicle in 1892; this provided the vital medium through which the Burns movement could communicate and thereafter progress was more rapid.
On the suggestion of Colin Rae-Brown, since the idea had been formulated in London, the Burns Club of London was granted the distinction of being number 1 on the Federation role. Conscious of the Masonic system of numbering lodging Captain Sneddon announced that Kilmarnock would have the roll number 0.
The Winnipeg Burns Club joining the Federation in 1911 was granted the roll number of 197.

The main objectives of The Robert Burns World Federation Limited are to advance the education of the public, without distinction of sex or political, or religious opinions about the life, poetry and works of Robert Burns and in furtherance thereof:-

I. To encourage and arrange competitions among the general public, students and/or school children and to stimulate the teaching and studying of Scottish literature, history, art, music and language.

II. To stimulate the development of Scottish literature, art, music and language.

III. To conserve buildings and places associated with Robert Burns and his contemporaries.

IV. To strengthen the bond of the fellowship amongst members of Burns clubs and kindred societies throughout the world by encouraging Burns clubs and kindred societies to honour the memory of Robert Burns and his works.

The high-point of the Federation's calendar is the Annual Conference, usually held over the second weekend in September, though something of a 'moveable feast', depending on local requirements. The earliest conferences were held in Kilmarnock but since 1894 a different venue has been chosen most years. The Annual Conference is by no means confined to. It was first held south of the border in 1907, when Sunderland was the venue, and since 1950 it has been a frequent custom to hold the conference in every other year with venues in England, and more recently, overseas. The Annual Conference was first held outside the British Isles in 1979, when it was staged in London,Ontario; since then it has been held in Annapolis, Maryland (1983), Hamilton, Ontario (1988) Calgary, Alberta (1993) Atlanta, Georgia (2001) and Winnipeg (2007).

The 2008 conference will be held in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

RBANA is an association dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of the life, works and philosophies of 's National Bard - Robert Burns.

To promote Scottish culture and heritage in North America.

The idea for the Association came from a meeting in 1981 of representatives of eight Burns Clubs in Annapolis,Maryland. A committee was formed to further explore their ideas.