USPS Merit Marks

 

USPS is an organization founded on the principle of service to the boating community. To this end, service was once a requirement of membership.

 

 In these busy times, it is realized that individuals may be unable to contribute at one time, but will as time allows. While service is no longer a strict requirement of membership, those individuals who can make a contribution of their time and talents are greatly appreciated and their service is recognized with a

Merit Mark awarded by USPS..

 

While there is no specific number of hours to be worked, it is generally accepted that 12-14 hours or work in 2 different activities shows

an on-going contribution to the work of the squadron. Only ONE Merit Mark can be earned by the member each year regardless of the number of hours volunteered.

 

It is particularly impressive that Shrewsbury Squadron has many members who volunteer far above and beyond the minimum asked.

Members who own a uniform or uniform shirt may wear one embroidered gold bar on the sleeve for each merit mark earned.

 

Merit Marks are submitted by the Chairman of each Department to the respective Officers who then submit them to the Commander.

The Squadron’s Merit Mark Chairman then reviews them and then submits them to USPS National by November 15th.

Supplemental recommendations may also be submitted for work done from by members in November and December should that be needed.

 

Merit Mark Certificates were mailed to members ( but I think that they may be e-mailed starting this year).

Around December-February in recognition of the previous years effort.

 

Those members who have earned 5 merit marks are recognized as

“Senior Members”.

 

 

 

 

For Officers and Chairmen submitting merit marks, here are a few guidelines:

 

1)    Either use the DB2000 program or just type them up in word and submit them as a word attachment to the Merit Mark Chairman.

 

2)    Formal names, tittles and member numbers are not needed to be submitted to the Merit Mark Chairman. It is all listed in the DB2000 program for us.

 

3)    Specific hours of work done, while not required, are helpful and recommended to accurately judge the effort.

 

4)    Be specific. He bought the food for the picnic, made the flyer.     NOT, He was a big help.  WHAT did the member do?

 

5)    Submit a member even if it doesn’t seem like much work was done for your department.

 

He or she may have worked for other departments and the member may indeed be eligible for a merit mark.

 

Remember, 10-12 hours in 1-2 activities is needed to get a merit mark.

 

Sometimes, new members and those who have been ill but otherwise significantly contributed to their ability can be considered.

 

6)    Officers are credited for attending Executive Committee Meetings and General Meetings.

 

7)    VSC’s must do 5 Checks to maintain certification.

10 VSC’s will earn a member a Merit Mark even if that is all the work done for USPS.

 

8)    Executive Committee Members are only credited for attending Excoms in an official capacity.

 

They are credited for attending excoms but not general meetings unless they are presenting an excom matter or

Acting in some other capacity. .

 

9)    A member may be credited for attending a meeting in an official  capacity.

For Instance:

A picnic chairman who attends a General Meeting in order to significantly promote the picnic may be credited for that purpose.

 

10) However, if a member attends a general or Executive Committee meeting with no official purpose,

then their attendance is simply a benefit of membership and not a service provided to SPS.

 

11)  If a member does any work in Nov/Dec after the Merit marks are submitted for the year, you may submit a supplemental submission.

 

12)  The Merit Mark Year is Jan 1 to  Dec 31st.

 

13) The Merit Marks will be input into the DB2000 program using a roster that has been downloaded from National

using the passwords (download/merit mark)  provided by the Cdr to the Merit Mark Chairman.

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merit Marks need to be in the hands of the National Merit Mark Chairman by the Nov 15th deadline..

 

The following schedule is suggested

 Nov 1st, the Merit Marks should be submitted to our SPS Commander for approval.

Oct 15th, the Merit Marks should be undergoing final review by the MM Chairman.

Oct 1st, the Merit Marks should be submitted by the Officers/Chairmen to the Merit Mark Chairman.