2007 Annual Meeting Schedule

Thursday, 22 Feb.

0900–1100 Town Hall Meeting

Join C/C Ernie Marshburn, SN, and P/C/C Les Johnson, SN, for the second USPS National Town Hall meeting. This open-forum meeting allows members to meet with USPS representatives to talk, ask questions, get feedback and learn more about the issues that concern them. Seating is limited, so arrive early.

0900–1100 Protocol Seminar

Stf/C Vincene Aquilato, S, explains the do’s and don’ts of USPS protocol for district and squadron bridge members, spouses and others. Learn about hosting national representatives, booking hospitality rooms, working within budgets and handling reimbursements to help make your time on the bridge comfortable and fun. Everyone is welcome to attend this free hotel seminar.

0900–1100 National Meetings Committee

Seating is limited, so those wishing to attend should e-mail R/C Howard Yoas, SN, who will arrange for a few additional chairs. The agenda includes reports from each subcommittee, a discussion and critique of the 2006 New York Governing Board Meeting, and a discussion of 2007 activities led by the incoming chairman.

0900–1700 Vessel Safety Check Committee

Although this meeting is open, space is limited. Please contact R/C Ron La Plante, SN, if you wish to attend.

0900–1700 Committee on Nominations

The Committee on Nominations uses closed meetings to evaluate USPS members’ qualifications, leadership strengths and weaknesses before nomination.
The committee meets twice a year at the Governing Board and Annual Meeting. We usually meet for eight hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but may also meet Tuesday and/or Saturday if necessary.

The eight-member committee includes a past chief commander usually in the third or fourth year after leaving office. Our committee members are chosen from throughout USPS, and at least one member should be familiar with Educational Department personnel.

The committee chooses candidates based on their resumes as well as recommendations and committee member observations. All candidates for the national Bridge, general and standing committees, and most committee leadership positions receive personal interviews.

1300–1700 Cooperative Charting Committee

This meeting is closed until 1430, when it opens to district Cooperative Charting chairmen or their representatives for presentations from NOAA, Maptech and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

1400–1530 Planning Committee

As the USPS think tank, the Planning Committee wants to know what you’re thinking about. In addition to resolutions and issues assigned by the Governing Board and Operating Committee, the committee examines other areas of interest and importance to members as determined by e-mail surveys, Expo findings and personal observations. After studying the results, we work toward finding the best practices for our organization.

We encourage you to attend, tell us what’s on your mind and find out what’s on ours.

1400–1700 Leadership Development

In keeping with the principle that information, suggestions and guidance should flow from the membership upwards, the Leadership Development Committee (formerly Operations Training) invites all Leadership and Operations Training chairmen as well as squadron and district bridge officers and general members to its meeting.
During the first 45 minutes, visitors are welcome to listen and observe as we cover committee business. Then, we will open the meeting for audience discussion, questions, suggestions and comments. Let your voice be heard.

1500–1700 Recreational Boating Safety Committee

The committee will review squadron safety officer reports for all reporting districts in the hopes of getting 100 percent participation for the fourth consecutive year.

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Friday, 23 Feb.

0800–1000 Environmental Committee

The open Environmental Committee meeting will cover squadron and district activities for Expo at the 2007 Governing Board Meeting, boaters’ environmental best practices, committee business, projects, grants, partnering, the committee website and more.

0800–1200 Government & Partner Relations Committee

This open meeting will feature a short presentation outlining the committee’s structure, activities and value to members as well as at least two outside presentations. Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are tentatively scheduled to speak.

0800–1230 Administrative Department Meeting

0815–1000 Membership Committee

After introducing the committee leadership, the committee will discuss retention, recruiting and youth activities.

1000–1040 Squadron Activities Committee

The committee outlines resources for squadron activities—showing how to find them on the Web—and shares plans.

1140-1220 Leadership Development Committee

The committee presents Leadership vs. Management—10 Ways to Get the Best out of Your Squadron.

0800–1700 Cooperative Charting Committee

Divided into four 1.5-hour sessions, this training seminar provides hands-on experience with Cooperative Charting partner reporting systems. High-speed Internet connections for up to 15 laptops will be available. The committee has only a few laptops, so bring your own laptop and connection cable if possible.

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Secretary’s Department

0830–1000 National Secretary

V/C Robert Baldridge, SN, and the department leadership will report on 2006 accomplishments and plans for 2007.

1010–1100 Communications Group Discussion

Join us as we discuss how to improve communications throughout USPS. Everyone is welcome, especially district and squadron secretaries.

1105–1135 The Ensign Committee

Come find out about The Ensign’s new format as well as Compass, the new USPS electronic newsletter.

1140-1210 Publications Committee

Chart your course through the PubCom Blog: Learn how to use this new tool to post and retrieve general interest articles for your squadron newsletter. The blog also includes a newly revised Editors Handbook.

1400-1430 Historian Committee

Historians go online: This presentation covers the process for submitting Historian Reports online as well as tools for district and squadron historians.

1435-1505 Information Technology Committee

Find out which sites won the 2006 Website Awards, and discover what it takes to win.

1510-1540 Electronic Merit Marks

Following a successful 2006 beta test, the Electronic Merit Mark submission process will be more widely available in 2007. So join us to learn about updates and improvements to the submission process.

1545-1615 New Member Data Entry

Come see a demonstration of the electronic New Member Application form under development.

1620-1700 DB2000 Updates

Learn about the latest developments in DB2000, and get your questions answered.

0830–1700 Law Committee

Due to the confidentiality of the matters reviewed and discussed, the LawCom meeting is closed.

0900–1200 Committee on Rules

The Committee on Rules will review squadron and district bylaws oversight assignments for 2007. Members leaving the committee will report the status of partially completed assignments. Current district resolutions received from the ad hoc Restructuring Committee and the Planning Committee will also be discussed.

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1330–1700 Executive Department

Government & Partner Relations Committee

Find out more about USPS government and partner alliances at this meeting. For more information, bookmark our site and visit often. Contact R/C Bill Husted, SN, to lend your talents to the committee.

Recreational Boating Safety Committee

The committee introduces PFD Showboards and gives a digital selective calling presentation.

Vessel Safety Check Committee

The committee covers VSC decal distribution, online reporting, error lists, nonqualified examiners, new requirements and regulations, new-examiner recruitment and national awards. The committee also discusses how to increase participation in the Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program.

Cooperative Charting Committee

After introducing guests from its partners, NOAA, Maptech and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the committee presents the Cooperative Charting Awards.

1400–1530 Planning Committee

As the USPS think tank, the Planning Committee wants to know what you’re thinking about. In addition to resolutions and issues assigned by the Governing Board and Operating Committee, the committee examines other areas of interest and importance to members as determined by e-mail surveys, Expo findings and personal observations. After studying the results, we work toward finding the best practices for our organization. We encourage you to attend and share your ideas with us.

1400–1600 Educational Department Meeting & USPS University

Learn more about USPS University and the latest course releases, including a wide range of short public seminars to attract new and experienced boaters while providing our members with the latest and best in boating technology. The four types of Boat Operator Certification—Onshore, Coastal, Advanced Coastal and Offshore—offer widely recognized credentials for recreational boaters. Find out how these programs are sparking international interest in the USPS educational program. It’s all about choices, credit and useful information.

1500–1700 Auxiliary Advisory Committee

Come hear guest speaker Cmdr. Catherine Haines, USCG Deputy Sector Commander of Sector Jacksonville, talk about women in the USCG Auxiliary. We also recognize women celebrating their 25th merit mark and their 25th anniversary as active members.

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