R/C Mary Ann Jensen, SN, Chairman
Our Mission
To respond to government issues and regulations, pursue recreational boating and governmental partnerships, establish state and organization memoranda of understanding, and encourage homeland security initiatives in support of USPS programs.
The committee also aids districts and squadrons on legislative and liaison matters. Both district and squadron legislative and liaison officers report to their respective executive officers. While districts and squadrons handle legislative and allied matters of a more localized nature, the districts’ legislative officers serve as a liaison between the national committee and the squadrons’ legislative officers. GPRCom’s State Legislative Representatives act on behalf of their respective state, regardless of USPS district boundaries which may encompass more than one state.
GPRCom boasts more than 50 members who serve on one or more of five teams: Administration, Homeland Security, Partners/Liaison, State Legislative, and Lobbying. Each team has a team leader with the exception of the State Legislative team which has three, selected on the basis of the geographical area each represents.
USPS members have and have always had the right to address any legislative issue as individuals and as concerned boaters. On 4 December 2009 a revised lobbying policy was approved by the Board of Directors granting members permission to lobby or contact government officials on legislative matters under the guidance of GPRCom. Also encouraged in the new policy was serving on Area Maritime Security or other boating-related committees in members’ communities throughout the country.
Fostering boating partnerships is an important aspect of the Government and Partner Relations Committee. This is mainly accomplished by coordinating state, mainly educational, agreements and establishing organization memoranda of understanding. Agreements in force, as well as model agreements, are on this GPRCom website under the heading, MOUs. Our committee also designates GPRCom member volunteers to serve as liaisons to key boating organizations, partners and government agencies.
In the wake of 9/11, homeland security is a critically essential function of this committee. GPRCom assists the U.S. Coast Guard with its “America’s Waterway Watch” campaign and also promotes the USPS “America’s Waterway Awareness” program. In February 2009 USPS signed an Affiliate Agreement with Citizen Corps, a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This collaboration promises to cultivate an extremely important civic service contribution on the part of all USPS members.
If you have an interest in serving on the Government and Partner Relations Committee, please contact R/C Mary Ann Jensen, SN at jensene@msu.edu for more information, and be sure to update your resume at the Committee on Nominations site located on the USPS home page, www.usps.org