[D-plan-net] LDW Options

[William M Bellinger]

  District 7 Commander Doug Sewell,
   
  I received your response to the Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) invitation. I must say, it is succinct and I like that. I certainly understand and appreciate the importance of staying within a budget. There does remain an uncertainty you would hopefully clear up and other optional courses of action you might consider.
   
  I would hope the LDW materials were discussed with your Executive Committee and possibly with your District Council, The LDW as "advertised" is meant to provide a professional quality training workshop to cultivate better leaders at the squadron, district, and national levels. We believe a cadre of better-trained leaders, dedicated to improving the value of membership, will help USPS remain a premier boating organization. 
   
  Before you shut the door on this opportunity for your members, I ask you to consider several alternative options that will add little or nothing to your budget. Your district’s participation is highly sought after to foster the long-term benefits that this workshop will bring to the squadrons in your district.
   
  The workshop and materials are free, so only the travel and lodging have an expense. I have heard members say they felt the LDW was important enough that they wanted to attend even if they were to pay their own expenses. That is certainly a wonderful example of the dedication and foresight our members possess. We wanted the districts to select the best-qualified members to attend which is why attendance is not open to anyone without being selected by their district. 
   
  You no doubt have some members that are qualified to participate, but are they willing to foot the bill? I would ask that you, your Executive Committee, and others seek out such members and give them an opportunity to attend. This comprehensive leadership workshop is endorsed by the National Bridge and is offered as a benefit to USPS as well as to the individual. 
   
  Here is a rundown on the expense.
   
           - Room rates are about $100 per night = $200.00
           - Gas about $100. 350 miles at 25 mpg @ $3 per gallon.
   
  District 7 is scheduled for the Chicago area LDW. The approximate mileage to Chicago (all expressway driving) is 350 from Cleveland and 450 miles from Pittsburgh. To the Baltimore LDW, the mileage is still 350 from Cleveland, but 250 from Pittsburgh. An attendee could choose the closer location.
   
  Other considerations:
    -The expenses are tax deductible to the member.
  -Two members car-pooling and sharing a room cuts the costs in half.
  -The district may "find" some funds to help defray some of the costs.
   
  It is certainly possible to send out a PPT.presentation. Four trained presenters have prepared to help each district in a small group workshop setting. Group dynamics play a major role in the "team problem-solving" activities. The PPT without the presenter and the exercises is akin to watching your neighbor’s home movies of their vacation; you really need to be there to benefit from the experiences. The LDW uses a rifle approach as opposed to a shotgun approach. It was developed to target and nurture a smaller cadre of dedicated leaders and was not intended for an effective presentation to the general membership as so many other PPT presentations.
   
  Shouldn’t your members have an opportunity to attend the LDW regardless of district budget restraints? I do hope you offer them this opportunity, and we hear that your district has selected some members willing to participate.
   
  Sincerely,
   
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