[D-plan-net] Bowsprit Award Refocus

[minassity at aol.com]

Hi Jean,     I could not read your comments.     P/C  Arthur A. 
Epstein, D-4, Plan Com chair


-----Original Message-----
From: Hamilton, Jean <jlhamilton at marathonoil.com>
To: d-plan-net at usps.org
Cc: chschexnider at yahoo.com; Ken Wilkinson <kdwilkinson at earthlink.net>; 
Philip Welch <philwelch at sbcglobal.net>; Hilton Dickerson 
<hiltond at verizon.net>; dotwelch at sbcglobal.net; Nell Moore 
<nelldm at sbcglobal.net>; Shirley_Heald at ryder.com; jmadden50 at yahoo.com; 
bcsail at netportusa.com; Scott D. McDonald <ScottDMcDonald at comcast.net>; 
wkgalle at sbcglobal.net; D21PRO at aol.com; a.pippin at att.net; shirley heald 
<shirley.heald2 at verizon.net>; sheald at alum.cox.smu.edu
Sent: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 7:18 pm
Subject: Re: [D-plan-net] Bowsprit Award Refocus



Attached are my comments regarding the recent Bowsprit-Focus-Leadership 
discussion, actually a stream of consciousness treatise, for your 
weekend reading, and a copy of the current D/21 Star Program worksheet.

 

regards,

 

Jean

 


R/C Jean L. Hamilton, SN

United States Power Squadrons

Assistant National Secretary

USPS Environmental Committee

EdDept Marine Environment Committee

District 21 Commander

Houston Sail & Power Squadron

 

"Boating is fun...we'll show you how"
 


 From: d-plan-net-bounces at usps.org [mailto:d-plan-net-bounces at usps.org] 
On Behalf Of Kay Simkins
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:50 PM
To: d-plan-net at usps.org
Subject: [D-plan-net] Bowsprit Award Refocus






District Planning Network Message                                   May 
2008

 

TO: District Planning Committee Chairmen

Cc:  District Commanders

 

As you know, D-Plan-Net was established as a forum for district 
planning committees to discuss and share ideas and concerns in the 
interest of providing benefit to USPS members. If you are no longer on 
the district planning committee, please forward this to the new chair. 
We welcome the new members to our network.

 

Recently there has been concern with regard to the Bowsprit Program and 
associated award.  Although the criteria for earning a Bowsprit Award 
has changed from time to time, recent discussion has centered on the 
value of the program as a management tool that helps squadrons, and 
therefore districts, focus on priority issues.

 

Attached is a Power Point proposal as submitted to the National 
Planning Committee by District 33 Commander Jose Rivera, AP.  This 
Power Point presentation outlines one proposal for restructuring the 
Bowsprit Award.  The National Planning Committee, with the support of 
the Bowsprit Program Administrator, P/D/C Brian Logan, SN, is 
interested in your thoughts and ideas concerning this proposal and the 
Bowsprit program in general. We encourage you to join in the discussion 
and offer your comments, ideas, and suggestions.  Respond by replying 
to d-plan-net at usps.org before I June 2008.

 

As you are aware, the Bowsprit program, which focuses on the cumulative 
efforts of squadrons, does not report on the individual achievements of 
a district’s squadrons. Forgoing any further developments that may 
change the Bowsprit program as it currently operates, districts might 
consider creating your own District Bowsprit Award for their squadrons. 
Several districts are doing just that. All the data that is sent  to HQ 
is also collected at the district level. A district could choose the 
same categories for the award or tailor the categories to fit the areas 
of greatest concern. 

 

Squadrons would be challenged to outperform their own achievements from 
the previous year. In this fashion they are only competing with 
themselves. This simplified version makes for easy accounting without 
complex formulas. Squadrons either did better or worse in any given 
category for the commander’s entire year.

 

The primary importance of the program is to create awareness of the 
activities and each squadron’s progress and to identify the areas where 
squadrons and/or the district may better focus its efforts. Awards can 
be determined locally with Honor Roll status, etc. If a single “top“ 
squadron is necessary, the percentages of all the categories could be 
averaged and compared.

 

Some districts have developed a “Star Program” that may be a bit more 
complicated. The purpose of these programs enables district personnel 
to better assess and address the needs of their squadrons when studied 
and applied by squadron and district personnel. Several district 
personnel would be tasked to communicate and collect data from their 
squadron counterparts. We always encourage this type communication. 
Goals and action plans can then be developed from these studies to 
assist squadrons. The Planning Committee Manual, found at our Web site, 
has information on developing these types of strategies.

 

Another important issue concerns the qualifications of district 
personnel. The Planning Committee tries not to enter into local 
“politics.” It is our belief that many governance issues, such as the 
qualifications of commanders, should be handled at the local levels 
whether squadron or district. The requirements for the district 
commander or other positions should be compatible with their bylaws or, 
in some cases, the “Policy Manual” that provides guidance. The local 
Nominating Committee should be following the policies and bylaws of 
their local unit. We suggest that the local planning committee or rules 
committee prepare a proposal that would satisfy the concerns within 
your district.

 

Resolutions from the districts go to the Governing Board and are then 
assigned to a national committee for further study. Resolutions do help 
by making desired changes.

 

Remember, we would like hear from you and get your feedback on the 
District 33 proposal by 1 June 2008. The information will then be 
summarized and reported on the d-plan-net and sent to various involved 
committees.

 

Thank you.  We are listening.

 

National Planning Committee

d-plan-net at usps.org

 

 




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