[D-plan-net] Bowsprit Award Refocus

[Kay Simkins]

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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