╨╧рб▒с>■  *,■   )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴Y ┐сbjbjєWєW  С=С=с      ]╛╛╛╛╛╛╛╥╥╥╥╥ ▐╥И╢■■■■■■■■MOOOOOO$>Ї2Ўs╛■■■■■sZ╛╛■■■ZZZ■"╛■╛■M╥╥╛╛╛╛■MZАZ┌-╛╛M■Є └Юоя;┼╚╥╥ :ERefocus Ц Requirement for a Commander So many times I have gone to national USPS meetings and now read the ideas from District 33 suggesting that only a commander can lead the Уgroup.Ф I totally agree that the Commander is the person that sets the stage for the squadron or district throughout the year. Without planning ahead for the year, attending activities, asking questions of active members and getting involved the squadron/district can become lackadaisical very quickly. However, I donТt agree that only squadron commanders can become district commanders. I believe that active members, who have the ability to organize, know the duties of squadron or district offices and ENJOY the USPS organization, can create enthusiasm and enjoyment of the organization. DonТt stop an eager, enthusiastic member of our organization from becoming a district commander, if that person is interested. Enthusiasm and organization do a lot more at times then requirements. Does D/31 use the data sent to us included in the Bowsprit reports? I have not seen a Bowsprit report. Is it sent by mail or do we go to USPS web site and look up the report? After I saw the refocus power point presentation, I went to the web site and downloaded the Bowsprit Award Program. As Secretary for D/31 for three years, I remember reporting in the minutes that our District did receive this award, but I had no idea what it was. 3. Bowsprit award One of the squadrons in our District has been very active in acquiring new members and in the last several years working with an Membership Involvement program to keep existing members. They could have done very well with this award as far as active member retention, giving four boatsmart classes a year, and having an active vessel safety check program. However, the education program for this squadron has not been particular active. The squadron has been much more active in community service and boating activities. Therefore, Goal #3 and Goal #6 Cooperative Charting would be the squadronТs downfall. Another squadron is very active in their education program but have just started this year with vessel safety checks and not any activity with Cooperative charting. As a matter of fact, in the past several years there has been no interest in cooperative charting. Each squadron in our district has different interests but not any one of the squadrons participate in all parts of the award. Of course when you put them altogether it works, Уsometimes.Ф Segregating squadrons for awards rather than lumping all the squadrons together for an award might be a good idea but I donТt think National needs more workers and I doubt that most districts have the man power either. Updating the live response might be helpful in some instances but for most squadrons it is probably a waste of time. We have one squadron that is very computer savvy but most of the other squadrons donТt use the computer much so why go to all the trouble? District 31 Do I think District 31 is interested in the Bowsprit Award? I am not sure we are right now and I will explain in a minute. My question is who received the УreportsФ and who is in charge of the National Awards at District? Does the District Awards Chairman keep track of all these awards or do the squadrons initiate this? Our district does have an award for membership; Squadron Growth Award. Our District is actually in trouble. Although we have had a complete bridge since the District was started I canТt say that in the last 10 years it has been a particularly active bridge. We have had all the required meetings and the business was conducted but there hasnТt been any new activity and the circulation of the same members year after year in the major offices has depleted the interest in this district. For the 2008 Bridge we lacked a secretary and an administrative officer. By this summer council we will have a secretary and an Administrative Officer came in during the Winter Council. We are trying to develop interest again and get new people involved. Acquiring members and retaining members already in squadrons are a priority and everything else is secondary at the moment. Respectfully, 1st/L Margaret K. 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