<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<title></title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Several D/16 members have discussed the Commanders Challenge Award/
contest that V/C Frank Dvorak started several years ago in our
district. Our squadrons consider it a contest to see which squadron
wins the large, lovely Eagle trophy each year. <br>
What has not been talked about is how this enthusiasm is
generated. The D/16 commander has several Saturday, D/16 officer
meetings throughout the year. Besides the regular informational
meeting, the attendees are challenged to do their best and a detailed
interactive discussion of what is expected to "meet the challenge" is
held. Often, participants suggest additional ideas of what could be
counted as points. This makes for lively discussions and thus, the
members "own" the challenge.<br>
One of the most important ideas to come from these talks happened
the first year. The commanders insisted that the <u>executive
officers be included</u>. They wanted their successors to be up and
running for the following year, not learning "after the fact". <br>
I personally have observed officers at all three levels of USPS
come aboard "with out a clue". This is unfair to them and to our
organization. Many executive officers are only confined to "outside
areas" and thus think and use this year as a coasting year. It needs
to be much more.<br>
Maybe, if this idea is worked on, more officers would know what the
Bowsprit Award is and how to use it. <br>
Just another thought,<br>
P/R/C Christine Rasmussen<br>
D/16<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</body>
</html>