[Phoenix] Phoenix Sail & Power Squadron – Something to Think About

Sun Jul 15 10:17:26 EDT 2007

Bob,
Thank you for this article.  It is well thought out and provides food for
thought.  I look forward to hearing resonses from the membership on this
concern, good or bad.   Both are needed to properly review any subject.

Cdr Bill Johnson
Email:  BILLJ6 at GMAIL.COM
Cell:  602-525-6318

On 7/14/07, Schloemanb at aol.com <Schloemanb at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> It was the end of the winter boating class in 1991 that I was approached
> by Dick Meinert, the squadron membership chairman, and invited to join the
> squadron.  Dick was a very persuasive individual, and when I said I was
> only interested in the courses, that didn't faze him a bit as we completed
> the membership form.
>
>
>
> Well, since then I have completed all but one of the courses, Navigation.
> Why not, well I found out that the squadron had a lot more to offer than
> what my first impression was.  Next thing I knew I was serving on the
> Executive Committee, then as Executive Officer and then as Squadron
> Commander.  Navigation had to wait. Getting involved, you bet I was and I
> have enjoyed every minute of it since.
>
>
>
> I have seen the operation of the squadron, the district and national up
> close and personal.  So much so that basically when I retried from
> Honeywell in 1993 I have taken on a full time job working at numerous
> positions within USPS.  The cut in pay, to zero, is more than offset by
> the enjoyment it has afforded me and the great people from all over USPS
> that I have come to call my friends.
>
>
>
> I spend a lot of time looking at the organizations and how I can
> contribute in any way to make them better.  If there is a job to be done I
> want to help get it accomplished.  That approach leads me to think about
> what we are doing and see if any improvements can be made.  And that
> brings me to the thrust of this letter.
>
>
>
> For as long as I have been a member of the squadron I do not recall there
> has ever been a dues increase.  The same can be said for the district.  National
> on the other hand has had to make several increases to try to balance its
> budget.
>
>
>
> At the squadron level each year we approve a balanced or slightly negative
> budget.  Each year we seem to end up with a small surplus.  How does that
> happen with everything costing more each year?  Simple.  Many of our
> members are not only generous with their time but also with their pocket
> book, and I for one thank them for that.  But that is not the end of the
> story.  Each year the squadron must make hard decisions on what it can
> afford to do and what it cannot.  There just is never any room to expand,
> only stay the same or contract a bit and the latter is cause for concern.
> Remember, the only real source of income for the squadron is dues and that
> is getting spread thinner every year.  Also, the squadron subsidizes the
> cost of the Christmas Party and Change of Watch which have escalated
> noticeably the last few years.
>
>
>
> Where am I headed with this?  A dues increase?  Yes and no, but first some
> background.
>
>
>
> The squadron bylaws, "*Section 7.**1** *The entrance fees and annual dues
> of dues-paying classes of membership shall be reviewed each year by the
> Executive Committee, and its recommendations for the following year shall be
> presented to and voted upon by the active members no later than the last
> regular squadron meeting prior to 1 February.  Such fees and dues shall be
> as so determined provided, however, that in the event no such fees or dues
> are so fixed for any USPS dues year, fees and dues shall be the same as for
> the preceding year."
>
>
>
> As you read that, note the words "dues-paying classes of membership" and
> the "following year".  The latter means that dues cannot be raised for the
> current year.  The dues-paying classes of membership need some further
> explanation.
>
>
>
> Currently for the squadron there are basically 5 classes of dues paying
> membership, Active, Additional Active, Adult Family, Junior Family and
> Associate members.  Each class has its own privileges.  All classes may
> take USPS member courses and earn merit marks.  Active and Additional
> Active members may hold elected and appointed offices and vote on all
> matters.  Adult and Junior Family members can only hold appointed
> positions, but cannot vote, fly the ENSIGN or wear the uniform.  The basic
> dues are structured around these privileges.
>
>
>
> Section 17 of the squadron Procedures defines the current squadron dues
> as:
>
>
>
> Primary Active                           $24.00
>
> Additional Adult Active                $0
>
> Adult Family Member                 $0
>
> Junior Family Member                $0
>
> Life Member (voluntary)               $25.00
>
> Apprentice                                 $0
>
> Associate Member                     $10.00
>
>
>
> But this is not the whole picture; there are district and national dues as
> well.  To put things in context let's take a look at all three:
>
>
>
>
>
> *Phoenix***
>
> *District*
>
> *National*
>
> *Total*
>
> *Membership Category*
>
> *Dues*
>
> *Dues*
>
> *Dues*
>
> *Dues*
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> Active Member
>
> $24.00
>
> $7.00
>
> $31.80
>
> $62.80
>
> Additional Active Member
>
> $0.00
>
> $3.50
>
> $15.90
>
> $19.40
>
> Life Member  (voluntary)
>
> $25.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $25.00
>
> Adult Family Member
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $7.95
>
> $7.95
>
> Junior Family Member
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $2.00
>
> $2.00
>
> Apprentice
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $12.00
>
> $12.00
>
> Apprentice Sea Scout
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $12.00
>
> $12.00
>
> Woman Certificate
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> Associate Member
>
> $10.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $10.00
>
> Honorary
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
> $0.00
>
>
>
> When the class of Additional Active members was introduced the Phoenix SPS
> decided not to charge any squadron dues.  Additional Active members have *
> all* the privileges of an Active member except they do not receive an
> independent copy of the *Bos'n's Pipe.  *They do pay district and national
> dues at a rate of one-half that of the Active member.  One could argue
> that the same should apply at the squadron level.
>
>
>
> The Family Adult member pays national dues at a rate of one-fourth of an
> Active member but do not pay squadron or district dues.
>
>
>
> Associate members dues are only to cover the cost of mailing the *Bos'n's
> Pipe* if they so choose a hard copy.
>
>
>
> Each year the squadron contributes to the National Education Fund at the
> rate of $1 per active member, including Life Members.
>
>
>
> A few years ago when we had a particular budget crunch the Life Members
> agreed to a $25 a year voluntary squadron dues and we should all thank them
> for that continued support.
>
>
>
> Might I suggest consideration of the following?
>
>
>
> 1) The dues for Active members be raised $1 from $24 to $25 per year or
> the equivalent of a Life Member contribution.
>
> 2)  The dues for Additional Active members be set at one half that of an
> Active member to $12.50 per year.
>
> 3)  The dues for a Family Adult member be set at one-fourth of an Active
> member to $6.25.  Junior Family member dues to remain at $0
>
> 4)  Associate dues be set to the current printing and mailing costs of 10
> issues of the *Bos'n's Pipe* per year
>
>
>
> In December the squadron Executive Committee will be reviewing the next
> year's budget and considering if a dues increase or decrease is appropriate.
> I would hope that you will think about the proposals as it relates to the
> entire squadron and not just how it impacts you personally.  Let your
> opinions be known so that a representative decision can be made.  Any
> change in squadron dues will not become effective until 2009.
>
>
>
> Bob Schloeman
> Wizard First Class
>
> *Phoenix SPS* Past Commander, ExCom member, R/T chairman, I/T chairman,
> Policies & Procedures chairman, Database manager, Mailing list
> Administrator, Webmaster.
>
> *Lake Mohave PS* Database manager, Webmaster
>
> *District 28* Past District Commander, R/T chairman, I/T chairman, Arizona
> Legislative committee, Rules committee member, Database manager, Mailing
> list Administrator, Webmaster
>
> *National* Chairman of the Squadron Activities Committee and also serving
> as the Webmaster, and Database manager for Amateur Radio and Port Captains
> programs. Member of the Committee on Rules. Member of the Electromechanical
> Committee. Webmaster for the national Treasurer and Planned Giving
> Committee.
>
>
>
> Shields are up and phaser's set for stun ---- Now let me see what other
> trouble I can get into J
>
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>  ------------------------------
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>
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