[Psml] Fwd: Re: , Issue 6 (John) HQ Support to local Squadrons

[Kristi Anderson]

Topic 1 -  National Campaign

I don't think you will find any individual of USPS - including "NATIONAL" -
who disagrees with your opinion that we need to advertise at the national
level, as well as the local level.  BUT the national level will require a
lot more money and we just don't have it.  Currently, the PR/Marketing and
Education teams are working to find angles for new, worthy of interest,
articles.  People aren't interested in reading an article on boating safety,
and the editors know this.  So we have to add a human interest story or a
new technology to it, etc and add a few safety tips as well.  It is a very
tricky industry to get in to.  I have tried, I know.  There is no such thing
as "free" PSA's any more in MOST markets, except for not so popular radio
shows.  Point is, articles are being sent every month to try and wedge
ourselves into that "free" market, but we are at the mercy of the editors.

As for the local level, as much as I prefer a national campaign, we have to
do it on the local level.  I used to live in Tampa, then moved to Clearwater
(15 miles apart?).  Totally different markets!  The tricks I used in Tampa
didn't work in Clearwater.  Tricks I was using in Tampa didn't work 15 miles
in the other direction (East) as well.  There they could get a lot of free
newspaper ads as they were a smaller area.  In Tampa, I could hang out in
West Marine and rarely put an ad in the Tampa Tribune, if ever, and posters
worked.  But in Clearwater, only newspaper ads worked - not posters or
freebie newspapers, thus the cost was about $300 per class.  It just varies.
Here in Melbourne, it is even still different!  I am floored at the
differences considering it is all FLORIDA.

You must have contacts to get anywhere in the national market.  And it seems
those in the industry aren't volunteering to help (I am guessing as I know
there are a few marketing professionals out there that I have met over the
years, but they have reasons why they aren't helping).  And "free" is not
really what they are in the business for.

Topic 2 - Reimbursements for National

Just think what would happen if USPS did not offer reimbursements at all.
1)  You would be saying that everyone has to be wealthy to be able to be in
any position (it costs money to go to national meetings).  This would mean
that USPS decisions would only be made by the wealthy and you would be
letting the worker bees know that are only that any could never get anywhere
else.  (I don't think that is the democratic way).
2)  Less people would attend national meetings, thus though we wouldn't need
very large conference facilities, we wouldn't have enough people to get the
"perks" - freebies that keep the prices down at the national meetings.  This
is the situation district conferences find themselves in where meetings may
happen in a bar the next morning (have you ever smelled a bar the next
day???)
3)  If less people are attending meetings, less communications and more
"MIS-Communications".
4)  The prices of all the events at the national meetings would be so high,
that they would not Attract people, thus attendance will be down, and people
won't see and make friends, thus membership declines.

I am one of those that enjoys the meetings, but doesn't qualify for
reimbursement and has to use any vacation money and time off from work to
attend.  So, in essence, you are saying to me, that I am not smart enough to
lead a group nor am I capable because my financial situation doesn't allow
me to travel to the level being determined by those who have plenty of money
running the organization.  (Bridge officers travel about 10 - 25 weekends a
year to represent this organization to its members and outside
organizations).

So, here are the two options 1) pay for everything or 2) pay for nothing
(the latter is what you are proposing).  Currently, the rooms per night
average about $135 - $150 a night.  $65 per night is a compromise.  We need
people to do all the work of the organization and they are not even asking
for everyone to be reimbursed, just those in the leadership roles.  Do you
think ALL the work is done by that group?  I hope not.

So, the next time you say "No reimbursement for anyone", think about how
many people in your squadron, district and national that wouldn't be at the
meetings and the state of the organization.  They call this "Cause and
Effect".

Just one volunteers opinion.

Kristi Anderson



-----Original Message-----
From: psml-bounces at usps.org [mailto:psml-bounces at usps.org]On Behalf Of
John
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 10:48 PM
To: kayaklady at cfl.rr.com
Cc: United States Power Squadrons Mailing List
Subject: [Psml] Fwd: Re: , Issue 6 (John) HQ Support to local Squadrons



>Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 22:37:52 -0400
>To: "Robert Miller" <boatsafe at comcast.net>
>From: John <jshivik at cox.net>
>Subject: Re: [Psml] , Issue 6 (John) HQ Support to local Squadrons
>
>Bob Miller,
>
>         Thanks for your comments.
>
>         Bob, I don't totally agree with John Bradley.  So, we agree
> to disagree. Maybe a review of what we went through in 2001 and
> 2002 as to National expenditures and the recommendations that were
> made at that time would be appropriate. Remember the cutting back
> on meetings but there was to be a cut back on reimbursements, too.
> Have no problem with the C/C having appropriate reimbursements.
> Volunteers, right? We all need to work together and come to a
> consensus, not to fight. I would think that we want to see USPS
> survive. It will not happen with current thinking.
>         Of course we advertise at the local level and have
> submitted for years for reimbursements. My concern is directly to
> National doing a National media campaign. I don't want to beat a
> dead horse. National, and in this case, you are missing the point.
> Unfortunately, Emails are not the best way to convey one's
> thoughts. National should come up with a viable business plan and
> advertise at a National level. Do not appreciate Bradley's
> condescending tone as he is not aware of my background. Need to
> work as a team and not adversaries. Doesn't appear that way, right?
>
>                 P/C John Shivik
>
>
>