[Psml] Merit Mark comments

[Joan Lowenthal]

Yes, I am saying that Cdrs alone cannot be trusted to remember everyone that deserves a merit mark. How can a CDR know everyone that served on a committee or taught a course? I have been merit mark chair since 1997. This is the first year someone else has taken over the job.  I never found it that difficult.  The bridge officers and chairs of committees submitted recommendations to me and I filled it in.  If I needed more of a description of the job done I would ask for more details.  By the way hours are not the most important part of it.  I have made many submissions with just a description of the job done not a made up amount of hrs.  

This is not just a job for the CDR.  The CDR approves the recommendations.  Usually we read the names of people that have been recommended at a general meeting.  If someone thinks someone is missing then they should notify the merit mark chair.  I also put in recommendations that do not seem adequate to me in case the person did something for District that I am not aware of.

Maybe the merit mark recommendation does not mean much to some, but I think it is important. If we demean that why don't we take away uniforms, name tags, officer flags and the rest.

P/C Joan Lowenthal, AP

----- Original Message -----
From: BobGloRoseman <bobgloroseman at sc.rr.com>
Sent: Sun, 10/11/2009 11:04am
To: Joan Lowenthal <joanl at mmc.net> ; Paul R. Soucy <psoucy at sc.rr.com>
Cc: 'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List' <psml at usps.org>
Subject: Re: [Psml] Merit Mark comments

Joan & all Cdrs,

1.  Are you saying Cdrs. can't be trusted?
2.  Most Sq. Cdrs. already do M/M.
3  Does a Area Monitorknow everything about each member?
4.  They look for hours.  One can put in hundreds and still receive (1) M/M.
5.  What happens to a new member 2-3 mos. who puts in 6-10 hrs. or any 
amount?  Should they be denied?  That is a incentive, which was brought out 
at D-26 spring conference.  If every member put in time that would be great!
6.  CONSIDER THIS:  With deminishing  membership and looking for ways to 
save $ DOLLARS, ELIMINATING A/M would save up to if not more than $25,000 a 
year.

 Robert L. Roseman, Cdr.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joan Lowenthal" <joanl at mmc.net>
To: "Paul R. Soucy" <psoucy at sc.rr.com>
Cc: "'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List'" <psml at usps.org>; "Bob 
Roseman" <bobgloroseman at sc.rr.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 7:42 AM
Subject: RE: [Psml] Merit Mark comments


> To all,
>
> If the squadron Cdr is the one to decide merit marks that is a bad idea. 
> It will demean the meaning of an earned merit mark.  The standards will 
> decrease to "he was my right hand man; I could not go thru the year 
> without her." It's not so much the hours that have to be listed, but what 
> did the person do - a description. Besides don't squadron Cdrs have enough 
> to do?
>
> P/C Joan Lowenthal, AP
> Neptune Sail & Power Squadron
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul R. Soucy <psoucy at sc.rr.com>
> Sent: Sat, 10/10/2009 11:24pm
> To: Joan Lowenthal <joanl at mmc.net>
> Cc: 'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List' <psml at usps.org> ; Bob 
> Roseman <bobgloroseman at sc.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [Psml] Merit Mark comments
>
> It's about time the USPS does away with area monitors and leave the Merit
> Mark selection to Squadron Commanders. After all who knows their members 
> the
> best, answer: Squadron Commanders. Every year we hear all kinds of 
> different
> stories concerning the merit mark program and nothing ever gets done to 
> fix
> it. How does one gauge the number of hours a member did this or that given
> on a submittal form and why do we need to record hours?  What really 
> counts
> is what a member does throughout the year to aid in the smooth operation 
> of
> his/her squadron. An area monitor does not see what a squadron Commander
> does and they should not be in the approval cycle.
>
> Check on the cost that each district pays to send area monitors to 
> National.
> You might be surprised at how much can be saved by deleting Area Monitors.
>
> Now is the time to act.
>
> P/C Paul Soucy, AP
> SEO, Long Bay
>
>
> --- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Miller" <boatsafe at comcast.net>
> To: <psoucy at sc.rr.com>
> Cc: "'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List'" <psml at usps.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2009 9:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [Psml] Merit Mark comments
>
>
>> Well said Phil.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>            Boating is fun...we'll  show you how
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: psml-bounces at usps.org [mailto:psml-bounces at usps.org] On Behalf Of
>> Phil
>> Arcuni
>> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2009 4:01 PM
>> To: boatsafe at comcast.net
>> Cc: United States Power Squadrons Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Psml] Merit Mark comments
>>
>> Hi Gene and others,
>>
>> As someone having been often involved with recommending merit marks, I
>> would certainly consider someone who put in "only" either 103, or even
>> "only" 83 hours, eligible for a merit mark in either case. Someone here
>> is a bit stingy. If we put this criterion on everybody, there would be a
>> lot fewer merit marks awarded.
>>
>> Congratulations Gene on keeping after it, and thank you for your effort
>> on behalf of USPS.
>>
>> P/R/C Philip Arcuni, SN
>> Information Technology Committee
>>
>> ________________________________________
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>
>
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