[Psml] Merit Mark comments
John & Judy Gill
jjgill at twojscom.com
Mon Oct 12 19:52:51 EDT 2009
Well put Joan,
While I have never done the job of being the Merit Mark Chairman, my
former Squadron was evidently blessed by having one of the best in
USPS (an SN who was also the wife of a P/C)
Our Squadron's chairman relied on the monthly reports from the many
Bridge officers to tell her who had done what each month. But, she
did not stop there, but asked those members she knew were "involved"
to send her their own report(s) of their service for her records.
Then once a year she held a meeting with all the Bridge officers to
go over all the individual records. She then prepared her report and
the Squadron's Merit Mark recommendations for the Commander's
approval and signature. To my knowledge, no one was ever "missed or
forgotten" when it came to recognition, including those Woman's
Certificate Holders who were duly recognized at our Founders' Day party.
Area monitors have the responsibility of keeping all MM
recommendations on a level playing field. This is sometimes
difficult. I can remember one member, early in our Squadron's
history, who printed our Squadron newsletter and roster for many
years at no charge. One area monitor rejected his Merit Mark because
the member did not do the actual printing himself (it was done by his
company). It was resubmitted with the question of where our Squadron
could get the work done at no charge since the member was so
offended. His analogy was that of a member who brought a cake or
other baked goods for refreshments at Squadron meetings -- does it
make a difference if she baked the desserts from scratch, from a box
mix or purchased them from a bakery at her expense, OR is it the end
result that counts???
The major problem with Merit Mark recommendations is that the
submissions are limited to only 436 characters (about 75 or less
words). That limitation gives new meaning to dumbing down this
important service recognition!!!
It should be incumbent for each Squadron Commander and/or Merit Mark
Chairman to know which members are also involved at the District and
National level and there should be space on the MM submittal form to
alert the area monitor of possible additional service at the District
or National level. Like wise, there should be a place for Squadrons
to recognize the efforts of other Squadron members, such as other
members giving a presentation at one of their Squadron meetings,
participation at a boat show by a member of a neighboring Squadron to
one their Squadron was in charge of, serving on a rendezvous
committee for their Squadron, District, etc.
D/Lt John R. Gill, AP (a Life Member)
D/5 Ch/Cruise Planning
Delaware River Power Squadron
===============================================
On Oct 12, 2009, at 5:30 PM, Joan Lowenthal wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>> ________________________________________
>>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your email address? See
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>>
>>
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>
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