Canadian Power & Sail Squadron

 

Niagara District

 

 

 

Commander’s Report

March 17, 2010

 

 

Since our last District Meeting, I have had the pleasure of attending a local Squadron Bridge Meeting in Port Dover.

 

Thanks to Cdr. Bob Crane for the invitation to sit in on the meeting and hear their plans for several upcoming events.

 

I have also attended the Planning Committee Meeting and National Training Meeting March 5 & 6 in Mississauga.

 

During the Training Meeting I had the opportunity to meet and hear the District Training Officers and Course Directors from across Canada discuss our current courses, the changes being implemented and the future direction our CPS Courses will be taking over the next year.

 

Anytime you get the opportunity to sit with a group of knowledgeable individuals you can pick up ideas that can be applied to your own area and hopefully join in on the successes.

 

District Training Officer Bruce Holden will be reporting more on the meeting.

 

I was asked to present an update on the “MAP2 Project” and also, Marketing’s “Evolution of Change” for Paul Clissold who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

MAP2 is definitely being embraced by the Squadrons across Canada, and the overall Membership continues to rise, despite those people who were simply in it for the PCOC.

 

We need to keep the focus on Membership Renewals in Niagara, and District Membership Officer Thor Olsen will be available to assist the Squadron M.O. with any questions they may have.

 

During my term as D.C., I have had several conversations with Squadrons regarding their difficulty in finding new people to join their Bridge.

 

This has been an ongoing issue for several years and affects Squadrons right across the country.

 

I personally feel we need to take a more concentrated look within, and determine why this is happening.

 

We continue to attract new students, and maintain our local Membership numbers, but struggle when it comes to attracting new Bridge Officers!

 

People are busier today than ever before and we compete for their valuable time.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a problem that affects every Squadron at some point and I believe we are missing a key element, and need to pin point what it is.

 

My thanks go out to Diane Allan for making arrangements to tour the Weather Network building in Oakville last Wednesday.

 

Hearing the process of forecasting the weather and seeing how this information is assimilated and brought to us, the viewer, was most interesting.

 

The management at the Weather Network are very receptive to conducting tours and with a call to their marketing department any Squadron could arrange for an interesting event.   

 

We are fast approaching the end of another season of CPS.

 

Our courses are nearing a close, and both the District and Squadrons are preparing for AGM’s and Graduations.

 

Please keep in mind to have your 2010-11 Nomination Reports out to your Membership 30 days in advance of your AGM.

 

Once again, I solicit any questions or comments you would like to have brought forward at the upcoming Governing Board Meeting and ask that you email to me no later than March 19th.

 

The District’s AGM will be held on Saturday, April 17th., so this will be my last monthly report as D.C. before our Change of Watch.

 

Notice of the meeting, and the 2010-11 Nomination report have been sent out and we’ve now received confirmation that our guest representative form National will be Admin. Officer, Catherine McLeod.

 

In preparation, I would ask all District Officers and Squadron Commanders to have their reports ready for posting on the District web site no later than April 10, 2010.

 

I look forward to seeing you at the AGM and invite you to extend a personal invitation to any other Bridge Officers to join us in Fort Erie for our event.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted.

 

Jim Brown

Niagara District Commander