Chief Commander’s Message Spring 2016 Focus on the horizon

SPRING CONFERENCE 2016 Your Board of Directors is happy to “see” all of you here We know you will have a productive meeting To help I have a few things for you to think about Welcome everybody to your spring conference! Your Board of Directors is happy to “see” all of you here. We know you will have a productive meeting and to help get it going, I have a few things for you to think about.

We are ONE Family… My wife, Dot, and I emphasize that we are one family with a love for Boating Community service and Fellowship with kindred souls. We have the best of three worlds My wife Dot and I emphasize that we are one family with a love for boating, community service and fellowship with kindred souls. We have the best of three worlds.

MEMBERSHIP IS STABILIZING Smaller squadrons continue to merge with larger ones This is not a bad thing Together we all accomplish more There are challenges ahead but we will meet them head on…. Here’s how Membership is stabilizing but smaller squadrons continue to merge with larger ones. This is not a bad thing. Together we all accomplish more. We have challenges ahead but we will meet them head on….here’s how.

UPDATED MARKETING STRATEGY R+M – A Brand Experience Agency Funded by you and grants from our endowment fund We have asked who is our market really? what do they want? and more importantly how do they want it delivered? An updated marketing strategy by R&M Brand designers funded by you and grants from our endowment fund. We have asked, who is our market really and what do they want and more importantly, how do they want it delivered?

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN… Our best and biggest asset is YOU! No other volunteer organization has this level of talent and dedication. Most of us joined for the education but we stayed for the friends The most important thing that research has shown is that our best and biggest asset is YOU! No other volunteer organization has this level of talent and dedication. Most of us joined for the education but once we attained everything we wanted we stayed for the friends!

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER! We know we are friendly but guess what else? We took it upon ourselves to teach the boating public how to make the water a better place! We have developed the very best material on the planet! Nobody does it better! Ok, so we know we are friendly but guess what else? We took it upon ourselves to teach the boating public how to make the water a better place! We have developed the very best material on the Planet! Nobody does it better.

HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP? Marketing our brand is a full time job. Wear your polo shirts everywhere. The new Tropical shirt is a nice touch in the summer and all year in Florida! Make sure it has our official logo. We can be casual but remain business like in all that we do. How else can you help? Marketing our brand is a full time job. Wear your polo shirts everywhere. The new Tropical shirt is a nice touch in the summer and all year in Florida! Make sure it has our logo. We can be casual but remain business like in all that we do.

A “NATIONAL” ENTITY Many newsletters have changed their look Their front cover says “United States Power Squadrons” in a larger font and the squadron name. This is important so that our name continues to become a “National” entity. Many newsletters have changed their look a bit so that the front cover says “United States Power Squadrons” in a larger font and the squadron name. This is important so that our name continues to become a “National” entity.

A REALITY CHECK Our finances are difficult. Business as usual is nearly impossible. We are not in danger of closing or running out of money any time soon We will not sell off assets to fund our operations as they now stand. We must change how we do business. We also need a reality check. Our finances are difficult. Business as usual is nearly impossible. No, we are not in danger of closing or running out of money any time soon and we will not sell off assets to fund our operations as they now stand. We must change how we do business.

PITTSBURGH GOVERNING BOARD Our meetings cost money but most of us agree they are necessary. A registration fee will be charged for the Pittsburgh Governing Board. It has been set at $35.00. Members who register will receive a lanyard, a goodie bag, a meeting program as well as other boating related items. Although we will not charge for those only attending the Saturday meeting, we hope most members will understand the need to cover our basic costs. Our meetings cost money but most of us agree they are necessary. A registration fee will be charged for the Pittsburgh Governing Board. It will be $35.00. Members will receive a lanyard, a goodie bag, a meeting program as well as other boating related items. Although we will not charge for those only attending the Saturday meeting, we hope most members will understand the need to cover our basic costs.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? An aging membership. How can we bring in younger people? What can we offer them? What products or activities do we have that will make them want to join? All please discuss this with your C/C Rep. Spend 10 minutes or so and write down your ideas. Our biggest challenge is our aging membership. How can we bring in younger people? What can we offer them? What products or activities do we have that will make them want to join? All please discuss this with my representative. Spend 10 minutes or so and write them down.

MOST IMPORTANTLY Retain the members we have. Use personal contact Grip and grin Talk on a telephone We get thousands of members but we lose them because we forget them The last and most important slide, retain the members we have. Use personal contact, grip and grin and the old one on one talk on a telephone. We get thousands of members but we lose them because we forget them.

TALK TO MY REPRESENTATIVE Give your Chief’s Rep some time in a town hall meeting format. Talk to the C/C Rep I want to hear what you have to say. Thank you for the courtesies given to the Chief’s Reps. Give your Chief’s rep some time in a town hall meeting format. I want to hear what you have to say. Thank you for the courtesies given to the Chief’ reps. Louie