District 10 Fall Conference

28-29 October, 2005

Blue Harbor Resort and Convention Center

Sheboygan, WI

 

Council Meeting Minutes

28 October, 2005

 

 

D/C Hamilton called the meeting to order at 1803.

 

Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

D/Lt Nancy Sullivan gave the invocation.

 

D/C Hamilton introduced Chief Commander’s representative R/C Joe Messenburg, SN, and his wife Karen Messenburg, P.

 

Roll call was taken by D/1st/L Richard Baker and a quorum was present.

 

D/1st/Lt Al Harmon was appointed as Parliamentarian for the meetings.

 

D/C Hamilton reserves the right to change the order of business to expedite the meeting.

 

Minutes of the Spring Council and Conference meeting submitted and motion was made by Cdr Sue Tipler and seconded by D/Lt/C Greg Holmen to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion approved.

 

Squadron Commander reports were given. Complete reports are on file.

 

Nominations Chair D/1st/Lt Mike Skelley AP: Will read the list of nominees for next watch year at tomorrow’s Conference meeting.

 

Audit Committee Chair D/1st/L Denny Peterson SN: No report at this time.

 

Rules Committee Chair D/1st/L Jenifer Rice: No report

 

Planning Committee Chair P/D/C Mike Wiedel AP:

Met today regarding a resolution from the Spring Conference. “Be it resolved that District 10 of USPS for presentation at the Governing Board and its action, that USPS adopt a corporate structure which is more closely related to the business model of a true board of directors containing some members who are not members of USPS who would bring needed expertise to the board, with an executive director who would be in charge of the day to day activities of the organization.” Committee has the following comments concerning the motion:

  1. USPS is a non-profit organization; USPS is composed of mostly volunteers. Therefore we feel it cannot be run as corporate entity since it has a whole different set of standards.
  2. We feel that a corporate executive director would command a six-figure salary, and we don’t think USPS could afford that.
  3. No rationale for doing this.

Planning committee recommends a no vote.

Report on long-range goals will be given at the Spring Conference.

 

Bridge Officers Reports:

District Executive Officer D/Lt/C Bob Stierna:

Coop Charting, 7 Squadrons on the Honor Roll, program changes regarding towers, and steeples, new Pelican Award for co-op charting built by Marie Coons and Neil McMillan. In Public relations there is a new initiative to hold a Public Boating Safety Class during Safe Boating Week. Squadron PROs need to promote these classes. Reimbursement for co-op advertising has a 31 October deadline, speak to Jeff Davis tonight. Legislative: Minnesota has passed legislation requiring PFDs be worn by children under 10 years of age. This is different than the Federal requirement, which is 12 years of age. In Wisconsin legislation is in committee to have children under 13 wear PFDs and to make boating education mandatory. D/Lt Fielding Loury Huesmann has resigned his post as Legislative Liaison due to the illness of his wife. P/D/C Ron Krasse has agreed to take the position. Radio Technical Committee reports a MOU with the American Radio Relay League and USPS to promote each other’s programs. Vessel Safety Checks: 741 exams, this represents 69% of last year’s totals, with many reports out yet. Reports need to be in by early December. Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program is being implemented. A seminar will be held Saturday on this subject. In squadron development area, an effort is underway by D/Lt Jim Pahl-Washa JN to start a provisional squadron in Dubuque. Districts 20 and 30 have expressed an interest in developing squadrons there also. Executive Department has spent 35% of its budget so far. Report on DXO Dept “Somethings”.

 

District Administrative Officer D/Lt/C Maury Rice:

Hospitality suite tonight with a karaoke contest. District membership is down 221. Workshop will highlight new membership manual, mentoring program. Dates:  D10 Rendezvous in Milwaukee starting 15 July, Spring Conference in Minnetonka 31 March; Winter Council at a new hotel in Wausau 27 January. Fall Conference in St Paul 29 September in Hudson WI. The Spring Conference 13 April 2007 will be in Stevens Point. Sunday there will be a fireside chat with the D10 Bridge and the Chief Commander’s representative.

District Educational Officer D/Lt/C Bill Dohr:

Thanks to organizers of this conference for their hard work. Teaching aids will be presented and judged tomorrow. The new Squadron Educational Achievement (SEA) award will be presented tomorrow. Thanks to P/D/Lt/C Ted Smyczek for his efforts on this award. Educational Dept. has four “Somethings” for this year; they will be discussed in the seminar tomorrow. D10 was the recipient of a donated laptop computer thanks to the efforts of P/C Roberta Reouf. The computer came from the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture.  Motion by D/Lt/C Bill Dohr that we accept this computer and it’s related equipment and software into district property. Motion seconded by P/D/C Don Schult. Motion approved.

 

Balance of report deferred till tomorrow.

 

District Treasurer D/Lt/C Greg Holmen

Out standing bills are paid except for co-op advertising money going to squadrons. We are waiting for National to send the money to District 10 so it can be disbursed to the squadrons. Revenue picture is right on target. Details will be in tomorrow’s presentation. VHQAB is going very well and is lightening the load for squadron treasurers. Many new squadrons and districts are requesting to come on board and use the program. National has announced a revision of the credit card program provided through Chase Bank. The new program will pay $50 to the squadron for each application that is approved for a card. Two “Somethings” for the Treasurer’s Dept., first that member information be updated with dues renewal, which National has done. Second, to assist squadrons in raising funds to purchase equipment such as computers and projectors. Solutions provided include:

  1. Seeking Boat US grant, which P/C Andrea Davis has done for St. Paul.
  2. Having squadrons provide catering internally for events, thereby saving money.
  3. Credit card program.
  4. Selling advertising in squadron news letters
  5. Grant request to District Enrichment Fund. Fund has $293 in interest income, which is available.

 

District Secretary, D/Lt/C  David Carlson, report given by District Assistant Secretary D/1st/L Richard Baker:

Bob Story has updated district web site. Site has a new photo section, and needs members to submit photos to Bob for inclusion on the site.

 

District Commander, D/C Jeff Hamilton:

Update on 7 objectives:

1. Provide material and assistance to the squadrons. This was accomplished by the “Five Somethings” initiative. This is an opportunity for squadrons to request five things from District to provide help and value to their squadrons.

  1. Assist each squadron to achieve Three Star Squadron status. Program has been modified and reporting can now be done electronically using an Excel spreadsheet.
  2. Increase squadron membership by an amount in accordance with the national “Power of One Elite Squadron Challenge Campaign”. The effort in District 10 occurs more in the spring, we will report results then.
  3. Submit resolutions to National in areas that we thought the organization could be improved. District 10 did submit a resolution requesting that National maintain in some conspicuous place a list of all USPS policies. That resolution was adopted at the Governing Board meeting 10 September.
  4. Help District win the Bowsprit Award. Eleven Districts won the award last year, D10 was not among them. Though September D10 has not earned any points. This will probably change with membership increases in the spring.
  5. Establish a provisional squadron in Dubuque and or St. Cloud MN. D/Lt Jim Pahl-Washa is leading effort. Districts 20 and 30 have expressed an interest in that area as well.
  6. Continue the work of our predecessors has started

“Five Somethings”: 33 “somethings” came from 11 squadrons. 7 were co-assigned to the whole bridge. We are making progress on them. Five fell to the commander’s department, 3 have been started on, two have not.

  1. Form a D10 Speakers Bureau. There is a National Bureau; we will be talking with them to get advice for our own effort.
  2. Expedite awards presentation. Implemented at Spring Conference.
  3. Improve merit mark notification. We have a new Merit Mark Monitor and expect things will be better in the future.
  4. Improve methods for dealing with member transgressions. No progress.
  5. Distribute workshop topics in advance. Done except for the Commander’s workshop.

A new initiative started by the St Paul squadron will result in a MOU with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide information on navigational aids so that the ACOE can generate real time electronic charts. Thanks to P/D/C Art Mollica, D/Lt Jeff Davis and D/Lt Dave Biddick for working on this.

 

New business:

D/C Hamilton states that National has initiated a coordinated effort to offer Boating Safety classes during National Safe Boating Week, which will be during the last week of May 2006. Organizations on board include USPS, NASBLA, National Safe Boating Council, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Cdr Sue Tipler proposes a motion that every squadron in District 10 start or conduct a public boating class during Boating Safety Week in 2006. This was seconded by D/Lt/C Bill Dohr.

 

P/D/C Don Schult offers a motion to amend the motion on the floor, to recommend that every squadron in District 10 put on a public boating class during National Safe Boating Week in 2006. This motion was seconded by P/D/C Mike Wiedel. Motion approved.

 

Call for a vote on the amended motion. Motion approved.

 

D/C Hamilton states that a new initiative started by National Executive Officer to have three districts join their conferences or rendezvous’ together for the purpose of having a National O Com meeting take place at the same time. Cdr Sue Tipler makes a motion to investigate the possibility of holding a combined rendezvous with Districts 10, 20 and 30 for the summer of 2007. P/D/C Mike Wiedel seconds the motion. Discussion followed. Motion approved.

 

Power point presentation on the proposed 2006-2007 budget by D/Lt/C Greg Holmen. Printed version included in seat packets. Motion by Greg Holmen to approve the 2006-2007 budget as presented. P/D/C Mike Wiedel seconds the motion. Discussion followed. Motion approved.

 

Final announcements.

 

Benediction by D/Lt Nancy Sullivan.

 

D/C Hamilton entertains a motion to adjourn. Cdr Cindy Parisi so moves. Seconded by Cdr Kris Harmon. Motion approved.

 

Meeting adjourned 2010.

 

D/1st/Lt Richard Baker, Assistant Secretary