President's Message

A message from Sharon Ward, National President (2008-2009)

Well, here it is, a month out from National Convention and a month into my year as National President. For those of you who missed the Moncton convention this year, you missed a fine time. The guys from Greater Moncton, with help from Greater Moncton Women put on a fine time. The food was beyond expectations, as promised. The duck and the buffalo were totally unexpected, and the lobsters and steak on Wednesday night

This year, your board is keeping in touch monthly via teleconferencing. A year goes by much faster than we think and there is a lot to do. I am taking a slightly different approach to your President’s travels. I will get to every region, but we are economizing a bit where we can, with the ever-rising cost of airfare. An itinerary will go out to the regions within the next few weeks.

We all know that we need more members to keep this club not just alive but thriving. There is not just one path to this end—there are several. Certainly, our clubs need to look within, constantly rebuilding from the ground up. Club focus on membership is crucial if we are to continue to keep doing the good work we have begun. We also need to look at the changing demographic in our society, and the new ways in which people communicate. This shift in our club is going to come primarily from you younger generations in our membership, and I challenge you right now to think about how you would do things if you were in my shoes and share your ideas with your board. You are going to be expected to fill these shoes and that gives me hope for a strong organization tomorrow.

Richard Holloway. What can I say about Richard? You are the embodiment of Progress. You are an inspiration. And with any luck (and lots of effort), this board is going to make you our poster boy for Progress!

Richard is taking his fundraiser “Blind Guy Biking” across Canada next year and will be looking for support from all clubs as he passes through your region. This event has the potential to be the catalyst for nation-wide publicity and the National Board and the Foundation are behind him 100%. Publicity from this event can raise the profile of the club which in turn supports the attraction of new members. There is a lot of work to be done to make this happen, and reports on that progress will follow in subsequent communications.

In support of Communications Director Roy Urbach, I urge you to get some articles in for the upcoming issues of The Progression. Let us know what you are up to; share some fundraising ideas; let us know who’s new in your club; send photos—this is your newsletter, so participate—and be mindful of the deadlines, please.

Please don’t hesitate to drop me line at wards@eastlink.ca if you have any comments this year.

Yours in Progress,

Sharon Ward
National President
Canadian Progress Club

Past Messages...

A message from Doug Baker, National President (2007-2008)

Greetings.

The 2007 National Convention is behind us but will not be forgotten quickly. Special thanks to Renate, committee members and all the Central members that supported the convention; well done.

Through the next two years our main focus must be on the recruiting of new members throughout Canada with an emphasis in Ontario. Our strategic plan has many focuses, but the National Board over the last two years has identified three vital areas:

Recruitment of New Members

Retention of Current Members

Branding of Canadian Progress from Coast to Coast

Your commitment and focus on these three areas is vital to the future of Progress in Canada.

At the incoming National Board meeting I presented an action plan, Target Ontario, to help revitalize membership. Sharon Ward, National President Elect, has taken on the job of driving this initiative and will be putting together her committee and a comprehensive plan over the next several weeks.

Target Ontario will need the support of all members in Ontario, but also from all the clubs in Canada. We all have contacts throughout Ontario who are past members or are familiar with Progress. We will be canvassing all members for these contacts plus focusing on potential Charters which have come to our attention.

All clubs through their strategic plans must focus on their membership. Members are the life blood of all clubs, their education, mentoring and assimilation into the clubs activities is vital.

The clubs that are under strength need to review their future potential in their ability to attract new members and grow their membership. We have several clubs across Canada that are determined to build their membership by bringing in younger business people from all walks of life. These clubs are on the right track and I have the greatest confidence that they will shortly meet the minimum standards and surpass it. Those clubs that have not rejuvenated themselves and are have difficulty need to work with their Zone Governors and National VP’s and come up with a plan to address this.

During the Board meetings I heard all Regions commit to actively pursuing the Chartering of new clubs. I commend them and ask that they use the examples of the “Silks and Elevate” clubs. The Charter Clubs used the “Magic” process to successfully charter these clubs. This process is available in the Blue Book and I strongly endorse its use.

Last but not least is the tremendous work that Darlene has done with developing our Branding Opportunities throughout Canada. We did not get to see the latest update but we are committed to get this out to you, so stay tuned.

Our Mission
Enhancing the quality of life of all Canadians, through community service, in the spirit of fellowship.

Our Goals
To be strongly represented in all areas of Canada.
To be recognized as the leading service club in Canada.
To have knowledgeable and committed Progress Club members.

Yours in Progress,

Doug Baker
National President
Canadian Progress Club

A message from Terry Clarke, National President (2006-2007)

Greetings to my fellow Progressians, and to all potential members of Progress that have found their way to our National website.

2006 was an excellent year for Progress with a net increase in membership of 14%. The organization has established a strategic plan focused on three key results areas of increasing the profile of Progress, increasing membership and increasing member retention. Through the aligned efforts of all Progressians and the strong leadership of our club Presidents, Zone and Regional Executives and the National Board, we are well on our way to renewal of the organization. I am confident our growth last year is the start of a longer term trend as many Canadians seek to join an enthusiastic group, committed to providing a helping hand to those in need in our society... (more)

An update from Terry Clarke, National President (2006-2007)

Ah, spring: a time of renewed energy and commitment. It’s also a time of new growth, warmer temperatures and … rain. Lots of rain. And as they say, it never rains, but it pours.

When I took on the role of National President, I was anticipating the newness of it all—that same sense as the expectation of spring. Little did I know about the downpour right around the corner that would soon be coming in the form of a new job. Having been self-employed for so many years, it was quite a struggle deciding to accept the offer of a corporate leadership position. The offer was intriguing, but the timing was lousy. My hopes for a year’s leave of absence from my own company to concentrate on matters solely Progress hung in the balance. Then I remembered all those Presidents who went before me. Many of them worked full-time and “Progressed” full-time—surely I could to do the same? And so … when it pours, it POURS! ... (more)

Yours in Progress,

Terry Clarke
National President

A Message from Bob Lockhart, National President (2005-2006)

Greetings fellow Progressians.

The New Year is upon us, and we face another challenging year. The past couple of years have been difficult for all service organizations in Canada, as we have all faced a downward trend.

Our major focus this year is membership.

The challenges continue to be:

Concentrate on selective growth through the recruitment of quality members.

Retain the good members we have through continual mentoring and training.

Help aging clubs rediscover their enthusiasm and excitement.

Succession planning at the club level with presidents and officers to develop the future leaders of the organization.

Our goal for 2005-2006 is to increase membership by 60 to 70 members. Many clubs have held new member recruitment nights, and more are planned. A number of areas across the country have been identified to charter new clubs.

I would like to thank all the club presidents, zone governors and regional executives for all of their passion and diligence. And most of all, to you, the members, who have worked so hard this past year.

Your continued commitment, dedication and involvement, is vital to the future prosperity of our organization.

Yours for Progress,

Bob Lockhart
CPC National President

A Message from Juanita Soutar, National President (2004-2005)

Our mission: Enhancing the quality of life of all Canadians, through community service, in the spirit of fellowship.

We CAN make a difference!

Did you know that approximately 4 million Canadians donate 375 million service hours each year to over 100,000 charitable and service organizations across Canada? The numbers are certainly incredible and you can well imagine how many people and worthwhile causes are being supported with this generosity. You've probably thought about getting involved yourself, but with all these choices, may be finding it difficult to find an organization that meets your needs. Our time and energy are valuable and certainly in limited supply, so it's important to find an association that's worthy of your efforts and has the same charitable goals and philosophy as you do. If you're looking to help make a difference in your community, I encourage you to consider the Canadian Progress Club.

Members are the lifeblood of any service club. They bring with them vim, vigour and vitality. But joining a service club such as the Canadian Progress Club is not a one-way street—you'll gain more from Progress than you give. Not only are you able to help support local agencies and groups through fundraising and community service activities, but you can also enhance your organizational and leadership skills and meet new people, all while having fun.

There are a number of different reasons why men and women across Canada join our organization, but the primary reason for doing so is to help make a difference to those in need within their local communities and across our great country. Since 1922, when the first Canadian Progress Club was formed by a group of caring and ambitious local businessmen in Toronto, thousands of our members have given generously of their time, energy and talents to do just that—millions of dollars have been raised and tens of thousands of volunteer hours have been spent in order to help support our local and national charities and organizations.

On a local basis, our clubs are free to determine which agencies to support. Generally, we focus on areas needing funding and volunteer support for financially under-privileged or intellectually or physically challenged children and adults. On a national basis and through the Canadian Progress Charitable Foundation, the members of our clubs across Canada raise funds to support Special Olympics Canada. Fundraising events include silent auctions, golf tournaments, New Years Eve parties, Stampede breakfasts and rodeos, sports celebrity dinners, Canada Day celebrations, euchre nights, casinos, bingos, and lobster dinners.

Our members also gain tremendous satisfaction participating in various community service activities, such as food and clothing drives, helping to prepare and serve food at homeless shelters, reading and crafts with children at community centres, and volunteering at local Special Olympics sporting events.

And, no matter what we're doing, we have a lot of fun. The social environment of the Canadian Progress Club is one of the most important aspects of our organization. We all lead busy and stressful lives, what with our family and work commitments, but being a member allows us to take time out to meet new people, network, gain new skills and have plenty of fun.

Our online national newsletter—The Progression—provides a lot of information about the types of events and projects our clubs and members participate in. Check out Progression Online and the archive of past issues in "What's New"!

In order for us to continue with our charitable efforts, our clubs must be strong, vibrant and healthy, and it's essential that we continue to grow and prosper by adding caring and dedicated members and clubs to our Progress family. We currently have 36 clubs located across Canada, from Vancouver, BC to St. John's, NL, comprising of men's, women's and mixed clubs, which are eager to find new members to help us with our endeavours.

If you feel that you can benefit from being part of our great organization, I encourage you to refer to the "Contact Us" section of our website to find a club near you, or to contact our National Office to find out more about the Canadian Progress Club. We will work with you to arrange to attend a club meeting in your area, or one of our fundraising, community service or social events, and learn about how to become a member or to form a new club in your area.

Please help us continue to meet our goal to help those in need, in the spirit of fellowship. I am certain you will find the time you spend with us worth your while. YOU can make a difference!

Yours for Progress,

Juanita Soutar
CPC National President

A Message from Wolfgang Juchem, National President (2003-2004)

In 1922, when the first chapter of the Canadian Progress Club was chartered in Toronto, the primary focus of its new members was to give something back to the community. These were well-established gentlemen, who had been successful in business and felt that they had the time and the resources to assist those who were less fortunate.

Over the years, as the Progress Club grew and extended across Canada, the need to give something back to the community remained the focus of the membership. But over time, members began to join for other important reasons. The need for social interaction, the need to network with different people, the need for recognition, personal development and learning, were all reasons new people were drawn to the Canadian Progress Club. As the needs of the members expanded, the clubs rose to the challenge to address those needs.

Today, the 41 chapters of the Canadian Progress Club exist to serve and meet the varied needs of our membership. They have adopted varied causes and charities to support in their local communities through fundraising and hands-on volunteer work. They support a national charity through the Canadian Progress Club Charitable Foundation, and its support of Canadian Special Olympics. They organize socials and interclub events to allow their members to mix and mingle and enjoy the fellowship of each other's company and make new personal contacts. They organize seminars and learning activities, at the club, zone, regional and national levels. They recognize achievement by clubs and individual members through awards programs at each level. It is a coveted and well-respected honour to be awarded "Club of the Year", "Outstanding Member", or "Outstanding New Member of the Year". And finally, members learn valuable skills like public speaking, fundraising, and organizational and management skills through their activities within their clubs and their communities.

We have learned to adapt over time, as the needs of our members and prospective new members changed. Members have the autonomy to run and administer their clubs in a manner that meets their needs with few restrictions other than the need for accepted ethical business practices and the expectation that members and associates are treated with courtesy and respect. As a national organization we exist to provide support and guidance to our clubs and members to assist them in achieving their goals and provide tolls and mediums through which they can communicate with each other. And, we constantly strive to serve our membership better.

If you think that you would like to become a member of an organization such as the Canadian Progress Club, I urge you to contact your local chapter, our National Office, or myself, to learn more about what you can do for Progress and what Progress can do for you. The legacy of what we have accomplished in the past is a mere shadow of what we can do together in the future.

Yours for Progress,

Wolfgang Juchem
National President, Canadian Progress Club

A Message from CJ MacMullin, National President (2002-2003)

In this the 80th year of Progress in Canada, it is opportune to look back and reflect on how much we have advanced since the group of Toronto business and professional men first got together as a unique Canadian service organization in 1922. Over the 80 years, we have raised millions of dollars and touched the hearts of many thousands of Canadians.

The Canadian Progress Club was primarily a central Canadian organization until the 1960's when clubs were chartered in Calgary '63, Edmonton '64, and Halifax '65. This was the start of a truly national organization and culminated in the mid-eighties, with the chartering of St. John's in 1986, when we finally had clubs "from sea to shining sea".

1968 proved another pivotal year in the history of the Canadian Progress Club. It was then that the Canadian Progress Charitable Foundation was incorporated. Since 1986, the focus of CPCF has been the Canadian Special Olympics, and Progressians across the country have rallied to the cause. (An Informational Handbook, prepared by Janey Davies, CPCF Chair and John Nunn, Regional Director, is an insightful look at the Canadian Progress Charitable Foundation and can be made available through the CPC National office). We are almost at our $1,000,000 goal as the on-going legacy to Canadian Special Olympics, and are looking to the future as to where to direct the second million-dollar legacy.

Back in 1933, the Toronto Downtown Club formed a "women's auxiliary", and several more were formed over the coming years but service clubs remained, primarily, a "man's domain". That all changed in 1977 with the chartering of the Canadian Progress Club, Calgary Eves. This was… "the first 'all women' service club ever chartered in Canada (and in the U.S.A. as far as we know)"*. There is no distinction between the men's, women's, or mixed clubs as we are all Progressians. There are now 15 women's clubs across the country with the possibility of at least one more being added in 2003. "Progressians are men and women from all walks of life who enjoy hands-on involvement in charitable activities."*

Over the past several years, membership has been a key focus. Although we raise considerable charitable funds across Canada, continuing the effort to help those Canadians with special needs in our communities, our membership has declined. We are now 41 clubs strong, from coast to coast, with approximately 700+ members, which is about half the all-time high. Since the recent 52nd Annual Convention in Canmore, I have felt a real resurgence within Progress. There is a concerted drive for membership, which appears to have received a real boost from Past President Al Gordon's focus and his Club mentorship initiative. I would encourage you to continue to reach out to your mentor club, or others, for ideas and help in growing our membership and strengthening the Association of Canadian Progress Clubs. Larger is Better!

To continue in this line, I believe we must also drive to improve communication. That is the vehicle for members, and clubs, to share ideas and successes and attract new members. Success breeds success!

Through the excellent work of Brenda McBain, the "new" electronic newsletter, The Progression has started just that. Brenda and her reporters from across the country have improved our main communication tool, providing us with better, more comprehensive and more frequent reports. We still have room to improve. Over the coming months, we hope to further improve this Website to increase member involvement, and to provide more information upon which to grow. Please encourage -- not only your fellow Progressians -- but also friends and co-workers, to sign in and check us out.

For more information, contact Carmel Kinder, National Club Administrator at ckinder@progressclub.ca.

Yours for Progress,

CJ MacMullin
National President, Canadian Progress Club

*Courtesy of Lee Irwin "A Brief History of the Canadian Progress Club"

A Message from Wolfgang Juchem, National President-Elect (2002-2003)

As a committed member, it is sometimes easy to forget about all of the positive benefits that an organization like the Canadian Progress Club provides. People join service organizations for a variety of reasons. For many, the primary reason is to support a charity or to simply give back to the community. Others are more interested in the opportunities to network with people of similar interests or to make business contacts. There are those people who want to improve their interpersonal skills. Service clubs provide their members with the challenge of organizing events, marketing, interpersonal relations, problem solving, and public speaking. But, the most important reason should always be to have "fun".

As a service club we compete with many other organizations for our members' time. We don't just compete with other service clubs. We compete with over 100,000 charities that are looking for volunteers; we compete with sports teams; we compete with your kid's school; we compete with your church and your job; and we compete with your family. Time is precious. This is the reason that we are, and must always continue to be, focused on ensuring that our members experience and perceive the real true value of participating in an organization such as ours.

Like all organizations that strive to survive, grow, and prosper, we need to not only be open to change but to embrace it. One of North America's most influential strategists in the area of association management, Glenn Tecker, has very clearly defined how organizations need to change and adapt. He also clearly defined what mustn't change. The three basic principals that cannot change are:

A Reputation for Value.

An Enjoyable Culture.

A Nimble Infrastructure.

A Reputation for Value speaks to those programs and services that members expect to receive or benefit from, and largely form the primary reason for joining the organization in the first place. As a purely Canadian Service Organization, we have a strong history of community involvement and have the distinction of being one of the most effective fundraising service clubs, nationally.

An Enjoyable Culture can be defined as our Sense of Community. It is not the "not for profitness" that attracts members. It is the "voluntariness". While being very effective at fundraising we pride ourselves on focusing on our members' needs above all else. The word "fun" is never absent from our vocabulary. You need only attend one of our National Conventions to fully understand the meaning of "fun".

Lastly, there is Nimble Infrastructure. This is the ability to quickly seize opportunities to create value. In the 21st century, the ability of organizations and associations to change and adapt quickly is paramount to their effectiveness and, in some cases, to their survival. Being a slightly smaller organization than many other service clubs, we have the ability to react more quickly to change. That is one of the primary reasons that we are undertaking to streamline our National By-Laws. We need to be able to make decisions effectively and expeditiously, to take advantage of opportunities. We also pride ourselves on the advances we have made to be more technologically oriented. Our on-line newsletter, The Progression, and our current effort to upgrade our national website are good examples of our efforts in this area.

I truly believe that there is very strong "Value" in being a member of the Canadian Progress Club. I would like the chance for us to prove it to you.

Yours for Progress,

Wolfgang Juchem
National President-Elect

A Message from Al Gordon, National President (2001-2002)

Who, what, is the Canadian Progress Club??

We are a group of like-minded people who enjoy life and want to provide a contribution to other Canadians who are less fortunate than ourselves. We are a service club that exists not only to raise funds but also to offer hands-on involvement to assist our communities.

Our clubs are intentionally small in size, thus each of us feel that what we bring to the club is noticed and is a significant contribution. Our events are often large in scope and we pride ourselves in being recognized within our communities for the events which we host.

The uniqueness of us as individuals makes for diversified and interesting clubs. There are Canadian Progress Clubs in most major centers across Canada, and we welcome anyone to join us as a guest to get a feeling of the personality of a particular club. We want you to join us, however it is important that you join a club that you feel comfortable with and one where you feel that your time will be recognized and not be wasted.

The make-up of the clubs vary. There are clubs of all men, some of all women and others of mixed gender, so the opportunity exists to welcome you where ever you are comfortable.

Our clubs raise money for their local charities and the money they raise stays in the community. The only exception to this is that, as a National Club, we contribute to the travel and uniform costs for the National Special Olympic International Games. This is a charity we feel close to, as each of our home communities have participants in the Special Olympic program.

As a National Club we have a structure of governor-ed positions. Be it a Club President, a Zone Governor, a Vice-President, or the National President, they are all volunteer positions. We have only one paid position within the whole National Board, thus we are able to keep our administration costs to a minimum, allowing maximum dollars to be donated to charity.

We try to make our club experience a fun experience. We recognize that your family comes first; that you have work responsibilities. So any time that you spend as a volunteer should be a fun experience and one that gives you a sincere feeling of helping the less fortunate in our communities.

I personally welcome you to find out more about our National Organizations and out clubs and offer my e-mail address <al@nu-leaf.com> as a means to contact me.

Yours for Progress,

Al Gordon
National President, Canadian Progress Club

A Message from CJ MacMullin, National President-Elect (2001-2002)

I would like to wish all Progressians a Happy, Healthy, & Prosperous 2002. At the start of every New Year, we look back to the year that has just past to measure our accomplishments, to consider the things we might have done better, and to consider what might have been. We also look forward to the coming year to resolve to do better and to set goals to accomplish.

As I reflect upon what we accomplished in 2001, I immediately look to the resurgence of membership in Atlantic Canada and steps to restructure in Central & the West. I consider the start we have made at our National Convention, with President Al taking a stronger focus on membership through Club mentorship, and the National Board taking the first steps in restructuring to make us more responsive to the needs of all Progressians. This will not be an over-night fix, but a determined long-term process to which I am thoroughly committed. We have initiated the first electronic publication of “The Progressian” which is aimed at improving communication and strengthening the bonds of Progress.

Our immediate focus is improving membership nationally; to lend a hand to strengthen our weaker clubs and to firmly entrench the strong. To do this, we all have to work together. We must make CPC National more responsive to our needs and we must continue to strengthen our communication from coast to coast.

In my somewhat limited communication with Clubs, a general theme appears to be the need for more interaction and help from National. Over the next 6 months, it is my intention to get to as many clubs as possible, outside the Atlantic region, to hear first hand the ideas for growth each of you have, and to lend my support to your needs.

I am looking forward to a very productive year and to working closely with President Al, and the Board, to grow our Club from coast to coast.

Yours for Progress,

CJ MacMullin
National President-Elect, Canadian Progress Club

Bill Sornberger, National President (2000-2001)

"...This past year has been once again a busy time at Progress as we continue to adapt and change some of the ways we do business. I have had the pleasure of working with several different Clubs and individuals and believe we have an extremely dedicated and resourceful membership.

...We have been able to achieve our goal of having a working web site through the generous donations of the Central and Western Regions, clubs from Halifax and Newfoundland, and the hard work of the committee.

Through the past year I have learned a lot about the people of Progress and our desire to succeed. Through [Past] President Tony I have learned the need for patience and the art of diplomacy and from the National Vice Presidents the need to listen and to delegate. I have leaned from our Zone Governors the determination needed to get the job done and I learned from my own Club that I'm still paying a fine if I'm late for a meeting.

I look forward to meeting as many of our members as possible...

...Finally I want to thank all of the Clubs and individuals for their support and guidance over the years and I can only hope that you enjoy the fellowship and get as much from Progress as I do."

Al Gordon, National President-Elect (2000-2001)

Welcome Progressians and future Progressians.

The opportunities we are afforded with the web site access are endless. We can not only communicate more effectively amongst ourselves but we can also offer potential new members the chance to experience Progress.

As a service club we raise money for the less fortunate in our communities, but we are more than that, we also have a social component, and to a lesser degree a business contact component. It doesn't matter what the motivation is for you to join, but once you are a member and begin to participate in our fundraising events you get to feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that you are helping someone who needs your help.

The events we host are fun events to organize, so when the event is over you tend to not even think about the work you did, but you reflect on the fun and comradeship that took place.

We donate our time to work on these events because we have compassion for others, and because we can financially afford to, and lastly we make it easy as a Progressian to participate because we belong to a service club that has purpose and structure. This makes us a little different, a little more special to the communities where we live. There are lots of people who we live and work beside that possess some of our attributes, they are compassionate to the needy, and they can afford to donate, but what is missing is they don't have the vehicle to be able to participate. That vehicle could be a Canadian Progress Club.

As February is National Membership month I challenge each Progressian to bring a guest out to your meeting, let them get to know the club and what all it does. A good way to make the guest feel comfortable about coming out to a meeting is to suggest that the guest bring a friend, that way the guest will not feel like they are there on their own. Once at the meeting the guests will recognize the importance and fun of participating in our events, and will want to come back and get more involved.

The Canadian Progress Club is a GREAT service club and we welcome the opportunity to prove it to our guests.

Yours for Progress,

Al Gordon
National President-Elect