| Member
Services Update
By
Glenn Montgomery
Director of Member Services
First, I would like to wish all Progressians a very
prosperous 2004, and to all Club Presidents welcome to the home stretch
of your term in office.
Let me take this time to update you on the three
areas I am responsible for as your Director of Member Services.
National Supply House
Last issue I advised the members of Progress that our National Supply
House relationship with Star Silk had ended as of September 1st,
2003. The prepaid merchandise that Star Silk held on our behalf
has been returned to the National Office, and is available from
Carmel. (Editorial Note: We have been advised that many of the
past orders have NOT been fulfilled so kindly resubmit.) We also
had requested from the members of Progress that the National Board is
actively looking for new suppliers on a Regional basis. If you
know of an individual or firm who is interested please advise the
National Executive Director or myself directly and we will forward a
package with licensing terms and conditions. The National Board
will be addressing this issue at our January meeting and, if needed,
again in June so we will be able to address the membership at our annual
AGM with a workable solution to our supply house dilemma in all regions.
National Awards
With the return of our web page hosts from their month long trip to
Australia, I will be sitting down with Barb Clarke to update the awards
section of the web site in time for this years submissions to
National. I would also like to give all clubs the heads up that
our hosts form Edmonton are looking at some great initiatives for this
year’s National Awards program ceremony. The National Board is
also considering an “Outstanding New Member Award” with similar
parameters to the Club Award, along with the “Quarter Century Award”,
a very successful undertaking by Bob Lockhart and the Western Region
last year.
National Convention
Along with National President Wolfgang Juchem and National Vice
President Bob Lockhart, I have attended two meetings with the National
Convention committee in Edmonton. I am pleased to report that the
Edmonton Committee is ahead of schedule in all aspects of the
convention, and the facilities at the Fantasy Land Hotel are tailor-made
to hosting a Progress convention. Now there are a couple of areas
each club and individual Progressians should be aware of. First,
you must understand that this is the only Hotel within a fifteen minute
cab ride of the West Edmonton Mall. Hence, its occupancy rate is
within 98% on an annual basis; so there will be little chance for those
of you who traditionally register late of getting into the hotel (please
take note St. John’s). Second, there are a limited number of
Suites, and Theme Rooms available, so once again if you wait too long to
register, you may not get a Fantasy room. So now for some GREAT
news ... the Edmonton Committee has extended the Early Bird Special of
$375 till the end of February. But after that date the cost of a
Full registration has been revised to $450. So don’t delay --
both the hotel and the Convention committee have a full refund policy in
place should you need to cancel with reasonable notice.
Yours for Progress,
Glenn A. Montgomery
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