A Passion for Progress

By Terry Clarke
 

When the selection committee approached me to run for National President (elect), I had to stop and think:  what does Progress need from their President? And can I deliver? 

Clearly our highest priority is to strengthen our representation across Canada and grow our membership.  But membership growth is only an outcome—what are the actions we need to take to drive membership?

Over the last few months I have discussed this with Progressians from across the country and have concluded that our fundamental challenge is to kindle a strong “Passion for Progress” in all our members.  Nothing ever gets done well without individual passion, whether it’s nurturing a new event, recruiting a new member, organizing a membership drive, or speaking at a club meeting.  When carried out with passion, our commitment is visible and infectious.

When I look across the country, I am constantly amazed by the passion and commitment of Progressians.

Our commitment to the mentally and physically handicapped is a constant from coast to coast and is something for which we can all be proud.  Progressians including Ron Lloyd and John Nunn in the Pacific Zone, Janey Davies in Great Plains, Margaret French in Central and Rosalie Courage in the Eastern Region are leading by example in their tireless support for Special Olympics.  We have the opportunity to A Passion for Progress continue this good work and many opportunities to take our commitments to a new level.

The reality of the Canadian Progress Club is that we are never constant, but rather more like a rising and falling tide.  When a club is ebbing, it takes the passion and commitment of both seasoned and new members to rejuvenate their club.  I am extremely proud of the members who have made a personal commitment to “make it happen” within their clubs.  I can bear witness to the efforts of Dave Munday, Ken Thorhaug and Tim West to rejuvenate Greater Vancouver, to the personal efforts of Art Warman, and the new energy of Daren Nelson and Drew Hooke in re-kindling growth in the Alberta North zone, and to the leadership of Joan Gooder and Wayne Bamford on the Western Region’s Membership Growth Action Committee.

We can all recognize the outstanding efforts and commitment of Crystal Eagan (Quidi Vidi), Patti Nolan and Karen Brown (Calgary Wild Rose), and Bob Lockhart and Gary Nakamura (Calgary North) to bring their clubs back from a low ebb, and to the new energy in the Central Region under the leadership of John Holman and Renate Thompson.  These are only a few of the individuals who are showing us the way to put passion to work for Progress.  I look forward to each and every member demonstrating their passion by striving for the Pride In Progress award this year.

In closing, with the support of my family, my club and my business partners, I am volunteering to serve as your National President (elect) and will be seeking your vote at the National Convention in Saskatoon.  I am excited about the strength of our current National Board and am committed to:

• strengthening the business operations of Progress
• enhancing and adding to our National sponsorships
• putting in place tools and support mechanisms for growing membership
• enhancing and growing support for the Charitable Foundation
• enhancing communications with membership

As required, I will be stepping down as National V.P. Western Region in order to run, and am extremely pleased and thankful to Tom Kohl for stepping up to the plate to serve out the remainder of my term.

With your support, I look forward to the challenges of leading this great organization.  I have the PASSION for Progress!  Let me put that passion to work for you and our organization!

Yours in Progress,
Terry Clarke