| Canadian Progress Club Progression On-line |
May 2005 |
National Board |
|
| From the President's Desk By
Juanita Soutar
It’s amazing, but another Progress fiscal year is coming to an end. Where has the time gone? I’m sure that by now, your club has elected its new Board and you’re in the process of transitioning and preparing for the new year. Please ensure your Club’s MCS Administrator updates the information to reflect the new and outgoing members of your Board so that Carmel, the National, Regional and CPCF Boards, and other users have access to the most up-to-date contact information for your Club. As well, some of you are on the campaign trail, running for positions on your Regional Executive. I wish all nominees the best of luck in your upcoming elections, and congratulate the successful candidates. Please also keep in mind that a number of positions on the National Board will also be elected at the AGM at this year’s National Convention. They include: National President Elect, Director of Finance (Secretary Treasurer), Director of Communications, and Director of Public Relations. Please consider running for one of the positions available, since becoming involved helps you and our organization grow and flourish. Nomination forms are available in Section 7 of the online Blue Book for you to print, complete and send to the National Office. Further information regarding the upcoming elections will be provided to you near the end of June. Speaking of the Blue Book, the update project is about 95% complete, and it will be ready for a formal launch at the Convention in September. Upon completion, links will be imbedded in each of the files which will permit you to click on a word or phrase to take you to the related information discussed. But, you can check it out now—you will find a wealth of information on a wide range of topics, including the responsibilities of a Club President, how to run an effective meeting, membership retention and recruitment ideas and tools, convention protocols, and a complete roster of forms, templates and presentations. You’ll find this information within the seven new Sections of the Blue Book, which are:
Please let me know if you have any suggestions for additional information to be added to the Blue Book or if you believe any amendments to the information currently being provided should be made. As announced to the Club Presidents at the end of March, I am happy to report that effective April 1st, we secured a 2- year lease on new premises for the National Office. Our new location provides us with approximately 600 square feet of space, at a rate of $450.00 per month (hydro and parking included), which is well within the $1,000 per month that was approved in our budget at the AGM last year. Although this process has taken longer than anticipated, it was important that we secure a suitable arrangement that is beneficial to us and our future. As I had recently reported, we had been in discussions with Special Olympics Canada and Ontario Special Olympics in an attempt to find suitable space within their offices in Toronto. Unfortunately, although a lot of effort went into trying to find a workable solution, it was determined that the proposed space and offer would not adequately meet our needs or provide the sought-after benefits for either organization. We thank Jim Jordan of SOC and Glenn MacDonell of OSO for their time and efforts on this project. As discussed in the last issue of The Progression, a number of enhancements to the information provided within the MCS are now available for your reference. This includes online tracking of payments and receivables owing to National and the CPCF, and online tracking of National awards submissions. In addition, Marci Brisbourne, our National Director of Member Services, has made some refinements and improvements to the National Awards program, including making sure that each of the elements of the 8 Standards of Success are now reflected in the applicable awards. Please refer to the Awards information within the Member Services section of our website at www.progressclub.ca to review the information and download the new award submission templates. Also, all Club Presidents have been advised via e-mail that the National Board is now requesting bids to host the National Conventions in 2007 and 2008. Please ensure you provide a written notification of your intention to bid to Carmel in the National Office by May 15th for review by the National Board at its meeting in June. Details regarding the type of information that should be included in your Club’s submission can be found in Section 5.1.a of the online Blue Book. Your National Board will be meeting in Saskatoon in mid-June, so please advise your National Vice President, any of the Directors, or me, if you have any questions or topics that you feel should be addressed by the Board at the meeting. I have been on the road more lately than at home, and have been fortunate enough to visit a number of fun, profitable and productive fundraising, social and meeting events across the country. These included the Saskatoon Meewasin Spring Tea and Fashion Show; Greater Vancouver Directors’ and General Meetings as well as their Mayne Island Murder Mystery; CPCF Board Meeting; Greater Moncton Women’s Meeting; Pictou County Chair Affair; Halifax Big Spring Auction; St. John’s Club General Meeting; Quidi Vidi Meeting; and the St. John’s Club Big Fat Greek Auction. I’m also scheduled to attend the first-ever Eastern Region Convention and AGM, the Great Plains Region AGM, the Central Region AGM, the Regina Assiniboine Champagne Classic Golf Tournament, the aforementioned National Board Meeting, clubs’ events at the Calgary Stampede, and possibly other points in between, over the next couple of months. I thank each of the Club Presidents and their clubs for their invitations and kindness, and especially Janet Merrick, Penny O’Rourke, Arlene and CJ MacMullin, Heather Drummond, and Crystal Eagan for their hospitality and chauffeur services during my visits. Until next time, take care and have fun!
|
