From the President's Desk

By Bob Lockhart
2005-2006 National President
   

Greetings fellow Progressians

The National Board has been working diligently since the convention in Saskatoon.

Our main focus this year is:

• Membership

• Training & Mentoring

• Succession Planning

The MAGIC (Members Accelerating Growth in Canada ) committee met throughout the fall and into late December, to produce a “charter handbook”. It provides practical guidance and templates for chartering a new Progress club. The final draft was presented to the board at the National Board meeting in Calgary on February 4th & 5th. There is a new DVD made from an existing video that, along with the handbook, will be distributed shortly. It will be sent to all Zone Governors and club presidents. A number of cities and communities across the country have been identified as potential charter opportunities.

There was great discussion on the need for training and mentoring, particularly with the Zone Governors. It was agreed that there is a need to thoroughly and completely outline their roles and responsibilities. The Zone Governors are the liaison between the club presidents and Regional Vice Presidents. The Zone Governors need to follow-up to ensure all clubs have prepared a Plan of Action or Growth Plan, as well as helping clubs work on achieving and meeting the 8 CRITERIA.

Strategic Plan

At the recent board meeting in February, we identified the actions required and delegated responsibilities to all board members for each one.  They are:

• Increase Growth

• Increase Retention

• Increase Leadership Competency

• Increase Value Proposition

• Increase Club Operational Effectiveness

• Increase Profile of Progress

Board members are to report their findings at the next national board meeting in June.  As we all continue working toward our goal of MEMBERSHIP, I would like to leave you with a thought from Stephen A Brennan…

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, which we must fervently believe in, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

I look forward to meeting with many of you in the near future.

Yours for Progress,
Bob Lockhart