MANY ACTION ITEMS ON EXCOM AND ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM AGENDAS

In a recent Dilbert cartoon strip by Scott Adams, designed primarily for those in business and industry, the pointy haired boss instructs Dilbert the engineer, “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.”

Dilbert responds, “When I bring you solutions you tell me they won’t work and treat me like a moron.”

And the boss asks, “What’s the problem with that?”

The EXCOM and Annual Meeting both will require thoughtful consideration of the issues, identification and descriptions of contemporary problems, and solutions, with emphasis on solutions.

The primary issue at the Friday evening, November 30th, EXCOM meeting will be creation of a 2008 budget. Council Treasurer Col Arthur “Ike” Isensee, USMC-Ret has prepared a proposed budget for consideration. It includes forecasts for income and expenditures, based on past history and funding for known projects and other expense items.

Ideally, the budget should reflect financial support for a comprehensive, detailed 2008 plan put into place by the Council of Presidents. Unless an expenditure is included as a line item and has approved funding, it may not be authorized.

The big known financial decisions to be made include expense reimbursement for those performing Council business, financial support for a Sacramento lobbyist, Pete Conaty & Associates, either directly or through the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC), and contributations to be made in support of the California Veterans Homes.

On Saturday morning, the chapter presidents, the final authority, will be asked to debate and approve the 2008 budget. It is assumed that if the presidents ask the EXCOM to implement some specific plan next year, one calling for certain financial expenditures, the presidents will fund that plan fully.

After the morning break, the presidents will be asked which strategic plan goals they will ask the EXCOM to implement in 2008. It was decided at Rally 2006 in Sacramento that goals would be implemented as the human, financial, material, and time resources became available.

Just prior to the luncheon recess the presidents will elect a new president and vice president for 2008-09. COL Warren Enos, AUS (RET) and BG Wayne Hoffman, AUS (RET) have been formally nominated for president and vice president respectively. Their biographies have been distributed and are available on the website. Nominations can be made from the floor as long as the candidate has submitted a biography at least 24 hours in advance of the election. Interested members are urged to make themselves candidates for these positions.

Early in the afternoon, CDR John Sammons will introduce the potential need for a new organization design, one which will make more effective use of available resources. Some say the Area Director structure, whereby the ADs are at the heart of the Council’s chapter support effort and therefore responsible in large part for the Council’s success, is functioning well. Others say that it leaves a lot to be desired. Chapter presidents will be asked to debate the issue and send the Council into 2008 with a workable organization structure.

Just prior to the afternoon recess, CDR Bob Burke, USN (RET), Website/Communications Chair, will give a briefing on the Council’s communications efforts with a focus on the website and web log. Chapter presidents will be asked to assess the effectiveness of current communications efforts and tell the EXCOM how they want the Council to communicate with members in the future. We must move into 2008 with clear direction on what the presidents want to see happen.

Other issues related to national and state legislation, the DFAS/SBP issue, special efforts to lobby at the national level, and more, some of which might require decisions-actions, will be presented throughout the day on Saturday.

It is going to be very important for chapter presidents, or their voting-empowered representatives, to be present and decide the actions which will take the Council successfully into the next year and beyond.

The entire body much work effectively on Saturday to face the Council’s opportunities and challenges, debate the issues, and find workable solutions to the problems presented. As the pointy-haired boss in the Dilbert cartoon said, “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.”

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