COUNCIL PLANS OUTREACH

The strategic plan up for approval 26 April provides for the design, development, and implementation of a comprehensive general and military community relations and publicity program in order to greatly improve interorganizational and interpersonal communications throughout California.

It is suggested that, prior to the EXCOM meeting, voting members especially take a close look at plan provisions and be prepared to state and defend a specific position on the issues.

Efforts will be made to create a positive and realistic Council image, demonstrating sound purpose, a wide range of capabilities, and successful outcomes, certainly true value for affiliated chapters.

Care must be exercised to insure programs do not outrun available resources, particularly as relating to labor intensive tasks, promising something that can’t be delivered.

A major thrust is to provide a new and improved website with weblog capability, this blog. The site can be developed over time into a “virtual chapter” to improve cohesiveness and increase participation. Right now members have access to late news, viewpoints, and commentary as never before. The technology exists now whereby members all over the state can prepare and post a message and get almost immediate feedback, reactions, and commentary from others. It’s the closest thing we have to a statewide newsletter and real-time interactive communications medium.

Webmaster Gloria is already working hard on an expanded website and weblog which will incorporate new features, bringing Council communications into the 21st century. But it involves a lot of personal effort, hard work, and other resources.

Is this something the Council should do?

As of this date, about 50 members have registered to participate, obtained permission to write and post, and yet very few have done so. There have been only a couple comments made in reaction to something posted. Perhaps members are not yet familiar with the technology so they can participate fully, or they’re not interested, or they don’t have needed computer and typing skills, just don’t see value in the weblog, or something else. If there isn’t going to be any participation, perhaps providing a weblog will be a bad idea.

The Council would like to reach out to chapters, having area directors visit chapters more often, assuring a presence, establishing liaison locally, providing state level news, advice and counsel, plus special resources. This is an effort requiring significant human, financial, and time resources, provided either by the Council, the chapters indirectly or directly, or the directors themselves. Is this something the Council needs to do? Should this be a priority? To what extent will resources be made available?

It has been suggested the Council step up activities within the larger military community, specifically working more closely with MOAA National and veterans groups, such as the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC). Is it important to create and implement programs which help the National achieve its mission? Do we need to do more, even if it costs more money, to establish liaison with and participate more closely with state veterans organizations? To what extent should we become involved with the general and military communities?

In short, and from a PR perspective, how much should be done to help other related organizations achieve goals and objectives and, in short, how much should be expended to advance mutual interests?

Finally, there are ways to obtain free publicity, articles in newspapers and magazines. Should the Council introduce a publicity effort? To what extent? Who will do it?

There are a lot of issues raised here; if you have some notions about public relations and publicity, this proposed strategic plan goal, please react by posting a comment to this piece.

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BASIC RESOURCES ISSUES

There have been a number of goals set forth in the proposed strategic plan members will be asked to approve 26 April.

A goal, for our purposes, can be defined as a general statement about what we want and need to do, not necessarily set forth within a timeline for accomplishment.

An objective is a very specific statement about something we will do, and a completion date is designated. There have been no objectives set forth in the strategic plan; objectives will be named within any operations plans created later.

One of the goals identified has to do with acquiring and managing Council resources. Here are some of the things we need to talk about:

An early consideration is about people, how we can best utilize the talents, energy, and abilities of Council officers and directors, and assist the chapters with personnel issues, including chapter leadership succession planning plus leader and member recruitment and retention;

There should be an effort made to create a comprehensive Council financial plan, the budget showing allocation of monies in support of basic needs and programs, plus policies on investments. Is this a good time to revive the issue of a dues increase? It should be obvious to everyone that services will be limited to financial resources available.

We will be making decisions about the use of time. What are the expectations? How much time should officers and directors devote to their duties? How many EXCOM and general/special meetings should be scheduled throughout the year? How often do chapters want state directors to visit their chapters and provide services? What will be the priorities for use of time?

Some consideration should be given to space requirements. What will be the locations for future EXCOM and annual meetings? What kinds of facilities will be required? Many seemed pleased with the San Luis Obispo location and hotel selection. Do we want to repeat that again? We’re trying Oakland now. Do we schedule in Southern California in the future? What do we want and need to do about these issues?

Again, we’re looking at the period 2006-2009? Are these the kinds of things we want and need to do regarding resource management?

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STRATEGIC PLAN REQUIRES OUT OF BOX THINKING

The EXCOM meeting will challenge us to approve a new strategic plan that is big and bold enough, something which will carry us successfully into the 21st century.

Many of us have copies of the plan. Is it big enough? Is it bold enough? Is the vision the correct one? Is the mission, as stated, appropriate?

If ever there was a time we need to innovate, be truly creative, it’s now.

Instructions on how to clean your toilet:

–Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl;
–Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom;
–In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids;
–The cat will self agitate. You may need to sand on the lid and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this;
–Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a “power wash” and rinse;
–Have someone open the front door of your house. Be sure there are no people between the bathroom and front door;
–Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids;
–The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off;
–Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.
Sincerely,
The Dog

Are we simply restating the bylaws provisions, or have we truly broken out into new territority?

Are we being big enough? Bold enough?

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EXCOM MEETING PROCEDURE

The EXCOM meeting is scheduled to get underway promptly at 0930 Wednesday, 26 April, in Oakland. It’s important for all members to be in attendance.

In order to have an effective meeting within a limited amount of time, one achieving all expectations, it’s important to make certain preparations. The detailed agenda is likely to be available sometime toward the end of the first week in April.

Al Ashurst reported he has asked the DFAS issue to be placed on the agenda. If others have agenda items they should be sent to the president or secretary without delay.

Area directors will be asked to report the status of their chapters, providing information about opportunities and problems, successes and failures, within the context of alerting the Council to the kinds of support which might be needed now or in the future. The secretary asks that these reports be made available in writing so a copy can be placed in the minutes.

The main thrust of the meeting is expected to be the strategic plan. It would be important to read and become familiar with its features well in advance of meeting discussion, ready and willing to state a position on the specific issues.

In the case of all agenda items, it would be ideal to consider what’s on the table, determine personal preferences, and even make provision in advance for a motion and second. It will take close coordination with others, but it can be done. We save a lot of time by greasing the skids

Helpful ideas about making the EXCOM meeting successful will be welcomed by John Sammons.

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OAKLAND TRANSFER REQUIRES PLANNING

The EXCOM meeting has been planned to begin promptly at 0930 Wednesday, 26 April 2006.

The Oakland International Airport can be a very busy and congested place. The route to the hotel meeting site can be filled with morning and evening commute traffic, often causing long delays, with frequent auto accidents adding to the problems.

It might make some sense to do advanced ground transportation planning to help insure a timely and pleasant experience, and the internet can be used to do that. It’s recommended you do some contingency planning.

The hotel offers free transportation from the airport to the hotel; however, that capability could be limited, strained, and particularly difficult should we have a significant number of members flying to Oakland. It’s not suggested it’s going to be that way; just throwing out the possibility. There could be long waits for the hotel van and delays enroute.

Another option would be to catch free public transport to the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) terminal located at the football stadium. From there it’s a short, quick ride–once you get on the train–to downtown Oakland, where you can make a telephone call and ask hotel staff, or a MOAA member, to pick you up. It’s not far to the hotel, but way too far to walk, particularly if you have luggage. Be sure you carry the hotel telephone number with you.

Arrival at San Jose International or San Francisco International airports pose different problems, all adding up to much more distance and time consuming requirements to get over to Oakland. It can be done but it also can be a real struggle.

Obviously, arrival Tuesday evening might well solve a lot of problems, but then there is the added expense.

As some say, “When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

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CAL-MOAA MANAGEMENT

Several of the 2006-2009 goals included in a proposed new strategic plan relate to Council organization and management, how officers and directors will govern.

We are taking a new and close look at MOAA’s Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide, and specifically the provisions found on pages 5-15, with the notion of updating processes, standard methods, and procedures.

In large part, we want to put into place a form of governance that fully engages affiliated chapters in all aspects of Council management, particularly the decision-making process. We want to make sure each chapter has a vote with the right of authorizing proxy votes.

In general, we want to be sure the Council is managed both effectively and efficiently.

The bylaws are comprehensive and it’s recommended everyone review the entire document before proceeding with any changes, particularly major changes. Perhaps we have a governance system, and set of bylaws, really requiring no changes now.

Before moving ahead with specific programs designed to assist affiliated chapters, or undertake certain kinds of operations, as we go into the future we’ll want to create and implement detailed operations plans, along the lines of a plan designed to to guide the Coast Guard Island initiative.

There is some thinking out there now that we will need to modify organization design and structure, specifically move to only three (3) state directors, northern/central/southern, down from eight (8). But does that make sense? Current directors are struggling to visit chapters currently assigned, provide vital services, with chapters often great distances from one another. How will it work? How can it work?

Another issue we’ll want to consider seriously is how we’ll locate highly capable/fully qualified, interested, and motivated officers to accept Council leadership positions, and the kinds of succession plans we might want to put into place.

As we put new initiatives into place, we want to provide adequate control systems, all of which will include objectives/standards, measurement, evaluation, and corrective action features.

In short, we want to establish a form of governance that fully engages member chapters in all aspects of Council management, specifically the decision-making process, with each chapter having a vote with right of proxy votes.

If you have some initial thoughts on these issues, please share your thinking now by posting a comment to this blog message.

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WORK AND SOME PLAY

It looks like the EXCOM and presidents meetings will take a lot of time 26/27 April, but should you choose to take another day or two, or go AWOL should the sessions prove uninteresting, there’s a whole lot more to do in the immediate Oakland and San Francisco areas.

A quick 5-8 minute hotel shuttle will take you to Jack London Square, a delightful waterfront village with stores, restaurants, and tourist attractions. You can drop into an authentic Alaska saloon set in the early part of the 20th century, Jack London the author country, and meet some interesting people.

It’s only a short walk to the ferry terminal where you can catch a fast catamaran across the bay. Enroute you’ll make a quick stop at Alameda, then pass the now closed Alameda Naval Air Station, viewing the main gate and officers housing. To the right you’ll see the total operation of Port of Oakland, with the massive cranes moving huge containers on and off the ships. As your ship leaves the estuary and enters the bay, you’ll see construction of the new bay bridge, Coast Guard headquarters on Yerba Buena Island, lots of ships out in the channel waiting to offload, sometimes even famous vessels such as the hospital ship “Mercy”, and the bridge itself as you pass underneath, headed straight to San Francisco’s famed Ferry Building.

Although the ferry continues to Pier 39 and the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf, you might want to get off and see the Ferry Building itself, with its many businesses, shops, exotic merchandise on sale, restaurants, and of course the tourists from all over the world. If you like, you can simply cross the street and head up Market Street, getting a close look at the big city, the Financial District, and even Chinatown if you want to walk some distance. Later, you can board a historic 1950s era streetcar which will carry you down the Embarcado to the tourist centers.

You’ll want to step out onto Pier 39 where you’ll find countless numbers of shops with quality merchandise, intimate coffee shops, restaurants specializing in seafood of course, an end-of-pier location where you get good views of the bay, Alcatraz Island, ships headed for ports around the world, and just around the corner an area where sea lions on log booms bask in the sun.

As you leave Pier 39 you’ll pass the transportation center where a little later you can catch a ferry right back to Jack London Square, Oakland. You’ll quickly approach Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can follow the sidewalk and observe the Dungeness crabs cooking–you might even want to try a crab cocktail–and then observe the commercial fishing boats in harbor, perhaps even striking up a conversation with ships crew and see the catch.

If somewhere along the line you have an attack of hunger and/or thirst, you can find almost anything you want from the Big Mac, to a Starbucks, to upscale seafood restaurants, and intimate cocktail lounges in the better hotels.

Depending on your interests, you might want to check out a maritime museum in the area or walk out on the piers to see historical ships. A good alternative would be to visit the Ghiradelli Chocolate Company and splurge. And if you have time, you might want to hike a bit to Fort Mason and check out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

No need for the meetings to be all work. With carefully planning you can have a wonderful experience in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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LET OTHERS KNOW YOUR THINKING

As we approach the late April EXCOM and presidents meetings, we need to focus on the issues now and specific agenda items later. Apparently a detailed agenda will become available near the end of the first week in April. However, we know what we’re going to be talking about–mostly the new strategic plan, its approval, and timeline for implementation.

We should be doing everything we can in advance of the meeting to consider what we might want to do and how we’ll do it, and then discuss it with others, moving to some kinds of conclusions, and even in advance of 26 April.

We should be sharing our thinking and feelings now. We can do that by writing and posting to this weblog, making comments to what others have written on the blog, or even use e-mail, the telephone, or personal visits. We should be sharing now.

He ordered one hamburger, one order of french fries, and one drink. The old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half. He placed one half in front of his wife.

He then counted out the french fries, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife. He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip, and then set the cup down between them.

As he began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the people around them kept looking over and whispering. You could tell they were thinking, “That poor old couple–all they can afford is one meal for the two of them.”

As the man began to eat his fries a young man came to the table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said they were just fine–They were used to sharing everything.

The surrounding people noticed the little old lady hadn’t eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink.

Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time the old woman said, “No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything.”

As the old man finished and was wiping his face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady who had yet to eat a single bite of food and asked, “What are you waiting for?” And she answered–

“The Teeth.”

We need to make an effort, get used to the idea, of sharing everything with one another. In this case, in advance of the EXCOM and presidents meetings.

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