DAO/SAO News and What's Next

Leadership and Leadership Development continue to be the #1 2010 goal of our Chief Commander Frank Dvorak, SN. Our DAO/SAO course, developed specifically for Administrative Officers, is well underway across the country. Dallas hosted the DAO/SAO Leadership training with more than thirty students which brings our total to nearly 150. Our USPS members are making their reservations for this course in Bellevue, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles (Marina del Rey,) Baltimore (Rockville,) Cleveland (Sandusky,) New York (Poughkeepsie,) and Chicago. See our website www.usps.org/national/ot/ for detailed outlines, venues, faculty and registration.

On 9 October, we will Beta test the new DXO/SXO course for Executive Officers. The DAO/SAO course is a pre-requisite; DB2000 designation and a certificate are part of this new course as well. These two courses focus upon practical leadership skills in USPS. Courses include case studies that address challenges we face in many squadrons. Both courses address realistic topics including attitudes, leadership styles, teambuilding and goal setting. Sections regarding USPS structure and conducting Effective Meetings, round out the program. If you have questions, please contact Stf/C Anita F. Walker, JN at anita5040@bellsouth.net or 954 781 8061

Enhanced Security - The Next Step

In last month’s broadcast, John Bradley posted a reminder that the time for switching from ZIP code to PIN to logon to the USPS web site is rapidly approaching.  When we checked on how many of our members have selected a security question, we found that only 2% had done so.  Given the fact that so few have taken the necessary steps to improve the security of our logon system, we have decided to do the following:

1.      Delay the transition.

2.      Implement a two tier security system.

a.      Logon with ZIP code and you have minimal access

b.      Logon with PIN and you have full access.

3.      Provide a simple mechanism for obtaining and changing your PIN.

4.      Spreading the word.

5.      Turning the new system on following the Fall Governing Board.

 

It is most important that those who need access to the data we are trying to protect, have selected a security question and switched to using the PIN to logon.  The leadership of USPS is doing somewhat better than the general membership, but still has a ways to go. 

 

Rank	Security Question
Bridge	100%
R/C	32%
D/C	21%
Stf/C	19%
Cdr	11%
Total	15%

 

To improve the logon security of our system, we need the help of our leadership.  The national bridge has committed to PIN logon and the entire bridge has selected their security question.  We would like to see 100% for all of these ranks.  Visit the Information Center http://www.usps.org/national/tools and select “Manage Your Security Information”.

 

Once our leaders find out how easy it is, we would like for them to help us spread the word to their committees, districts, and squadrons.

 

Can we count on you?

 

District/Squadron Administrative Officer Leadership Training

The roll-out of the DAO/SAO course, piloted at the Annual Meeting in Orlando, travels to a city near you.

 

Our Chief Commander Frank Dvorak, SN, and our board of directors approved 11 locations across the country for each of our sitting and incoming administrative officers to participate in this exciting leadership training opportunity. This course and others in the series (for executive officers and commanders) are funded by the Century Endowment Fund. Summer locations include New Orleans (D/15), Puerto Rico (D/33) and our Governing Board (D/16) in Bellevue – coast to coast geography.

 

Please see http://www.usps.org/national/ot/ for other cities, contacts, registration forms, venues, faculty and a full course outline. All members may take the course – space permitting. Please make your reservations early.

On 9 Oct., D/8 will host the Beta test for the newly developed District and Squadron Executive Officer course, with the formal introduction set for the 2011 Annual Meeting in Orlando. District and Squadron Administrative course completion is a prerequisite for attendance. Plan your summer and autumn schedules to include the training.

 

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Stf/C Anita F. Walker, JN, at mailto:anita5040@bellsouth.net?subject=Leadership Training.

 

Public Contact Update

Having a Public Contact in your squadron is essential. The Public Contact is notified when visitors to the USPS website ask to be contacted by a squadron. The Public Contact is notified when there is a new Cyber Squadron member in the area. We were making progress last February when 73% of squadrons had a valid Public Contact. Unfortunately, we have now dropped to 69% with a valid Public Contact. Make sure that your squadron is prepared to tell your story to the boating public.

 

Squadrons w/o Public Contacts
		12-Feb-10	1-Jun-10
District	Squadrons	w/o Contact
1	13	6	5	38%
2	19	4	7	37%
3	18	0	0	0%
4	16	0	1	6%
5	36	12	15	42%
6	17	7	8	47%
7	13	6	4	31%
8	15	2	3	20%
9	23	5	6	26%
10	12	3	2	17%
11	6	2	3	50%
12	9	5	5	56%
13	13	4	5	38%
14	7	2	2	29%
15	11	5	6	55%
16	17	4	4	24%
17	13	3	6	46%
18	4	1	2	50%
19	10	4	6	60%
20	18	5	7	39%
21	14	3	2	14%
22	18	1	2	11%
23	10	3	2	20%
24	9	3	3	33%
25	9	2	3	33%
26	13	4	4	31%
27	20	6	6	30%
28	6	0	0	0%
29	8	0	0	0%
30	9	3	4	44%
31	6	1	1	17%
32	6	4	2	33%
33	8	5	4	50%
Total	426	115	130	31%

 

 

USPS PIN Help

Two ways to obtain your USPS PIN.

1.


2.

New Small Boat Skills DVDs

Five DVDs titled Small Boat Skills will be sent to all squadrons.  The DVD was produced by the Educational Department in partnership with the United States Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety through the USCG-administered Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

 

As you know, small boats less than 18 feet make up the majority of the boats on America’s waterways, and they are also the largest group involved in accidents and drownings.  In response, Small Boat Skills was produced to help novice and intermediate small-boat operators boat safely and responsibly while having fun. 

 

To make the program more relevant, four features were created, each focusing on a specific activity: family fun, fishing, paddling and personal watercraft riding. And to make the program more engaging, a number of experts present the material.

 

Fishing: Roland Martin is one of the most recognized anglers today.  His TV career spans nearly four decades, and he is one of the most legendary figures in the bass fishing arena.

 

Paddling:  Janet Burnett Cowie has been paddling for more than 25 years and is an American Canoe Association swiftwater rescue instructor, tandem/solo canoe instructor, and whitewater kayak instructor trainer.

 

Family Runabouts: Travis Moye is a world-champion wakeboarder who spent much of his time coaching and driving and is the designated boat driver on the Master Craft Pro Wakeboard Tour, X Games and the Wakeboard World Championship series.

 

PWC: Ted Rankine has been reporting on and riding personal watercraft on his TV show, PowerBoat Television, since the late 80s. He has spent countless hours testing PWCs for the show and touring with them across North America.

 

When you see the program, you will discover plenty of uses for it.  Using it in class is an obvious place. Because it is segmented into specific boat usage categories, it is an ideal addition to a retail environment or for presentation or in booth at boat and sportsman shows.

 

In addition to the DVD version, a made-for-television one-hour program has been produced that would be ideal for local cable TV markets, local PBS stations, etc.  With boating season fast approaching, it would make a welcome addition to local programming lineup.

 

If you have any questions about the program, need additional ideas about usage or would like help approaching  a local broadcaster, feel free to contact us.

 

Herman Green /  rhergreen@aol.com  / 423-842-7262

 

Ted Rankine / tedrankine@rogers.com / 905-989-0664