Cyber Squadron is Growing

In 2009, we introduced the concept of a “Cyber Squadron”. Visitors to the USPS web site could join by simply filling out an application and paying their dues via credit card. These new members are assigned to the “Cyber Squadron” and have most of the benefits of membership. The one benefit which is lacking is the social aspects of belonging to a real squadron. To ensure that ALL benefits of membership are available, the new members are encouraged to transfer to a real squadron. To help in the process, they are provided with contact information for the four closest (within 100 miles) squadrons in their neighborhood. At the same time, these squadrons are notified that there is a new member who is looking for a squadron.

In June of 2010, we expanded the Cyber Squadron by awarding six months of free membership to anyone purchasing Americas Boating Course version 3 online. The only restriction is that the student must be 18 years or older and provide a valid email address. The same notification process applies to the “ABC3” members.

The following graph illustrates the impact of this new program on Cyber Squadron.

Cyber Squadron membership is an opportunity for squadron growth. All you have to do is introduce them to the educational opportunities, squadron activities, and your members. Invite them to a dinner meeting, a rendezvous, any fun activity where they can see your squadron in action. Send them a copy of your newsletter. Hopefully, they will be convinced that your squadron is the one for them.

Transferring a Cyber Squadron member to a real squadron is “paperless” and simple. When they join, the Cyber Squadron member is provided with the URL of a transfer page (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/xfer/ ) where they enter their PIN, select the squadron they wish to transfer to, and click “Submit”. An email message is sent to the squadron asking for approval. Headquarters and the member are also copied and when the squadron does a “Reply All” indicating approval, headquarters makes the transfer.

If the transferring member paid a full years dues, the squadron and district will receive the funds collected for them. The amount collected is the USPS average for an individual or a family unit. This funds transfer takes place automatically when the member transfer is completed.

Cyber Squadron Funds	Individual	Family
District Assessment	$ 5.00	$ 7.50
Squadron Assessment	$ 27.80	$ 41.70

Since no dues were collected for the ABC3 Cyber Squadron members, no funds are transferred.

The Cyber Squadron program is made possible thru electronic communications. Therefore, it is important that squadron members in key positions have valid email addresses on file. The squadron Public Contact is the first person we try to notify of a new Cyber Squadron member. A quick way to check on your squadron’s Public Contact is to visit (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/membership/contactInfo.php )

Your squadron may have Cyber Squadron members nearby or you may have unattached members in your neighborhood. To find out if there are potential membership opportunities near you, just visit (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/unattached ).

Membership is Job #1

New USPS Member Benefits

Introducing a new collection of USPS member benefits

Dear USPS Member,

The Member Benefits Committee has put together a new group of benefits to help USPS members save money on travel, vacations, wireless phone plans, auto and home insurance, prescription drugs, computer backup programs, identity theft programs, accidental death benefits, long term care programs, senior age life insurance and cancer care insurance.

And this is just the beginning. More benefits will be added in the future. To keep you informed about what benefits are available, some providers will mail you informational pieces from time to time. USPS respects your privacy and will control the distribution of the list to ensure the confidentiality of your mailing addresses.

While we’re confident that you’ll be excited to hear about these programs as they become available, if you prefer not to receive this information, you can discontinue the mailings at any time. Simply click this link to indicate your wishes.

Thank you for your ongoing support of USPS. We’re sure these new member benefits will futher enrich your USPS membership

Yours in Boating,

Frank Dvorak
Chief Commander
United States Power Squadrons

Enhanced Security Update

In last month’s broadcast, we published our plan to move to a more secure web access system.  We also emphasized the importance of the organizations leaders having access to secure data and asked for 100% participation by those in a leadership role.  While the results are not overwhelming, someone was listening and we have made some progress.

 

Rank	Security Question
	June	July
Bridge	100%	100%
R/C	32%	39%
D/C	21%	21%
Stf/C	19%	20%
Cdr	11%	13%
Total	15%	17%

 

Our leaders need to set an example and encourage the rest of the membership to make the transition from ZIP code to PIN.  We have made a small advance overall and now have 1152 members (3%) with a security question.

 

The following table illustrates the data which will be available to a squadron commander who has logged on using his PIN versus one who has logged on using his ZIP code.

 

Data Access
Data Field	PIN Logon	ZIP Logon
Top of Form Name Bottom of Form	X	X
Sex	X	X
Birthday	X	X
Current Rank	X	X
Past Rank	X	X
Squadron Rank	X	X
Squadron	X	X
District	X	X
Previous Squadron	X	X
Previous District	X	X
Certificate Number	X
Address1	X
City	X
State	X
ZIP	X
Phone	X
Business Phone	X
OK to call	X
Email	X	SEND EMAIL BUTTON
	X
Email-Status	X
Sig Other	X	X
SO Sex	X	X
Joined	X
Years	X
MM	X
Edpro	X
Senior	X
Membership Type	X
Membership Status	X
Billing Date	X
Dues Invoice #	X
Membership Renewal	X
Month
Billing Status	X
Last Profile Update	X
Last HQ Update	X
Instructor Certification	X
Expires		X
Squadron Job	X	X
District Job	X Bottom of Form	X

 

 

Visit the Information Center http://www.usps.org/national/tools and select “Manage Your Security Information”.  Once you have switched from ZIP to PIN,

help us spread the word to members, committees, districts, and squadrons.

 

Thanks for your help

 

 

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%