C/C Message 2021

Dec 23, 2021

Well, as 2022 is bearing down on us rapidly the pandemic is still with us – we have a new variant, Omicron, and travel restrictions are coming back. We currently have plans to hold the January ExCom Meetings face-to-face and the March Education and Board meetings likewise but as always with the health situation we will have to adapt depending on the infection numbers. But at the front of our minds safety must come first.

By the time this is over I think we will all know the Greek alphabet from start to finish!

At the beginning of November we welcomed our new National Office Director Martin Gangnier. Martin has extensive Not-For-Profit experience and is already making a difference.

We have now lived through a second year of this dreadful pandemic. Many of us have now, like pincushions, been subjected to two or even three vaccinations and, according to leading experts (Chairman of Pfizer) it’s likely that booster vaccinations will come around, like ‘flu shots, every year. Having banned face-to-face meetings and classroom teaching for obvious health reasons and because of provincial and local regulations CPS-ECP has cautiously allowed in person meetings. This of course is dependent on ever-changing regulations.

Following on from Bert terHart’s amazing voyage in 2020/ 2021 (who is incidentally preparing another venture – this time across this continent) we are looking forward to Guarav Shinde’s Atlantic crossing next summer followed by a solo Round-The-World voyage as part of his participation the the Golden Globe Race – starting in September. Gurav gave us an excellent presentation at October’s Annual General Meeting.

Talking about the AGM member approval was given to two motions. The first motion was to increase the National Dues contribution by $8 from $37 to $45 starting on 1st January 2022. This motion does not change the Squadron and District Dues. The second motion approved was to lower the minimum number of Directors to seventeen. The reason for this motion was the difficulty in getting volunteers to apply to become Directors – in the same way as squadrons and districts are having difficulties in getting volunteers for their Bridges (Squadron and District Executive Committees). With seventeen Directors there are always more Board Members than Executive Committee Members.

Your Board of Directors set up a New Business Plan Committee and debated a comprehensive update on the way CPS-ECP operates. As I noted last year this organization is great at talking and not so good at acting. Over the year the Committee produced a list of projects and improvements needed in CPS-ECP. Having done that a request letter was sent out to all Squadrons and Districts listing the projects and asking for contributions to a Special Projects Fund to be held at the National Office. The intention is to invest in improving the new IT System performance for the benefit of Squadron and Districts as well as National Office improvements. The Committee did not ask for any specific amounts – rather the figure was left to the Squadrons and Districts to offer what they felt that they could afford within their operating costs. I have been absolutely amazed at Squadron and District generosity – we now have over $65,000 pledged or contributed to the Fund. The New Business Plan Committee will be meeting mid December to select the starting projects and will be reporting regularly. Monthly Special Project Fund statements will be published. Thank you all for the generous support you have given.

As 2021 draws to a close I would like to wish all of our members, our officers and our National Office Team and their families a Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Healthy 2022.

Peter
Peter Bolton
Chief Commander CPS-ECP