I’d like to thank Mike Majka, our retiring 2007 Commander who, in the tradition of all of our previous Commanders, has continued to build and improve upon our young squadron. I am in awe of Mike’s energy, commitment, non-stop flow of great ideas and most of all, his passion and dedication to this squadron. Thank you! I am also (selfishly) grateful that Mike will remain as an active member of the Bridge in a dual role. He will continue in an advisory role as our Past Commander but also as our Treasurer. Both roles are absolutely critical to the management of the squadron and the execution of our plans and the growth of the squadron. Mike, thank you for your continued passion and dedication to this squadron! You have been and continue to be a critical leader and member of the Music City Power Squadron.

We owe much to our Squadron’s founders and to all of Past Commanders – each has built upon the previous Commander’s successes and made the Music City Power Squadron in to the successful and growing squadron that we are. I know that I step in to a leadership role in which all of us have high expectations and I have high standards to live up to – standards that have been set by our Founders and our Past Commanders. With your help, I will endeavor to meet those expectations and adhere to those standards of excellence and commitment to the Music City Power Squadron.

But none of our Past Commanders could have been successful without an equally committed and dedicated group of volunteers who serve with the Commander on the Bridge and I would like to acknowledge and thank all of the Bridge members who have helped to “execute” the great ideas that have contributed to the success of the Music City Power Squadron and I want to thank the in-coming Bridge Officers who will be supporting me, your 2008 Commander. Many on this in-coming Bridge have been active Bridge Officers for many years and together we are a strong team. We need their support, their ideas, their energy and their commitment and dedication. We all owe this year’s Bridge Officers a big ‘Thank you”. I, above all, know how much I need their help.

I would also like to thank all of us who are members of the Music City Power Squadron. Without your annual commitment and contributions to this squadron, we could not point to our past successes and build upon our hopes and plans for the future of the Squadron. Sadly, some of our sister squadrons are struggling. Their memberships are declining and they struggle to get volunteers to take-a-turn serving on the Bridge. Without new members and emerging leaders who can guide, build and continuously improve their squadrons, like all non-profit organizations, they will slowly die out. We will not let that happen to the Music City Power Squadron!

We live in extremely hectic times. I recall during the late 1970’s when the futurists of the day were predicting that with ever improving technology, such as the then emerging internet and growth in personal-computers, that we would all have far more leisure time. More time to spend on our boats! Boy, did those futurists ever blow that prediction. Improved communications technology has only resulted in all of us carrying cell phones and Black Berry’s where we can never escape our work or offices. Cell towers, and certainly satellites can now reach us in some of the most remote corners of the globe. Gone are the days when we could take a vacation on our boats and be conveniently “out-of-reach” for two weeks straight.

These hectic times make it more and more difficult to devote time to the leadership of the Music City Power Squadron, let alone attend the social functions that the Bridge has organized for the benefit of the general membership. Trust me, I understand these challenges. I am at the beck-and-call of my clients 24/7 and I know all of you struggle with the competing needs of family and work – let alone the needs of your Power Squadron.

But the Music City Power Squadron represents something that I value. Boating is not just for recreation or for leisure. Boating fosters positive relationships with our family and friends and brings us closer to nature and closer to God (Especially when we’re caught in a storm. They say that there are no atheists in a Fox Hole and I would like to add that there are no atheists on a boat during a storm either). The Music City Power Squadron teaches and prepares us to be better boaters and safer boaters and, ultimately, confident boaters. It is that shared passion for safe-boating…those of us who are “serious-boaters”…who are committed and active members of the Music City Power Squadron that ties us together. This squadron represents our shared values - values that include love for God, Family, Friends and Nature and we know that we can be closer to all when on a boat.

With these thoughts in mind, there are some specific challenges that this Bridge will continue to work on during 2008. These challenges are:

1. Lack of recognition – Many people ask, “Who and what is the Power Squadron”?
2. Membership growth – (unlike many other squadrons, we’ve been successful in adding some new members but our growth is at risk of leveling out). We welcome all new members regardless of boating style (sail, power, paddle, oar, etc.) and size or number of boats – even those without boats - but, the reality is, we only attract “serious” boaters. “Serious Boaters” are those who are interested in our courses and interested in our social activities (namely learning from each others’ boating experiences). Focusing on attracting and retaining “serious-boaters” must become a mission for us.
3. Funding – We have no funding for advertising – hence we can’t afford to buy radio/TV/newspaper ads – but there are ways to attract funding without selling-out our principles.
4. Location – Our members are not centrally located on one body of water – its difficult to get all of us together for social events. In addition, our members live throughout the region so no one’s happy with our choices for meeting locations – we have no “club house”…but…do we need one? “Compromise” will likely be an on-going reality of our squadron.
5. Leadership – We’re having a tough time attracting members to join-in and participate on the Bridge but without new blood we’re not advancing. How can we encourage all members to be a part of the leadership of this, “our” squadron?

As for some solutions????

1. Mike Majka has done a great job “starting” the marina/dealer recognition program but he needs help to grow this program.
2. We’ve gotten some “press” from the Tennessean newspaper but can we get TV and radio attention (anyone want to try and get Britney Spears off of the front page)?
3. The Propeller Club and Ingram Barge have helped us financially – are there other sources of funding we can talk to?
4. What events/activities do you think would attract more membership involvement?
5. Do we continue a shot-gun approach to attracting any and all members or should we focus on those who are our core members, namely “serious boaters”.
6. What attracted us to participate as Bridge members???...can we use those same reasons to attract other members to join the Bridge?

Earlier this week the outgoing Bridge met with the in-coming Bridge to “Brain Storm” these issues and concerns. In addition, several members joined in this Brain Storming session and contributed their ideas. Out of this Brain Storming session have emerged some great new ideas with which the in-coming Bridge will begin to put into place.