WAR News Summer 2003

RD THOUGHTS---Guy Lombardo

Reflections of the Past, Present and Future of this Region

PAST: As of April 1, 2003 I have entered into the last year of my term as your Region Director. The last five years have been very rewarding and at times very "frustrating". The number of patroller in the Region when I started was 649 we are now at 670. I'm sure this number will increase again by the time the season opens. When I took on this job I was not sure what had been completed or not completed. Finding this out his took time, valuable time that had to be done before I could forge ahead with my programs. Thankfully I had the complete cooperation of all the Patrol Directors in the Region. Regrettably I found that the senior program interest was down to put it mildly. This became a primarily concern to me of getting qualified patrollers interest back into the programs. This had to be addressed and of course the time element entered again. Thankfully we have been very successful in regaining interest and new seniors. This year results of those that passed the Senior OEC and the S&T is very close to outstanding.

PRESENT We now have an OEC candidate's class at the Hidden Valley that will be completed on June 1, 2003 and another one to start at the Springs in August and hopefully Willowbrook will also have a class this fall. The Region has many programs but none of them will function unless the program advisors are dedicated to do the job. As with any new changes in the administration all of the advisor must be looked at and hopefully they are the types that really want to advance their people not just have a title. Next comes the hard part of the "change". Who is doing the job? and who is not? I was very fortunate that most of the advisors were the type of people that had the patroller's interest in mind so if there was to be changes it would not be the a whole sale change. I am also very pleased and proud that WAR has the best advisors in the Region and possibly in the Division. If you do not know who they are look at the Eastern Directory on the Division page (nspeast.org.) If you do not have a computer, hard to believe in today society I'm sure the local library would give you access to one.

FUTURE: CHANGE IS COMING, If you have not heard by now and you should of, then I suggest you ask you Patrol Director, your Section Chief or me. The future of this Division and you as a patroller is in for a major change. Last year there was a "TRANSITION COMMITEE" formed out of a cross section of the Division. A number of items were on the table, to split the Division (we are the largest in the NSP) as one of the topics, another topic was allowing the main line patroller to vote for the RD, (I highly approve of this,) this will be the first time in the history of the Division that the front line patroller will have a say in choosing their Region Director. Another topic is the control of the Regions programs will be transferred to Division and all RD will now be on the Division BOD. To date some of these items have passed and some have not. Again your future as a patroller in the Eastern Division is at stake, I behoove you to read the Eastern Division page. (nspeast.org). Sadly a whole year has gone by with the committee asking for 'INPUT" from all of the patrollers to state their views. The response was next to nothing. The result of this type of response has given them a free hand to do what they feel is correct and of course those that did not respond have only their selves to blame if they do not agree with the committees decisions. QUESTION how many of you responded to the NSP Magazine vote for the National Board of Directors? The result was again disappointing. Apathy is a large problem in most organizations and sadly the NSP runs a very high percentage. If you want change then you must get involved. If you don't then what ever happens with the changes you will have to accept. My thanks all of my Section Chiefs, programs advisors and you for making this Region one of the most outstanding in the Division and this job so much easier. I have said many times if you need help with something I can do as RD do not hesitate to contact me. This will never change as long as I'm in this position.