United States Power Squadrons

1. United States Power Squadrons Unified Membership A Member is a Member USPS Unified Membership

2. One Couple’s Story • Honey, I just signed us up as members in So & So Power Squadron! • You’ll be a Family Member! USPS Unified Membership

3. One Couple’s Story • Family members can work for the squadrons and attend meetings, but they can’t vote or hold office. • Family members can earn a family member merit mark USPS Unified Membership

4. One Couple’s Story • When without “Active” member on board, FMs can’t fly the Ensign • Family members are not allowed to wear a USPS uniform USPS Unified Membership

5. One Couple’s Story • Oh, and you pay the same dues. USPS Unified Membership

6. Current Membership Structure • Active Members • at least 18 years old, • able and willing to contribute time, energy, and skills to the objectives of USPS, • and have passed an examination approved by the Operating Committee* *Until 1 December 2012, new active and apprentice members may be admitted without passing an approved examination at the discretion of the squadron executive committee and active, family, and apprentice members admitted under this waiver may take member courses. USPS Unified Membership

7. Current Membership Structure • Family Members • are related by blood, adoption, or marriage to an active member and reside with or are a dependent of an active member. • not required to pass an approved exam, but may take USPS member courses if they have done so. USPS Unified Membership

8. Current Membership Structure • Family Members • can attend squadron functions and business meetings, but are not allowed to vote. • are not allowed to wear a squadron uniform, hold elective office, or fly the USPS Ensign. • may earn family merit marks. USPS Unified Membership

9. Current Membership Structure • Apprentice Members • are between 12 and 23 years of age and have passed an approved examination. • enjoy the same benefits of membership as family members. USPS Unified Membership

10. Membership Type Vs Dues • Don’t Confuse Membership Type with Dues Structure • Single Active ($37.20) • Family Unit ($55.80 for all members in family) • Apprentice ($12) • Additional Active (resides with PAM $0 Nat’l) • Family Member (resides with PAM $0 Nat’l) • Sustaining (has paid 20 years dues $0 Nat’l) • Life (has earned 25 merit marks $0 Nat’l) USPS Unified Membership

11. The Count (July 2009) • Active – 33,944 • Family – 4,242 • Apprentice – 128 • Sustaining – 72 • Life – 2,894 • Life & Sustaining - 57 USPS Unified Membership

12. Proposal • Unified Membership • All new members are “Active” • All could vote, wear uniform, fly Ensign • Over 18 could hold office • Existing Family Members Grandfathered • Able to vote, hold office, wear uniform, and fly Ensign USPS Unified Membership

13. Advantages • Larger crop of potential office holders • No second class memberships • No confusion about merit marks • No price penalty on the national level USPS Unified Membership

14. Issues • Squadrons that don’t adopt Family Unit Dues impose price penalty on additional active status • 57 of 454 squadrons have adopted Family Unit Dues • 257 squadrons dues increase for Active versus Family members. The average is $9.70 for adults and $13.33 for juniors. USPS Unified Membership

15. Issues • Exam Waiver • Family Membership is how we get spouses to join without taking the ABC exam • If Exam Waiver is not made permanent, this will restrict family members from joining USPS Unified Membership

16. Unified Membership A member is a member! USPS Unified Membership