Shipmates,
Last night Division 7 elected officers for the 2013 term. Ken Babick will be our Division Commander and Rick Williams will be the Vice Division Commander. Please take a moment to congratulate Ken and Rick and also thank Matt Epstein for his willingness to serve as VCDR. We also had the opportunity to recognize Brad Schuldt's election as DCAPT-S for 2013. Congratulations Brad.
I had the opportunity to talk to the Division - I'd like to share the basic outline of that conversation here:
Shipmates,
When the District Commander, RADM Taylor, spoke to the District Meeting he discussed the Commandant’s vision as laid out in the 23rd Shipmates Message.
The vision is broken down into 3 parts.
- Proficient Leadership
- Proficient in our Craft
- Disciplined Initiative
 |
| District 13 Commander, RADM Keith Taylor discusses the Commandant's vision at the Fall District 13 Meeting |
I want to talk about Proficient Leadership
I’ve discovered something as District Captain that wasn’t clear before. Every Division, and most Flotilla’s, think they are the outsiders in this organization. Div 5 is the lost Division, Div 6 is spread all over the map on the coast and inland. Div 7 remembers probation not that long ago.
Brad, George, the FCs and the Division 7 membership can be rightly proud of the accomplishments of the year. We will talk about some of those outcomes this evening. Whenever we celebrate the accomplishments of a member, a Flotilla or the Division please remember each of us is also part of a greater mission shared with all our shipmates and all those who we support in our Safety, Security and Stewardship missions.
None of us work alone. There is no faceless entity known as a Division, a District, or National.
We are it.
Sitting behind me is a significant portion of the senior leadership for 2013. Our shipmate from only as far away as McMinnville - Commodore Elect Dean Wimer.
Brad Schuldt, our District Captain Elect.
Ken Babick, your Division Commander Elect and a member of the D13 board.
These shipmates are District 13.
Would the District SOs and ADSOs please stand. Thank you for your service shipmates. Dean and Richard are building a staff now. I expect, based on the proven leadership qualities of our Division SOs we may well see more people standing next year.
These shipmates are District 13.
We have the bulk of the Southern Area QE corps in the room this evening.
Dean, Don, Ken, Todd
You know I’m focused on safety and operational proficiency. As QEs these men don’t work for me - they work for the OTO... but they certainly make it so I can sleep at night in spite of my personal responsibility for the safety of each of our members.
Theses shipmates are District 13.
Mr. Bell puts out the #1 publication in the District. He and I amiably debate his Soap Box columns. While Daymark is made for Div7 it has influence well beyond.
Gary is District 13.
We have many others who play formal and informal roles. Gay Sipes has already been recognized as an ADSO... don’t you think the District Auxiliarist of the Year is an influencer.
I saw her fill that role brilliantly in her comments at the District meeting - she went right to talking about the team.
Gay is District 13.
I know we will be recognizing Gay again but let’s all stand and give her a well deserved round of applause.
By now I hope you are getting the point.
Every one of us is District 13.
With the recognition, the prominent role of Division members in leadership and the potential for impact, comes great responsibility. We can’t afford to have any of our Divisions considering themselves outsiders.
I need each of you to consider how we help make our shipmates -- all of them, everywhere, part of the team -- effective -- proficient -- and safe.
And here is the true hard part...
It starts with introspection. I must ask myself:
The success of this Division should be celebrated but it is also a challenge to lead, and to in Commandant’s words to lead proficiently.
So, humbly I thank you for your service.
As ALWAYS, be safe and look to the safety of your shipmates.
Daren
Sitting behind me is a significant portion of the senior leadership for 2013. Our shipmate from only as far away as McMinnville - Commodore Elect Dean Wimer.
Brad Schuldt, our District Captain Elect.
Ken Babick, your Division Commander Elect and a member of the D13 board.
These shipmates are District 13.
Would the District SOs and ADSOs please stand. Thank you for your service shipmates. Dean and Richard are building a staff now. I expect, based on the proven leadership qualities of our Division SOs we may well see more people standing next year.
These shipmates are District 13.
We have the bulk of the Southern Area QE corps in the room this evening.
Dean, Don, Ken, Todd
You know I’m focused on safety and operational proficiency. As QEs these men don’t work for me - they work for the OTO... but they certainly make it so I can sleep at night in spite of my personal responsibility for the safety of each of our members.
Theses shipmates are District 13.
Mr. Bell puts out the #1 publication in the District. He and I amiably debate his Soap Box columns. While Daymark is made for Div7 it has influence well beyond.
Gary is District 13.
We have many others who play formal and informal roles. Gay Sipes has already been recognized as an ADSO... don’t you think the District Auxiliarist of the Year is an influencer.
I saw her fill that role brilliantly in her comments at the District meeting - she went right to talking about the team.
Gay is District 13.
I know we will be recognizing Gay again but let’s all stand and give her a well deserved round of applause.
By now I hope you are getting the point.
Every one of us is District 13.
With the recognition, the prominent role of Division members in leadership and the potential for impact, comes great responsibility. We can’t afford to have any of our Divisions considering themselves outsiders.
I need each of you to consider how we help make our shipmates -- all of them, everywhere, part of the team -- effective -- proficient -- and safe.
And here is the true hard part...
It starts with introspection. I must ask myself:
- Where am I off policy by acts of omission or commision
- Where do I not yet measure up
- When have I not met the test of the core values
- Where have I not been a humble servant
The success of this Division should be celebrated but it is also a challenge to lead, and to in Commandant’s words to lead proficiently.
So, humbly I thank you for your service.
As ALWAYS, be safe and look to the safety of your shipmates.
Daren
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