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R/C Peter
TenBrink,
SN, Chairman |
Our Mission
The mission of the Government and
Partner Relations Committee (GPRCom) is to respond to government issues
and regulations that impact upon recreational boating; pursue
partnerships within Federal, State and Local government agencies;
establish and maintain memoranda of understanding (MOU) with states and
other organizations; and, to encourage homeland security initiatives in
support of USPS programs.
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Through its members
working as State Legislative Representatives (SLR), GPRCom monitors and
evaluates enacted and proposed legislation that impacts upon
recreational boating, GPRCom notifies the Chief Commander, Board of
Directors, Governing Board, and general membership of the latest
legislative developments.
The committee also aids districts and squadrons on
legislative and liaison matters. Both district and squadron legislative
and liaison officers report to their respective executive officers.
While districts and squadrons handle legislative and allied matters of a
more localized nature, the districts’ legislative officers serve as a
liaison between the national committee and the squadrons’ legislative
officers. GPRCom’s SLRs act on behalf of their respective state,
regardless of USPS district boundaries that may encompass more than one
state.
GPRCom consists
of 40 members who serve on one or more GPRCom teams: Administration,
Homeland Security, USPS-USCG Auxiliary MOU Implementation,
Partners/Liaison, State Legislative, and Lobbying.
USPS members have always had the
right to address any legislative issue as individuals and as concerned
boaters. On 4 December 2009 a revised lobbying policy was approved by
the Board of Directors granting members permission to lobby or contact
government officials on legislative matters under the advice and
guidance of GPRCom. The new policy also encouraged USPS members serving
on Area Maritime Security or other boating-related committees in their
communities throughout the country.
Fostering boating partnerships is an important function
of GPRCom. This is performed by coordinating state, mainly educational,
agreements and establishing organization memoranda of understanding.
Agreements in force, as well as model agreements, are on this GPRCom
website under the heading, MOUs. Our committee also designates GPRCom
member volunteers to serve as liaisons to key boating organizations,
partners and government agencies.
In the wake of 9/11, homeland security is a critical
function of GPRCom – The Committee assists the U.S. Coast Guard with its
“America’s Waterway Watch” campaign and also promotes the USPS
“America’s Waterway Awareness” program. In February 2009 USPS signed an
Affiliate Agreement with Citizen Corps, a branch of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. This collaboration promises to cultivate an
extremely important civic service contribution on the part of all USPS
members.
If you have an
interest in serving on the Government and Partner Relations Committee,
please contact R/C Pete TenBrink, SN at
p10brink@comcast.net for
more information, and be sure to update your resume at the Committee on
Nominations site located on the USPS home page,
www.usps.org
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