Operation “Meltdown” Article & photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor, SITREP

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Linda Merriman setting the scenario

Wednesday afternoon, August 20
Following lunch the National Operating Committee (OPCOM) regrouped for a special “operation.” Linda Merriman, Past DC-I and lead facilitator for this task explained the scenario. In short, “What does the Auxiliary have to look forward to in the year 2013.”

The entire OPCOM would be split into five discussion groups each with a specific area of interest. The premise of the activity was that the participants were suddenly transported to five years in the future. Their task was to describe the state of the Auxiliary at that time.

The validity of the scenario would depend on how well each participant, using their own experiences and depth of knowledge participated in the discussions. They were asked to draw their conclusions and discuss their strategies, the why, rather than try and define corrective tactics, the how.

Ms. Merriman visualized the event as a huge funnel with all of the ideas being poured into the large top end and then by discussion, and even debate, looking for some commonality to flow out of the bottom.

Each group of six or seven participants shared a portion of the room with their facilitator. Those facilitators and their area of discussion were:

Rod Halstead, Division Chief-Diversity; Recreational Boating Safety.
Gene Seibert, Past National Commodore; Recruiting and Retention.
Carol Urgola, Past National Chief of Staff, Public Education.
Ed Sweeney, Directorate Commodore, Marine Safety; Operations.
Fred Gates, Directorate Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety; The Auxiliary in 2013

After two hors of discussion the participants gathered en-masse in a plenary session. Each group presented their results and the commonalities were draw and presented to the National Board for strategic review and action.

~HRW