Introduction

Conducting the Program

The participants should be made aware that little or no CPS-ECP experience is necessary to complete the program.

a) Program Facilitator
This individual should be someone who has a good all-around knowledge of CPS-ECP and who has served at least at the Officer level in the organization. A current or retired District or National Officer would be very suitable. The facilitator will establish the format to be used to conduct the program, arrange for session presenters, arrange for program materials to be available and apply for Certificates of Participation for those who have completed the program.

b) Format
The OT Program may be conducted in several different ways, depending on the needs of the group. The most common formats are:

1. in one full day session
2. in two morning, two afternoon or two evening sessions
3. in one or one and a half hour sessions selecting appropriate modules
4. by electronic means, e.g. GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, Zoom, Moodle, etc.

Although the program has been successfully given in several different formats, the most popular in recent times has been a single full day session.  In order to acquire Operations Training status, all segments of the course must be completed.

The program may be conducted by an individual Squadron or by a District. Greater success has been achieved by Districts running the program, gathering participants from as many Squadrons as possible. This makes for an interesting mix of members and emphasizes the team aspect which should prevail in the District.

It has also proved successful to recruit guest instructors/presenters, each of whom covers a section of the program. This method gives an interesting and lively aspect to the program, especially if the guests are thoroughly familiar with their sections and can provide insights not necessarily included in the text.

Program Materials

1. CPS-ECP Officer’s Guidebook (the Guidebook)
2. The Successful Squadron booklet (downloadable from the CPS-ECP website)
3. The Squadron Support Program booklet (downloadable from the CPS-ECP website)
4. The Policies Manual booklet (downloadable from the CPS-ECP website)
5. other supporting documents and handouts

The Guidebook is the textbook for the OT Program, and references to sections have been included in it.

A PowerPoint presentation is available upon application to the OT Program Chair.