STRATEGIC PILLARS

1. REGIONAL CORE AND COMMUNICATIONS AMONG LOCAL STATIONS

2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3. PARTNERSHIPS

4. PUBLIC RELATIONS

5. FUND RAISING

REGIONAL CORE AND GOOD COMMUNICATIONS AMONG LOCAL STATIONS

Canada is a region within the global Mission to Seafarers.

Goals:

1. Build and maintain good relationships between MTSC leadership and Local Stations such that Local Stations are:

  • able to communicate relevant information to MTSC and IHQ;
  • provided with support and knowledge that enables them to deliver effective ministry to seafarers; and
  • assisted with evaluating their operations with a view of how they may improve and adapt to an evolving shipping industry.

2. Facilitate the establishment of a new Local Station in a port that does not have a ministry to seafarers, working with the local Diocesan Bishop.

How:

Regional Council meets annually and as required, either face to face or electronically, to make collective decisions.

Board of Directors will make decisions in between Regional Council meetings. As it has an International Liaison member, it also ensures that information sharing happens with IHQ.

Regional Director maintains a relationship with each Senior Chaplain and visits each Local Station on a two to three-year cycle. The Regional Director on the international level works with the Secretary General and Regional Directors and submits a quarterly report to IHQ. 2/8

Liaison Bishop maintains a relationship with each Senior Chaplain, visits each Local Station on a two to three-year cycle and represents MTSC in the House of Bishops.

Annual MTSC Conference provides for a Regional Council meeting and professional development. The conference is hosted by Local Stations on a rotating basis. A component of the conference is a visit to the station and an opportunity to socialize with the Local Station’s volunteers and board members. The Local Station’s volunteers and board members are welcome to take part in the professional development sessions.

Monthly IHQ Report is submitted by Local Stations.

Resources Needed:

Presently activities are funded through a grant from IHQ; aim to be self-supporting by 2025.

To Do/Must happen in order to implement this strategic initiative:

  • Effective leadership from the Regional Director is necessary for this initiative to be implemented.
  • Ensure that IHQ forwards Monthly IHQ Report to the Regional Director.
  • Implement practice of Local Stations sending quarterly reports to Regional Director.
  • Implement practice of Local Stations sending newsletters and Annual Report to Regional Director.
  • Implement practice of Regional Director sending a quarterly Eletter to the Regional Council that shares news received from Local Stations; tied in with IHQ quarterly report.
  • Implementing the Associate membership will allow more people from each station to be aware of the business of MTSC as an Associate member may participate, but not vote, in Regional Council meetings. Chaplains, station managers and volunteers are encouraged to apply to become an Associate member

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Goal:

Intentionally offer professional development activities that will improve a Local Station’s ability to meet seafarers’ needs and coordinate global MTS and Canadian seafarer’s ministry efforts.

MTSC can assist Local Stations with:

  • delivering training developed through IHQ: Ethos, MLC 2006;
  • following the values and standards of the Mission to Seafarers;
  • reflecting theologically on the ministry to seafarers;
  • adapting to Canadian legislation and international standards and policies that need to be put into the Canadian context;
  • having good practices with respect to volunteer management; and
  • enforcing standards.

Partners:   IHQ, NAMMA

Audience:

  • Chaplains
  • Station Managers
  • Volunteers
  • Local Station Board members
  • Local partners; see Partnerships Iniative
  • MTSC directors and officers

How:

  • Annual MTSC Conference
  • Regional Director station visit
  • Liaison Bishop station visit
  • IHQ personnel participation in annual MTSC conference and/or station visit
  • NAMMA Conference – highly focused on US issues
  • Seafarer focused publications: The Sea

Resources Needed:

  • Training materials
  • Train the trainer training
  • Funds to facilitate travel
  • Presently activities are funded through a grant from IHQ; aim to be self-supporting by 2025.

Vantage points:

3 – local/national/international

To Do/Must happen in order to implement this strategic initiative:

  • Regional Director needs to work with IHQ, other Regional Directors and Local Stations to develop a plan to offer professional development activities with costing, and lay out a schedule of where the Annual Conference may be held over the next five years.
  • Regional Director ought to conduct follow up activities to monitor the effects of training and evaluate whether a benefit is derived.

PARTNERSHIPS

Goal:

Build and improve partnerships with other agencies and organizations for the sake of strengthening and extending our vision to promote the spiritual, moral and physical wellbeing of seafarers and their families worldwide.

Partnerships will enable MTSC to

  • advocate for seafarers in ports and with industry and the Canadian government;
  • obtain resources to do its ministry; and
  • be accountable for how it conducts its ministry.

Partners:

International – IHQ, ICMA, IMO, ITF

National – Anglican Church of Canada, NAMMA, International Sailors Society of Canada, Apostleship of the Sea, Ministry to Seafarers, Transport Canada, Seafarers International Union (SIU), Shipping Federation of Canada, Chamber of Marine Commerce, Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy

Regional/Local – Anglican Diocese, Anglican parishes and other Christian congregations, Apostleship of the Sea, ITF Inspector, The Marine Club, St. Lawrence Seaway Authority, H2O Highway, Port Authority, Pilotage Authority, Coast Guard station, Naval Reserve Division, tug companies, ship repair/dry dock companies, yacht clubs, Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons,

What we want to know:

Do we have common interests, vision, plans, initiatives/projects?

What we are asking for:

  • Funds, gifts in kind, goods, services, volunteers
  • Standard-based reviews
  • Building and extending the reputation of our ministries
  • Reducing isolation of our chaplains and volunteers in the Local Stations

Resources Needed:

The Regional Director has limited time for this strategic initiative; more time will be required.

To Do/Must happen in order to implement this strategic initiative:

  • The Regional Director needs to provide leadership and work with stations to:
  • identify potential partners and do background research to assess compatibility;
  • communicate information about partnerships already functioning locally among stations;
  • build a database of partners; and
  • consult with these partners – take first steps in making and building relationships
  • Increase the time of the Regional Director

PUBLIC RELATIONS/PUBLIC EDUCATION

Goal:

Intentionally tell and share our stories so that an awareness is developed of the issues and concerns of seafarers and of how the Mission to Seafarers responds to the needs of seafarers. Initiate national communications plan.

  • Have a national communications strategy
  • Coordinate Local Station public education initiatives
  • Deliver a national public relations/fund-raising campaign in 2022; develop a multi-pronged approach.

Audience:

  • Anglican Church locally and nationally
  • Partners; see Partnerships initiative
  • Shipping industry
  • Users of shipping, for example: Ikea, Weston Foods, Viterra, Cargill, Canadian Tire, CanPotEx
  • General public

How:

  • Relationship building programs and activities at local level
  • Station visits
  • Christmas box project
  • Knitted cap projects
  • Presence at local naval days, community events
  • Relationships with press
  • Relationship with congregations/dioceses
  • Write a MTSC briefing paper on Local Stations and ports: use ISSC grant applications as source material, station reports and open source research on the Internet. This paper would be used for PR materials and a fund-raising case.
  • Develop a communications plan:
  • Develop and improve MTSC publications: an annual letter, Annual MTSC Report, reports to IHQ
  • Build a database of organizations and individuals that we wish to communicate with
  • Build and improve the capability to use social media: web site, Facebook, Twitter
  •  presence on Anglican.ca website
  •  presence on missiontoseafarers.org
  • Periodic articles in the Anglican Journal
  • Sea Sunday in Canada: Sunday nearest to the International Day of the Seafarer (June 25), encourage local observance and develop national activities
  • Canadian media coverage: radio, TV, print
  • Presence at General Synod – refreshing our stories/approach on a 3-year cycle
  • Inclusion in Anglican Church of Canada mission gifts program

Resources needed:

  • The Regional Director has limited time for this strategic initiative; more time will be required.
  • Dedicated time and resources including funding

Vantage points:

3 – local/national/international

To Do/Must happen in order to implement this strategic initiative:

  • Effective leadership from the Regional Director is necessary for this initiative to be implemented:
  • sharing best practices between stations; and
  • connect with partnerships and linkages developed through the Partnerships initiative
  • Increase the time of the Regional Director
  • A professional consultant study with recommendations on best method to build public awareness and support

FUND RAISING

Goal:

Raise funding necessary to support the vision and ministries of MTSC:

  • support of the offices of the Regional Council, Board of Directors, Regional Director and Liaison Bishop;
  • hold forums for education and professional development;
  • support Local Stations and upon application other stations within Canada providing ministry to seafarers; and
  • foster the establishment of new stations within Canada, as needed, and in consultation with the local Diocesan Bishop.
  • Deliver a national public relations/fund-raising campaign in 2022; develop a multi-pronged approach.

Assets for Fund Raising:

  • Our Flying Angel brand
  • We are at arm’s length to the church so may be considered for grants not available to church groups
  • Great stories
  • Publicly known stories through films, books and the press

What we will be asking for:

  • Funds,
  • gifts in kind,
  • goods,
  • services,
  • volunteers

Challenges:

  • 3 distinct shipping industries in Canadian context: Atlantic, Great Lakes, Pacific; see commonalities rather than difference across the 3 shipping industries
  • MTSC and Local Station fund-raising may be making requests from the same donor

Potential sources and resources:

Local and corporate offices (i.e. Walmart)

Resources needed:

  • The Regional Director has limited time for this strategic initiative; more time will be required.
  • Dedicated time and resources including funding

To Do/Must happen in order to implement this strategic initiative:

  • Effective leadership from the Regional Director is necessary for this initiative to be implemented:
  • get charitable status;
  • enroll in CanadaHelps.org;
  • build a case (connected with PR work); collect our stories and share them effectively (e.g. videos)
  •  Connect MTS work with local economy e.g. grain and potash export
  • inventory and evaluate fund raising in Local Stations; share best practices;
  • identify new sources of funding; build prospect list supported by good research for willingness and likelihood of support; and develop database noted above under Public Relations; and
  • connect with IHQ re trusts and fund raising.
  • Increase the time of the Regional Director
  • Engage a professional consultant
  • Techsoup.ca

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ICMA -International Christian Maritime Association

IHQ – International Headquarters of the Mission to Seafarers in London, England

IMO – International Maritime Organization

ISSC – International Sailors Society of Canada

ITF – International Transport Workers Federation

MLC – Maritime Labour Convention

MTSC – Mission to Seafarers : Canada

NAMMA – North American Maritime Ministry Association

SIU – Seafarers International Union