COMMANDER S CORNER Cdr Jeff McKinney, JN, VE

Transcription

1 ROCKVILLE SAIL & POWER SQUADRON May 2008 \ Watch Year Executive Committee Commander Cdr Jeff McKinney, JN, VE Executive Officer Lt/C Alan Karpas, JN, VE alankarpas@verizon.net Education Officer Lt/C Chuck Wells, JN cjwglb@verizon.net Administrative Officer Lt/C Denise Allen, JN dallen@allfm.org Secretary Lt/C Kay Permison, P kpermison@yahoo.com Treasurer Lt/C Charles Yost, AP chasy@verizon.net Immediate Past Commander P/C Joseph Gibson, AP, VE joesboat@comcast.net Members-at-Large Lt Julien Hofberg, JN, VE julienp@comcast.net Lt Paul Mermelstein, P pmermelstein@verizon.net Lt Steve Permison, P sbpermison@yahoo.com RSPS Web Site: Editor: Lt Craig Floyd, S, 7204 Deer Lake Lane, Rockville, MD or cfloyd@starpower.net. Distribution: P/Lt/C John Grabowski, AP; P/Lt/C Larry Hixon, AP, Michael Loney, P. PUBLISHER S STATEMENT The SKIPJACK newsletter is published monthly except the July/August issue. Deadline for articles is the 20 th day of the month for the following month s issue. The SKIPJACK is written by and published for the members of the Rockville Sail and Power Squadron (RSPS), a unit of District 5 of the United States Power Squadrons. S INDEX COMMANDER S CORNER 1 EXECUTIVE OFFICER S REPORT 2 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER S REPORT 3 EDUCATION OFFICER S REPORT 4 UPCOMING COURSES/CLASSES/SEMINARS 4 RSPS CALENDAR 5 AROUND THE SQUADRON 7 SAFETY OFFICERS REPORT 8 ON THE WATER ACTIVITIES 8 SKIPJACK DELIVERY BY 9 NAUTICAL TRIVIA 9 NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION 9 COMMANDER S CORNER Cdr Jeff McKinney, JN, VE pring at last!! Time to bid the cold and nasty weather farewell and welcome warmer breezes, longer days, and the joys of recommissioning our boats for another FUN season on the bay. We are eagerly looking ahead to several onthe-water events with our fellow members and other squadrons, and encourage each of you who are able to join us as your schedules permit. You might have noticed the letters JN next to many of the names in the column of officers to the left of this one. I am pleased to report we have many recent graduates of the Junior Navigation course that was completed earlier this year. There were a total of TEN graduates, with all but one being a Rockville member (yes, we are trying to recruit the other one). This outstanding result was due to the excellent teaching skills of P/C Jon VanWinkle, SN. He spent many hours patiently teaching the students the complex art and science of celestial navigation. This accomplishment was announced during the D5 Spring Educational Conference, and received a big round of applause from the audience. Just because it is boating season does not mean we put away the books. Besides the FUN we all have on the cruises, there are several outstanding learning opportunities in the wings: Engine Maintenance (full at this time), Operations Training on 17 May (still open to ALL members), and Skipper Saver. This last class is to be conducted at sea during the cruise to Harness Creek on the weekend of June. Our membership continues to GROW, bucking the trend of many other squadrons in District 5 and USPS. Many of the new members have commented on what a FUN and energetic group we seem to be, and have cited that as one of the reasons they join. (Sorry Chuck, but it is not ALWAYS the Education Department that gets them). Their recognition of that vitality and energy is a tribute to all of YOU, the members. Keep up the good work, and please remember to renew your membership when the annual renewal time comes later this year.

2 2 The Squadron is also being recognized this month for its continuing work in promoting boating safety. We are to receive proclamations citing our efforts as part of the National Boating Safety Week campaign from Montgomery County, and the cities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, Frederick, and Hagerstown. Do not forget the next general meeting is on 14 May starting at We will be at a new location (Tony Lin s Restaurant in Rockville) and hope you will be able to join us there. B EXECUTIVE OFFICER S REPORT LtC Alan Karpas, JN, VE oating season has finally arrived, and if you are like me, you are spending your free days trying to get your vessel ready for your first adventure. There are a couple of safety items I want to review with you before we venture out. First, the USPS and USCG are pushing hard to have everyone wear their PFDs whenever they go out. In 2006, WEAR IT became the official slogan for the National Safe Boating Week, and all of our Vessel Safety Examiners will be pushing the theme. Safe boating begins with us and those who we have the opportunity to talk to. Every time you have guests on board you boat, you should be going through a check list to be sure they know where you keep your PFDs, fire extinguishers and what to do in the event on an emergency. Your guests should know how to put on a PFD and if they have never put one on before, this might be a great time to do a demonstration. Remember the USCG recommends that all children under the age of 13 wear a PFD whenever they are on a vessel underway and in open space. It is my rule that any guests of mine who are bringing children on board, put their PFDs on in the parking lot and were them on the docks. Speaking of safety, we will be conducting Vessel Safety Checks at the Opening Weekend of the Chesapeake Bay, held each year at the Maryland Yacht Club. This year, we will be joining up with District 5 and the USCG Auxiliary for the weekend. Arrangements have been made with District 5 for our use of their Safety Trailer and Sea Vester, our remote controlled mascot. We are looking for volunteers to help work the booth for the weekend. You do not have to be a VSE to promote our safe boating theme. This weekend promises to be this year s biggest party of the season as the Maryland Yacht Club will be celebrating their 100 th Anniversary. There will be dancing Friday and Saturday nights and the Queen of the Chesapeake Bay will be selected on Sunday during the annual pageant. Princesses from all of the participating Yacht Clubs will compete for the title. There are two other events that I would like to mention. First is the annual show of the Blue Angels, the Navy s elite flying team, held in Annapolis in honor of the graduating class at the Academy. The show will take place on the Severn River in front of the Academy on Wednesday, 21 May. I will be sailing to Annapolis on Tuesday to ensure I get a front row spot. Anyone who would like to see the show from the deck of Hideaway, contact me. As in the past, I will arrange to pick you up by dinghy from the docks in Annapolis. If any other member wishes to take their boat to the show, we can arrange to raft-up. The second event I want to talk about is the Annual Cruise for Kids, sponsored by the Easter Seals to be held on July. Every year, boaters from the Bay take handicapped children and their families on a short cruise around the Baltimore Harbor. I have been participating in this event for the past five years and it is, by far, the most rewarding program I have ever had the privilege to participate in. The event starts with a Captain s Party Friday night at the HarborView Marina in Baltimore, where you will socialize with the other participating Captain s and the staff of the Easter Seals. The Buffet has delicious food and there are several great items up for a benefit auction. Yes, it is a fund riser for the Easter Seals but, the cost to attend is very reasonable. Did I mention that you get free dockage for the night at HarborView? Saturday morning you will be assigned a family, appropriate for your boat, who you will take out for about two hours. Upon returning to HarborView, you and your crew will enjoy a fun BBQ. More information on the Cruise for Kids can be found at: CMD_CruiseforKids_Descript. I hope that RSPS can have several of our members participate in the program. We have scheduled several exciting speakers and programs for this year as well as our public and member classes. I hope that all of you will find ways to not just attend, put actively participate in the Squadron. We currently are looking for a Squadron member who would like to chair our Public Relations Committee. In this position, you will work closely with all of the members of the Executive Committee to insure notices of our pro-

3 3 grams and classes get published in local newspapers, write articles for publication highlighting our activities. This is a very important position and is critical for our continued growth. Please let me know if you are interested in either chairing or being a member of the Public Relations Committee. Before you get away, the weather service is asking for your help. If you are out on the Bay and notice weather conditions that should be reported, please call your observations into our local Forecasting Office in Sterling VA and speak to Christopher Strong. The number is SAVE THE DATES AND PLAN TO ATTEND! Wednesday, 14 Please join us at the next RSPS General Meeting to be held 14 May at Tony Lin s Restaurant. Our speaker will be Captain Lauren Anton who will regale us with her seafaring adventures on Pacific Ocean Hitchhiking. This should be a fun evening. Directions to the restaurant: Exit I-270 at Montrose (Exit 4A to proceed Eastward). Continue on East on Montrose and turn left onto Rockville Pike. Travel north for about 100 ft and turn right into the Flagship Center Shopping Center. M ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER S REPORT LtC Denise Allen, JN r. Wayne Weeks from the National Weather Service spoke with us on 9 April. He reviewed several new digital products that have been either released or are soon to be released on their Website: Their focus is to develop more detailed information that is more specific to the probabilistic area of concern and is easier to obtain using automated means (e.g., computer, fax, cell phone). One such product is the Marine Weather Warning. Marine advisories are admittedly an underdeveloped area of the Marine Weather Service. Until recently there were no Marine Weather Watches or Warning Bulletins. The new Marine Weather Warning will allow forecasters to paint a picture of the synoptic situation and link it to the resulting hazardous wind or seas situation. As Wayne said, it connects the why with the what. I can t say that I understood it all, but it held the rapt attention of everyone and especially those who understood the more technical aspects of the presentation. You can read more about this product at And you can see a version of the presentation if you google and then select the New Marine Weather Warning Product. Tony Lin s Restaurant Rockville Pike #G Rockville, MD Social 1900 Dinner - $15 per person 2000 Guest Speaker: Captain Lauren Anton Saturday, 17 Operations Training Class This event is open to all squadron members. Come learn about the USPS in general and the duties of the Bridge Officers specifically. Dick s Sporting Goods 2 Grand Corner Avenue Gaithersburg, MD Tuesday, 17 June 2008 Instructor Appreciation Dinner Our June General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 June at the Cinnamon Woods Community Center, Cinnamon Drive, Germantown, MD (website and phone ). This is the meeting when we honor our education department for all of their hard work and commitment to the squadron. Please come out and show

4 4 your support for these dedicated people. Social time starts at 1830 with dinner being served at Further details will follow in the next SKIPJACK. Directions from I-270: Take Exit 10 merge for MD 117 West/Clopper Road/West Diamond Ave towards Quince Orchard Rd/MD 124W and Boyds. Turn right onto W Diamond Avenue/MD 117. Continue on MD 117 for about 3 to 3-1/2 miles and turn right onto Cinnamon Drive. The Community Center will be on your left within a quarter mile. It is okay to park in the small parking lot or on the street. If you have any questions, or would like to make reservations please contact Kipp Yost at (M), (H) or Kipp@kitchentechniq.com. T EDUCATION OFFICER S REPORT LtC Chuck Wells, JN he Rockville Sail and Power Squadron has reached a new plateau in its goal to provide quality boating education to its membership. The squadron was recognized for the completion of its Junior Navigation course by 11 members. This is a first for the squadron but also a major accomplishment within the District. My special thanks to Jon Van Winkle for teaching the course and thanks to the membership for supporting our courses. Our new JN's are: Lt/C Denise Allen Harry Allen Jim Brown P/C Harleigh Ewell Matthew Hecht Lt Julien Hofberg Lt/C Alan Karpas Cdr Jeff McKinney Eric Mendolsohn (Potomac River) Brian Reed Lt/C Chuck Wells Upcoming Courses/Classes/Seminars 17 May Operations Training Class Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, Time: Contact Cdr Jeff McKinney at for more information. 9 June America s Boating Course Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, Time: Contact Lee Hays at leehays@comcast.net for more information June Skipper Saver Class RSPS Raft Up at Harness Creek. Contact P/C Harleigh Ewell at hewell@comcast.net. June GPS Seminar Contact Lt/C Chuck Wells at cjwglb@verizon.net for more information. August Seamanship Course The location, time and date are to be determined. Contact Lt/C Alan Karpas at alankarpas@verizon.net for more information. September Junior Navigation Course The location, time and date are to be determined. Contact Lt/C Chuck Wells at cjwglb@verizon.net for more information. October Piloting Course Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, Time: 1900, Date. Contact Lt/C Chuck Wells at cjwglb@verizon.net for more information. January 2009 Navigation Course The location, time and date are to be determiend. Contact Lt/C Chuck Wells at cjwglb@verizon.net for more information. First Aid and CPR Classes Contact Lt/C Alan Karpas at alankarpas@verizon.net if you are interested in taking either or both of these classes. Congratulations to all. We are planning on offering the Navigation course next January after the new course material has been finalized.

5 5 RSPS CALENDAR Date Time Event Contact May 2-3 Fri - Sat NOAA CoOp Charting Workshop, Norfolk, VA P/R/C N. J. Parrish , normaparrish@cox.net RSPS General Meeting, Speaker: Captain Lauren Anton Tony Lin s Restaurant, Rockville Pike #G, Rockville, MD Operations Training Class, Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, MD National Safe Boating Week Weekend RSPS Raft-Up, Eagle s Nest/Horse Farm Magothy River Blue Angels Flight Show, 1700 Spa Creek at Severn River 30 1 Jun Restaurant: or Cdr Jeff McKinney, , Store: or P/C Harleigh Ewell, hewell@comcast.net, (M), (H) Lt/C Alan Karpas, alankarpas@verizon.net, (M), (H) RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, , All day - Opening Weekend of the Chesapeake Bay at Lt/C Alan Karpas, alankarpas@verizon.net, Friday Maryland Yacht Club. RSPS will be hosting (M), (H) Saturday the D-5 Safety Trailer and mascot - Sea Sunday Vester Jun GPS Seminar Lt/C Chuck Wells, cjwglb@verizon.net America s Boating Course, Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, MD Lee Hays, leehays@comcast.net Weekend RSPS Raft-Up, Harness Creek P/C Harleigh Ewell, hewell@comcast.net, (M), (H) Weekend Skipper Saver Class, Harness Creek Lt Julien Hofberg, julienp@comcast.net, (H) Instructor Appreciation Dinner, Cinnamon Woods Club House, Germantown, MD Kipp Yost, Kipp@kitchentechniq.com, (M), (H) RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, , Jul 11 RSPS General Meeting, Fri - Wed D5 Commodore s Cruise, Chesapeake Bay Thu - Sun D5 Summer Council & Rendezvous, Baltimore Inner Harbor Marine Center, Fri ; Sat Easter Seals Cruise for Kids, Baltimore HarborView Marina, ame=dcmd_cruiseforkids_descript D/Lt Quenten Weaver, weaqpw@yahoo.com, Cdr Tracey Stuenes, cdr@uspsdundalk.org, Lt/C Alan Karpas, alankarpas@verizon.net, (M), (H) RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, ,

6 6 RSPS CALENDAR (continued) Date Time Event Contact Aug Seamanship Course, Lt/C Alan Karpas, (M), (H) RSPS General Meeting, Weekend RSPS Raft Up, Severn River to Little Round Bay Harleigh Ewell, (M), (H) RSPS Bridge Meeting Jeff McKinney, , Sep Junior Navigation Course Lt/C Chuck Wells, RSPS General Meeting, RSPS Picnic and Auction, Maryland Yacht Club, Kipp Yost, (M), (H) MYC: Fairview Beach Road, Pasadena, MD RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, , Oct Piloting Course, Dick s Sporting Goods, Gaithersburg, MD Lt/C Chuck Wells, cjwglb@verizon.net, Store: or D/Lt Gary Kirts, Marina: or RSPS General Meeting, Weekend D5 Sail Regatta & Fall Festival Haven Harbour Marina Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall MD RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, , Nov D5 Fall Education Conference Holiday Inn 155 Holiday Drive PO Box 1099 Solomons, MD See Mark5 Website Holiday Inn: or RSPS General Meeting, RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, , Dec 13 RSPS Christmas Party, Kipp Yost, Kipp@kitchentechniq.com, (M), (H) 18 RSPS Bridge Meeting Cdr Jeff McKinney, ,

7 7 I AROUND THE SQUADRON P/C Ted Weiner, AP must say that as I sit here writing this article on this gorgeous 83 degree April Saturday afternoon that I am reminiscing. I am reminiscing and thinking about how many Saturdays and Sundays that I have spent on these early spring days getting my boat ready for the upcoming boating season. I would bet that there is no RSPS member whose boat is not being attended to today. My thoughts are also about those glorious 25 years of boat ownership that I thrived on now in the past. Cherish each moment that you have with your boat long before it becomes a memory for you. RSPS welcomes our two latest new members. Daryl Price lives in Brookeville, MD with his wife Iraida; he will soon skipper a 24 power boat. Wayne Shaner lives in Olney (next to Brookeville) with his wife Jody; he skippers a 38 Kingfisher power boat. I speak for all RSPS members when I say that we are extremely pleased that each of you has joined us. We look forward to seeing you in classes, at meetings, at raft-ups and (do not miss) our annual picnic. In April we were fortunate to have Wayne Weeks as speaker at our monthly RSPS general membership meeting, He is a meteorologist with the Marine and Coastal Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce. His valuable presentation included a display of the current and future services of NOAA. We thank him for the valuable information that he provided RSPS members attending. Further information can be obtained at noaawatch.com, weather.gov or by calling marine weather at At the RSPS General Meeting on 14 May, part of the business will include the election of three members each of two committees (Auditing and Rules), and the Nominating Committee, in which Immediate Past Commander Joe Gibson is nominated to join P/C Ted Weiner (2 years remaining) and P/C Mike Gegner (1 year remaining) on the Nominating Committee. Nominations for the Auditing Committee are Mike Loney (1 year), Fred Miller (2 years), Rosa Gibson (3 years). Rules Committee: P/C Harleigh Ewell (3 years), John Grabowski (2 years), Brian Reed (1 year). This part of the RSPS annual election should have taken place at the February meeting but was not available. The vote is taking place to correct that omission. Please plan to attend, vote and enjoy our speaker, Captain Lauren Anton sharing her Pacific Ocean Hitchhiking stories. Arlene Karpas recently completed presenting the Instructor Development course. Completing the course were members Lt Paul Mermelstein, Larry Hixson, Kipp Yost, Mike Loney and Potomac River member Eric Mendolsohn. Add these to the large list of those that completed her Instructor Development course last year and it is notable that we are well prepared to teach the public boating course. Linda and Lt Julien Hofberg have recently become grandparents. Son David and wife Natasha gave birth on April 1 to daughter Leila James. They also take pride in the engagement of their nephew Randy Cohen to Marcy Finestone. Congratulations to Craig Floyd, our new SKIPJACK editor. On 19 April he was married to Lori Palmer. We hope that Lori will become an active member of RSPS as well. She recently completed the ABC course taught by Kipp Yost. Sadly, Craig's mom, Betty Floyd, passed away on 8 April, just prior to her son's wedding. RSPS has become a major provider of Vessel Safety Examiners. Most boat owners welcome VSE inspections because it gives them the opportunity to determine if their vessel is complete with basic safety needs. Pass the inspection and have fewer safety concerns. Fail, without penalty, you can correct deficiencies. Hard working RSPS examiners are: Cdr Jeff McKinney, Lt/C Alan Karpas, Lt Julien Hofberg, Len Valenti, P/C Joe Gibson and P/C Mike Gegner. Having completed recent VSE training and awaiting certification are Nils Pearson, Lt/C Chuck Wells and Lt Steve Permison. Lt Paul Mermelstein is preparing to be tested. It has been announced that Operations Training is being offered to any member interested in the history of USPS, how it operates and how squadrons operate. Come and see how it all works. Contact Cdr Jeff McKinney at jmckinney@nih.gov. Please submit news of members and their families to P/C Ted Weiner at stw5999@comcast.net. To update the RSPS Roster, please send changes to , home address, phone number(s), boats, etc. to Brian Reed at reedbr@erols.com.

8 8 Hey Sailors! SAFETY OFFICERS REPORT Lt Julien P. Hofberg, JN, VE Lt Steve Permison, P When you are getting your boat ready for the season, and you may not have anybody helping, don t worry, it s ok to do things by yourself and sometimes things get done best that way. Furthermore, this is not always the time that you can find lots of assistance. After all, this is often dirty, smelly work. It involves cleaning, dewinterizing, cleaning, taking off covers, cleaning, polishing, waxing, cleaning, greasing, and putting on sails. That s the one! At this point you figure that you can get still get the sail on, tie and secure the shackles, lubricate the slides, and all the other bits and pieces on your own. But - stop for a couple of seconds - and think. Remember when you were taking down the sail in the slip and that little puff of wind pulled the sail out full? Remember when you were trying to hold on and bring it back under control? Now, let us acknowledge the possibility and remember that if you are by yourself, and a puff grabs the sail and you get knocked over and/or slip or any other number of potential oopsies, there might not be someone available to give you a hand. Remember, the water might still be really, really cold and hypothermia can overcome you in seconds. So, this is also a good time to think about a few articles and thoughts for safety such as a harness, tether, PFD, and/or a HELPER! Accidents can happen quickly and even the most experienced people can get in trouble in a couple of seconds. Be wise, be safe, and enjoy boating. District 5 s Sea Vester T ON THE WATER ACTIVITIES P/C Harleigh Ewell, JN his column was to be written by John Grabowski, but I am standing in for him while he is recovering from serious health issues that, as of this writing, have him in the Bethesda Naval Hospital. He is doing better, and we are all pulling for John to make a full recovery and join us in the activities described below. Typically, our events on the water consist of meeting at the specified location and anchoring and rafting together, sharing appetizers, and socializing. Depending on the conditions, the raft may split up in the evening. Boats without overnight accommodations are welcome to join us for as long as they can stay. The next day, boats leave on their own schedules. Pre-registration is not required, but I would appreciate it if people would contact me when you know you are coming; this helps with planning for the raft and communicating any lastminute information. I can be reached at (H), (M), or hewell@comcast.net. Our first event will be on May at the cove between Holland Point and Purdy Point on the north side of Gibson Island near the mouth of the Magothy River. (The Magothy is the first river north of the Bay Bridge on the western shore.) The cove is sometimes referred to as the Horse Farm or Eagles Nest, although it is not so designated on my charts. There is a narrow channel at the mouth of the Magothy. Gibson Island is the land mass to the north as you enter the river. After clearing red 4, follow Gibson Island s shoreline clockwise, staying in 10+ ft. of water, until you get to green 3 and (another) red 4. (As you head north, Dobbins Island will be on your left.) Then, continue around the north end of Gibson Island into the cove, staying more or less in the center of the available water. Look for boats displaying the RSPS burgee. I will have my cell phone, and we will try to monitor channel 16. I expect boats to start arriving in the early afternoon and later, but anytime is fine. The other on-the-water events that RSPS has planned are: Jun Harness Creek. We plan to offer a Skipper Saver course at this raft-up. Late Jul or Solomons Island area. early Aug Aug Little Round Bay on the Severn River.

9 9 While not strictly an on-the-water activity, our September picnic/auction will be held at the Maryland Yacht Club, which is accessible by water. More information on all these activities will be in subsequent SKIPJACKs. Also, USPS District 5, to which we belong, is having water-related activities. On July, they will have their Summer Rendezvous/Council and navigation contest in Baltimore. There will be at least one cruise associated with this rendezvous: July, Fairlee Creek; 14 July, Annapolis Yacht Basin; and July, Chesapeake Harbor. You can join this cruise for any part(s) or all of it. Also, D5 s Sail Regatta will be on 4-5 October at Rock Hall. More information can be obtained from D5 s website or from their publication, the Mark 5. Check out the squadron Rafting Protocol at the RSPS web site ( Please contact me with any comments or questions. I hope to see you on the water this year. NAUTICAL TRIVIA Here are the answers to the trivia questions in the April SKIPJACK: 1. What is a cat s skin? A light, warm wind on the surface of a sea. 2. What is the meaning of gird? To haul in or bind something together in order to create more space. 3. What is a messenger? A small line used to pull a heavier line or cable. The messenger line is usually easier to throw, lead through holes or otherwise manipulate than the line that it will be used to pull. Test your nautical knowledge for the answers to the following questions. 4. What is a van? 5. What is a hawse hole? 6. What is a spindle buoy? The answers will appear in the next SKIPJACK issue. SKIPJACK DELIVERY BY Current RSPS policy for delivering is to mail a paper copy to each member household. The Executive Committee is considering a revised policy to send members their SKIPJACK via . Members can still receive their newsletter by regular mail if that is your preference. Reasons for this initiative are twofold: stewardship and cost containment. We become better stewards of our resources by reducing consumption of paper, toner etc. and, incidentally, relieve some strain on member s mail boxes and paper clutter. Cost containment is essential for efficient and optimal use of available funds. Estimates indicate that currently the Squadron spends $1.10 per month per member to print, copy, and mail the SKIPJACK; sending the newsletter electronically could save over a thousand dollars per year. We hope that you will elect to receive electronically each month. Please let us know (contact Cdr Jeff McKinney at ) if this is a feasible or acceptable alternative for you. If you want to continue to receive the newsletter by regular mail, you do not need to do anything Notice of Special Election at the RSPS GENERAL MEETING 14 AUDITING COMMITTEE elect three Rosa Gibson (3 yrs), Fred Miller (2 yrs), Mike Loney (1 yr) NOMINATING COMMITTEE elect one P/C Joe Gibson (3 yrs) RULES COMMITTEE elect three P/C Harleigh Ewell (3 yrs), John Grabowski (2 yrs), Brian Reed (1 yr) To serve the Rockville Sail & Power Squadron

10 Volume 36, No. 2