United States Power Squadrons Ventura Sail and Power Squadron

Transcription

1 United States Power Squadrons Ventura Sail and Power Squadron Volume 61 December 2017 Number 10 "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." Epictetus Cdr Steve Johnston, P Commander s Corner Hello everyone! It s that time of year again. It s often said it s the season to give thanks. This is a tall order and when faced with such a task, what do we do; we go to the internet! I Googled the word, thanks and also the word gratitude, a more formal description of the word thanks. Well there is a lot to review and I did see some thought-provoking quotes. Forget yesterday - it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow - you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift - today." Steve Maraboli Enjoy the holiday season and don t forget to say "thanks" to the folks in your life! See you all at the holiday party! Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." Eckhart Tolle

2 Lt/C Debbie Braun-Lawson Squadron Education Officer Education Department Spring 2018 Lineup of Classes ABC (America s Boating Course) Tuesday, February 6, 7:00 p.m. Nine weeks Ventura Yacht Club, 1755 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA Instructor: John Bath - Cost: $50 This course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of safe boating and qualify for certification in most states that require boating education before operating a watercraft. Seamanship Monday, April 23, 7:00 p.m. Eight weeks Ventura Yacht Club, 1755 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA Instructor: Jan Lawson - Cost: $60/Member, $90/Nonmember The class covers basic dock seamanship, slow speed maneuvering, handling your boat at sea in different conditions, specific information about cruising in the Channel Islands, rules of the road in detail, anchoring, mooring, and rafting, emergencies at sea and much more. Advanced Piloting Monday, January 29, 7:00 p.m. Twelve weeks Reservations must be in by December 10 Ventura Yacht Club, 1755 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA Instructor: Rick Methney - Cost: $70/Member, $100/Nonmember This class requires that you take Piloting as a prerequisite. It continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions- unfamiliar waters, limited visibility and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other navigation tools. Engine Maintenance Tuesday, February 20, 7:00 p.m. Nine weeks Classroom TBA Instructor: Alan Gosselin - Cost: $50/Member, $75/Nonmember This course stresses the diagnosis of modern systems and the basics of engine layout and operation. Reservations and checks payable to VSPS can be sent to Debbie Braun-Lawson, 3639 E. Harbor Blvd. #109, Ventura, CA or call for more information. debbiebraunlawson@gmail.com

3 therefore we see dead birds along the surf-line and in the harbor. Lt/C Dan Coverdale Executive Officer Many of you have probably seen Western grebes among the sea birds common off the Ventura coast; they re notable for their long white necks, long yellow bills and black cap. One sees them in mating pairs, solitary or in groups. Our coast is in the center of their migratory range, so we see them all year long. Their food consists of both shell and swimming fish. Every once in a while, there will be a live grebe on the beach. Their legs are almost useless on land, but a bird running out of energy will sometimes fetch itself up on shore in a last-ditch effort to live. If you encounter a live grebe stranded on our shore, call Liz, who works with the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network Her number is She will quickly respond, rescue the bird and bring it back to health. It s a learning experience to see her work. The bird, of course, doesn t know it s being rescued and is being as threatening as it can under the circumstances Liz, totally unintimidated, just scoops it up. You can do this yourself, by the way. Just keep a folding cardboard cat carrier and a towel in your car trunk. This a hard time of the year for these birds. The stress of migration combined with day-to-day changes in their food supply make starvation a real possibility, December Biirthdays E. Ann Wolfe 1-Dec Kathrin Davis 4-Dec Kimberly Morris 9-Dec Kevin G. Beatty 14-Dec Shawn Clark 15-Dec Richard Metheny 28-Dec Mark A. Scott 31-Dec

4 Kidde Recalls Fire Extinguishers with Plastic Handles Due to Failure to Discharge and Nozzle Detachment: One Death Reported Kidde plastic handle fire extinguishers Name of product: Kidde fire extinguishers with plastic handles Hazard: The fire extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard. Remedy: Replace Recall date: November 2, 2017 Recall number: Consumer Contact: Kidde toll-free at from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday, or online at and click on Product Safety Recall for more info.

5 VSPS ANNUAL MEETING When: January 27, 2018 Where: Channel Islands Yacht Club 4100 Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard Time: 12:00 2:00 p.m. Cost: No cost! VSPS will provide water and soft drinks Tasty Contest Members are asked to bring their favorite appetizer to share. Each member will vote for their favorite entry. First, second and third prizes will be awarded for the winning recipes! The winning recipe will be published in the February Helm. There will also be the election for the 2018 Bridge, with a short business meeting to follow. So please join us and vote for those who will be guiding the Squadron in the coming year. This is an important meeting for our organization; please mark your calendar!!! Sailing Around the World, two books by VSPS members, Howard & Judy Wang, is about an exciting and different way of life, exploring faraway lands, and meeting amazing people. It s an adventure, and it s about living life fully. The authors overcome adversities with humor and wits. They begin the journey as greenhorns, but return as salty shellbacks after risking their lives in devastating storms and vexing disasters. What s it like to be at sea thousands of miles from nowhere? Readers can experience that while exploring strange lands and distant shores vicariously. The book tells it like it is, good, bad, or stormy. Readers can sail along, one chapter at a time, to circle around the world. Volume 1, Adventures of a Second Life, the authors almost met their doom but they manage to sail from California to the Pacific Islands, across the Equator, and to Sydney, Australia. Volume 2, Finding our way Home, brings them back to California by way of the pirate alley, through the Suez and Panama Canals, and bashing north along the Pacific Coast against fierce conditions.

6 Lt/C Lorna Londborg, P Administrative Officer December 10 is the scheduled date for our Holiday Party - the grand finale for 2017! The event will be held at the Ventura Yacht Club where good food and company abound! The menu will consist of: Rosemary baguettes, homemade vegetable barley soup, salad bar, roast beef carving station, chicken Florentine, twice-baked potatoes, green bean almandine, cherry cheesecake and/or chocolate cake. See the flyer for all the details and be sure to signup early! Comiing Events This year should prove to be a great time; we have 41 members signed up for all the fun! Guests are to arrive at Le Petite Café by 4 p.m. and dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Rick and Pat Metheny will once again host the White Elephant game, which is always good for some laughs. Don t forget to bring your wrapped gift! The fun doesn t end with the year! January 27 is the date for our Annual Meeting which will be held at Channel Islands Yacht Club. We will have the election of the Bridge for 2018 and a short business meeting. Also, once again, we will have our tasty contest where each member is asked to bring an appetizer to share with the group. Everyone will then cast a vote for their favorite entry. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded! It s also not too early to start thinking of the Change of Watch. Saturday, February 3, is the date to mark on your calendar. December 4 December 10 December 15 and 16 January 27 Exe. Com. Meeting Old Coast Guard Training Station Holiday Party Le Petite Café Ventura Harbor Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights Annual Meeting Channel Islands Yacht Club

7 VSPS CHANGE OF WATCH Saturday, February 3, 2018 Ventura Yacht Club 1755 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura (Elevator to the dining room is available.) COCKTAIL HOUR BEGINS AT 17:30 (5:30 p.m.) DINNER SERVICE BEGINS AT 18:30 (6:30 p.m.) $40.00 Per Person (Tax and Tip Included) Cash Bar THE MENU: Rosemary baguettes, homemade vegetable barley soup, salad bar, roast beef carving station, chicken Florentine, twice-baked potatoes, green bean almandine, cherry cheesecake and/or chocolate cake. Coffee station. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Please RSVP by to Send a check made out to VSPS for $40.00 per person to: Lorna Londborg 1198 Navigator Drive #172 Ventura, CA RSVP AND CHECKS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018.

8 ABC class will be starting in February Seamanship class starting April 23, 2018 Advance Piloting class starting Jan. 29, 2018 Engine Maintenance class -- a date has not been set yet, as no meeting place has been located and reserved. The estimated size is 15 people. A couple of suggestions were made as possible locations: Channel Islands Yacht Club and possibly a library meeting room might be located and available. These location ideas will be explored. Lt/C Chris Stine Secretary Ventura Sail and Power Squadron Executive Committee Meeting Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, CA November 06, 2017 Preliminary Minutes Called to order at Attendees: 1. Executive Officer Lt/C Dan Coverdale 2. Admin Officer Lt/C Lorna Londborg 3. Secretary Lt/C Chris Stine, S 4. SEO Lt/C Debbie Braun-Lawson 5. Treasurer Lt/C Kim Morris 6. Darrell O'Connell A quorum was present. Reports of Officers: SEO Lt/C Debbie Braun-Lawson Debbie shared the spring line-up of classes. Four classes will be offered: Admin Officer Lt/C Lorna Londborg Lorna reported that planning and coordination for Parade of Lights in December continues. The theme is "Wish Upon a Star." The Holiday Party planning, which will be at Le Petite, Ventura Harbor, on Sunday, December 10, is also progressing along nicely. Thirty-four people are signed up so far. Treasurer Lt/C Kim Morris See written Budget Summary report (4/1/2017 through 10/31/2017) and Budget Summary report (4/1/2017 through 10/31/2017). Secretary Lt/C Chris Stine Chris provided two sets of minutes for the meeting of 11 Sept and 02 Oct. 2017, which had not yet been approved due to not having a quorum on 02 October. A motion was made, and was seconded and approved to accept the September and October minutes. Executive Officer Lt/C Dan Coverdale Present, but no report available. Commander Steve Johnston Absent no report Ongoing Business/Activities/Classes None reported. Completed Business/Activities/Classes None reported. Future Business/Activities/Classes There was considerable discussion about the process for ordering VSPS name

9 badges for and distributing them to new members. It was mentioned that some people have joined VSPS when taking classes in order to obtain the member discount, but some have not followed with participation in VSPS. Debbie and Chris will work together to develop a process for how and when badges are purchased and given to the new members, to ensure a timely distribution. Also, ideas were discussed about how to better promote the VSPS activities with the new members, which, hopefully will result in greater participation. Darrell O Connell asked a question about the VSPS classes and if/how they can reduce insurance costs. Discussion ensued. Debbie will research how to access the classes taken information from National s database so members can have an accurate record of the classes taken from VSPS Darryl will call his insurance agent/company to learn what they require in order to offer any potential discounts Dan will also talk to a friend who is an insurance agent regarding insurance requirements. Channell Islland Liive Ocean Webcam This webcam is garnering daily comments on nextdoor.com for our neighborhood. smultimedia/ocean-webcam.htm It s such a compelling watch! Fish and an occasional lobster wander through and it is has such a calming effect to watch. Kids and grandkids love it too! Best of all it s in our backyard. Use this as a screensaver or put it on your TV. This webcam will show you the above water view of the same area. It is in the marine sanctuary so you can t view it and go fish there! smultimedia/anacapa-landing-covewebcam.htm Adjourned at 1958.

10 Ventura Saill and Power Squadron Holliday Dinner Sunday, December 10, 2017 Le Petit Café, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Harbor Guests begin to arrive at 4 p.m. dinner is at 5:30. First Course: Choice of soup or salad. Entrée: Choice of: Santa Cruz Island pasta, or Chicken breast with a mushroom sauce, or Beef du jour - chef s choice. Dessert: Choice of chocolate mousse or a creampuff. Beverages will include soft drinks, coffee or tea. Alcoholic beverages will be individual selection and charged separately. After dinner we will play the White Elephant Swap Dice Game. Everyone please bring a wrapped white elephant treasure.

11 2017 Bridge Commander Cdr Steven Johnston, P Executive Officer Lt/C Daniel Coverdale Administrative Officer Lt/C Lorna Londbord, P SEO Lt/C Deborah Braun-Lawson, AP Treasurer Lt/C Kimberly Morris, S Secretary Lt/C Christine Stine, S The Helm Editor Lt. Sheridan Green, JN (805) Cheesehead1@gmail.com (323) Coverdale47@msn.com (661) londborg@gmail.com (805) debbiebraunlawson@gmail.com (805) kim@vhby.com (805) chrisstine@verizon.net (661) sheridan713@gmail.com Contacts for Local Mariners 24-Hour Emergency Telephone Numbers US Coast Guard Search & Rescue(805) Channel Islands Harbor Patrol (805) Ventura Harbor Patrol. (805) Port Hueneme (805) Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol (805) Harbormasters Administrative Channel Islands (805) Channel Islands Harbor Patrol (805) Ventura Port District (805) Port Hueneme Public Affairs (805) Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol (805) National Weather Service Oxnard... (805) Web site:

12 Ventura Sail & Power Squadron Lt. Sheridan Green, JN, Editor 1755 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, CA Address Correction Requested December 2017