United States Power Squadrons District 25 Fall A Quarterly Publication 2018 For Boaters, By Boaters tm Volume 2018, Number 3 www.usps.org/localusps/sds-d25 Light 25 is a multiple winner of the USPS Distinction in Journalism Awards
District Commander s Report D/C LUTHER ABEL, SN My report in Light 25 s August issue was quite lengthy we had a major event, our traditional District Rendezvous and Picnic (for which we are grateful to San Joaquim Delta Squadron for hosting) and a National Governing Board meeting that I had just returned from with lots of news. This quarter s report is a bit shorter, but We had a very nice District Council and District Conference meeting in October While planning for the Council/Conference, I noted to my fellow District 25 Bridge members that we have a huge amount of maritime history in northern California FDR s Floating White House, the USS Potomac in Oakland, the USS Hornet in Alameda, and both the clipper ship Balclutha and the WW II submarine USS Pampanito in SF to name just a few, and suggested maybe getting a speaker from one of these ships to tell us about them and make attending the Council/Conference meeting of greater interest to our membership. Well, as the old saying goes he who proposes disposes Fortunately, the just retired head of the USS Potomac is a friend and she suggested a speaker, Bill Hodges. So in addition to tending to some necessary business at the meeting (eg, having both the Council and then the Conference adopt our 2019 budget), Bill Hodges from the USS Potomac proved to be a really great speaker and the highlight of the event. Bill is a superb expert on both FDR s Floating White House and FDR himself. His talk made me want to run out and tour the Potomac, which is berthed in Jack London Square. Those who missed the meeting missed a really great talk! Watch for news about our District Change of Watch and Conference to be held on Saturday, 2 March, at the San Leandro Yacht Club we hope to have another expert and interesting speaker about another major item of maritime history in our area. Even before the COW, we will be holding another Council meeting coupled with our traditional Holiday Party and collection of toys for the Toys for Tots holiday drive. This one will be on Wednesday (note the weekday), December 5 th, at the San Leandro Yacht Club. So please plan to join us then for some holiday merriment with fellow USPS and D/25 members. Last but far from least, I have been informed that Santa Clara member Ron Spitz has scored highest in the Geodetic Benchmark Recovery portion of USPS s Cooperative Charting program. In fact, Ron recovered (identified and reported on) almost twice as many Geodetic markers as the program s runner-up. As a result of Ron s efforts, not only is he the winner of USPS s award for Geodetic recovery, but he has made Santa Clara the top squadron of the roughly 400 squadrons in USPS, and District 25 the top district! Way to go, Ron, thank you, thank you, thank you from all of us in the District s leadership! Mark your calendars for both December s Holiday Party (masquerading as a Council meeting, to be held at the San Leandro Yacht Club in the Marina) and our March COW. Hope to see you at them! And best wishes for a blessed holiday season and 2019! 2 Light 25 Fall, 2018
Executive Officer s Report D/LT/C Robert DeMicheli, AP Americas Boating Club. I have sat thru numerous meetings, discussions, and informal discussions, still having a mental block on this and refer to the Power Squadron. I am going to make a determined effort to adopt Americas Boating Club in my thoughts. It's Fall, doesn't feel that. The trees are turning beautiful colors, the Delta is calm, Tule fog has made its appearance. This is a great time to use the boat a few more times before ole man winter arrives. Be grateful we live on the West Coast. If you live in the North East, the boat is out of the water, and winterized. Until you have performed winterizing your boat, you do not understand the effort that is involved. An observation, there are more boats, still in the water than land available for boat storage. Yes the rivers do freeze, even with warming. It's time for further your boating education, you did sign up and attend a boating education course? There are many classes that challenge you to improve your yachting knowledge. Now is the time to think about what you want to accomplish during the coming USPS year. This organization elects its officers each year. While this creates turnover, on the bridges, it creates the possibility of turmoil as well. A well planned and thought out change of bridge members can insure a great change of watch and a year of challenging activities for the coming year. As if this isn't enough for the coming year, it's time to plan for the coming boat shows". The dates are March 7-10 for the show in Sacramento, and April 4-11 for the show in Richmond. A decision has to be made soon as to USPS participation. One more item on boating. It's time to work on the list, future Spring time work on the boat. If anyone has a plastic sextant that you are not using, Mystic Seaport in Connecticut is looking for donations to use in children s education. Wishing each and all a wonderful Holiday Season. My email is. robert4105@sbcglobal.net 3 Light 25 Fall, 2018
District Educational Officer s Report D/LT/C NORMAN W. PENNINGTON, SN The dog days of summer have turned to cooler and shorter days of autumn and before we know it, the season will turn to winter. Is the season Autumn or Fall? One can argue either, but when the leaves start falling from trees, and the sun is lower in the sky it will be a short time before we are on the cusp of the winter solstice. What does have to do with education? With shorter days and longer nights, it is time to head back to the classroom and resume your continuing USPS education. Where can I find a list USPS courses and seminars, you ask? When courses are registered on the national website, they automatically appear on the District 25 website: https://www.usps.org/localusps/sds- D25. Simply click on the course link to register for the course, or to receive additional information. While you are on the district website, check out the other activities that are listed, or the links to the squadron websites. As we approach the new year you will begin to see changes in the names of Advanced Grade courses in order to make them more descriptive of course content. Referring to the table below you can see the old and new course names. Will the content change with the name of the course? Not exactly, but in the case of Seamanship that will eventually be named Boat Handling, the course content has changed as well as the format of the course. For additional information, please refer to my last report in the Summer issue of Light 25. Current Name Seamanship Piloting Advanced Piloting New Name Boat Handling Marine Navigation Advanced Marine Navigation Junior Navigation Navigation Offshore Navigation Celestial Navigation In case you are wondering, the letter grade denoting completion of advanced grad courses. For Boating Handling, the letter grade will continue to be S, Marine Navigation, the letter grade will continue to be P, etc. 4 Light 25 Fall, 2018
District Educational Officer s Report [Continued from previous page ] In case you have not heard, there is a new Radar course that was developed by the Canadian Sail and Power Squadrons. The course is designed to run in about eight to ten hours of instruction. Like seminars, there is no examination and course completion does not count towards an educational proficiency or achievement certificate. This course is up to date for radar technologies available now and into the near future. The course covers the different types of radar equipment, their capabilities and limitations, as well as their features and how they apply to students needs. It covers what you need to know about radar, from how and where to mount the antenna to how to interpret the displays, so you can use your radar for collision avoidance and for navigational purposes. Radar for Boaters includes the following subjects: Introduction what radar is Setting up and using radar installation and pitfalls Types of radar why there are different types Principles of radar and reflectivity Set-up heading orientation choices Rules and regulations use at all times Students attending this course should have completed America s Boating Course (or another NASBLA-approved boating safety course), preferably have completed Marine Navigation and Advanced Marine Navigation (currently Piloting and Advanced Piloting), and have boating experience. A new seminar, Propane Systems on Your Boat, is on its way and should be available very soon. It is reported to be a comprehensive seminar on the safe use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, providing students with information they need to understand, use and inspect and maintain their LPG systems. A new webinar, Living Aboard While Cruising looks at the non-technical, non-electronic, and non-mechanical side of coastal and offshore cruising. You ll discover how to live comfortably aboard a small moving container for an extended time, and you ll get tips to help you prepare for your cruise, whether you are going overnight, for a few days or for weeks at a time. You ll learn how to start planning a cruise living aboard alley management water management safe weather planning health management communication the emotional side of things money management other considerations This $25. Webinar is planned for presentation on Tuesday, November 13 th at 5:00 p.m. Pacific. 5 Light 25 Fall, 2018
District Educational Officer s Report [Continued from previous page ] Have you heard about America s Boating Channel? America s Boating Channel is the former Digital Media Library that contains a whole host of videos on a wide range of topics of interest to recreational boaters. Besides being of interest to instructors, many of these videos are suitable to find information on just about anything. For example, does your boat have a VHF/DSC marine radio and do you have a Marine Mobile Service Identity or MMSI number? These is a short video that explains how to apply for a MMSI number for your boat and how it can be used in your radio for communications while afloat and to assist in a rapid response from the Coast Guard and other service providers. Additionally, if your VHF/DSC is equipped with a GPS or connected to a GPS in your chartplotter, rescue personnel will be able to locate you in an emergency because your critical information will be available such as your location and a description of your boat. To learn more about America s Boating Channel go to: https:// americasboatingchannel.com/. Also, if you want to know more about the VHF/DSC video go to: https://americasboatingchannel.com/video/mmsi/. Until next time, fair seas and smooth sailing. 6
United States Power Squadrons District 25 Bridge Officers Commander D/C Lu Abel, SN (SCR) 443 Cola Ballena Alameda, CA 94501-3608 luabel@ymail.com Secretary D/Lt/C Gary Smith, JN, (DI) 225 Coggins Drive #156 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 925-937-1419 Gsmithdistrict25@aol.com Executive Officer D/Lt/C Robert DeMicheli, AP (SAC) 268 Bush At #4106 San Francisco, CA 94104-3503 415-392-2636 robert4105@sbcglobal.net Treasurer D/Lt/C Judith Pennington, P (PER) 16 Cobblestone Lane Belmont, CA 94002 650-595-2169 judypenn@sbcglobal.net Educational Officer D/Lt/C Norman W. Pennington, SN (PER) 16 Cobblestone Lane Belmont, CA 94002 650-595-2169 nwpenn@sbcglobal.net is published quarterly and sent to District 25 members in February, May, August and November. Send contributions to the editor at light25editor@gmail.com Light 25 will be posted in February 2019 Submissions for the next issue are due January 20. 7 Light 25 Fall, 2018
Squadron Spotlight Diablo Sail and Power Squadron P/C Bob Burget, AP There are challenges with attracting and retaining members, but the Diablo Sail and Power Squadron is continuing regardless. One strategy being considered is to partially subsidize Family Membership, hopefully making it easier for boating to be a family activity with America s Boating Club. In October, P/C Rich Holden taught a Paddle Smart seminar on the Calliope during a squadron anchor-out in the Delta. Afterward, students practiced their skills with kayaks on the water. The conditions were ideal and everyone had a good time. We have a Seamanship class in progress with six students, and ABC3 classes are planned for November. Longtime member P/D/C Hal Morris has returned from Florida and has resumed his duties as Vessel Safety Check Chairman. If you know someone whose boat needs a check, he can fix you up. Smooth Sailing, P/C Bob Burget 8 Light 25 Fall, 2018
Santa Clara Power Squadron Cdr Lindy Zink, AP As all of you know, as Commander of a squadron one of our obligations is to write a brief article for Light 25. Normally these articles deal with topics about what is going on within our squadron or what we have been doing lately. Well, this month I decided I was going to move away from that and instead address my article on something that has been bothering me for some time. In a word, apathy. You see, when I first joined USPS and started attending district events, such as council meetings, which were held monthly, and District Conferences and the COW we would have 100 plus members in attendance and certainly every squadron commander and normally several other bridge officers from every squadron. But now we barely have enough people to form a quorum. How sad is that. A perfect example of this was our most recent District Council-Conference, which was held on 20 October. At this event we had a grand total of thirteen members in attendance. Now let s do the math; if you remove those members who serve on the District bridge or standing/general committees and the two squadron commanders who were there, that leaves five other members. Two were from Peralta, two from Santa Clara and one from Diablo. During this meeting, we had a guest speaker come in and talk about the USS Potomac and we also voted on the budget for next year. We also heard some very interesting things that came out of the National meeting as well some things that will be impacting our educational program. Yet the majority of our members and our squadron bridge folks opted not to come. Like I said, how sad is that. And if you think all this for one event, think again please. You see at the last District COW we only had about seventeen people in attendance I know many of you will read this and let it go by the way side. Others will say something like How dare you and worse yet, the majority will just simply ignore this. Trust me when I say, I m not trying to be the goody two shoes who shows up to these events for the at-a-boys. Instead, I am fulfilling the obligation I have when I agreed to be a squadron commander and when I agreed to be a volunteer within USPS. Over the years the district has done everything possible to make attending these meetings more conducive. They have changed the locations, changed the day and timing as well as changed the number of meetings in a year. Yet the attendance continues to drop. Over the years there has also been much talk about what can be done to help get our members involved and get them to show up. For me and a few others, I think we have tried everything possible. Now it is up to you. Please remember why you joined USPS and what it means to be a member. I would hate to think that the joy of membership has simply turned into apathy and despair. If we want this organization to continue, we all must help it. We can t expect it to continue on its own. Santa Clara 9 Light 25 Fall, 2018