Vol. 41 No. 1 Berkshire Sail and Power Squadron June 2014 Inside This Issue At the Helm Summer Rendezvous Picnic Picnic Educational Report Welcome New Members BSPS & USPS Calendars Four for Free Did You Know? United States Coast Guard Vessel Safety Checks At the Helm On March 30 th a group of about 26 members elected your new bridge, executive committee members, and some key committee members. The election was like those in past yearsthere were some new people that joined with older members to share the responsibility of guiding your squadron for the coming year. The good news is that our squadron has seasoned and experienced people in all of the most important positions. The bad news is that we again have only seasoned and experienced people in all of the most important positions. This is not a contradiction. We do need people that know how to run our education classes, setup and run social events, and provide community service to other boaters. But we also need new ideas, and these are most likely to come from newer members and not from candidates that have done these jobs years before now. I am happy to report that three new members have joined our squadron. Two were students in our most recent public boating class. My hope is that they will become active members by taking advanced classes and by joining with us at our social events. A new slogan of USPS is Come for the Boating Education...Stay for the Friends. I think this is a subtle outcome that most of us have experienced. I know that it was true for me- I took the public boating class in 1980 but didn t join until 1986 when needed more education because we bought a larger sailboat. In classes, I made a lot of friends, and these members are still my good friends today. We boat together and we enjoy our mutual company at picnics, rendezvous, parties, and other meetings throughout the year. So give it a try- Take a class. Take a 2 hour seminar on a special topic. It doesn t need to be a big commitment. Meet the others in the group. Learn what kind of boating they enjoy and share your own interests. The people that we meet and with whom we have a common interest is the glue that will bind us and make our squadron successful. (Continued on page 3)
June 2014 Page 2 Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron Spring Rendezvous 2014 Friday, June 27 th Sunday, June 29 th Brewer s Yacht Yard 100 Folly Landing Road Cowesett, Rhode Island Transient slips available for $1.50/ft. per night. On-site amenities for hors d'oeuvres include gas grill and picnic tables. The shower facilities are pristine. Several restaurants are within walking distance and Greenwich Bay is a great place to play! RSVP and/or Information contact Kevin or Cindy Dinan (441-3613 or 9255) cfdinan@gmail.com Information link for Brewer s Yard: http://www.byy.com/rimarinas/warwickcowesett/welcome.aspx Hotel Information link: http://www.maps.google.com/maps?q=hotels+around+cowesett+ri&hl=en&ll=41.698295
June 2014 Page 3 In February of this year, USPS achieved its 100 th Anniversary of service to Boaters. Also Berkshire Squadron celebrated its 40 th anniversary in January of this year. We want to continue to educate and provide community service for another 40 years and we want to do this together as friends. Please join with us this year for fun on and off the water, and for meeting new and older friends in our classes. G. Richard Stidger, SN Commander PICNIC BBQ PICNIC YOU are invited to a FREE (absolutely!) BBQ Picnic When: Where: July 26, 2014 at 6pm. Onota Boat Livery 463 Pecks Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 Educational Report This report will be brief, but factual because now that Boating Season is here there are better ways to spend our time than reading reports. I m very pleased to report that the Team of Susan Darcy and Leo Robillard is back and doing great. They ran a successful ABC course this spring at the Silvio O. Conte Community School. Seven students took and passed the exam, one of whom was a junior (Watch out for those Jet Skis). Seriously this junior is a very responsible young man and I m confident he will be a safe and courteous boater. Give Susan and Leo a Pat On the Back (POB) for another job well done! Susan and Leo also recruited two new members from the ABC course. Please welcome Karen Bonhote and Richard Cleaver to our group. We wish them safe and pleasant boating. Carl Filios completed a Piloting Class this spring. Five students are anxiously awaiting their scores. I attended two of Carl s classes and based on those all five should pass. Carl also signed a new member, please welcome Ellen Farris. RSVP: Bev Gilbert 413-637-8922 bevgilbert@catamountski.com Tell us you re coming and how many others (adults/children) by July 19, 2014. Stay tuned for more info about upcoming classes this fall. Seamanship and Piloting are in the offing. Safe Boating, following seas and fair winds. John C Holden, JN Welcome Aboard! We are pleased to welcome the following new members into the Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron. Karen Bonhote Richard Cleaver Ellen Farris We wish you success in your educational challenges and look forward to meeting you at our social events!
June 2014 Page 4 BERKSHIRE SAIL and POWER SQUADRON 172 Mountain Drive PITTSFIELD, MA 01201-7420 Website: http://www.berkshiresailandpowersquadron.org - OFFICERS: Commander G. Richard Stidger, SN 413-443-2858 172 Mountain Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Email: rich.stidger@verizon.net Executive Officer Open Educational Officer John C. Holden, JN 413-458-5143 Administrative Officer Susan L. Darcy, JN 413-637-2275 Ass t Admin Officer Beverly Gilbert, S 413-637-8922 Secretary Richard E. Gore, Jr., AP 413-243-2273 Treasurer Frederick A. Mason, SN 413-499-1030 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Ass't Educational Officer Member at Large Paul L. Bouchard, S Janet C. Bryan, S Paula Dailey, P Thomas A. Dailey, JN Thomas A. Gilbert, S GENERAL COMMITTEES: Auditing Rules Nominating Committee for 2015: Leo O. Robillard, SN Kevin J. Dinan, AP Michael R. Jezak, P Bruce G. Rumph, AP Theresa Rumph David L. Trudeau, JN Robert D. Bardwell, III (Chair) Paula Dailey, P (2 yr) Open (3 yr) Linda D. Caesar, P (Chair) Leo O. Robillard, SN (2 yr) Carl E. Filios, JN (3 yr) Kevin J. Dinan, AP (Chair) Richard E. Gore, Jr., AP (2 yr) Open (3 yr) Berkshire Log Editor Cdr G. Richard Stidger, SN 413-443-2858 172 Mountain Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Email: rich.stidger@verizon.net The opinions expressed in "The Log"by the Editorial Staff or Contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Berkshire Sail and Power Squadron or those of the United States Power Squadron. BSPS Info Line 413-266-1130 Do you know that we have an informational telephone line? Call to learn details of upcoming events. Refer your boating buddies for information on upcoming on Public Boating classes and VSC inspections. View, Download, and Print this issue and all back issues of the Berkshire Log In at: http://www.usps.org/d2/d2_squadron_news.html BSPS & USPS CALENDARS June 14 VSC Inspections at Pontoosuc Lake from 9am to Noon. June 27-29 Spring Rendezvous at Brewer s Yacht Yard Cowesett, RI July 19 VSC Inspections at Onota Lake from 9am to Noon. July 26 BBQ Picnic at Onota Boat Livery at 6pm. September 7-14 USPS Fall Governing Board Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA September 20 D2 Summer Council I84 Diner Fishkill, NY 9AM to September 25 - Seamanship Course, First United Methodist Church, 6:45pm September??- Public Boating ABC Class, Conte School, Pittsfield, TBA 7:00pm October 18 D2 Fall Conference Albany Plaza Ramada Inn Albany, NY 9AM to Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron Forty Years of Service to Boaters 1974-2014 Please Remember... All members are requested to notify our commander or editor of the death of any other member or a member s family as soon as possible. We want to express our condolences in a timely manner and we need the help of all our members to this end.
June 2014 Page 5 Four Hours = Free Big E Got four hours free? Want to get into the Big E for free? Have I got a deal for you! Work for four hours at the United Power Squadron Booth at the Big E and admission is FREE for the day. What I did was sign up for an early shift and after, I walked around to see everything. Even the farm animals there are fascinating and have their own judging days. Watching the horses and riders was simply amazing. The New England states buildings are one of the highlights serving food items that the state is famous for. There are also the FAMOUS CREAM PUFFS! What will you do? Hand out pamphlets, answer questions and simply talk about boating, courses and USPS. Last year, Carl and Hillary Filios and I did a few shifts. I can t speak for Carl and Hillary but I had a great time and am planning on doing it again this year. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that some lakes have directional signs as to which direction you must go in when going around the lake? If you boat on Stockbridge Bowl, you can see a sample of the signs. New York state has similar signs on some of their lakes too! Did you know that Massachusetts requires all forms of paddle boaters (kayak, canoes, boats without motors) to have their life jackets (PFDs) actually worn from September 15th to May 15th? From May 15th until September 15th, PFDs must be in the boat. When is it? The Big E is from Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 28. The Big E Entertainment Schedule is at: h p://www.thebige.com/fair/ Let me know if you re interested and possible dates you might be able to fill. Susan Darcy, 413 637 2275 or susan@darcy systems.com.
June 2014 Page 6 The following cases indicate the importance of preparedness and serve as strong examples of how challenging the maritime environment can be even to experienced mariners. Coast Guard Station New London s boat crew rescued a 12-year-old girl from the waters near Ocean Beach in New London, Conn. The John H ferry reported observing the girl and her dog getting ejected from their canoe as it capsized. A ferry crewmember deployed a life ring to the girl who was not wearing a lifejacket. The boat crew recovered the girl who was showing signs of shock and hypothermia. She was brought back to shore and transferred to awaiting emergency medical services. She and the dog later reunited. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New Haven, Conn., responded to a distressed boater aboard a 19-foot recreational vessel that was reportedly taking on water due to a crack in the boat. The Coast Guard took the vessel in tow, and transited with the vessel to the Pequonock Yacht Club in New Haven. A boarding officer from Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck, N.Y., terminated the voyage of a recreational boater, following a vessel safety examination which indicated the vessel carried no fire extinguisher, no life jackets, no flares, and no registration. Coast Guard Station East Moriches responded to a recreational boater lost due to the fog, by establishing communications with the vessel and advising the owner to remain in his current location and anchor until the Coast Guard could provide assistance. Additionally, watch standers from Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound in New Haven, Conn., maintained a 30-minute communications schedule with the boater until Station East Moriches boat crew located, escorted, and safely moored the vessel at their station. Vessel Safety Inspections It s not too early to get your boat ready for the summer season. Check your safety equipment and repair or replace anything that is not up to par. Need to check your equipment? Our VSC inspection team will be doing vessel safety inspections in June and July. Their first VSC Inspection day will be on Saturday, 14 June from 0900 to Noon at Pontoosuc Lake. Can t make that one? The next one will be Saturday, 19 July at Onota Lake from 0900 to Noon.