March 2013 Volume 54 No. 1 A new bridge for Peralta! Well, new in enthusiasm! I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR... from left, Ricardo L. Mares, P, Assistant SEO; Dick Folger, AP, Administrative Officer; Barbara Waldstreicher, AP, Secretary; Melba JK Hale, P, Executive Officer; Judith A. Pennington, P, Treasurer; Norman W. Pennington, JN, SEO; and Alan Smith, P. Commander. The bridge officers have each accepted another term for the 2013-14 year. Proud recipient of multiple USPS National Distinction in Journalism Awards. Quarterly publication of the Peralta Sail and Power Squadron, San Leandro, California 1
BY P/C ALAN SMITH, P Hello Fellow Boaters! So far this winter I have not been boa ng. Well I take that back, I have been boa ng on someone else s boat in the jungle again that was infested with alligators. That place is known as Disneyland. Hey, at least I was on a boat! Doesn t that count? Ok, back to being serous. I have a ended a lot of boa ng mee ngs the last few months. A lot of the discussions were what we are going to do for our ac vi es for 2013. We are really lucky to be living in the Bay Area. There are so many things that we can do on land and on the water. Between District 25, our own Peralta Squadron, and our members we have a lot of ac vi- es planned. For Peralta s ac vi es planned for this year Dick Folger has been working very hard to have something going on every month. So check for up-dated ac vi es on our Helmsman s newsle er, our web site, or call the commander (me). h p://peraltasquadron.org/events/calendar.html h p://www.uspsdistrict25.org/calendar.htm Usually there will be impromptu ac vi es going on among our members. These are usually a short test cruise on a boat or check out some places for future ac vi es. If you want to do this let us know so we know who to call. I know some of our members that just want to take their boat out for a couple of hours. They would welcome someone joining them. Cdr Alan Smith Peralta Sail and Power Squadron 2013-14 BRIDGE Commander P/C Alan Smith, P Executive Officer P/C Melba J K Hale, P Education Officer P/D/C Norman W. Pennington, JN Asst. SEO P/C Ricardo L. Mares, P Administrative Officer P/C Richard Folger, AP Secretary Lt/C Barbara Waldstreicher, AP Treasurer D/Lt/C Judith A. Pennington, P EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE P/C Arthur L. Dwyer, AP P/C Bill Manolis, AP P/C Ricardo L. Mares, P P/C L. Conway Pendleton, JN GENERAL COMMITTEES Audi ng 3 Year Term - P/Lt/C Fred C. Holmes, AP 2 Year Term - P/C Arthur L. Dwyer, AP 1 Year - Lt/C Barbara A. Waldstreicher, AP Nomina ng 3 Year Term P/C L. Conway Pendleton, JN 2 Year Term - P/C Bill Manolis, AP 1Year Term - Patricia A. Folger, S Rules 3 Year Term - Lt/C Krystal Kaaye Nekudova, S 2 Year - Lt/C Barbara A. Waldstreicher, AP 1 Year Term P/C Alan Smith, P 2
Educational Officer s Report D/LT/C NORMAN W. PENNINGTON, JN On the national scene, there will be an increase in the cost of educational material. Some courses will have a slight increase while others will have a more modest increase. The increase will be tied to a manufacturer s suggested retail price or MSRP. The MSRP of courseware will allow for competitive pricing with participating Brunswick dealers hosting USPS courses in their establishments. Obviously the MSRP will not include state and local sales taxes, and any other costs such as facility fees. The MSRP will be different for non-members, who will be charged a higher price. There are a number of courses and seminars that are available on-line that are available for members and non -members. In order to receive credit for on-line courses, students will need to take a proctored examination from the local squadron. The USPS Water Trainer will coming to District 25 around the 23 rd of March and will be in our district before leaving to District 16 in the Northwest. The Water Trainer is a 23 Boston Whaler with a trailer and Ford F150 pickup truck. The Water Trainer will be available in various locations within our district including Diablo s Devils Island. Other locations will be determined shortly. The purpose of the Water Trainer is to conduct Inland Navigator skill demonstrations for Boat Operator Certification. The Inland Navigator starter kit is $40 plus shipping and local taxes. Several Peralta members have already purchased starter kits and it is hopeful that they will participate in certification training while the Water Trainer is in our district. For more information on Boat Operator Certification, visit the BOC website at http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/boc/main.htm. On the local scene we hope to get the Water Trainer in the San Leandro area to conduct Inland Navigator skill demonstration. Those who do not desire Boat Operator Certification skill demonstration can participate in the Practical on the Water Training (POWT). POWT is mainly for non-members, however members may participate. The major difference between POWT and BOC-IN is cost, and that BOC-IN is a member only activity. Meanwhile, we are planning for another ABC3 course in the San Leandro or the Oakland area, and seminars in Oakland, San Leandro and possibly Point Richmond. I also expect to put on a Seamanship or Piloting Course in San Leandro, and an Engine Maintenance course on the Peninsula. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions regarding the new prices for courseware, on-line course delivery, Boat Operator Certification or the Practical On the Water Training program, or upcoming courses in the East Bay or Peninsula. SOUTH BAY OPENING DAY FESTIVITIES, SCHEDULED FOR MAY 17, 18, 19, 2013 BY P/C BILL MANOLIS, AP This year s annual South Bay Opening Day will be held on May 17th, 18th and 19th at the Port of Redwood City. The festival theme this year is Catch Your Wave in the South Bay and will be held in three locations throughout the Bay beginning with a scrumptious dinner on Friday evening at the San Leandro Yacht Club. On Saturday at 10:30 the Blessing of the Fleet and the Opening Day Decorated Boat Parade will commence at the observation deck of the Port of Redwood City followed by the winner of the Spectator s Choice Award for the best decorated boat. In addition, there will be exhibits from various boating organizations from around the Bay including the U.S. Power Squadron (Peralta) and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Also available are a tour of the Coast Cutter on Friday and Saturday, music, door prizes and the awards ceremony. On Sunday, there will be a gin fizz brunch at the South Bay Yacht Club which will be the final event for this year s opening day festivities. All activities are free to the public except food and drink. Stop by and meet your fellow Peraltans and say hello. We look forward to seeing all of you there. For additional information contact Judy McDowell at: judymcdowell@me.com, or call 510.449.1618. 3
Pa t giv USS Iowa prepares to depart Richmond P/C Conway Pendleton receives the district s P/D/C Robert M. Montgomery, N Award for superior qualities of inspiration, direction and leadership of Peralta during his term in 2010-2011....Amen! P/C Alan Smith, P is once again installed as Peralta commander by district representative Norm Pennington, JN, during festivities at the March 2 change of watch dinner at San Leandro Yacht Club. Bring out the Hardware! At left, P/C Ricardo L. Mares, P is once again the beleaguered recipient of Peralta s Broken Prop Award. It was the second year in a row that his wife Josette named him. Sandi s Mona Lisa Smile. Below, P/C Dick Folger, AP, is presented with the P/C William F. Hanke, JN, Perpetual Award for Peralta s Squadron Member of the Year. BF F bes Surrounded by such beauty, Bill s evil eye involuntarily pops out. 4
Fran Moon and Paula Padilla of SLYC did a lot of delicious barbecue and kitchen magic for lucky Peralta members. Larry Gertz donated his seascape to Peralta as a fund-raiser for the silent auction. Ricardo Mares bid the winning amount. Larry is retired after being a barber for 42 years. He pursues his art talent by painting and enjoys boating on the California Delta waters. 2013 Change of Watch Dinner 5
Executive Officer s Report BY P/C MELBA J K HALE, P Pinwheels, Ferris Wheels, Boats and Balloons So what images does your mind conjure up when you read those words? Times of fun? Probably. Most of us have boats or friends with boats; those who attended the Change of Watch have pinwheels; balloons are readily obtainable; Ferris wheels well, enjoyment derived from a Ferris wheel requires a little planning and effort. First, one must go to where the Ferris wheel is located; then, sometimes, one must patiently wait [in line] for the opportunity to place oneself in the position to begin the enjoyment process. Pre-enjoyment preparations must be considered: height, health, equilibrium status, fear factor, safety bars, support of friends whether with you or on the ground, appropriate clothing, ability to finance the occasion, food intake prior to the adventure, condition of the equipment, preference for daylight or nighttime participation, secure storage for personal items, etc. Hmmm more involved than you had pondered right? But, for the most part, worth the necessary effort to complete the expedition. Participation in your Squadron s activities suggested by the faithful few who strive to plan things you would enjoy is not unlike planning for a ride on a Ferris wheel. You must first make the decision that you want to participate, and then make a plan, work the plan and perhaps ask a friend to come along for the ride. The more the merrier! Flying solo can be enjoyable in an airplane, but if a group function is planned and you are the only one that shows up well as you know, that s not fun! So, check the Event Calendar at: peraltasquadron.org and seriously look for something in which you could participate, and we will all benefit. True, our goal is to make safe boating education more readily available to boaters but while doing so - taking a phrase from the music world - It s all right to have a good time! Hope to see you soon! Peralta s 2013 Calendar of Events Friday, Sunday, 8-10 March D/25 Spring Conference and COW at Crowne Plaza in Concord. Monday, 11 March Executive Committee Meeting at the, San Leandro Yacht Club, 1930 Saturday, 6 April D/25 Bridge Meeting at San Leandro Yacht Club. Come and see your district at work. Monday, 8 April Executive Committee Meeting, San Leandro Yacht Club Saturday, 13 April Peralta s day at the Jack London Square Boat Show. Also Building Bridges Seminar at Benicia Yacht Club from 0900 to 1600. Saturday, 20 April Possible training cruise event for Peralta aboard National s 23 Boston Whaler docked in front of the San Leandro Yacht Club. Monday, 14 May Executive Committee Meeting, San Leandro Yacht Club Saturday 18-24 May National Safe Boating Week Friday to Monday, 24-27 May Memorial Day Weekend on the water adventure. To be announced. Thursday, 31 May Helmsman articles due to editor for June issue. Saturday, 9 June National Marina Day Monday, 11 June Executive Committee Meeting, San Leandro Yacht Club Saturday, 22 June General Membership Meeting and Dinner at San Leandro Yacht Club. 6
Administrative Officer s Report BY P/C DICK FOLGER, AP A year of fun! My campaign pledge on accepting the administrative officer job for 2013-14 is that we all have some fun this year. Our first fun-event was the Change of Watch on March 2. If you weren t there, you missed the best steak ever from Paula Padilla s barbecue fire and the best potatoes ever, prepared by Renata. It was a delightful dinner thanks to the San Leandro Yacht Club members who prepared it for us. Now we look to April and there are two events on the docket. First is the boat show which is described in the article on this page. That will be April 13 when the Peralta crew is responsible for staffing the booth. The second event is a training cruise which we are planning to tie in with the visit of the USPS Water Trainer. Norm has described it in his column on page three. It might be here as early as March 23, and if so could take the place of the scheduled April 20 event.. So, we are still going on a fun cruise on the 20th of April anyway! Trailerable boats can launch at Grand Avenue in Alameda and we will rendezvous at the entrance to Fortman Marina at 10:30 a.m. The goal will be to circumnavigate YBI and Treasure Island with a raft-up in Clipper Cove for lunch. If you can t bring your boat, bring your body and we will put you on a boat. We need to find out how many boats will be participating. Please email me: dickfolger@aol.com. In May we have our South Bay Opening Day event. See the article on page three. P/C Bill Manolis is in charge of this event, so let him know you are coming by sending an email to realty@billmanolis.com. We are still planning our Memorial Day cruise events. I hope there will be two of them. One can be in the Delta or Benicia for our delta boat members. The other can be a Bay cruise. We need to have cruise chairpersons come forward to head up these activities. A Memorial Day Cruise Chairperson will set the itinerary, cruise times, and make shoreside arrangements for docking or overnight berthing. The pay for these cruise chair positions will be a lot of high praise and a real sense of accomplishment. The bonus is in making new friends. Don t delay. Please send me an email and we ll get started. Again, send it to dickfolger@aol.com or 510-303-9533. The halfway event is our June General Mmembership Meeting and Dinner with a guest speaker. We re still working on this, but the date is firm It is June 22. Please mark it on your calendar if you haven t already. 17TH ANNUAL SAIL AMERICA EVENT TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 11 14, 2013, IN OAKLAND Peralta Sail and Power Squadron is participating in the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show at Jack London Square on Saturday, April 13. If you have a couple hours that day to help in our booth, please send an email regarding your availability to XO Melba Hale at mhmeltoast@aol.com. The Boat Show is produced by Sail America (www.sailamerica.com); and the following is from their website at http://strictlysailpacific.com The 2013 Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show is coming to Jack London Square in Oakland, California, Thursday through Sunday, April 11 14, 2013. The West Coast s largest all-sail boat show features new sailboats, gear, accessories, hardware, seminars, interactive workshops, and free sailboat rides. According to Sail America staff, newbies and serious sailors alike attend the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show to immerse themselves in the sailing lifestyle, talk to experts, participate in hands-on seminars, and learn new sailing techniques. Building on a successive three years of growth, Pacific Sail officials report last year s Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show held at Jack London Square boasted a seven percent increase in both attendance at the gate and exhibitor space sales over the previous year. Capitalizing on that momentum, the Sail America team is planning a larger audience and is already working toward making the 2013 Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show bigger, better, and more diverse with more special events, seminars, and hands-on activities. Judy approves USPS is almost 100 years the pot old. luck Many things will be happening cuisine. in 2014when the real celebration begins. Is published in March, June, September and December P/C Dick Folger, AP, Editor 510-489-7644 or dickfolger@aol.com Quarterly publication of Peralta Sail and Power Squadron San Leandro, California 7
16 Cobblestone Lane, Belmont, CA 94002-2310 Remember the Crab Feed? From these pictures you can see we all had a great time! Having this much fun must be illegal! 8