Volume 64 Number 1 June COMMANDER S MESSAGE D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN

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1 D/2 NEWS Volume 64 Number 1 June 2012 COMMANDER S MESSAGE D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN Thank you all for voting me in as District Commander this will be an excellent opportunity for the new Bridge and me personally to further USPS s mission: "To promote recreational boating safety through education and civic activities while providing fellowship for our members." Thank you to Greenwich Sail and Power Squadron for such a splendid Spring Conference and Change of Watch well organized, well attended, and, well, just a great chance to be with old friends and make new ones. Thank you to the Chief s representative V/C Bob Brandenstein, SN, and his wife Jane for adding so much to the weekend. As one of 33 District Commanders in USPS, I see myself as facilitating all aspects of our 16 squadrons efforts. The Bridge Officers have vast experience on how to attract new and retain old members, how to put courses together and promote them, where to find dynamic speakers and attract members to meetings, how to manage community events, how to organize children s programs and so on. We also know how to tap into the movers and shakers in USPS for further resources. So if you want to improve on what you re doing, or to bring in something new, just let me know and I ll find a way to help. Following on from P/D/C Lacey Williams theme of Growth through Communication and Cooperation mine will be Let s Get the Word Out. We have the best education, the best events, and the best activities of any boating organization, but try to Google USPS and you ll be able to buy stamps quicker than you can get to boating information! Let s do what we can to change that. District will give Squadrons the tools and know-how to get us better known at the local level. Would you like to be an ambassador? District 2 currently has 1,628 members if each of us took on the role of a USPS ambassador, think of the impact we would have. The boating season is upon us and most of us intend to get close to or out on the water as much as we can. We ll go to boat stores to buy equipment, to buy clothes, or just to browse through the latest electronics. We ll go to marinas. We ll be on docks checking out boats and coming and going with our own powerboat, sailboat or kayak. We ll go to boat club events. We ll attend community gatherings. Let s wear the USPS logo on our lapel, on our shirt, on our belt, or put a sticker on our cooler. Let s have with us a USPS card or brochure to hand out...let s Get the Word out. On-the-water education is the future of USPS, and District is fully committed to helping Squadrons with ways to achieve this. Through June alone there will have been five major on-the-water educational events, and more in store. Come to Bridgeport for the Summer Council, 4 August and we ll make it a real Rendezvous with a chance to get out on the water as well as a chance to mingle with friends.

2 USPS District 2 Commander Susan P. Ryan, JN 76 Tomac Avenue Old Greenwich, CT susanpryan@sbcglobal.net Executive Officer D/Lt/C Howard A. Sklar, AP 372 Kneeland Avenue Yonkers, NY hasklar@gmail.com A Benefit for Members The new Weems and Plath web site will help USPS members to order online and get a special 25% discount on anything they order. If you are reading this newsletter on line, Click here for USPS member discount code ( or type into your browser: _usps_stores_weems.htm) Then give it a try by going to ABC is O-T-W: Keeping it Simple As simple as A-B-C. That is what members of D/2 s Darien Sail & Power Squadron (DSPS) are saying, after conducting what may be the first On-The-Water event as part of an ABC3 Boating Course. Planning began in winter and conducted in mid-may, just as America s Boating Course (ABC) On-The-Water Teaching Aid Guide was published. The guideline (approved on 12 May 2012 by the Boat Operator Certification and On-The-Water Training Committee) can be downloaded from the Educational Department s home page: Our advance planning had a remarkable degree of fit with the national guideline, says Peter Kelly, coordinator for the event called the Spring Refresher. Consistent with the guideline, we had approvals noted in our Bridge minutes, we had informed the boat operators of their insurance requirements and that the students would not be operating the boats, and that a DSPS representative would be on board to coordinate activities. In all other requirements of the guideline: we fit! The 33 participants included students from the January and May ABC3 boating course, plus interested members of the Squadron. There were 10 VSC-checked boats involved, each operated by a squadron member with a second squadron coordinator on board who moved the group through a 3-hour plan that included: several piloting exercises (60DST on a bearing), man-overboard-drills, anchoring, rules of the road, GPS and VHF operations, and a basic safety check at the beginning of the voyage. (Continued on P. 12.) The Editor reserves the right to edit articles as needed. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of District 2, The United States Power Squadrons or its editor. Page 2 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012 Educational Officer D/Lt/C George R. Hallenbeck, AP 22 Van Rensselaer Avenue Stamford, CT gwlk@aol.com Administrative Officer D/Lt/C Denise A. Terry, S 217 Calderwood Road Amsterdam, NY love2boatny@nycap.rr.com Secretary D/Lt/C Virginia Schmidt-Gedney, AP 11 Birch Street Danbury, CT vegedney@aol.com Treasurer D/Lt/C John W. Steger, JN 342 Heathcote Road Scarsdale, NY jwsteger@gmail.com Asst. Educational Officer D/1st/Lt Carl E. Filios, AP 75 Glory Drive Pittsfield, MA cefilios@verizon.net Editor Lt Melvin Goldstein, AP 64 Cherrywood Road Yonkers, NY iluvtouche@aol.com

3 Executive Officer: D/Lt/C Howard A. Sklar, AP Well, the Spring conference is over, and Susan P. Ryan, JN, is our new District Commander. I am in a new position as your Executive Officer, and an exciting year is ahead of me and the Bridge. With the new Public Relations Initiative on the forefront of Susan s agenda, there is a lot of work ahead for all of us to make it successful and an integral part of the District. Flare Ups (last year s emphasis for me) are moving along very nicely with both Saugatuck River and Sacandaga Squadrons having conducted a Flare Up this May. That makes five Squadrons within the last calendar year to conduct a Flare Up event, leaving just 11 more Squadrons to get out into their community and conduct a Flare Up. I can promise you that a Flare Up will provide a lot of fun for you and your Squadron, while you perform an important and relevant civic service for your local community. This year I intend to spend time making Vessel Safety Checks a key component of the District s obligation of civic service to our communities. I would like each Squadron to try to double the amount of VSC examiners and examinations from the previous year. As of the end of the 2011 VSC season, 13 of our Squadrons had a combined total of 42 Vessel Examiners, and these 42 examiners conducted 354 Vessel Safety Checks. Of our 16 Squadrons, three conducted 50% of the vessel examinations done by the District, while three of our Squadrons did not conduct a Vessel Safety Check. Those three Squadrons do not currently have a certified Vessel Examiner. Sadly, this past year, District 2 ranked 26 out of 33 districts, and that should not be acceptable to any of us. Not all safety checks are approved. Of the 354 vessel checks, only 326 passed inspection. However, in each instance an examiner was on someone s boat talking about safety and making sure the necessary equipment was onboard for a good, safe day out on the water. What better opportunity will we ever have to talk about USPS, our Squadron, and membership than when on another person s boat? I would like each VS examiner to carry a USPS membership application along with a card with Squadron information as to the next ABC3 boating class, Squadron Seminar and/or a General Meeting. There is no reason not to invite this person and their family to attend one of our meetings and show off who we are and what we are all about. You just don t need to examine a power boat or sailboat. Anything that moves on the water including canoes, kayaks and row boats is fair game and can be examined and pass a VSC examination. Imagine this, you go down to the local canoe club or a kayaking club or a row boating club and offer to do VSC s on all of their crafts. Remember anything that floats is open game, so bag em, tag em, and make them a member while you enjoy your role as an asset to your community, Squadron, and District. Respectfully submitted. ************************************************************************************** Page 3 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

4 Administrative Officer: D/Lt/C Denise A. Terry, S Catskill Flare-Up Sacandaga Power Squadron is one of the smaller Squadrons in District 2, but we are very active in promoting USPS and boating safety. For the past several years, we have been coordinating a Tri-Squadron booth at the Eastern New York Marine Trades Association s Great Upstate Boat Show in Queensbury, NY. We distribute safe boating literature and information about boating classes being presented by Sacandaga, Mohawk-Hudson and Lake George Squadrons. This year we decided to kick off National Safe Boating Week by putting on the first Flare-Up north of Westchester. For those unfamiliar with this term, a Flare-Up teaches boaters how to safely use the Visual Distress Signals they are required to carry onboard their vessels. Some of our Squadron members do their boating on the Hudson River, including Lt/C Philip Roeber, P, who keeps his boat at Hop-O-Nose Boat Club in Catskill. Phil initiated contact with the Village of Catskill and other authorities to check on the feasibility of putting on a Flare-Up at Catskill s Dutchman s Landing Park, even before presenting his idea at a Squadron meeting. It seems that everyone he spoke with thought that it was a great idea we could expect full cooperation from the village board, fire department, police agencies, etc. Of course, the Squadron agreed! Other boating groups who agreed to help sponsor the Flare-Up were Mohawk-Hudson Sail and Power Squadron, Hop-O-Nose Boat Club, and the Mohawk -Hudson Council of Yacht Clubs. The USCG Auxiliary had a boating safety booth, NYS Department of Health had a display on fish consumption guidelines, and the Catskill Ambulance Corps was there, too. We had asked the Catskill Volunteer Fire Department if they would teach how to use fire extinguishers, but they had staffing issues and could not attend. Sea-Tow sponsored lunch tickets for the staff members and they were to have a booth set up as well, but received an emergency tow call at the last minute. Patrol boats from Greene and Columbia County Sheriff s Departments kept boaters away from the flare launching area. Phil coordinated committees assigned to everything including grounds set up, registration, range safety, PR, signs, collecting flares donated by members of various yacht clubs, and instructors. Our best resource was Lt George Friend, P, of Greenwich Sail & Power Squadron, who is an expert in flares and has coordinated a number of Flare-Ups in other areas. He was able to provide offshore SOLAS (Saving Of Lives At Sea) handheld and aerial flares, which are not commonly seen by inland boaters. On the day of the Flare-Up, 20 May 2012, everything went smoothly for the most part. We staked out a large safety area surrounded by yellow caution tape to keep other park visitors out of potentially dangerous areas and set up several shade structures for registration and display booths. Several staff members carried hand-held marine VHF radios for communication with the sheriff s patrol boats, while other staff members used small Family Radio Service walkie-talkies for communications around the grounds. Two Greene County Sheriff s Deputies stopped by to find out what a Flare-Up is they had seen it listed on a board in their office and had no idea what it was. When the Flare-Up began, the Columbia County Sheriff s patrol boat stationed itself just south of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to alert southbound ship traffic while the Greene County Sheriff s patrol boat, which was to keep boaters from wandering into hazardous areas, stationed itself in the middle of the bay where aerial flares were being launched. After a couple of flares came down in his vicinity, he requested us to try to aim the flares more to the left, toward the western span of the Catskill bridge, which is north of Dutchman s Landing. After changing aim, one of the parachute flares hung up briefly in the branches of a shore-side tree, before dropping safely into the water. Better idea move the patrol boat! (Continued on P. 5.) Page 4 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

5 (Catskill Flare-Up continued from P.4) Over fifty participants learned how to use visual distress signals, including some park visitors, who came to see what was going on, members of the ambulance corps, a young family who had just purchased a boat (mom, dad and two kids now know how to signal for help if necessary). USPS members also enjoyed getting a chance to use flares several members of Mid-Hudson came north to the Flare-Up, and Mohawk Hudson s P/C Clarkson Farnsworth, JN, with his 55 Merit Marks, was observed launching flares, too. Safety protocol included stopping firing aerial flares when large vessels approached. Sacandaga Commander Virginia Andersen, AP, contacted the captain of a southbound freighter on VHF to explain what we were doing, and that we would stop firing aerial flares when he approached the Catskill bridge. He wondered what was going on because they had seen the flares. Parachute flares can reach an altitude of 1,000 feet when fired straight up at sea, which means that they could be seen 40 miles away over open water. When fired straight up, the flare is supposed to go out by the time it reaches sea level. We were launching them at an angle to make sure they would come down over the river. Whether due to a minor malfunction, bad aim, or a wind shift, one of the parachute flares came down in a wooded area just north of Dutchman s Landing Park. When smoke continued to drift up from the woods, the two sheriff s patrol boat officers went ashore to investigate they were able to put out the small fire using buckets of river water. Needless to say, that ended the aerial portion of the program. All of the participants had a great time; especially the children! They were fascinated by how much fun they had and some wanted to go through 2-3 more times. Something that we did that none of the other Squadrons (that we know of) had used in the past was a Waiver and Assumption of Risk form. Each participant had to sign one. We didn t have anyone refuse and it just gave staff a little more peace of mind that everyone understood that it can be dangerous if precautions aren t taken. Anyone wearing open sandals or flip-flops was only permitted to use aerial flares. Since this was Sacandaga s first experience putting on a Flare-Up, we were a bit uncertain of how it would go Would anybody come? Would we get hundreds of people? Now that we have one in the record books, we are already looking forward to doing it again for National Safe Boating Week next year. We know what worked well and have a few ideas of how we can improve our next Flare-Up. Submitted by D/Lt/C Denise A. Terry, S and Lt/C Ralph Karcher, JN. ***************************************************************************************** Photos courtesy of D/Lt/C Denise A. Terry, S Page 5 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

6 Photos from D/2 Spring Conference, April 2012 Cdr Kevin Dinan, AP and Cdr Gino Bottino, AP with R/C Susan A. Darcy, JN Harry Twitchell, AP, Lt/C Bill Vernon, P and Lt/C Marsha Colten, AP, Hosts D/Lt/C John W. Steger, JN and Sharon Molten With Lt/C Frank Palmieri, JN Getting the N Club Award Photos courtesy of D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN Page 6 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

7 Reflection Public Relations Officer: Lt/C Paul Okura, S If you have not seen a YouTube video narrated by Tom Hanks titled Boatlift, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience, I highly recommend that you see it and also share it with your friends and people in your community. feature=player_embedded&v=mdorzf7b2kg#! Numerous documentaries which followed the tragic terrorist attack on World Trade Center buildings often focus on the heroism by the Police & Fire Department officers who sacrificed their lives to save civilians. What is not well known is that it was actually the largest boatlift ever, surpassing the famous evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk during World War II. Vessels of all sizes rushed to pick up the civilians who were trapped in Manhattan as the bridges and tunnels were all closed. As a result of the boatlift, nearly 500,000 lives were saved. Boats, usually an afterthought in most New Yorkers minds, were, for the first time in over a century, the only way in or out of lower Manhattan, says Tom Hanks, the narrator of the film. addition, without proper boat safety knowledge there would have been numerous accidents and massive confusion. This video reminds all of us one of the 3 pillars of the guiding principles of USPS which is Civil Service. And it was the ethics code of the seas that made the boat rescues such a success. In As our new Commander, Susan Ryan says: Let s Get the Word Out! by reminding people about the importance of civic duty to help people in distress and how critical it is to learn the navigation rules and a variety of other safe boating classes and seminars offered by USPS. Page 7 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

8 Educational Officer: D/Lt/C George R. Hallenbeck, AP On the Water is here! With the advent of programs for all levels we are now able to support on-the-water education for all levels. With the opening of the new guidelines for ABC3, local Squadrons have proven the ability to introduce even the newest student of ABC3 to on water education that fits their needs. Want a little more? Our new POTW program offers the public two hours of multimedia in class education, followed by four hours hands on on-the-water structured activity followed by two hours multimedia classroom to reinforce key points. Already a student? Check out our on water additions to our popular Seamanship or Sail classes. More are coming, Ready to prove your proficiency? BOC (Boat Operator Certification) is for you. From our initial Inland Certification you can progress on-the-water through Coastal Navigation and soon Advanced Coastal Navigation. Each of these levels carries with it new on-the-water skill tests in addition to our traditional courses. Talk with your SEO about which course is right for you. To help jump start the program we have recently been blessed with the use of Water Trainer, a twenty foot Boston Whaler-Dauntless with a 200 hp four cycle outboard, that is touring the US thanks to a Coast Guard grant which has been renewed for another year. If you have a chance, try it. Early students can t get enough. You now have a strong arsenal of tools to offer the boating public at all levels. The fact that we now have primary insurance to cover us has really made us unique. Talk to your SEO to see what your Squadron will be offering. ************************************************************************************* Page 8 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

9 Photos from D/2 Spring Conference, April 2012 Color Guard Glee Club Singers In memory of the departed Chief s Rep, V/C Bob Brandenstein, SN D/2 P/D/C s Photos courtesy of P/D/C Martin E. Feldberg, AP D/E/O George R. Hallenbeck, AP Page 9 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

10 Lt/C Paul Okura, P D/Lt/C Howard A. Sklar, AP Our new DAO, Denise A. Terry, S In honor of P/D/C Irwin Staple, AP Oath of Office for D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN with Family Oath of Office for the D/2 Bridge Photos courtesy of P/D/C Martin E. Feldberg, AP Page 10 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

11 The old welcoming the new Two friends discussing the future of the world Award Certificate with smiling faces P/D/C Harrison Valante, SN & P/C Robert Terry, P Award Certificates Photos courtesy of P/D/C Martin E. Feldberg, AP Page 11 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012 Our new District Commander

12 Lt/C Alexandra Digilio-Feldberg, P Alexandra (Ina) was born in Poland, raised in Germany, and then came with her family to the US in Right after high school in Long Island she began working with a publishing company, Simon and Shuster, and worked in various jobs leading up to IBM in Poughkeepsie. She s always enjoyed driving, and her retirement job has been as a school bus driver. She did some power boating and raised two daughters. In 1981 she met P/D/C Martin E. Feldberg, AP, who encouraged her to join USPS and take serious boating classes. She always took the helm of their 10 m Trojan international cruiser on Long Island, CT and all over. They spend less time on it now that they have a house in North Carolina. As well as being very involved with Storm King and District 2, Ina does quite a bit of community work. She s chair of the Food Drive program of the Wappinger Rotary, and volunteers with Meals on Wheels. When Martin was D/2 commander, he asked Ina to tend bar at the District meetings. She also set up some of the parties for R/C Susan L. Darcy, JN. Ina was a natural. She enjoys meeting everyone across the bar, and greets us all with a happy smile and cheerful What can I get you? She has been organizing the Winter Council in Poughkeepsie for several years now, and works behind the scenes to make everything flow well. She s just finished a year as P/D/C Lacey Williams Flag Lieutenant and will be as prominent as always at the Bridgeport Summer Council. We are lucky to have Ina in our District for the many ways in which she contributes. Submitted by D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN. *********************************************************************************** (ABC is O-T-W, continued from P. 2.) The Spring Refresher exceeded the guidelines in that students who were not currently in the boating course were required to attend a mid-week evening brush-up seminar that included sessions on piloting, safety equipment, man-overboard, nav. rules, radio, knots & lines, and a general briefing. Other activities included a pre-event briefing for captains and crew, and a wrap-up critique. With about 30 squadron members staffing activities, this was a good team-building activity. The event has been determined a keeper, as it is consistent with the ABC OTW guideline and therefore does not require additional approvals or personnel. It is one any squadron can conduct on its own, using its own resources and personnel. It was also a great deal of fun for all. If you are interested in conducting a similar event, please contact me so that I can arrange for you to meet with people who have been there and done that and who are willing to help you plan your event and make it successful. After all it s As simple as A-B-C now that ABC is O-T-W too! Submitted by D/C Susan P. Ryan, JN. Page 12 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

13 Getting the word out Public Relations Officer: Lt/C Paul Okura, S We have a new PR CONTEST! We will award a Squadron with most innovative and effective way to use Social Media to promote USPS brand to the public. The winning Squadron will be recognized at the D/2 Summer Conference in August at Bridgeport, CT and a special award will be given. Please submit a description of what your squadron is doing with Social Media to promote USPS brand by sending an or by SailAngle to DPRO by June 30th to be eligible for the award. From the District level, we have started to implement what we presented in our D/2 PR Plan at the D/2 Spring Conference. More actions will follow so stay tuned (1) District 2 Facebook Page is up and running so please use it to promote 3 objectives of USPS (education, fraternal and civil service). The following link on the D/2 website will automatically connect you to the D/2 Facebook site. Power-Squadron-District-/ (2) Our first District 2 video is now posted on YouTube with more to come. If you have interesting idea that we can produce as a D/2 video, please let DPRO know by . District 2 will collectively order metal USPS logo sign in June. Please contact DPRO by or by SailAngle and ask for order form if your Squadron would like to purchase one. We have successfully negotiated to obtain a 10% discount from the regular price of the metal USPS logo if we order collectively in June. These signs are very visible during day and at night. It can be used at your Squadron events or be posted permanently at the local Marina entrance or entrance to your city with appropriate permission to post it. Page 13 D/2 NEWS JUN 2012

14 United States Power Squadrons District 2 Join the Fun at the 2012 D2 Rendezvous! East End Yacht Club, Bridgeport, CT Friday and Saturday, August 3 rd and 4 th, Rain or Shine FREE DOCKAGE FOR USPS MEMBERS, FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY. Upon arrival, identify yourself as a USPS Rendezvous Participant. If you can t come by boat, then walk, fly or travel by car, but please join us for the Council on Saturday morning, followed by The Games, hospitality and dinner with a live show. East End is just off I-95 Exit 30 Lordship, then 4 left turns to 104 Bay Street. Friday Evening: Saturday: Lunch on deck: Saturday: Saturday evening: Restaurant available for dinner D2 Summer Council in private room 1100 An Hour with Susan Darcy - subject to available time Please bring your laptop and squadron user password East End Yacht Club s Special hot & cold buffet $11/ person inc. tax & tip 1330 Let The Games begin! Texas Holdem, Kite-flying etc. on land or on-thewater boating, (depending on weather). The Big Party hosted by the D/C and Bridge held at the Supples RV. Please bring your own chairs cash bar, 1900 dinner in private dining room Very Special Musical Show and Dancing at dinner to music we all love. (DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION).. REGISTRATION FORM: RSVPs & payment required by 25 July Checks payable to USPS D/2 should be mailed to: P/C Eugene R. Boone, Jr., AP 498-B Niantic Lane Stratford, CT Phone: bgstep@sbcglobal.net Name Squadron Slip required? Yes No Boat name LOA Please call Gene to make arrangements for a boat slip Coming to morning session? Lunch? Number of $11/person = $ Twin lobster dinners Number of $42/person = $ Chicken Florentine dinners Number of $31/person = $ Prime Rib dinners Number of $36/person = $ Vegetarian dinners Number of $31/person = $ (Children s menu available; Call Gene for details) REGISTRATION TOTAL = $ 6/2/2012

15 D/2 NEWS c/o Lt/Cdr Virginia P. Moore, P 3 Undercliff Street Yonkers, NY Address Correction Requested D/2 Planning CALENDAR May, Memorial Day. 14 June, Flag Day. 17 June, Father s Day. 4 July, Independence Day. 3-4 August, D/2 Summer Council, Bridgeport, CT. 3 September, Labor Day. 4-9 September, USPS Governing Board, Detroit, MI. 17 September, First day of Rosh Hashanah.* 26 September, Yom Kippur.* 8 October, Columbus Day October, D/2 Fall Conference, Tarrytown, NY. 4 November, Daylight Savings Time ends. 6 November, Election Day. 11 November, Veterans Day. 22 November, Thanksgiving Day. *Note: All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date given. (NOTE: PLEASE ADVISE THE EDITOR IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE A HARD COPY OF THE D/2 NEWS.)