November 2017 The Helm Station A unit of the United States Power Squadrons www.manatee-squadron.org 941-799-7370 Photo provided by P/C Tom Brown, P Howard Kelly, S s boat named REMISSION at South Seas Resort Marina In this Edition: Messages from our Commander and Bridge Officers D22 Fall Conference Pictures Sunset Toast Photos Fall Getaway Destination Cruise Pictures ABC Class Information Vessel Safety Checks Update C & R Marina Jack Information Holiday Party Information Island Grill afternoon Off the Beaten Path Upcoming Events Information Calendar, Snacks, Sunshine & Trivia Member news, Helmsman page & advertisement And much more... Page 1
Commander s Message Cdr George Druist, SN cdr@manatee-squadron.org Come for the Boating Education...Stay for the Friends. Welcome back to our snowbird members and travelers. November is the time when our educational and social activities are in full swing and remain so until the spring. The District 22 Fall Conference was attended by myself and many Squadron members who participated in several timely and interesting workshops and round tables. MSPS and individual Squadron members were awarded many certificates and awards. Congratulations to P/C Larry Beverage, SN, Lt Verne Walsh, AP and Ron Hartwell, AP. Please read on further in the Executive Officer s and Education Officer s articles for details. It is with regret that our Executive Committee has accepted the resignation of Lt/C Rich Maggio, S, from the executive officer position. We want to thank him for his contributions to the Squadron as a bridge officer over the last two years, and his lovely wife, Debra for her support. We look forward to working with him as he fills the new Environmental Officer position. We welcome the wealth of knowledge, and practical experience and insight in environmental issues that he will bring to that position. We look forward to working with Rich, and I ask that all Squadron members support him in that role. Positions on the MSPS Bridge will be open in November, and now is a good time to consider the opportunities join the Bridge and contribute in an executive capacity. On a personal basis I can attest to the enriching experiences and wonderful personal relationships with the quality people on our Bridge. All of the talent, time and good cheer that our MSPS members bring to our enterprise makes the activities of a bridge officer a pleasure to attend to and always something to look forward to. Bridge members in MSPS are so fortunate. MSPS has always had the reputation of The FUN Squadron, and it all starts with you. Take a look at our departments and committees; you will find them in the membership directory. If one of the positions interests you, please contact the department officer, committee chair or myself for any information. Get ahead of the nominating committee and call one of them right now. Fresh ideas are always welcomed. Get involved and enjoy your Squadron by becoming more involved. In the near term please thank Lt Bev Krebs, AP, Lt Diana Nyman, P and Lt Don Hanslik, S, for all that they did for us as Sunshine Chair, Merit Mark Chair and Boating Safety Officer, as they will be stepping down in December. I am looking forward to seeing you at the 07 Nov 2017 membership meeting. The Helm Station A publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons. We are located in Manatee County, Florida. Editor: Lt Lynne Gieges, S hs@manatee-squadron.org Asst. Editor: Lt John Walsh, N Advertising: Distribution Photos: P/C Gary Mink, P Lt Jay Sands, P as noted The Helm Station is the official publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron with twelve issues yearly. Opinions expressed in The Helm Station are those of the author of the article and do not necessarily represent the position of The Helm Station, MSPS, or USPS. All rights reserved. Page 2
Executive Department Lt/C Rich Maggio, S xo@manatee-squadron.org Boating is fun.. We'll show you how. Greetings Squadron, Things are gearing up for a new boating and education season. Most of our northern members are back in town, and ready to enjoy our beautiful Gulf waters. We are now prepping for our ABC course on 04 Nov2017, New Membership Orientation on 08 Nov 2017, the Just for Girls fishing activity on 09 Nov 2017 and, in December, we will be selling Christmas trees with the Boys and Girls Club. We are tentatively scheduled for the first Thursday, 07 Dec 2017. Details to follow. The District 22 Convention in Punta Gorda was interesting and informative. We had a good-sized contingent representing our Squadron. Thanks to all of you who made time to attend. The morning presentations included dolphin conservation, a Clean Harbors/Clean Boating presentation by FWC and Homeland Security and how to build a Facebook page. More importantly, during the afternoon award ceremony, three of our members received recognition for their educational achievement. Lt/C Bob Kelly will tell you more about that later, but, in the meantime, you may want to congratulate the recipients. This year both Lt Verne Walsh, AP and Ron Hartwell, AP received the Certificate of Educational Proficiency, "In Recognition of successful completion of the grade of Advanced Piloting and three elective courses". P/C Larry Beverage, SN was awarded the grade of Senior Navigator, the highest level of educational achievement in the USPS. Additionally, we were awarded several Squadron awards for education, (Kudos to Bob Kelly and his crew) and our own "Manatee Sail and Power Squadron Educational Proficiency Trophy" which the members can view at our next General Membership Meeting. On a different note, I regret to inform you that this will be my last Helm Station report. I will be leaving the Bridge at this time for a variety of personal reasons: not the least of which include my commitments in New York with my aging mother; my house, which is on the market for sale or summer rental; and now I am burdened with a series of doctor visits due to an old injury that has flared up The added burdens of Squadron Commander, and dealing with all the ExCom issues that often arise at the worst times, makes it unlikely that I could adequately fulfill those responsibilities without undue stress. I have offered to fill the role of Environmental Officer, and hope to serve the Squadron well in that capacity. No one needs to worry, this is just a glitch. I will be fine, and the Squadron will sail on without a hitch. Let me say that it has been a great pleasure serving on the Bridge, and I must say many of you have made the Bridge s job so much easier. I can t name you all, but Lt Lynne Gieges, S and Lt Jim Gieges, S, Lt Monique Gutierrez and Lt/C Bob Gutierrez, N, Lt Verne Walsh, AP and Lt John Walsh, N among many others come to mind. Thanks to you and all the rest of you whom I failed to mention. Your help is vital to the Squadron, and we can always use more members to step up and help with any of our projects. Keep looking up, watch the weather, the planets, and the Space Station. And above all, keeping boating with confidence, because you know you are prepared.. Page 3
Administration Lt/C Matt Braatz, AP ao@manatee-squadron.org By the time everyone receives the November Helm Station, the fall getaway will be over. Even though I did not go by boat to Tarpon Point at Cape Coral, Sandi and I still drove down in our RV with Jack on Saturday night and stayed until Sunday. We had a great time. Four boats were present, while 2 others had mechanical problems and did not make it. More boaters were going to Legacy Marine before the Pink Shell. Sandi and I leave tomorrow for the Pink Shell and then onto South Seas. Will give further update in next month s Helm Station on the trip. Since the extended cruise ends near the end of the month, there is no planned cruise for November. However, the District is having their C & R starting 31 Oct to 03 Nov 2017 at South Seas Island Resort. On 15-17 Dec 2017 we will have our C & R at Marina Jacks in Sarasota. Great place to get together with floating docks in downtown Sarasota. Put it on your schedule!! A number of us went to the District 22 meeting at Punta Gorda and the events of the District meeting is covered in other parts of the Helm Station. Great to go to the District meeting and have the Manatee Squadron receive a number of awards. Lt/C Richard Maggio, S is stepping down as Executive Officer but will remain an active participant in the Squadron. I think I can speak for the Bridge and other members of the Squadron in thanking him for the time he served on the Bridge and contributions he made as AO and XO. Thanksgiving is coming up quickly and wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Have a fun and safe boating month. D22 C & R 31 Oct ~~ 03 Nov 2017 C & R at Marina Jack s 15-17 Nov 2017 Page 4
Education Department Lt/C Bob Kelly, SN seo@manatee-squadron.org We have expressed the reason why Manatee Sail and Power Squadron exists as a member of the United States Power Squadron and that reason is teaching safe boating to our members and public at-large. Teaching safe boating is our foundation and there are a number of ways of recognizing members and squadrons: 1) The grade a person has earned through successfully passing grade and elective courses is expressed by a letter or letters following their name, i.e. S - Seamanship, P - Piloting, AP - Advance Piloting, JN - Junior Navigation, N - Navigation, SN - Senior Navigation (passed all grade and eight electives). 2) Awards given by District and National for individual and squadron successes. These recognitions were given at D-22 Fall Conference on 01 Oct 2017. a) MSPS was awarded the Educational Proficiency Award for having the highest percentage of members achieving AP and completing three electives. b) USPS Educational Proficiency Awards given to Lt Verne Walsh, AP and Ron Hartwell, AP. c) Certificate of Educational Achievement was awarded to P/C Larry Beverage, SN. MSPS now has 17 SN's in our Squadron. d) For achieving three standards of educational excellence: number of boating students, number of students in elective courses and number of students in grade courses; MSPS was awarded Flag of Educational Excellence!! MSPS was also a Finalist in three other categories; not bad for a squadron of a 170 people! Congratulations to all members of Manatee Sail and Power Squadron, you have earned the recognition!!! Answers to last month s language quiz: "Feeling blue" comes from the code flag Blue Peter which informed all who were supposed to be aboard that they must get on board immediately. Getting on board meant they would be gone for months or even years causing severe depression. "Posh" today means a level of luxury. It comes from English travelers traveling to and from India with tickets marked P.O.S.H. This translates to Port - Out, Starboard - Home accommodations which means they were always in the shade. Bet they paid extra! This month s mind twisters are: All sewn up. Above board. Page 5
D22~~Fall Conference, Punta Gorda October Event 06-07 Oct 2017 P/C Larry Beverage receiving the SN award. Manatee Sail & Power Squadron had 13 members representing our squadron at the D22 2017 District Conference in Punta Gorda. Back row from left to right; P/C Ed Cornell, P, P/C Nadene Cornell, P, R/C Myles Gee, SN, Lt Kathy Gee, S, P/C Cliff Schmidt, JN, Lt/C Matt Braatz, AP, Dean May, AP. Front Row left to right; Cdr George Druist, SN, P/Lt/C Mike Stewart, SN, P/C Larry Beverage, SN, D/Lt/C Don Cook, SN and Lt Rich Maggio, S and 1/Lt Bill Spencer, SN. D/Lt/C Don Cook, SN will be moving up to District Commander in the spring of 2018. Mark your calendars for 14Apr 2018 to support the incoming District Commander D/Lt/C Don Cook SN at the D22 Spring 2018 Change of Watch in Punta Gorda. Let s show Don our support. Photos provided by Lt/C Rich Maggio, S and P/C Larry Beverage, SN. Page 6
10 Oct 2017~~Sunset Toast October Event Photos provided by Lt/C Rich Maggio, S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4SALE: one owner 43 MtrYacht, 2 diesel,2 bed/2 ba,gen,3ac,garmin,1780hrs,xcel, 703-300-8718 Page 7
Fall Getaway Destination Cruise 16-23 Oct 2017 October Event This is a preliminary view of photos from the Fall Getaway. More information will come in the December Helm Station! ach! Westin Resort at Tarpon Point Marina. Pub Crawl from Legacy Marina, Ft. Myers. Just where are we? P/C Roland Seidel, SN & Ingrid Seidel, S at our Docktails. South Seas Resort Pool in Captiva. Only four pools from which to choose. Good Morning Fort Myers Beach! Ft. Myers Beach shells were plentiful Page 8
On board Lt/C Matt Braatz, AP and Lt Sandi Braatz, S Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Good Thought for Coastal People Dean May, AP says best desserts ever! Photos provided by P/C Tom Brown, P. Pink Shell Resort - Ft. Myers Beach Page 9
Upcoming Event Information On 09 Nov 2017 our squadron will host another Just for Girls fishing outing on the Green Bridge Pier in Palmetto. The girls must earn the privilege to attend this adventure by exemplary behavior in both academics and behavior during many weeks prior to the event. Only about 50% of students at the school earn this outing. It carries a great importance to them and they appreciate the opportunity. The picnic after fishing will be held in Blackstone Park.. Contact Lt Ed Van Stedum, S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFF THE BEATEN PATH Dinner at the ISLAND GRILL 219 Madonna Blvd. Tierra Verde, FL 33715 1600 14 Nov 2017 Check out their menu at http://www.islandrawbar.com Tuesday.75 oysters all day (steamed, raw or fried) Early bird specials 1500-1800 Happy Hour all day til 1800 Call Diana Nyman at 813-951-4883 or email nymand@verizon.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FREE MICROSOFT CLASSES The Manatee Sail and Power Squadron has two sessions set up at the Microsoft Store in University Town Center, University Blvd (exit 213 off I75). We will have sign-up sheets out at the November meeting for them. The cost to participate is FREE! Wednesday, 15 Nov 2017 from 1300-1400 Microsoft EXCEL. Come get an overview of the basics of EXCEL with Lois Prentice. Bring your questions, too! Wednesday, 24 Jan 2018 from 1300-1400: Microsoft One-Note. One-Note is a digital note taking tool on your tablet, phone and computer. Your devises can all be linked. Capture your ideas and to-do lists all in one place, wherever you are! Lois Prentice will also be our instructor for this session. Page 10
Annual Christmas Tree Sales 07 Dec 2017 Get ready for the Christmas spirits and season. We, as a squadron, traditionally help the Boys and Girls Club by selling Christmas trees for this exceptional group of young people. And this year is no different!! A sign-up sheet will be available at the November membership meeting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C & R Marina Jack Weekend Join us at Marina Jack for a Weekend Cruise and Rendezvous Friday, 15 Dec 2017 and Saturday, 16 Dec 2017. Enjoy all the fun of downtown Sarasota art galleries, bars and restaurants, shopping, and the Farmer s Market. Lunch at Patrick s 1481 The squadron will meet for lunch at Patrick s 1481 on Saturday, 16 Dec 2017 at 1130. Located at 1481 Main Street, Sarasota. Sign up at the November membership meeting or by email. R/C Myles Gee, SN and Lt Kathy Gee, S mkgee@msn.com #941-518-2475 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MSPS Breakfast Munch Brunch ~ 19 Nov 2017 The MSPS Breakfast Munch Bunch get together is Sunday 19 Nov 2017 @ 0930 hours. That's still 9:30 am for you Land Lovers so come early if you want. There is always an early bird or two there to chat with. Just in case you forget it is always the 3rd Sunday of each month. Come Rain or Shine, no matter what. So, I hope to see you all at the VFW on the corner of 51st street and Manatee Ave west in Bradenton. Breakfast is only $6.00 and that includes your eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits & gravy & good old Kentucky apple pancakes. Coffee and orange juice is free and goes well with your meal. You can't even beat that price with a stick. So come down, have some kick back good times with the Squadron, and say Hello to all your friends. Also, Bloody Mary's and Screw Drivers are only $1.25 and if you want draft beer it is $0.75 all day. Great prices! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 21 Jan 2018~~Commander s Reception Sunday afternoon at the Greyhawk Community Center. 18 Feb 2018~~Change of Watch (C. O. W.) Sunday afternoon at the IMG Golf Club. Page 11
Manatee Sail and Power Squadron Holiday Party Sunday 03 Dec 2017 Location: Bradenton Yacht Club 4307 Snead Island Road Palmetto, FL 1130 cash bar 1215 dinner Choice of: NY Strip Steak Salmon Chicken Crepes Salad, sides & dessert included Cost: $27.00 per person. Check made out to Manatee Sail & Power Squadron Reservations deadline is Monday, 27 Nov 2017 Sandi Braatz 714 Riviera Dunes Way Palmetto, FL 34221 941 729-7595 Sandi@braatz.org Please bring a donation for the VA such as clothing, bathroom items, etc. Page 12
AMERICAS BOATING COURSE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS! America s Boating Course is being offered by the Manatee Sail and Power Squadron on Saturday, 04 Nov 2017, at The Elks Lodge, 4611 4th Ave. East, Palmetto, Florida. If you are born on or after January 1981? You must have a Florida Boater Education I.D. Card to legally operate any motorized watercraft of 10 HP or more. The Americas Boating Course satisfies Florida State requirements. Registration will be from 0730 to 0800, and classes will run from 0800 1630. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. The cost is $40.00 for a single student or $50.00 for 2 members of the same family sharing one textbook. Invite your friends and neighbors. Remind them if they join after taking our ABC course, they would pay dues for one year and get the next 6 months free. The course must be pre-paid. Please make checks payable to Manatee Sail & Power Squadron or MSPS. If you have any questions or to request a registration form, please call Larry Beverage (941-518-3071) or email (lyb204@gmail.com) Page 13
MSPS Vessel Safety Examiners Are Making Boating Safe - One Vessel At A Time. Name Lt/C Matthew Braatz, AP P/C Tom Brown, P Lt Bill Dearstyne, JN Charles Downing, S Lt Jim Gieges, S Lt Don Hanzlik Jr., S Ron Hartwell, AP Total # Checked Total # Passed LAST CHECK DATE 1 1 14 Jul 2017 6 4 18 Mar 2017 8 8 16 Feb 2017 5 5 15 Aug 2017 23 21 17 Jun 2017 24 21 18 Aug 2017 1 1 09 May 2017 P/C Bob Hintze, JN 18 16 15 Jul 2017 P/C Gary Mink, P P/C George Nartsissov, AP P/C Carl Nyman, JN P/C Cliff Schmidt, JN Lt Carolyn Schmidt, S 17 17 30 Aug 2017 12 10 21 Jul 2017 7 7* 15 Apr 2017 0 0 0 0 Don Tress, P 10 10 25 May 2017 Lt Ed Van Stedum, S 10 9 23 Aug 2017 Total MSPS 142 130 Revised 20 Oct 2017 Lt Don Hanzlik, S 941-479-7213 (home) 703-475-0157 (mobile) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To schedule your free Vessel Safety Check contact any Vessel Safety Examiner or email: safe@manatee-squadron.org Lt Don Hanzik, S Page 14
Our Calendar NOVEMBER 2017 04 Nov 2017 0800 America s Boating Course Elks Lodge, Palmetto 07 Nov 2017 1900 Membership Meeting Elks Lodge, Palmetto 08 Nov 2017 1700 New Member s Orientation Elk s Lodge, Palmetto 09 Nov 2017 TBD Just for Girls Fishing Bradenton Green Bridge Pier 14 Nov 2017 1600 Off the Beaten Path Island Grill Tierra Verde 19 Nov 2017 0930 Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton 23 Nov 2017 THANKSGIVING DECEMBER 2017 03 Dec 2017 1130 Holiday Party Bradenton Yacht Club 05 Dec 2017 1900 Membership Meeting Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl 07 Dec 2017 1500 Boys & Girls Club Christmas Tree Sales Lot 3913 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, FL 12 Dec 2017 Before Sunset Sunset Toast Holmes Beach, AMI 14-16 Dec 2017 TB C & R Marina Jacks Sarasota 17 Dec 2017 0930 Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton 25 Dec 2017 CHRISTMAS JANUARY 2018 02 Jan 2018 1700 EXCOM MEETING Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl 16 Jan 2018 Before Sunset Sunset toast Holmes Beach, AMI 21 Jan 2018 1300 Commander s Reception Greyhawk Landing Community Center 30 JAN 2018 1700 EXCOM MEETING Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl Page 15
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Expires May 2018 Bradenton Herald Home Delivery Rates Special Discount Up to 50% off For information call: P/C John Warren AP 941-723-0640 Expires September 2017 Expires August 2017 Please support these businesses that advertise with the Helm Station. Thank you. Page 17
Sunshine News & Thanks Lt Bev Krebs, P This is the time of year to prepare a report for the Merit Mark Chairman. I want you to know that this year 43 members provided snacks for our meeting s social time. Several of these members provided snacks more than once. Thank you for the amazing participation. November meeting snacks will be provided by Leann Hintze, P, P/C Nadene Cornell, S and Illene Tress. Thank you all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please keep our service men and women in your thoughts and prayers. We thank them for their service, both past and present. Helmsman: A Helmsman is one who steers the ship. The Helm Station is our monthly newsletter, and is one of the ways we communicate with our members and helps us steer our organization. It is also one of our largest expenses. To help us defray the cost of publishing this newsletter, we established the Helmsman Program. You can become a Helmsman for The Helm Station by contributing $10 in honor of the month of your birthday. We will publish your name on The Helmsman Page and recognize your birthday during your birth month. Sign up in January to have your support listed throughout the year. If you paid to join the Helmsman Page ($10/year) you are also eligible for a free classified ad in two consecutive issues. What a deal! Contact the editor to take advantage of this opportunity to clean out the old boat locker. Page 18
January Birthdays - 2017 February March April * Ed Cornell * Jim Gieges * Lynne Gieges Monique Gutierrez Cliff Schmidt Roland Seidel Dona Bigham Tom Brown Karel Goodrich Bruiser Diana Nyman * Marty Spencer May June July August * Bob Kelly * Howard Kelly Charlie Bigham Susan Lomastro * Gary Mink * Bob Goodrich September October November December * Matt Braatz * Ingrid Seidel Carol Bloodsworth Sandi Braatz * Barbara Brown * Nadene Cornell * Charles Feldschau * Kathy Gee * Bob Gutierrez * Judy Martorana * Carl Nyman * Myles Gee * Carolyn Schmidt * Hoyt Bloodsworth * Margot McGorman * Bill Spencer I/We wish to join the 2017 Helmsman Program Mail or hand in this form to the Treasurer. Thanks! Member Name Birthday Month Member Name Birthday Month Enclose a check made payable to MSPS in the amount of $10 for one person, $20 for 2 Page 19
The Helm Station 4728 Starboard Dr. Bradenton, FL 34208 hs@manatee-squadron.org To: Advertise! advertise@manatee-squadron.org We encourage members and non-members to place advertisements in The Helm Station offering goods and services. The Helm Station reaches over 150 MSPS members, other District 22 squadron members and a national audience through our website on USPS.org. Rates are very reasonable; $45 a year for a standard business card ad, $15 for a simple classified ad in 2 issues. Support our Advertisers They support us! [note rates subject to change without notice, contact our advertising officer for additional details on pricing, ad sizing, and other information.] Our next Business Meeting 12 Dec 2017 1900 Palmetto Elks 4611 4th Avenue E Palmetto, Florida 34220 For directions please see our website: www.manatee-squadron.org November 2017 The Helm Station - Official publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron A Unit of the United States Power Squadrons District 22 Page 20