Miles Lines United States Power Squadrons Miles River Sail and Power Squadron, Inc. District 5 Come for the Boating Education...Stay for the Friends! November, 2015 Volume 62, No. 11 INSIDE THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER DINNER MEETING Commander s View Education Officer s Report Safe Boating For Kids Program Safety Report Prescription Drug Collection Report October Dinner Meeting Pictures Wednesday, NOV 11, Miles River Yacht Club 1800 Cocktails, 1845 Dinner Pasta Night Guest Speaker: Shawn Carter, Director of Tidewater Physical Therapy Cost $25 Per Person Click Here for More Information Click Here for Reservation Cdr Isobel and Talbot County Deputy Sherriff, Lt. John Bollinger at October Dinner Meeting. He gave us the lowdown on the new Sherriff s plans and accomplishments.
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 2 COMMANDER'S VIEW Cdr Isobel Krouse, SN This picture of a Geodetic Mark was taken when I visited Natural Bridge, VA in April 2015. For many years USPS had a Geodetic Mark program but stopped in 1997. The program is now restarted and we can participate in finding these marks and report the position to NOAA who maintains the accuracy in a database. Thomas Jefferson began the program in 1807. The purpose is to create and install highly accurate survey markers. Each marker with its own unique ID represents a carefully recorded location on Earth. The markers are usually bronze and about 3 inches in diameter. Searching out these marks can be lots of fun. Usually a team of 3 or 4 persons selects a marker on a topographical map and sets out on a field observation. Using a hand-held GPS, a camera, a measuring tape and maybe a metal detector the team might find the marker buried 3 or more inches beneath the surface. Sometimes weeds and trees make the search interesting and a small shovel and pruning shears come in handy. If a marker is on private property, it is important to first ask for permission to do the search. Once the marker is found, there is a definite procedure to follow in order to document your find. For instance, you must take several photographs. One is from directly above the marker with the GPS next to it showing the coordinates. Another is of the location area of the marker. Later on you fill-out the form including date, month and year, and send it to NOAA. This would be a fun day for a group in beautiful fall weather when the boat is safely tucked away for the winter: Have some exercise in the outdoors and enjoy a lovely picnic lunch. Let me hear from you if you are interested, and we can get a group together. NOTE: Cdr Isobel wrote this report from sketchy notes and memory. D/Lt Rolf Stunes, JN of Dundalk Squadron made the presentation at the D/5 COCH Seminar in May 2014. This is an overview and actual data gathering will require procuring the proper maps, directions, etc. Raymond F. Adams, AP Ray was an active and enthusiastic member of the Miles River Sail and Power Squadron and the Miles River Yacht Club for many years. Almost every meeting would see Ray and his wife, Justine, mixing and dining with their many friends. Ray supported several of the MRSPS community service projects, and was equally active in MRYC activities.
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 3 EDUCATION DEPARTMENT P/C Steffens: The initial squadron educational course planning for the next year is as follows: Now until Jan 2016 Complete the current ABC-3 Course last session Tuesday, Oct. 27 th. Try to fit in an abbreviated OT training for current Bridge Officers that have not had the course as well as any new potential incoming bridge. JAN, FEB, MAR 2016 P/C Steffens Smith, AP P/C Capt. Fred Kieser, AP Seamanship Course starting early January with plans to run on Saturday mornings and try to accomplish at least two or three classes on line. Piloting Course Starting in February. ABC-3 Course Starting in February. Conduct two or three of the USPS 2 hour seminar s including VHF/DSC Radio, Sailing, Partner in Command, etc. Meetings with the incoming Commodore of MRYC, Tim Hanlon, in which he has expressed a desire to have more classes at the yacht club. He has specifically ask if we could add the Boat Operators Course to Seamanship and also as a standalone course. MRSPS will probably conduct the DSC/VHF Course at the Spring Conference in Ocean City. APRIL thru Balance of Year: Depending on the schedule of the Kids program for 2016, the Education Department has not scheduled the dates until that issue is resolved. AP Class in the fall The Electrical series of 3 courses. Engine Maintenance course ABC- 3 Class The Education Department will try to have a more definitive schedule especially for the Jan thru May period available for the dinner November meeting. Capt. Fred: The ABC3 Boating class is winding down with the exam on 27 October. This is a very small class which started with an enrollment of 2 adults and 3 children. Unfortunately, the 3 kids never showed up, so we ran the class with 2 adults. One of the reasons we decided to continue with suck low enrollment is that we moved from the Talbot Community Center, where they wanted to charge us a per hour rental charge, to the Easton Fire Department. Thanks to Mike Newnam, he got us into the fire house free. The room is great, but small and at times noisy as alarms go off, but otherwise an excellent facility. In the fall the ABC3 course will have an upgrade and we will advertise the class, so hopefully we will be able to fill the class to the 18 student maximum.
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 4 SAFE BOATING FOR KIDS PROGRAM Don Cook, Marian Franck, John Bayliss CHANGE IS IN THE WIND! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!! AND Mark Your Calendar 2016 Safe Boating for Kids Program NOTE THE CHANGES: St Michaels Middle School (CBMM): Mon, May 23 (Rain Date: May 24) Easton Middle School (YMCA): Wed, Thurs, Fri, May 25 26, 27 PLAN AHEAD & SIGN UP TO HELP The 2016 program: Will move to the week of May 23; and Will be conducted on four (4) days only. The program for the 2016-2017 school year: Will be conducted in the Fall of 2016; There will only be only five (5) very short months between these two programs; The 2017-2018 program will continue to be conducted in the Fall. The current school testing requirements have made these changes necessary to avoid the conflicts in scheduling as experienced during this past school year. In addition, the CBMM has suggested that the Fall schedule would accommodate their schedule which now includes educational environmental programs for all grades K-12. As always we cannot do this without the full support of our volunteers. You have been very generous with your time and talent these past 11 years and over 3500 boys and girls have been exposed to training and information that may save their or someone else s life. Here are all the ways you can help!! Volunteer to teach or assist 1 to 4 days of the 2016 program Identify potential instructors: Identify contact persons from local boating groups Racers, Yacht Clubs, CBMM, Instructional programs, etc. Identify your non-mrsps-member boating friends anyone you know who is or has been an active boater Identify contact persons from local service clubs Coast Guard Auxiliary, Raritan, Lions, Rotary, etc. Other ways to assist: Share your computer skills: Assist to create name tags; certificates; hand-out labels Give time to assist with packing instructor/teacher packets THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO SUSTAIN THIS VALUABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT OF THE MRSPS. CONTACT PROGRAM LEADERS: Don Cook, 410-476-5068, dcook@chesapeake.net; John Bayliss, 410-925-3806, jrbayliss@verizon.net, or Marian Franck, 410-745-9521, mailto:dmfranck@atlanticbb,net
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 5 SAFETY P/D/C W. Norman Franck, SN The 1 st quarter powerboat registration, reported by NMMA, for 2015 just came out. Sterndrive boats were down 7.2%; inboard cruiser sales were down 3%. But, PWC s were up 20.2%; jet drive boats up 15.4%; ski boats up 14.7%; and outboard boats up 7.9%. This is the power boat data. The other side of the story is stand-up paddle boards (SUP s) have led the nation in growth with a 38% increase in participation from 2013-2014. By the way, the US Coast Guard considers a SUP a vessel which means they must follow boating regulations. SUP operators are reminded to: follow all navigational rules and use common sense around other vessels; practice defensive paddling; use safety gear wear a life jacket equipped with a whistle and a safety leash. These are the people we need to get into our education and safety classes. Governor Hogan welcomed SPLASH, water safety dog, who is replacing PFD PANDA as the new water safety mascot. Splash, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, who is kenneled on Kent Island, will visit schools, fairs, and other public events to remind citizens to wear life jackets. Be Safe out there.
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 6 PRESCRIPTION DRUG COLLECTION REPORT P/C Steffens Smith, AP I would like to thank P/C Al Miller, JN; P/C Steve Velo, P/C Peter Gregory, AP; Alan Douglas; P/C Fred Kieser, AP; CDR Isobel Krause, SN for their participation in the recent Prescription Drug Recovery Program this week. While the collection amount was a little disappointing at the Talbot Senior Center, the collection at the Easton Safeway on Friday Oct 23 was a full barrel which equates to approximately 40 to 45 pounds of prescription and OTC medications. The new Talbot County Sherriff, Joe Gamble picked up the collection at the Senior Center and complimented the MRSPS on its good efforts in this project. The Sherriff also said he would assist the Squadron in getting started in the Tilghman s Island collection effort. Lt. John Bollinger, MRSPS speaker last month, picked up the collection at Safeway also complimented us on our efforts. One of the comments from all of the people bringing in their expired drugs was how easy it was to come to us versus the drug stores. One lady commented that she felt like she was signing her life away at the drug stores, while we never even asked her for her name or wanted to know what she was putting in the collection barrel. We also got a lot of comments as to why we did not do this more often and they felt it should be advertised more. We did have a Star Democrat reporter show up at Safeway and take some pictures. Again, thanks to all that participated in this every worthwhile effort.
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 7 OCTOBER DINNER MEETING 1 of 2 Cdr Krouse welcomes new member Paul Popick Paul Popick, Warren Marton, Cdr Krouse, Deputy Bollinger, Norm Franck & Steffens Smith line up for a photo Congratulations! Billie Jane Marton received her 25 year pin as member of USPS from Cdr Krouse First Lady Eva & P/C Steve Velo (Cdr in 1978, 35 merit marks and still working hard for MRSPS) P/C Al Holmes makes an important point while John Bayliss and Eva Velo listen intently. P/C s Don Butte and Fred Kieser share a good story
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 8 OCTOBER DINNER MEETING 2 of 2 P/D/C Franck, P/C Frenz and First Lady Anita Rowan, ready volunteers for MRSPS Judy Whidden, Assistant Treasurer Jan Burke & AO Dave Frantz, wait for dinner Billie Jane Marton, Dot Frenz & Anne Digan celebrate 25 member years for Billie Jane P/C s Fred Kieser, Peter Gregory & EO Mary Carol Shannahan get ready to engage the speaker Ann Cook & Marian Franck cheer on the photographer while he searches his camera buttons for success Mary Douglas & Alan Douglas share their recent trip abroad with P/C s Frenz and Rowan
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 9 November Dinner Meeting Wednesday, NOV 11, Miles River Yacht Club 1800 Cocktails, 1845 Dinner Pasta Night Guest Speaker: Shawn Carter, Director of Tidewater Physical Therapy Cost $25 Per Person Email, your reservation to Janet Burke; janburke5454@icolud.com Snail mail 1023 River Ter., St. Michaels, MD 21663 Phone 410-745-9768 Name Number attending Total Amount
November, 2015 Miles Lines Page 10 MILES RIVER SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON, INC. P.0. Box 301, Bozman, MD 21612-0301 www.mrsps.org Commander Cdr Isobel Krouse, SN 410.820.6565 pikrouse@atlanticbb.net Executive Officer Lt/C Mary Carol Shannahan, AP 410.745.3321 petegregor@aol.com Educational Officer P/C N. Steffens Smith, AP 410.820.8713 nssmith@verizon.net Administrative Officer Lt/C David Frantz, P 410.544.6297 dgfrantz@atlanticbb.net Secretary Lt/C Diana M. Flagler, AP 410.820.8442 dflagler@bluecrab.org Treasurer Lt/C L. Arnold Peterson, P 410.745.3466 apeterson@atlanticbb.net Asst Educational Officer P/C Fred K. Kieser, AP 410.770.3608 capt_fred1@verizon.net Asst Treasurer 1 st /Lt Janet S. Burke, P 410.745.9768 janburke5454@icloud.com Safety P/D/C W. Norman Franck, SN 410.745.9521 wnfranck@atlanticbb.net Historian Judith T. Whidden 410-745-8477 jwhidden0@gmail.com Membership Judith T. Whidden 410-745-8477 jwhidden0@gmail.com Fellowship Lt Anita Rowan 410.819.6849 abrowan@atlanticbb.net Webmaster P/C Alan D. Holmes, SN 410.745.4122 al-holmes@verizon.net MILES LINES P/C Alan D. Holmes, SN - Editor 410.745.4122 al-holmes@verizon.net Suzan Newnam - Photographer 410.822.8282 suenewlc@verizon.net Vessel Safety Check P/C Maurice E. (Mike) Newnam, III, AP 410.822.3199 mikenewfd@verizon.net Coop Charting Lt/C Mary Carol Shannahan, AP P/C N. Steffens Smith, AP 410.745.3321 410.745.3321 petegregor@aol.com nssmith@verizon.net Boating Activities P/C William G. Rowan, AP 410.819.6849 abrowan@atlanticbb.net Kids Boating Safety Project D. Marian Franck, SN Don Cook, S 410.745.9521 410.476.5068 dmfranck@atlanticbb.net dcook@chesapeake.net CALENDAR NOVEMBER 4 Executive Meeting 1900 MEBA 11 Squadron Dinner Meeting 1800 MRYC DECEMBER 2 Executive Meeting 1900 MEBA 9 Squadron Christmas Party 1800 MRYC