United States Power Squadrons Come for the Boating Education Stay for the Friends Richmond Sail and Power Squadron R Volume 57, Issue 1 Monthly Newsletter April 2017 The Bridge Commander: Robert Palmer, SN r2pmhp@mindspring.com (804) 794-2620 Educational Officer Lt/C Frank Timpano, SN ftimpano@infionline.net (804) 240-8591 Asst Educational Officer Lt. William Simpson bcsimpson1@aol.com (804) 966-2998 Executive Officer: Lt/C Frederick Eddowes, AP smsvds@cox.net (804) 932-3139 Secretary Lt/C Mary Palmer, P r2pmhp@mindspring.com (804) 794-2620 Treasurer Lt/C Michael Silvay, P silv285@verizon.net (804) 360-7756 Next Executive Committee meeting is Monday, April 10, 2017. Contact the Commander about attending. Bob Palmer (L) is pledged in as the Commander by D/5 Executive Officer D/Lt/C C.M. Kohlenberg, P The Bullhorn 1
Commander: Robert Palmer, SN 13300 Lauren Lane Midlothian, VA 23114 r2pmhp@mindspring.com (804)794-2620 Just returned from the 2017 District 5 Spring Conference at the Princess Royale Hotel in Ocean City, MD with reports of good news for Richmond. You may recall the District Rep for our Change of Watch was CM Kohlenberg. He was elected and installed as the new D5 Commander during the Conference event which was held on Saturday, April 1. Richmond had a good group of our members participating, including the Hospitality Suites on Friday night where we wowed others attending with a unique game developed by Jim Zeigler, blending air hockey with miniature golf skills as participants shuttled disks around and through a series of obstacles floating on a blanket of air set out as four legs. Scoring was determined by the number of tries needed to complete each of the four legs. A final winning contestant was drawn by random pick from those with the lowest score. The Chief Commander s Rep (there to officiate at the District Change of Watch) was selected in the drawing to be the winner of those efforts, and all who participated had a very enjoyable time. Richmond s judging of the Best Hospitality Suite resulted in presentation of the winning plaque by us to the Annapolis and Cambridge Squadrons. Overall, there were good interchanges of experiences and fun all around the atrium of the hotel s pool deck. During the Reports made on Saturday, Richmond was presented with several significant awards. As Commander, I was called to accept them on behalf of the Squadron. Perhaps the greatest one was the 2016 membership growth trophy (see pages 3 & 4) representing a 19.4% increase. This increase in membership would not, or could not have been achieved except for the concentrated efforts of our membership in reaching out and connecting with new members. Also, there were District certificates presented for excellence from our newsletter (the Bullhorn) and for the Richmond website (see page 15). Congratulations to our Editor and Webmaster for their work with those means of communicating. Continued on next page The Bullhorn 2
continued from previous page Since it was April Fool s Day, I might have thought some tom-foolery could have been afoot but these all turned out to be real awards that are in our possession and will be displayed and formally presented at a convenient time during a future Squadron meeting. In addition, the Henry Sweet Trustees awarded a new sextant to all 16 Squadrons which had submitted nominations for the Chapman Award. Thanks to our SEO, Frank Timpano for recognizing Jim Zeigler, Richmond has received one to help with future celestial navigation training. The final noteworthy entry for this article was obtaining details for the District Summer Council to be held at Tidewater Yacht Marina and nearby lodging (in Portsmouth) on 27-30 July hosted by Nansemond River Power Squadron. All those interested were encouraged to promptly arrange for space at the marina. Additional details will be forthcoming. Plans are well underway for Boat Operator Certification certifications and for a Navigation Contest during the event. Please advise the Executive Officer or Commander if you are considering joining in the activities and fun in Portsmouth. -Cdr, Bob Palmer The Bullhorn 3
Educational Officer Lt/C Frank Timpano, SN 16504 Estate Lane Montpelier, VA 23192 ftimpano@infionline.net (804) 240-8591 Asst. Educational Officer 1 st Lt. Bill Simpson 5618 Virginia Park Dr Providence Forge, VA 23140 bcsimpson1@aol.com (804)966-2998 We are only a few weeks away from the first Boater's Boot Camp scheduled for 20-21 May, 2017, at Deltaville Yachting Center. A second session is scheduled for 17-18 June at the same location. This year's program is focused on presenting five topics important to all boaters, experienced or not. Here is the course summary that will be covered during the classroom session on Saturday, with on-the-water training the following day. Even if you've been boating for years, there are constantly new developments in electronics, so even experienced boaters can learn from this class. 1. Coastal Navigation: Today, electronics have radically changed navigation, but understanding the basics helps you gain confidence in your equipment and your own skills. You will learn practical techniques to plan, navigate, and check your progress on the water. You will develop situational awareness skills using your eyes and navigation tools to quickly point to your position on a chart, and be able to use backup techniques when the electronics become suspect. 2. Boat Handling Under Power: This seminar shows boaters how to depart and dock under a variety of conditions as well as all about trimming the boat underway. It comes with a 6 x 8.5 color manual of the slides with documentation suitable to be kept on the boat or your bookshelf. 3. Anchoring: The knowledge gained in this session will increase the student s understanding of the conditions and situations involved in anchoring a boat and the need for a proper anchor choice. 4. Using DSC/VHF Radio: VHF radio is the mainstay of coastal communication and essential for emergency communications. This segment explains basic VHF operation along with the operation of the new DSC radio, MMSI numbers, making emergency calls, and radio selection. Includes a VHF Quickguide handy reference. 5. Weather and Forecasting: The safety and comfort of those who venture out on the water have always been weather dependent. This seminar serves as an introduction to the basics of weather and forecasting. To register for this class, contact me directly. Squadron members pay only $100 for this class and will receive credit for 3 seminars. See the detailed information included on page... - Lt/C Frank Timpano, SN The Bullhorn 5
Executive Officer: Lt/C Frederick Eddowes, AP 11521 Doronhurst Drive Providence Forge, VA 23140 smsvds@cox.net (804) 932-3139 We spent the last weekend at District 5 Spring Conference. The Richmond involvement in the Hospitality Suites Competition was, as always, enjoyed and very much appreciated and our entry was again the center of attention. What was noticeable is that overall attendance across the District was down from last year. Richmond, on the other hand, has experienced a great membership increase due to the efforts of the Boater s Boot Camp activities. These boot camps are a great start for building our Squadron s membership up and now we need to help this along with other outside group activities. Two other activities we have are the Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) and Coop-Charting. Becoming a Vessel Safety Examiner (VSE) is an easy process but requires a little effort on your part. There is an entrance exam and a workshop to qualify you and then the field work begins where you have the opportunity to meet the boating public and introduce RSPS/USPS to them. Please contact me if you are interested in taking part in this activity. Coop-Charting is being revamped and the work of locating Geodetic Marks is apparently coming back as National and District are working on the details to resurrect this once again. This has always been a weekend fun activity. I m sure there will be more information on this later. Over the next few months let s put our heads together to expand in other areas in your Squadron. Maybe it is simple fellowship but it is certainly fun and having fun together so give it some thought and send me your ideas. After all, we are America s Boating Club. -Lt/C Fred Eddowes Secretary Lt/C Mary H. Palmer, P 13300 Lauren Ln Midlothian, VA 23114 R2pmhp@mindspring.com 804-794-2620 Welcome to our new year of Richmond Sail & Power Squadron. Thanks to all who came to our General meeting on Feb. 27 so we could accept the slate of officers and committees. We had a lovely time together at the Change of Watch. Several of our members who travel to warmer places in the winter attended. So nice to have you home. We currently have 189 members, but thanks to Jim Zeigler s class we have 5 new members and 2 with additional family joining. Let s support these members, I ll send out their names later. If you wish to get our new roster by email, let us know. It turned out very nice, thanks Bob Palmer. If any of you find errors, please let us know right away so we can send out changes. - Lt/C Mary Palmer Treasurer Lt/C Michael Silvay, P 5233 Cobblers Stone Ct Glen Allen, VA 23059 silv285@verizon.net (804) 360-7756 Details of the Squadron's budget and financial status are available from the Treasurer or any Bridge Officer. You may contact us directly or catch us at one of the meetings and we'll be happy to share the financial statements. We are currently running on a "breakeven" basis for Squadron events. We maintain a reasonable balance in the checking account and have a savings account as well. All expenditures require approval of the Executive Committee and two officer's signatures. -Lt/C Michael Silvay The Bullhorn 6
It is with great sadness that I tell you of one of our squadron family members has died. Janice Baker, widow of Malcolm Baker, died this past week. Janice had been a resident of Lakewood Manor for several years. She recently transferred from independent living into Assisted Living and from there into the special care unit of the Rose Building. Janice and Malcolm were longtime members of the Richmond Sail and Power Squadron and the Nautigals. Malcolm was one of the first members of the famous Sail Committee. Their sailboat, the and later their power boat could be counted on to be at every squadron event and to welcome aboard any members who were just walking the docks. The made one trip to the Bahamas and later a trip to Bermuda. With this experience, Malcolm then taught the Cruise Planning course. Janice was always ready to lend a hand to whatever task needed to be done, either on land or on the water. A memorial service will beheld for Janice in the Simms Chapel of Lakewood Manor at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 17th. It is with many fond memories that we say farewell to another member of the Richmond Sail and Power Squadron family who has crossed the bar. Lt Irene Kent Chamberlin, P Chaplain The Bullhorn 7
Calendar of Events April 10 - Executive Committee Meeting 24 - Squadron Meeting - Location TBD May 6 - NOAA Coop Charting Workshop 13 - Shakedown and Land Cruise 20-21 - Boater s Boot Camp #1 June 10 - Norfolk Harborfest 12 - Executive Committee Meeting 17-18 - Boater s Boot Camp #2 Richmond Sail & Power Squadron Organization BRIDGE Commander Executive Officer Educational Officer Asst. Educational Officer Administrative Officer Secretary Treasurer Robert Palmer Fred Eddowes Frank Timpano Bill Simpson Mary Palmer Michael Silvay Chaplin Irene Chamberlin EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Bridge Officers Anita Hall Member At Large GENERAL COMMITTEES AUDIT Susan Wright Dave Teets Dallas Wampler NOMINATING James Ziegler Dave Teets RULES F. Richards Roop Betty Eddowes James A. Hall WEBMASTER John Etheridge the Bullhorn EDITOR Ernie Burnett The Bullhorn 8
From the Change of Watch (Thanks to Rebecca Silvay for the CoW photos.) Mary Palmer - Member of the Year! 2017 Bridge Members taking the Pledge The Bullhorn 9
Transom Ads This year for our Transom ads I m going to try something new and that is to use a photo, supplied by you, in place of the graphic if you wish. Not all photos may suitable but I ll try. Please see the sample below. Transom Ad Order Form Yes! I want to support the Squadron Publication with a donation of $15.00 Transom Ad Information Boat Name: Or, Select "Compliments of" format: Check one: Power Sail RV emailing photo Member's name(s) to show (format is usually "Jane & John" for example) Make check payable to RSPS and mail to: Lt. Ernie Burnett, 3313 Fox Chase Dr, Midlothian, VA 23112 email: eburnett17@verizon.net (NOTE: All Transom Ads expire in March.) Wright Stuff Compliments of Captain's Choice Buoy Scout Susan & J.T.T. 4/16 Summer Wings Dallas Glamour Gal Mary y & Bob The "RV" Susie & Frank ank 6/16 Compliments of Anne & Jerry Mag and Harle ley 6/16 6/16 Mary & Sandy Ernie & Kathy 2/16 Gotnoboat Sample Compliments of Compliments of Joyce & Georg ge 8/16 Sample Anita & Jim Ginger & Dave 2/16 The Bullhorn 10
Below is a sample of a redesigned life jacket label that is in the process of being approved by the Coast Guard and may start showing up in the near future. The final design has not yet been fully approved. The Bullhorn 11
Updated Program for 2017! Richmond Sail and Power Squadron A Unit of United States Power Squadrons R Boater's Boot Camps @ Deltaville Yachting Center Two Sessions: May 20/21 & June 17/18 Expanded and Improved Course for 2017! Two Full Days! Electronic Navigation and OnTheWater Boat Operation Training Course Summary 1. Coastal Navigation: Today, electronics have radically changed navigation, but understanding the basics helps you gain confidence in your equipment and your own skills. You will learn practical techniques to plan, navigate, and check your progress on the water. You will develop situational awareness skills using your eyes and navigation tools to quickly point to your position on a chart, and be able to use backup techniques when the electronics become suspect. 2. Boat Handling Under Power: This seminar shows boaters how to depart and dock under a variety of conditions as well as all about trimming the boat underway. It comes with a 6 x 8.5 color manual of the slides with documentation suitable to be kept on the boat or your bookshelf. 3. Anchoring: The knowledge gained in this session will increase the student s understanding of the conditions and situations involved in anchoring a boat and the need for a proper anchor choice. 4. Using DSC/VHF Radio: VHF radio is the mainstay of coastal communication and essential for emergency communications. This segment explains basic VHF operation along with the operation of the new DSC radio, MMSI numbers, making emergency calls, and radio selection. Includes a VHF Quickguide handy reference 5. Weather and Forecasting: The safety and comfort of those who venture out on the water have always been weather dependent. This seminar serves as an introduction to the basics of weather and forecasting. 6. Software CDs with Nautical Charting software and Chesapeake Bay and Mid Atlantic area NOAA raster charts PLUS a DSC/VHF radio simulator. 7. On The Water Hands-On Training: The second day of the course is held on a boat captained by an experienced Power Squadron instructor where the first day's classroom training will be practiced and reinforced. 8. Weekend Navigator Textbook: The Weekend Navigator is a 280 page book that teaches you simple boat navigation using GPS and electronics. Learn to navigate if your GPS quits, and get the full picture with your RADAR and depth sounder. Learn how to use both paper and digital charts with this comprehensive guide to electronic navigation. 9. Full year s family membership in United States Power Squadrons! Cost for this two-day intensive hands-on training program is $200 per student.* Space is limited and seats are reserved on a first come first served basis. *Couples that register and attend the course together and share classroom materials will pay only the single student price of $200 for the two-day class. To get more information or pre-register for this course, send an email with your contact information to richmondboatclub@yahoo.com. Additional information and a registration form will be emailed back to you. A deposit of $100 will be required at time of registration with the balance due at the time of the training program. Visit richmondboatclub.com for more information about Richmond Sail and Power Squadron. Email richmondboatclub@yahoo.com for more information or to register. richmondboatclub.com
Boater's Boot Camp Coastal Navigation, Marine Electronics and Hands-On Boat Operation Training A two-day (Saturday/Sunday) training program covering the essentials of electronic navigation, use of GPS and Chartplotters, DSC Radios, anchoring, boat handling and onboard weather forecasting. The second day includes one-on-one hands-on training aboard an instructor's boat, practicing the skills taught during the classroom session. This class will increase your boating confidence and help you stay safe on the water. Course Summary This two-day intensive training course covers the essentials of recreational boating from planning and navigating a cruise to using onboard electronics including chartplotters, radar, AIS and DSC VHF radios. This program includes one full day of interactive classroom instruction (starting at 9:00 am) followed by a second day of on-the-water training (starting 9:00 am at a local marina) by experienced boaters who are members of the United States Power Squadrons, the largest and most widely respected boater training organization. The Boater s Boot Camp program will focus on electronic navigation topics including the use of a computer for planning trips, basics of GPS positioning systems, use of chartplotters, radar and AIS systems. You will learn how to plan a cruise, identify and enter waypoints, build a route in your chartplotter, navigate a boat following a route, adjusting routes during the course of a trip, and using chartplotter functions to improve the safety of your trip. The basics of RADAR operation, MARPA and collision avoidance will be covered, as well as the use and benefits of AIS receivers and transceivers. Students will get hands-on experience operating all of these devices and more. The installation of DSC/VHF Radios has become commonplace, but many boaters don t understand how to use the DSC functions. In this class, you will use a demonstrator unit in the classroom to place and receive calls, then, aboard a trainer s boat, practice using the DSC radio functions both for placing calls as well as for sending and receiving position requests. The DSC/VHF radio is an essential safety tool for every boater, and familiarity with its operation is important for every boater. Additional classroom topics will include on-board weather forecasting and navigation using portable electronics (smartphones, tablets). Learning how to obtain and interpret weather information, identify dangerous weather, predicting storm movements and risks can greatly improve your safety on the water. Included in the course fee are the following student materials 1. Seminar materials handouts for each subject covered in the classroom. 2. Maptech Chart Viewer software and Chesapeake Bay and Mid Atlantic area NOAA raster charts. 3. Weekend Navigator Textbook. 280 pages, Learn to navigate if your GPS quits, and get the full picture with your radar and depth sounder. Learn how to use both paper and digital charts with this comprehensive guide to electronic navigation. 4. Full year s family membership in United States Power Squadrons. Provides access to a wide array of additional training programs including Seamanship and Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Engine Maintenance, Inland and Coastal Navigation Certification Programs, and over 50 other courses and seminars. Membership in USPS provides access to dozens of other discounts and benefits including BOAT/US and insurance discounts for members. Visit USPS.ORG for all the details and benefits of membership. Cost for this two-day intensive hands-on training program is $200 per student.* Space is limited and seats are reserved on a first come first served basis. *Couples that register and attend the course together and share classroom materials will pay only the single student price of $200 for the two-day class. To get more information or pre-register for this course, send an email with your contact information to richmondboatclub@yahoo.com. Additional information and a registration form will be emailed back to you. A deposit of $100 will be required at time of registration with the balance due at the time of the training program. Visit richmondboatclub.com for more information about Richmond Sail and Power Squadron. Richmond Sail and Power Squadron
The Hospitality Suite Under Construction for the Spring Conf. The Bullhorn 14
The Hospitality Suite Under Construction for the Spring Conf. The crew relaxing after getting set up. The finished product. The Bullhorn 15
Richmond Sail and Power Squadron Secretary Lt/C Mary Palmer 13300 Lauren Ln Midlothian, VA 23114 Squadron Member Address 1 Address 2 City, State, zip Next Squadron meeting will be on April 24, 2017 at 7:00PM. The location will be announced. For more information, visit our website at richmondboatclub.com. The Bullhorn is published monthly by and for the members of Richmond Sail and Power Squadron. Copyright 2017. No portion of this publication may be reprinted or reused without express written consent of the Editor. Contact the Editor, Lt Ernie Burnett, AP-IN at eburnett17@verizon.net; 3313 Fox Chase Dr., Midlothian, VA 23112. (804)241-4170. richmondboatclub.com Pictures of the plaques awarded to the Bullhorn (L) and the RSPS Website as Distinctive Communicators. We would like to recognize and thank our donors for their sponsorship of the Squadron's activities and mission.