Administrative Officer Elect, Joy Barbara gave a seminar on boating safety at the 2014 Jaffa Sports Show in Altoona, PA. - February

Commander Harvey Haag, JN, presents Past Commander, Robert L. Passow, SN with his 50 year plaque at our annual holiday gathering. - January

Bald Eagle Power Squadron teamed up with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary from Raystown lake and Sayers Lake to do Vessel Safety Checks at Colyer Lake in Centre County, PA for a fundraiser to help save the lake from being drained completely and lost forever. The event attracted around 150 canoes and kayaks. Together, the team conservatively inspected at least 80 of them! This was an excellent example of how the memorandum of understanding between the United States Power Squadrons and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary should work!

In October we spent the day at the Howard Fire Company Fall Punkin' Chunkin' Festival at Bald Eagle State Park talking to people about our upcoming ABC3 Class. It was a bit cold and damp, but the event still attracted a lot of visitors.

Patton Township Health and Safety Fair. September.

Chalk The Walk at the Seven Points Beach on Raystown Lake. Members helped judge chalk drawings depicting boating and water safety and distributed boating safety information to guests. Members shared a great afternoon and a wonderful picnic lunch!

Getting ready for the Pleasant Gap Fire Company Parade in Pleasant Gap, PA. First time with no rain!

BEPS in the second annual, Central PA 4th Fest Parade in downtown State College, PA. Parade organizers contacted us early in the year to invite us to come back! Photo Credit: Central PA 4th Fest

All decked out for the Boalsburg Fire Company Parade in Boalsburg, PA. No prize this year, but still fun!

Bald Eagle Power Squadron taught America's Boating Course in February 2012. The class was held at the Patton Township Municipal Building in State College, PA. Five students successfully completed the class! Another class was held at a private residence in Altoona PA in April 2012.

Boalsburg Fire Company Parade - May (2nd Place)

Central PA 4th Fest, Parade of Heroes - July

Pleasant Gap Fire Company Parade - July

Gregg Township Fire Company Parade - July

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescuse Halloween Parade - October

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescuse Halloween Parade - October

Bald Eagle Power Squadron participated in several parades this year and marked several new changes to our float. One major change were custom printed banners and magnets, printed for BEPS by eSigns.com thanks to a winning contest entry at the beginning of the year. They made their first appearance in the Boalsburg Fire Company Parade and helped us win 2nd place in the float competition. The Central PA 4th Fest Parade marked our first time riding in the boat during a parade, naturally we wore our life Jackets. This parade was the final parade for the small pedal boat that was our staple attention getter in these parades. The Pleasant Gap Fire Company Parade, which was once again very wet, marked the debut of our new parade boat, a 14 foot long, pedal powered, paddle-wheel pontoon boat owned by the SEO. It was also the first time the XO and his wife used their van in a parade. During this parade, our float was seen by a fire fighter, from the Gregg Township Fire Company, who had taken one of our classes and as a result, we were invited to their parade the following week. Unfortunately, the XO's van was hit from behind during the week between the two parades and we had to fall back to the SEO's pickup truck. The weather was much nicer for that parade and we attached bubble machines (from last year's Clearfield County Fair Parade) to the paddle wheel, they were a huge hit. In October we joined forces with the US Army Corps of Engineers from Raystown Lake in the Huntingdon Regional Fire and Rescue, Halloween Parade. Our theme was "Be part of the living: Wear a life jacket!" Several Rangers (including Bobber the Dog) joined us in the parade and provided candy and coloring books for the massive crowds that lined the parade route.

Bald Eagle Power Squadron, in conjunction with the National Safe Boating Council, held a "Ready, Set, Wear-It!" Life Jacket World Record Day event at Jim's Anchorage in Hesston, PA. Locally, our 90 participants were part of 3,993 participants world wide! PA State Senator, John Eichelberger and PA State Representitive Mike Fleck joined in the day of fun, photos and education! We were even able to broadcast our event live over the internet thanks to The Make Space in State College, PA. Below are a few select photos, check out our collection on photobucket.com.

PA State Senator John EichelBerger joins BEPS Members and an honorary member from Akron Power Squadron at "Ready, Set, Wear-It!

The kids area and the backdrop are ready to go.

XO Scott Barbara inflates his Life Jacket at "Ready, Set, Wear-It! Watch another video of a belt pack life jacket.

Good Causes on Grove Street at the Centre County Grange Fair - August

Good Causes on Grove Street at the Centre County Grange Fair - August

Howard Fire Company Fall Festival, Bald Eagle State Park - October

Howard Fire Company Fall Festival, Bald Eagle State Park - October (Kids Fish Pond)

Bald Eagle Power Squadron set up several booths again this year, not all are pictured.

Bald Eagle Power Squadron taught America's Boating Course in May 2011. The class was held at the Centre Region Council of Governments Building in State College, PA. Seven students successfully completed the class! Another class was held in June 2011 at Jim's Anchorage in Hesston, PA. Nine students successfully completed this class!

Bald Eagle Power Squadron participated in National Safe Boating Week with two displays on Lake Raystown. The Army Corps of Engineers invited us to set up a booth at the end of the public launch ramp at Seven Points Recreation Area. We met officers from the PA Fish and Boat Commission and worked alongside the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to do Vessel Safety Checks. At the same time, Jim's Anchorage, a local boat dealership just down the road, invited us to set up information at their Open House. It was a busy weekend!

Boalsburg Fire Company Parade - May

Port Matilda Fire Company Parade - June (1st Place)

Pleasant Gap Fire Company Parade - July

Clearfield County Fair Company Parade - August

Bald Eagle Power Squadron participated in several parades this year. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Complete Medical Billing Solutions in Boalsburg, PA for sponsoring us! Their generous donation allowed us to purchase candy to throw to the cheering crowds!

After the June Boating Course, Members of Bald Eagle Power Squadron cruised Raystown Lake in Hesston, PA (Huntingdon County) on "Leprechaun" a 28 foot Harris FloteBote pontoon. The boat belongs to bridge officers, Dave and Scott Barbara.

National Marina Day, Seven Points Marina, Raystown Lake - June

Port Matilda Fire Company Parade Carnival - June/July

Patton Township Heath and Safety Fair - September

Howard Fire Company Fall Festival, Bald Eagle State Park - October

Bald Eagle Power Squadron set up several booths this year. A few weeks after our displays during National Safe Boating Week, we participated in National Marina Day at Seven Points Marina on Raystown Lake in Hesston, PA. In addition to the booth, XO and Vessel Examiner Scott Barbara spent the day doing Vessel Safety Checks around the marina. Port Matilda Volunteer Fire Company allowed us to set up a display at their annual Carnival before and after their parade a few weeks later. Patton Township (near State College) invited us back to their annual Health and Safety Fair. Howard Fire Company, located in the town closest to Foster Joseph Sayers Dam at Bald Eagle State Park, invited us to their 1st annual Fall Festival. Included in this list, but seperate because if its importance, is the booth at the Centre County Grange Fair (below).

The Centre County Grange Fair provides space for non-profit organizations to showcase their causes on Grove Street across from the political tents at the Fair. Organizations are chosen by lottery and Bald Eagle Power Squadron was chosen to exhibit during three days of the fair; thank you very much Grange Fair for your support!

Squadron Commander Guy Fissel, XO Scott Barbara and SEO David Barbara with PA State Representative, Kerry Benninghoff.

Squadron XO Scott Barbara and SEO David Barbara with PA State Representative, Scott Conklin.

Representatives, Kerry Benninghoff (D Centre County) and Scott Conklin (R Centre County) co-sponsored a the bill that makes the penalty for BUI the same as it is for DUI on land. We invited both to our booth to thank them for this important piece of legislation!

Click for a larger view

Bald Eagle Power Squadron was awarded 1st Place for Excellence in Recreational Boating Education from the National Boating Federation and the United States Power Squadrons for the July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 boating season.

Photo of our booth early in the morning

Bald Eagle Power Squadron joined several local fire departments, police departments, search and rescue groups and various health and safety organizations for the annual Health and Safety Fair in the Colonnade Shopping Center parking lot. Members gave away 200 MetLife coloring books and talked to hundreds of people about safe boating. This was the second year the Squadron participated and our booth was so outstanding, the event organizers, The Patton Township Business Association and Patton Township Police Department extended a permanent invitation to our Squadron for as long as the event is held.