special message for members

BARE COVE SAIL & POWER SQUADRON EVENTS
HINGHAM , MASSACHUSETTS
A Unit of United States Power Squadrons^®

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
OF BARE COVE POWER & SAIL SQUADRON

The "Squadron Boating Course" has long been the cornerstone of education for the recreational boating public and, is "the" introductory course for both sail and power boaters and, also meets the requirements of the United States Coast Guard, the National Association of Boating Law Administrators, and every state in our nation which requires formal training as a condition of obtaining a 'license' to operate a power boat.

The "Squadron Boating Course" is presented yearly, in ten two hour sessions, by experienced instructors who are members of Hingham's Bare Cove Squadron and, meets all educational standards of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. In addition to the standard textbook and curriculum specified by United States Power Squadrons, students also received instruction based on the Bare Cove Squadron's proprietary manual "Charting and Elementary Coastal Navigation".

The Squadron will accept advance registrations through Friday, February 26th for the more comprehensive "Squadron Boating Course", for adults and 'mature' teens. This class will meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in the South Hingham Middle School cafeteria, beginning on the second Wednesday in March 2007.

The Squadron will conduct a fall 2006 BOAT SMART class, beginning October 10th, and spring 2007 BOAT SMART class, beginning on a date to be announced, for the children of the Hingham Middle School who will attain age 12 by June 1, 2007. Notices will be sent home to parents in the school news letters, and registration forms will be availabale in the school office. We will also conduct a spring 2007 BOAT SMART class, beginning in late March,for the children of the Gates Intermediate School in Scituate.

The foregoing tells only part of the story of Bare Cove Squadron's contribution to our local towns in particular and the boating community in general.Since we began the school based BOAT SMART activity in the Fall of 2001, we have had more than 350 students attend this course. You should also know that Bare Cove is the ONLY squadron in the United States that conducts BOAT SMART in a public school environment with the full cooperation of the local school departments and school staffs.

Since 1998, our Squadron Boating Course recruiting efforts have produced only 57 new members in our squadron, out of more than 650 students enrolled in the course. If more of our "Active" members would visit the classes, and help our students with charting problems, it would demonstrate that they care enough to show an interest in our educational activities and possibly help with the recruiting effort as well.

Neither does it tell of the time and effort expended by those few who plan and execute the Advanced Grade educational programs for our Members or, those very few, almost invisible, people who conduct Vessel Safety Examinations. Unless you have participated in any of these activities, you will not have any idea of the commitment of time and energy required of the Educational Department's small staff, to conduct Advanced Grade courses, a Boating course, and four Boat Smart courses each year, or the time and effort, of an even smaller staff, necessary to conduct Vessel Safety Examinations or the business of the Squadron as a whole. We are, after all, a VOLUNTEER organization - where did all the volunteers go ?

In recognition of their contributions, an expression of sincere appreciation goes out to:

Frank Ciolkosz, Bill Dawson, George Dolan, and Cynthia Madden, who took time out of their busy schedules to complete the Instructor Qualification course;

George Dolan, Bill Dawson, Virginia Gray, Cynthia Madden, Jim McIver, and Jim Gorman, who posted updates September 3, 2007 their Instructor Certification through 2009;

Frank Ciolkosz, Jim McIver, Jay Wayland, Virginia Gray, and Jim Gorman who have conducted Advanced Grade courses in Seamanship, Advanced Piloting, Engine Maintenance, Cruise Planning, Weather and Junior Navigation respectively, ;

George Dolan without whose tireless efforts, and able instruction, our Boating Course would not exist, nor would we be on the "right track" without his guidance as Rules Officer and Flag Lieutennant of the Squadron;

Lloyd Marshall, who supports our Boating Course with his engaging lectures on "knots and lines"

"Old hands" Bob Gibbs, Bob Barker, and Ray Walker, who have returned to 'active duty' in both the classrooms and serve on the Squadron Executive Committee

Treasurer George Murphy, who assists with the Boating Course and who has become a mainstay in the classrooms of the Boat Smart course;

Virginia Gray, who participates heavily in the childrens' classes (and corrects most of the examinations);

Our incumbent Commander Cynthia Madden, whose services as Squadron Treasurer did not end with "crunching numbers" and "moving paper from one pile to another" - for four years she was the consumate professional "Chief Financial Officer" who managed the financial affairs of the Educational Department in particular and the Squadron as a whole, and as well, assists in enrolling students at the beginning of courses and, correcting examinations at their conclusion;

Will Dawson, our immediate Past Commander, who assists with Vessel Examinations, student registrations, and attends our Boating Course class meetings to assist students who have problems with charts and course plottings;

Marie Ferrante, our Squadron Secretary, who arranges and manages our social events and, as well, supports our educational programs with the special receptions she organizes for our graduates;

Together with Administrative Officer, Safety Officer and Merit Mark Chairman Dick Eckhouse, Lloyd Marshall, Virginia Gray, Bill Dawson, and Jim Gorman, constitute our Squadron's team of Qualified Vessel Examiners who, collectively, were credited with the examination of more than 50 vessels over the past year;

Don Mann, our Merit Mark Chairman Emeritus, who labored long and hard to be sure that everyone who actively participates in and supports the Squadron's functions (especially the Educational Department's activities) receives appropriate recognition.

Susan Bonn, who is one of our leaders in the "telephone contact group", whose voice we hope you will recognize when she calls to inquire if you are interested in being a participant in whatever our latest project or function may be.

Last, but certainly not least, we must also recognize the contribution made by a recent new member, Joe Ribaudo, who serves on the Squadron Executive Committee and is also Chairman of our Audit Committee

And, so many others who may not actually be Members of our Squadron, such as our spouses, children, and friends, who pitch in and help with whatever it may be that requires another pair of hands.
If your name is not in this list, it should remind you of the commitment you made when you joined USPS and, that many among you are not pulling your oars.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SQUADRON'S ACTIVITIES ?

The success and longevity of every Squadron is totally dependent upon the active participation of its Members in the various activities it conducts. Among these, most importantly, are the programs of instruction. Of course, we would also like to see many more among those who attend Squadron social functions - we know you are busy and that you have other social outlets - but, YOU ARE ALSO A MEMBER OF A PROUD AND UNIQUE GROUP - come to the functions and share in the conversation - tell a few sea stories and listen to those of your fellow Members - although there may be a few "stiffs" among us, for the most part we really are a fun group !

Although we presently have a highly experienced (although tired) teaching staff, additional assistance is essential to the progress of the students and our continued ability to present our courses. As you may remember from your first exposure to The Squadron Boating Course there were "angels" and teaching assistants in the classroom, who helped you when you had questions or encountered difficulty with any among the concepts being presented.

In addition to the need for classroom "angels", it is from the graduates of these classes that we are able to recruit new Members for our Bare Cove Sail & Power Squadron. It should be the responsibility of each Member to let every new student know that we care about their progress, we want them to go the distance, we want to help them, we would like to have them become Members of our Squadron and have the opportunity of participating in future Advanced Grade courses.

In short, you are being invited to "put back some of what you have taken out" in terms of your USPS® experiences, both social and educational.

If you will give the Squadron just one evening, your presence will show that the Squadron is more than just the instructors the students see every week, and help immeasurably. Furthermore, if you can give just one more evening during our Winter/Spring class⁽¹⁾,or a Winter/Spring class and serve as an "Instructor-in-Training", it will help us show the students that we care !

⁽¹⁾The next Winter Class begins in early March ^th2007

FOR THE WINTER 2007 BOATING COURSE SCHEDULE, PRESS HERE

IF YOU WILL HELP YOUR SQUADRON, AND THE NEW STUDENTS, PLEASE SELECT THE EVENING ON WHICH YOU WILL BE AVAILABLE AND SEND YOUR COMMITMENT VIA TO THE
Squadron Educational Officer

To return to our Home Page, press here

FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A FULL COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE U.S. FRIGATE CONSTITUTION UNDER SAIL (8x10), SUITABLE FOR FRAMING, PRESS HERE

this page last posted updates September 3, 2007 September 5, 2007,