Why join USPS® and Coos Bay Squadron?

1. Education
2. Fun
3. Activities
4. Friends
5. Save on Insurance
6. Service to The Boating Community, Your Community and Country

   Membership Qualifications

   1. Be At Least 18 Years Of Age.
   2. Pass An Exam Approved By The Operating Committee. (Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Course, or other proctored exams) (On approval of Squadron Executive Committee, experienced boaters may have this requirement waived.)
   3. Willingness to contribute your talents and energy to promote boating safety.
   4. Be Accepted By The Squadron Executive Committee.
   5. Have Paid All Applicable Entrance Fees And Dues.

   Types of Membership

   Active

   Active members are voting members who can take courses, attend membership meetings, hold office, earn merit marks, and receive publications.

   Additional Active

   Additional Active members have all the same rights and privileges as Active members with two exceptions. Additional Active members must have the same mailing address as at least one Active member, but do not need to be related. Additional Active members do not receive publications. Since we save on postage Annual dues are lower for Additional Active members.

   Family

   A Family member must be related to either an Active or Additional Active member. Family members can attend meetings and take courses, (provided they have passed an Approved Exam). Family members may not vote, may not hold office, and do not receive publications, but may earn merit marks,
   
   Annual dues are very low for Family members. There is no minimum age for Junior Family members.
   
   

   Membership is by application and is for anyone who shares our common love of boating, has passed one of our public boating courses, either the Squadron Boating Course or Boat Smart (or equivalent*), and who is interested in advancing the objectives of the organization: the education of members, participation in civic programs, and the creation of an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie among members.

   Active members must be at least 18 years of age; there are no age considerations for family members

   
   
   Education
   Coos Bay Power Squadron-USPS courses are divided into three types. Advanced Grades, Electivies, and Learning Guides. The Advanced Grades are designed to be taken in sequence beginning with Seamanship and progressing through Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigation and Navigation.
   
   Electives include Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics, Sail, Weather, Cruise Planning and Instructor Developement.
   
   Learning Guides are self study programs ranging from Amateur Radio to Navigational Astronomy and many other topics of nautical interest. Over twenty programs in all.
   
   Contact the Squadron Education Officer at 541-290-3957 for more details.
   
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   Fun
   Fun in the Squadron can also be broken into three parts. Cruises, Social Events and Meetings.
   
   Cruises and picnics are usually at places accessible by boat or automobile and may be held several times each year.
   
   Social Events include the Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Party, Annual Change of Watch and Crab Feed.
   
   Meetings can also be included as Social events as there are Potluck Dinners and/or deserts after entertaining and informative speakers or programs.
   
   District 32 Social Events are the District 32 Conferences hosted by Squadrons of the District. These meetings will bring members of all District 32 Squadrons (Oregon) and several District 16 Squadrons (Washington) and a USPS National Officer together to conduct the business of the District.
   
   A National Governing Board Meeting was held in Portland in 2005 with members from all over the USA in attendance.
   
   Another reason for the fun of it is an educated boater is a boater who enjoys the sport more. As you learn more about boating, you become more comfortable with your craft. You learn how to go farther, go safer, and have more fun everywhere you go with your boat.
   
   

   Boating is fun…we’ll show you how

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   Friends
   Attending classes, meetings, cruises, activities and social events will increase your circle of friends. And they will all have an interest in and a love of boating. Attending the three annual District meetings or other squadron activities will extend your friendships beyond the local area.
   
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   Activities
   Attending classes, meetings, cruises, and social events can all be clasified as activities. CBPS activities also include the civic service programs of Coos Bay Power Squadron, our annual rummage sale and annual Crab Feed. Other activities are determined by the desires of the membership.
   
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   Savings
   Passing the Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart or America's Boating Course will bring you a discount from many insurance companies.
   
   Additional discounts are earned by passing the Advance Grades Courses. Many members save more than their annual dues by taking and passing the Advance Grades Courses and it is not one time only but a continuing savings of up to 23%.
   
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   Service to The Boating Community, Your Community and Country
   
   Teaching the Squadron Boating Course, or America's Boating Course is the primary public service of Coos Bay Power Squadron and is especially important now that Oregon has the Mandatory Boater Safety Education law that will require all operators of recreational boats of over 10 horsepower to have the card after 1January 2009.
   
   Another major civic service of USPS and Coos Bay Power Squadron is the Cooperative Charting program. The contribution of correction data for nautical and aeronautical charts, reports on marine facilities and the condition and status of geodetic survey markers (bench marks).
   
   A benefit of belonging to USPS and the Cooperative Charting program is that members can receive a 10% discount on the purchase of charts by ordering direct from National Ocean Service. Looking for chart corrections can be a fun and rewarding outing.
   
   A recent addition to the civic services of CBPS is the Vessel Safety Check program. Qualified members conduct free safety inspections of recreational vessels of all kinds.
   
   
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