Report for 4 October 2007 District Council Meeting by P/D/C W. Lee Blackburn, SN D14 Vessel Safety Check Program Chairman Summer is a memory. Now we are in the beautiful Fall boating season. You might expect that we would have wrapped up the District 14 Vessel Safety Check Program at this time and be closing the books. But we are not at that point. What has happened? During the last week I have submitted to headquarters over 60 VSCs forwarded to me from all over our district. Look at the weather forecast for this coming weekend. Claire and I plan to be out there still enjoying the weather and the water and I expect that we will not be alone. The VSCs done now may only be “good” for the remainder of the calendar year but the message goes beyond that. As long as the water does not freeze, there will be people boating, fishing and hunting on it. There is no good reason to stop doing Vessel Safety Checks now. We in District 14 have at least one Vessel Examiner in each of our 8 squadrons, 48 in all. So far these Vessel Examiners have checked 411 boats of all sizes and shapes from kayaks to trawlers, from dingys to sailboats, from inflatables to cruisers. Most important is not the type or size of their boat but the safety message and materials these captains of their own craft have received. For an organization that believes in promoting recreational boating safety, the job is not done yet. Yes, boating has become safer and more people are aware of the risks but the job is still not finished. For your part, as a member of the United States Power Squadrons, if you own a boat, please have it checked. If you know someone who owns a boat, help them arrange to have their boat checked. For example, just last week, I did a VSC on a boat that was coming out of the water for the season only a week later. Why bother? Because next year, Summer 2008, is coming, and for one thing, preparing for it helps while away the winter. A new inflatable PFD or a bright orange whistle could make someone a nice Christmas present! Christmas is coming too. Return