What You May Have Missed

October 26th Members' Meeting
“Submarine Force of Today”
by Master Chief Kellen Volland


CMDCM (SS) Kellen Voland
Command Master Chief, Navy Submarine Base New London

In February 2021, Command Master Chief Voland became the 19th Command Master Chief of Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, Command Master Chief Voland ` also become a Connecticut native. Following graduation from Groton’s Robert E. Fitch Senior High School in 2002, he enlisted in the Navy and volunteered for the Submarine Force, ascending the ranks and earning designation as a specialist in submarine warfare.

He completed basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, and Basic Enlisted Submarine School and Sonar Technician “A” School at Naval Submarine School, in Groton.

Command Master Chief Voland’s at sea assignments include USS HARTFORD (SSN-768) stationed in Groton, where he served as a member, and then Leading Petty Officer, of Sonar Division. During this assignment, he advanced to First Class Petty Officer, earned his Enlisted Submarine Warfare insignia, and completed various deployments to the Southern, Mediterranean and Central Command Areas of Operation.

H also served in USS MISSOURI (SSN-780) stationed in Groton, as the Sonar Division Leading Chief Petty Officer; and after advancing to Senior Chief in June 2012, he assumed the duties of Weapons Department Senior Enlisted Advisor. USS MISSOURI completed a six month deployment as well as a surge deployment to the European Command (EUCOM) Area of Operations, while Command Master Chief Voland was assigned. In August 2017, he reported to USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) stationed in Groton, as the ship’s third Chief of the Boat. he led USS NORTH DAKOTA through two Six Month EUCOM deployments and achieved Two Meritorious Unit Citations, and the 2018 COMSUBRON FOUR Battle “E” Award.

Command Master Chief Voland’s shore assignments include duty as a recruiter and Station Leading Chief Petty Officer for Navy Recruiting District New England, and serving as Sonar Assistant on the Staff of Submarine Squadron Four in Groton.

Command Master Chief Voland is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Academy Class 61 and the Chief of the Boat/Command Master Chief course. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Good Conduct Medal (five awards), and numerous unit and campaign awards.

September 28th Members’ Meeting
“Join us on an Adventure spanning nearly 18 Months on America's Great Loop!”
Featuring Nick Civitillo

March 23rd Annual Members’ Meeting
“The Water World of Varenna and Lake Como”
Lt/C Cliff McKibbin, SN

Rick Steves suggests Varenna as the ‘place to stay’ when visiting Lake Como in Italy. It is the center of a triangle of the beautiful towns of Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio and is easy to get to from Milan. A short ferry boat ride across the lake to either town makes for an easy day trip to see the towns, villas, churches, museums, and waterfronts. Cliff will show slides of
all of the sights as well as discuss getting there and highlight some of the sights in ‘not to be missed’ Milan.

Cliff and his wife, Lucille, have enjoyed visiting Europe and especially Italy for some years. They have been using Airbnb for the last five years and rely heavily on Rick Steves for guidance on his ‘do it yourself’ style of travel.

September 22nd Members’ Meeting
“Whales are Back in New York Waters”
by Lisa Piastuch

After many years of absence, the whales are back in New York waters! Species such as the seasonally migrating Humpback and North Atlantic Right Whales, as well as the Fin whale, are frequent visitors to the New York Bight. Using a variety of scientific tools, scientists are setting out to gain a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of these large whales and sea turtles in the Bight. Join North American Marine Environment Protection Association’s (NAMEPA) Education and Outreach Director, Lisa Piastuch, to learn more about the New York Bight Whale Monitoring Program, methodologies employed, basic facts about marine mammals and the results of the data collected as part of their work to protect the global oceans, lakes and river resources.
Lisa has a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Management from Sacred Heart University, where her research focused on coastal ecosystems restoration. Before joining NAMEPA, Lisa was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport, teaching environmental conservation and ecology. In addition, Lisa has over ten years of professional experience in the non-profit sector, forming partnerships and fostering collaborations with various organizations. She continues to inspire and educate all ages on environmental stewardship.

February 25, 2020 Members' Meeting Featured
“The Water World of Amsterdam”
by Cliff McKibbin

Lt/C Cliff McKibbin, SN will present slides from his trip last summer to Amsterdam, Netherlands. He will cover the extensive canals of Amsterdam with over 3000 house boats; the House Boat Museum showing the inside of a house boat as well as its cost to buy and moor and its construction; a side trip to the famous Keukenhof Gardens (think 10 million tulips); and a side trip to Enkhuisen to the Zuiderzee Museum . The latter was a water side village similar to Sturbridge Village with people explaining how to make rope, operate windmills, plus all the activities necessary for a self-sustaining village in the 1800s.
 
He will also cover the engineering marvel of the walling off the Zuiderzee, turning a third of Holland from a dangerous shallow saltwater pond into a freshwater lake. Finally, he will touch on a few practicalities of a trip to Holland (getting there, food is similar to ours, they speak English, Airbnb, etc.). You’ll want to go and see it for yourself!
Cliff is currently the Treasurer and Historian of the Hartford Power Squadron and has served as its Secretary and Commander. He has also served the District 1 organization as Secretary, Treasurer, and is currently the Editor of the Sounds of 1. He and his wife, Lucille, have traveled to Europe several times and always enjoy delving into the different culture, art, and history.

January 28, 2020 Members' Meeting Featured
"The Connecticut River from the Air"
by Jerry Roberts

October 22, 2020 Members’ Meeting Featured
“Emergencies at Sea”
by Captain Thomas Heinssen

You’re out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and you ground your boat on a sandbar. You recheck your charts, and there is no sandbar there. The annual spring floods have created a sandbar where there once was none, and you’re the lucky one that found it! The tide is going out, so you are soon to be high and dry. So, what do you do? If you’re like a lot of boaters, you carry towing insurance on your boat, so you call your carrier Sea Tow. Different scenario. Now let’s say you’re out on Long Island Sound and you hit some rocks. You later check your charts, and sure enough, there they are. No excuse this time, but it happens. For now, though, you have a situation on your hands. This time the tide is coming in, and you’re taking on water. Do you still call Sea Tow, or do you call the “Coasties?” Is this still a towing situation, or did it turn into a salvage operation? Does your Sea Tow policy still cover you, or do you need to rely your boat policy to cover you? Does your boat policy even cover you?

Our October speaker Captain Thomas Heinssen from Sea Tow will talk to us about Emergencies at Sea and will endeavor to answer these and any other questions you have on this often-misunderstood topic.

Please bring your questions and join us for what is sure to be an educational and entertaining evening.

September 24, 2019 Members’ Meeting Featured
“Steering by the Stars: Celestial Navigation”
by Brian J. Koehler
Supervisor, Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport

When we look up at the sky, we are seeing the very same stars that guided sailors long before the invention of navigational tools. Over time, we have advanced from compass to sextant to the modern GPS units that many of our smartphones have. It is important now more than ever to foster an interest in the traditions of the past. Our September presentation will provide a detailed overview of the evolution of maritime celestial navigation, beginning with the earliest recorded methods and advancing through the present time. We’ll explore deduced reckoning, eastingwesting, latitude by the noon sun during the day and Polaris by night, and the “Quest for Longitude” and its results. We will conclude by examining how these methods and tools have laid the groundwork for the modern GPS navigation upon which we all rely in our world today.

Since 1960, the Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport has been a center for science education, inspiring visitors to draw connections between our maritime history and the world around us. Supervising those efforts since 2013 has been Brian Koehler. His primary responsibilities have been to lead, manage, train, and support the planetarium staff of educators and volunteers. He oversees daily operations, public shows, school programs, and equipment maintenance. He is responsible for developing new programming, as well as modifying existing programming, to meet the newest Science Education Standards at both federal and state levels. Finally, he is spearheading new marketing efforts to increase the
visibility of the Planetarium, with the ultimate goal of maximizing their attendance potential.

Please join us for our kickoff meeting of the fall season for what is sure to be an educational and entertaining evening.

May 28, 2020  Members’ Meeting Featured
“Ferry Tales”
by Bill Fournier

The May 28th Members’ Meeting will feature a talk by Bill Fournier. Bill will present us with the intriguing history of Connecticut River ferries from the earliest 'Fording Place' to their eventual replacement with bridges. Bill's research into the subject included viewing many items housed in local Historical Societies and Libraries, as well as his own extensive collection of Connecticut River historical items, books, Army Corps of Engineers charts and related reports. He is a wealth of knowledge and his presentation will be enlightening.

We will also be given a glimpse into the history of well-used ferry crossings located at Windsor, Hartford, Wethersfield, Haddam, and Old Saybrook.

Having grown up living next to the Connecticut River at the family homestead, Bill obtained his first rowboat at seven years old. He helped his parents maintain and operate Fournier's Boat Livery for the rental of Shad fishing boats. His interest in boating includes service in the CT DEEP Boating Division. Starting in 1983, he coordinated and taught various boating safety education classes throughout the State. Bill’s interests in history continued to grow while researching the history of King's (Terry's) Island. Currently, in preparation for publication, his research will be a reference for historians. The reference should also have a wide appeal to a general audience of those interested in River history. We are honored to have him as a speaker and look forward to his presentation.

February 26th 2019 Members' Meeting
"A Discussion on Connecticut's Boating Industry"
by Don MacKenzie

The February 26th Members' Meeting will feature a talk by Don MacKenzie, Vice President and General Manager of Boats Incorporated a boat dealership and marina located in picturesque Niantic Connecticut. Boats Incorporated is one of the few dealerships in Connecticut to be Marine Certified‚ and a Top 100 Dealer since the inception of both programs. It has been a Grady-White Admiral's Circle Member for 15 consecutive years, a Yamaha Best in Class Dealer in the Northeast for 11 consecutive years, one of the Yamaha Dealer Council Members, and last but not least, a Parker Marine Customer Service Award Winner for the past three years.
Don's talk will mostly revolve around Hartford and politics and how large our industry is and how much revenue the industry brings into the state. Hartford often treats our industry as nothing but rich guys and think we all have yachts and can afford to pay any taxes they put upon us. They don't realize the average size boat in our state is only 22'. Don plans on discussing how much of an effect people in the industry have in meeting one on one with a representative from their district.
Don will also discuss the job market. The boating industry is losing good technicians by simple attrition. The industry is screaming for good mechanics and with Dealer Certification. The good dealerships in the state are paying great wages, medical, 401k with matching funds, personal days, etc. It is a good paying job in a great working atmosphere. The kids today don't understand jobs are waiting for them. If you or someone you know is looking for a career working with boats, please do not miss this presentation.
The last thing he will discuss is the challenge of bringing new and younger boaters into boating. The list of boaters in their thirties is dwindling. We must find a way to get the youth into boating. The manufacturers have discovered they make the most money on the larger boats and we need an entry level boat that is affordable for the younger generation to get their feet wet. Boating is one of the ONLY activities that families can still do together.
Please don't miss what is sure to be a lively and informative discussion on a topic we all love. Bring your friends and family too.