USPS
 
USPS
in Oklahoma City, OK
the Local Unit of the America's Boating Club
aka the United States Power Squadrons®
"For Boaters, By BoatersSM"
America's Boating Club link (click here)
OKCSPSBurgee


About OKC Sail and Power Squadron,
the Oklahoma City unit of the America's Boating Club

OKC Member Information

Boating Classes

OKC USPS Calendar

Safety Desk!

Suggested Readings and References

Recent Past Events

Boating Links

To Webmaster:


>The OKCSPS conducts the US Power Squadron America's Boating Course (ABC) at least once a year.
Information is locally available via email to
Cdr Danny Goss JN
To EO:



Self Education; Civic Service; Fraternal Boating Club

  Wheel and EnsignThe United States Power Squadron® is a private, non-profit, non-governmental and non-military organization of adult United States citizens, men, women and families who are socially compatible and have a common love of recreational boating. There are no barriers to membership on the grounds of gender, race, religion or ethnic background.

Again, we are a private, fraternal organization - We do not solicit or receive financial grants or aid from any government - federal, state or local - and we don't lobby. We are not associated with law enforcement, but we do cooperate closely with federal, state and local government agencies that promote boating safety. In doing so, we are not involved with law enforcement or on-the-water patrols.

How it all began ...
Early 20th Century; heavy engine, plow hullIn 1912, when gasoline-powered craft were first beginning to appear, Roger Upton, Rear Commodore of the Boston Yacht Club, formed a Power Squadron within the club. Its purposes were to provide instruction in power boat handling and to foster camaraderie among power boat members. It was an immediate success. In 1914, representatives from 70 East Coast yacht clubs and boating associations met at the New York Yacht Club and formed the United States Power Squadrons. As the years passed, USPS® expanded the geographical reach and scope of its activities, and broadened its membership to include all boaters - whether they use engines, sails or oars - or don't even own a boat.

Our most formal Our most formalWe are now some 20,000 members strong, spread out in approximately 350 Squadrons in virtually all of these United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and more distant areas where American boaters congregate.

Our 'formal attire' is the traditional English yachting uniform adopted by the New York Yacht Club in 1844 and by all American yacht clubs thereafter. It has distinctive insignia designating educational achievement and rank and service to the organization. However, it is not necessary to have a uniform to participate in the events sponsored by USPS and local Squadrons.

How we attain our goals ...
Our activities revolve around the three main objectives of the organization: The Education of members (i.e., Continuing Education), Participation in Civic Programs (i.e., Public Boating Courses), and the Provision of an Atmosphere of Friendship and Camaraderie among Members (i.e., Social Activities - the rendezvous, the regatta and the dinner/party, etc.).

  • Education:
    knowledge is powerMembers are encouraged to improve their boating knowledge and skills. Squadrons offer many carefully planned courses in such subjects as Seamanship, Piloting, Plotting and Position Finding, Celestial Navigation, Cruise Planning, Sailing, Engine Maintenance and Marine Electronics. These courses are taught by experienced member instructors. Grade and certificate designations (S, P, AP, JN and N) are awarded to each member as s/he successfully completes the various steps in the educational program.

  • Civic Participation:
    As a civic service, local Squadrons offer the Public Boating Course and the Boat Smart Course on a regular basis to men, women and children who are not members. We have presented the public boating courses for over half a century and more than 3 million people have taken them to date. There is no age limit for students, but they must be age 16 to be awarded the Certificate of Completion.

  • Virtually all Squadrons offer the Public Boating Course at least once a year, and many offer it more frequently. Times, dates and locations of these courses are publicized locally in newspapers and other media. Information on classes may be obtained by dialing 1-888-FOR-USPS, or contacting Headquarters in Raleigh, NC, at (919) 821-0281.

    In 1962, USPS entered into a cooperative agreement with the chart makers of the federal government's National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. Since then, members have reported corrections and additions to nautical charts in our Cooperative Charting Program. Tens of thousands of these reports have been incorporated in NOAA "roadmaps of the waterways".

    Also, we work with the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Red Cross, and other organizations in maintaining safety awareness during National Safe Boating Week and throughout the year.

    Additionally, the Oklahoma City Sail and Power Squadron has certain local projects that it participates in to further good in the metro area.

  • Atmosphere of Friendship and Camaraderie:
    Social activities are varied. Activities On-The-Water include cruises, rendezvous, sail races and navigation contests. Activities ashore include meetings with programmed speakers and refreshments, dinner-dances, picnics and field trips.

    YOU TOO can be a Member of the Oklahoma City Sail & Power Squadron.
    BACK = HOMESaving Lives One Class at a Time! dannygoss@earthlink.net Come for the Boating Education ... Stay for the Friends.NEXT = Membership Information Update and How to Join OKCSPS.

  • Links

    About OKCSPS

    Awards & Trophies

    Privacy Statement
    Disclaimer Statement
    Trademark Statement
      www.usps.org/localusps/ok