A Unit of the United States Power Squadrons®
A non-profit organization dedicated to safe boating through education.
"Boating is fun.. We'll show you how"
About USPS
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A Unit of the United States Power Squadrons® A non-profit organization dedicated to safe boating through education. "Boating is fun.. We'll show you how" About USPS |
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About OKC Sail and Power Squadron 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 Public Boating and Boat Smart
(condensed)
Courses several times each year.
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 The 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 ...  In 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.  We are now
some 50,000 members strong, spread out in approximately 450 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.).  Members 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.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 (e.g., Saint Patricks Day Parade) that it participates in to further good in the metro area. 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.
 SAFE
BOATING DONE  WE ALL HAVE FUN |
Links About OKCSPS Awards & Trophies |
