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Membership Chair:
Charles E. Griffin Jr - 1-603-875-5091
Why
You Should Join Us And....
How to Become
A Member:
Taking your boat out,
whether on an inland lake or on the waters of our
coastline, requires more knowledge than simply
climbing aboard and pushing off. To simply do that,
is a threat to yourself and others, and a needless
drain on the resources of the U.S. Coast Guard and
other local State and Federal Agencies who will have
to step in and compensate for your inadequate skills
and knowledge. At this point and time particularly,
they have more important responsibilities to take
care of.
You can take steps now,
to make sure that you are educated, and have the
skills and the knowledge needed to safely take your
boat out on any waters, and to safely return. The
Portsmouth Sail & Power Squadron, a unit of the
United States Power Squadrons® can provide the
education, help you to develop your skills, plus
provide the opportunity to associate with others who
share your interests in boating, cruising and
advanced seamanship skills.
Who Are Our
Members:
Power Boaters, Sailors,
Fishermen, and all men and women, who enjoy a good
day on the water and the opportunity of sharing that
interest with others.
Where Do They
Go Boating:
The Ocean, rivers, and
inland lakes of New Hampshire, Maine, and far
beyond, in fact - all over the world.
How Do I Join:
To become a full member
of the USPS and Portsmouth Sail & Power Squadron,
one must initially complete the U.S.P.S.® Basic
Boating Course or any other equivalent recognized Safe Boating
Course or with our new guidance from our National
Headquarters, obtain a Commanders Waiver signature
by sending a personal letter to the Commander
explaining why you would like to be a member, such
as educational benefits. Then, a completed membership application is submitted
to the Chairman of the Membership Committee. Upon
acceptance and payment of dues, as a member you can
then pursue the various members only (
Link To Member Courses ) educational courses
given in the Squadron or at another nearby Squadron.
The membership also entitles you to a subscription
to the USPS® magazine "ENSIGN" and other benefits
such as a special rate VISA Card with Chase,
discounts and other considerations with many
suppliers of marine goods and services, and in
addition, there are discounts available with many
marinas and most boat insurers nationwide.
Within the Squadron you
will have the opportunity to increase your boating
knowledge and skills through access to the Advanced
and Elective Courses, and the decades and decades of accumulated
experience of the sailing and power boating people
who are our members.
( Click here to see the Member Benefits )
Types of membership:
Active Member
- provides full membership
privileges and
responsibilities, which
include voting, holding
elective or appointed
office, serving on and/or
chairing a committee,
earning a merit mark,
attending and participating
in meetings and social
activities, taking
educational courses, paying
dues, receiving a copy of
the monthly National
magazine - Ensign, receiving
a copy of the quarterly
Squadron newsletter - "The
Soundings" and flying
the USPS Ensign and USPS
Portsmouth
burgee. Minimum age: 18.
Additional Active
Member - one who
resides in the same
household and is in the same
squadron of an active
member. This member pays 1/2
the National dues of the
active member. This member
enjoys all the rights and
privileges of an active
member. Minimum age: 18.
Family Member
- available to members of
the family of an active
member. This includes the
spouse of an active member
and all persons related by
blood, legal adoption or
marriage, who reside with or
are dependents of an active
member. Family members may
attend and participate at
all General Meetings of the
squadron, but may not vote
nor hold elective or
appointed office. Family
members can take educational
courses and attend social
functions, but they cannot
fly the USPS Ensign or USPS
Portsmouth
burgee and they cannot earn
merit marks. Dues for this
member are less than those
paid by the Additional
Active Member. No minimum
age.
Junior Family
Member - a
dependent of an active
member who resides in the
same household and is less
than 18 years of age. A
junior family member is
accorded all the privileges
and responsibilities of
family membership.
Note: A husband and wife
may both elect to hold an
active membership. There
must be at least one active
member per household. |
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What
educational courses are available to USPS members:
Every squadron offers
advanced courses in subjects like Seamanship,
Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigation and
Navigation. Squadrons also have Elective Courses
available such as Cruise Planning, Engine
Maintenance, Instructor Development, Marine
Electronics, Sail and Weather. These courses are
taught by experienced member instructors, and
members who complete them are recognized by USPS®
Headquarters. Some squadrons require Advanced
Courses to be taken in a specific order while others
offer them as available to members.
What social activities do
members enjoy:
Squadrons offer
on-the-water activities which include but are not
limited to; cruises, rendezvous, sail races,
navigation contests, cooperative charting and more.
Activities ashore include meetings with marine
programs, parties, Pot Luck Dinner Days,
dinner-dances, picnics and field trips.
Frequently Asked
Questions:
You are a Power Squadron - Can sailors become
members ?
Of course. The term
"Power Squadrons" in our name dates to our founding
in 1914 by the power boat division of the Boston
Yacht Club. Following the first World War, the
ranks of the organization broadened to include all
types of boats, and sailors have been a major part
of USPS®
ever since. Our own Squadron acknowledges sailors in
our title 'Sail and Power Squadron.'
Is USPS a part of or supported by the U.S.
Government?
No. While we have
many joint programs with the United States Coast
Guard, the CG Auxiliary, and the National Ocean
Services division of NOAA, USPS®
is a private, totally self-supporting organization.
What if you're already a member of the Canadian
Power Squadron or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary?
If you already belong
to either of these organizations you do not have to
pass a USPS®
course to become a member because you have already
completed a qualifying course.
How do you enroll in a USPS boating course?
Every USPS®
squadron teaches multiple courses
every year. Some squadrons teach both the 8 hour,
two 4 hour day course and others the 12 hour 6 week,
2 hours each lesson date. The
courses usually begin in September or October, then
again in January or February. Many 8 hour courses
continue throughout the spring and summer months. The courses are publicized in local
newspapers, on posters, at marinas, and at various
other locations. The easiest way to determine when
the next course will be offered in your area is
call toll-free 1-888-FOR-USPS (1-888-367-8777). For
the Portsmouth New Hampshire Squadron Educational
Page, please check our Education Page.
PUBLIC COURSES
What about individuals who cannot take an evening
Boating Course?
America's Boating Course
(ABC) is a joint effort between the United States
Power Squadrons and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. It
is available as an internet home study course for
individuals who cannot attend traditional class room
courses. A CD and a manual are provided as part of
the course. USPS® has a 80-minute video Boating
Course which can be taken at your own leisure. For
information use the link above. Also USPS
offers Public seminars available both for the
members and general public at reduced costs for
education. Our local Squadron also offers in the
Spring and early summer the special 2 Saturday 4
hour classes to gain a Safe Boating Certificate.
What's in it for you?
A great variety of
courses to choose from: As a USPS® member, you and
your family can enroll in a great variety of
advanced grades and elective courses and seminars which are only
available to USPS® members. Meeting with other
boaters in your area: As a member of a local
squadron (and there are approximately 450 squadrons
throughout the USA, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) you will join with
other knowledgeable boaters in your area who are
familiar with the local waters, the best anchorages,
and marinas and boat repair shops.
Participation in a variety of on water activities:
As a USPS® member you're automatically invited to
join in the squadron and district cruises,
rendezvous, cooperative charting, rafting and other
on-water activities.
Savings on Boat Insurance: There are many marine
insurance companies which provide discounts to those
who complete advanced boating courses. This savings
can be significant.
USPS® Networking with other members throughout the
USA, Canada and even more distant areas: For those
that trailer or cruise extensively far from your
home? USPS® has a Port Captain program which will
provide names and telephone numbers of local USPS®
members who know the territory.
For
information on the USPS public boating
course closest to you, call 1-888-FOR-USPS.
In Canada, for the CPS course, call
1-888-CPS-BOAT.
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USPS Trademark
Disclaimer
Webmaster: Lee R. Chasse (AP) -
email the webmaster
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