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ROCKY MOUNT
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2004 Year OverviewI was elected the thirty-third Commander. The year was a very productive one for the squadron. Our goal was membership involvement by means of more activities. The bridge held 12 executive planning meetings. Several members attended the District COW, District Conferences, and the USPS® Annual Meeting. The Educational Department held two general boating courses at Edgecombe Community College, two advanced and six elective courses, and two seminars. Our Administrative Department did a great job of scheduling family nights at various locations in Rocky Mount, Wilson and Tarboro. We averaged 30 members per meeting. In July we celebrated the 90th anniversary of USPS® with a rendezvous and Hawaiian Luau at Holiday Island, hosted by P/C Clay and Lt/C Wilma Helm and Cdr Chris and Lt Cathy Payne. Linda Brown and Lt/C Bobby Brown hosted a Labor Day raft up and rendezvous at Holden Beach. Who could forget our annual Past Commanders’ Pig Picking sponsored by our beloved past commanders. P/C Al Paetzell and Executive Officer Lt/C Phil Benson kept us very busy with two nautical CoOp Charting events, one at Belhaven and the other at Washington, and a geodetic marker recovery hosted by Sally and Lt/C Phil Benson. 30 members participated with 26 of them being on the honor roll. This gave us an impressive 56.6 percent squadron participation! Vessel Safety Check ended the year with 5 Vessel Examiners performing 46 Vessel Safety Checks. P/C James Dugan received his 25-year membership pin and his publication work earned the 2004 Web-site Award for Excellence and the 2004 Distinction in Journalism Award for The Coastal Plains Signal. We were presented our 25th Educational Fund Award and the Bowsprit Award. We also were one of thirty-four squadrons to receive the Elite Status for The Power Of One Program and, as a result, were one of fifteen squadrons selected to receive a $1300.00 grant for educational materials. We again held our Christmas Party and Annual Meeting at the Legacy. MONTHLY COMMANDER'S MESSAGESJanuary 2005Happy New Year to all from your bridge. As you read this message the excitement and challenges of the holidays are over and were settling in for the long winter months. Don’t get too comfortable just yet. Mark your calendars on Friday, 18 February, for our Change of Watch (COW). I ask each and every one of you to attend this event and show your support to RMPS and the new bridge members for 2005. The past year was a very busy one for your squadron and with your support and input this year will be even more exciting. The incoming bridge has met and based on what I am hearing has some exciting and challenging goals and events for this year. Cathy, P/C Bob Glaser, and yours truly will be on the cruise planning committee, so be sure to get with one of us with your suggestions. Don’t forget that our Educational Officer, Lt/C Mary Sitton, P, has many classes on schedule including Seamanship, Instructor Development, and Operations training to name a few. Be sure to look at the schedule and let someone else know about the world’s best boating organization “USPS®” and your RMPS become a “Power of One”. Fair
winds and smooth sailing to all. December 2004Each month I close my Commanders message by stating be a “Power of One” by sharing your knowledge of the world’s best boating organization to someone new. Thanks to several of our members who took this advise to heart and brought in new members, our squadron has an early Christmas present. Thirty-four squadrons received National Elite Status. A drawing was held among these squadrons to pick 15 lucky winners, each of which will receive a $1,300.00 prize to be utilized for the purchase of educational audiovisual equipment. Now that’s a Christmas Present! The days are shorter and colder so, if you are not planning on using your boat for a while, check it and have it properly winterized. The arrival of December means it is time for our Annual Christmas Party at the Legacy Restaurant, Elm City. I hope to see each of you there. For the long cold winter nights our Educational Officer Lt/C Mary Sitton, P, has many classes scheduled. They include Seamanship, Cruise Planning, Instructor Development, and Operations Training. Take a look at the schedule. Let someone else know about the world’s best boating organization “USPS®” and become a “Power of One”. In closing Cathy and I want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Joyous Prosperous New Year. Fair
winds and smooth sailing to all. November 2004The Hurricane season is almost over. Unfortunately, so are the warm long days to which we have become accustomed. But don’t let this stop you from getting involved in one of your Squadron’s activities, including some of the new course offerings. September and October were busy for the squadron. On 25 September Executive Officer Phil Benson and his wife Sally hosted a geodetic marker scavenger hunt. After a hard afternoon of searching and pulling thorns out of places I would rather not mention, everyone was treated to a good old family backyard barbecue. Assistant Treasurer Lorraine Ryan and Educational Officer Mary Vann Sitton gave prizes to the best storytellers of the day. Sixteen members either attended the Saturday hunt or performed surveys at a later date. My thanks to all of you for your efforts. Our main event for October was the Past Commanders’ Pig Picking. As usual, the P/Cs did an outstanding job. Many thanks to all, especially P/C George Howell who once again was our chief cook. Have I mentioned we “eat good?” After our meal we had a very interesting auction of the extra food, netting $91.50, which the P/Cs generously donated to our squadron treasury. The following members were presented awards for attaining Coop Charting Honor Roll Status for 2003: Lt/C Bobby Brown, P; P/C Robert Glaser, JN; P/C Clay Helm, AP; Lt/C Phillip Benson, P; Sally Benson, S; Lt/C Betsy Benson; P/C Nelson Gainey, P; Scott Turner, AP; Lt Cathy Payne, S; and Cdr Chris Payne, S. I was honored to make a special 25th year presentation to P/C James Dugan, SN, for his commitment and support of USPS® and the Rocky Mount Squadron. Jim wrote in his first Commander’s Message, “The old saying you get out of it what you put into it aptly applies to the Power Squadron activities”. Jim definitely means what he says. He not only is a P/C, he is also a past Educational Officer, past District Aide, has served as the editor of our newsletter for a total of 10 years, and webmaster since RMPS has had a website. He has won 10 Distinction in Journalism Awards, 3 Web Awards, and 6 Commander’s Awards. I was told that Jim is the glue that holds us Commanders together and I can attest to that. Again, congratulations. The evening ended with the ever-humorous R/C U. Glenn Daughtridge, AP. As always, he had us rolling with laughter. Our Educational Officer Lt/C Mary Sitton, P, has many classes on schedule, including GPS, Chart Smart, Cruise Planning, Instructor Development, and Operations Training. Be sure to look at the schedule. Let someone else know about the world’s best boating organization “USPS®” and become a “Power of One”. Fair
winds and smooth sailing to all. October 2004In September, I watched the devastation of Hurricanes Ivan and Jean, while last month it was Hurricane Charlie. It’s hard to believe a storm could still have the power to do so much damage in our own back yard after making landfall so many states away – and then turn around and head for Texas! Unfortunately, according to forecasters, the next 25-30 years are going to be even more active. Our thoughts and prayers go to those who lost so much due to the storms. Many are fellow boaters and members of USPS®. September was highlighted with a cruise and rendezvous during Labor Day weekend at the beach house of our Administrative Officer Lt/C Bobby & Linda Brown on Holden Beach. I thank both of them for their hospitality and for planning the event. 15 members and friends attended and four boats participated (the Millie G, Ms Leigh, Wayjen, and of course Yes Dear). Our plans were to cruise north to Wilmington on day 1 and South to Myrtle Beach on day 2. Unfortunately we never made it quite to either destination due to weather concerns or water conditions but maybe next year (HINT) we can. However, we had fun anyway cruising the area, rafting up for lunch, and swapping sea stories. The highlight of the weekend, as with all of our events, was the food. Sunday night a good old Louisiana style seafood boil was held. It started with a 60-quart pot, potatoes, onions, corn on cob, polish sausage, shrimp, scallops, crabs, and several different spices. Once this was done and the water was drained, the contents were dumped into two large pans and it was everyone for themselves. I, like many others, thank Millie Glaser and Beth Bunch for adding another inch to my waistline with their cakes and ice cream. I also thank Mr. Dewhite Bea for allowing us the use of his dock and yard to park our vehicles. Special thanks go to Bobby and Linda’s neighbor John and Beth Bunch for allowing us the use of their docking space and for participating in our boating trip and seafood boil. John and Beth live in Fayetteville and are planning to purchase a boat in the near future. They saw first hand the advantages of USPS® and what it can do for them. They plan on taking the boating course with the Fayetteville squadron in the near future. Mark you calendars for a special event this month. Each year our Past Commanders have a pig picking to celebrate joy of being a past commander. This will be our family night and is open to all members and their families, both young and old. Come by to see old friends and make some new ones. We will also be showing a slide presentation of the events we held this year. I congratulate our newest pilots Lt/C Phil Benson, P, and Lt/C Bobby Brown, P, for passing the piloting exams - way to go! Our America’s Boating Course began with 14 students. Do your part! Stop by ECC to show your support of RMPS, talk to the students during the breaks, and make them aware of the benefit of USPS®. Our Educational Officer Lt/C Mary Sitton, P, has many classes on schedule beginning this month, including Sail, GPS, Chart Smart, Cruise Planning, Instructor Development, and Operations Training to name a few. Be sure to look at the schedule and let someone else know about the world’s best boating organization, USPS®, and become a “Power of One”. Fair
winds and smooth sailing to all. September 2004Nature has many ways of showing its beauty and furry. Those of us that have the good fortune of being boaters get to see beauty on an on-going basis. Unfortunately, there is a season that lasts several months that provides boater and land lovers both pleasure and fear, that being the Hurricane Season. Alex and Bonnie have passed. Charley made land fall in Florida, causing major damage, and then again made land fall in the Carolinas. Those of us that experienced the furry of Floyd and Isabel know first hand what those in the path of Charley are going through, so please take a moment to think about them and help in any way you can. Your squadron celebrated the USPS® 90th Anniversary at Holiday Island on 24 July. The event included a luau, games and food. Boy, was there food! I thank the planning committee made up of Sally Benson, Betsy Benson, Wilma Helm, Cathy Payne, and Lorraine Ryan for their outstanding job. I give special thanks to Thomas Gilreath, husband of squadron member Pam Gilreath, for cooking the most tender barbecued pig I have ever eaten. Also many thanks to everyone who brought or sent food. I congratulate P/C Al Paetzell, AP, and Executive Officer Lt/C Phil Benson, S, for their hard work on the co-op charting program. As of this message we have several members that are ranked in the top 100 nationally. I congratulate our Squadron for receiving its 25th consecutive award for having 100% participation in the National Educational Fund. Way to go! Our Educational Officer Lt/C Mary Sitton, P, has many classes scheduled beginning this month. Be sure to look at her schedule and let someone else know about the world’s best boating organization, “USPS®”, and become a “Power of One”. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all. August 2004It’s hard to believe that August is here. The days are officially becoming shorter and autumn is just around the corner. Unfortunately for me, July is the month I attend several weeklong business conferences out-of-town and this does not allow much time for weekend boating. I hope that this is not the case for you. Summer brings with it three conditions of which we need to be aware. They are the sun, dehydration, and weather. Each of these alone can be dangerous. When combined, they can be deadly. As members of USPS® we have taken a pledge of civic service so remember your training and look out for other boaters. I am told that as a result of being put in the water for the first time, the Periauger Odyssey has made newspapers statewide. The Periauger is an historical recreation of an 18th century Carolina workboat. It was built in Beaufort and will sailed, oared, towed, and/or trailered as it makes its way towards Hertford for the Indian Summer Festival. Learn more about this project at www.estuarylive.org or www.newboldwhitehouse.com. The organizers are looking for crewmembers and boats to help with the various legs of the move. If you are interested, contact Cdr Ernst at joanjohn@aol.com. June was the beginning of our new membership year. Our treasurer Lt/C Betsy Benson, S, has been working hard to get the required paper work complete. I want to thank Betsy for the outstanding job she has done. Betsy and I would like to personally thank each one of you for renewing and showing your continued support of the RMPS and USPS®. Unfortunately and regretfully we did loose a few members this year due to either relocation or changes in their life style, which no longer allows time for boating. Each of us have our own reasons for being a part of USPS®, so use your reason and influence and become a “Power of One” and let someone else know about the worlds best boating organization “USPS®”. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all. July 2004I would like to take a moment to remember our 40th President Ronald Reagan. He was a true believer and defender of the freedoms of our country, which allow us the opportunity to be affiliated with organizations such as the USPS®. Thank you Mr. Reagan for your years of dedicated service.
The June Family Night was another success with 31 members and guests in attendence. A very informative talk about the Periauger Odyssey project was presented by H. John Ernst III, AP, Commander of the Albemarle Sail & Power Squadron. The project is a historical recreation of a 18th century Carolina workboat being built in Beaufort. It will sailed, oared, pulled, and/or trailered to Hertford for the Indian Summer Festival. For more details, go to www.estuarylive.org or www.newboldwhitehouse.com. Crewmembers and boats are needed to help with the move. If you are interested contact Cdr Ernst at joanjohn@aol.com I thank P/D/C Joseph E. Hardee, SN; R/C U. Glenn Daughtridge, AP; P/C Alvin E. Paetzell, AP; P/C Robert E. Glaser, JN; and Lt/C Phillip A. Benson, S, for representing our squadron at the District conference. June is the beginning of our membership year. I thank each of you who have already paid your dues and I ask those of you who haven’t to please do so as soon as possible. As you can see, your squadron is alive and well. Come and join us and share in the fun. In closing I thank Lt/C Phil Benson and P/C Al Paetzell for the fine job they are doing with the cooperative charting program. We are using an electronic entry system for all of the data collected (and it is not the easiest program to use). This year we were able to enter all of our data within 30 days and receive the maximum allowable points. This has put each of the 14 participants on the Honor Roll. Well done! Fair winds and smooth sailing to all.June 2004It’s hard to believe that June is here. Summer is just around the corner and our boating season is in full swing. Each year there are a number of boating accidents and fatalities resulting from boaters who have had no formal training or who have become complacent while operating their boats. Each of you as members of the RMPS and USPS® have had formal training and in some cases advanced training to prepare you for unforeseen situations and emergencies. While you are out on the water with your friends and families take a moment to practice some emergency procedures so everyone on board is prepared for the unforeseen. Don’t forget there are several trained members of your squadron who are ready and willing to check your boat to insure you have the proper and necessary equipment on board.
During our meeting I had the honor of inducting three new members into our squadron. Please welcome Wayne Bell and his wife Jennifer, Leslie W. Harrell, and Lou B. Vann. We also have a few more new members who will be announced after they are inducted. Don’t forget it is membership renewal time. Included with your renewal this year is a copy of the benefits of being a member of the greatest boating organization in the world. If you know of someone who has taken the boating course and who is unsure about joining, pass it to him or her along with a copy of the member application (also enclosed with your renewal information). Be a “Power of One” - make a difference in someone’s life. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all. May 2004As I write this message, our President is on television talking about the war on terrorism, our commitments, and the ultimate sacrifices our troops are making. My train of thought went to P/C Michael Pevear, who has been called for duty once again with the Coast Guard and is at an undisclosed location overseas. Mike emailed P/C Jim Dugan that the very first piece of mail he received from the States was our squadron newsletter. Michael, I hope this newsletter helps to brighten your day. On behalf of your fellow RMPS members, as well as the nation, we want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and the other brave troops who are sacrificing so much to keep our country safe, so we can enjoy our freedom and organizations such as USPS®. Stay safe and come home soon. I thank our SEO Lt/C Mary Vann Sitton and all of our members who taught or proctored the America’s Boating Course. Our mission was to educate the boating pubic with respect to safe boating and I believe we did just that. As of this message 15 have taken the test and passed with high scores. Another four will be taking the test in the next few weeks. Several have already joined our squadron and are attending the GPS Seminar. Cathy and I attended the D/27
Annual Meeting & Change of Watch in New Bern. Your Squadron was well represented by several bridge members, past commanders, and their spouses.
We received the Website Award for Excellence, Distinction in Journalism
Award, and our 25th year on the Educational Honor Roll. Again we
thank P/C Jim Dugan and Tere, his staff of one, for
their outstanding job. Many of you are looking forward to putting your boat into service. Remember to have one of our Vessel Examiner’s do a Vessel Safety Check to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Fines are costly and a VSC is free! Don’t assume the waters you have always traveled are still clear and navigable. As our Safety Office P/C Al Paetzell has reported, there is still a lot of debris in the water as a result of last year’s hurricane. Take it slow until you know. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all.April 2004The boat shows have come and gone and the days are getting longer and warmer. It can only mean that the 2004 boating season is just around the corner. I am writing this message as I sit in our first boating class of the year. Fifteen adults and two children have elected to spend their nights with us to become more knowledgeable about boating. I mention this because it is the time that all of us should begin looking at our boats, trailers and other essential on-board equipment for their operation and condition. This is not limited just to your boat. You may want to review some of your educational materials and brush up on some of the areas you may have forgotten over the winter. Remember the boating course is open to all of our members as well as the general public, so come on down, meet the students, make some new friends, and maybe learn something in the process. Your squadron has several qualified Vessel Examiners ready and willing to examine your boat to help you get ready for the boating season. See the article on Vessel Safety Check for VE contact information. We will offer several courses in the near future including a GPS Seminar & Cruise Planning. Don’t forget that USPS® also offers several self-study courses. Contact our SEO Lt/C Mary Vann Sitton, P, for details. I thank our special guest presenter Frans van Baars of House of van Baars for his outstanding demonstration of watercolors. Your squadron purchased the original watercolor he painted at the meeting and will sell it at auction in the near future. Details of the auction are being worked out. We have an opening bid of $200. (See a photo of the watercolor inside.) RMPS has received our 24th Educational Fund Honor Roll Award for 100% contributions to the Educational Fund. Lastly, I thank the 43 members and guests that attended the March family night. This truly shows our squadron is alive and well. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all.March 2004As we begin our new squadron year, it is important to reflect upon the events to date. On 23 January we held our Change of Watch at Nelson’s Steakhouse in Rocky Mount. The officer of the deck was our own R/C U. Glenn Daughtridge, AP, and our special guest and installing officer was D/Lt/C Ben Reed, JN. Many thanks to both of you. During the COW, P/C Robert E. Glaser, JN, presented the 2003 Squadron awards. The Marshall Brushwood Award is presented to a first year member who provided outstanding contributions to the Squadron and USPS®. This award was presented to Lt/C Bobby Brown, S. The Commander’s Award, is given to the member who, in the opinion of the outgoing Commander, has given the most support to the Squadron and USPS®. I am honored to say this was presented to yours truly. The last award and a new one for our squadron was the Vessel Safety Check Award. This award has been established as a result of our new role as a partner in the national vessel inspection program and is presented to the member who made the most contributions in this very important area. I am proud to say P/C Alvin E. Paetzell, AP, was our very first recipient. Two other members of our squadron should also be recognized: R/C U. Glenn Daughtridge, AP, has accepted the position of Nomination Committee Chair at the National level. P/C Robert E. Glaser, JN, has accepted the position of District Public Relations Officer (DPRO). Congratulations! On 2 February we held our first family night for the year 2004. Twenty-one members and five guests attended the meeting. The program was “Bare Boat Cruising in the Virgin Islands”, presented by our own 1/Lt Bob Sitton, P, and Lt/C Mary Vann Sitton, P. As usual, Bob and Mary provided us with an outstanding and humorous presentation and have set the bar high for upcoming presenters. For those of you who do not attend our meetings and events on a regular basis, I hope you can see we are alive and well. As you look though your award-winning newsletter, look at the many events and educational opportunities we have planned. If you have friends or family members who would be interested in boater education, let them know about us. And, of course, we would be happy to see you again. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all.February 2004It’s an honor and privilege to serve as the thirty-third commander of the Rocky Mount Power Squadron in this the 90th anniversary of USPS®. I commend P/C Bob Glaser, JN, his officers, and the committees that made up the 2003 bridge for their outstanding job. I thank each of the members both active and inactive for your continued support of the Rocky Mount Power Squadron. Each of us has a personal reason for being a member of the Squadron. Mine was a result of having a concern for the safety of our daughter Crystal, who at the time was 13 years old and wanted to ride a jet ski alone. My wife Cathy, Crystal, and I took the boating course on the advise of P/C Clay Helm, AP. We were so impressed with the educational opportunities, fellowship, and the involvement the Squadron had with the boating community, that Cathy and I joined upon completing the course. I mention this because these are the three elements of the USPS® triangle. The incoming bridge represents a mix of both new and old members with new and exciting ideas. All of which will be used to continue to make the squadron one of the best in the district. Your bridge is committed to continuing and expanding our boating education, vessel safety, and cooperative charting programs. This year we are also planning on expanding our boating activities and family events. All of these events will be published in our newsletter The Coastal Plains Signal and on our website at: www.usps.org/localusps/rockymount. With your continued support and participation 2004 will be the best year ever. Fair winds and smooth sailing to all.Details of all these activities are presented in articles throughout this website and in our monthly newsletter, The Coastal Plains Signal. Page updated 26 January 2005. |
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Please send comments to P/C James F. Dugan III, SN, Webmaster, at: rmps@duganotero.com Copyright © 1997 - 2007 Rocky Mount Power Squadron, Inc. ® All Rights Reserved.
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It’s
hard to believe that July is already here and the hot days of summer are once
again at our door. The last few weeks have been a busy time for your bridge
officers and members alike.
Our May family night was another success with 34 members
and guests attending. The program was a very informative talk about Co Op
Charting by P/C Paul D. Long, SN, District 27 Chair of Co Op Charting.