Basic Public Education Committee

This site is provided as a means of communications with the USPS National Basic Public Education Committee (BPECom).  We welcome your questions and comments on our public courses and associated materials.

R/C Eugene E. Molteni, SN
Stf/C John A. Sherrick, JN
Stf/C Pablo Prieto, SN

Topics

Course Pages

News

• April 2008 Boating Class Reports available for printing or download. (02 May 08)
  
  

  PDF Files	Excel Files
  ED272 - Boating/Boat Smart/ABC statistics by District	ED272 - Boating/Boat Smart/ABC statistics by District
  ED272a - Educational Year comparison of the number of classes	ED272a - Educational Year comparison of the number of classes
  ED273 - Annual Educational Year statistics	ED273 - Annual Educational Year statistics

  
  
  
• America's Boating Course Flash Player Issue (Updated). A recent version of Flash Player from Adobe, version 9.0.115.0, may not be compatible with the ABC Courseware on all computers. If you experience difficulties, you can either download the latest version of the Flash Player (9.0.124.0), or use your previous version by downloading the roll-back procedure and files (ZIP, 1405KB) to the root directory of your hard drive (C:\). To simplify typing the roll-back commands, ensure that you download and unzip all three (3) files to the C: drive of "My Computer".  Print and follow the instructions. (01 May 08)
  
  
• Revised Slides for The Squadron Boating Course Presentation. See the Download section of The Squadron Boating Course web page for an update to this presentation. (05 Mar08)
  
  
• Boating Course Recruiting Aid. A five slide recruiting aid is provided here for all squadrons. The purpose of the presentation is to attract students, considered to be high potential members, from the 8-hour Squadron Boating Class to a follow-on class on charts and digital waypoint navigation. There is PowerPoint presentation (1293KB, PPT) and Instructor Notes (1477KB, PDF). (07 Nov 07)
  
  
• Exam Administrator Information for All USPS Public Boating Courses. See the important summary sheet of exam administrator information (57KB, PDF).  (10 Jul 07)
  
  
• Running the Maptech Digital Chart Training CD under Vista. Maptech's Offshore Navigator (and related products, such as Offshore Navigator Lite and Chart Navigator Viewer) was created long before Microsoft Windows Vista was released. As you may be aware, Microsoft Vista is designed to restrict access to certain core components of the operating system, in order to make the system more robust and secure. Unfortunately, by doing this, older applications must be run "As Administrator" and in "Windows XP Compatibility Mode" in order to function correctly.  Click on the following link to get instructions for how to do this http://www.maptech.com/support/emailed.doc.cfm?docat=573.24.  Just a reminder, once you have this Chart Navigator software on this CD loaded and operating, you can download and use any charts you would like from Maptech following the “Download - Free NOAA Charts” link on this page.  (12 Apr 07)
  
  
• Special Update and Information Package. This 8-page document (40KB, PDF) provides information necessary to conduct short eight (8) hour and longer twelve (12) hour boating courses for the public using The Squadron Boating Course . The document provides course syllabuses for both formats, as well as instructor manual and exam information.
  
  
• Updates and Tips. The current status of public course updates and a Chart Smart recommendation is available here (PDF, 13 KB).
  
  
• Public Courses Roadmap. Several USPS public boating course items are being phased out and others are being updated.  Download a summary (PDF, 25 KB) of planned updates and direction.
  
  
• The Best Public Boating Course Afloat. It pays to advertise, so get the word out that USPS has the the best public boating course afloat (PDF, 19KB). (31 Dec 05)
  
  
• Important Information Concerning Digital Charting CDs Packaged with USPS Courses. Read the PDF file (8KB) that contains information regarding updates for the Digital Charting CDs included with The Squadron Boating Course, Piloting, and Advanced Piloting. (28 Dec 05)
  
  
• New Jersey Addendum for Boating Courses Is Mandatory.  An addendum from the state of New Jersey must be included with all editions of The Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, and America's Boating Course. This is a mandatory requirement from the state of New Jersey, and must be taught with all the above courses. The addendum, available from USPS Headquarters at no cost, may be ordered from the Squadron Materials catalog.  (28 Aug 04)

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Public Boating Programs

• The Squadron Boating Course is our primary civic effort toward public instruction in the fundamentals of safe boating.  Both short (8-hour) and long (12-hour) formats are designed to familiarize the student with the fundamentals of safe boating and qualify for certification in most states that require boating education before operating a watercraft.  Subjects include:

  • Boat handling under normal conditions
  • Adverse conditions and emergencies
  • Types of boats and boating terminology
  • Required and recommended equipment
  • Boating regulations and navigation rules
  • Lines and knots
  • Charts and aids to navigation (in 12-hour format only)
  • Piloting techniques (in 12-hour format only)
  • Marine radiotelephone usage
  • Trailer boating

  Information for instructors and assistants is available from The Squadron Boating Course information page.

• America's Boating Course (ABC) is a joint effort between the United States Power Squadrons and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary that some squadrons teach in lieu of or in addition to The Squadron Boating Course. Information for instructors and assistants is available from the ABC information page.

• Seminars address specific boating topics and needs of interest to both members and the public in a two-hour format. Squadrons conduct seminars to provide specific information to its members and the public, and to increase awareness of USPS knowledge, skills, and abilities to the public. Seminars also serve as excellent public relations fora from which to entice new members. Information for instructors and assistants is available from the Seminars information page.

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Paddle Smart

Paddle Smart is a new USPS seminar on a series of topics created especially for paddle sports.  There is also a related (but more for the public) Paddle Smart web site, which has been in existence for some time.  Web site topics include:

• Navigation Rules with emphasis on kayaks, canoes, etc.
• Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets)
• Charts and Maps
• Homeland Security
• Weather and its impact on paddlers
• Electronics for paddlers including GPS, cell phones, etc.

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Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments about any of the public boating courses, please contact the National Basic Public Education Committee chair by e-mail, phone or postal service mail.  Please be sure to keep your SEO and/or DEO advised of any correspondence you may have with the National committee. Addresses for the National BPECom chair are listed in The ENSIGN and on the Committee Chairpersons page.

We will try to answer your questions as soon as possible, but please allow 5 working days for an answer.

Anyone wishing to provide input on these courses, please contact the committee chair.

If you are interested in becoming a member of this committee, submit a resume on-line at the Committee on Nominations web site.

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