America's Boating Club - another perspective Re: [Psml] USPS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT CHANGE?

Mon, 4 Sep 2006 20:46:27 -0400

USPS members  -

Each Squadron, like each yacht club, is unique.  As is each person.

My perspective is shaped by 20 years as a member of Akron Power Squadron, in 
District 7 (N Central Ohio, Pittsburgh area, W Va).

I value my USPS education.  However, last year, our District Secretary, 
P/Lt/C Bob Fish, JN, did a study of the 1500 members in District 7, looking 
at educational records (DB2000).  He found that few had progressed through 
many Advanced or Elective grades.  Yet, they renewed and many stayed 
involved.  We inferred -- rightly or wrongly -- that many of our members 
valued the camaraderie of their Squadron experience.  I know I do.

That's why "America's Boating Club" means something to me.  As District 
Commander, I've chosen "America's Boating Club" as a theme for our year.  I 
think we offer the best darn combination of social and boating activities, 
boating education, and civic activities of any organization in the world !

D/C Brian Logan, SN
District 7
America's Boating Club®

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Howe" <davidporterhowe@hotmail.com>
To: <aep@mindspring.com>; <twojscom@quadnet.net>; <psml@usps.org>
Cc: <dyskokyd@verizon.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 5:43 PM
Subject: RE: [Psml] USPS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT CHANGE?

> Two cents worth, from an old boater (51 years) but new USPS member (3 
> years):
>
> I don't think an entrance exam is an obstacle to recruiting experienced 
> boaters.  Conversely, waiving the exam won't help much.  If old boaters 
> want to join USPS, and a basic exam is the ticket in, they will take the 
> exam.
>
> But very few experienced boaters want to join.  I see several reasons for 
> that:
> -- USPS has stressed the "America's Boating Club" image, to its detriment;
> -- our educational program needs improvement (I found 17 errors in 
> Seamanship and two in Piloting);
> -- for those who want training, competing programs are available with less 
> structure and baggage;
> -- most boaters in their 30s to 50s cannot devote the time that full 
> participation in USPS requires; and
> -- rightly or wrongly, experienced boaters and professional mariners tend 
> to see USPS as a social club of amateurs not very serious about on-water 
> skills.
>
> Obviously USPS is better than that, but our reputation among old salts 
> needs work.  We need to stress skill, expertise, quality, and the benefits 
> of membership.
>
> The USPS University concept should be a terrific boon for recruitment of 
> new and old boaters alike, if the quality of the courses is first-rate and 
> if they are administered efficiently.  America's Boating College is a 
> better long-range model than America's Boating Club.  I look forward to 
> working with the new program in the DC area over the winter.
>
> David Howe, P
> SEO, Potomac River
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "R. Sweet" <aep@mindspring.com>
> To: <twojscom@quadnet.net>, "'Power Squadron Mailing List'" 
> <psml@usps.org>
> Subject: RE: [Psml] USPS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT CHANGE?
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:00:39 -0400
>
> Hi John and PSML subscribers,
>
> I would like to respond to your question and help illuminate the proposed
> waiver.
>
> As we approached the Governing Board, it was clear that there was a high
> degree of confusion regarding the proposed waiver.  There also had been a
> note to the District Commanders suggesting that the vote had been 
> postponed,
> so many of them had not polled their squadrons.  Consequently, in the D/C
> meeting, they preferred to postpone the vote to annual meeting.
>
> Now, as to what the vote is all about. We currently have an "exam"
> requirement that is approved by the Operating Committee.  There are no
> course requirements although completion of any NASBLA approved course is
> currently considered to be tacit completion of an acceptable exam.
>
> We are introducing a series of Seminars under USPS University.  These
> Seminars are open to the public, and we see them as a great way to 
> introduce
> USPS to non-members.  By and large, those who attend these seminars will
> come with specific needs relating to boating, so we will be able to tap 
> into
> a vast base of experienced boaters that we otherwise may not attract.
>
> It is our desire to "allow" squadrons to recruit these experienced boaters
> into membership without the requirement that they must first take an 
> exam -
> most experienced boaters will decline to do so.  The waiver does not 
> remove
> the squadron's right and obligation to make sure anyone invited to
> membership, "is able and willing to contribute time, energy and skills to
> the objectives of USPS"  and to set whatever criteria it needs to assure
> this including an exam if they so choose.
>
> The waiver is for a period of three years, after which it expires 
> returning
> to the exam requirement.  We are rapidly approaching a point within the 
> next
> few years that most states will require a basic boating course, at least 
> for
> younger boaters.  So, in three years, the exam requirement may be a moot
> point - but not today.
>
> In the meantime, we are dealing with declining membership.  Since we get
> almost all of our members from public boating classes, and we now face 
> major
> competition - many free - a smaller base of people are available to us for
> recruiting.  While we are further improving our boating safety courses, we
> decided to add more public courses (seminars) on topics that would attract
> boaters who truly are interested in learning.
>
> I, for one, would like to see many of those who come to our seminars join
> our ranks as members.  That is why we support the waiver.  Quoting many an
> SEO, "If we can get them in, we'll train them."  Let's tap into the large
> pool of experienced boaters who would help improve our organization.
>
> Best regards,
>
> R/C Bob Sweet, SN
> ANEO
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: psml-admin@usps.org [mailto:psml-admin@usps.org] On Behalf Of Judy &
> John Gill
> Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 7:07 PM
> To: Power Squadron Mailing List; Gill, John & Judy
> Subject: [Psml] USPS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT CHANGE?
>
> Can anyone tell me what if anything happened at the National Governing
> Board Meeting in New York with regard to USPS Membership.
>
> There was lots of talk / speculation that the membership requirements
> for USPS membership might be changed to eliminate the requirement for
> one to take a USPS "approved" safe boating course to join USPS (similar
> to the USCGAux requirement).
>
> D/Lt John R. Gill, AP
> Ch/Mem/Com
> Pennsway (PA) Power Squadron
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