Mark 5 Fall 2009 Print

DISTRICT 5

A UNIT OF UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS®

MARK 5MARK 5SAIL AND POWER BOATING®VOLUME 59 NO. 3 FALL 2009

Fall Education Conference Cover

Commander’s Message 2

Meet our Asst. Treasurer 3

Attention Editors 4

Fall Conference Reg. Form 5

Notes from the Law Committee 6

USPS Annual Meeting Info 8

Summer Council / Rendezvous 9, 10

CONTENTSFall Educational Conference

D/Lt Jeff McKinney, JN

It’s hard to believe it is already the beginning of

October. Where did summer go? On the bright note, the

2009 Fall Educational Conference is getting closer.

With a little over a month to go, this conference is

shaping up to be one of the best ever!

It is now time to finalize your reservations for both the

hotel and the conference. Don’t forget that the deadline

to get the hotel reservation in to be assured of the

reduced conference rates is October 15th! The form is in

this edition, and can also be found on the D5 website at

http://www.uspsd5.org.

Some of the confirmed presentations for the Education

Conference include the ever-popular Instructor’s

Recertification, a presentation by NOAA on their latest

plans to upgrade the U.S. navigation charts, and updates

on the new seminars in USPS University’s catalog.

Watch for the final agenda to get all the details.

Are you an instructor or prospective student for the

elective courses? We’ll have sessions for you to learn

about the present and future courses presented by

experienced instructors.

Who is the top instructor in the district? Which

squadrons get to take home the coveted Prince Henry

and Caravelle Awards? For the answers to these

FROM THE EDITOR:

If you haven’t seen the previous edition of

the Mark 5 (Summer 2009 ONLINE), goto

the District 5 Web Page at www.uspsd5.org

and access the Mark 5 Web Page to view

the issue. There were >30 pages of infor-

mation and pictures. If you have already

had a chance to checkout that issue, please

send any comments to the Editor, as we

would like to hear your opinion on the new

ONLINE issue.

Continued on page 4

DISTRICT 5 - UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS ® - WWW.USPSD5.ORG

2

Commander

D/C Ralph A. Bernard, AP

P.O. Box 682, Mays Landing, NJ 08330

(Absecon Island) (609) 625-0031

[email protected]

Executive Officer

D/Lt/C L. Chris Brown, JN

3151 Club Drive, Allentown, PA 18103

(Delhigh) (610) 433-3523

[email protected]

Educational Officer

D/Lt/C Walter K. Neese, SN

1432 Park Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217

(Dundalk) (410) 728-7275

[email protected]

Administrative Officer

D/Lt/C Bernard S. Karpers, N

1209 Brookview Rd., Baltimore, MD 21286

(Dundalk) (410) 825-6829

[email protected]

Secretary

D/Lt/C Guy B. Thompson, AP

14226 - 11 Jib St., Laurel, MD 20707

(Patapsco River) (301) 498-6653

[email protected]

Treasurer

D/Lt/C Milton Cloud, AP

2206 Raymond Ave., Richmond, VA 23228

(Richmond) (804) 266-3252

[email protected]

Asst. Educational Officer

D/1st/Lt William J. McManimen, N

1219 Lois Rd., Ambler, PA 19002

(Pennsway) (215) 542-9253

[email protected]

Asst. Administrative Officer

D/1st/Lt James A. Gorman, AP

10013 Biscayne Lane, Damascus, MD 20872

(Potomac River) (301) 253-5050

[email protected]

Asst. Secretary

D/1st/Lt Maryellen Colston, AP

307 Piney Forest Dr., Colonial Beach VA 22443

(Mid-Potomac) (804) 224-1069

[email protected]

Asst. Treasurer

D/1st/Lt Charles (Chip) F. Yost, AP

14001 Parkvale Rd., Rockville, MD 20853

(Rockville) (301) 460-2681

[email protected]

2009 - 2010 District 5 Commander’s Message

D/C Ralph A. Bernard, AP

Although the summer is winding down,

squadrons throughout the District are still

having on-the-water activities, so please

make plans to get out, attend, and have

some fun. As fall is coming upon us, we

should start thinking of one of the corners

of our triangle: Education. Fall boating

courses, which have already been planned,

need many members to go out and interact

with the attendees and show the public just

what USPS is all about. Not only do we

have the best educational opportunities available, regardless of price, but

we also have a tremendous amount of fun. District 5 squadrons have

already shown the community service aspect of that triangle and continue

to provide our local areas with information about boating safety. This,

too, is a chance for squadrons to get together in order to combine their

resources to present the best boating classes in the nation.

November brings our Fall Educational Conference in Rockville,

Maryland, hosted by Rockville Sail and Power Squadron, and with that

comes new information and chances to make new friends and members.

D/Lt/C Walter Neese, SN and his department are working very hard to

provide you with all the necessary tools to give the public the absolute

best we can provide. They will also give you the latest facts on safe

boating and navigation, and the important part is how you can present it to

the public and to our members.

I would like to congratulate Mid-Potomac Power Squadron on their

interaction with local law enforcement. A boater, who obviously did not

take the USPS Boating Course, was running at a very high rate of speed in

a low-speed area and could not negotiate a turn, hit a dock and a few other

things, but was able to continue on the water and left the scene. The local

law-enforcement officials called on Mid-Potomac Power Squadron for

their assistance and within 30 minutes there was a boat was on the water.

Fearing injury to the occupants of the vessel, the search for the boat went

on with people watching the ramps while a Mid-Potomac Power Squadron

boat was on the water. The vessel was eventually found in a driveway. I

am sure charges were brought against the operator. This is an example of

the value squadrons can have with regard to all types of community

service. By responding so quickly, the members of Mid-Potomac could

have been the difference between life and death, and although most

incidents can be “routine,” one never knows which one will not.

Your District 5 Bridge continues to attend as many functions as possible,

and please, if there are subjects anyone would like to discuss, do not

hesitate to let us know. We want to make the organization better and are

open to suggestions.

Thank you so much for all of your support!

BOATING IS FUN... WE’LL SHOW YOU HOW!

3

Meet Assistant D/5 Treasurer

D/1st/Lt Charles (Chip) Yost, AP

By: P/C Joesph Gibson, AP

The natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, family fishing trips and

his brother’s lifelong interest in sail provided Chip with his early

motivation toward boating. His Dad’s gift of a 20-foot motorboat

renewed his passion for being on or close to the water. After several

years of operating the boat, catching few fish but attaining expert

status in towing lures and drowning worms, Chip saw boating classes

offered in the adult education section of the local newspaper; the

RSPS commander loaned Chip BoatSmart and proctored his exam.

This outreach and the possibility of additional education prompted

Chip to join the squadron. The motorboat was retired and Chip purchased a 1973 Camper & Nicholson

30 sailboat, described as a racer/cruiser. He continues to learn the art of sailing, experience the zen of

sailboat maintenance, and with his wife Kipp enjoy the experience of the wind and hum of the rigging.

Chip and Kipp have just completed cruising Solon Mhor to Cape Charles for the D5 summer rendezvous.

Chip joined RSPS in 2003 and was encouraged to assist in the Education Dept. He has taught BoatSmart,

ABC, and Sail 101/102. (The last proves the aphorism that the best way to learn a subject is to teach it

before a critical audience.) He also persuaded his wife, Kipp, to join RSPS and to participate in the

squadron’s educational and social activities. Along the way they both became USPS Certified Instructors

and also are certified by the State of Maryland. He served as a member at large on the squadron’s

Executive Committee, as Auditor, and is currently RSPS Treasurer. For D/5, Chip assists the current

treasurer in his duties and focuses on the SeaVester account; he assisted the budget committee of RSPS

for the past two years, as well as of D/5 this past spring.

Like many USPS members, Chip’s early career focus in corporate and government jobs left little time for

recreation. After graduating from university (a long time ago), Chip worked for an international trading

firm in New York, and in that firm’s office in Moscow. After he returned to the United States, he worked

as a stock broker and eventually joined a U.S. government agency that specializes in international trade

issues as an industry-commodity analyst

with emphasis on the steel industry. It was

at this point that Chip began boating again,

a valuable outlet for his creativity. He has

since completed an accounting degree,

achieved a CPA license, and has transferred

within the agency into the investigations

unit as an auditor. With all this experience,Chip will certainly be an asset to the district

bridge.


4

Attention Editors!

There will be a meeting of editors

at Fall Conference to air and

answer your computer questions.

This will hopefully assist you in

making your job easier and

making full use of your computer

to do your newsletters.

More information will be coming to

you in an e-mail from D/Lt Micky

McNelis. Please plan on being

there on Saturday, 7 November.

questions and to learn who won the many

other educational awards, be sure to come

to the luncheon and banquet on Saturday.

In the meantime, there are new education-

related items to consider:

1. New On-Line Materials and

Exams Ordering Processes Available

Thanks to the efforts of P/C Dan Bartell, a

new on-line ordering system is in place.

Authorized members can order

Educational Department materials and

exams using a web browser. No need to

use item numbers when ordering

materials, and no need to look up

certificate numbers for exam orders. Just

use the new pull-down menu selections

under “Order Course Materials” on any

EdDept web page. There are Help

menus for both material and exam

orders, and we recommend that

you read these before you first use

the on-line processes. Both the

existing SOF and ED-33 forms

will remain available should you

need to use them. (05 Aug 09)

2. Hot New Information:

Take a Course and Maybe Win a

Prize!

The Educational Department has

received a grant from the USPS

Educational Fund that rewards squadron members for taking advanced courses. A

competition in each of several course categories is being offered and prizes will be awarded

via a drawing of all students who successfully complete the course by passing the final exam.

The contest began 01 July 2009 and ends 30 June 2010. The awards will be

announced and presented at the Seattle Governing Board, August 30 - September

4, 2010. See you there!

Continued from page 1


5

RESERVATION FORMUSPS D/5 FALL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

5 – 9 NOVEMBER 2009Rockville, Maryland

MEMBER: Rank __________ Name: ______________________________ ___________ Grade: ____________

ADDRESS: ____________________________ CITY: ___________________ STATE: _____ ZIP: __________

SQUADRON: ____________________________ POSITION: ______________ FIRST TIMER? ___________

E-mail: ___________________________________________________ PHONE: __________________________

SPOUSE/OTHER ATTENDEES:

Rank: _______ Name: ___________________________________ Grade: ____________ First Timer? ________

Rank: _______ Name: ___________________________________ Grade: ____________ First Timer? ________

ACTIVITIES SELECTIONS

(Cost includes tax and gratuity for each meal)FRIDAY MEET AND GREET

Appetizers & Hors d’ Oeuvres # _______ @ $9.00 $ __________

SATURDAY LUNCHEONBuffet includes soup, salad and entrée (choice of beef/ # _______ @ $20.00 $ __________

chicken/vegetarian)

SATURDAY AUXILIARY LUNCHEON # _______ @ $20.00 $ __________Buffet (same as above) separate meeting

SATURDAY BANQUET ENTREE CHOICES:Vegetable Neapolitan # _______ @ $35.00 $ _ _________

Frenched Breast of Chicken # _____ _ @ $35.00 $ ___________(Meals also come with Caesar Salad and dessert)

OPTIONALRoom raffle ONE FREE NIGHT1 ticket for $2.00 or 3 tickets for $5.00 # _______ @ $2 or $5 $ __________

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $ __________

Make Checks Payable to: 2009 D/5 Fall Conference

Meal Reservations must be received by 15 October 2009

SEND TO: Lt/C Denise Allen, JN

4526 Pickett Rd.

Fairfax, VA 22032

Phone: 703-323-3916 Fax: 703-323-3947

E-mail address: [email protected]

Uniform – Thursday/Friday – USPS/Squadron shirts. Saturday – USPS Blazer w/grey slacks, Banquet – Uniform A with bowtie.

Rockville Hilton Hotel

Website: http://www.rockvillehotel.com

1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852

Reservations 1-301-468-1100 Reservation ID Code: U. S. Power Squadrons

ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY 15 OCTOBER 2009 TO ENSURE USPS RATES

Rates: Regular Room - $99.00 per night Thursday/Friday/Saturday

King Suite with sofa bed - $139 per night

Directions: From I 495 (Capital Beltway), take exit 34, Wisconsin Ave./Rockville Pike north on route 355. Go

about 4 miles, to just past intersection with Twinbrook Parkway. Hotel will be on the right. Parking is free in

the garage.


6

Notes and News from the

D5 LAW COMMITTEE

For those who missed our article in

the summer on-line edition of Mark

5, you need to be aware of the

insurance program that USPS has,

how to use it, whom to contact and

what to do when a claim is made for

personal injury or property damage

in the course of a squadron or

district sponsored event.

All of us should be aware of the summary of

insurance coverage on the USPS website. You can

find it by starting at the USPS home page, clicking on

“Member Stuff” and then on “District and Squadron

Insurance.” There you will find an outline of nine

different policies covering many phases of our

activities. But you are not expected to decide what is

covered and by what policy as a result of reading the

summaries. The most important information is the

names and contact information of our broker and the

people there who can help with questions and claims.

USPS insurance coverage is with the Chubb Group of

Insurance Companies, our broker is Gowrie Barden &

Brett, and the people to contact are:

Mr. Steve Prime

Tel: 401.846.5130

email: [email protected]

Ms. Mary Diaz

Tel: 800.262.8911

email: [email protected]

Whenever something happens from which you think a

claim may be made, whether you believe the claim is

justified or not, there are several things you should do.

At the time of the event, get and record as much

information as you can, including the date and time of

the occurrence, the names and contact information of

everyone involved and as many witnesses as you can

identify, the location of the event,

weather conditions, and what happened.

Remember the need to notify state

officials if the damages or injuries

meet reporting requirements.

Promptly notify your commander and

your insurance company, including the

USPS broker, of the situation. If you

have any doubt about whether a claim

will be made or whether it would be

covered by insurance, get in touch

with the insurance companies at once.

Let them help you with your

questions. Don‘t be afraid that asking will raise your

premiums. It won’t. More importantly, prompt notice

generally is a requirement for coverage and you don’t

want to lose coverage because you failed to give

prompt notice to the insurance company.

One very notable exception to coverage described in

the summary relates to claims for personal injury and

property damage occurring in the course of a cruise

for the fraternal benefit of members. In that case the

members involved have to rely on their own insurance

policies for protection and the USPS insurer would

cover only claims made against USPS. So buying and

maintaining your own liability insurance policy

remains crucial for your financial protection.

As was shown in the situation described in last

month’s Notes and News, you can’t always know in

advance that a claim may be made relating to a

squadron or district event. That is why it is important

to maintain records of events, such as date, time,

place, and the names of people at the event, because

those facts may become crucial later when it is too

late to record them.

Another reason to contact the USPS insurance broker

is to obtain a certificate of insurance when you are

asked to do so by someone with whom you are

planning an event. For example, when our squadron

was manning a booth at a local boat show, the

operators where happy to let us have the booth

without charge, but wanted a certificate showing that

they were covered by our insurance if a claim were to

Continued on page 8


7


8

http://www.register123.com/event/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x163211dae8

1-6 February

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Orlando, Florida

USPS Annual Meeting 2010

be made as a result of our activities at the show. We

got in touch with Ms. Diaz, who promptly sent the

appropriate certificate that named the boat show

operators as additional insureds for the course of the

show.

You also can and should contact the D/5 Law

Committee if you have any questions about legal

liability, insurance issues, or anything else we may be

able to help with. We are here to serve you.

We also would like to have more committee members

representing all of the states within D5. So if you are

interested, or know of someone who is, please get in

touch with us.

District 5 Law Committee

D/Lt M. Melvin Shralow, AP, Chair

610.642.5651

[email protected]



9

Summer Council / Rendezvous 2009Cape Charles, Virginia

P/D/C Arlene Anderson, AP

The boats came from the North and South, thecars/RV’s brought folks from seven states toBay Creek Marina and Resort in Cape Charles,VA. More than 350 people from both District 5and 27 joined together for this first combineddistrict summer rendezvous.

There was the D/C Cruise that formed inAnnapolis, Maryland, bringing together morethan 40 boats, that cruised the ChesapeakeBay the week prior to arriving in Cape Charles.Many smaller groups formed and traveled fromvarious parts of North Carolina. A total of 87boats of various sizes and kinds docked at BayCreek for three days of camaraderie and funwith members from 43 squadrons in the two

districts.

Members from both districts formed a planning committee and worked on this event for a year tomake this joint event happen. Many traditional events from both districts were incorporated. Notonly was there planning for boating accommodations at the marina but other housingaccommodations were searched out to take care of those who drove.

Once the boats and cars started to arrive on Thursday, basically the evening schedule lefteveryone on their own, but several gatherings were organized: cocktail parties, spaghetti dinners,P/D/C gatherings to swap old stories, and boat hopping to see long time friends.

Friday kicked off early with two days of on-the-water Boat Operator Certification events. Manychose to take the bus trip to a local winery and lunch. The dinghy poker run was a big hit withseveral entries, while those who chose not to participate in on-the-water activities formed teams to

start off the Bean Bag Baseball competition.Many teams formed with all sizes of players, a fewof the children opted to team up for baseballcompetition instead of participating with all theother children in their planned activities. Fridayevening ended with 350 people being bussed todowntown Cape Charles where the local volunteerfire company prepared a Seafood Fest for us. Itwas two civic organizations helping each other, thefiremen prepared our meal for the evening and wewere able to leave the fireman with$10,500 to help their community.

Continued on page 10


10

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While Friday was a fun packed

day of events, many rose early

Saturday for the District 5

traditional flag raising ceremony.

C/C Maynard and V/C Alter were

decked out in their summer

whites, along with the immediate

P/C/C, R/C, P/D/C; squadron

commanders from both districts

were introduced. The weather

was great for the annual District

5 Navigation Contest with a few

boats that took to the waters of

the bay to demonstrate their

navigation skills. District 27 gave

lessons on Conch shell blowing

so several members tried their

skills at blowing the shells.

Those who did not brave the

shell blowing competition went

off to try their skill at shooting the

homemade potato cannons.

Both districts came prepared to

show off who had the best

cannon. The weekend events

were starting to come to a close

but not without the two District

Commanders hosting a

wonderful cocktail party for 350

people before the Southern Style

Pig Pick’n dinner. After dinner,

recognition was given to those

who participated in the various

events of the weekend, some

winners and even the happy

squadron that took home the

District 5 “Sourpuss” Award.

It was a wonderful event with

everyone from Districts 5 and 27

enjoying CROSSING PATHS with

USPS fellowship.



11

Mark 5 Staff

Editor

D/Lt Thomas Reichard, AP

1205 Elverton Ct.

Chesapeake, VA 23321

(Hampton Roads) (757) 465-1531

[email protected]

Staff

D/Lt Gail W. Becker, S (Patapsco)

D/Lt Walter D. Lazear, AP (Northern VA)

D/Lt Micky McNelis (Dundalk)

Photographers

P/D/C Arlene Anderson, AP (Hampton Roads)

D/Lt Michael Lebeduik, III, P (Delhigh)

D/Lt Sharen Reichard, P (Hampton Roads)

Advertising

D/Lt Jack Yeigh, AP– Chairman

317 Columbia Lane

Stevensville, MD 21666

(Kent Narrows) (410) 643-2106

[email protected]

P/D/C William Selden, V, AP

(Richmond)

Official Publication of District 5

United States Power Squadrons®

Published Six Times Annually

(three printed - three online)

Deadline for:

Winter (Online) 2009 is November 28, 2009

Spring (Print) 2009 is December 29, 2009

Articles, opinions and advertisements do

not necessarily reflect USPS policy or

endorsement unless so designated.

For more information contact

P/C Michael Lebeduik @ [email protected]


12

D/Lt/C Guy B. Thompson, AP

District 5 Secretary14226 - 11 Jib St.Laurel, MD 20707

DATED MATERIAL NON-PROPHIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

EASTON, MD

PERMIT NO. 81

5

Return Service Requested

6 - 8 November

Fall Conference

Rockville, MD

1 - 6 February

Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort

Disney World

Orlando, Florida

Documents

Mark 5 Fall 2009 Print