United States Power Squadrons â - District 10

Fall Conference Meeting

Westwood Conference Center, Wausau, WI

19 October 2002

Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 0950

 

The Color Guard presented the Colors.

 

P/C Roy Trowbridge, AP, gave the Invocation.

 

D/C Michael Wiedel, AP, introduced the guests present:

 

Chief Commanders Representative R/C Ken Link, JN, Chair National Marketing Committee.

 

Wisconsin BLA John Lacenski.    Mr. Lacenski reported on the Wisconsin Boating Safety Advisory Council established last year.  The Council studies all safety aspects of boating and its membership includes representatives from the boating industry and boating organizations and agencies.  P/D/C Ron Kraase, SN, represents the United States Power Squadron on the Council.    He recapped boating related accidents and deaths for the past year and emphasized the need to better educate non-motorized boaters.   In response to a question on status of the USCG rule requiring all children under 13 years old to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket when underway on a recreational vessel; unless they are in an enclosed cabin or below decks, Mr. Lacenski stated that the rule only applies in those States that currently have no rule requiring children to wear a life jacket.  However, in those States that possess any requirement, the rule recognizes and adopts that State’s requirement.  The rule becomes effective in December 2002. 

 

The meeting was recessed at 1010 for conference seminars and lunch.

 

The meeting was reconvened at 1300

 

R/C Link delivered the Chief Commander’s message.  He spoke on the Bowsprit Program that measures a district’s yearly improvement in the areas of active membership growth, total public safe boating course registrations, internal education program graduates and total active membership retention.   Last year’s results showed a significant decline in the number of district award winners and he encouraged districts and squadrons to place more emphasis on the basics of squadron success.   He discussed the status of the implementation phase of the Strategic Plan.  He noted that many of the strategies are already being followed or have been assigned to national committees for implementation.   R/C Link discussed the establishment of an ad-hoc Committee for Governmental Affairs.  The committee’s responsibilities will include those of the present Legislative Committee and those interests of lobbying and governmental liaison with many of the outside governmental organizations, committees and groups whom USPS associates with.   Annual dues renewals were down 19% this past year, but new member statistics continue to be steady.   Provisional squadron growth continues with 2 more provisional squadrons being chartered.   This brings a total of 17 new squadrons being added over the last two years with 1,100 new active members.   Electronic reporting for the Cooperative Charting Program is scheduled for April 2003.   The VSC Committee is making strides to improve decal distribution for next year.   R/C Link reminded that USPS’s basic civic service is to teach public safe boating courses.   He suggested that squadrons “think outside the box” to find students and consider holding classes in new neighborhoods, shopping centers, insurance company offices, major employers, etc.    R/C Link provided an update on anniversary dues renewal billing scheduled to be voted on at the January Annual Meeting.  District 10 members serving on National Committees were recognized.

 

Roll Call was taken.    The following were present:

 

District Commander                                             Michael Wiedel, AP

District Executive Officer                                    Arthur Mollica, JN

District Educational Officer                                Thaddeus Smyczek, SN

District Administrative Officer                           Donald Schult, Sr., AP

District Secretary                                                 Judy McMillin, P

District Treasurer                                                 Michael Beckmann, SN

Immediate Past District Commander Ronald Kraase, SN

Nominating Committee                                        P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN

Audit Committee                                                  Absent

Planning Committee                                             P/D/C Geir Seger, JN

Rules Committee                                                  absent

 

Central Wisconsin                                               Cdr.                         SEO present                          3 delegates

Chippewa Valley                                                  Cdr absent             SEO absent                           1 delegate

Door County                                                         Cdr                          SEO present                          3 delegates

Duluth                                                                    Cdr.                         SEO present                          3 delegates

Green Bay                                                              Cdr. absent            SEO present                          1 delegate

Hiawatha Valley                                                   Cdr.                         SEO present                          3 delegates

Madison                                                                                Cdr.                         Asst SEO present                                4 delegates

Menominee-Marinette                                        Cdr.                         SEO present                          2 delegates

Milwaukee                                                             Cdr.                         SEO present                          4 delegates

Minnetonka                                                          Cdr.                         SEO present                          4 delegates

Oshkosh                                                                                Cdr.                         SEO absent                           0 delegates

St. Paul                                                                   Cdr.                         Asst SEO present                                5 delegates

Sheboygan                                                            Cdr.                         SEO present                          0 delegates

 

7 Past District Commanders

 

The conference members present constituted a quorum.

 

D/C Wiedel reviewed the council voting procedures.

 

P/R/C Neil McMillin, SN, was appointed parliamentarian without objection.

 

The Minutes from the Spring 2002 conference were approved as distributed.

 

The following teaching aids were presented: 

 

                Type                                       Course                                   Squadron                               Presenter

Model of engine cylinder                   Engine Maintenance           Madison                                                John Finstad

Points of sail                                         Sail                                          Hiawatha Valley                   Tom Rossini

Backfire flame arrestor                         Boat Smart/ Eng. Maint.      Hiawatha Valley                   Tom Rossini

Lines of position                                  Piloting and AP                    Hiawatha Valley                   Tom Rossini

Apostle Island plotting                       AP                                          St. Paul                                   Sue Tipler

Robert’s Rules overheads                  General (OT)                         St. Paul                                   Andrea Davis

Model sailboat                                     Sail                                          St. Paul                                   Andrea Davis

Early navigational instruments          JN                                           St. Paul                                   Jeff Davis

Celestial coordinates                           N                                             St. Paul                                   Art Mollica

Inland and coastal navigation           P                                              St. Paul                                   Greg Holman

Rescue Disk                                          Boat Smart                             St. Paul                                   Jim Messer

Instructor Development flip charts     I.D.                                        St. Paul                                   Greg Holman

Knots                                                     Seamanship                           St. Paul                                   Marnie Selden

Man over board demo                         Boat Smart                             Madison                                                Robert Hobert

Sight corrections                                  JN                                           St. Paul                                   Jeff Davis

Cardboard boats                                  Boat Smart                             Central Wisconsin               Don Grover

Boat Handling                                      Boat Smart                             Central Wisconsin               Don Grover

Red/green sidelights                           Boating                                  Sheboygan                            Lyle Peschke

Powerpoint – Chart Smart                   Chart Smart                           Madison                                                Jim Pahl-Washa

Powerpoint – Tide tables                    AP                                          Minnetonka                          Jeff Hamilton

 

The District Educational Officer’s report was given.

 

                D/10 has a 2% decrease in public boating course registrations.   Increased advertising efforts of public boating courses are needed.

                Advanced grade courses:  125 passing, up 1-1/4%

                Elective Courses:     123 passing, down 17%

 

                Squadron national standings for the Educational year 7/1/02 – 6/30/02:

                Piloting                                  Chippewa Valley                  5th in nation

                Junior Navigation                                Menomonee-Marinette       3rd in nation          

                Cruise Planning                    Chippewa Valley                  1st in nation

                Engine Maintenance           Menominee-Marinette        2nd in nation

                Instructor Qual.                    Hiawatha Valley                  8th in nation

                Sail                                          Chippewa Valley                  1st in nation

                                                                Central Wisconsin               2nd in nation

                Total Elective Course participation:

                                                                Chippewa Valley                  1st in nation

                                                                Central Wisconsin               6th in nation

 

                District 10 rankings for the Educational year 7/1/02 – 6/30/02:  10th in Piloting, 8th for Advanced Piloting, 7th for Instructor Qualification, 10th for Marine Electronics, 3rd for Sail and 10th for Total Elective Courses.

 

                D/Lt/C Smyczek, SN, stated that an Ad Hoc Committee had been appointed by D/C Wiedel to study and make recommendations to the District Council and Conference on a revised scoring system for the Prince Henry Award using the new Educational Department rules for taking Advance Grade courses. 

 

Treasurer’s Report – D/Lt/C Michael Beckmann, SN, reviewed the 16 March 2002 – 16 October 2002 revenues and expenses.

 

P/D/C Ron Kraase, SN, reviewed motions/actions approved at the 18 October 2002 Council meeting:  The following motions were made:

 

A Motion was made and seconded to adopt the USPS District 10 Strategic Plan for 2002-2007.  The Motion was ADOPTED.

 

A Motion was made and seconded authorizing a letter be sent to National providing subordinate unit information for D/10 and requesting inclusion under the USPS Group Exemption Coverage.   The Motion was ADOPTED.

 

A Motion was made and seconded to award the 2003 District Summer Rendezvous to the Madison Sail and Power Squadron to be held 25-27 July 2003 and based at the Holiday Inn- Five Flags, Dubuque, Iowa.   The Motion was ADOPTED.

 

A Motion was made and seconded to award the 2004 Spring District Conference to the Central Wisconsin Sail and Power Squadron.  Dates and location to be announced at a later date.   The Motion was ADOPTED.

 

The District Commander’s State of the District report was given.  Highlights from the report:

                Door County Sail and Power Squadron members were presented an award for their extraordinary work on the D/10 2002 Summer Rendezvous held at Manitowoc, Wisconsin

                The following squadrons received certificates from the National Membership Committee for outstanding achievement in membership growth for the period 31 May 2001 – 31 May 2002: Hiawatha Valley Sail and Power Squadron (27.12% growth), and Door County Sail and Power Squadron (3.23% growth).

                Three D/10 squadrons had 100% membership retention.

                Overall district membership retention is 83%.

                A District 10 entry to the National Poster Contest from the Green Bay Sail and Power Squadron took 3rd place in the national competition, Monique Rosteing (6-8 year old age group).

                The National Public Relations Committee awarded the Minnetonka Power Squadron second place in the Carl Mahnken Commanders Cup Slide Show Competition.

                Chippewa Valley Sail and Power Squadron and Central Wisconsin Sail and Power Squadron placed nationally for elective education participation this past year.

                Duluth squadron members Dan and Pat Shearer will be nominated as candidates for the National Life Saving Award for their efforts in water rescue from Lake Superior.

                The Milwaukee Sail and Power Squadron was awarded the Excellence in Education Award from the National Boating Federation and USPS.

                D/Lt Bud Crewdson, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from National for his work and dedication to the cooperative charting program.

                District 10 ranked 15th in the nation for the Vessel Safety Check Program with 500 VSC’s completed and 404 decals awarded.

 

New Business       None.

 

D/Lt Roy Trowbridge, AP, gave the Benediction.

 

The Colors were retired.

 

Adjourned 1505

 

D/Lt/C Judy McMillin, P

District Secretary

 

 

 

SATURDAY EVENING AWARDS PRESENTATIONS:

 

Prince Henry Award – Menominee-Marinette Sail and Power Squadron

 

District Award for Excellence in Teaching - D/Lt/C Arthur Mollica, JN, St. Paul Sail and Power Squadron

 

Teaching Aids Awards:

                1st Place – Madison Sail and Power Squadron (Model of engine cylinder)

                2nd Place – St. Paul Sail and Power Squadron, (Celestial coordinates)

                3rd Place – Hiawatha Valley Sail & Power Squadron (Backfire flame arrestor)

 

Cdr Robert Ruef, Madison Sail and Power Squadron was presented his Senior Navigator plaque.

 

The District Membership Retention Trophy was presented jointly to the Door County Sail and Power Squadron and the Oshkosh Power Squadron.

 

Certificates of Appreciation:

 

D/Lt Stephen Bruns, SN                     Operations Training Seminar

D/Lt Karen Beckman, P                       The ABC’s of Conference Planning Seminar

P/D/C Ronald Kraase, SN                   Instructor Development Seminar

P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN                Marketing Your Boating Course Seminar