United States Power Squadrons â - District 10

Fall Council Meeting

Westwood Conference Center, Wausau, WI

18 October 2002

Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 1700

D/C Michael Wiedel, AP, introduced the Chief Commanders Representative, R/C Ken Link, JN, Chair National Marketing Committee.

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

The Secretary called the roll: Present were:

D/C Michael Wiedel, AP Commander

D/Lt/C Arthur Mollica, JN Executive Officer

D/Lt/C Thaddeus Smyczek, SN Educational Officer

D/Lt/C Donald Schult, Sr., AP Administrative Officer

D/Lt/C Judy McMillin, P Secretary

D/Lt/C Michael Beckmann, SN Treasurer

P/D/C Ronald Kraase, SN Immediate Past District Commander

P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN Nominating Committee

P/D/C Geir Seger, JN Planning Committee

Absent Audit Committee

Absent Rules Committee

Absent Law Committee

Cdr Robert Ruef, JN Central Wisconsin

Absent Chippewa Valley

Cdr Alan Wentworth, SN Door County

Cdr Charles Grubb, P Duluth

Absent Green Bay

Cdr Alford Harmon, AP Hiawatha Valley

Cdr Michael Klenke, AP Madison

Cdr Kenneth Sparr, AP Menominee-Marinette

Cdr James Runge, P Milwaukee

Cdr Jeff Hamilton, AP Minnetonka

Cdr Geoff Carman, P Oshkosh

Lt/C Greg Holmen, P St Paul

Cdr Jennifer Cihak, S Sheboygan

The Council Members present constituted a quorum.

D/C Wiedel explained the council voting procedures.

Minutes from the spring 2002 Council were approved as distributed.

The following Squadron Commander Reports were given and placed on file.

Squadron Summary/Highlights

Central Wisconsin Strong member involvement in education program. Experienced a decline in membership due to nonrenewals; 5 new members added and one application in process. Success with having members as speakers for membership meetings talking on personal experiences topics (i.e., coastal cruising, chartering a sail boat in the British Virgin Islands, obtaining a Coast Guard Captain’s license). Squadron web page now on line.

Door County Hosted a very successful 2002 District Summer Rendezvous in Manitowoc, WI with 280 registrants. Added 14 new members for a 41% increase over membership at year’s end 2001. Classes held in AP, S, P and Sail. Seamanship, OT and Weather scheduled for November. Community focus included participation in Sturgeon Bay Wooden Boat Show, attending the Milwaukee Group Coast Guard change of watch, attending local Waterways Commission meetings, participating jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for VSC day, and working with the Door County Maritime Museum. Nationally, three members attended the GB in Des Moines and participated in the national Planning, Offshore Navigation and National Meetings Committees. Cdr Wentworth had accepted the position of National Medical Officer.

Duluth Squadron’s bid to host the 2003 D/10 Fall Conference in Duluth was accepted by the District. Held April fitting out party and fund-raiser with 185 in attendance. Fitting out party a great success realizing a net profit of $10,000. Participated in Annual River Quest, a program to educate sixth graders about the ecology of the St. Louis River and Duluth harbor system. To kick off Safe Boating Week, held a joint “Meet the Brass” dinner meeting with the Coast Guard Auxiliary that also included guests from the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR and area city officials. Duluth has 20 VSC examiners and over 100 boats were given safety checks. Numerous activities were held at the squadron dock. Education classes held include Safe Boating, S, P, AP and Weather. 27 new members added. Recommended Duluth members Dan and Pat Shearer for nomination of the District’s Franklin W. Wedge Safety Award for their efforts in rescuing a 10 year old boy and his mother from Lake Superior.

Hiawatha Valley Squadron retention rate for 2002 is 90.3%. 8 new members added. Educational activities: 3 Boat Smart sessions and classes held in Seamanship, Sail, Piloting, Advanced Piloting and Engine Maintenance. First Aid/CPR (not USPS courses), Weather and OT are scheduled for November. Two general membership meetings held and four water-based activities were conducted. Cooperative charting event yielded reports on 70 markers. Squadron has eight VSC examiners who conducted 134 vessel safety checks. Held a Safe Boating Week demonstration and practice session with flares, flags and fire extinguishers.

Madison Squadron has had success with community service, social activities and internal educational programs. Five Boat Smart classes held. Community service events held include, “Take a Stake in the Lakes”, a cooperative charting safari, Safe Boating Week and VSC day. Squadron is involved in two local projects; the production of safe boating public service announcements, and partnering with USCGA and other local boating organizations to build a land based boating orientated facility that would be owned by a municipality. In education, Piloting and Engine Maintenance were held this spring. Courses underway include Seamanship, Sail and Marine Electronics. Their educational year will conclude with Piloting and Cruise Planning courses.

Menominee-Marinette On 18 May squadron became the Menominee Marinette Sail and Power Squadron, Inc. With the assistance of three VSC examiners from Green Bay, vessel safety checks were conducted at Nestegg Marina in Marinette, WI. Squadron members participated in Spring and Fall trash collections in support of the Michigan Adopt-A-Highway Program. In August members participated in the Menominee Waterfront Festival by providing USPS literature to interested parties and assisting in the “Blessing of the Fleet” by the local civic groups and religious leaders. Cdr Sparr attended a meeting at the invitation of the US Coast Guard on a newly formed “M&M Harbor Safety Committee.” Squadron members also attended and participated in the D10 Rendezvous, and a cooperative charting program.

Milwaukee Membership is currently at 174 members. 26 members were lost as a result of non-renewals. Fall Boat Smart classes held in 5 weekly sessions are underway; two other classes are scheduled for the Winter and the Spring. Two 1-day Boat Smart classes are scheduled for this year. Milwaukee will offer all advanced grade and elective courses this year. Membership meetings are averaging 55 members. This year’s membership programs feature Milwaukee members as presenters. A Cooperative Charting party is planned for the end of October. The squadron has three VSC examiners and has conducted 45 VSC’s. The squadron staffed booths at “Safety Saturday” in New Berlin and at the International Search and Rescue Competition in Milwaukee as part of the Milwaukee Safe Boating Coalition. Cdr James Runge, presented a check to District 10 in the amount of $200.00 from the Milwaukee Squadron for surplus funds from the 2002 Spring Conference.

Minnetonka A biweekly electronic newsletter to members has been established. There are ongoing efforts to market USPS in the Twin Cities metropolitan area with the St. Paul and Hiawatha Valley squadrons, i.e., cooperative boat show display. Seventy new members have been added. Minnetonka has a total of 10 VSC examiners and that completed 70+ vessel safety checks. Public boating courses resulted in 213 students. Advanced grade classes to date have had 32 students and elective courses 36 students. Civic activities include participating in two local parades, hosting Aquatennial Royalty and holding a boat and water safety seminar. Of the many membership meetings and activities held, the “First Friday’s at Fletcher’s” has been of particular success for the squadron.

Oshkosh – Together with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the squadron performed 30 vessel safety checks at a fishing tournament in Fond-du-Lac earlier in the year. An additional 28 VSC’s have been performed in Oshkosh. Oshkosh was joined by members of the Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Madison squadrons for the annual 3-day Hidden Harbor Rendezvous on Lake Winneconne.

St. Paul Squadron has held five Boat Smart classes with three scheduled for 2003. Advanced grade and elective classes, Instructor Development and OT classes have been held or are scheduled to be held. Membership was increased by 10%. The squadron has 6 certified vessel examiners and completed 79 vessel safety exams. Forty-five geodetic surveys were reported this year. The squadron will host the 2003 D/10 Spring Conference.

Sheboygan Squadron achieved 100% retention of members for the second year. Two boating courses conducted. Safe boating packets were distributed to marinas and also ads placed in the local papers and played on radio stations. Members attended the D10 Rendezvous in Manitowoc and the Hidden Harbor Rendezvous. The squadron has 4 certified vessel examiners and conducted 18 vessel checks.

The Following Bridge Officers Reports were given and place on file.

Secretary – D/Lt/C Judy McMillin, P, reported that the D/10 web site has a calendar program available that can be used to list not only district-wide functions, but also multi-squadron cruises and activities. An opening for an Assistant Webmaster to monitor and keep the D/10 web site current is still available. Squadrons were requested to submit their Historian reports no later than 31 December.

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

Educational Officer :

America’s Boating Course – Within D/10’s area, 25 students have subscribed via the website.

Vision 2000 Courses – Seamanship 101 and 102 , Engine Maintenance 101 and 102 and a new Weather Course CD-ROM are now available from USPS headquarters.

District and Squadron accomplishments for the Education Year 7/1/02 – 6/30/02 are included in the Educational Officer’s written report and will be reported at the Conference meeting.

Prince Henry Competition Scoring - D/Lt/C Smyszek, SN, recommended that D/C Wiedel, AP, appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations to the District Council and Conference on how points should be scored under the new Education Department rules for taking Advanced Grade Courses.

Administrative Officer – D/Lt/C Donald Schult, Sr., AP, thanked the Door County Sail and Power Squadron for hosting a most successful D/10 summer rendezvous. Squadrons were reminded to donate a squadron burgee to District for display at district meetings and conferences. Winter Council registration and sign-up sheets are now available. The Spring and Fall Conferences for 2003 are set. St. Paul will host the Spring Conference and Duluth the Fall Conference. The District Retention Trophy will be awarded at the 19 October Conference dinner.

Executive Officer - D/Lt/C Arthur Mollica, JN, reported that the Vessel Safety Check program had out paced last year numbers and each squadron now has at least one certified examiner. Squadrons were informed that the program year ends 30 November and to submit their reports to the District VSC Chair. D/Lt/C Mollica noted that safety reports are still needed from some squadrons. He encouraged squadrons to increase the number of articles in their newsletter that are directed towards safety articles. Cooperative Charting program reporting will go online early next year.

The following committee reports were given and place on file:

Planning, Nominations

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

Unfinished Business:

None

New Business:

A Motion was made and seconded authorizing a letter 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.

P/D/C Alan Wentworth, SN, announced that the Sunday “N” Club meeting would feature Dr. Lynn Roth, CEO, Locus, Inc., speaking on a “new look at Loran.”

D/C Wiedel advised that the published action item on a proposal for a regional Educational Center of Excellence had been withdrawn by Cdr Al Harmon, Hiawatha Valley Sail and Power Squadron.

Meeting adjourned 1825

D/Lt/C Judy McMillin, P

District Secretary