United States Power Squadrons â - District 10

Spring Council Meeting

Best Western, Maplewood, MN

29 March 2003

Minutes

 

The meeting was called to order at 0730 by D/C Michael Wiedel, AP

 

D/C Wiedel welcomed and introduced Chief Commander Ted Smith, SN.

 

The Secretary called the roll:   Present were:

 

D/C Michael Wiedel, AP                    Commander

D/Lt/C Arthur Mollica, SN 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

P/D/Lt/C Robert Stierna, SN               Rules Committee

Cdr Roberta Ruef, JN                           Central Wisconsin

Cdr Dean Kass, P                                 Chippewa Valley

Cdr Carole Biddick, AP                       Door County

Cdr Sue Farrell, AP                              Duluth

Absent   (Excused for military            Green Bay

   duty, P/R/C Richard Siebert, SN substituting)

Cdr Scott Moesle, S                             Hiawatha Valley

Cdr Richard Baker, AP                        Madison               

Cdr Kenneth Sparr, AP                       Menominee-Marinette

Cdr James Runge, P                             Milwaukee

Cdr Mike Skelley, AP                          Minnetonka

Cdr Geoff Carman, P                            Oshkosh

Cdr Greg Holmen, P                             St Paul

Cdr Jennifer Cihak, S                           Sheboygan

 

The Council Members present constituted a quorum.

 

The 31 January 2003 Winter Council Minutes were approved as distributed.

 

P/D/Lt/C Robert Stierna, SN, Rules Committee, explained the council voting procedures.

 

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

 

                Squadron                               Summary/Highlights

 

Central Wisconsin             Nine members have taken Marine Electronics.  An American Red Cross CPR was held in February at which time instruction was given on using a defibrillator.  Two Boat Smart classes are slated for the Spring.  A class for new Vessel Safety examiners will be held in May.  Current membership is at 70 with one  reinstatement. At a member’s social held in March, a local attorney discussed the Do’s and Don’ts when involved in a boating accident.  Three squadron rendezvous’ are planned this summer.  CWSPS will participate in the cleanup of Lake Wausau.  Vessel safety checks are scheduled for specific days this summer at local boat landings.  The squadron web page is online.

 

 

 

 

                Chippewa Valley  A Fitting-Out Party is scheduled for 4 April.  They are working toward getting all instructors through Instructor Development.  Two members have been certified as Vessel Safety Examiners.   One Boat Smart class has been held.  An inner-squadron rendezvous for Lake Pepin is planned.

 

                Door County                         The Squadron has established a new web site and appointed a new Port Captain.  Door County is continuing to receive new members. The Public Relations Committee has distributed fliers throughout the county on it’s Boat Smart class. A major goal this year is to involve and retain members.   Two Bridge members are attending their first district conference.  Operations training will be held 25 April.  A combined meeting with the Sturgeon Bay U.S.C.G. Auxiliary Flotilla Bridge and DCS&PS Bridge was held.   The Flotilla will assist in getting three new Vessel Safety Examiners certified. 

 

                Duluth                                   Membership has increased since 1 January 2003 - total membership is at 273. One Boating class has been completed and another is underway.  An  Engine Maintenance class is underway, and a  Seamanship class is planned to start in April.  A Vessel Examiner’s class is scheduled for May.   Squadron members are actively placing posters and information promoting the Safe Boating Classes in area marine and sporting goods stores.   Squadron will participate in Annual River Quest, a program to educate sixth graders about water safety and the ecology of the St. Louis River and Duluth harbor system.   Information bags will be handed out at area launch ramps during Sate Boating Week.  Vessel exams are to be conducted at the Power Squadron dock and areas marinas this summer   The May general meeting will be held jointly with the CGA and the local DNR to promote Safe Boating Week.  Duluth will be hosting the D10 Fall Conference 31 October – 2 November at the Inn on Lake Superior.

 

Green Bay                             The spring Boating course has 54 students.  A follow-up Seamanship class is planned.  A Weather class is finishing up, and Advanced Piloting and Cruise Planning classes are planned.  Squadron members participated in the Green Bay Boat Show.  Safe Boating Week activities include jointly working with the Green Bay Fire Department and Coast Guard Auxiliary.   The squadron web site is up and running.

 

Hiawatha Valley                   The squadron has purchased an Infocus projector.  Current membership is at 80.   Education activities includes:   three Boat Smart classes; a Seamanship course planned for May; a  Piloting class is underway; and JN and Cruise Planning will be completed in March.  A new brochure (funded through a Boat U.S. Grant)  on “Locking Through” is being published and will be included in information packets for National Safe Boating Week.   A safety demonstration is scheduled in Red Wing the week of 17 May.  And vessel safety checks will be conducted in conjunction with Safe Boating Week. activities.

 

                Madison                 The first session of a Boat Smart class was held 18 March.  Two Boat Smart for Kids classes will be offered this spring and also a one-day ABC class.   Education classes underway include Navigation and Cruise Planning.   An OT class is scheduled for June.  Squadron members participated in a Boat Show in January and at a Fishing Expo in February.  A VSC seminar is scheduled for April in order to have more examiners certified prior to Safe Boating Week activities.  The squadron web site has been moved to a new hosting service to allow for more content storage.  Preparations continue for the D/10 Rendezvous that Madison is hosting in Dubuque in July.

 

                Menominee-Marinette        The new bridge looks forward to increased participation, increased membership and continuing education of members.  The squadron plans to participate in the “Waterfront Festival” in Menominee, MI.   A Boat Smart spring boating class is in progress.   Under “civic duties” the squadron  is working with numerous groups, particularly the U.S. Coast Guard, under the new Homeland Security Administration, and having formed the “M&M Harbor Safety and Security Committee.”   Subjects this group will address will relate to security of the Great Lakes region as well as inland lakes, rivers and power generation dams.  

 

                Milwaukee                            Milwaukee has conducted two one-day Boat Smart classes graduating 183 students.  They have participated in two Boat Shows in the Milwaukee area.  In April, a VSC class will be held with hopes of graduating eight new examiners.  Vessel Safety checks are planned in the New Berlin boat launch areas.   Milwaukee will be co-hosting a rendezvous with Sheboygan and Oshkosh at the Hidden Harbor Marina on Lake Winneconne. 

 

                Minnetonka                          Total membership is at 520.  A  new theme of  “Membership and Marketing, Our M & M”s was introduced.   The purchase of a defibrillator was approved by the Executive Committee.  The squadron will help sponsor the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol’s 2nd Annual Boat and Water Safety Seminar in April.  A Marketing officer and Advertising officer positions have been added under the PRO.   VSC’s will be expanded through cooperation with local marinas and restaurants.  An education certificate program has been started with local business owners, marinas and boat dealers.   Plans continue for hosting the 2004 D/10 Summer Rendezvous.  A  New Member Invitational was held 24 March.  The squadron web site has been updated and a new e-mail Newsletter “The eBeacon” developed and sent to membership.

 

                Oshkosh                               Two VSC’s events are planned – one at the Appleton Yacht Club and the other at the Mercury fishing tournament in Fond du Lac.    The Lake Winneconne rendezvous will be held August 8-10.    A public boating class was held in Oshkosh and second class is planned for Appleton.

 

                St. Paul                                  St. Paul has doubled the number of Vessel Examiners to eight.  Five VSC events are planned with a goal of increasing the number of completed VSC’s by 200%. Two Boat Smart classes have graduated 52 students, with three more classes scheduled.   Seven new members have been added.  Member retention initiatives have been initiated for the upcoming dues renewal.   Advanced grade classes have been scheduled, as well as a Co-Op Charting mission.

 

                Sheboygan                            Sheboygan has made all of its goals for the 2002 watch year.  Two new members have been recruited to serve on the Bridge.  They hope to double the number of VSC’s from last year.   There will be squadron participation at this year’s District Rendezvous and also the Lake Winneconne Rendezvous.   Safe boating materials are planned to be distributed at the marina and the squadron will also assist he the Coast Guard Auxiliary with it’s “Rockets for School” program in May.  Sixteen students are enrolled in the Boating class. 

 

D/10 Squadron Educational Awards Program –P/D/C Ron Kraase, SN, reintroduced from the 31 January 2003 Council meeting the report and recommendations of the Prince Henry Award Ad Hoc Committee   P/D/C Kraase stated that in accordance with revisions passed by the Council at the 31 January meeting the following changes in granting the educational awards will begin with the current 2002-2003 educational year:

 

                In order to recognize the overall educational program of a squadron, a new award will be introduced known as the “D/10 Squadron Excellence in Education Award.”  It’s actual form will be determined later.  The scoring system for earning this new award and the Prince Henry Award is revised.  Points will be totaled for the educational year, July 1 through June 30.  This total will be multiplied by 100 and then divided by the number of Active Members and Family Members as of May 31 of the respective educational year, less the number of Senior Navigators at the start of that educational year.  The resulting score will be used to the determine the recipients of the Educational Awards. 

 

A Motion was made by P/D/C Ron Kraase, SN, and seconded by D/Lt Roy Trowbridge, SN, to adopt the Prince Henry Ad Hoc Committee’s report recommendations and revised scoring procedures for the D/10 Squadron Educational Awards Program as presented.  Motion carried.

 

 

Committee Reports

 

Rules Committee – P/D/Lt/C Robert Stierna, SN, reported there was no activity by the committee at this time.

 

Planning Committee -   P/D/C Geir Seger, reported the committee is preparing a  2003-07 Strategic Plan for presentation at the 2003 Fall Conference.  The committee will wait on making recommendations on the frequency of district meetings until after the national organization has made its recommendations on  the number and frequency of national meetings.   P/D/C Seger advised the Council of the resignation of Planning Committee member Roy Trowbridge due to his move to California.   He thanked Roy for all his past contributions to the committee and recommended that Roy become an emeritus member to the Planning Committee.

 

P/D/C Richard Siebert, SN, announced that District 10 had made the Education  fund honor roll for the 15th years in a row.

 

Nominating Committee -  P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN, presented the following slate of Officers for the 2003-2004 Watch year.

 

                District Commander                             D/Lt/C Arthur A. Mollica, SN

                Executive Officer                                  D/Lt/C Donald Schult, AP

                Education Officer                                 D/Lt/C Thaddeus M. Smyczek, SN

                Administrative Officer                         P/C Jeff Hamiltont, AP

                Secretary                                               D/Lt Dave Carlson, SN

                Treasurer                                               D/Lt/C Michael Beckmann, SN

                Asst. Education Officer                      D/lst/Lt William Dohr, SN

                Audit Committee (3 yrs)                      D/Lt Glenn Deedon, AP

                Rules Committee (3 yrs)                      Jennifer Rice, S

                Planning Committee (1 yr)                  P/D/Lt/C Dennis Peterson, SN

Planning Committee (3 yrs)                P/D/C Geir Seger, JN

Planning Committee (3 yrs)                D/C Michael Wiedel, AP

Nominating Committee Alternates:

                                                                Central Wisconsin               D/Lt Robert Ruef, JN

                                                                Green Bay                              D/Lt William Macier, S

                                                                Chippewa Valley                  D/Lt Bill Heiland, S

                                                                Door County                         D/Lt Carole Biddick, AP

                                                                Duluth                                    D/Lt Len Robinson, S

                                                                Hiawatha Valley                   D/Lt Julia Rossini, AP

                                                                Madison                                                D/Lt Steve Bruns, SN

                                                                Milwaukee                             D/Lt. James Runge, S

                                                                M&M                                     D/Lt Axel Anderson, P

                                                                Minnetonka                          D/Lt Bruce Kelly

                                                                Oshkosh                                                D/Lt Bob Stark P

                                                                St. Paul                                   D/Lt Bob Peterson, AP

                                                                Sheboygan                            D/Lt Jennifer Cihak, S

 

Unfinished Business  - None

 

New Business

 

A motion was made by Cdr Jennifer Cihak, S, and seconded by P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN,  to award the 2005 Fall Conference to the Sheboygan Power Squadron to held at the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center.  Dates to be announced at a later date.   Motion carried.

 

A motion was made by P/D/C Thomas Rossini, SN, and seconded by D/Lt/C Donald Schult, Sr., AP, that the District Safety Officer be moved from the District Administrative Officer’s Department to the District Executive Officer’s Department.   Motion carried.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 0820.

 

 

D/Lt/C Judy McMillin, P

District Secretary