The Helm Station - Manatee Sail & Power Squadron · A unit of the United States Power Squadrons™ The Helm Station. www ... weak cold fronts that brought dew point ... Manatee Sail

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A unit of the United States Power Squadrons™

The Helm Station

www.manatee-squadron.org 941-799-7370

In this Edition:

Messages from our Commander and Bridge

Officers

“Motorworks” “Off the Beaten Path” Recap

Membership Meeting Recap

Holiday Party Details

Up and Coming Boating Activities

Calendar, Snacks, Sunshine & Trivia

Member news, Helmsman page & advertisement

And much more ...

The Helm Station - Official publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron

November 2016

Lt Verne Walsh AP single-handling the Sabalo outbound from Riviera Dunes. Demonstrating the confi-dence gained from R/C Myles Gee SN in the Skipper Saver Course. (Note she is following Lt Carolyn

Schmidt S's advice on wearing her PFD)

(Photo provided by Lt John Walsh N)

tel:941-799-7370

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Cdr Cliff Schmidt JN [email protected]

Commander’s Message

Come for the Boating Education...Stay for the Friends.

The Helm Station

A publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squad-ron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons®. We are located in Manatee County, Florida.

Editor: Lt Lynne Gieges S

[email protected]

Asst. Editor: Lt John Walsh N &

Lt Marty Spencer P

Advertising: P/C Gary Mink P

Distribution Lt Jay Sands P

Photos: as noted

The Helm Station is the official publication of the Manatee Sail & Power Squadron with twelve issues yearly. Opinions expressed in The Helm Station are those of the author of the article and do not necessarily represent the position of The Helm Sta-tion, MSPS, or USPS. All rights reserved.

Fall has arrived. The air and water temperatures have dropped, and boating activities will pick up for MSPS.

The D22 fall conference at the Charlotte Harbor Events Center was well attended by MSPS. Once again MSPS members should be proud; we received many awards that have been passed out at our last general meeting. Congrat-ulations to our two new Senior Navigators, Chuck Whelan SN and Lt/C Bob Kelly SN. Congratulations to D/AO Don Cook SN; Don has accepted the position of District Admin-istrative officer.

MSPS has some great events coming up. Keep current by checking our web site for events and updates.

In November MSPS starts looking for members to fill po-sitions within our organization for the upcoming Change of Watch. We rely on members like you to keep this out-standing organization running smoothly. MSPS has always had the reputation of “The FUN Squadron” and it all starts with you. Take a look at our departments and committees; you will find them in the membership directory. If one of the positions interests you, please contact the Department Officer, committee chair or myself for any information. The nominating committee will be making calls to members. Don’t wait for them to call you – call one of them, if you are interested in filling a position. Fresh ideas are always welcomed. This is your squadron, so let’s keep it the fun squadron by working together.

MSPS is still in need of a person or persons to run the ships store. With the new storage unit at the Elks I hope that the job will be a bit easier with ship store items al-ready at the Elks. Please contact me, if you are interest-ed.

I look forward to seeing you all at the December member-ship meeting.

SAFE BOATING

Wear your PFD, Carry a 406EPIRB and keep an eye on the weather

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Executive Department

Lt/C George Druist SN [email protected]

I want to express my regrets that I will not see you at the November General Mem-bership Meeting, as we will be attending a family celebration in New Orleans.

Last Month's District 22 Conference featured a most well attended presentation that our Squadron can be proud of, by our Commander, Cliff Schmidt JN on the profession of Boat Surveying. MSPS received several awards regarding our Education Department. Prominently, R/C Myles Gee SN, our Seamanship Instructor and ABC pre-senter was named District 22's candidate to the USPS National Organization for the prestigious Charles F. Chapman Award. We are also pleased to tell you that P/Lt/C Matthew Braatz AP, Lt/C Bob Kelly SN, Ron Hart-well AP, and Chuck Whelan SN were also recognized. Please read Bob Kelly's article in this issue of the Helm Station for more information.

AS A MEMBER OF THE WORLD'S BEST BOATING CLUB

CONSIDER YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR CLUBMEMBERS

Now that the educational classes for members and the general public are starting up again and the Fall Cruise is set to begin, this might be a good time to reflect on all of the good that the Manatee Sail and Power Squadron does. This includes your sense of fulfillment by being a part of it and your part in the personal relationships that make it effective and enjoyable. We all have a roll in the success of our Squadron. Consider for a moment all the knowledge that our Club has presented to you and your sense of accomplishment for becoming knowledgeable in your avocation of recreational boating. Consider your sense of pride of being an accomplished practitioner of good and safe seamanship and your contribution to the enjoyment of safe boating. Consider for a moment your pride as being a member of America's premier safe boating organization. As a boater, you are special. You prac-tice an art that very few in the general public can practice, and you are one of those who practice it best.

Looking at your involvement in the USPS from a different perspective, consider all of the wonderful relationships that you have made by your participation in the USPS and the MSPS. By your activities as a Committee Member or by your activities in Squadron Administration, or by your teaching activities you have bonded with your fellow Club members and have experienced the joy of being a part of one of America's most successful enterprises. Think about how your practice of good seamanship in the company of other Club members has bound you closer to those Club members. Consider how all of these activities have taken place, not by drudgery but under rather en-joyable circumstances.

Our Squadron will evolve over time as the roles played by each member evolve and change, as they must. As the calendar rolls along toward the 2017 Change of Watch, please consider the opportunities to strengthen your rela-tionships with your Squadron mates and find increased fulfillment as you enjoy recreational boating. Please con-sider the opportunities coming up in the next year or two in our Squadron and your part in this wonderful Club, and welcome the opportunity to participate.

Boating is fun .. We'll show you how.

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Lt/C Rich Maggio S [email protected]

Administrative Department

Greetings all, from your new AO. Some of you may know that I have been the Assistant AO for the past several months. I am told I did such a great job, that I get to be AO without further delay. As it turns out, as Assistant AO, I really didn’t do anything, so I think I get kudos for staying out of the way! Also, I have just been informed that AO stands for “Administrative Officer.” (Correct me if I am wrong.) So I am working on doing some daz-zling administrating in the days ahead… as long as I am in town. While I get acquainted with

my new position, I should help you all get acquainted with me, so you have an idea what you are up against!

My lovely wife Debra and I both retired in 2013 and moved from Long Island to Bradenton the following year. We spent a year and a half looking for bay boats and homes and finally found a home in Palma Sola Park, which we purchased in April of this year. Great house, but we are still looking for a bay boat!

Deb spent her career as an American Airlines Flight Attendant. We met while I was a Flight Attendant for TWA (remember them?). I left TWA when it began to falter, and got my Secondary Education certification in Chemistry and Biology. But, instead of teaching, I ended up taking a job as a NYS Environmental Conservation Officer, which I did for 25 years. My last few years were in Marine Enforcement. We were the guys you folks are always looking out for. Of course, none of you would have anything to hide; of that, I am quite sure.

Between moving in to our new home, and putting our Long Island home up for sale, and caring for our one-year-old granddaughter in Orlando, and checking up on my mom in New York, I spend my meager spare time sporadi-cally volunteering at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, trimming this incredible Florida flora, and walk-ing our dog.

Hopefully we will all find time to get to know each other a little better. In the meantime, let me remind you of some upcoming events.

05-06 Nov 2016~~Taste of Manatee (yum!) Sutton Park, Palmetto 12 Nov 2016~~One day ABC Boating Course - open to public Elks Lodge, Palmetto 16 Nov 2016~~New Member Orientation (contact R/C Myles Gee SN) Elks Lodge, Palmetto 20 Nov 2016~~Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton 24 Nov 2016~~Thanksgiving

Unfortunately, Debbie and I will be out of town for the month of November. We will be taking a repositioning cruise from Rome, through the Mediterranean, and across to Ft Lauderdale. We’ll be back in time to spend Thanksgiving with mom in New York.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your favorite family members, and we’ll see you in December!

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Lt/C Bob Kelly SN [email protected]

Education Department

Summer is over, and fall has officially arrived! We have experienced a couple of weak cold fronts that brought dew point temperatures into the upper 60's; it's a refreshing change and inspires one to work outside, particularly on one's boat (without a sweat attack). This is just in time for getting ready for our 12 day Fall Get Away Cruise.

D22 had our Fall Conference 01 Oct 2016, which was well organized and executed. There are always complaints about the length of the awards ceremony, but the awards recognize the educational efforts of D22's 17 Squad-rons. Since education is one of our main purposes, the time spent seems appropriate. Manatee Sail & Power did very well as compared to the other squadrons. However, without spending a lot of time analyzing our perfor-mance verses prior years, I judge we didn't do as well as in the past. This could be a natural maturing of our squadron or other squadrons decided to get competitive. Your contribution toward winning awards is to attend classes, but the reason isn't to win awards but to win knowledge that can be shared with family, friends, and fel-low boaters.

The conference always has a half day of roundtables where various subjects of boaters’ interests are presented. Our Commander Cliff Schmidt JN on Marine Surveying gave the very best of these. If you want to find boat problems or solutions, he is the man to get involved. I felt proud for our squadron because of Cliff’s command of the subject and his presentation skills. Manatee Sail & Power and one of its members was honored in the highest manner in that R/C Myles Gee SN was recognized as D22's Charles F. Chapman Award candidate to National. Na-tional will select three winners of the award in the near future. Congratulations to Myles; it goes without saying, but it should be said, he truly earned and deserves this recognition. Other noteworthy accomplishments that must be recognized: P/Lt/C Matthew Braatz AP and Ron Hartwell AP will now be called Advanced Pilots (AP). P/Lt/C Matthew Braatz AP and Lt/C Bob Kelly SN received the Education Proficiency Award and last but not least Chuck Whelan and Bob Kelly are now officially Senior Navigators. It is assured that Chuck is now immune to the Bent Prop Award! One more comment, please read in September 2016 issue of Readers Digest "Lost at Sea for 438 Terrifying Days". It will inspire you to enroll in more classes and in particular Weather. Enjoy safe boating, Bob Kelly

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September Events

Manatee Sail & Power Squadron

D22 Fall Conference

The members in the photo attended the Fall D22 Conference representing all of the Manatee members. Start-ing with the back row from left to right: R/C Myles Gee SN, 1/Lt Bill Spencer SN, P/C Tom Brown P, Lt Charlie Bigham SN, Cdr Cliff Schmidt JN, Lt/C Bob Kelly SN, second row left to right Lt Kathy Gee S, P/Lt/C Don Cook SN, P/Lt/C Dona Bigham SN, Lt Carolyn Schmidt S, Front row left to right P/C Larry Beverage JN, Lt/C George Druist SN, P/Lt/C Mike Stewart SN. The squadron and members earned many awards presented at the conference. Thank you to those shown for representing our squadron at conference. Want to know more about

District Conference, just ask any bridge member for details .

P/C Larry Beverage JN

“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.”

~~Ernest Hemingway

“The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.”

~~Dom Degnon

“Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious

liar.”

~~Don Bamford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boating Quotes

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04 Oct 2016~~October Membership Meeting

Cdr Cliff Schmidt JN presents Leann Hintze P and P/C Bob Hintze JN with

the 25 Year Membership award.

Welcome new members Tommy Barlow and Mike Huey!

Chuck Whelan SN shows his certificate of “Senior Navigator”.

P/Lt/C Matthew Braatz AP receives the “Education Proficiency Award”.

Lt/C Bob Kelly SN has received the “Education Proficiency Award” as well.

He also told the members about his close en-counter with not just one shark, but three in one

day while lobstering in the Key West area.

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October Event

Thursday, 13 Oct 2016 Motorworks Brewing

(Photo provided by Lt/C Bob Gutierrez N)

37 of our Squadron members enjoyed the Motorworks Brewery social scene. The evening of the event happened to be Kathy Gees birthday so we all got birthday cake too! The temperature was comfortable and the ambiance superb.

Other photos provided by Con Tress P

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MSPS Holiday Party

Bradenton Yacht Club

Sunday, 04 Dec 2016

1130 Cash Bar 1215 Dinner

NY Strip Steak or Salmon (Grilled or Sauteed) or Chicken (Marsala or Piccata)

Salad, Sides & Dessert included

26.00 per person

Checks made payable to MSPS

Reservation Deadline 01 Dec 2016

Sandi Braatz

714 Riveria Dunes Way

Palmetto, FL 34221

[email protected]

Once again, this year, in the spirit of giving, we are asking for donations for our mili-

tary veterans. The Elks Club collects supplies for the men and women living/staying

at Bay Pines VA Healthcare Facility. Some things they need are toiletries, tee-shirts,

sweatshirts and ball caps. Thank you in advance for whatever you are able to provide

for them.

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Our Calendar NOVEMBER 2016

01 Nov 2016 Membership Meeting Elks Lodge Palmetto. FL 03-06 Nov 2016 TBD D22 Cruise & Rendezvous Palm Island Marina, Cape Haze, FL 05-06 Nov 2016 TBD Taste of Manatee Sutton Park, Palmetto 08 Nov 2016 Election Day 12 Nov 2016 0800-1700 ABC Boating Safety Course Open to Public Elks Lodge Palmetto. FL 16 Nov 2016 TBD New Member Orientation Elks Lodge Palmetto. FL TBD Nov 2016 TBD C & R and/or boating activity TBD Nov 2016 TBD Just For Girls Fishing Green Bridge, Bradenton 20 Nov 2016 1000 Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton 24 Nov 2016 THANKSGIVING 29 Nov 2016 1700 EXCOM MEETING Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl

DECEMBER 2016 04 Dec 2016 1130 MSPS Christmas / Holiday Party Bradenton Yacht Club

Palmetto, FL 01-04 Dec 2016 TBD St. Petersburg Boat Show St. Petersburg Waterfront 06 Dec 2016 1900 Membership Meeting Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl 16-18 Dec 2016 TBD C&R Marina Jacks Marina Jacks Sarasota 18 Dec 2016 1000 Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton 25 Dec 2016 CHRISTMAS 27 Dec 2016 1700 EXCOM MEETING Elks Lodge, Palmetto, Fl

JANUARY 2017 TBD Jan 2017 TBD C & R and/or boating activity TBD 03 Jan 2017 1900 Membership Meeting Elks lodge, Palmetto, Fl 15 Jan 2017 1000 Breakfast Munch Bunch VFW Bradenton

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Advertisement expires March 2017

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Bradenton Herald Home Delivery Rates Special Discount

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For information call: P/C John Warren AP

941-723-0640

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Helmsman: A Helmsman is “one who steers the ship”. The Helm Station is our monthly newsletter, and is one of the ways we communicate with our members and helps us steer our organization. It is also one of our largest expenses. To help us defray the cost of publishing this newsletter, we established the Helmsman Program.

You can become a Helmsman for The Helm Station by contributing $10 in honor of the month of your birthday. We will publish your name on The Helmsman Page and recognize your birthday during your birth month. Sign up in January to have your support listed throughout the year.

If you paid to join the Helmsman Page ($10/year) you are also eligible for a free classified ad in two consecutive issues. What a deal! Contact the editor to take advantage of this opportunity to clean out the old boat locker.

Thanks!

Lt Bev Krebs P

Sunshine News

Lt Bev Krebs P

Please keep our service men and women in your thoughts.

Hello, Members of MSPS!

It is November and soon the Holiday Season will begin. Celebrate every moment of every day! Before we know it, 2017 will be here!

Snacks for the 01 Nov 2016 meeting will be provided by Leann Hintz P, Illene Tress, and Meredith Hammond P. NOTE: Did you know that you earn credit toward a Merit Mark by providing these meeting snacks? The sign-up sheet for Snack Volunteers will be available at every meeting until all the months are "taken"!

P/D/Lt/C Don Cook SN is home from the hospi-tal and loving it! He said thank you for the card he received from the Squadron.

Katherine Brunner (daughter of Charlie and Al-ice) enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In June, she graduated from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. She attended "A" school for Hospital Corpsman at Ft. Sam Houston, TX and is now stationed at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. The Squadron was blessed to have Katie Brunner attend our last meeting. Thank you, Katie, for your service!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you know a member who would benefit from some cheer, please contact me - [email protected] - I will send some sunshine their way.

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I/We wish to join the 2016 Helmsman Program

______________________________________________ ______________

Member Name Birthday Month

______________________________________________ ______________

Member Name Birthday Month

Enclose a check made payable to MSPS in the amount of $10 for one person, $20 for 2

Birthdays - 2016 January

* Ed Cornell

* Jim Gieges

* Lynne Gieges

* Mike Stewart

February

* Monique Gutierrez

* Cliff Schmidt

* Roland Seidel

* Carolyn Stewart

March

* Dona Bigham

* Tom Brown

* Diana Nyman

April

* Marty Spencer

May

* Bob Kelly

* Howard Kelly

June

July

* Charlie Bigham

* Celia Strawn

August

September

* Matthew Braatz

* Ingrid Seidel

October

* Sandi Braatz

* Barbara Brown

* Nadene Cornell

* Charles Feldschau

* Kathy Gee

* Bob Gutierrez

* Carl Nyman

November

* Myles Gee

* Carolyn Schmidt

December

* Margot McGorman

* Bill Spencer

Mail or hand in this form to the Treasurer. Thanks!

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The Helm Station

4728 Starboard Dr.

Bradenton, FL 34208

[email protected]

November 2016

To:


Our next Business Meeting

06 Dec 2016

1900

Palmetto Elks 4611 4th Avenue E

Palmetto, Florida 34220

For directions please see our website: www.manatee-squadron.org

Advertise!

[email protected]

We encourage members and non-members to place advertisements in The Helm Station offering goods and services. The Helm Station reaches over 150 MSPS members, other District 22 squadron mem-bers and a national audience through our website on USPS.org. Rates are very reasonable; $45 a year for a standard business card ad, $15 for a simple classified ad in 2 issues.

Support our Advertisers—They support us!

[note—rates subject to change without notice, con-tact our advertising officer for additional details on pricing, ad sizing, and other information.]

A Unit of the United States Power Squadrons™ District 22

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The Helm Station - Manatee Sail & Power Squadron · A unit of the United States Power Squadrons™ The Helm Station. www ... weak cold fronts that brought dew point ... Manatee Sail