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United States Power Squadrons®
Ventura Sail and Power Squadron
Volume 63 April 2019 Number 4
Cdr Vincent Gerretz, JN
Commander’s Corner
Happy April to you all!
The days are getting longer, and the weather
is slowly getting warmer. There is a scent in
the air, and it is called spring. Time to check
out our boats and make whatever repairs and
improvements we need to make and get back
out on the water.
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in
its net of wonder forever.”
Jacques Yves Cousteau
The call of the sea is beckoning, and you need
to be ready. The sea is an unforgiving mis-
tress if you are unprepared. So, remember as
you get your boat ready, check those flares
and PFDs. Insure the radio works and you
have a backup. Consider reaching out to our
Vessel Safety Inspectors and allowing them to
give your boat a VSC Inspection. It may help in
the event of an emergency.
This year’s Boating Safety Expo will be on Sat-
urday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I
will be there along with Dan Coverdale pre-
senting to many of the visitors the proper
wearing of PDFs, other safety gear and
equipment, and sharing what Ventura Sail
and Power Squadron offers to help make their
boating experience safe and fun. Come join us
and enjoy. For more info on the Safe Boating
Expo, please check out their website found
here: http://safeboatingexpo.com
District 13 Spring Conference will be at the
Shoreline Yacht Club on April 27. The Chief
Commander’s Representative this year is V/C
Craig Frazer, SN. He is the National Educa-
tional Officer. Please join us.
The Commander’s Cup Picnic will be held on
Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
at Peninsula Park at the Northwest Area near
the boat ramp. Come and enjoy a day of fes-
tivities including our Bristol Boat Competition,
the Blessing of the Fleet and a superb BBQ.
Hope to see you all there.
The Executive Committee will be meeting on
Monday, April 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at
Mimi’s Café at the Pacific View Mall next to
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill. All members are wel-
come to attend. Dinner will be from 7:00 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m. which will be covered by the
Squadron. No April Fool’s joke here. Come
down to enjoy a nice dinner and stay to see
your Executive Meeting working to keep your
Power Squadron strong.
Our members are the heart of Ventura Sail
and Power Squadron. We cannot do the many
things we offer to you and the public without
your support. Your squadron needs your sup-
port in rebuilding our beloved Squadron. We
need some of your time in managing a por-
tion of what makes Ventura Sail and Power
Squadron one of the largest squadrons in our
district. Some of the posts we are looking for
are:
Assistant Educational Officer
Assistant Administrative Officer
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Secretary
Public Relations Officer
For a few hours a month, you will be helping
us achieve the goals we try to meet. Be a part
of your Squadron family and learn just how
important your time will be in helping us.
There are many more opportunities in work-
ing with your friends and fellow squadron
members. The rewards will be many.
Happy Easter to all.
Looking forward to seeing you all out there.
We are trying something new this
year. We will have some of our Board
Meetings at various locations around
the county, in order to connect more
with the public and get our Squad-
ron's name and mission "out there."
The Executive Board's next meeting is
Monday, April 1, 7:00 p.m.
at the following location:
Mimi’s Café
(at the Pacific View Mall
next to Wood Ranch)
3375 E Main St
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 644-1388
Website: mimiscafe.com
Go to their website to see the menu
selections and also information about a
20% discount coupon – print the cou-
pon or email it to yourself so you have
it on your phone.
If you attend the meeting as a VSPS mem-
ber-guest, the squadron will pick up
the cost of your meal
(up to $40).
Lt/C Debbie Braun-Lawson
Squadron Education Officer
The spring lineup of classes is just finish-
ing up! I want to thank Gary Wolfe, Sheri
Green, John Sugden, Ev Ashworth and
Doug Montgomery for teaching one class
each to the ABC students. It is because of
you that we can offer these enriching ABC
classes!
Don’t forget that we have three more
classes scheduled to start in April.
Advanced Piloting
will start on April 16 at Ventura Yacht
Club at 7:00 p.m. This course will be
taught by Vince Gerretz and successfully
completing Piloting is a prerequisite. The
cost is $70 for Members and $100 for
nonmembers.
Seamanship
will start on April 22 with Jan Lawson at
the helm. This class will meet at the Ven-
tura Yacht club at 7:00 too. Seamanship
is the second class in the progression of
classes in this boating series. The cost is
$60 for Members and $90 for nonmem-
bers.
Last but not least,
Marine Communication Systems
classes will start on April 23 and will be
taught by Gary Wolfe at the Conference
Room of Vance, Thrift & Biller LLP, 181
South Ash Street in Ventura at 7:00 p.m.
Cost is $60 for Members and $90 for
Nonmembers.
Give me a jingle at 805-407-4777 if you are
interested in any of these classes. Or you
can reach me at:
`
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Safety
Notice to All Vessel Examiners
Effective immediately, it will be the position of the Safety Committee that, You can’t have too
many VSC decals, but you can have ‘not enough’! Please do not hesitate to request addition-
al VSC decals from your commander.
Stf/C Bob Boles
Membership
Have you prepared a new member/member retention plan for this year? A written plan is
much easier to follow and also much easier to pass on.
R/C Robert Howd
More to Being A Member than Boating
As a United States Power Squadron® member, you can save on many products and ser-
vices. Due to our exclusive relationship with some terrific organizations, you can receive
huge discounts on boating products, insurance, travel and lodging, and many more items.
The USPS Prescription Savings Card can save you up to 75% on every prescrip-
tion you fill. You can get your Free Card today and start saving.
Your eyes come first with VSP®. As the only national not-for-profit vision care
company, they reinvest in the things you value most - the best care at the lowest
out-of-pocket cost.
Individual vision insurance from VSP gives you access to the services and products you need
to care for your eyes. Of course, you could choose to pay for these entirely out-of-pocket,
but with a VSP plan you’ll realize substantial savings while receiving the personalized care
you deserve. The VSP Standard Plan offers members comprehensive coverage for exams
and glasses (or contacts) with additional savings.
As a USPS member, will get a basic pair of glasses to suit your prescription needs while sav-
ing over $200. Plus, you’ll save an additional 20% on lens enhancements such as anti-glare
coating and on additional pairs of glasses or sunglasses. If you choose the Premium Plan,
you will receive an additional allowance on progressive lenses and typically save more than
$300.
Just two of the many benefits you receive for being a USPS Member. To find out what other
benefits you are entitled to, please login to USPS.ORG and go to Committees > Committees
L-Z > Member Benefits and click on the Benefits (Alphabetical) link on the right side of the
page.
Lt/C Dan Coverdale
Executive Officer
As you know, the Channel Islands Safe
Boating Expo is coming on Saturday, May
11, 2019, from 0900 to 1600 at the United
States Coast Guard Station on Victoria
Avenue in Channel Islands. Among a lot of
other offerings, there will be search and
rescue demonstrations by the USCG and
Ventura County Fire Department.
When relating the history of USCG, it’s
usual to start with the US Revenue Cutter
Service, started by Alexander Hamilton in
1790. The USRCS may have been the Coast
Guard’s daddy, but USCG had a mommy
too - the United States Life-Saving Service.
Although the USLSS was instituted by
Congress in 1848, its predecessor, the
Massachusetts Humane Society, was
founded in 1786.
The Massachusetts Humane Society, con-
cerned about sailors of lost ships rather
than lost dogs, was involved with other
public service enterprises including the
founding of Massachusetts General Hospi-
tal.
Here’s a postcard image of one of their
life boats around 1900.
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SSSaaatttuuurrrdddaaayyy,,, MMMaaayyy 111111
999:::000000 aaa...mmm... tttooo 333:::000000 ppp...mmm...
At the Safe Boating Expo, VSPS has a
booth staffed in two-hour shifts by VSPS
volunteers. Heartfelt thanks to those who
have helped in previous years – this is a
key event for our organization. We’ll be
sending a sign-up sheet in the next few
weeks, so please plan on signing up.
MMMMMMSSSIII
MMMaaarrriiitttiiimmmeee MMMooobbbiiillleee SSSeeerrrvvviiiccceee
IIIdddeeennntttiiitttyyy
What is a Maritime Mobile Service Identity
and Why Do I Need It?
Modern marine radios now feature Digital
Selective Calling (DSC) for routine opera-
tions and for automated distress hailing.
These features can only be used if your
radio is programmed with a unique code
called a Maritime Mobile Service Identity,
or MMSI.
The United States Power Squadrons is au-
thorized by the Federal Communications
Commission and the US Coast Guard to
issue MMSIs to US flagged vessels not sub-
ject to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Con-
vention requirements. This includes al-
most all recreational boats.
Vessels required to have FCC ship station
licenses, including US flagged pleasure
craft making inter-
national voyages,
must obtain their
MMSIs directly
from the Federal
Communications
Commission.
Do You Qualify?
Marine vessels fall into two basic catego-
ries under GMDSS rules when it comes to
the use of Maritime Mobile Service Identi-
ties: those vessels which must adhere to
international regulations ("compulsory"
vessels) and those that don't ("voluntary"
or "non-compulsory" vessels).
Vessels may get a MMSI from:
http://www.usps.org/php/mmsi_new
If they are used solely in domestic U.S. wa-
ters such as:
recreational boats
towboats and tugs under 600
horsepower
state and local government vessels.
Under the terms of international treaty,
the Federal Communications Commission
has jurisdiction over U.S. flagged vessels.
The FCC has elected to maintain the issu-
ing authority for MMSIs for all vessels sub-
ject to international law including com-
mercial ships, and leisure craft operating
in international waters (note that this in-
cludes Canada, the Bahamas, and Mexi-
co!).
Therefore, if you are traveling interna-
tionally, you need
to file Form 605
with the FCC to ob-
tain a Ship Station
License, which
comes with a
MMSI. You do not
qualify for registra-
tion under the pro-
gram administered
within this web site.
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BBBoooaaattt IIInnnssspppeeeccctttiiiooonnn
CCCooommmmmmaaannndddeeerrr’’’sss CCCuuuppp
BBBllleeessssssiiinnnggg ooofff ttthhheee FFFllleeeeeettt
SSSaaatttuuurrrdddaaayyy,,, MMMaaayyy 111999,,, 222000111888
Where: Peninsula Park 3333 S. Peninsula, Oxnard
Who: All Members
What: Socializing, BBQ lunch in the park, Vessel Inspections, Com-
mander’s Cup, Blessing of the Fleet and Nautical Games!
When:
0930 Boats arrive and vessel inspections
1100 Commander’s Cup judging begins
1200 Lunch
1300 General meeting and awards
1330 Blessing of the fleet
1400 Cleanup and head back to home slips
The Power Squadron will provide BBQ, potato salad, baked beans,
dessert and drinks. We will accept any and all side dishes.
Please bring your own chair.
Lunch is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for 12 years and under.
RSVP by May 14
I need to know how many will be joining us for lunch so I can pur-
chase food. Also I need a count of participating vessels in the Boat
Judging to secure space assignments.
Contact: Bill York
[email protected] 805-628-2553
Lt/C Chris Stine
Secretary
A NOTE FROM YOUR SECRETARY…
You might wonder why there are no Exec-
utive Board meeting minutes for publica-
tion this month.
As I was reviewing the Secretary’s Manual
(a guideline published by our national U.S.
Power Squadron office), I realized routing
of our squadron’s minutes was not being
sequenced correctly. Accordingly, this
and future issues of The Helm will carry
the meeting minutes after they have been
approved by the board. Previously, The
Helm published draft (not yet approved)
minutes that were not yet fully reviewed
and approved by the members of the
Squadron’s Bridge. Therefore, this issue
will have no minutes, in order to remedy
this situation and get back on proper se-
quencing. The May issue will have the ap-
proved minutes from the March meeting,
and so forth.
MMMaaarrrccchhh BBBiiirrrttthhhdddaaayyysss
Aaron C. Spivey 1-Apr
Everard G. Ashworth 1-Apr
Susan Abbott 4-Apr
Tom Volk 8-Apr
David R. Savage 11-Apr
Fred James DeLamarter 11-Apr
George M. Vye 18-Apr
Katherine T. Griffith 22-Apr
James W. Bates 26-Apr
Melody B. Ramsay 26-Apr
CCCooommmiiinnnggg EEEvvveeennntttsss
April
1
Executive Committee
Mimi’s Café
April
16
Advanced Piloting Class
Ventura Yacht Club
April
22
Seamanship Class
Ventura Yacht Club
April
23
Communications
Thrift & Biller LLP,
181 South Ash Street
Ventura
May
11
Channel Islands
Safe Boating Expo
USCG Station
Victoria Avenue
Channel Islands
May
18
VSPS Picnic
Peninsula Park
3333 Peninsula Rd.
Oxnard
June
14-16
The Santa Barbara
Cruise and Dinner Party
VVVeeennntttuuurrraaa YYYaaaccchhhttt CCCllluuubbb
invites
VVVeeennntttuuurrraaa SSSaaaiiilll aaannnddd PPPooowwweeerrr SSSqqquuuaaadddrrrooonnn
to attend
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday May 5, 2019 at 2:30 p.m.
You already know many yacht club members as instructors in VSPS courses
and as fellow members and officers in the Squadron. You’ve likely attended
dinners, BBQs and classes at the VYC clubhouse. Open House is an opportunity
to learn more about the club’s history, sailing and boating activities, social
events, projects and community services. It is also a great time to consider be-
coming a member.
2:30 p.m. – Welcome and Orientation
Meet VYC representatives of various activities such as Racing, Cruising,
Social, Juniors’ Sailing, Predicted Log Race, Community Service, Film
Night and Book Club.
3:00 p.m. – Tour of VYC Facilities
Walk our grounds, docks and shore facilities with our VYC guides to learn
about what VYC offers members.
3:30 p.m. – Happy Hour
Enjoy a complimentary beverage and join our members for Sunday
munchies. Come socialize or sit by the fireplace and watch the view from
our ocean-front balcony.
Ventura Yacht Club
1755 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 642-0426 Call above for more information – RSVPs Appreciated
2019 Bridge
Commander
Cdr Vincent Gerretz, JN
(917)716-3128
Executive Officer
Lt/C Daniel Coverdale
(323) 810-8887
Administrative Officer
Vacant
SEO
Lt/C Deborah Braun-Lawson, AP
(805) 407-4777
Treasurer
Lt/C Dan Cahn, JN
(805) 482-9420
Secretary
Lt/C Christine Stine, S
(805) 498-4018
The Helm Editor
Lt. Sheridan Green, JN
(661) 414-6915
Contacts for Local Mariners
24-Hour Emergency Telephone Numbers
US Coast Guard Search & Rescue(805)985-9822
Channel Islands Harbor Patrol (805)382-3000
Ventura Harbor Patrol. (805)642-8618
Port Hueneme…………………… (805)982-4571
Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol (805)564-5530
Harbormasters – Administrative
Channel Islands (805)382-6864
Channel Islands Harbor Patrol (805)382-3007
Ventura Port District (805)642-8538
Port Hueneme Public Affairs (805)982-4493
Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol (805)564-5520
National Weather Service
Oxnard .............................. (805)988-6610
Web site: http://www.nwsla.noaa.gov
Ventura Sail & Power Squadron
Lt. Sheridan Green, JN, Editor
1755 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
Address Correction Requested
April 2019
