National Planning Committee Message
2 April 2008
Commanders, our members have made it very clear in our surveys that both hands-on and on-water education are desired. Hearing the message, our Educational Department has developed these activities for our courses and seminars. These approaches to learning are based upon the axiom that we learn 80% of what we experience personally.
Another very strong motivator to learn involves what directly affects your boating. In class, the ears of the students perk up, as does the learning curve, when an experienced boater talks about the best practices when boating in your local boating area. This is the area where the majority of your students will be boating. They really want to learn from the experience of others and safely detour around avoidable problems.
Local boating knowledge does not come in a manual, but it can be found in our USPS members. Your SEO, instructors, Port Captain, and all your squadron members can participate in the development of a curriculum that addresses the knowledge that comes through experience on your local waterways. Many instructors already do this with great success. These activities should be archived and continually updated.
When the public gets this added value from our course several things happen. The students will be much better prepared to boat safely and skillfully in local waters. The community should learn that those attending our public course will be safer boaters in their home waters. No other available courses offer this knowledge.
This is an opportunity to go that extra mile. The potential payback is great.
-Your members can re involve themselves in something they know a great deal about.
-Your students will be educated to a much higher degree.
-The squadron will be participating in a very socially responsible activity.
-Your community will appreciate your efforts.
The Planning Committee recommends you begin this activity. The following recommendation contains a variety of ideas to help you get started. The knowledge is in your members. Through your leadership your members, squadron, and the public will grow in involvement, intellect, prosperity, safety…
We wish you success and thank you for your efforts.
National Planning Committee
William M Bellinger, SN Chair
wmb413@sbcglobal.net
National Planning Committee Recommendation April 08
LOCAL BOATING KNOWLEDGE
Who knows the waters better than our members that boat upon them? A real win-win situation occurs when a squadron teaches local boating knowledge. Members and non-members will learn more of the boating skills that directly affect their boating. The learning curve goes up and stronger bonds form between the student and instructor when one is learning something that they need to know when in local waters. There will be more “safer boaters” on the water.
There is a correlation between locale and membership in USPS.
If boating is being done on large bodies of water that require special knowledge, be it tides and currents, locking through, unique weather, or other topics beyond fundamental seamanship, would those squadrons have an easier time of recruiting/retention if these subjects were added to our materials?
Local knowledge is hard to come by unless you know the right people to ask or observe. In many ways, the new boater would be well served from the very start if he or she had been armed with much of what we call, "local knowledge". The local squadron is really a collection of folks who have that knowledge, individually and collectively. And, they are an identified body that can be communicated with regarding local conditions. Moreover, the squadron members have an obligation to help their fellow members. We've all taken that oath.
A boater will show far more interest if he is taught a more comprehensive program of instruction for his own boating venue; especially if safe boating requires some advanced training. USPS' best resources are its members and their local knowledge…a free gift with membership. This is truly a win-win situation that could never occur in the competitors’ courses.
There is a need to increase on-the-water training.
· We know that a hands-on experience is most effective in providing an everlasting model of correct procedures.
· "Hands-on" usually is a team effort and a great way to establish relationships.
· In a competitive battle for students, we can be the one organization that is easily structured to carry out on-the-water instruction. It is highly unlikely that the state programs will evolve to the point of instructing on-the-water. This can be a market-differentiating feature for USPS.
· The new BOC program should be a major tool in USPS efforts to incorporate on-the-water training and examination.
Formulating "Local Knowledge"
· Involve the Port Captains and SEOs as a resource to catalog the uniqueness of their area.
· Keep in mind the real needs for the boating public in each boating area.
· Tailor the education to meet those specific local needs over and above the basic training offered in our manuals. .
· Put more emphasis on the "boaters helping boaters" in teaching local knowledge topics.
· Using a team concept as a way of instilling member desires to participate, have a squadron (or district) compile all of the items of interest to a new boater in their boating area and do this as part of a team project. A squadron could do this with member solicitations and have the team edit and publish a "manual of local knowledge".
· What that would be worth to a new or even experienced boater is incalculable. What a recruiting tool it would make. Now there's something of value only members can get.
· Free or cheap brochures and decals of local interest should be distributed. Bridge/lock information, marina rules, channel hazards, etc.
General Local Areas for Focus
· In Salt Water: Coastal and Off-shore Tides, Currents, Reefs, Shoals, Inter-coastal Waterway
· In Fresh Water: Near Shore, Inland Lakes, and Rivers Locks, Dams, Bridges, Canals
· In Common Areas: Trailering, Launching, Anchoring, Canoeing, Jet skiing, Local Destinations, Ship Channels, Charting, Barge Traffic and Tows, Lights, Going Aground
Similar to the BoatU.S. safety decals, create several different USPS decals with local knowledge. There may be some repetitiveness. Decals for distribution at our courses, seminars, boat shows, VSCs, marinas, yacht clubs, etc.
Testimonial
Bellevue has been adding a week or two of extra material to the SBC. We expanded the Charts and Aids to Navigation to a full 2 hours, created a class segment titled “Tides and Currents” using Capn Jack’s tide tables and charts for Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and elaborating on the hazards of ebb currents against off-shore winds, etc. We have also incorporated a segment on transiting the ship canal locks.
The response by the students over the past year and half has been overwhelming. We had nearly 40% of the class join the Squadron. These individuals joined with enthusiasm and a desire to continue learning. They are already populating the Advanced Grade and Elective classes and will likely become active members of the Squadron as well.
