Blast for December

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE AT EXPO.  At the February 2011 USPS Annual Meeting, there will be space provided at EXPO to display the District and Squadron award winning newsletters.  If your district or squadron newsletter is one of among those so recognized, please hand-carry only 25 copies of it to the meeting for display at our committee tables.  By sharing in this way, others can have an example of what is expected in a newsletter that is presented the Distinctive Communicator Award.  The logo for this award will be on our committee website for editors to pull down and use in the pages of newsletters and on websites.

 

A pin has been created and approved to be worn only by those staff members whose productions are given the "Distinctive Communicator" award for 2010.  These pins are available through the Ship's Store on line (http://www.shopusps.org) or by phone.  Only a small number of these pins will be on hand at the USPS Annual Meeting in February, so order early.  The names of award winning newsletters and websites will be published on the Communications Committee website and in The Ensign early in 2011.

 

R/C Brenda Joyce, P

Communications Committee

bjoyce2000@aol.com

817-292-9549 

 

 

Increase in Ship's Store Shipping Charges

Shipping charges for Ship’s Store purchases have not increased in five years while shipping costs have increased between 4 to 6 percent each year.  Effective 1 Dec. 2010, the following shipping charges will apply for Ship’s Store purchases.

 

Purchase price                                  Shipping charge

$1.00 - $4.99                                       $5.00

$5.00 - $10.00                                     $7.00

$10.01 - $20.00                                  $7.95

$20.01 - $30.00                                  $8.45

$30.01 - $50.00                                  $9.95

$50.01 - $100.00                                $11.95

$100.01 - $200.00                              $13.95

$200.01 - $300.00                              $15.95

$300.01 and up                                  $17.95

 

Mary Catherine Berube

USPS Headquarters Executive Director

Proposed Labeling Requirements for Dispensing Gasoline with Greater Than 10% Ethanol (E15) and Request for Comments

 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a regulatory program to help mitigate the potential for misfueling certain engines, vehicles, and equipment with gasoline containing greater than 10% by volume ethanol up to 15% ethanol (E15).  The proposed rule would require all E15 gasoline fuel dispensers to have a label if a retail station chooses to sell E15 and seeks comment on separate labeling requirements for fuel blender pumps and fuel pumps that dispense E85.

At this time E15 is only approved for use in cars and light trucks 2007 model year and newer.  It is not approved for use in any on-road vehicles 2000 model year or older nor any off-road engines (including heavy duty engines, ATVs, lawn mowers, boats, etc.).  At this time, EPA is still evaluating the effects of its use in cars and light trucks model years 2001-2006 and will render a decision in the future.

All gas stations that choose to sell E15 will have to upgrade their dispensing systems/add additional dispensers to allow for the sale of both E10 (currently in use) and the newly approved E15.  The US EPA has proposed a label to alert customers as to which fuel they are dispensing in their vehicle.

AUTHORS OPINION:  Given the severity of potential damage E15 could do to an engine not designed to use it and the complete indemnification of the USEPA and gas station for selling E15, I personally think such a label is useless in protecting the public interest.  If EPA’s intent is to increase the use of this product, they should require vehicles and dispensing containers to be fitted with a mechanical interlock that prevents E15 from being used in unapproved vehicles and engines. 

In addition, I also believe that EPA should require a testing/tracking program to ensure that E15 blended at a terminal can be tracked to a station so that terminal and station owners can be held accountable for dispensing E15 to non-approved vehicles (e.g. if E15 is sent to marinas).

Comments on this proposal should be submitted by January 3, 2011.  75 Fed. Reg. 68043  (November 4, 2010).  I encourage all members to submit any comments they feel appropriate regarding this proposed regulatory program.

—Sam Insalaco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 8:20 AM, Yvonne Hill <hilly@hq.usps.org> wrote:

Hi Sam,

 

Can you please send text of what is on SailAngle so we can also post on USPS bulletin. I want to avoid upsetting our members.

 

Thanks,
Yvonne

  

 

 

Yvonne Hill • Editor • USPS

P.O. Box 31664 • Raleigh, NC 27622

888-367-8777 • Fax 888-304-0813

The Ensign magazine •  USPS Compass

 

 

From: JotForm [mailto:noreply@jotform.com]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 8:15 AM
To: Yvonne Hill
Subject: New Submission: USPS Monthly Broadcast

 

 

--
Sam Insalaco

www.bereapowersquadron.org
www.usps.org
www.northcoastboating.com

SailAngle Update

After just over one year of operations, we have 7200 members or 19% of our membership on SailAngle.com. The following graph shows that some districts have had some success in the sign-up process while others have not really started. To reap the benefits of this system, we need more participation.

As might be expected, this is a topic of discussion at district conferences. One of the more common objections is "it's different". Of course it's different. You cannot add capabilities without introducing change. The objection might have merit if no instructional information had been provided. That has not been the case. The folks at SailAngle have given seminars at district conferences, provided online webinars, distributed instructional DVD's as well as generating tutorial videos. There are over 60 videos on how to effectively use SailAngle.

(http://www.sailangle.com/index/help-tutorial-videos ) .

Another objection is "trust". I was under the impression that this issue had been put to bed sometime ago. A number of our more skeptical members put the system to the test early on and found that our data is protected. However, at a recent district conference, I learned that an incident which occured last year was being attributed to SailAngle. The incident in question concerned unsolicited emails advertisements from a company selling USPS compliant websites. Since this incident occured after the introduction of SailAngle, some jumped to the conclusion that email addresses were obtained from SailAngle. This conclusion is totally in error. SailAngle has gone to great lengths to protect our data.

I would encourage all squadrons which have not already done so to try the bulk enrollment option. Members who are not satisfied can always opt out.

Dave Hinders

National Secretary

Unification to Affect New Member Entry

We’re unified!  At the 4 September Governing Board, USPS members voted to unify the Active and Family membership types into one – members.  Now, former Family Members can vote, hold office, become Senior and Life Members, and fly the Ensign.  New incoming members are all “Active” members (OK, except Apprentice and Sea Scout members).

 

Starting on 1 November, Headquarters will start entering all attached family unit members under the dues category “Additional Active.”  But, there’s no reason to wait.  Now, when a new member joins and brings his family along as a family unit, they should become Additional Actives.  After 1 November, all new members will receive “E” certificate numbers.

 

It’s a good time for squadrons to consider adopting “Family Unit Dues”.  On the national level, we have a single rate, $39, for single actives and a single rate, $58.50, for entire families or what we call Family Units.  So, new members are encouraged to sign up their entire family as members for just 150% of the price of a single membership.

  

With unified membership, all members will be active members.  Headquarters will be able to maintain the legacy dues status indicators for current Family Members until 31 May 2012.   After that, we’ll lose traceability of the old dues status codes, so squadrons should address their dues structures before that.

 

Look for more information to come.

 

It good to be unified!

 

By V/C Robert A. Baldridge, SN

 

Security Update - One more time

Following the 2010 Fall Governing Board we will switch to a two tier security system.  Members will still be able to logon using their zip code, but they will have minimal access to data on the web site.  Members logging on using their PIN will have access to the same data as before the switch.  The IT Committee has published two videos which describe how to get your PIN and the Information Center has been updated to provide instructions and help.  We have been encouraging those in leadership positions to switch from ZIP to PIN for the past three months.  While we have made some progress, there is still a long way to go.

 

Rank	Security Question
	June	July	August
Bridge	100%	100%	100%
R/C	32%	39%	39%
D/C	21%	21%	24%
Stf/C	19%	20%	23%
Cdr	11%	13%	13%
Total	15%	17%	18%

 

If you have not already done so, visit the Information Center http://www.usps.org/national/tools and select “Manage Your Security Information”. 

 

Cyber Squadron is Growing

In 2009, we introduced the concept of a “Cyber Squadron”. Visitors to the USPS web site could join by simply filling out an application and paying their dues via credit card. These new members are assigned to the “Cyber Squadron” and have most of the benefits of membership. The one benefit which is lacking is the social aspects of belonging to a real squadron. To ensure that ALL benefits of membership are available, the new members are encouraged to transfer to a real squadron. To help in the process, they are provided with contact information for the four closest (within 100 miles) squadrons in their neighborhood. At the same time, these squadrons are notified that there is a new member who is looking for a squadron.

In June of 2010, we expanded the Cyber Squadron by awarding six months of free membership to anyone purchasing Americas Boating Course version 3 online. The only restriction is that the student must be 18 years or older and provide a valid email address. The same notification process applies to the “ABC3” members.

The following graph illustrates the impact of this new program on Cyber Squadron.

Cyber Squadron membership is an opportunity for squadron growth. All you have to do is introduce them to the educational opportunities, squadron activities, and your members. Invite them to a dinner meeting, a rendezvous, any fun activity where they can see your squadron in action. Send them a copy of your newsletter. Hopefully, they will be convinced that your squadron is the one for them.

Transferring a Cyber Squadron member to a real squadron is “paperless” and simple. When they join, the Cyber Squadron member is provided with the URL of a transfer page (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/xfer/ ) where they enter their PIN, select the squadron they wish to transfer to, and click “Submit”. An email message is sent to the squadron asking for approval. Headquarters and the member are also copied and when the squadron does a “Reply All” indicating approval, headquarters makes the transfer.

If the transferring member paid a full years dues, the squadron and district will receive the funds collected for them. The amount collected is the USPS average for an individual or a family unit. This funds transfer takes place automatically when the member transfer is completed.

Cyber Squadron Funds	Individual	Family
District Assessment	$ 5.00	$ 7.50
Squadron Assessment	$ 27.80	$ 41.70

Since no dues were collected for the ABC3 Cyber Squadron members, no funds are transferred.

The Cyber Squadron program is made possible thru electronic communications. Therefore, it is important that squadron members in key positions have valid email addresses on file. The squadron Public Contact is the first person we try to notify of a new Cyber Squadron member. A quick way to check on your squadron’s Public Contact is to visit (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/membership/contactInfo.php )

Your squadron may have Cyber Squadron members nearby or you may have unattached members in your neighborhood. To find out if there are potential membership opportunities near you, just visit (http://www.usps.org/php/DHinders/unattached ).

Membership is Job #1

New USPS Member Benefits

Introducing a new collection of USPS member benefits

Dear USPS Member,

The Member Benefits Committee has put together a new group of benefits to help USPS members save money on travel, vacations, wireless phone plans, auto and home insurance, prescription drugs, computer backup programs, identity theft programs, accidental death benefits, long term care programs, senior age life insurance and cancer care insurance.

And this is just the beginning. More benefits will be added in the future. To keep you informed about what benefits are available, some providers will mail you informational pieces from time to time. USPS respects your privacy and will control the distribution of the list to ensure the confidentiality of your mailing addresses.

While we’re confident that you’ll be excited to hear about these programs as they become available, if you prefer not to receive this information, you can discontinue the mailings at any time. Simply click this link to indicate your wishes.

Thank you for your ongoing support of USPS. We’re sure these new member benefits will futher enrich your USPS membership

Yours in Boating,

Frank Dvorak
Chief Commander
United States Power Squadrons

Enhanced Security Update

In last month’s broadcast, we published our plan to move to a more secure web access system.  We also emphasized the importance of the organizations leaders having access to secure data and asked for 100% participation by those in a leadership role.  While the results are not overwhelming, someone was listening and we have made some progress.

 

Rank	Security Question
	June	July
Bridge	100%	100%
R/C	32%	39%
D/C	21%	21%
Stf/C	19%	20%
Cdr	11%	13%
Total	15%	17%

 

Our leaders need to set an example and encourage the rest of the membership to make the transition from ZIP code to PIN.  We have made a small advance overall and now have 1152 members (3%) with a security question.

 

The following table illustrates the data which will be available to a squadron commander who has logged on using his PIN versus one who has logged on using his ZIP code.

 

Data Access
Data Field	PIN Logon	ZIP Logon
Top of Form Name Bottom of Form	X	X
Sex	X	X
Birthday	X	X
Current Rank	X	X
Past Rank	X	X
Squadron Rank	X	X
Squadron	X	X
District	X	X
Previous Squadron	X	X
Previous District	X	X
Certificate Number	X
Address1	X
City	X
State	X
ZIP	X
Phone	X
Business Phone	X
OK to call	X
Email	X	SEND EMAIL BUTTON
	X
Email-Status	X
Sig Other	X	X
SO Sex	X	X
Joined	X
Years	X
MM	X
Edpro	X
Senior	X
Membership Type	X
Membership Status	X
Billing Date	X
Dues Invoice #	X
Membership Renewal	X
Month
Billing Status	X
Last Profile Update	X
Last HQ Update	X
Instructor Certification	X
Expires		X
Squadron Job	X	X
District Job	X Bottom of Form	X

 

 

Visit the Information Center http://www.usps.org/national/tools and select “Manage Your Security Information”.  Once you have switched from ZIP to PIN,

help us spread the word to members, committees, districts, and squadrons.

 

Thanks for your help