BOC small craft boat size

The USPS Boat Operator Certification program starts out with single-engine, small (under 26 feet) boats with the boat size getting larger as you progress through the program.

The program was specifically designed to start out with single-engine small boats regardless of the boat typically used by the operator because:
1. Most skills and knowledge that are used in a small boat will transfer to a larger craft.
2. A smaller boat alows one person to do the maneuvers.
3. Smaller boats allow the operators to feel the maneuvers and to see the results immediately.
4. Single engines take more skill to maneuver in tight quarters; the use of twin engines and bow thrusters relies too much on the boat and not on the abilities of the operator to do the maneuvers
5. Small craft generally have less gear and equipment on board to worry about during high-speed maneuvers, allowing the operator and instructor to concentrate on the training and spend less time worrying about the operation of the larger boat.
6. The certification is to demonstrate you understand the forces acting on a boat and the resultant responses. This will stay with you as you change the type of boat you use.

 

Chris Windeler

Fly Your Ensign Proudly

As we all know, “USPS” does not stand for the “United States Postal Service.” It is the abbreviation for the “United States Power Squadrons”, a proud organization that will shortly celebrate its 100^th anniversary. Like Coca Cola, UPS, and most other entities, we have our own logo, the USPS Ensign. 

          For our Centennial Anniversary in 2014, a special Ensign is being designed. As we prepare for that event, we want to increase our display of pride and to advertise it to our fellow boaters. Too many have no idea what we are about.

          In my last two years of cruising in our sailboat around the New Jersey, New York and New England waters (the home base of four districts with more than 5,000 members), I SPOTTED ONLY 3 ENSIGNS.  ARE THE REST OF YOU HIDING?

1)   ARE YOU PROUD TO FLY THE ENSIGN?

2)   ARE YOU TRYING TO GROW OUR MEMBERSHIP?

3)   DO YOU NEED NEW MEMBERS TO HELP IN CARRYING OUT OUR IMPORTANT MISSION?

4)   DO YOU SUPPORT THE USPS, ITS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES?

 

Hopefully these all apply, and it is just a matter of an oversight that has to be addressed.

          To encourage the display of the ensign on our member boats, District 4 ran a “Spot the Ensign” competition and raffle. When spotting a boat flying the Ensign, a member would hail that boat and gather details concerning the vessel’s name, its captain and the sighting location. This data was reported to the District and entered in a raffle, with a winner drawn and a $100 prize awarded at the annual conference. The reporting boat, if flying also flying the Ensign, was also entered. An additional $25 was added if the entrant was actually present at the conference.

          The above program could be run on a district or multi-district level. The USPS Marketing Committee will hold a similar program at the national level and welcomes your comments or questions. Contact me, P/D/C David J. Meshulam, AP.

          Flying the ensign should be a privilege and thus sought after by new members looking for the recognition of being part of our elite organization.

 

P/D/C David J. Meshulam, AP

Liaison to Boating Clubs

Marketing and Public Relations Committee

 

ABC3 Classroom Trial Membership A Smashing Success, Has Cutoff Dates

Word is coming in that squadrons are seeing great success recruiting new members using the ABC3 Trial Membership Program. Under the program squadrons may choose to offer students that successfully complete the ABC3 Classroom course membership in their squadron free for six months. The offer is good for the students’ household members as well. Squadrons are regularly reporting over 90% of students joining.

There are a couple of rules:

The squadron must register the class and the students using the online HQ800 program and/or BCA 7.

The new member must complete a MemCom1 and the squadron must submit the membership data electronically.

There is a time limit:

For classes ending before 1 May, the students must accept membership and the online information must be entered prior to 30 May. For classes ending 1 May or later, the cutoff date is 30 days after the class end.

Check out the Membership Committee web site, www.usps.org/national/membership , for more information.

Don’t stop recruiting after signing up the new member. Get them to a meeting, to a rendezvous, and into a class. ABC3 Classroom Trial – the hottest thing going!

V/C Robert A. Baldridge, SN

New Weather Seminars!

A new weather seminar – Basic Weather and Forecasting – will be available for online ordering shortly. The full color seminar guide complete with notes is at the printer now. The new seminar is more comprehensive than the present weather seminar. It is a must for boaters who have not taken a weather course. In addition to the new seminar guide, participants also will receive the QuickGuide – Onboard Weather Forecasting. As a heads-up, a new seminar – Marine Weather Forecasting – will be offered on the internet as a webinar on June 14 at  2000 EDT. With its emphasis on the 500 mb chart, the webinar, a USPS Ed Department first, will particularly appeal to coastal and offshore cruisers.  Watch for details next month.

Marine Environment Committee  

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