Agenda - Chicago Power Squadron
14 September 2009
Call to Order CDR Wayne Toberman, S
Determination of a Quorum Lt/C Raymond Grana, SN
Approval of Minutes from last Meeting
Reports of Officiers
Reports of Commitees
Communications
Unfinished Business
Elections
New Business
Approval of Minutes from last Meeting
Treasurer's Report Lt/C Robert A. Drefs, AP
Executive Department Reports Lt/C John F. Chenier, P
Educational Department Reports Lt/C George F. Prescott, SN
Administrative Department Reports Lt/C Jenou Olech, S
Secretary's Department Reports Lt/C Raymond Grana, SN
Commander's Report CDR Wayne Toberman, S
Reports of Commitees
Appointed Committees 2010 Proposed Budget
Elected Committees Nominations update
Communications
Unfinished Business
New Business
2010 Education Schedule
Adjournment
Showing posts with label chicago power squadron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicago power squadron. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Deadline approaches for Chicagolog submissions
Greetings!
How time flies! Or as the Roman poet Virgil noted: Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile tempus! (But it flees in the meantime; irretrievable time flees.) Not only is the end of summer near, as this week’s Labor Day celebration reminds us, but it is time for me to remind you that the deadline for submitting articles for the next Chicagolog approaches.
If you are a bridge officer, please submit an article on your area(s) of responsibility. If you are a committee chair, please provide me the appropriate information on any activities you have going for the months of October and November. However, any other information you would like to see in the Chicagolog is always welcome. Also, any photographs should be in color, if possible.
Your support of the Chicagolog is highly esteemed! Submissions may be made by email, U.S. mail, or in person at the next business meeting.
Regards,
Lt. Chuck Kvasnicka, P
Chicagolog Editor
Chicago Power Squadron
How time flies! Or as the Roman poet Virgil noted: Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile tempus! (But it flees in the meantime; irretrievable time flees.) Not only is the end of summer near, as this week’s Labor Day celebration reminds us, but it is time for me to remind you that the deadline for submitting articles for the next Chicagolog approaches.
If you are a bridge officer, please submit an article on your area(s) of responsibility. If you are a committee chair, please provide me the appropriate information on any activities you have going for the months of October and November. However, any other information you would like to see in the Chicagolog is always welcome. Also, any photographs should be in color, if possible.
Your support of the Chicagolog is highly esteemed! Submissions may be made by email, U.S. mail, or in person at the next business meeting.
Regards,
Lt. Chuck Kvasnicka, P
Chicagolog Editor
Chicago Power Squadron
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Notes from the Commander
For the second issue in a row, it is my unfortunate duty as Commander to bid farewell to another squadron member, this time, David Shupert.
David passed away early in January from complications resulting from multiple operations. He is survived by his partner of many years, Cathy Lash and a daughter from a previous marriage. A memorial ceremony will be scheduled for a date, time, and location yet to be determined later on toward summer.
David was a loyal friend to the Squadron and will be missed.
At this minute, I’m writing this column from just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. Why do I bring that up, you might ask? Well, I’d like to take a minute to segue from loss to a reaffirmation and a little thankfulness of what we all have available to us back home. I’d like to recount a conversation I had last night with some of the staff of the Lake Meade Marina, while at their restaurant right on, and over, the Lake.
As a tourist and boater, and to the backdrop of the following, I have to say that I was particularly impressed by their massive covered docks and boating support facility, complete with: affordable boat rentals, a mini boardwalk and intersecting dock layout and 1,000s of 10 pound and above Catfish and Carp swarming madly around the supports. Of course, the frenzy was helped out a bit, to the delights of the children and parents alike who encouraged the commotion with handfuls of popcorn, chips, bread or whatever was available. All the while, lit by an awe inspiring sunset, illuminating absolutely clear water and the surrounding rock formations, in and out of the water. A great way to finish off a perfect day, and I told them so.
They asked me where I was from, and if I was a boater. I told them Chicago and yes, and that I am also a member of the Chicago Power Squadron. As soon as I finished my words, they looked at each other, and with broad expressive smiles on their faces, immediately began to recount their boating experiences on the Great Lakes. Most of all, though, they talked of the fantastic times they had on Lake Michigan, out of Chicago, and just how fortunate I was to have the boating opportunities of a lifetime right on my doorstep! If they only had that kind of boating in Vegas!
I answered their polite comments with a few extra compliments directed toward their own operation and it’s opportunities, but was cut short by their own explanations of just what the future held in store for them and their Family’s business. They were more than staff, it seemed. The Lake, they explained had receded over 110 feet from the shoreline since last year alone! The reason they were floating over the water, as opposed to by the water, was that they have to move their enormous floating marina, restaurant and tourist attraction further and further into the Lake each time the level drops! The lightened water lines on the surrounding rock faces on shore, and on the many now emerging islands which looked like pylons belonging more to an obstacle course than a lake, were graphic examples of the recent climatic changes, that if not checked in the near term, could spell disaster for them, their business and the region as well. That was also the source of envy, which they showed when discussing their memories. The memories of young men in their late 20s!
In an attempt to be somewhat seasonally sensitive, I have to remind everyone that it’s almost, but not quite, our own boating season. In about 30 days or less, about half past this edition of the Chicago Log, we will all be preparing to pull the covers off our boats and jump right into the yearly ritual of the Annual Refit! Before we do that, though, we need to remember the basics and always, Safety First. Whether working with a forgotten battery that may have frozen over the intense Winter, or while scraping and painting that flaking hull, remember the masks, the gloves and as required, the suits and tools to do the job right. With over two months to get all the jobs done, it’s better to take our time, and do the job right the first time.
On the announcement side, I’d like to put the spotlight on our Editor, Janice North, who has been the brains, and brawn behind the Chicago Log for many years. It has just come to our attention that the Chi Log has been voted the number one newsletter by National, from a field of hundreds, from throughout the entire USPS! We always knew our Chi Log, and Jan were the best. Now everyone else does too! A job well done, Jan…Thank You!
As has been said by countless others and now plagiarized by me, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Wayne
David passed away early in January from complications resulting from multiple operations. He is survived by his partner of many years, Cathy Lash and a daughter from a previous marriage. A memorial ceremony will be scheduled for a date, time, and location yet to be determined later on toward summer.
David was a loyal friend to the Squadron and will be missed.
At this minute, I’m writing this column from just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. Why do I bring that up, you might ask? Well, I’d like to take a minute to segue from loss to a reaffirmation and a little thankfulness of what we all have available to us back home. I’d like to recount a conversation I had last night with some of the staff of the Lake Meade Marina, while at their restaurant right on, and over, the Lake.
As a tourist and boater, and to the backdrop of the following, I have to say that I was particularly impressed by their massive covered docks and boating support facility, complete with: affordable boat rentals, a mini boardwalk and intersecting dock layout and 1,000s of 10 pound and above Catfish and Carp swarming madly around the supports. Of course, the frenzy was helped out a bit, to the delights of the children and parents alike who encouraged the commotion with handfuls of popcorn, chips, bread or whatever was available. All the while, lit by an awe inspiring sunset, illuminating absolutely clear water and the surrounding rock formations, in and out of the water. A great way to finish off a perfect day, and I told them so.
They asked me where I was from, and if I was a boater. I told them Chicago and yes, and that I am also a member of the Chicago Power Squadron. As soon as I finished my words, they looked at each other, and with broad expressive smiles on their faces, immediately began to recount their boating experiences on the Great Lakes. Most of all, though, they talked of the fantastic times they had on Lake Michigan, out of Chicago, and just how fortunate I was to have the boating opportunities of a lifetime right on my doorstep! If they only had that kind of boating in Vegas!
I answered their polite comments with a few extra compliments directed toward their own operation and it’s opportunities, but was cut short by their own explanations of just what the future held in store for them and their Family’s business. They were more than staff, it seemed. The Lake, they explained had receded over 110 feet from the shoreline since last year alone! The reason they were floating over the water, as opposed to by the water, was that they have to move their enormous floating marina, restaurant and tourist attraction further and further into the Lake each time the level drops! The lightened water lines on the surrounding rock faces on shore, and on the many now emerging islands which looked like pylons belonging more to an obstacle course than a lake, were graphic examples of the recent climatic changes, that if not checked in the near term, could spell disaster for them, their business and the region as well. That was also the source of envy, which they showed when discussing their memories. The memories of young men in their late 20s!
In an attempt to be somewhat seasonally sensitive, I have to remind everyone that it’s almost, but not quite, our own boating season. In about 30 days or less, about half past this edition of the Chicago Log, we will all be preparing to pull the covers off our boats and jump right into the yearly ritual of the Annual Refit! Before we do that, though, we need to remember the basics and always, Safety First. Whether working with a forgotten battery that may have frozen over the intense Winter, or while scraping and painting that flaking hull, remember the masks, the gloves and as required, the suits and tools to do the job right. With over two months to get all the jobs done, it’s better to take our time, and do the job right the first time.
On the announcement side, I’d like to put the spotlight on our Editor, Janice North, who has been the brains, and brawn behind the Chicago Log for many years. It has just come to our attention that the Chi Log has been voted the number one newsletter by National, from a field of hundreds, from throughout the entire USPS! We always knew our Chi Log, and Jan were the best. Now everyone else does too! A job well done, Jan…Thank You!
As has been said by countless others and now plagiarized by me, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Wayne
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
ChicagoLog Announcement
Just a quick heads up, the AWARD WINNING ChicagoLog is in the mail. Keep an eye out for your copy in the mail. If you don't get yours, let Jan North or I know and we'll get on out. Or you can stop back here on Wednesday and grab your digital version here.
Quick Notes- AP Classes start this weekend at the Southern Shores Yacht Club, call Dick Spurr for more info.
Quick Notes- AP Classes start this weekend at the Southern Shores Yacht Club, call Dick Spurr for more info.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Letter from the Commander
As many of you already know, I have succeeded myself as your Commander, on 18 January, during our formal Change of Watch ceremony, having been voted in for a second and final term, a few months ago. I now find myself in an enviable position which allows one the rare opportunity to either coast to the finish line or actually attempt to accomplish something lasting during their last term in office.
I choose the latter.
To everyone out there these days, progress equates to change. However, it's fast appearing that the simple word "Change", which has touched us all to one degree or another with overflowing visions of near limitless promise, is fast turning into just another "cause celeb" buzzword, mostly devoid of any viable substance or functional specifics. This means the responsibility falls to us all not to have our squadron get caught up in the trap of change for change sake. We need to stay our own true education based course but plan our organization's social and fraternal future together.
To that end, I propose to you my personal promise, a compact, if you will, with the membership of the Chicago Power Squadron, whereupon I will actively seek out each and every one of you possible for consul, by personally calling you within the first 30 days following the mailing of this Chicago Log. We will discuss at length your ideas and concepts of just what our organization needs to be or do to reflect your own expectations as well as your individual or family needs. Simultaneously, you will also gain the unprecedented opportunity to help chart our organization's meaningful course into the distant future.
This opportunity does not come without cost to you. Between now and your call, you need to think over very carefully what it is that you and your family want to see happen, starting NOW, within the squadron to get you all meaningfully involved. This could take the form of planning family themed events, or a "green" day where we all pitch in to help clean up a stretch of a river or lakefront. It could include a yearly museum outing , social events, the scheduling of speakers on subjects of interest at our often overlooked first Monday of the month meetings, or WHATEVER you all want or consider valuable.
This is your opportunity to make a difference and I say again, complacency is not an option. You all can begin now by accepting my challenge to take it one step further by referring just one boater to our basic boating safety course or to join the squadron. If everyone did their part, it would mean the addition to our waterways of nearly 125 newly qualified boaters before the start of the new season!
Everyone's voice is important, now more so than ever. Injuries and freak accidents are on the rise. Proposals for additional lakefront harbors which will surely lead to more congestion, have been surfacing repeatedly. At the same time that new requirements for mandatory boater education and certification are looming on the horizon, a new phenomenon is making an appearance, that of the educationally complacent family boater.
This surfaced repeatedly at the recent Chicago Boat Show, during conversations with dozens of boaters, many with small children in tow, who exhibited a clear lack of operational boating literacy. Many had never taken a formal class and openly professed limited levels of safe boating knowledge. Their reasons for avoiding classes ran from time to costs to locations. When told of our class offerings and costs, they were surprised because they never figured that the cost of a basic boating safety course was less than a tank of gas or a family dinner at a fast food restaurant. It only got worse from there when they realized that they were putting their precious families at risk for less than burgers AND an investment of a few hours of time!
This only underscores the need for your participation as instructors, inspectors, proctors, or just active supporters of our educational programs and squadron. Throughout our country, we constantly hear about or see countless civic, social, or fraternal organizations in various states of distress or turmoil due to little or no comprehensive or prior planning. We can learn from their errors and together get things right ….now…..but only as an organization of purpose.
Best regards,
Cdr. Wayne Toberman, S
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