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.

Long time Member and Shipmate David Shupert remembered

Long term Chicago Power Squadron Member and Shipmate David Shupert succumbed to multiple illnesses and passed away yesterday, 7 February 2009, at 1447 hours. Cards or letters of condolence and support should be sent to: Cathy Lash, 5832 W. Giddings Street, Chicago, IL 60630. Cathy can also be reached at: eyelash@ameritech.net. A memorial service is being planned for late Spring or early Summer. Additional information is not available at this time.

Cmdr. Wayne Toberman

Water Levels on Lake Michigan.

Report from the
Environmental & Waterways Committee Chair,

P/C Dennis Stein, P

One of my major concerns these last few years has been the water level on Lake Michigan. From what I have been able to learn, the levels on all the great lakes are cyclical and we appear to have hit our lows for this cycle and are now back on our path to higher water. There are some very nice charts on the www.noaa.gov web site if you search out great lakes water levels and you can select different criteria to build the chart that gives you the data you might like to see best. Searched from 2000 til present: we saw that in 2000 the high was about 578 feet above sea level.

Towards 2001 the levels dropped to 576.75 ft. Most of 2001 was around 577 ft, In 2006 we had slipped down to 575.8 ft. but the recent readings are showing that we are around the 578.5 ft. level. The latest forcast I've seen is looking for a rise this year (from the snow melt) of between 4 and 9 inches; so I'm pretty happy that we shouldn't have any problems launching, retrieving and docking this year. At the time of this writing, we are right about 577.5 ft. I plan on keeping an eye on levels so I'll keep you posted.

I have been hearing that people on the Fox Lake chain and river system are finding that zebra mussels have been having a population explosion. A friend reports that rocks near his dock are just covered with them. Time will tell what effect they have on the chain, but initially, I look for this to be a good thing for the water clarity. The clarity lets plants grow deeper and populations of fish and other critters hide in the plants. Again, I remind some of our older members who might, as I do, remember not being able to see an inch in front of your face in lake Michigan. Now, I routinely look down and see rock formations in 30 and 40 ft. of water. I plan on the next report having a look at both the mussels and the Asian Carp invaders in both the Fox River system and Lake Michigan.

Note: We always want to hear from you, USPS members, please take a moment to comment.

Trident Extra

D/20 Editors,

Attached is the current Trident Extra for insertion in your newsletter. If you are unable to insert in your publication please send it
to your members via Email.

The Squadron Commanders asked the District to provide timely information about District activities. This edition is about the Spring Conference with bio of the Chief Commander's Rep, V/C Frank Dvorak, SN, the National Executive Officer.

Thank you for your support,

Bill Witty
Trident Editor

Key West Race Week '09!

Sailing - Crazy Farr 40 finish at 2009 Acura Key West Race Week - Sailgroove.org

Check out this unbelievable finish from the Farr 40 fleet at Key West Race Week '09!

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

Welcome

Welcome to the Chicago Power Squadron's new blog feature. Feel free to contribute picture, ideas, comments, news events of interest to the CPS membership and throw in your 2 cents.








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