|
|
|||||||||
|
® United States Power Squadrons, USPS, the USPS Ensign, and the Trident Design are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc Trademark Statement USPS Privacy Statement Disclaimer |
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
THE PLOTTER |
|||||||||
UNITED
STATES POWER SQUADRON (USPS)
|
|||||||||
DISTRICT 21
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
GRAND HISTORY OF THE AUSTIN POWER SQUADRON |
|||||||||
|
We are part of the United States
Power Squadrons ®, a non-profit, volunteer group of sailors and power
boaters dedicated to safer and more enjoyable boating through education. The public
is cordially invited to attend any one of several boat safety Classes
that we offer annually, where you can increase your knowledge of basic
boating skills, water safety, and right-of-way rules. This instruction and
testing satisfies requirements for Texas Boater Education Certification,
enabling you to apply for a reduction in your boat insurance. Successful completion of the boat
safety exam also qualifies you for APS membership, offering you and your
family a variety of social and community service activities. As a member, you
may also continue your boating education through advanced classroom
instruction in subjects such as Seamanship, Sail,
Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Weather, Engine Maintenance, Cruise Planning, Marine Electronics, and Navigation. So please Join Us! The
Austin Power Squadron was chartered by 28 avid boaters on September 11, 1961,
and has grown to exceed 100 members. It is one of 14 squadrons (soon to be
15) in District 21, spreading across Texas & Louisiana, and part of the
United States Power Squadrons celebrating 88 years of continued worldwide
growth. Simply put, we are a non-profit fraternal group of civic volunteers
dedicated to improving the safety of recreational boating through education,
and having fun along the way. Our
pennant, designed by Past Commander E.G. Field, is the Lone Star Flag of
Texas with seven vertical blue and white stripes representing the seven
Highland Lakes of Central Texas. For
information regarding this web site, you may contact Cdr. William E. Smith,
AP via E-mail at cvstrong1@sbcglobal.net or Webster P/C Robert Carswell rec3@austin.rr.com. |
|||||||||
BRIDGE 2007-2008
|
|||||||||
|
COMMANDER
Ginny Strong, AP |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Stephen R. Schmidt, AP |
||||||||
|
EDUCATION OFFICER
P/D/Lt/C Christine G. Geist, SN |
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
L/C Karl Fisher, AP |
||||||||
|
SECRETARY
Lt/C Carol Johnson |
TREASURER
LT/C Robert K. Little, AP |
||||||||
|
EXECUTIVE COMMITEE |
|||||||||
|
Lt James Harrison, AP
|
Lt Max Werkenthin III, AP
|
P/D/C Charles V. Strong, AP |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
BOATING COURSES
|
|||||||||
|
Our current Education Officer is P/DLt/C Christine Geist, SN. You can
contact her by E-Mail at chrisg@austin.rr.com. The below listed schedules are
our public-invited Boating Safety Courses, generally consisting of one
day of class instruction, demonstration, and testing. Advanced and Elective courses are
offered only to members of the Austin Power Squadron. For our public
offering, we can also arrange group instruction for corporate, club and
neighborhood associations (certain requirements apply). Membership to this organization is open
and available; click on WHO ARE WE? for additional
information. 2008 PUBLIC BOATING SAFETY COURSES OFFERED BY AUSTIN POWER SQUADRON CALL 343-BOAT TO
REGISTER COURSE: BOAT SMART This 8 hour course is for all boaters — personal
watercraft operators, hunters, fishermen, cruiser skippers, sailing
enthusiasts — Material covered includes nautical rules, regulations and
courtesies of the sea that all boaters must follow, as well as the Texas
water safety laws . NASBLA and TPWD
approved. Austin Power Squadron generally offers instruction for the Boat
Smart Course several times a year, April thru August. The currently scheduled
Austin classes are as follows: 19 May,
Saturday 9 AM - 5:00 PM at
Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway MAP 14 July,
Saturday 9 AM - 5:00 PM at
Colorado Room, LCRA on Lake Austin Blvd, Austin MAP COURSE: BOATING COURSE This 6 sessions course is for the more committed boaters, new or
experienced, offering useful information to the serious lake boater as well
as those who keep their boats on the coast. This course edition includes
introduction to reading charts and plotting a cruise using digital charts,
Maptech Chart Navigator software, and sample charts for practice. Necessary
plotting tools are also included in the nominal course fee. Click on this
link to view Course Syllabus. TBA -
Monday evenings 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the
Travis County Precinct 2 Satellite Bldg, 4501 Hwy 620 North (by Mansfield
Dam). MAP NASBLA and TPWD approved. For
registration and information regarding date/time and most convenient
location, phone 512/343.2628 COURSE: PILOTING (Available to Members, only) The Piloting Course is the first in the sequence of USPS courses on
navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This
all-new course focuses on navigation as it is done on recreational boats
today and embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering enough of
traditional techniques so the student will be able to find his/her way even
if their GPS fails. The course includes many in-class exercises, developing
the student's skills through hands-on practice and learning. Fee for course
material and exam is $45.00. Monday Evenings—Please contact Christine or Max. April 30 -
June 25 7:00 PM 'til 9:00 PM |
|||||||||
ACTIVITIES
|
|||||||||
|
Vessel Safety Checks A Vessel Safety Check is a free
courtesy examination of your boat (Vessel) to verify the presence and
condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal
regulations. The Vessel Examiner is a trained specialist and is a member of
the United States Power Squadrons or the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They will
also make certain recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will
make you a safer boater. This is not
boarding or a law enforcement issue. No citations will be given as a result
of this encounter. We will supply you with a copy of our evaluation so that
you may follow some of the suggestions given. Vessels that pass will be able
to display our distinctive VSC decal. This does not exempt you from law
enforcement boarding, but you can be prepared to make this a positive
encounter. What is included in a
VSC? For a virtual VSC go to this URL: http://safetyseal.net/what_is_vsc.asp Who does VSC’s in the
Austin area? The Austin Power Squadron has qualified volunteer Vessel
Safety Check Examiners (VE’s) available to examine your boat and make sure it
is safe for operation. There are
several Vessel Safety Checks scheduled on area lakes for 2007. Exact times and locations will be
announced prior to the events. How do I get a VSC? You may bring your boat to one of the scheduled events, or
an Austin Power Squadron VE can meet you at your Austin location to examine
your boat. For a VE in your area, contact: P/C rob Gentry, JN rgentry@supgrp.com northwest
(Cedar Park/Leander) P/C Allan Hitchcock, JN
alhitch@sbcglobal.net-
west (Lakeway) Cdr Paul Mallett, AP paul_mallett@yahoo.com-
west (Lakeway) P/C Ron McCracken, AP rmccracken@us.ibm.com-
north (Parmer Lane area) Lt/C T. Wayne Pike, AP twaynepike@cox-internet.com-
northeast (Pflugerville) P/C Max Werkenthin, AP mwerkenthin1@austin.rr.comsouth
(Lake Austin) P/C Ginny Strong, AP cvstrong@sbcglobal.net-
west Austin (Hudson Bend) P/D/C Chrles Strong, AP
cvstrong1@sbcglobal.net- west Austin (Hudson Bend) P/Lt/C John W. Causey,
JN mopicjohn@sbcglobal.net - west Austin (Pedernales) Should you have questions or like know the next scheduled
examination, please contact P/C Allan Hitchcock via e-mail: alhitch@sbcglobal.net. For more information about the national program go to this U.S.C.G. AUX Form 204 lists the items with which a boat must be in compliance. A few of these items that frequently negate a successful VSC are torn/damaged PFDs, unsecured batteries and/or terminals that are not covered to prevent accidental arcing, and a lack proper sound producing devices (horns, bells), or adequate visual distress signals. Raft ups Picnics Monthly
Member/Guest Meetings |
|||||||||
|
|
< |
||||||||
