Fayetteville Sail and Power Squadron  

                                   serving Fayetteville, North Carolina and surrounding area including Fort Bragg

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                                                             A Unit of the United States Power Squadrons®

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FROM THE COMMANDER

The Fayetteville Squadron has been invited to participate in the Peckman Center outdoors activities as we did last year. The date is 25 September and the time of the event is from 0900 to 1500. Set up begins at 0730.  The Peckman Fishing Education Center is located at 7489 Raeford Road.

Our squadron will be offering the boating class to some avid boaters who live at Carolina Trace. We have been asked to do this by Paul Thomacelli a former member of our squadron. Paul has rejoined our squadron through the assistance of Bob Brandenburg. Welcome Paul.

Betty and I were guests of the Spilman’s. Lou had made a lift that is in fact an out door elevator that enabled him to get up to the second story without having to climb the stairs. As some of you know Lou had some major problems with a knee, and while he can get around pretty well now, the outdoor elevator is the answer for anybody who finds it difficult to climb stairs. The Spilman home faces on a creek and provides a great view of the Neuse River.

John

CALENDAR - MEMBER ACTIVITIES 2010

August 28, 4:00 p.m.:  It's time for the annual Ice Cream Social.  Bill and Jean Kiker have again offered their home in Rayconda for this function.  This is an informal get together where boating, fishing, swimming and other water adventures and stories can be revealed and rehashed.                           Update:  Twenty-six (26) folks had a great time at the annual Ice Cream Social on Saturday, 28 August.  The food was great and there were several different freezers of delicious homemade ice cream.  Jean's mother had fallen at a nursing home in Kentucky last week and Jean went to be with her;  let it be said that Bill did a pretty good job getting everything ready for this event.  Great work Bill!                       Also, for those lucky ones that attended this event, Ted Faber provided a hand-crafted pottery bowl for each family present.  These were all individually-made pieces so none were exactly alike.  Thanks, Ted

September 21st, 6:30 p.m.  Annual Fish Fry at Ruritan Club, Campground Road.  Fish, Hush Puppies, baked beans and potato salad will be provided.  Bring a dish to complement the fish, or a dessert.  Come early and help fry the fish. 

SQUADRON EDUCATION PROGRAM

Watch this space for information on next boating safety course. 

Do you want or need an advanced USPS education course?  None are being held at this time, but let the Assistant Education Officer know of your needs and one will be scheduled.  Click here for information on Advanced Grades courses.  Click here for information on Elective Courses.  Click here for information on USPS Guides.

2009-2010 FSPS Bridge

Commander:  John Ellsworth, Executive Officer:  Bob Brandenburg; Education Officer:     Assistant Education Officer: Rosa Whitmore; Administrative Officer: Joann Seymour; Secretary: Cliff Parker,  Treasurer: Rosa Whitmore; Members-at-Large: Sid Thrash, Bill Kiker, Buddy Wilkins

Click here to see SQUADRON PHOTOS

Click here to see Squadron Newsletter - The Log

RESULTS OF BELL THROWING CONTEST

Some of you attended the District 27 Rendezvous in Oriental and perhaps participated in the throwing of different life saving devices e.g. the Balcan Emergency Life Line (BELL) and the ResQ Disc (a Frisbee-like device with a line).  There were 18 individuals that threw / tossed both of these devices.  The longest distance and accuracy (i.e. closest to the victim which in this case was a measuring line) were the goals.  The longest throw for the BELL was 88 feet.  The longest throw for the ResQ Disk was 79 feet.   The average of all throwers was 52.4 feet for the BELL and 42.2 feet for the ResQ Disc.   Obviously, these distances are further than one could throw one of the USCG-required Type IV ring buoy or cushions.  Botton Line:  Having a life-saving device on your vessel like one of those tested could well help save a life.

BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT IN YOUR BOAT

Check weather - NOAA National Weather Service; prepare a Float Plan and leave a copy with a friend or the marina; US Coast Guard Minimum Requirements for Recreational Vessels;

DISTRICT 27 CALENDAR / ACTIVITIES 

2010

24-26 September D/27 Fall Council/Conference New Bern, NC

USPS AND DISTRICT 27 NEWS OF INTEREST, THINGS-THEY ARE A CHANGING

1. The Ensign, USPS magazine, has been reduced from six hard copies editions to four a year. The two editions that were eliminated as hard copies will be sent as an emagazine.

2. District/27 newsletter, Carolina Bitts, will be distributed electronically. It can be accessed from D27 Home Page.

3. A new, on-line social network for the boating community, SailAngle.com , has begun.  If you like “Facebook” you’ll LOVE “Sail Angle”. The designers have created a section for the USPS for free. You can register by going to the USPS web site and clicking the Sail Angle button on the home page.

4. It seems that soon your Certificate Number and Zip Code will no longer get you logged in as a member on the National web site. For security, each member has been assigned a P. I. N. This Personal Identification Number was on your dues notification. If you have filed it, get it out and post it near your computer, or better yet, memorize it. Start using it in place of the older, less secure combination of certificate plus zip code.

5. Several new By-law changes were made at the Governing Board meeting in Kansas City. These included the transfer of responsibilities of the Operating Committee to the Board of Directors and remove the Operating Committee from the by-laws, make the earning of merit marks and their significance equivalent across all classes of membership, and clarify the procedures used in the collection of dues by USPS Headquarters billing .

Member Benefits: The National Member Benefits web page has been updated and is supposed to be much easier and faster to use. It can be reached by going to http://www.usps.org. Click on members stuff, then click on member benefits to find benefits available to members (or you can click on "Members Benefits on FSPS site that will take you to this link). 


Squadron Heraldry Display


Name:  Fayetteville Sail & Power Squadron   Chartered-1969    District-27    State-NC

                                                            Squadron Burgee
                                                       

Squadron Burgee Heraldry

Our pennant is blue with a white border and contains a white circle in which the famous Fayetteville Market House, the symbol of the city, is silhouetted in red.

The heraldry of the pennant lies more with its distinguishing feature. The Fayetteville Market House is of Spanish-Moorish design and sits in the middle of the city at the intersection of the four main intercity streets. It was built in 1838 on the site of the old State House where the North Carolina Assembly ratified the Constitution of the United States and in 1789 chartered the University of North Carolina, the first state-supported university in the United States.