General Membership Meeting
May 6 2005
The meeting was called to order at Fiddler's Green Restaurant at 1922 by
Commander Katharine Law. There were 24 members, constituting a quorum,
and 7 guests.
INVOCATION: The invocation was offered by P/C Bob Hubbard.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge of allegiance was led by ExO Tom Fota.
MINUTES: The minutes of the Annual Meeting, the Change of Watch and the
March members' meeting were approved.
RECOGNITION:
Commander Law recognized the following persons:
P/D/C Bill
Bridge
P/D/C
Tom Swift
P/C Bob Hubbard
P/C Shaun McArdle
P/C Ron Weiner
P/C Nadine Christensen
P/Lt/C Gordo Parham
P/LT/C Virginia Prutow
Commander Law called a new recruit, John Anderson, to the front and administered
the member's pledge, with all other members renewing their pledges
and welcoming him into the squadron.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The commander noted that she would be out
of town from May 14th through 21st, and again from June 1st through
6th (to attend the USPS Governing Board meeting in Charlotte, NC) during
which time Lt/C Tom Fota would be the officer-in-charge. She reminded
members that the District 28 Summer Council meeting would convene
on Saturday, 18th June, at Southwestern Yacht Club and urged anyone who
could do so to attend this meeting. She also noted the dates
of the Sail Fleet races and CNC events for May and June.
OFFICERS' REPORTS:
Commander Katie Law thanked all the members who had stood watch at
the April 24th "Day at the Docks." She
reported having gone to the D/28 Inland rendezvous, hosted
by the Phoenix Squadron, on the weekend of April 8th-10th at Katherine
Landing, AZ, which was attended by representatives of all four of
the District 28 squadrons.
ExO Tom Fota also thanked the people who worked the "Day
at the Docks" and called on P/C Shaun McArdle, chairman
of Boat Shows, for a report. P/C McArdle joined in thanking
the watch-standers and noted that, although our booth was a bit out of
the way, we managed to pass out quite a bit of literature, including many
announcements for the upcoming June Boating class. He noted that
the next major event will be the Mission Bay Beach and Boat Festival from
1000 to 1600 on Sunday, 22 May, to coincide with National Safe Boating
Week. There is a sign-up on our website for people to volunteer
for this event, at which we will also offer to perform vessel safety checks
(VSC's). P/C Ron Weiner, VSC chairman, reported that the squadron's
vessel examiners had already performed 19 VSC's this year, with 14
boats passing and being issued a shield. Lt/C Fota called
on Lt Dick Barck, Coop Charting chairman, who announced that there will
be a coop charting event before the District Council meeting.
SEO Mike Fontaine presented the Education report. The new Weather
course, to be taught by Bill Bridge, will begin on Monday, 13 June,
at Southwestern Yacht Club. Instructor Development, taught by Karen
Glaze, will begin on Tuesday, 28 June. Anyone contemplating achieving
the "SN" grade must take this course. The squadron's
second Boating course of the year will begin on Wednesday, 8 June, also
at SWYC.
ASEO Dan Carlin added that fliers for the Boating course were on the tables,
and he asked that everybody take several of these to post in neighborhood
businesses, marinas and other public places. The January Boating class
resulted in five new members, so publicizing this course is worthwhile.
AO Nancy Renzi reported that the July members' meeting will be
at the U.S. Coast Guard station in San Diego, with details to be announced
in The Ship's Mail. She indicated that several people in P/R/C Ed
Mraz's recently completed Boat Smart class had expressed interest in becoming
members, and Ken and Karen Glaze are following up on this.
Secretary Barbara Goddard reported that P/D/C Chet White, the squadron
historian, had submitted a report to National regarding the squadron's 2004-2005
year. She then called on IT Chairman, Tom Fota, who reminded people that
numerous software packages are available to USPS members at substantial
discounts. Any member wanting anti-virus software or anti-spy ware
programs should contact him at exo@sdsps.org, or check out the National
website.
Treasurer Trish Carlin summarized the squadron's financial position
as of the end of April 2005, noting that we are in good shape for
the moment. Trish indicated that USPS headquarters had directly
deposited into our account some revenues received from renewing
members, as well as a small premium on a member's credit
card purchases. Trish called on Lt Kathleen Romero, the Ship's Store
officer, who reported that a supply of squadron T-shirts and some sweatshirts
were available, along with some old-style stickers, selling for $1.00.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Commander Law reminded the group that, under the new USPS policy, we can
now accept as members anyone who has passed the on-line ABC course
or USCG Auxiliary course. She urged everyone to recruit their boating
friends into the squadron. She also noted that we have made
contact with a Sea Scout troop, whose members would like to get some on-the-water
experience; she asked anyone who could take out these young people to contact
her.
The Commander then introduced Robin Willner, of the San Diego
Maritime Museum. Ms. Willner described some of the events which
will occur during the museum's "Festival of Sail," to be
held August 17th through 21st and indicated that volunteers will
be needed to help with up to 400,000 people expected to visit the tall
ships to be in the Bay during that period. Commander Law
noted that the Executive Committee has made the Festival of Sail an
official squadron activity, and encouraged people to sign up on the volunteer
sheets available for that purpose.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commander Law expressed her appreciation to P/D/C Bill Bridge, and
P/Cs Bob Hubbard and Ron Weiner, the Ad Hoc committee making arrangements
for the 2005 D/28 Fall Conference, which is being hosted by the San Diego
squadron. The committee made a brief report, noting that the conference
will be held on the weekend of October 7th-8th, in the new Holiday
Inn on Sports Arena Boulevard. There will be a hospitality room on
Friday night and members will be asked to contribute food for this event,
where conference attendees from other squadrons in the district will be
gathering. The expenses of hosting the conference will be partially
offset by a raffle, to be held at Saturday evening's dinner and anyone
who has items to donate will be asked to contribute them.
The meeting was adjourned at 2022. The next General Members' Meeting
will be held at the Coast Guard Station on North Harbor Drive on Sunday, 10
July 2005.
Following a short break, Bill Bridge introduced Ivory Small, Science
Operations Officer and meteorologist at the local office of the National
Weather Service, who explained to members the circumstances which
caused the exceptional rainfall in Southern California during the winter
and early spring months.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara A. Goddard, P
Secretary
Members in attendance:
Commander Katharine S. Law, SN
Lt/C Mike Fontaine, AP
Lt/C Barbara A. Goddard, P
Claudia Bowler, AP
Lt Ted Bowler, AP
P/D/C Tom Swift, AP
Lt/C Nancy Renzi, P
P/C Bob Hubbard, AP
Lt Dick Barck, P
Lt/C Trish Carlin, S
1st Lt Dan Carlin, AP
Tom Stanford, N
D/Lt/C Ron Weiner, P
P/Lt/C Virginia Prutow, AP
Richard Prutow, SN
P/C Shaun McArdle, AP
P/D/C William Bridge, SN
Paula Stanford, AP
P/Lt/C Gordo Parham,
P/C Nadine Christensen, P
Lt/C Tom Fota, P
Lt Kathy Romero John Bertran, S
John Anderson, S
Guests:
Polly Swift
Diann Christensen
Dan Nephew
Robin Willner
Ivory Small
Ed and Lily Burgess