Salt Spring Island Power & Sail Squadron

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THE SOUNDER
Spring 2008
Volume 24, Issue 1

From the Bridge

It has been a challenging year for the Salt Spring Island Power and Sail Squadron. With the mid-tenure resignation of two key Bridge members we were at the point of surrendering our warrant due to a lack of Bridge experience in keeping the Squadron operational.

However, with the help and perseverance of the remaining Bridge members, both Squadron members and non-members we were able to provide the community with a Boating Course this year. My personal thanks and gratitude goes out to Gordon Ford for coming out of retirement to help in the organization and teaching of the course. Also to be included in our thanks and appreciation are Harold Page, John Gauld, Nick Hodson, Jon Healey, Hugh Greenwood, Jim Eastman, Steve Philips and Chris Bywater for their contribution in making it a success.

Coming events will include:

• Annual General Meeting and Graduation Ceremony on Friday, April 25th at the Salt Spring Island Sailing Club. The evening will include our guest and District Commander, Bev Gerry who will officiate the graduation of our Boating Course students and election of new officers. Merit marks will be awarded and an informative presentation will round out the evening. Tickets are $20.00 for dinner and available for purchase at Volume Two Bookstore.

• A VHF course will be held in May. Please watch for announcements of date, time and venue.

Finally, I will not be standing for the position of Commander for a second term and it is my hope that a renewed surge of energy within the Squadron will bring forth an excellent Bridge to continue on.

We are always looking for volunteers to sit on the Bridge committee or assist with training. If you are interested in contributing, please contact myself or one of the Bridge members.

Thank you and here's to a safe boating season,

Commander Bob Reynolds

Training Department News

It has been both an active and eventful year in the training Department. Anthony Thorne organized a successful VHF course last January at which approximately 13 students received their Restricted Operators Certificate and or the DSC endorsement.

Soon after this course, Anthony and his wife purchased a tug and made plans for an extensive offshore cruise to fulfil their lifelong dream. This unfortunately, required Anthony to resign his position as Training Officer at our Squadron. Many thanks go out to Anthony for his committment to the squadron up to this point.

Despite the unfortunate loss of Anthony, it was descided to proceed with the Boating Course this Spring and after much planning and headscratching the course commenced with 18 students on January 23 and ended with the final exam on April 16. As it happened, it turned out to be one of the more successful courses run so far. All eighteen student were very diligent in their attendance and studies. There were zero dropouts and all students passed the exam. In fact we had 19 sit the exam with one student from another squadron joining us.

Needless to say, none of this could not have been achieved without the devoted help of many bridge and squadron members, coupled with several volunteer instructors, too many to name here  and to whom I am deeply indebted. My out of town work committments coupled with my lack of experience required all of these people to step up to the plate which they did enthusiastically.

Our plans for the near future include another VHF course, the dates for which will be announced in the near future. In conclusion, Thank you again to the organizers, instructors and the students for making this important aspect of the Sqadrons activities so successful this past year.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Howell, Assistant Training Officer.

This year's Boating Course! (photos by Linda Matteson-Reynolds)

Salt Spring Island Squadron
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & CHANGE OF WATCH

The 34th Annual General Meeting of the Salt Spring Island Power and Sail Squadron will be held on Friday, April 25th, 2008, at 1800 hours at the Salt Spring Island Sailing Club, Salt Spring Island, BC.

The purpose of this meeting is to:
1. Receive and approve Squadron officers' reports.
2. Receive and approve audited financial statements of the 12 month period ending March 31, 2008.
3. Elect officers for 2008-2009.
4. Appoint an auditor, historian and cruise master.
5. Consider any other business that may be properly brought before the meeting. The Nominating Committee nominates the following members for election to the Squadron Executive for 2008-2009.

The Nominating Committee advises that, if elected, the nominee for Commander intends to appoint the following members: Chief Proctor: Kathleen McCurdy

Further nomination in accordance with Article 12.1 of the Squadron's regulations will be accepted by the Secretary at PO Box 573, Ganges PO, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 2W2, if filed not less than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

The Nominating Committee also nominates for appointment by the members xxx xxx as Auditor and xxx xxx as Cruise Master of the Squadron.

Pursuant to Article 9.14.1 of the Squadron's regulations, the following members will serve as the Squadron Nominating Committee for 2008-2009 by virtue of their positions, and do not require election of appointment:
Bob Reynolds (Chair), Derek Castle (Member), xxx xxx

Dated at Ganges, April 1, 2008.
P/Cdr Lee Middleton (Chair)
Cdr Bob Reynolds (Member)
T/O Peter Howell (Member)
Salt Spring Island Power & Sail Squadron
Vancouver Island South District

Other issues of The Sounder:
Winter 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008
Spring 2008