PIPS June07

COMMANDER'S REMARKS

On Friday, May 25, 2007, the Pender Island Squadron held their annual Change of Watch meeting. A major change was the advancement to Past Commander for Nick Samsom. Thank you, Nick, for a fantastic job of leading the squadron for the past two years. You’ve been great! I’d also like to welcome to the Bridge, Gary Barber, who will be serving as an Assistant Training Officer. There have been a few shifts in position on the Bridge, as well. David Hargreaves is serving in a double capacity, as Executive Officer as well as Membership Officer. Bob Rose is our new Historian, and I have stepped in to the position of Commander. We are fortunate to have many Bridge members carry on in their jobs, so we will have good continuity. We’re looking forward to another great year of boating education.

Early this month, our able instructors and their assistants did an excellent job of teaching the Boat-Pro course to the grade eight students of Pender Island School (as well as one student from Mayne Island). The course was enjoyed by all, and all candidates passed the exam. More educated boaters on our waterways! Once again, we have been awarded the Boatwise Trophy by the Vancouver Island South District for our efforts at educating our young people in boating safety.

There are some great things ahead for us this summer. We are eagerly looking forward to the Mystery Cruise to be held on the 12th of July! If you’re interested, be sure to contact Rich Fox or Steve Fisher as soon as possible. August brings two other big events of the summer, the Vancouver Island South District Rendez-vous on August 10-12, at Otter Bay Marina, and then the Pender Island Fall Fair on August 25. Hopefully, many of you will be able to attend the Rendez-vous, and enjoy the fun with other members of the District. We’ll need people to help with the parade float as well as to work in the squadron booth at the Fair.

In closing, I’d like to copy our Past Commander by reminding you of our mission: We are a dedicated group of volunteers interested in increasing safety and pleasure on the waterways through education.

Nancy Coutts, Commander

PENDER WINS BOATWISE TROPHY YET AGAIN!

As Commander Nancy has mentioned above, we have won this VISD trophy several times. It was donated by James and Sylvia Horvath of Oak Bay Squadron in memory of all Canadian Power and Sail Squadron members who have passed into a time where The seas are calm, the sky is blue and the wind always light."

UPCOMING EVENT

    VISD Rendezvous

        WHEN: Friday, August 10 - Sunday, August 12

        WHERE: Otter Bay Marina

All the details are available in a PDF document which you can download from the VISD web site _(2.) just to the left of the flashing red arrow. If any new members don't know how to access the Members only part of the VISD web site, please don't hesitate to ask me. Pender Squadron was particularly well represented last year. Let's see if we can have even more members out this year for an enjoyable social time! There will be a reminder and more details in an e-mail message closer to the Rendezvous, but now is a good time to mark it on your calendars.

WEATHER BEATEN BURGEES

The white fabric used in our burgees is not as strong as the other colours used to create the Pender Island Power Squadron burgee. The person who manufactured the burgees will replace any that have worn out. If yours is hanging indoors on a wall, it should be fine, but the white parts of some that have been flapping in the breezes on boats are rapidly disintegrating. If your burgee has been affected by this malady, please contact either Commander Nancy Coutts or Past Commander Nick Samsom. They will replace it with a good one once the shipment of new versions arrives.

THIEVES BAY MARINA AND MAGIC LAKE ESTATES PROPERTY OWNERS SOCIETY WEB SITE

Richard Fox, one of our two Events Coordinators, has developed a web sitefor Thieves Bay Marina and MLPOS _(3.) Rich can post Pender Squadron course schedules and events for easy reference. Rich is also the author of the Pender Islands Handbook, which has a web site _(4.) that lists current events and updated information regarding Pender Island. It also links to the penderblog where members can post or comment on items of interest to the community including boating safety and the Squadron.

CPS YOUTH WEB SITE

The new CPS Youth web site _(5.) contains 2 PDF documents which can be downloaded. One portrays of all the 2006 winners of the renamed Water Safety Card Contest, a designation which better reflects it's purpose. Among those winning entries is Evan's, already featured in the January 2006 _(6.) newsletter.

PIPE BAND SILENT AUCTION

The Pipe Band will once again be holding a silent auction at the Burns Night dinner at the Legion early next year. Groups on the island will be asked to provide prizes that might appeal to islanders attending the dinner. The Bridge has already come up with some ideas, but we are open to suggestions from the membership. If there is a service you could provide or a boating related item you would be willing to offer for sale, please contact Tony Merry.

ENVIRONMENT - SOUTHERN GULF ISLANDS MARINE PUMP OUT INITIATIVE

Many folks move forward on a given initiative due to a special person in their lives. I too had a mentor and fellow boater who started me on a quest to clean up our marine waters. Well over a decade ago, a CPS Pender Island Squadron Past Commander, Peter Hemphill wrote an article called ‘Goodbye Cedar Bucket’ and I would like to share a portion of this article with you:

"Let’s consider the water in which we go boating, with particular attention to our warmer waters during the height of the cruising season in July and August. They are the waters where you may feel like a refreshing swim on a hot summer’s day without worrying about pollution. Think again… because unless you are enjoying total isolation in a pristine area, the chances are that you will be swimming in waters tainted by human waste. In our more popular enclosed anchorages you may not need to think again: your nose and eyes will convey the message…….."

So I guess you could say I am working for this much needed ‘service for boaters’ and for the general health of the marine environment because of Peter.

The pictures below show you a fraction of the marine wildlife that actually reside in the waters around the Penders and these critters and marine mammals are extremely susceptible to pollutants. Consider a day of fishing in our waters? Salmon, cod or other sports finfish absorb pollutants through the food chain as do oysters, clams and all other shellfish. The Southern pods of orca are the most toxic marine mammals in the world all due to pollution and the toxic substances we continually release into our marine waters.

As you are all aware, changes to the Canada Shipping Act with regards to the discharge of sewage from all marine vessels to include Pleasure Craft were Gazetted on June 17, 2006 . Actually, I believe that Peter would have applauded these changes. And there are pending changes prior to implementation. Gazette II should take place March / April, 2007.

Many boaters have expressed concern about the lack of pump out facilities, therefore making it difficult to comply. At the request of the Council of BC Yacht Clubs the proposed regulations were watered down. The proposed regulations may be found at the VISD web site _(2.) located on the Environmental Page. (Editor's note - See page 3 of the document titled Information About Georgia Strait Coastal Waters. Also available on the same VISD page is another article by Sara, The Positive Side which you can download. New members who do not know how to access the Member's Only page on the VISD web site can ask the editor.) Prior to the proposed changes, these complaints had not fallen on deaf ears. And many of us, for the sake of the marine wildlife (and the fish we eat) were dismayed at the less stringent proposed changes.

You are all also aware of the Pumpty Dumpty in Saanich Inlet operated by the Saanich Inlet Protection Society. We are now pleased to inform you that Mayne Island Conservancy, along with support from other Southern Gulf Islands Conservancies, is in the process of providing Pumpty Dumpty II for Mayne Island and surrounding areas. This is a huge feat to accomplish with limited funding. The estimated cost to launch this working craft is somewhere between $10-15,000. Then there will be the annual operating costs (annual insurance alone will be a minimum of $1200.) and volunteers to operate it during the summer cruising season. Mayne Island Boaters have signed on to support Pumpty Dumpty II by pledging substantial donations - but much more is needed. And you can well understand how many volunteer hours it will take to provide the service. Saanich Inlet Protection Society had to ‘hire’ operators last summer due to lack of volunteers. Thus increasing annual operating costs. When in operation, it has been decided that no fee will be charged but there will be a request for donations.

What I am asking for is your support – both financial (two fold: a) donating to building fund; b) annual operating cost donations, plus physical assistance - volunteers to operate. Al Maxwell of Mayne Island Conservancy Association has informed me that they hope to launch the craft in June, 2007 and provide the service from the last week of June to the first week of September annually.

And last, but far from least – when a pump out facility is available please use instead of taking the less costly or easy way out and discharging into the Strait of Georgia. Remember the main current flows south, through the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands to discharge through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Think of the marine wildlife and these critters we have on display and the seafood we eat, along with the children playing on the beach. And always remember that, though we may not see it, the effluent is there – ‘matter does not disappear – it may change form, but does not disappear’ – all those pollutants are in someone’s backyard; most likely ours, which includes our marine wildlife and beloved endangered southern pods of orca whales.

Thank you – we hope we have your full, pledged support. Donations from organizations and private donors are very much needed and welcomed. All cheques payable to the Pender Islands Conservancy Association (PICA), which will issue income tax receipts. Please mark all donations Marine Pump Out Initiative.

Thank you!


Giant barnacle	Grunt sculpin (Rhamphocottus richardsonii)	Giant red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus)	Moon snail

Sara J. Steil
PICA Marine Pump Out Initiative Representative
ph: 629-6885

SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS

At the Change of Watch on May 25, many members were presented with merit marks. They each received a certificate and for those with 5, 10, 15 etc. years of service, a plaque. Deserving special mention is Tony Merry who received his 40 year merit mark in recognition of 20 years service to the Pender Island Power and Sail Squadron in addition to a (previous 20) years serving on CPS National committees and squadrons on the mainland of British Columbia. Recognize a special member of the Pender Island Squadron. Here is what Past Commander Nick Samsom said at the Change of Watch.

Way back in 1978 when I took what was then the Basic Boating course at the Fraser Squadron, we had an Instructor teaching Fundamentals of Weather by the name of Tony Merry. After I finished the course, with outstanding marks obviously, I didn’t meet Tony again until I transferred to the Pender Island Squadron some time during the 1990’s. And lo and behold, Pender Island Squadron Instructor teaching Fundamentals and Global Weather was Tony Merry!

In the meantime, of course, Tony is P/C Fraser Squadron, P/C Pender Island Squadron. He has been much involved on the National level and also teaches the Radio courses. This year is the year that Tony will receive his 40th Merit Mark and that is a milestone in volunteer service to CPS that I think deserves special recognition. In addition to getting an extra long sleeve for all those gold marks, CPS will now have to pay him dues since he is twice a life member! Also, I think Tony is getting pretty close to being able to change the weather!

ATTENTION CABLELAN CUSTOMERS!

If you have made the switch to Shaw and have notified me of that, many thanks! If you have made the switch but haven't notified me yet, please take a minute to do it now. And if you haven't yet switched, please notify me when you do, so I can update my e-address book and notify our new Membership officer as well.

PHOTO GALLERY

The photographs of Tony and his cake and Gerry's plaque were taken by Richard Fox. Bob Rose took the others.

Commander Nick Samsom and Secretary Helen Lemon-Moore
at the Annual General Meeting, April 27.


Tony Merry cuts his 40 year cake, being held by new District Commander Bev Gerry. Looking on are Julie Lywood, George Nate, Gary Barber, Mary Nate, Elizabeth Wilkes and Tim Lywood.	Tony's delicious cake, soon to be devoured by already well-fed members at the Change of Watch potluck.	Helen Lemon-Moore holds a 15 year merit mark plaque earned by Gerry Moore, who unfortunately was unable to attend the Change of Watch.


Marti Tilley, Constable Jason Slon and students are on the dock listening to Auxiliary Constable Michel Pelletier.	Auxiliary Constable Michel Pelletier holding life jackets as part of his talk on the boat's safety equipment.	A young Boat-Pro student converses with an old pro, Tony Merry.


Marti Tilley, Ken Coutts are marking the Boat-Pro tests as TO Elizabeth Wilkes looks on.	Some of the kayaks are about to be launched on the final day of the Boat-Pro Course	This photo needs no caption except - WOW, what a beautiful calm day for the young kayakers!

RECENT BACK ISSUES OF THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

         March 2007
             September 2006
         July 2006
         April 2006



    FOOTNOTES
          1.   http://www.cps-ecp.ca
          2.   http://www.visd.org/
        3.   http://www.thievesbay.com/
          4.   http://www.penderhandbook.com/
          5.   http://cps4kids.cps-ecp.org/
          6.   http://www.cablelan.net/frose/PIPSnewsjan06.html

Pender Island Power Squadron Privacy and Information Policy _(7.)
Editor: Lt Fran Rose (S) Phone: 629-2060 E-Mail: ferose at shaw dot ca
URL: http://www.cablelan.net/frose/PIPS.html