It seems just a little while
ago that we
started on the Boating course and now it is done! Congratulations to
all the graduates and a special welcome to 10 new members. Even though
our instructors and students had to deal with stormy weather, power
outages and just plain nasty weather, everybody came through and our
graduation party was held mid February. We still have other courses
going at this time, such as Maritime Radio, Global and Fundamentals of
Weather and Marine Maintenance. In addition there is Navigating with
GPS and other electronic navigational courses.
COMMANDER'S
REMARKS
|
It seems just a little while ago that we
started on the Boating course and now it is done! Congratulations to
all the graduates and a special welcome to 10 new members. Even though
our instructors and students had to deal with stormy weather, power
outages and just plain nasty weather, everybody came through and our
graduation party was held mid February. We still have other courses
going at this time, such as Maritime Radio, Global and Fundamentals of
Weather and Marine Maintenance. In addition there is Navigating with
GPS and other electronic navigational courses. |
One of the problems the Power and
Sail Squadrons face is to find volunteers to serve as instructors or
proctors, as well as to fill positions on the Bridge. We are not alone.
Many organizations that depend on volunteers have this difficulty, with
the result that the same people seem to be doing the same jobs forever. Some of us are getting a little long in
the tooth and whenever we ask people to continue to volunteer and do
the job they have already been doing for a long time, we get the
comment: “we really should get some younger blood in here and some
fresh thinking”. I fully
agree with this, however, this is easier said than done. We are all
very busy with our daily activities and spare time is difficult to
find. My message to our
members and new members is, if you can, get involved. Even though there
is no monetary reward, there is an enormous amount of satisfaction when
you do get involved and know that your efforts are much appreciated.
Nick Samsom, Commander
DISTRICT
COMMANDER'S NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS
January
14, 2007
To All CPS
Members of Vancouver Is South District:
I would like to
bring to your attention the importance of volunteering your time and
talents for your Squadron and it’s importance to the other
administrative levels of CPS, District and
National.
Volunteering is
the very basis for carrying out the mandate of CPS. Without your
assistance in the classroom, the public would not be able to receive
the best training offered for
Boating Safety Education for the price that we offer. Without your
assistance on the Squadron Bridge or in any other
squadron capacity, the squadron will not carry on with the
administrative roles required by CPS. These roles prepare individuals
for advancement to
other positions on the Squadron Bridge, and upwards to District and
National levels.
From my own
experience there is a great deal of satisfaction in learning from our
many courses, and the many positions offered on Squadron Bridges. A
learning curve with a challenge
is good for everyone. It broadens your horizons, and makes you test
your abilities to the point that you bring out the
best in yourself when you try to do something new.
At the moment
squadrons in our district are not having problems with holding training
classes for Boating Courses. We are able to get
students. But we are having problems with membership
retention. New members from the Boating classes are not staying with us
for more than one or two years.
Members of long standing are leaving, some because they have
volunteered so much they are burned out. This whole
situation leaves us with leadership and administration problems at the
squadron level, and all levels upwards in CPS.
My message today
is to the membership to please find the time and interest to support
your squadron in any capacity that you can. Several of our squadrons
can’t find the leadership
required to even have a Commander, and may be required to function with
the help of another squadron. This may or may not
require a squadron to give up their Warrant, depending upon the action
taken. National has a new program to help squadrons
in difficulty. It is called “Squadrons at Risk”. It offers a flexible
method of keeping squadrons alive and functioning until they can again
stand on their
own.
There are other
ways to support your Squadron and this District. We lack support for
our social or formal functions that we hold. Speaking for Districts
difficulty
in this area, we hold only two functions that need your support. We
have the Annual AGM in May each year. We need you to attend in order to
make it viable financially and
rewarding for our time in organizing it. We do our very best to
keep the costs to an acceptable
level for your participation. This year the AGM is being held on
May 4-5, 2007 at the Saanich Fairgrounds. Our Meet & Greet
on Friday evening is only $10.00 per person. Without proper support we
may have to cancel this event, so please get a group
together and help us out. The AGM luncheon on Saturday May 5th is
$20.00 per person, and we would welcome your support
there as well.
The other social
function we hold is the VISD Rendezvous, which is held yearly in August
at Otter Bay Marina, on Pender Is. This is truly a
social worth attending, and for $15.00 per person with special prices
for children, it’s a great deal. You don’t even have to have a
boat. You can come Saturday
morning by BC ferry, and, after having a wonderful day of games,
socializing and a steak BBQ, leave on the 08:30 p.m.
ferry for home. This event is advertised in your squadron newsletter
and in the Roster.
I would like to
extend my personal “THANKS” to everyone who supported their Squadron
and our District. You are truly appreciated and valued. To others in
the wings, come out and
join us. We need you!
Best regards
D/C Shirley
Hamilton, SN
VISD
UPCOMING EVENTS
1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WHEN: Friday, April 27, 19:30
WHERE:
Library Meeting Room
2. VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
See
below for details
3.
CHANGE OF WATCH
WHEN: May 25
WHERE: To be announced
CORRECTIONS/UPDATES TO THE VANCOUVER ISLAND SOUTH DISTRICT ROSTER
Have
you changed your e-mail address, acquired a new boat, moved or done
anything else that might affect your entry in the Roster? If so, please
contact our Treasurer, Dick Steil.
VISD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To: The Members of Vancouver Island South District,
Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TAKE NOTICE that the Annual General Meeting of
Vancouver Island South District will be held in the Main building on
the Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road, Saanichton, B.C. on
Saturday,
May 5, 2007, 13:30 to 16:30 for the purposes of:
receiving and, if thought fit, approving the Reports
of the Officers of the District;
receiving and, if thought fit, approving the
Financial Statements of the District for the twelve-month period ending
March 31, 2006, and the Report of the District
Auditor thereon;
considering and, if thought fit, adopting any
Resolution(s) that may be submitted within the required time-frame.
Electing the Officers of the District;
Electing the Officers of the
District;
Appointing the District
Auditor;
Considering such further and other business as may
properly come before the Meeting.
The Report of the District Nominating Committee is
attached to, and forms part of, this Notice. Under District Regulation
12.1, any further nominations must be made by way of a petition, in
writing,
signed by not less than 5 members of this Squadron who shall
confirm the
consent of their nominee to stand for election. The petition must be
filed with the District Secretary not less than 2 days
prior to the date of this Meeting.
Dated this 23rd day of January, 2007
(Original signed by D/Secretary,
Pat Moar)
…………………………………………………..
District Secretary
N.B.: Saturday May 5, 2007 09:00 to 11:30 will be
taken up with meetings of the Training Dept. and Squadron Commanders.
Please register prior to April
30, 2007 if you wish to attend the Luncheon. The Registration forms and
Agenda are available on the District
Web Site (2.)
or contact a District Bridge member. The Agenda is also below, for your
convenience.
Saturday morning meetings and AGM in the afternoon
are open to all CPS members at no cost, and registration is not
required. However, if you wish to attend the Friday night Meet
and Greet or the Saturday lunch, that requires payment and
pre-registration.
Social Events requiring pre-payment and Registration are:
Friday night Meet
and Greet: $10.00
per person. See below for more details about this
event!
May 4, 2007
1900
Saanich Fairgrounds Main Dining Room, ground floor
Dress code: CPS casual
Meet and mingle with our invited guests from
National, PMD VIND and USPS.
Buffet of light finger foods.
Cash Bar - wine
AGM Lunch
Saturday: $20.00
per person
May 5, 2007
1200 -1330
Saanich Fairgrounds Main Dinning Room, ground floor
Hot & Cold Buffet:
Cordon Bleu & Vegetarian Lasagna
3 salads; deserts with coffee & tea
Annual General Meeting and Conference
Saturday May 5, 2007
0900-1700
The Main Bldg at
Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road,
Saanichton, B.C.
Schedule of Events
0900-1130 Registration Desk –
Upper floor with a move to the
1130-1200 Dinning Room after the
morning meetings.
0900-1000 Social with coffee and
refreshments – Upper floor, Poplar Room
1000-1130 Training Meeting -
Upper floor, Poplar Room
Commanders Meetings – Upper floor, Oak Room
1130-1200 Awards – Dinning Room,
main floor
1200-1330 Cash Bar
1215-1330 Luncheon
1330-1630 VISD AGM & COW
DISTRICT
AGM MEET AND GREET
You don’t want to miss this
great lineup for your enlightenment and entertainment at the May 4th evening Meet and Greet at 1900
hours.
With a background of model ships and their builders from the Victoria Model Ship Building Society
led by the President Dave Denton we present
the speaker of the evening in the person of Peter Vivian, Coast Pilot on the shores of
British Columbia for 20 years.
B.C. Coast pilots are experienced mariners responsible by law for
piloting foreign vessels of over 350 gross registered tons along 15,000
miles of B.C. Coastline, from the southern Canadian border to Alaska.
In Peter’s second year of college he managed to get a job with Imperial
Oil and stayed working on their tankers to earn hours for his Mate’s
papers, his Master’s ticket and eventually write his Pilot’s exams.
Peter’s topic is “A sober look at the
rules of the road and a pilot’s perspective in the interaction between
pleasure boats and large ships.”
An important topic laced with personal
experiences and not to be missed!
CPS-EPC
BRAND NAME CONTEST
Welcome
to the CPS-ECP Brand Name
Contest. As part of our organization’s five year plan, the
Special Project Committee is asking for all members to participate in
redefining our
brand name. This contest
will commence January 31st and will conclude with a vote by
all delegates at the 2007 conference in Ottawa to
select our new brand name.
Four Objectives:
1. Brand
Name:
Develop a singular CPS-ECP Brand Name
2. Brand
Logo:
Develop a
singular CPS-ECP Brand Logo.
3. Tag Line:
Develop a
singular CPS-ECP “Tag Line” with a French and English version
4.
Graphics Standards:
Develop graphic standards for future use of the
brand name, brand logo, tag lines, official names and official crest
Definitions:
Legal Name:
CPS-ECP has two “legal names” being
“Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons” and “les escadrilles canadiennes de
plaisance”
In the future,
the use of these names will be limited to legal documents only (where
required).
Brand Name:
The name to
used by staff and volunteers of CPS-ECP when referencing our
organization as part of “day to day” activity
The name we
want the public, our members, government and the marine industry to
think of us by.
Tag
Line:
The text found below our Brand Name or Brand Logo
which describes “who we are and what we do”.
The same tag line is used with French and English
variations.
Example “Volunteers
Teaching Safe Boating”
Official
Crest:
CPS-ECP’s
“official crest”, limited to being displayed on our blazer uniform,
awards and historical artefacts.
Brand
Logo:
The singular
visual representation of our organization to be used by staff and
volunteers of CPS-ECP as part of “day to day” activity
The visual
image we want the public, our members, government and the marine
industry to recognize us by.
The logo is
made up of two components:
Our pennant as portrayed by a
“flat flag”
Our brand name
Background:
We have a
rich history as
Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons. Equally, we are known as
Escadrilles canadiennes de plaisance, Canadian Power Squadrons, CPS,
ECP and CPS-ECP. To
add to the confusion, we have multiple logos and tag lines.
To
solidify our future public
image, the organization wishes to project a singular brand name and
logo that represents all of Canada.
Contest
Details:
1. Who
is eligible to enter?
Anyone (member
or non-member) may enter the contest.
2.
What must I do?
Develop a new
brand name to be used by CPS-ECP at the Squadron, District and National
levels.
3.
How will the new brand name be used?
The new brand
name will be the singular name used by the organization.
The use of the
names “Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons” and “les escadrilles
canadiennes de plaisance” will be limited to legal documents when
required.
The names
Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons, les escadrilles canadiennes de
plaisance, CPS, ECP and CPS-ECP will cease being used in “day
to day” activities.
The new brand
name will be a component of the new official brand logo along with the
“flat flag”.
4.
How will the judging occur?
The judging
panel will be comprised of 6 people representing our membership, the
boating industry and the general public.
Entries
submitted by April 30th will be reviewed with 2-3 finalists selected.
The finalists
will be presented at the June Governing Board meeting and announced to
Squadrons and Districts immediately afterwards.
Squadrons and
Districts will consult their members, make their choice as to a new
brand name and instruct their delegate to the National AGM.
Delegates at
the National AGM in October will participate in a formal vote October
27th during the AGM to select our new brand name.
5. What criteria
will be used by the judges?
The judging will be on the
following basis:
Must:
The new brand name
must represent all Canadians inclusive of all regions and both official
languages
Should:
As the new brand name will be imbedded into
the new logo, a shorter name will have a better chance of being
successful
The new brand name should link to the history of CPS-ECP.
The new brand name should suggest
“boating” in some manner
6.
What are the deadlines for the contest?
January 31st: SPC to start accepting contest entries
April 30th: Last date
for Special Project Committee to receive entries
June 9th: 2 to 3 “finalist” brand names will be
presented to OpCom and Governing Board
June 11th: “finalist” brand names announced to the
Membership, Squadrons and Districts
October 15th: Squadrons and districts make their
selection from the finalists and instruct their delegates to the
National AGM.
October 27th: Delegates at the AGM vote for the new
brand name.
January 11th, 2008: CPS-ECP launches dnew brand name
7.
How do I submit my contest entry?
You may submit
your entry by e-mail or general mail as follows:
Canadian Power & Sail Squad
26 Golden Gate Court
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada, M1P 3A5
Attn: Branding Contest
brandingcontest@cps-ecp.ca
*Note: We will acknowledge
receipt of all entries. If you do not hear back from us after
submitting your entry, please contact Headquarters
to confirm.
8. How do I get further information
regarding the Brand Name Contest?
The Special Projects Committee will manage a
question-answer discussion area of CPS-ECP Forums under the subject:
CPS-ECP Forums » General
Discussion » Launch of CPS-ECP Branding Project
As well, articles will be placed
in our magazine and information supplied to our Members, Squadrons and
Districts via direct mail.
Any questions issued to the
Special Projects Committee will be answered on the Forum.
Now is your chance to be an
integral part of our future by participating in the Brand Name
Contest.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Special Project Committee Members:
Jean-Luc Lemieux, Levis, Québec
Gary Millman,
Kitchener, Ontario
Dan Payne, St.
Andrews, Manitoba
Shirley Shea,
White Rock, BC
Henry (Hank)
Smith, Gravenhurst, Ontario
Jeff Evans
Chair, Special Projects
Committee
ENVIRONMENT
A recent issue of Guy Dauncey’s Econews contained a
brief article on the “Batholiths Project”, an American-led proposal to
conduct underwater seismic testing this coming September off the Burke
and Dean
Channels between Bella Bella and Prince Rupert. This proposal has
raised concerns
amongst many in the scientific and environmental communities, partly
because this is precisely the time of year humpback
whales will be feeding in the area.
The seismic testing is ostensibly to study the earth’s crust in the
area. There are a few players who have a fascination with the
earth’s crust in this spot. There could be some big money to be
made if
potential oil and gas fields are discovered, so B.C. is eager to get
going on this,
satisfied the environmental concerns are negligible.
The plan is to tow an array of 36 high-pressure air
guns behind a research vessel and fire them every 20 – 60 seconds, 24
hours a day, for a period of three weeks. These guns will
generate sound at a level high enough to penetrate 50 km into the
earth, after traveling through the water.
So how loud are these continuous explosions? In the
immediate vicinity of the array they are reported to be in the 235 to
260 decibel range. Within 1000 to
3500 metres the noise may drop to 180 decibels. Humans experience pain
when noise reaches 190 db in the air. Water conducts sound far more
efficiently than air. Human hearing
is nowhere near as acutely fine-tuned and sensitive as that of marine
mammals.
A pro-seismic industry study released in June 2003
and prepared in part for the petroleum industry and the U.S. National
Science Foundation (Division of Ocean Sciences) quietly notes bowhead
whales in
the Beaufort Sea fled from these sound pulses when they were as far as
20 to 30 km away.
The same study refers to “TTS” or “Temporary Threshold Shift”. It took
me a while to find out this term
means “hearing impairment”, and has been demonstrated to occur in
toothed whales once sound levels reach 192 db. Above that sound level
we are dealing with “PTS” or “Permanent
Threshold Shift” which means irreversible damage to the animal’s sound
receptors, mental confusion, and finally, brain
hemorrhaging and death.
In the last year, reports the Living Oceans Society,
whale strandings and deaths have occurred off Baja California, the
Canary Islands and the San Juan
Islands shortly after seismic testing had been conducted. No conclusive
evidence could link the two events.
A complicating factor for these B.C. tests is they
are not planned for open ocean areas but in the narrow coastal channels
of the north coast. How do marine
mammals
escape? Up the channel or down?
If you feel like researching this issue more, a good
place to start is livingoceans.org.(3.)The
Canadian federal government ceased accepting submissions on this
issue at the end of 2006 but has not yet made a decision on allowing
the testing. You can make your views known to our M.P. and M.P.P.
Ah yes, a report prepared for the B.C. Seafood
Alliance in 2004 notes “regulations” require divers to get the heck out
of the water (I’m paraphrasing a bit) before seismic
testing begins. If it’s so benign, I wonder why.
Lt.
John Cowan, Environment Office
OUR ORCAS TRAVELLING
FURTHER SOUTH
On Tuesday, January 30, an article by Peter Fimrite appeared on page B-1 of the San
Francisco Chronicle. The article reveals the presence of members of the
K and L pods of orca whales off the coast of San Francisco. These pods
include whales that frequent our waters in the summer. Should the following link no longer be active, I have
kept a copy of the full text. See 5 dozen killer whales believed to be
hunting salmon off S.F. coast (4.) originally
published on Tuesday, January 30, 2007.
NEW WEATHER
STATION AT THE SCHOOL WITH LINKS TO THE INTERNET
Members who want to know
what the weather is doing on our island, might be interested to learn
that the Pender Island School now has a weather station, courtesy of
Professor
Andrew Weaver, a University of Victoria faculty member who specializes
in climatology. There is
also a website, UVic
School-Based Weather Station Network (5.) where Greater
Victoria schools, including Pender, are recording
information gleaned from the new equipment.
AND THE WINNER OF THE KAPTAIN
KRUNCH AWARD IS...
Bill
Morris, who had an unfortunate encounter with a rock in Thieves Bay. He
was familiar with this particular inconvenient obstruction, but it had
seemingly moved or been moved...!
PHOTO
GALLERY
The photos
on the BC Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia below were taken by
Diane and Mel
MacDonald, the photo of the Victoria Harbour Ferries cruise group and
all the Christmas party pictures are courtesy of Commander Nick Samsom.
|
|
|
John at the wheel of Spirit
of British Columbia during the
December 12 student cruise. To his left is Mel MacDonald, Michael Denton, BC Ferry Customer Services Officer,
and a crew member is on the right.
|
Gordon Humphreys, Dave Hargreaves, A. J. Matrick, Peter
Clark,
Mel MacDonald, and Chris Poellein chat with Michael Denton of
BC Ferry Customer Services.
|
A lifeboat being lowered.
|
 |
|
A. J. Matrick, Diane and Mel MacDonald, T O Elizabeth
Wilkes, Chris Poellein
Cdr Nick Samsom, John,
Nick's brother-in-law Barry and Gordon Humphreys
at the Harbour Ferries tour, December 3, 2006.
|
Totally visible in this photo are Erik Thingsted and Liz
Watts conversing by
the cupboard while Amanda Greisbach is seen in the right foreground.
All are at the 2006
Christmas party, in the Samsom's kitchen.
|
|
|
Elizabeth Wilkes, Helen Lemon-Moore and Julie Lywood are
illustrating the dangers that Bill Morris
encountered. In the background are Joan Rue in the red sweater beside
Jeremy
Harwood.
Barely visible in the background are Marti Tilley and Tina
Samsom.
|
Marti Tilley as the mobile rock in Thieves Bay, with
Elizabeth
Wilkes
and Julie Lywood. The skit took place at the Christmas
party.
|
|
Tony Merry
distributing gifts at the Christmas party.
|
RECENT
BACK
ISSUES
OF THE
ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
September 2006
July 2006
April 2006
January 2006
FOOTNOTES
1.
http://www.cps-ecp.ca
2.
http://www.visd.org
3. http://www.livingoceans.org
4.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/30/BAGGTNR5FK1.DTL&hw=orcas&sn=001&sc=1000
5. http://victoriaweather.ca/?zone=all&kind=temperature
Pender Island
Power
and Sail Squadron Personal 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
