The River Skipper A publication of the St. Paul Sail and Power Squadron a unit of District 10 United States Power Squadrons ® America’s Boating Club ® Volume 47, Issue 11 November 2010

Holiday Gathering Time to meet old friends and reminisce about the latest boating season. Our annual Christmas Holiday Party will be at the:

Cherokee Steak House in West St Paul (886 Smith Av S) 5 December 2010 We will be having a fantastic menu, as usual, from this restaurant. Social and meeting 1:00PM-2:00PM (1300-1400) Meal 2:00PM-3:00PM (1400-1500)

Meal Choices: Cost: $20.00 includes * 6oz Steak tax and gratuity * Stuffed Chicken Breast (served over rice, no potato) * Small Broiled Orange Roughy Includes a Cherokee House salad with homemade dressing, baked potato with sour cream, fresh rolls, butter, choice of beverage (coffee, tea, iced tea, soft drink or milk) and dessert.

In This Issue Contact P/C Bob Schmit at 952-435-3362 with questions. Calendar 2 Register online indicating meal selection at our website Squadron Leadership 2 (stpaulsquadron.org) under Events or send meal selection Commander’s Message 3 and a check payable to SPSPS to : Executive Officer’s Message 3 D Educational Officer 4 eadl ine: Bob Schmit 28 N 4 ovem 10651 175 St. W. ber 5 Out and About Pix Lakeville, MN 55044 Member News 6 Rowing Girls 6 Please remember to bring in a non-perishable food item to BVI Cruise 7 donate to food shelves at this critical time of the year. Schneider Carpet One Ad 8 Thank you.

www.stpaulsquadron.org ® 2010 Leadership

Commander Cdr Nancy Anderson, AP 651-433-3247 [email protected] Calendar of Upcoming Events Executive Officer Lt/C Dale Perry, AP 651-437-8867 2010 [email protected]

Administrative Officer October 25 District 10 Fall Conference Registrations Due Lt/C Eric Fotsch October 30 Final Fling BINGO/Membership Meeting @ Sunnyside Marina, Stillwater 651-690-1462 [email protected] November 5-7 D-10 Fall Conference, Green Bay, WI Educational Officer November 8 1900 (7PM) Bridge Meeting @ Davanni’s, I-94/White Bear Ave. Lt/C David West, AP 651-429-3840 December 5 1300-1600 Holiday Party @ Cherokee Steak House, W St Paul [email protected] December 13 1900 (7PM) Bridge Meeting @ Davanni’s, I-94/White Bear Ave. Asst. Educational Officer 1st/Lt Pat Sheehan, AP 612-706-0972 2011 [email protected]

Secretary January 7 1800 Bent Prop and Annual Meeting @ Officer’s Club, Ft. Snelling Lt/C Dale Anderson, AP January 10 1900 (7PM) Bridge Meeting @ Davanni’s, I-94/White Bear Ave. 651-433-3247 [email protected] February 2-5 USPS Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL Treasurer Lt/C Greg Holmen, AP 651-739-4502 [email protected] Members-at-Large Lt Jerry Brings, SN Thanks to the following contribu- Lt Mark Hafner, AP tors to this issue: Nancy Ander- Lt Nicole Mercil son, Dale Perry, Dave West, Art Past Commander Mollica, Kathleen Stenerson, Joni P/C Bob Schmit, AP Hasper, Bob Schmit, and Jenny 952-435-3362 Mollica who mails your River Skipper to you. Nominating Chair Lt Mark Fotsch, AP 651-402-9852 Rules Chair Lt Steven Seivert 763-416-4471 Flooding at the Squadron beach on the St. Croix this fall after heavy September rains. Notice the beach fence and the port-a- Audit Chair potty under water. Photo courtesy of Nancy Anderson Lt Jane Bakken, S 952-423-5315 Budget/Finance Chair www. stpaulsquadron .org Lt Don Anderson, P 763-588-8578 The Executive Committee meets monthly (Bridge Meeting) at 7:00PM at Davanni’s Restaurant, I-94 & White Bear Avenue on a date noted above. All members are welcome, invited, and are encouraged to attend.

USPS® and United States Power Squadrons® are registered trademarks of the United States Power Squadrons, Inc., Boat Smart® is a trademark of United States Power Squadrons, Inc. for their public boating safety course. Contents and graphics are the property of the USPS and should not be reproduced without permission by groups other than squadrons and districts of the United States Power Squadrons, Inc.

The River Skipper is published monthly for the members of St Paul Sail and Power Squadron Inc. Opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the policy of, nor imply agreement with the Editor, St Paul River Skipper Editor Sail and Power Squadron, Inc., District 10 or USPS. The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or revise sub- Lt Karen Schmit, S mitted articles. Deadline for submission of articles is two days after the bridge meeting preceding month of publi- 952-435-3362 [email protected] cation.

2 THE RIVER SKIPPER— November 2010

From the Cdr Nancy Anderson, AP Commander’s Desk

You may be thinking that the boating season and activities have come to a close. However, there are $3,000 full sail some great opportunities on the horizon: the Final th Camp Thanks to all who Fling Fundraiser October 30 ; the District Fall have contributed to St Croix date. Conference Nov. 5-7 in Green Bay; the Holiday Party/Membership Meet- Full Sail ing hosted by Past Commander Bob Schmit , AP on December 5 th ; and the Scholarship Bent Prop/Annual Membership meeting arranged by our 2010 Bent Prop Fund Winner, Joni Hasper . And you can keep in touch with your boating friends as Oct. 15, 2010 well as improve your boating skills by taking a class or seminar. Check our 0 00 1, $ Squadron website or the River Skipper for further information. I’ll look for- ward to seeing you at our future activities and/or classes.

Don’t forget your donation to the Y Camp Scholarship Fund. Help us to reach YMCA Camp St Croix our goal by sending a check to Greg Holmen, Treasurer, 1031 Sunrise Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125 made out to the YMCA Camp St. Croix.

Executive Officer Lt/C Dale Perry, AP

Last month’s by Dave and Pat will lead to re-launch teachers to our base of experienced River Skip- of ABC classes next March. instructors. per reported on the progress and contributions our Instructor Certification Calling All Members squadron members are making via StF/C Art Mollica , SN will bring ex- So this is a call to all members – new the vessel safety check (VSC) pro- perienced instructors up to speed and abiding – to aid our educational gram. The outlook for sustaining our through instructor recertification ses- effort. If you are a certified instruc- good work in VSCs is enhanced by the tor in need of recertification, sign up flow of new members (with new ideas with Art Mollica. I ask our members and energy) onto the base of experi- who want to become certified in- America enced examiners. Now is the time for ’s structors to join me in signing up for Boating focused effort to replicate VSC pro- Course the Instructor Development course. gress in the area of safety education Follow this link to register http:// for the boating community. www.stpaulsquadron.org/wrappers/ pages.php?ID=15&classid=13 , pay Community Ed Classes the $24 fee, and then qualify to pro- Education Officer Dave West , AP and mote boating safety as an SPSPS Assistant Education Officer Pat Shee- instructor. han , AP are currently solidifying plans with the community education depart- sions like the one he will lead at the ments of local public school districts District 10 Fall Conference this month to accelerate our safety training of the in Green Bay. In order to build on the boating public through America’s foundation that Dave, Pat and Art are Boating Course (ABC) classes. Work strengthening, we need to add new

THE RIVER SKIPPER— November 2010 3

Educational Officer Lt/C David West, AP

Educational Opportunities

ABC net. As this course is approved by the public Your squadron is in the process of all 50 states as well as the U.S. classes and setting up at least two America’s Coast Guard, it requires a proctored seminars by taking Instructor Develop- Boating Course classes to be taught test to certify success. ment. For those of you who have com- early next year. We are working pleted ID, your certification expires every with Community Education programs We Need You 4 years. A recertification session is re- in the metropolitan area and interest And now the recruiting message: quired and there will be one at the Dis- is high. This course is the mainstay Instructors for America’s Boating trict 10 Fall Conference in Green Bay pre- of our Public Education Mission and a Course must be certified. To get sented by StF/C Art Mollica, SN. prime recruiting tool for the Squad- certified most of us must take the ron. I urge every member to look at Instructor Development course. AP this course and talk it up with fami- Now is the time for that to happen if Advanced Piloting started 14 October lies and boating friends. A unique we are to successfully teach the pub- 2010. We have course materials avail- feature of this lic next year. able immediately if you want to join. course is that it The class is small and meeting at the can be taken in Knowledge to me is information that Mollica’s house. a classroom I continually refresh by using. A lot setting, self- of us took classes in the past and Please look at the course offerings on studied with gained knowledge that we might our Squadron website and add your course materi- infrequently use but still consider name to the class you would like to take. als, or studied important. What better way to re- This is the only way we can tell where interactively fresh than to teach. Join me now in your interest and needs lie and can ef- over the inter- becoming a certified instructor for fectively plan which classes and seminars to schedule.

WEATHER DAMPENS CAMPOREE ACTIVITIES

On the weekend of 24-26 Sep, St Paul member George tion using charts, and use of a sextant. Our time expired Battis ( Commodore, Central Region Area 1 and before we got to onboard cooking. skipper of Sea Scout Ship 67) had coordinated other squadron members in an effort to educate Boy Scouts at- Plans are now underway to make this an annual civic ser- tending the 2010 Northern Star Council Camporee at Fred vice event. C. Anderson Scout Camp in Somerset on safe boating.

In addition to the scouts working on the canoeing merit badge, several members had volunteered to offer boat rides to the scouts. Ron Riemann with Ernie Riemann and Bob Schmit as crew, Eric Fotsch, and Bob and Kathy Mercil with Louis Flammond and Nicole Mercil as crew were scheduled to take groups of scouts on boat rides to intro- duce them to the joys of boating. Unfortunately, this weekend also started off with severe storms that resulted in these activities being cancelled due to the high water and numerous deadheads.

George and instructor Art Mollica were able to conduct training sessions to a standing room only audience that included an introduction to ham radio operation, naviga-

4 THE RIVER SKIPPER — November 2010 Out and About

Left: At the October Executive Board meeting, Art Mollica was presented with an honorary coin from the Sea Scouts for his par- ticipation in the Scout Camporee (see article on previous page.) Pictured from left to right are Art Mollica, member Sea Scout Commodore George Battis, and Sea Scout Ship 67 Boatswain George Battis who was accepted into membership at the board meeting. Congratulations to all!

Right: (Left to right) Dale and Nancy Anderson, and Karen and Ed Manor enjoyed beautiful, warm October weather at the Cruise to Redwing for the Fall Festival of the Arts.

photos courtesy of Nancy Anderson

It will soon be that time of the year to nominate the fellow WEATHER DAMPENS SCOUT CAMPOREE ACTIVITIES squadron member you think has done his/her best to earn the coveted

BENT PROP AWARD

Past winners have gotten lost with their boats, run aground, run out of gas, run hot, lost a prop, etc. Hyperbole is encouraged and ex- pected! If you have an idea for a Several squadron members who are currently without boat had the nomination or questions, contact opportunity to enjoy themselves on a St. Croix River cruise aboard Joni Hasper, current Bent Prop the Nancy J. Pictured (left to right) are Jerry and Audrey Brings, Jenny Mollica and Clara Sorenson. Award holder, at 612-819-2258 or e-mail at [email protected] Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw Join us for a fun evening! off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

THE RIVER SKIPPER — November 2010 5 MEMBER NEWS Last summer, we did very well racing, winning every race HAPPY BIRTHDAY we entered. However, we don't have many races in the November Twin Cities area, so it's hard for us to know how good we really were. When we heard the World Master's Rowing

Competition would be held in St. Catharines, Ontario (within driving distance), we decided to compete there 10th John Gagich and see how we did. We didn't have to qualify - just en- If you are having a birthday during the 17th Nancy Gagich tered. We've been training since April in the quad, as month and are not well as doubles and singles. 19th Geir Seger listed or listed incor- rectly, that is because We raced our quad race last Thursday, Sept 2 and fin- we don’t have it re- 26th Ginny Wirtz corded correctly. ished first in our wave of 7 boats. We raced in the C- Please let the squad- 29th Ron Riemann category (average age of boat between 43-49), and later ron secretary know. found that we had the top time among all women's C- category boats - 42 boats in total. In addition, we later found that we had the fastest time among ALL women's quads, including those younger than us. So we feel Welcome we've earned the right to call ourselves World Champi- ons! NEW MEMBER: In addition, Kris and Denise won their Doubles race, and Sea Scout Ship 67 Boatswain came in second overall for all C-category women's dou- George Battis bles. And Kris raced in a pair with the Boat 758 Bachelor Avenue Club and they won their race by a long shot. Mendota Heights, MN 55118 651-452-5316 Kris is a Physical Therapist, Denise

Please update your membership roster! works for 3M Com- pany, Shirley volun- teers as a Museum Tour Guide at a Twin Cities art museum Rowing Girls and I work for St. Jude Medical, a medi- Editor’s note: The following article was submitted by SPSPS member, Kathleen Stenersen, who had an exciting cal device com- rowing adventure this summer. Read on to find out pany. I rowed for a more… year in college, and then helped start the We are all members of the St. Croix Rowing Club in Hudson, St. Croix Rowing Club WI, which is on the border between Minnesota and Wiscon- in 2000. Kris, Denise sin. The club has been around since 2001 with boats, so and Shirley joined (Left to right) are Kris Miller, Kathleen, we're pretty small. Our club owns one four person boat (a along the way, never Denise Bakken, and Shirley Drow, the quad = 4x), two 2-person boats (a double = 2x) and four having rowed be- rowing girls. Photo appeared in the Hudson Star-Observer. one person boats (singles = 1x). fore. I am currently President of the Club, Shirley is Treasurer, Denise is a The four of us (Kris Miller, Denise Bakken, Shirley Drow Board member and Kris is the Commodore - the person and I) have been rowing together in the quad for the past 3 who manages club equipment. summers. This is not typical, to have the same 4 people rowing together as much as we have. In addition, our small When not rowing, working, raising children, etc., club of 24 people does not have a coach, so we are all Kathleen sails a catamaran on Lake Pepin with husband, coaches to each other. Shirley is in Bow - she navigates and Eivind , and daughters, Claire and Hanna, all SPSPS basically tells us what to do. Denise and I are in the 'engine members. room' - just row hard and follow Stroke. Kris is our Stroke - she sets the pace at which we row.

6 THE RIVER SKIPPER — November 2010

MEMO TO: USPS Members FROM: USPS National Group

SUBJECT: BVI CRUISE 2011

You are invited to join us on our 2nd Annual Bluegrass in the BVI Cruise on March 12-19, 2011.

Itinerary —you fly into Tortola, BVI from there we will be heading to Marina Cay and a visit to Pussers. The next day involves swimming and hiking at the world famous Baths of Virgin Gorda. Then we are off to the Bitter End Yacht Club. Then a sail to Ana- gada to visit Loblolly Bay and for the best lobster around. We’ll spend a night in Little Harbor on Yost Van Dyke with the best rum punch ever. Of course we will visit Cane Garden Bay and see Jimmy’s Tire Swing. We may even take a side trip to the old- est operating distillery in the Caribbean (they have samples).

As part of USPS’s commitment to “Competence building Confidence,” each participant will have the opportunity to complete the USPS SAIL 101 module as well as American Sailing Associa- tion’s Basic Keelboat Certification as part of their adventure. These certifications will be com- pleted over the course of the trip through hands-on learning and guided instruction.

What will it cost? Currently estimated at $850/person for USPS members, $1,595 for non- members. A $250 deposit required is when you sign-up. Checks will not be deposited until a boat of 8 fills, at which time it is non-refundable.

What’s included? The boat with 8 persons on each (2 to a room), fuel, moorings and a group allowance for food on board which should cover breakfast and lunch.

What is not included? Getting there, side trips, dinners out, gifts, alcohol.

For additional information contact Mark Arnold at [email protected], 859- 268-1063 or Jeff Lagrew at [email protected], 859-321-3691.

Wouldn’t it be fun to fill a ‘SPSPS’ boat?

THE RIVER SKIPPER — November 2010 7 ST PAUL MEMBERS

ADVERTISING RATES Business Card Size $120/yr 1/4 Page $180/yr 1/2 Page $220/yr Members advertise boating items no charge .

See this issue in color at www.stpaulsquadron.org

2487 Oak Circle East Maplewood, MN 55119