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America’s Boating Club of West Michigan sm For Boaters, By Boaters Grand Rapids Sail and Power Squadron waterspout Vol. 65, Issue 4, December 2018 The official newsletter of the Grand Rapids Sail and Power Squadron 1620 Olson ST NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA www.grsps.org 1 Table of Contents News from the Commander………………………. 3 GRSPS 2018 COW Pictures…………………….... 4 Administrative News……………………………... 5 Educational News………………………………… 6 December Birthdays……………………………… 7 Calendar of Events & Meetings………………….. 8 Lansing Sail & Power Squadron COW…………... 9 Ship’s Store – 2019 District Conference…………. 10 The Legend of Northern MI Christmas Tree Ship.. 11 Member Spotlight – William Isenberg…………… 14 Way Back Photo………………………………….. 15 Boaters Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem… 16 Commander’s Club & Newsletter Deadline……… 19 Bridge Officers / Executive Committee Cdr Jack L Draper (Open) Lt/C Greg Heath Commander Executive Officer Administrative Officer Lt/C John Colley Lt/C Marcia A Thompson Lt/C Char Pearson Education Officer Secretary Treasurer 1st/Lt LeeAnna Geiger-Stehouwer 1st/Lt Eddie Kleinfeld Assistant Secretary Assistant Administrative Officer Cdr Jack L Draper P/C Curt Campbell Lt/C Greg Heath 1st/Lt/PC Donald Matthews Lt/C John Colley P/C David W Ristow Lt/C Marcia A Thompson 1st/Lt LeeAnna Geiger-Stehouwer Lt/C Char Pearson 1st/Lt Eddie Kleinfeld P/C David Brinks Open Lt/C Marcia A Thompson Editor Publisher & Webmaster [email protected] (616) 606-5299 [email protected] [email protected] The waterspout The waterspout is published nine (9) times a year, September through June, by Grand Rapids Sail and Power Squadron, 1620 Olson St, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. It is published for Squadron members by the staff of the Squadron Secretary. The articles, advertisements, and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect USPS or GRSPS policy unless so designated. Articles may be reprinted without permission if credit is given to the author, GRSPS and the waterspout. All members in good standing and approved non-member advertisers may submit articles and items for publication. They receive no gratuity. The editor reserves the right to revise, change, or reject any materials submitted to the waterspout, consistent with standards of accuracy, fairness, good taste, and available space, subject to the approval of the Squadron Commander. To Advertise In The Waterspout, Contact: [email protected] 2 View From The Bridge Jack L Draper, Sr. Squadron Commander Bridge News Happy Holliday Seasons, I would like to thank everyone who attended our annual Commanders Ball at Thousand Oaks Country Club this last month. Once again, we had a nice room, great food and a very nice atmosphere with music provided by our own Eddie Kleinfeld. District Commander Michael Babiarz attended this year’s event, sharing his ideas on change and its ongoing effects on our organization. I was very pleased to see we have full Bridge this year, with the only exception is the XO Officer position. Additionally, this year several assistant officers as well. This is really appreciated that these members have stepped up to help. This year’s Bridge Officers are: Administration Officer: Lieutenant Commander Greg Heath Assistant Administration Officer: 1st Lieutenant Eddie Kleinfeld Education Officer: Lieutenant Commander John Colley Secretary Officer: Lieutenant Commander Marcia Thompson Assistant Secretary Officer: 1st Lieutenant LeeAnna Geiger-Stehouwer Treasurer Officer: Lieutenant Commander Char Pearson Our 2019 Executive Committee Members are Past Commander: David Ristow Past Commander: David Brinks Past Commander: Don Matthews Past Commander: Curt Campbell This springs district meeting will be held in Grand Rapids, MI. I’ve asked Greg and Eddie to work with Mary Ann Jensen and Ralph Ziegler, as both squadrons have committed to supply volunteers for the conference. Please be willing to helping out when asked and please plan on attending this great event and show District we’re are able to help put on a great event. By now you have all received your ballot on the proposed name change. If you have already sent in your ballot, I would like to say thank you. If you haven’t, please take a couple of minutes to fill it in and get it mailed back to us. Voting will end on December 18th and your voice needs to be heard. In my letter, I stated we had members up to Whitehall however was I sure wrong on that. When we received Richard Young’s ballot, he reminded me we have members in Ludington and he suggested I need to update my plotter since I was off by 35.9 nautical miles. It just proves once again; we are truly representing all of West Michigan. Our annual Christmas party this year will be at Swann Inn on December 13th and I hope to see you all there. Please remember to bring an unopened gift for the children of DA Blodgett-St. John’s. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 3 4 View From The Bridge Lt/C Greg Heath Squadron Administrative Officer Administrative News Eddie Kleinfeld and I are already hard at work coordinating our future dinner meeting locations and speakers. Eddie actually has most of the locations confirmed, as you can see below. We are now working on securing guest speakers, on which we would love to hear from you regarding topics or speakers you are interested in hearing about or have contact information on that you can share with us. This is truly the most challenging part of our task. We strive to keep our topics and speakers fresh, new, exciting and relevant. Please reach out to Eddie and myself with your ideas. Thank you. December Dinner Meeting: Date: December 13, 2018 Place: Swan Inn, 5182 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, Social Time: 6:30 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM Event: White Elephant gift exchange (bring a small gift to exchange with fellow members) : Also bring an unwrapped gift to be collected and donated to a local charity for children RSVP to myself and Eddie Kleinfeld by December 11, 2018 Greg Heath: [email protected] Eddie Kleinfeld: [email protected] 5 View From The Bridge Lt/C John Colley Squadron Education Officer Educational News GRSPS offers several online courses but there are some changes and updates coming for 2019. The current National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) certificate expires at the end of 2018 and the National Basic Public Education Committee has spent the better part of 2018 securing the renewal of our NASBLA certification which is effective for a three-year period beginning January 01, 2019. The biggest changes are coming to the way the squadron offers the America's Boating Course (ABC). There is a new power point with up to date presentation, up to date state exam, and up to date answer key. The instructors can still only issue the State DNR boating Class Card with an administered State exam but the biggest change is ABC will no longer be offered online to comply with the new NASBLA certification. There are not too many other changes at the moment though. GRSPS offers several online courses. sign up to take one or take them all as a refresher... they offer volume discounts! Using GPS on your boat Your marine VHF radio Marine traffic near you Weather for boaters Planning your cruise Boating on rivers, locks & lakes Boat propane systems Prepping your boat and dock for a hurricane Getting home when the captain is disable. For further information on boating courses or other trainings, contact John Colley at [email protected]. 6 Happy Birthday December 2018 Renee Mika ~ Dec 1 Eddie Kleinfeld ~ Dec 6 Vincent Mulford ~ Dec 12 Vicki Proos ~ Dec 12 Marcia Thompson ~ Dec 13 Jeannie Wilcox ~ Dec 16 Thomas Trimpe ~ Dec 17 Jill Miller ~ Dec 31 7 GRSPS Events & Meetings Graphics Links For further information, contact Eddie Kleinfeld at [email protected] Elephant Ornament https://tinyurl.com/y974zadu Border https://tinyurl.com/ycell4mt Future Dinner Meetings Your Invited https://tinyurl.com/yct43bo8 ~ Save the Dates ~ January Dinner Meeting February Dinner Meeting January 10, 2019 February 7, 2019 Fujiyama’s • Grand Rapids, MI Location TBD March Dinner Meeting April Dinner Meeting Spring Fling Dinner March 14, 2019 April 11, 2019 May 18, 2019 Amore • Comstock Park, MI Hearthstone • Muskegon, MI Muskegon Country Club ~ Other Dates ~ Safety Weekend Boat Rendezvous 1st weekend of June • Muskegon June 29, 2019 • Snug Harbor 8 9 10 The Legend of Northern Michigan’s Christmas Tree Ship By KIM SCHNEIDER on December 24, 2015 Photo by Chicago Historical SocietyCaptain Herman Schuenemann (center) and two members of his crew With a load of fragrant evergreens from Michigan’s Northwoods, a legendary schooner carried the spirit of Christmas—and an example of unusual courage—to turn-of-the-century Chicago. Then one stormy year the Christmas tree ship never came. Captain Herman Schuenemann was not as jovial as usual as he lowered the evergreens into the hold of the grand but aging schooner Rouse Simmons in a small harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It was late November of 1912, and the legendary “tree captain” and his crew of 16 had just five days to run the length of Lake Michigan and still reach Chicago by Thanksgiving. There, a loyal crowd of families and merchants would be waiting for his arrival and the festive cargo he’d been hauling for 25 years. He had not yet disappointed them. His nickname was “Santa” among the local children, but Schuenemann was no doubt thinking about money as well as holiday spirit. The tree captains of the Great Lakes made a living by sailing inexpensive old boats—boats others had deemed un-seaworthy—well into the stormy winter season on the lake.