Squadron News

      NRPS just keeps getting bigger and better!  I welcome several new members to our squadron.  They are Pete Parker, Dawn Nichols, Gene Monroe, and Dennis and Patricia Drake.  Please welcome them aboard when you see them at our events.

      For our new members, the BEAT 200 campaign is the goal to exceed 200 vessel safety checks in the 2010 calendar year.  We have met 50% of the goal at 50% of the year.  I extend my thanks to all the vessel examiners that have contributed their time to assuring the safety of our boating public.  Talk to Lt Larry Rountree, AP to learn more about becoming a vessel examiner to see if you would be interested.

Also, the PLUS 5 campaign is the goal to train and certify five new instructors to teach our classes.  The recent Virginia law requires boat operators to have a safe boating training certificate so the demand for our classes is expected to increase.  Please talk to Lt/C Lilly Stone, JN or 1^st Lt Frank Brown, P to learn more about becoming a certified instructor.  Teaching is fun, we’ll show you how!  It also looks good on your resume.

I send a big THANK YOU to 1^st Lt Frank Brown, P for serving as our Clean the Bay Day Zone Captain.  I also thank Donnie and Rana Weaver and Mark and Jennifer Presson for their CTBD contributions so that all of us can enjoy a cleaner bay and waterways.

For those of you who missed the June General Meeting, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to 1^st Lt Frank Brown, P for Clean the Bay Day and Lt Rana Weaver, AP for the Poster Contest.  We’ll catch Ron Murphy, AP for Flares for Life when he returns.

Harborfest was a blast!  We had an excellent turnout at Tidewater Yacht Marina on 11-13 June.  Some boats were already there, some boats came in, and other members and guests arrived by other means of transportation.  My thank you goes to Frank and Grace Brown for their excellent planning and execution of our Flag Day-themed weekend.  Red, white and blue all the way!  We saw a great Parade of Sails and awesome fireworks, and enjoyed really good food and drink.  I particularly liked Grace’s Mojito drink bowl, just perfect for the warm sunny day.  It was the second of our boating season cruises.  My thank you also goes to all who contributed and came to join the fun.  I invite you to view the variety of photos on the Event Photos page at www.nrpowersquadron.com.

For our “Across the Bay” Cruise to Bay Creek, we are expecting a good turnout of boats and members for the weekend.  This is our mid-season and third of five planned cruises.  Bay Creek is a favored location among our members for its great marina.  Cape Charles shopping and dining is just a short walk away.  Mark and Jennifer Presson assisted by Donna and myself will be the ODs for this cruise.  The theme will be “Bounty of the Bay”.  Look for more details in this newsletter and at the next General Meeting.  It’s not too late to make your reservation.

The D/5 Summer Rendezvous is coming up 12-15 August in Solomon’s Island , MD.  It’s a great opportunity for a boat or a road trip.  Now is the time to make reservations.

Boat safe and keep the NRPS magic alive!

     Hope everyone is enjoying their hot, hot summer.  It’s already July and we are halfway through our boating season.  Where does the time go? 

Thanks go out to all who participated in the “Clean the Bay Day”, especially Frank Brown for taking the lead as Captain.  Lets plan on participating again next year as the Bay is our playground so we need to assist in keeping it clean.  Not only by participating in the annual event but also by making sure we are good citizens when we are floating on the bay as we run from place to place. 

There aren’t many upcoming events locally but one I discovered is “Kayaking with the Dolphins”.  We have all seen dolphins when we are boating but this is getting up close and personal.  I went online to www.youtube.com and saw a video of one trip.  You sit on top of the kayak rather than in it since it has a high probability of tipping over.  So you have to be willing to get wet and take a chance of swimming with the dolphins rather than just kayaking with the dolphins.  Looks like fun and while keeping you on the water it’s a different experience than our “usual” boat trips.  Dolphin Adventure Tour is located at 89^th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach.  For those of you with an adventurous spirit this is the adventure for you.

Locally TGIF at Constants Wharf is hosting “The Rhondels” on 9 July.  The concessions open at 17:30.  The band plays from 1800-2100.  This is great “sing along” music and should be a good time for those of us who love beach music.

Look forward to seeing everyone at Bay Creek Marina in Cape Charles.  If you haven’t signed up, get with Mark so you don’t miss the fun.  It’s a great marina and fun town to play in.  You can rent golf carts from the Marina to go to town so you can shop or have dinner.  Make sure you ask Norman about the golf carts as he knows all about them and has a great story to tell.   

Safe travels to everyone over the summer.

 Lt/C Mary Fisher, P

Summer is here and hopefully you will be busy boating on weekends; So, come Mondays it’s time to take a few classes

CLASS SCHEDULES FOR 2010:

SAFE BOATING CLASS:

Instructors: Lilly Stone, Frank Brown & other VA Certified Instructors

Place: Portsmouth Boat Club

20 Elm Ave, Portsmouth

Cost: FREE/ Start 12 July at 1830

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT:

Instructors: Frank Brown & Lilly Stone

Place: Portsmouth Boat Club

Cost $25.00 plus ?/Start 19 July at 1830

Place will depend on Class size

INSTRUCTOR RE-CERTIFICATION:

Instructor: Lilly Stone

NO COST. Scheduled when needed (2hours)

 SEAMANSHIP:

Instructors: Art Aikin & Brenda Wallace

Portsmouth Boat Club,

20 Elm Ave, Portsmouth

Start 16 Aug. at 1830

Cost: $46.00 for Book

ADVANCED PILOTING:

Instructor: Fletcher Beadles

Main Street Methodist Church

202 North Main Street, Suffolk

15 Sept. at 1900/Cost $ 55.00

Course Plotter (4x15) $5.50

Main Street Methodist Church, Suffolk

MARINE ELECTRONICS and the WEATHER Courses are looking for Instructors .

Put education and fun on your calendar.

Lilly.stone@gte.net  or 399-0051 or 335-2558

Lt/C Lilly T. Stone, JN

     The Nansemond River Power Squadron was well represented at Harborfest last month.  Thank you to Frank and Grace Brown for serving as ODs.  In addition to the Harborfest celebration, we also paid tribute to Flag Day.

     Our next general meeting is scheduled for 13 July, 2010 at Plaza Azteca.  Enjoy catching up on everyone’s latest adventures during the social time which kicks off at 1830.  Information on the Wounded Warriors initiative will be the evening’s program.

      The “Across the Bay” cruise is set for 16-18 July at Bay Creek Marina.  The Eures and Pressons will be serving as ODs for this cruise.  “Docktails” and hors d'oeuvres celebrating the “Bounty of the Bay” are scheduled for Friday evening.  The Eures will host breakfast on Saturday morning.  Additionally, arrangements have been made for shuttle transportation to a nearby restaurant Saturday night for dinner.   With the shops, the beach, and the pool it should be a fantastic weekend for all.  If you are unable to attend this cruise, perhaps you can join the squadron for an upcoming cruise.

 "Town-and-Country Cruise" at Smithfield Station, Smithfield 20-22 Aug

"Port-of-Call Cruise" at Hampton City Piers 1-3 Oct.

       Squadron Safety Officer