To many members, being in USPS is somewhat like being a passenger on a ship. Most ship's announcements are about parties, meals, and other sessions of one sort or another. Only a few ever visit the bridge, and they spend only a few minutes there.
On a cruise ship, the typical passenger doesn't care much about where the ship is actually heading. They enjoy activities as they come. Some USPS members are like that, too. That's fine if that's why they came on board.
On other ships, most passengers are trying to reach a destination. They are concerned about the route and weather. As navigators, many USPS members keep a close eye of what the bridge officers at all levels are doing.
To some members, it often appears that USPS is running "steady as she goes," with little thought of changing direction. They see men in Navy uniforms parading classical navigation techniques before them, oblivious of changes in the times.
Those who attend meetings or work on committees at the district and national levels, or who follow events on the internet mail list, are aware of constant change.
It certainly is true that our advanced grades courses don't reflect the introduction of electronics into everyday navigation. That doesn't mean the issues are being ignored. A lot of discussion is taking place on how to introduce electronic navigation into the program. (There's no if about it.) Celestial is still used aboard ships and yachts, and despite what you may have heard, still taught at Annapolis. It's not a question of "out with the old, in with the new," but of teaching both without overloading students or having even more courses.
By the way, if you want to study e-nav on your own, USPS has some good materials already. Our Learning Guides, formerly Supplemental Programs, include radar, LORAN, and GPS, among other things. They are available via 1-888-FOR-USPS, and you get them without having to wait for a course to be scheduled. As part of our move toward a more public USPS, they are also sold to the public through boating equipment stores.
Cdr Thomas W. Martin, AP I hope everyone got fat and happy over the Thanksgiving holidays, because at the December meeting we will be doing it all over again.
The December meeting will be held at Molla's Restaurant in Morgantown. In December we have our annual Christmas party and gift ornament exchange.
This is also our annual business meeting, with election of officers. The nominations were listed in the November newsletter.
Let's have a big turnout, everyone should attend. We always have a good time at this event. Come early and socialize.
At our November meeting we added a new member to our roster.
Benjamin L Weaver lives in Tunnelton, WV. He makes a big increase in our Preston County representation.
This story comes via the INTERNET.
The Whitsunday islands in Australia are one of the world's greatest sailing areas. As a result, there many bareboat charters available, and a lot of people do their first cruising there.
A new skipper took charge of a yacht for a week and headed out to the Islands. On the fourth day out the he radioed into the charter company complaining that they hadn't been provided with enough anchors to last the trip. When asked what he meant by that he innocently said that they were meant to have the yacht for a week but had already used up four anchors. Each time they left an anchorage had been cutting the anchors off.
Holiday Time
Wow! It's that holiday time again,
Where joy and mirth, and peace and life
Gets all wrapped up in holiday paper
Topped with a beautiful bow.
And all the good in the world
Seems to get shiny new,
And all the bad in the world
Goes into hiding till some other day.
So we can smile, and we can sing,
We can laugh, and dance a ring,
We can do such happy things,
That our days all brim with joy,
As we plan and do so much,
Singing along with holiday songs,
Going to our houses of worship,
Uh-ing and ah-in"
At lights, and candles and trees,
Remembering saints, playing with tops
And all other toys,
Making live scenes, or bringing out statuesque ones...
Oh! Those holiday chores,
That never seem bores
Seem to tap out our greetings
Of holiday cheer,
Topped of with "First night"
And a happy new year!
-- Melba Dungey
Winter Reading
I recently picked up a copy of Racing Through Paradise by William F. Buckley, Jr. on a "close-out" table. Even Buckley's severest political critics acknowledge that he writes superbly about sailing.
This book focuses on crossing the Pacific Ocean under sail. His life among the rich and famous allows him the pleasure of including a professional cook in his crew, but he does his own celestial navigation and requires his son and friends to do the sail handling and repairs.
Like his other sailing books, Airborne (1976) and Atlantic High (1982), the book is full of flashbacks to other boating adventures. There is considerable food for thought in the reporting of accidents and safety at sea. It contains a lot of stories about defective equipment.
All his books contain good discussions of both modern and traditional navigational techniques.
After finishing Racing I borrowed Airborne and Atlantic High at the Morgantown Public Library to re-read them. All three books are a good mix of entertainment and boating education.
-- Wally Venable
85th Anniversary
In 1999 USPS will mark the 85th anniversary of its founding. Chief Commander Art Farr, N, has issued a call for a major celebration. Among the special activities for the year will be slide programs on our history and a special set of commemorative Ensigns which will travel from district to district.