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Secretary’s Department Newsletter |
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Volume 5, Issue 1 January 2005 |
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Secretary’s Department Newsletter |
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(or From Chalkboards to PowerPoint) Information technology is changing, for the better, the look and content of USPS classes, both internal (Advanced Grade and Elective) and external (Squadron Boating, BoatSmart and ChartSmart). Many of our squadrons are now using notebook computers with projectors in lieu of static overhead slides. This enables the instructor to better control the presentation, and enables him-her to present a more interesting lesson. The laptop/projector duo is also available at squadron and district social functions to show slide shows of past events. PowerPoint enables an instructor to include, in the slides, film clips (can be of local harbors, boat launch areas, bridges and navigational landmarks) as well as teaching aids such as animated knots where the entire class can see a knot tied, repetitively, on a large screen. The generic slide show presentation can be easily edited to reflect a local unit and area which generally perks up interest in the material. In many cases students can now be steered to local USPS websites for additional information on the lessons being taught, or to external sites that specialize in the area under discussion (i.e., weather, radio, marlinspike etc). At the beginning or end of class VCR or DVD film can be shown such as “Welcome to USPS” to give the audience a fast paced introduction to all that we do, and they could do if they joined our ranks. If you throw in a wireless mouse, |
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We all hear about the thought that USPS® needs to do more advertising to get our organizations name in front of the public. The response is, where’s the money? Well we all have a way of greatly increasing the amount of exposure we can have with the public. That is the increase in the number of web sites, maintained by the squadrons, all over the United States. At present, we have approximately 359 web sites on the World Wide Web. All of these web sites are extolling the virtues of the USPS, giving boaters and non-boaters alike some idea of an organization dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment of sailing on the waterways of the nation. How big is the exposure of this form of advertising? One squadron has actively developed external links to its website and since April of this year has |
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® 2003 - 2005 United States Power Squadrons |
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the instructor has mobility of motion and is not tied to the projection equipment. GPS has moved from a specialty navigational option (Lor an A or C) to almost a commodity item. It is now included in many cars, recreational vehicles and boats as optional or even standard equipment and is also used by casual hikers and campers. It is now used in the military at all levels of command, and our new veterans will have had, in many cases, a wealth of hands on experience with the technology. The established reliability of GPS has earned it a firm place in our USPS charting education, and its inclusion and emphasis in our advanced grade and elective programs shows our group is moving forward to embrace technological advances while still providing the necessary skills to navigate using a course plotter, dividers and a paper chart. To sum up, the times are changing and with information technology at a pace that would seem like science fiction even ten years ago. We (United States Power Squadrons) have a lot of archived knowledge that this technology explosion is helping us present to our students, who are also our future members. Bring it on! By: P/C Bob Payette, P – Information Technology Committee, and New London Power Squadron With P/C Jack Kurrus, SN - Instructor and member NLPS Education Dept. |
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experienced over 1600 hits. These hits have resulted in additional people taking their BoatSmart® course, and have directly resulted in an increase in membership. If the number of web sites representing USPS multiplies that one squadron’s experience we have the potential of over 547,000 visits by people, who may be unfamiliar with our organization. Does your squadron have a web site? Is it actively managed to assure all the events your squadron is planning are announced to visitors of the web site? Here is an opportunity to further the cause of the USPS without significant monetary outlays. Give it some thought; we all need to work on membership recruitment.. P/C Bill Miller, P Website coordinator, ITCom |