recall any conversation about wake control. I do remember hearing a lot about how many tridents go on which officer's flag. My hat is off to those that volunteer to educate boaters and make this activity more safe and therefore more fun. My criticism is only intended to help make their efforts more effective. I applaud their intentions. Todd Mains M/V Pingino 50 Ocean Portland, Oregon

ining the > Coast Guard Auxiliary instead? > > Garrett, (A little different slant than what others have so far opined). As a long time member( since abt. 1985) of USPS I will take a shot at an answer. I will also preface my remarks with a little background on my experience in the organization in an effort to deflect contrary opinions held by other USPS members. I have taught courses including Public Boating , Seamanship, Piloting and Advanced Piloting and have served many offices including Commander. Now my opinion. The hierarchy of the organization, dont ever call it a club!!!!!!, are much too concerned with pomp and circumstance to address how the group should utilize the volunteers time and energy . Which we all know is finite. There are way too many District and National meetings that consume a huge amount of energy and money. Most of the time at these meetings is spent networking and socializing. Even at the business meetings unnecessary time is spent listening to reports abt how great their respective squadrons are doing that could be presented in a written report that should be on the desk in front of me when I sit down. Yes a lot of squadrons are made up of a bunch of us old you know what's. The young people with families dont have the TIME nor RESOURCES to attend two District meetings a year and two or three more National ones. Of course, if you are an officer you are encouraged, spelled coerced, to attend some if not all of them. I caused a near mutiny in my squadron when I was tapped to be Commander because I told the membership,((( before the election))) that it was my intention to run a great local squadron but I did not plan on attending any of the District nor National meetings for I felt they are a waste of time. By the way, there are additional meetings that they require upper level officers to attend , that are usually out of town that are equally a waste of time. Again a young person simply cant get away from the family or afford ($$$$$) to take the family to these gatherings. Want to start an argument among USPS members mention UNIFORMS, man those old ----- go ballistic. Heck I may be one , I am 58! This year , due to declining enrollment there is a cash crunch. The national leadership's answer was not to cut expenses but to raise dues. What is the old saying about shooting ones self in the foot!!! Reminds me of the fed govt. dont cut spending raise taxes!! Ducking but not running----- CCC -- LETS ROLL! Charles and Pat Culotta Patterson, La. Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/

arrett's question. Last year I stepped down after serving with the National Training Department of CPS. Attending the many national meetings gave me a better perspective on how CPS and USPS differ and where they are alike. As some of you may know, each organization invites the members of the other national executive to these functions. This serves to open lines of communications. In border towns it is not uncommon for members to have dual membership in both a Canadian and US squadron. One of the main reasons for CPS growth compared to USPS is the difference in recruitment policy. As Maurice pointed out, there is a perception of elitism in the minds of the general public. CPS has deliberately taken steps to combat such a perception by the public while USPS has taken a different approach. The personality of the local squadron executive is vital to sucessful recruitment and activity at the local squadron level. Another poster mentioned the age differential. I too have noted this. Here again CPS seems to have been more proactive in recruiting younger members. Many years ago when I became a squadron commander at age 36 it was considered unusual. Now that is very common. CPS has had a Children's program in place for at least fifteen years. I have had highschool age students in my adult classes. USPS national offficers have taken note and in some cases brought these ideas back to their own organization for consideration. What it boils down to is this. Change will only take place if the grass roots membership accepts and actively endorse such change. If your local squadron is not sparkling with activity, help make it happen by getting more actively involved. While it is true that volunteerism has taken a nosedive in the past decade or so, perhaps in the post 9/11 era this will change. Unfortunately, we in Canada do not have a Coast guard Aux that is comparable to what the US has. Our CCG Aux is very different in strructure and funding. When our squadron wanted to set up a Aux. unit in our local area we were told NO! by CCG since it was not in the mandate. The reason given was a mattter of geographical boundary ruling. I pointed out to no avail that drowing people do not care about local boundary disputes at the bureaucratic level. Cheers Arild Jensen The Electronic Navigator

>old ----- go ballistic Yeah, Charles verified my impressions of the USPS. As a 35 year old, I suspect I may be one of the younger contributors to this list. My impression of the USPS ... I want to be as delicate as I can here. The impression I get is an organization of exaggerated self-importance that combines the worst features of a college fraternity and the Boy Scouts. I mean what's with the uniforms??? Do they think they are the Navy or something? Organized social events? no thanks, I have plenty of friends. In first few pages of "Chapmans Piloting" there is a picture of the founder, in uniform, "reviewing the fleet" as the caption says. The fleet? Come on folks, describing a collection of recreational boats as "the fleet" is awfully pretentious. Wow, this sounds worse than I expected it to, but nonetheless, it is my impression. The classes they teach are very informative, no doubt about that. But a USPS class is not the only way to acquire piloting/navigation/safety knowledge. I would prefer to read a book and then sit for an exam, rather than go take a class, thank you very much. I'm very busy, and I don't have time for classes. If I'm going to go to the trouble of taking a class, I'll get a USCG six-pack and add Captain to my name. I know a lot of young boaters feel the same way. Don't get me wrong, for new boaters, the entry-level classes are invaluable. But a web-based self study program would reach more people in my opinion. I can see the advantages of belonging to BoatUS. I can see the advantages in belonging to ABYC, especially for a marine professional. The USCG Aux has a Congressional mandate, and I can see benefit they provide to the nation. But from what I can tell, the USPS serves little purpose beyond teaching classes, a service that could be easily assumed by a web page. All of their other functions seem to be country club activities to me. I'll probably take a lot of flak for this posting, and I hesitated to send it out. But this is how one person on the outside perceives them. I don't think that I'm not alone in this perception. Jim Bohn M/V Margaret Ann 1974 Trojan 44

squadron that we belonged to was very informal and had a really great education program. All of the basic courses and at least half of the advanced courses were offered each year. I agree with Arild that the local squadrons are what the local people put into them. The people that volunteer (especially the folks that teach courses) really put enormous amounts of time into their efforts. Without exception, the USPS courses I took with the Madison Squadron were well planned and well taught. Jeff Jeff and Suzanne Kenyon M/V Baloo Krogen 42 - Hull No. 44 Living Aboard in Little Rock kenyons@aristotle.net

declining membership and the lack of young recruits. As a member of the pool of young boaters, I was stating my impressions of the organization, an impression that is widely shared by other boaters, young and not so young. Jim Bohn M/V Margaret Ann 1974 Trojan 44

r populated by young people; as are Optimists, etc.) but if you take advantage of the educational opportunities, it is well worth it. Plus, the club is populated by the most helpful and fun boating people I have ever met. Thank goodness the uniforms are optional; as they are in the Knights of Columbus, The Shrine and Knights Templar. It is not the uniforms that make these organizations good, but the good works that they do. One could also say that someone wearing cutoffs, an old shirt, a hat with lures stuck on it and deck shoes could be in a "boating uniform." In our squadron in South Louisiana we have sailing, power, salt water and fresh water fishermen and people with no boats at all. We meet monthly to BS, eat gumbo and Cajun food and enjoy each other's company. I was a member of a yacht club at Cypremort Point, Louisiana that had a great Jr. sailing program that enabled our son to race sailboats nationally and do some oceans circuits. If we were to loose the CPS, USPS, CGAux or any of the other boating organizations it would not serve the boating community well. Charles Nolan, a member of USPS Take Time 36' Island Gypsy Cypremort Point, LA

to Florida. I'm sad to say that I saw many USPS members cruising as you describe. Many don't seem to absorb the material in the courses. I've heard comments in my own squadron that lead me to believe that I don't want to meet them on the water. I watch them, time and again, go roaring down river past docked boats without slowing, passing without use of either VHF or whistle to announce their presence, etc. Rick Quarles Barric II, Nordic Tug 32-147 New Bern, NC