>Charles Culotta (cculotta@iamerica.net)Date: Wed Dec 12 2001 - 14:35:54 EST wrote: >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 .... >Want to start an argument among USPS members mention UNIFORMS, man those >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