Betty’s Corner: Ocean City Power Squadron

By Betty Cianci

It's May. The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing and the boats are afloat or ready to be launched. It is the beginning of the "boating" season. Hopefully local boaters have all had their seamanship and navigation training. If you are a new boater, read on. The Ocean City Power Squadron can literally be your "lifeline" to good fun and enjoyment of your vessel.

The United States Power Squadrons or USPS, was organized in 1914 as a non-profit, fraternal and educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable. This is accomplished by conducting classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects. The members of the more than 450 squadrons across the country promote safe boating through this type of education. They enjoy participating with fellow members both on the water and in the classroom. USPS is the largest non-profit boating organization. It has been honored in the past by three U.S. presidents for its civic contributions.

The Ocean City Power Squadron or OCPS received its charter in October 1980. Its territory includes Ocean City, Ocean Pines and other areas of Worcester County plus some portions in lower Delaware. Currently it has approximately 120 men and women members. The primary objective of the OCPS is to provide community service and continuing education while promoting friendship and camaraderie amongst its members.

Fred Stiehl, the Educational Officer for OCPS, informs us that currently it is mandatory for all boaters who were born after July 1, 1971 to take a basic boating skills class.

Classes from the OCPS are held at the Worcester County Library Ocean Pines Branch and Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin. The dates and times of the classes are publicized in local newspapers. The basic class is composed of eight hours of instruction, which cover topics such as rules of the road, required safety equipment, navigation aids, lights and sounds, anchoring, trailering and knots and lines. Member courses include subjects on seamanship, piloting, plotting and position finding, celestial navigation, cruise planning, engine maintenance, marine electronics, sailing and much more. These courses are always taught by experienced member-instructors. Eighteen two-hour public seminars are also available in the use of GPS, anchoring your boat, weather forecasting, using a VHF radio and learning to be "paddle smart."

Most of the listed courses have been offered by all the squadrons in USPS for over half a century. It is estimated that over 3 million boaters have successfully completed a USPS boating safety course and these individuals now meet educational requirements for power boat operation in all states. Members of all squadrons, including OCPS, help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) keep their nautical charts accurate by reporting chart corrections. Another service performed by OCPS is courtesy Vessel Safety Checks when requested by owners.

A further involvement of OCPS is their participation in community service projects. A prime example was the February 2009 Boat Show at the Ocean City Convention Center which saw local members taking turns manning the information booth for OCPS. Some of the local members participating were Bill Neubrand; Sterling Wyand; Dan McGrath; Mike Alpaugh; Tom Rush; Sid Stiely; Jim Bergold; Mike, Jane and Bill Killinger; Tony Curro; Doris and Dave Lloyd; Wally and Jan Stevenson; Pete Fox, Lilli and Jere Hodges and Neil Knight.

As an involved community group, OCPS has participated in the Alzheimer's Memory Walks; the Annual Delmarva Chicken Festival; OC Springfest; Ocean City Christmas Parade; Ocean Pines Boat Parade; visited local elementary schools with their mascot, SeaVester and put in their seventh year cleaning-up their "adopted" Pintail Park. They have also donated televisions to the Berlin Nursing Home.

Since all work and no play is no fun, OCPS has liberally sprinkled "socials" into their schedule with raft-ups, cruises, picnics and dinner events. You do not need to own a boat to become a member of OCPS. Educational Officer Stiehl states, "we have many boats with plenty of room and a 'non-boater' would be most welcome to join us in all our social and fraternal activities".

The current slate of OCPS officers are: Commander, James Bergold; Treasurer, Peter Fox, Secretary, Marilyn Strait and Educational Officer, Fred Stiehl. To find out more information, go to the OCPS website, www.ocpowersquadron.org or call their Membership Chairperson, Jan Stevenson at 302-253-0533. Happy Boating!

E-mail me your comments at bettyscorner@delmarvacourier.com with suggestions for future articles that you think would be of interest to our community.

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