pharos beacon beaconpharos beacon beaconwaterbury sail and power squadron a unit of united states...

ViewFromtheBridgeCommanderEgbertMost,SNegbert.most@yahoo.com 203-264-6678

IthasbeenwaytoolongsincewelasthadameaningfulactivitygoingoninourSquadron.Limitedget-togethersonthewater,onlyonemembershipmeeting,abeautifulOktoberfest,atKaren’sandPaul’shomeinOctober,andnoEducationcoursesorseminars.Thisisthetimeofouryearlycycles,whenwetraditionallygettogethertopaintourfacesgreen,digoutthosegreensweaters,eatanddrinkgreen,andenjoythecamaraderietocelebrateSt.Patrick’sDay,insidewhereit’swarm,whilewebidadieutothewinterdoldrums.

Wecertainlyhavebeen“blessed”withalittlebitmorethanintherecentpastwiththe“other”traditionofwinterinNewEngland,the“whitestuff.”Someofusenjoybeingoutdoorsinthesnowandice,skiing,snowshoeingorskating.Wedigoutourgear,dustitoff,fixitup,andsoakinthebrightsunasitsendsafewwarmingraysintoourbeamingfaces.

Others,the“snowbirds,”liketoflockfurtherSouthtowarmerclimesforafewmonths,escapingthecold,snow,andiceofConnecticut.Beforelongtheywillbegettingreadytoheadbackourway,tofinallymeetagainwithfriendsandfamilies.WecertainlyALLlookforwardtothatfirstopportunitytoseeeachotherinpersonagain,tohopefullygetbacktosomesemblanceofwhatmaybecomethe“newnormal.”

ZOOMHasArrivedatWSPSYourBridgehasdecidedthatitistimetoinvestin

thetechnologythatissocommonplacenow,thatalmosteveryonehashadsomelevelofexperienceusingittostayintouchwithfriendsandlovedones.WaterburySquadronisnowtheproudownerofa“Zoom”license.ThoughyourBridgehasbeenmeetingmonthlyusingtele-conferencing,ourMarchmeetingwasheldsuccessfullyviaZoom.This

technologywillnowallowustosetupvirtualmeetings,classes,orseminars.Moreaboutthatfollows.

Thisisalsothetimetolookbackandreviewwhathasbeen,butmoreimportantly,lookaheadatwhatwillbe.ForourSquadron,thatmeansthankingallthosewhohavevolunteeredtheirtimeandservicetocontributetowhatittakestokeepsuchawonderfulorganizationlikeoursafloat.IespeciallywanttothanktheBridgeofficerswhohavesupportedmeandoursquadronthroughthisyearofpandemic.(Con’tonPage2)

Waterbury, Connecticut

March 2021 www.usps.org/waterbury Volume 2021 – 03

Editor: Jeanie Quigley, SN

ForBoaters,ByBoaters

P H A R O S B E A C O N B E A C O N

Waterbury Sail and Power Squadron

A Unit of

United States Power Squadrons® Sail and Power Boating

District 1

SomeonebroughtabrightspottoacoldwinteranddarkishseasonbyfashioningawaterskiingsnowmanalongthebanksoftheHousatonicinSouthbury.

PhotobySalDalfini,CountryLIFE,February25,2021

Table of Contents Commander’sReport1-22020Memories-photos 2AdminReport–ElectionofBridge3UsingZOOM 3EducationalReport 4Birthdays;Awards 4D/1SpringConference 5SummerBoating;Membership 5Birthdays 6

March 2021 The Pharos Beacon Page 2

RecognitionofOthersWhoKeepUsGoing

IandthoseofusontheBridgewishalsotoexpressoursincerestthankstofolks,withoutwhomwewouldn’tbewhoweare,innoparticularorder:• SueMucciacciaro,whohasaccomplishedthe

incrediblefeatofcatchingusuponfiveyears’worthofHistories(andgettingusoffthatDistrict1“naughtylist”)

• EricBurdett,forbeingourVesselSafetyChairandExaminer,andeventphotographer

• DougBurdett,formasteringourconsistentlyaward-winningwebsiteandallthingsIT,keepingtrackofourmembershiprosterandbeingourcontacttothePublic

• Wes“III”Quigley,fororganizingourSummerCruisingschedule

• JeanieQuigley,foreditingtheBeacon,thatalsoyearafteryearawardwinningmasterpieceofmembercommunications

• PaulandKarenRosaforopeningtheirhomeformembershipmeetings,ABCcourses,and

publishingthenewsletter,ourBeaconofLight,tothosewhoprefertoreceiveahardcopyinthemailThisbringsustotheotherpieceofofficial

business,theannualelectionoftheBridgeOfficers.Underthegivencircumstances,allmembersofthecurrentBridgehavegraciouslyacceptedtostayonforanotheryear,andweareplanningtosetupaZoomeventtoapprovethesenominations.Thiswillalsobeatimetogettogetheronlineandtalkaboutwhathasbeengoingoninourlives.Weallmissthecamaraderieofbeingtogetherandtheopportunitytosimplytalktooneanotherfacetoface.

MoredetailedannouncementsabouttheplannedproceduresforthevoteonthesenominationsandtheChangeofWatcheventarelistedelsewhereinthiseditionoftheBeacon.Welookforwardtothesefirstattemptsatvirtualmembershipmeetings,aswellasaquickandpainlesstransitionintospringandagreatstartintoahopefullyfullboatingseason!CommanderEgbert

MemorableTimesin2020

Bridge Officers 2020-2021 Commander EgbertMost,SN 203-264-6678 egbert.most@yahoo.comExecutiveOfficer RichBendler,AP 860-354-0502 rpbendler@snet.net EducationalOfficer EricBurdett,SN 203-768-3983 eric.burdett@comcast.netChABCCourse PaulRosa,JN 203-910-3292 prosarhi@yahoo.comAdministrativeOfficer ReginaBadura,SN 203-264-6678 regina.badura@yahoo.comSecretary DougBurdett,SN 203-768-2486 dsburdett@comcast.netTreasurer KarenPoole,SN 860-621-9406AtLarge LindaMiller,S 203-272-8065 lindajeanmiller@gmail.comAtLarge KarenRosa,JN 203-910-9272 pkasrosa@me.comChVesselSafetyCheckProgram EricBurdett,SN 203-768-3983 eric.burdett@comcast.net

Webmaster DougBurdett,SN 203-768-2486 dsburdett@comcast.net

March 2021 The Pharos Beacon Page 3

AdminReportReginaBadura,SN203-264-6678regina.badura@yahoo.comVirtualMeetingforElectionofOfficers–TUESDAY23March

OnTUESDAY,23March2021

WaterburySquadronwillholdavirtualmeetingviaZoomforthepurposeofelectingourOfficersoftheBridge.Themeetingwillbeginat1900,withanopportunityforustotalktogetherbeforeholdingtheformalelectionofofficers.

TheChangeofWatch,alsoaZOOMevent,willbeannouncedatalaterdate.

ManythankstoDougandEricBurdettforthefollowinginstructionsforusingZoomforthisallimportantmeeting.

ThisyeartherewillbetwowaystovotefortheBridge:1. ZOOMMEETING–VoteattheMarchmembershipmeetingonTuesdayMarch23at7:00pmby

attendingvirtuallyusingZoomwww.tinyurl.com/446e36nh.Pleasejoinustovoteandtoconnectwithfriendsyoumaynothaveseensincethepandemicbegan.

2. ONLINEVOTING–Ifyouwon’tbeattendingtheZoommeetingyoucanvoteonlineanytimebeforethemeetingusingsurveymonkee.comatwww.tinyurl.com/4p8sd5tz.

HowtouseZoom(instructionsbyEricBurdett):Itwouldbeagoodideatohaveacopyoftheseinstructionsavailablewhenjoiningthemeeting.TouseZoom,youwillneedacomputerwithspeakersandamicrophone,andpreferablywithacamera(thecameraisnottechnicallynecessary,howevernoonewillbeabletoseeyou).Mostlaptops,Ipads,andcellphones(you’llbelimitedonwhatyoucansee;notflipphones)willworkforthis.YoushouldjointheZoommeetinganytimebetween6:45and7:00pmusingthelinkwww.tinyurl.com/446e36nh.Thislinkshouldbringyouintothemeetingwithoutbeingpromptedfora“MeetingID”ora“Passcode.”IfyouareusingZoomforthefirsttimeever,apop-upwillappearsayingyouneedtodownloadaZoomapporprogram.Clickyes,andthedownloadwilltakelessthanaminute.Youshouldn’tneedto,butifyouarepromptedfora“MeetingID”orPasscode”theyare:

• MeetingID:83615601729• Passcode:876248

Afterthat,clicktheappropriatebuttonsonanypopupsthatappearsuchas"OpenZoomMeetings,"and"JoinwithAudio,"and"JoinwithVideo."WhenZoomopens,youshouldbeabletohearandseeyourself,andallotherparticipants.Ifyoucannotseeyourselfonthescreenwhenyoujointhemeeting,mousetothelowerleftcornerofthescreenandclick"StartVideo."

Ifyouencounteraproblem,trystartingoverfromthebeginning.Ifthatdoesn’tworkcallDougorEricat203-723-2169.

WSPSBridgeNominations2021–2022Commander(Cdr) EgbertMost,SNExecutiveOfficer(XO) RichBendler,APEducationalOfficer(SEO) EricBurdett,SNAdministrativeOfficer(AO) ReginaBadura,SNSecretary DougBurdett,SNTreasurer KarenPoole,SNAtLarge LindaMiller,SAtLarge KarenRosa,JN

March 2021 The Pharos Beacon Page 4

MARCH APRILMaureenHogan 1 MarkBaker 5RobertFarnum 3 JamesQuigley 9LeaRitzenhoff 8 JonathanDayton 19CaroLZipke 14 AmyLandes 22 RobertRadomski 23 WendyDayton 29

FromYourEducationalTeamSEOEricBurdett,SNeric.burdett@comcast.net203-768-3983

It'sbeenalonghardwinter,butasPaulRosaalwayssays,springisjustaroundthecorner(eventhoughit'ssometimesOctoberwhenhe'ssayingit,butyaknow,quibbles).Thankfully,atthemomentitisliterallyandfigurativelytrue.Springwillarriveinacoupleofweeks,

alongwithslowlyrisingtemperatures,andourthoughtswillagainturntoboatingandswimming.And,intheworldofCOVID-19andpublichealth,springseemstobeonthehorizonwithvaccinesgoingout,positivecasesdropping,andsocialdistancingregulationsbeingrelaxed.Withanyluck,summerwillarrivesooninbotharenas;andwithit,thingsmayslowlygetbacktonormal.

Onthehorizonaswellwillbesomeeducationalofferings.Nowthatweareuptospeedonthevirtualconferencingthing,wecanrealisticallyofferclassesandseminarsinasafeway.• Asofnowwehaveacoupleofmembers

interestedintakinganAdvancedPilotingclass.Ifwecangetafewmorepeoplewillingtotaketheclass,wecanofferitthisspring,beforesummerstartsinearnest.Ifnot,wemayhavetowaituntilthefall.Andremember,ourclassesarenotrestrictedtothemembership!Soifyouhaveafriendorfamilymemberwhoyouthinkmaybeinterestedinanyofourclasses,putthemintouchwithus.

• Also,oncewedotheAPclass,wewillholdsomeformoftheJuniorNavigationclass,eitherthefullcourseoranabbreviated"refresher"version.SoifyouwanttotaketheJNclass,orifyoutookitalongtimeagoandwouldliketotakeitagainasarefreshercoursesoyoucanmoveonandtakeNavigation,pleaseletusknowsowecansetitupthewayyouwantit.Inaddition,ifthereiseveranycourseorseminaryouwouldliketotake,pleasedon'thesitatetocontactus,andwewillmakeithappen.Theonlywaywecanknowwhatyouwanttotakeisifyoutellus.

Channel09or13forRadioChecksInothernews,pleasebeawarethattheSea-Tow

automatedradiochecksystem,whichweusetoadvertisewiththestickeryouseehere,isnolongeroperational.Theyshutitdownlastyearforunknownreasons.TheUnitedStatesCoastGuardhassaidthatinresponsetothistheyareadvisingboaterstouseeitherVHFchannel09whereapplicable,or13forradiochecks.Theusetochannel16forradiochecksisdiscouraged(butnottechnicallyforbidden)astheywanttokeepitopenfordistresscalls.

AwardsAnnouncedforWebsiteandBeaconInthisyearoftheCovid-19pandemic,twoofourbestlinesofcommunicationhavebeenour

alwaysup-to-datewebsite,ofwhichDougBurdettisourdiligentwebmaster,andournewsletter,thePharosBeacon,whichJeanieQuigleycreatesforyourinterestandenjoyment.BothoftheseareannuallyreviewedbytheCommunicationsCommitteeoftheUnitedStatesPowerSquadronsforcontentandothercriteria.ThisyeareachhasbeenawardedtheDistinctiveCommunicatorAwardfortheyear2020.CongratulationsandthankyouDougandJeanieforkeepingusinformed,evenaswehavebeenrarelyabletomeettogether.

March 2021 The Pharos Beacon Page 5

OtherSquadronActivitiesandNeedsIt’sTimetoPlanforSummerBoating

ReadytoGoBoating?!It’sthattimeofyearwhenwegettogethertoplanwhereandwhenwewanttogoonthewater.Doughassuggesteditwouldbegoodtosetsomedestinationswherethosewholoveboating,butnolongerhaveboats,canmeetwiththosewhoareactivelycruising.Soevenifyoudon’thaveaboat,contactIIIsoyoucanjoinintheplanningandgiveusyoursuggestions.That’swhatcontributestothespecialtimeswehavetogether.Ourmeeting/swillbedoneviazoom,orpossiblyinperson.Contact:Wes,IIIQuigleyatwhq_iii@yahoo.comor203-525-1763.

FutureSquadronMeetingsonZoom–TOPICS?

Wenowhavetheopportunitytokeepmembersofoursquadronactiveandinformedandarelookingtoengagespeakerstotalkabouttopicsthatarerelevanttousasaboatingcommunity.Ifyouhaveanyideasfortopicsorknowsomeonewhowouldbewillingtospeaktousatoneoftheseevents,pleasecontactRichBendler,at(860)354-0502orrpbendler@snet.net.

NeedTwoVolunteersforWSPSAuditWeneedtoauditourfinancesonaregularbasis

andarelookingfortwovolunteerswhoarewillingtolookatheDollarsandmakeSenseofthebookswekeepforourfinancialrecords.Thiswillbeaone-timemeetngtoreviewthedocumentsandconfirmthatourbooksareingoodstandingorder.ContactanyBridgemembertomakearrangegmentstohelpwiththisimportantandnecessarytask.

InfiniteMovingNorthHighwindshaveslowedtheirtrip.However,MikeandCarolwillsoonbeinFortPierce,FL.

Rickenbacker-Powel Bridge, Virginia Key to Miami.

District1SpringConferencebyZOOM20March2021@0900

Zoommeetingandcanbeaccessedbyclickingthefollowinglink: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81526388588?pwd=bGZNcDFLK1UwY2o0OTB1b2dZMFNJQT09

MeetingID:81526388588Passcode:503139

Getting Reports in the Age of Zoom

ReportsthatarenormallyhandedoutataDistrictConferencecannotbehandedoutwhenwemeetonZoom.InsteadtheOfficerReportsandDistrictRosterswillbeemailedtothosewithemailaddressesinDB2000.Thisemailwillbeapproximatelyoneweekbeforetheconference.

MembersgettingtheprintedSO1?YoucanfindthesereportsaswellastheMinutesofthelastmeetingonourD-1Website(seelinkbelow)ontheSoundsof1webpage.ClickontheMenuitemforSoundsof1andthenclickonthebuttonforLinktoSoundsof1.Thereportlinkswillbeinthesectionforthe2021SpringConferenceapproximatelyoneweekbeforetheconference.

ARemindertoRenewYourMembershipManylongtimemembersrenewtheirUSPSmembership

by31Mayeachyear.However,morerecentmembersrenewonthedatetheybecameamember.Foryourcurrentmembershipstatusgotowww.usps.org/dues.• DANBoaterBenefit–DetailsonUSPSDUESpage–$20

stillincluded;removeifnotwanted• EducationalFund-$1MemberDonation–nolonger

automatic;youmayadditifyoudesire.

March 2021 The Pharos Beacon Page 6

CALENDARDETAILS–2021

March2 1900Tuesday–Bridgemeeting–viaZoom20 0900Saturday–D/1SpringConference–viaZoom–detailsonpage5.23 1900Tuesday–ElectionofOfficers–viaZoom–detailsonpage3.

April 6 1900Wednesday–Bridgemeeting–viaZoomTBA ChangeofWatch–viaZoom

May 4 1900Tuesday–Bridgemeeting

ThePharosBeaconPublicationoftheWaterburySailandPowerSquadron,Waterbury,CTPublishedbi-monthlyexceptJulyandAugustEditor:JeanieQuigley,SNjean.missruby@yahoo.com;203-525-1764Photosby:EricBurdett,SN;SueMucciacciaro,P;JeanieQuigley,SNPublishedby:KarenRosa,JNandPaulRosa,JNWebmaster:DougBurdett,SN:dsburdett@comcast.netWebsite:www.usps.org/waterbury

Waterbury Sail and Power Squadron P.O. Box 6280 Wolcott, CT

06716-6280

MemorialDay2020RaftupatHamburgCove–PamandCraigCampbellonSummerWind,KarenandPaulRosaonKnotBad,andMikeandCarolonInfinite.Wevisitedfromboattoboatorfromdinghies.