of martin county crossroads
TRANSCRIPT
CROSSROADS
OF MARTIN COUNTY
Volume 51 Number 3 Stuart, Florida July/August/September 2021
A Publication of St. Lucie River Power Squadron Chartered 24 January 1970
www.SLRPS.org
Good & Welfare Committee
If you know of any member or spouse who has died, who is ill, in the hospital, or could use a lift of spirits, please contact Lt Rosalie Goebel at 772-781-1098
BRIDGE OFFICERS 2021-22
COMMANDER Cdr John E. Goebel, SN
(772) 781-1098 [email protected]
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Lt/C Peter A. Rodaway, S (240) 604-8500
EDUCATIONAL OFFICER Lt/C Paul Vallier, SN
(772) 678-2468 [email protected]
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Lt/C Ruth A. Frederick (772) 486-4072
SECRETARY Lt/C Richard Pontynen, AP
(772) 247-7295 [email protected]
TREASURER
Lt/C William E. Gelpke, AP (772) 692-9197
Assistants to the Bridge
Asst. SEO 1st/Lt Paul Bendeck, P Asst. A/O P/Lt/C Sheri Muller, S Asst. Secretary Vacant Asst. Treasurer Lt/C Richard Pontynen, AP
Crossroads Staff EDITOR
Cdr John Goebel, SN (772) 781-1098
PUBLISHER/MAILING COMMITTEE P/Lt/C Tom Gatziolis, S
Lt Sue Gatziolis, S (772) 781-2876
[email protected] [email protected]
Title: CROSSROADS Issue Date: 1 July 2021
Authorized Organization’s Name & Address: St. Lucie River Power Squadron, Inc.®, 1820 NE Jensen Bch Blvd, #628,
Jensen Beach, FL 34957 (772-212-2970) Issue Number: Volume 51, Number 3
CROSSROADS is published 4 times a year by and for the members of the St. Lucie River Power Squadron, Inc.®, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons®, District 8. Articles, opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect USPS, D/8 or SLRPS policy or endorse-ment unless so designated. Submit articles, comments, etc. before 15 June to the editor: Cdr John Goebel, SN, 11150 SW Vitalia Ct., Port Saint Lucie, FL 34987 or email to [email protected]. Please use the word “Crossroads” in the subject line.
January/February 2016 CROSSROADS July/August/September 2021 PAGE 2
CROSSROADS
(See Commander on Pg 4)
COMMANDER’S REPORT
Cdr John Goebel, SN
(772) 781-1098 [email protected]
We are now well into summer, and our seasonal members have left us to be with their northern friends and family members. But that doesn’t mean that SLRPS activities have slackened. We’re firing on all cylinders with events being held across all our departments. Our Executive Dept. under the leadership of Lt/C Peter Rodaway, S has been active with the assembling and distribution of 300 National Safe Boating Week safety packets in May. In June we had 4 members become certified as Vessel Examiners thanks to a program conduct-ed by Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron. We once again participated in the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup on 24 July (see photos on page 7). Our Educational Dept. led by Lt/C Paul Vallier, SN has conducted two sessions of America’s Boating Course for the public. One was held in-person at Stuart Corinthian YC in April, and the second was virtual via Zoom in June/July. A total of 10 students successfully passed the ex-ams and have now received their Florida Boat-ing Safety Education I.D. cards. A Seamanship Class is planned for successive Saturdays in August. The Administrative Dept. under Lt/C Ruth Fred-erick was extremely active starting with our tra-ditional Merit Mark Party in April, a Sandsprit Park picnic in June (photos on pg 6) and a tram tour of downtown Stuart in July (photos on pg 4). In May, Peter, Ruth and I visited Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron for their weekly lunch-eon. Afterwards we helped them assemble the Boating Skills Virtual Trainer (BSVT) at West Marine in N. Palm Beach. This was part of a USPS National initiative in support of National Safe Boating Week. The D/8 Summer Rendezvous is planned for
This has been an interesting period for the Squadron as we make further progress out of the pandemic and get back to a more normal way of life. We have returned to our usual lunch venue at the Southern Pig and Cattle from our picnic format at Sandsprit Park. The Squadron has conducted several ABC courses one in class and one virtual hybrid class which have been conducted by our great educa-tional team led by Lt/C Paul Vallier, SN and P/Lt/C Mike Knapp, AP. We have embarked on a major campaign to at-tract new members for both our educational courses, general membership activities as well as letting the boating community in general know that USPS has an active Squadron in Mar-tin County and its environs. P/C Elaine Kwan, AP along with P/R/C Wil-liam Husted, SN have created a list of boat manufacturers, marine suppliers and ancillary organizations for the membership to contact to help promote USPS and get more people to join the Squadron. This has been a major undertak-ing and I am asking for everybody to please support this endeavor. The Squadron supported the National Safe Boating Week initiative by assembling packages containing safe boating leaflets and other safety related information for distribution to local boat-ing facilities and boat ramps. Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron held a cer-tification course for members to become Vessel Examiners at their headquarters. Four SLRPS members attended and now are able to carry out Vessel Safety Checks. Congrats to 1st/Lt Paul Bendeck, P, Lt/C Ruth Frederick, Ken Stiritz, AP and myself! The Squadron supported the Treasure Coast
CROSSROADS November/December 2015 PAGE 3 CROSSROADS PAGE 3
CROSSROADS
July/August/September 2021
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Hope everyone’s summer season is progressing well. We are pleased to report that “Classroom 7” is finally reopened for business thanks to care-ful follow-up by Commander Goebel with the church officials at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stuart. In addition, P/Lt/C Mike Knapp, AP did-n’t waste a minute and got right over to the class-room to clean away nearly a year of dust accu-mulated during the Covid crisis when the class-room was closed. In April P/Lt/C Knapp conducted the Basic Boat-ing course to 3 students at the Stuart Corinthian YC. I’m also pleased to report that the Educa-tional Dept has ventured into new water so to speak by offering an on-line, ZOOM Basic Boat-ing course that we started on June 21 with seven students….some from as far away a Broward County! Lt/C Paul Vallier, SN presented the course on line and P/Lt/C Mike Knapp tested all the students in our classroom on 17 July. We are pleased that all our students passed with fly-ing colors….before the review was conducted if you please! The idea was to determine just how effective ZOOM teaching can be…..and it looks like it can work for even our ABC course! To maintain some “teaching momentum”, we are planning to offer the Seamanship course some-time in August to three “member” students who have expressed interest in that course. We be-lieve it will be offered on successive Saturdays in August (Aug 7 and 14). This course will be pre-sented live in Classroom 7. Please let us know what courses or seminars you would be interested in taking. We have in-structors ready & willing to present. Best wishes from your Educational Department!
Lt/C Paul Vallier, SN, P/Lt/C Mike Knapp, AP and 1
st/Lt Paul Bendeck, P Commander
EDUCATIONAL OFFICER’S
REPORT Lt/C Paul A. Vallier, SN
(772) 678-2468 [email protected]
EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S
REPORT Lt/C Peter A. Rodaway, S
(240) 604-8500
(Executive Officer’s report continued on Page 4)
Waterway Cleanup on 24 July. The Stuart Beach Clean Up project was led by Lt Steven Shultz, S with many members combing the Stu-art Beach area for trash followed by a spon-sored luncheon provided by Edward Jones. Peter
September/October 2016 PAGE 6
CROSSROADS
CROSSROADS July/August/September 2021
Executive Officer’s report (continued from Page 3)
Hello Everyone! June 1st is always a notable date. Hurricane season begins and we say “so long” to our Snowbird members. We, on the other hand, will continue to look forward to our weekly lunches and to some other special activities that we can enjoy together. This summer I have some new activities in the planning stages and also scheduling some of the prior favorites. In June, we had our sum-mer Sandsprit Park picnic as a barbecue to combine that event with the Locks picnic as that venue was not available to us this year. We had a July 23rd “raft-up” which was a nar-rated downtown Stuart Historical Tram Tour. Following the tour, we will had lunch at Duffy’s in downtown Stuart. We had nearly 20 mem-bers and guests in attendance. My plan going forward is to plan at least one social activity, “raft-up,” every month for our group. Any suggestions from the members are always welcome and very much appreciated. Ruth
ABC Graduates - 17 July 2021
Commander’s report (continued from Page 2)
the weekend of 13-15 August at nearby Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina in Stuart. All the de-tails are shown on page 1 of this Crossroads. It promises to be a fun weekend where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and greet other USPS members from SE Florida squadrons. Pick and choose the activities you’d like to par-ticipate in. Hope to see many of our SLRPS members in attendance. Lastly, our 2021 membership roster has been printed and we’ve started distribution at our weekly luncheons. If you haven’t received one yet, we expect to distribute the remainder via mail in early August.
John
PAGE 4
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S
REPORT Lt/C Ruth A. Frederick
(772) 486-4072 [email protected]
SLRPS Members Enjoying a Tram Tour of Downtown Stuart and Lunch at Duffy’s - 23 July 2021
Photo by P/Lt/C Mike Knapp, AP
Photos by Cdr John Goebel, SN & Annie & Jay Seeley, S
PAGE 5
CROSSROADS
Photos by Lt/C Bill Gelpke, AP
CROSSROADS July/August/September 2021
A MULTI-PART SERIES ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, History & Legends
Following the "Anaconda Plan" proposed by Union General Winfield Scott in 1861 to gain control of the Mississippi River and its tributaries to split the Confederacy, the Union Forces seized the forts guarding the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in February 1862. These actions were followed by the capture of Nashville and allowed the Union penetration as far as Alabama.
New Orleans was the South's largest city and its busiest port. This vital Mississippi River gateway to the Gulf of Mexico gave the Confederacy access to export cotton and import needed military arms and equipment. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox believed an attack on New Orleans was feasible. General George McClellan said such an operation would require 30,000 to 50,000 men. McClellan was unwilling to release large numbers of troops needed elsewhere. Fox however managed to secure 18,000 troops through a political appointee, General Butler, who received command of those forces.
New Orleans was defended by two large forts, Jackson and Philip situated on the river below the city. The Confederate leadership believed a Union attack would come from the north and positioned most defensive resources north of the city.
Flag Officer David Farragut, a veteran of the War of 1812, was given the task of eliminating the forts. Farragut moved up the river on April 18, 1862 with motor boats and gun boats. Firing non-stop for five days and nights the Union flotilla was unable to completely disable their batteries. After three ironclads opened a gap in the chain barricade across the river, Farragut ordered his captains to drape their vessels in chain, iron plates and other protective materials. He led ships through the gauntlet and soon cleared the forts. On the river above the forts, the Union ships encountered the Confederate defense fleet but easily defeated them. Farragut arrived off the city on April 25, and several days later New Orleans surrendered. The forts now cut off from the city, also surrendered on May 1.
After the fall of New Orleans, Farragut took control of much of the lower Mississippi River and succeeded in capturing Baton Rouge and Natchez.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER PART 10 by Gerry Moran
CROSSROADS
PAGE 6 CROSSROADS July/August/September 2021
SLRPS Picnic at Sandsprit Park — 12 June 2021
Photos by Cdr John Goebel, SN, Lt/C Ruth Frederick
& Annie & Jay Seeley, S
CROSSROADS BOOSTERS Show your support for publishing a quality CROSSROADS! For a donation of $10.00 (or more) per person, you will be proudly recognized in every issue for a year. Send your check, made payable to SLRPS to:
Lt/C William Gelpke, AP 1820 N. E. Jensen Beach Blvd. # 628
Jensen Beach, FL 34957
CROSSROADS
Samuel Astley 03/21 Reinhard and Ruth Bruderer 8/21
Steve and Helen Chachakis 11/20
Bob & Susie Chaille 04/21 Ken and Elaine Cote 06/20
John Esch 6/21
Tom and Sue Gatziolis 12/20
CROSSROADS PAGE 7
Bill and Lana Gelpke 06/21 John and Rosalie Goebel 06/21
Ursula and George Hehner 10/21 Bill and Lynne Husted 08/21
George and Mary Kay 06/21
Mike Knapp & Bonnie Forrest 12/20
Don and Dorothy Kurtz 06/21
Bruce and Sheri Muller 06/21
Larry and Wanda Neidigh 08/21 Rich and Angie Pontynen 06/21
Larry Reynnells 11/20
Peter Rodaway & Ruth Frederick 6/22
Robert Semple 1/21 JJ Smith 11/21
Stiritz, Kenneth, AP (C006980) 3816 Crabapple Dr. Port St. Lucie, FL 34952-3128 Phone: 772-359-8465 Email: [email protected]
WELCOME ABOARD
July/August/September 2021
SLRPS Members Participating at the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup - 24 July 2021
Photos by Cdr John Goebel, SN & Annie & Jay Seeley, S
Olson, Randall (E312835) Olson, Barbara (E312836) 1150 SW Chapman Way, Apt 304 Palm City, FL 34990 Phone: 903-434-6791 Email: [email protected]
St. Lucie River Power Squadron
1820 NE Jensen Bch Blvd, #628 Jensen Beach, FL 34957-7212
TO:
Don’t forget to look at our Facebook page and website: http://www.SLRPS.org
July 2021
1-5 USPS Governing Board Mtg - Raleigh, NC
2 Executive Committee Meeting@1900
6 Labor Day
7 Rosh Hashanah starts
11 Patriot Day
12 Grandparent’s Day
16 Yom Kippur
22 Autumnal Equinox
NOTE: In-person Executive Committee Meetings are cur-rently canceled. Upon resumption they will be held at St. Joseph Parish Life Center - Rm. 7, 1300 East 10th St., Stuart.
September 2021
4 Independence Day
23 Tram tour of Downtown Stuart & Duffy’s Lunch
24 Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup-Stuart Bch
5 Executive Committee Meeting@1900 - Virtual
7,14 Seamanship Class
13-15 D/8 Summer Rendezvous - Pirate’s Cove, Stuart
29 USPS Governing Board Mtg begins
August 2021
C O M I N G E V E N T S The weekly Wednesday luncheon group meets at:
Southern Pig & Cattle Co., 2583 SE Federal Hwy., Stuart at 1130