United States Power Squadrons ® Midwestern Pilot

Spring 2019District 30 Celebrating 44 years 1975-2019America’s Boating Club® is a registered trademark of the United States Power Squadrons®.

Commander’sCorner

It’s February andsnowing again, hard tothink about boating rightnow, but we are gettingready for the USPS

Annual Meeting in Orlando on Feb 23rd. Tracy & I hope to see you in Orlando. InOrlando it will be my privilege to receive thefalling awards Grand Lake: Division 1honorable mention growth award, BoulderValley: Division 2 honorable mentiongrowth award. D30: Growth award A Huge Thank You to Boulder Valley Forhosting the Fall Conference. They did anoutstanding job and it was great to see somenew faces. We hope to see more of them atour District meetings.

The spring change of watch is in Pella, Iowaon April 5th & 6th. I would like to welcomeour Chief Commander’s Rep R/C MikeSkelley and his wife Rebecca. R/C Skelley isthe National Planning Com Chairman. He isfrom Minnetonka Power Squadron D-10 Mike joined USPS in 1996 National Nominating Committee has askedtall members to fill out an online resume.Just go the members section ofhttps://www.usps.org/ login and look forNominations, look for a button at bottom ofpage “Enter/Update Resume” National islooking for committee members. I updatedmine this morning it just took a few minutes.

To be on a National Committeeyou do not have to go to theNational Meetings, most work can be doneby email. Being on a National Committeeyou can insight on how and why and futurechanges. By doing so you can gain valuableknowledge and help your squadron. Justpick something near and dear to you.Example Operations Manual Committee islooking for proof readers.

Stay Safe, Stay Warm, Remember Boatingseason is just around the corner!

Kent Simpson, AP

District Commander

Welcome to Our ChiefCommander’s Representative

R/C Michael J.Skelley, JN-IN, ofMinnetrista, MN,joined theMinnetonka PowerSquadron in 1996.

Mike attended Linn-Mar High School in Marion, IA, after hisfamily relocated there from Seattle, WA andyears in Clearwater, FL, where he first spentsome time on boats. He is a graduate of CoeCollege, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where hereceived a BA degree in BusinessAdministration, Marketing, and a minor inSpeech Communications. He was recruited to

play both football and baseball in college, wasa four-year letter winner, playing center on theoffensive line, and was a Ramsey Scholarshiprecipient. He later enrolled at KennedyWestern University, completing course workfor his MBA. He entered the business world,holding various sales and managementpositions, including Vice President of Sales &Marketing for two mid-sized consumerproducts companies. He currently is DivisionManager for Heartland Payments Systems, aGlobal Payments Technology Company,where his teams consult with companies ontheir payment processing, lending, payroll &HR needs.

He has served in most squadron positions,including Ship’s Store/Supply Officer,Assistant and later Squadron EducationOfficer, and was elected SquadronCommander in 2003. He is active in hissquadron's education department where heteaches multiple public boating classes, AP,and elective courses. He developed andimplemented a youth boating and watersafety seminar that he delivers to localelementary schools each year.

He has served on many squadroncommittees including Endowment,NomCom, Rules, Executive, and helpeddevelop Minnetonka’s Strategic PlanningCommittee. At the District level, he servedon the Nominations Committee for fouryears, chairing it his final year, served asAdministrative and Executive Officer beforebeing installed as District 10 Commander in2011. He has also represented his squadronand District 10 on the National GoverningBoard and was installed as R/C of thePlanning Committee in February 2017 afterspending the previous six years serving onthe committee. Additionally, he hascontributed to the National PR & MarketingCommittee, the National MembershipCommittee, and conducted seminars atNational Meetings. Mike has beenrecognized with several Squadron and

District awards, has 20 MeritMarks, and was instrumental inthe introduction and use ofelectronic meetings at the Districtand National levels of USPS.

Mike has owned a boat of some kind since1989, primarily power, but has enjoyedskippering sail boats while on familyvacations. He presently has a 35' ChaparralSport Cruiser that he and his family keepslipped on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. He is married to D/Lt Rebecca Skelley, S,who is a CPA currently working as Directorof Pricing and Analysis for Sirva Relocation. She is also active in USPS, having served asSquadron Treasurer, Audit CommitteeChair, and Assistant District Treasurer inpast years. Mike and Rebecca enjoy as manyboating activities as possible with theirdaughter Jessica, who is an “A” Honor RollStudent, a competitive swimmer, lacrosseplayer, and a senior squadron member,working on her tenth Merit Mark at theyoung age of seventeen.

Nautical Trivia

How deep is a fathom?

Executive Department

Marketing

We have a new America’s Boating Club®Marketing Guidebook to help you promoteand market your squadron. It is extensiveand comprehensive; use it as your Go-Tocompendium to understand and developmarketing programs to promote ourorganization. The Guidebook includesinstructions and use of the America'sBoating Club brand, and downloads formarketing materials such as a brochure and

PowerPoint presentation, approved logos,instructions and information on marketingtechniques, a training program on running aboat show booth, and the latest BrandStandards Manual.If you need help or have a great idea, contactus. We look forward to hearing from you.

R/C Paul Mermelstein, SN-IN (Email:pmermelstein@verizon.net)Stf/C Glen Sherman, P (Email:glensherman@excite.com)Stf/C Shirley Heald, AP-CN Email:shirleyheald@verizon.net)

Administrative Department

Youth Safe Boating ContestTheme:"America's Boating ClubSaves Lives"

Judging will be at the 2019Fall Governing BoardMeeting in Louisville,KentuckyThe Youth Poster Contest isopen to all children, ages

6-14. The contest is designed as a teachingaid to create an appreciation and respect forrecreational boating by promoting safeboating as fun boating. First, second and third place medals will beawarded in each of three age categories: 1) Ages 6 – 8 2) Ages 9 – 11 3) Ages12 – 14Guidelines may be found at this link:https://www.usps.org/images/admin/membership/Youth_Poster_Contest/USPS_Poster_Guidelines.pdfPlease note this contest will be ending in2020 .

TriviaAnswer:6 feet , there are 72 inchesin a fathom

Education Department

USPS Course Plotters on Back Order

Our warehouse is currently out of stock of11-70-101 USPS Course Plotter (4" x 15") and our Weems & Plath vendor has advisedto expect delivery of our restock order to bedelayed until May. DEOs and SEOs havebeen advised that comparable tools areavailable fromhttps://www.westcottbrand.com/westcott-15-quot-course-protractor-plotter-ruler.html.Westcottbrand's part number is P-72. Weapologize for the inconvenience, due toconditions beyond our control. (January 24,2019, updated January 25, 2019)

ABC3 Classroom and Online Classes AreApproved through 2021

The 2018 America’s Boating Course 3rdEdition classroom and online coursematerials have been approved by theNational Association of State Boating LawAdministrators (NASBLA) as conforming tothe ANSI/NASBLA Standards. The coursesare approved through 31 December 2021.The conformity review process for meetingthe standards included the course’s studentmanual, end-of-chapter review questions,final assessment examination questions, andthe PowerPoint instructor aids. The BasicPublic Education Committee worked fornear a year to gain this approval fromNASBLA and most of the states andterritories. The classroom course meetingmost state requirements for basic boating

knowledge education continues completedin about EIGHT-hours.The classroom course instructor aidPowerPoint requires insertion, as in pastyears, of the state approved Section 8PowerPoint and assessment using the stateapproved final examination supplementalexam. The course PowerPoint, finalexaminations, state approved Section 8PowerPoints, and state approvedsupplemental examinations aredownloadable from the EducationDepartment Instructor Materials page. Forthose using answer-sheets with holespunched to grade the final exams, keep themas they remain current again for the 2018approval.

Boat Handling Course — Moving Beyondthe Pilot Program Phase

The pilot phase for the new Boat Handlingcourse that ran from September 10 throughmid-December has now ended. The BoatHandling Committee thanks all squadronsand districts that participated in the pilotphase and is working to update the coursematerials taking their feedback into account.(Squadrons and districts that offered thecourse but have not yet returned theirfeedback forms are encouraged to doso—see the Boat Handling website forforms.)Though the pilot phase has ended, the BoatHandling course in its current form is stillavailable through the course catalog, andsquadrons and districts are encouraged tooffer it until the new course materials areavailable. The price for student kitscontinues to be $48. The price for instructorkits that was $0 during the pilot phase toencourage early participation has been resetto $53 as of December 14. Starting December 14, new instructor kitorders will be billed at $53 when the eBookkey is redeemed. Previous orders for whicheBook keys have not yet been redeemed areunaffected. eBook keys expire 45 days after

they are issued. Unredeemedkeys will not be billed. The expected release date for theupdated Boat Handling coursematerials will be announced at the 2019Annual Meeting in Orlando. For more information, contact R/C ChrisWindeler, Boat Handling Committee chair. For information about eBooks, contactP/R/C Priscilla Clarke.

NominatingCommittee

Commander: Kent SimpsonExecutive Officer: Tracy SimpsonDEO: Ed BialeckeAdmin Officer: Rosemary BialeckeSecretary: Gus Elia Treasurer: Ken Danley Auditing Committee Lynda Watson 1 yearRobert Steffe 1 yearHarry Hammond 2 yearsRules Committee Marjorie Burgess 1 year Nominations Com Bruce Watson 1yearTerry Elia 2 yearsOpenAll nominees have indicated that they arewilling and able to serve in the positionsnoted, if elected.

Respectfully Submitted

Bettie Danley

Nominating Chairman

Call to Conference

The Spring Conference will beApril 6, 2019. The purpose ofthis meeting will be as follows:1. Receive and act upon

reports of officersand committees.2. Fill any vacancies in accordance with D30By-Laws.3. Consider and/ or act upon properlypresented business.Friday USPS Polo/Logo/Uniform T or otherappropriate attire. Dress code for theconference is Uniform G or other

appropriate attire. Business to be brought before the council isto be sent to D/C Kent Simpson, APfourteen (14) days prior to the SpringConference meeting.

Gus Elia, , JN

Secretary

Secretary’s Department

Communications Committee

A quick reminder that we will have theParade of Publications display tables at theAnnual meeting. Please have your attendingsquadron or district representative bringexamples of your 2018 DistinctiveCommunicator Award winning publicationto the meeting. Due to available table space,please send a maximum of 15 copies. In thecase of large editions you can submit onecopy and we will display it in a looseleafbinder.

Help Wanted!

National andDistrict arealways looking forVolunteers to assist withvarious activities andCommittees. If you have aninterest in helping out go tohttps://www.usps.org/index

.php/committees/general/10500 and scroll tothe bottom of the page to fill out or updateyour resume. It just takes a few minutes!

Treasurer’s Department

It is Tax Season, remember to file your 990form!

Spring Conference Schedule{tentative}

Friday, April 5, 2019

1500 – 2400 Hotel Check in

1500- 1700 Conference Registration

1600-1730 DMSPS Hospitality

1830 – 2030 Dinner Served at Sport’s Page

Saturday, April 6, 2019

0600- 1000 Free Breakfast in Lobby

0900-1200 District 30 Spring Conference, inmeeting room

1200-1300 Lunch in meeting room

1300- 1630 Enjoy the Pella Community

1630-1730 Hospitality - DC Kent Simpson

1800 Depart for Dinner- BUBBA-Q’S

1830- 2030 Dinner Served

D30 SPRING CONFERENCE

AmericInn Hotel & Suites

910 W. 16th Street Pella, Iowa 50219 1-641-621-1421

(1-800-634-3444 Reservations)

PELLA, IA

Friday & Saturday

April 5-6, 2019

HOSTED BY: Des Moines Sail & Power Squadron

We have an exciting Destination Meeting planned in Pella, Ia. (www.visitpella.com) Control

Click on URL for visitor guide & maps.

We will be staying at the AmericInn Hotel & Suites in Pella, IA. We are planning on Friday

night dinner at the Sports Page and Saturday, we will have Dutch Letters and Coffee for coffee

break in the meeting. After the meeting, we will experience In’t Veld Meat Market box lunches

at the hotel meeting room.

After the meeting and lunch concludes, we have various afternoon activities which might

include the Pella Town Square shopping, i.e. Jaarsma Bakery, Dutch Mill, etc. or a ride to see

Red Rock Marina, or if enough people are interested a tour of Tassel Ridge Winery at $5 each

(extra). We also are keeping our calendars open for a possible Vermeer Museum Tour (Hit by

Tornado in 2018).

It is all very exciting and we hope to see you all here in Pella, Iowa April 5th - 6th, 2019!

Please make your Hotel reservations now as our special block of rooms expires February 15th,

2019.

We are staying at the AmericInn Hotel & Suites, 910 W. 16th Street, Pella, Iowa 50219. Call

and make your reservation for Friday, April 5th, and Saturday April 6th, for $79.00 per night,

plus taxes, etc. ( Breakfast Included , WIFI, Pool ) Please mention you are with United States

Power Squadrons/ Des Moines Sail & Power Squadron for your discounted hotel rate! Call

1-641-621-1421 Front Desk or Reservations

Meal Reservations:

Friday Evening: Sport’s Page (# ___ @ $22 each) Total Cost $ ______

111 W16th Street,Pella, Iowa 50219 Prime Rib #_______ Baked Salmon #______

Includes Prime Rib or Baked Salmon, Baked Potato, Vegetable, Dinner Salad, Dinner Roll.

(Cash Bar)

Saturday Luncheon: In’t Veld’s of Pella ( # ___ @ $18 each) Total Cost $ ______

Box Lunch in Meeting Ham/ Swiss #_____ Turkey/Havarti # ______ Beef & Cheddar #_____

(Includes Sandwich , Fruit Cup, Potato Salad, Chips, and Scotcharoo Bar, Pop/water)

Saturday Evening: Bubba – Q’s BBQ (# ___ @ $25 each) Total Cost $ _____

2411 Bos Landen Drive Pella, Iowa 50219

BBQ Chicken #___ BBQ Pork #____

(Includes BBQ Buffet of Chicken or Pork, mixed Greens and Vegetable salad, Baked Potato Bar,

Dessert Cobbler, Tea/Lemonade.)

TOTAL ENCLOSED $__________

Name 1: _____________________________________________________________________

Name 2: ______________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________

City__________________________________________State_________ Zip: ______________

Email: ________________________________________ Squadron: ______________________

Home Phone: _________________________________Cell Phone: ______________________

Allergy/Dietary Issues: __________________________________________________________

Interested in Saturday Afternoon activities? Choose one activity from the

following:

Pella Town Square __________

Redrock Marina (30 min. short tour) ________

Tasselridge Winery Tour 3 pm,$5 ___________

Possible Vermeer Museum Tour_____________ . Thanks, see you there!

Please fill out this page and mail your check payable to Des Moines Sail & Power

Squadron, 2706 E. Tiffin Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50317. Before 2/15/19