Hi there,

We got back from California where we got to Pier 39 in San Francisco, watched herds of sea lions, walked around Chinatown and saw the Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio.  From there, we flew to Los Angeles, where besides visiting friends and family we also went to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Ports of Call in Los Angeles Harbor, Venice Beach (what a blast) and had lunch at Marina del Rey.  While waiting for lunch to be served at the Warehouse Restaurant, Harold watched small boats being launched from their trailers by being lifted off and put in the water by a crane. 

Hope your boating season has gotten off to a good start.  Ours is slightly damp at this point.  The seawater feed pipe to our head disconnected during launch and we got some water in the bilge and on the lower cabin floor, extent of damage still being evaluated.  Actually, the boat had to be hauled to prevent it from sinking because the bilge pumps were not keeping up with the inflow.

From my school days, I remember admiring the words from Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” that '"Beauty is truth, truth beauty."  Bringing it closer to boating, most boaters regard boats as beautiful and our serenity is the combination of a nice water scene and a refreshing drink in our hand as we enjoy our boating.  Some people engage an artist to do an oil painting of their boat and many of us proudly show pictures of our boat as we would of our favorite people.

To bring art a little closer to our reality, the Youth Activities Department, with Past Commander Ted Wallace our local representative, has a project that should engage our children, grandchildren and neighbors’ children.  This is the USPS Poster Contest that gives an opportunity for children in our communities to participate.  The theme this year is “Water Smarts” Boat Safe and Clean.”  The rules can be found on the National website with the following link: http://www.usps.org/national/membership/youth/pictures/13thYPContest.pdf and are also included in this mailing for you to pass on to a potential contestant.

We have heard that Bob Fox has returned to his Scotch Plains home and would enjoy a phone call from his old friends.  Bob has been organizing our Safe Boating Week activities for many years.  This year with the economy as it is, we don’t expect many shoppers in the boat sales areas.  As an alternative to publicizing safe boating week as we have in the past, I wrote letters to the mayors of Cranford, Scotch Plains and Westfield, the towns with our largest representation of members, to let them know about Safe Boating Week, May 22 – 28.   Watchung as part of District 4 is also engaged in distributing Lucite stands with safe boating brochures to marine stores and marinas, so the public can avail themselves of these ideas and possibly develop interest in taking a boating course from us.

And the good news is: Watchung now has 3 more members with the Piloting Grade.  Everett Smith, Michael Swackhamer and your Commander, Marlene Oslick passed the test at the completion of the course that was given this Spring.  Instructors were Past Commanders Harold Oslick, Ted Wallace and Stan Winkler and also Don Young.  Plans are now underway for the Advanced Piloting Course to start on October 13.  Several members have already expressed interest.  If you have passed Piloting, you are eligible to take Advanced Piloting.  Just call Harold Oslick at 908-232-7595 and tell him you would like to sign up so that he can order enough study materials.

Our next General Meeting on Sunday afternoon, June 27 will be a great learning and social event.  Past Commander Rocco Fuscetto and Priscilla have warmly extended their hospitality by offering their home for this event.  Their home has great indoor and outdoor entertainment areas.  You will be receiving a flyer for this event which will give details of making your reservation and bringing whatever side-dish you co-ordinate with Priscilla. This listing of offerings will prevent having the only selection being from 300 pounds of potato salad.  Hamburgers will be provided by the Squadron.  We will be showing a video on small boat handling.  We will honor, in a special way, those who have passed Seamanship.  If you have passed Seamanship please be sure to attend this meeting to receive your surprise.  We will also be swearing in 2 new members and presenting Past Commander Vic Silvestrini, our Starboard Watch editor, his Life Membership certificate and pin.  Past Commander Mirabel Fanders will be presented with her 20 Merit Mark plaque.

Thank you to those who participated in the Do Good Day at Lord & Taylor.  Their $5 donations added up to $90 in the Squadron coffers.  This is the first time we participated and we also received a $25 Lord & Taylor gift card that we will raffle off at the June meeting.  Lord & Taylor let us know that they plan to run another event such as this in the Fall.

Upcoming summer events are the Raritan Bay and Barnegat Bay raft-ups.  The first on Raritan Bay is planned for July 24 coordinated by Everett Smith (732-616-6520) and the second on Toms River August 21 coordinated by Stan Winkler (908-526-2711).  Our annual Rendezvous at the Reasons’ home on Green Island is planned for August 14. 

Those who would like to participate in the District-4 Atlantic City cruise should contact District Treasurer, Harry Wagner(732-255-3573).  He can arrange for you to have a slip at the Trump Marina.  Or if you prefer, you can drive down and still participate in the dock-side party on Saturday, August 7.

Have lots of fun this summer and remember to smear on the sun-screen.  Also, remember to provide life jackets for the youngsters and think “SAFETY”.  Looking forward to seeing you at many of our programs,

Marlene Oslick