2005 - Edwin Kridler installed as Commander with Janice Kromer as Executive Officer, David Walsh as Administrative Officer and Steve Kromer as Educational Officer (4th year).
Squadron is teaching Americas Boating Class 50 nights a year (one class every week).
On Tuesday 15 Nov at 1000 the 500-foot, 1,000 ton section of the Pearman Bridge over Drum Island and Shipyard creek was explosively demolished. Charleston Power Squadron had a day cruise into Charleston Harbor where they anchored and watch the bridge come down; winds were nearly calm and temperature was 70-degrees.
Year end membership of 175.
Change of Watch at North Town Grill in North Charleston. P/C (2000) Tony Ward presided over the awards ceremony. Awards were presented to Fred Wichmann and … (to be provided).
2006 - Janice Kromer installed as Commander with David Walsh as Executive Officer, Arthur Clark as Administrative Officer and Steve Kromer as Educational Officer (5th year). Secretary was Robert Gulbrandson and Treasurer was Chuck Altschul (2nd year).
Broken driveway at side of Headquarters Building was removed and replaced with gravel. Google Group e-mail group established for squadron members. Summer Cruise was to Short Stay (Navy R&R center) on Lake Moultrie, via the Cooper River and Pinopolis Lock (largest vertical lift lock on East Coast.
Year end membership was 179. Five Vessel Examiner did 60 Vessel Safety Checks and awarded 53 decals. Twelve members involved in Cooperative Charting with squadron nationally ranked 23.
Charleston Power Squadron hosted the District 26 Spring Conference at Town and Country Inn. Sunday morning after the conference Cdr Janice and Steve Kromer invited all to a breakfast at their house in Summerville.
Our Change of Watch was held at the Storm Point Center at the Naval Weapons Station. Squadron Awards were presented to: Wendy Walsh, P/D/C (and P/C 1990) Kenneth Beeber, Steve Poe, P/C (Kingston 1962) Fred Wichmann, David Walsh, Terry Melloy and Jim Bass. Three member (David Walsh, Art Clark and Chet Rogers), all on the same boat, qualified for the Boner Award. Joan King received the Commander’s Award.
2007 - David Walsh installed as Commander with Arthur Clark as Executive Officer, Richard Howells as Administrative Officer and Chester Rogers as Educational Officer. Secretary was Jim Bass, Treasurer was Chuck Altschul (3rd year) and Housing Committee chair was Gary Whitley. During the year Steve Brostof took over as editor of our Palmetto Log.
Cdr David and Wendy Walsh with Art and Merle Clark took their boats to Jacksonville, FL for the Annual USPS Meeting. Was three days, 295 mile, cruise in the ICW each way. Front columns on Headquarters Building were replaced with ones made of aluminum so we won’t have to replace them again.
SEO Steve Kromer was the District 26 nominee to national for the Charles F. Chapman award.
P/C (2005) Ed Kridler taught the Navigation course to one student (Harl Porter). Two seminars were taught to the boating public.
Year end membership was 185. Nine Vessel Examiners did 68 Vessel Safety Checks and Awarded 61 decals. Thirteen members involved in Cooperative Charting with squadron nationally ranked 30.
Change of Watch was held at the Storm Point Center at the Naval Weapons Station. Squadron Awards were presented to: Helen Kovach, Steve Poe, Gary Whitley, Steve Kromer, Steve Poe, Fred Wichmann, Steve Ireland and B.J. Smith. Harl Porter received the Commander’s Award
2008 - Arthur Clark installed as Commander with Richard Howells as Executive Officer, Angie Wright as Administrative Officer and Chester Rogers as Educational Officer (2nd year). Secretary was Jim Bass (2nd year), Treasurer was Chuck Altschul (4th year) and Housing Chair was B.J. Smith.
Squadron’s name was changed to Charleston Sail and Power Squadron. Americas Boating Course is still being taught 50 nights a year (once a week). Four seminars were conducted during the summer for the boating public.
Year end membership was 190. Ten Vessel Examiners did 78 Vessel Safety Checks and awarded 66 decals. Eleven members involved in Cooperative Charting with squadron nationally ranked 32.
In April we had a combined cruise with Lake Hartwell (they trailered their boats to Charleston). Cruise was to go up the Cooper River through the Pinopolis Lock and into Lake Moultrie; unfortunately the lock “broke”. We ended up docking at Gilligan’s Restaurant in Monks Corner; with only a couple of hours notice we got a table for 37 and permission to spend the night at their courtesy dock. One of our squadron boats ran aground in a rice paddy, due to a navigation error, on return trip which earned them the Boner Award; about 10 minutes after being towed off by the commercial tow boat it ran aground and had to be rescued by Charleston Power Squadron. The high point of our social calendar was the wedding of Angela Wright and Steven Ireland on 1 Nov. Wedding was at “Toad Hall” P/C (Kingston 1962) Fred and Joyce Wickmann’s house on the ICW (Wappoo Creek); Fred, who is also a SC Justice of the Peace, conducted the Wedding.
Change of Watch was held on the USS Yorktown CV-10 at Patriots Point. There was a very large US Flag behind the head table; incoming Commander Dick Howells remarked: “Made me feel like George C. Scott (General Patton) in front of the Flag”. Commander’s Award presented to Wendy Walsh. Other awards were presented to: Harl Porter, Dick Howells, …
(to be provided).
2009 - Richard Howells installed as Commander with Angie Wright as Executive Officer, B.J. Smith as Administrative Officer and Chester Rogers as Educational Officer (3rd year). Unfortunately both our Executive Officer and Administrative Officer resigned their position as job changes required them to work out of state; Past Commander (2008) Art Clark took over at Executive Officer and P/C (2007) David Walsh took over as Administrative Officer. Secretary was Wendy Walsh, Treasurer was Eddie Hiers. Helen Kovach volunteered to be responsible for all dinner meeting meals at our Club House.
Improvements - New refrigerator was purchased and kitchen wiring was upgraded by Steve Ireland and Harl Porter. New Electric Hot Water Heater was donated by Samuel Steinberg and installed for kitchen sink. Outside area work day concentrated on trimming back tree limbs.
For one dinner meeting Cdr Dick Howells and James Rowe had a BBQ Ribs challenge. Food was outstanding. Three boats made the three day, two-night Summer Cruise to Hilton Head.
Optional On-the-Water Orientation in member boats was offered after completion of our ABC class; ABC classes are now held once a quarter (four times a year). We also started to offer an optional 5th class on Piloting following the ABC class. Our detailed plans for On-the-Water orientation were not only approved by USPS they were made available to all USPS squadrons. P/C (2007) David Walsh put together our On-the-Water plan
Year end membership was 191. Seven Vessel Examiners did 108 Vessel Safety Checks and awarded 80 decals. Sixteen members involved in Cooperative Charting with squadron nationally ranked 33.
Charleston Sail and Power Squadron hosted the D26 Fall Conference and D26 Change of Watch. At the Sheraton Hotel in North Charleston. Helen Kovach did an outstanding job making the event successful and seeing that we had excellent food and entertainment. Highlight of the conference was the “Wild West” night at the James Island County Park; especially the skit put on by joint CS&PS and D26 “players”. Formal dinner and Change of Watch was on Saturday night on the USS Yorktown CV-10.
Our Change of Watch was also held on the USS Yorktown CV-10. Squadron Awards were presented to: Commanders Award to Helen Deitrick-Kovack (for making the D26 Fall Conference and Change of Watch an outstanding success); other awards were presented to: James Rowe, Edwin Kridler, Kathy Rogers, Eugene Corbett, Gary Whitley, James (Jim) Hackett. Rick Cone, Kathy Rogers and Frank Rogers ties for Student of the Year.
2010 - Harl Porter (previous Squadron Commander from Main Line Power Squadron in District 5 and member of Charleston Power Squadron since 2006) installed as Commander with Joseph W. Schady as Executive Officer, Bill Hayes as Administrative Officer and John Meyenberg as Educational Officer. Secretary was Patricia Brown, Treasurer was Rick Cone (3rd year) and Chair of Housing Committee was P/C (2007) David Walsh (2nd year on committee).
Improvements to Squadron Headquarters building: Lighted Exit signs were installed to satisfy an insurance audit. Seventy-five almost-new padded (and very comfortable) chairs were purchased; chairs were more than paid for by donations limited to $100 per family. Bar was relocated from Kitchen to the small room on left; refrigerator moved to bar area and stocked with soft drinks and bottled water as a honor “vending machine” for students and members. A newer (used) electric stove was donated and replaced our old stove in the kitchen.
Seven boat, lead by Cdr Harl and Betsy Porter on Palmetto Elephant made the Summer Cruise to Beaufort. On Friday night Betsy Porter hosted a dock party; so many goodies to eat that no one went to dinner that night. Several members from the Beaufort Squadron joined us for the Dock Party. Saturday night we had a nice meal upstairs at Panin’s Café. Our Annual February cruise to Cape Romain Lighthouse, birthplace of P/C (Kinston 1962) Fred Wichmann, was published in the Winter 2011 Ensign.
Twenty-seven members earned Advance Grades; all classes were taught except N. Twenty-seven members also completed Elective Courses; all classes were taught except Weather. Four America’s Boating Classes were taught to the public with 83 completing this course. Three seminars were taught at new SeaRay deler located on Daniel Island. P/C (2005) Edwin Kridler and Cynthia Kridler became Life Members; P/C (1993) Victor Schwartz and P/C (1994) Munford Jeter became 25 Year Member; and Nelson Hicks and P/C (2007) David Walsh earned their Full Certificates.
Year end membership was 184 members; and 45 Merit Marks were earned. Five active Vessel Examiners completed 70 Vessel Safety Checks and awarded 59 Vessel Safety Check Decals. Ten members involved in Cooperative Charting with squadron nationally ranked 52.
Change of Watch was held at top of Holiday Inn overlooking the Ashley River. Squadron Awards were presented to: Commander Award to Wendy Walsh, Wallace C. Till Award to Beverly Meyenberg, Bronze Propeller Award to James Rowe and Fredrick Wichmann, Spark Plug Award to Carl Klele, Fred Taylor Award to Nelson Hicks, Student of the Year to Rick Cone, Fredrick C. Wichmann Award to David Walsh and Bonner Award to Richard Howells.
2011 - Joseph W. Schady installed as Commander, Carl Klele as Executive Officer, Elise Jorgens as Administrative Officer and John Meyenberg as Educational Officer (2nd year). Secretary was Don Todd, Treasurer was Rick Cone (4rd year) and Chair of Housing Committee was P/C (2007) David Walsh (3rd year on committee).
The following 2010 awards were received at the D26 Spring Conference. D26 Education Leadership Award; nice individual plaque for SEO John Meyenberg and a one-year loan of the large (tall) traveling Trophy like Award. P/C (1987) John Sikes received his Life Membership plaque. Squadron was recognized for its 29th year of 100% contribution to the USPS Education Fund. And P/C (2010) and Webmaster Harl Porter received a Distinctive Communicator Award for the Charleston Sail and Power Squadron Website.
Headquarters improvements: A second refrigerator was donated for our kitchen (new refrigerator was in our bar) and several microwave ovens were also donated.
June cruise was lead by P/C (2010) Harl Porter on Palmetto Elephant. It was an offshore Ocean Cruise from Charleston Harbor, out past the three-mile limit and then south to seaward of Stono River G “1R” and then continued south to North Edistol River R “2N” and then back to Charleston in the ICW. Four powerboats with augmented crew (guests) made the one-day cruise with a fuel stop at Bohicket Marine near the mouth of the North Edistol River. Seven Vessel Examiners did 64 Vessel Safety Checks and awarded 40 decals.
Change of Watch was held at the Marriott Hotel on Leads Ave in Charleston next to the Ashley River. Squadron Awards were presented to: Commander’s Award was presented to Dick Howells: other awards were presented to: Barb Smith, Ken Lewis, Karl Naugle, Fred Wichmann & James Rowe, David Walsh and Donna Lynes.
