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From the Commander
Cdr Vince Lombardo, P

We had an important Executive committee meeting in April and you all need to know what went on. Our Executive Officer, Lt/C Ed Kridler, SN, has been transferred by his employer and will no longer be able to fulfill the duties of Executive Officer. P/Lt/C Cindy Kridler will be staying in the Charleston area, but, according to Ed, he will be working in Florida.

As a result of Ed's resignation, the Executive Committee named Lt/C Cat Yeomans to fill out the term of Executive Officer and Lt/C Janice Kromer to the remaining term of Administrative Officer. It is felt that these decisions will best serve the needs of the Squadron for the remainder of the year and give the Nominations Committee a starting place in the election of officers for nest year. We wish both a successful term in their new offices.

WE ARE GOING TO MISS THE GUIDANCE AND EXPERTISE OF ED KRIDLER IN THE XO'S POSITION. WE WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK IN HIS NEW LOCATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM STAYING IN TOUCH WITH US. SMOOTH SAILING, ED!

Congratulations to our award winners, Dick Finn and Steve Kromer. Life Membership is something to be respected when achieved and Dick certainly has and continues to represent CPS and USPS in the best manner. The SEO of the Year Award is one of the most coveted awards of the District and Steve certainly is deserving of the award. Congratulations to both!

Please check your calendars and plan to attend a meeting and/or cruise. Many folks put a lot of effort into making these things happen for your enjoyment and education, show your appreciation by attending.

Many thanks go to all the folks who helped in the revision to our by-laws. As of the day of the Executive Committee meeting, National approved the revisions and we will make copies available as soon as we can.

Vince

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EDUCATIONAL OFFICER
Lt/C Stephen C. Kromer, P

Boy, it's hard to believe that another month has gone by.

The really good news this month is Mike Hamme's sight folder for Navigation was accepted, Pat Neely successfully completed Weather 101 and Keith Gannett successfully completed Seamanship. Congratulations to all for completing these courses.

On the public boating front, we had a very busy month. We started and completed a Boat Smart course at Cummins Mercriuser Diesel, started a Squadron Boating Course at headquarters and started a Boat Smart at James Island Yacht Club. Both the Boat Smart courses were added at the last minute at the request of Cummins Mercriuser and James Island Yacht Club. Many thanks go to John Van Way, Ken Beeber and Dave Walsh for getting the Cummins class done. Also many, many thanks to Fred Wichmann and Wendy Walsh for pulling off the James Island Yacht Club Boat Smart on very short notice. I think we had ten days and that's only 'cause Fred talked the commodore of the club into giving us an extra week. The Squadron Boating Course, which had been scheduled ahead of time, has around 10 students and is being ably taught by Mike Page and Steve Yoemans.

Over the last couple of years a number of people questioned the price of courses offered by the Charleston Power Squadron. I pretty much just told them that the price was what it was. Interestingly enough, in the last month I found information that tells us what a bargain Power Squadron Courses are. First, The College Of Charleston offers a 3 credit hour course on celestial navigation for $585. This course apparently teaches parts of Piloting, Advance Piloting & Junior Navigation. If you took all of the courses through the Power Squadron, and took Seamanship too, you'd spend $220. Likewise, Sea School charges $475 to teach folks what they need to know to pass the Coast Guard 6-pack license exam. Sea School's course apparently covers Piloting & Advanced Piloting. Again, if you took these courses with the Power Squadron, and also took Seamanship, it would cost $140. As if that weren't enough, the person that I talked with about Sea School had taken their class and said that he though that, when all was said and done, the Squadron Courses teach you more of what you need to know to be a good mariner. Think about it, you get better courses and instruction for half the price - not a bad deal.

Now just so everyone knows what the prices are, here is a list of the current prices for all advanced grades, and elective courses offered by the Charleston Power Squadron:

Advanced Grades
Seamanship $40
Piloting $45 (course plotter & divider $20 extra if needed)
Advanced Piloting $55
Junior Navigation $80
Navigation $80

Electives
Cruise Planning $50
Engine Maintenance $50
Instructor Development $0 (Only one that's free)
Marine Electronics $50
Sail $50
Weather $67

By the time everyone gets this I'll be well along on the cruise to Ocracoke or broken down somewhere. Tell y'all which next month.

Steve

SAFE BOATING THROUGH EDUCATION

EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Lt/C Edwin Kridler, SN

This is one of the most difficult articles I have had to write. It will be my last as your Executive Officer. By the time this issue of The Palmetto Log goes to press, I will no longer hold this position. I have resigned as your Executive Officer effective 15 May. Due to a changing employment situation, it looks as if we will be forced to relocate from the Charleston area. A relocation is not 100-percent sure at this time, but probably 90-percent. Cindy will be staying in Charleston until we can sell our home here, so you will still see her for a while.

We have really enjoyed the Charleston area, and I have enjoyed being a part of the Charleston Power Squadron. I have enjoyed participating in many of the squadron activities, and have made many friends within the squadron.

I would like to thank the many members who have helped with the activities of the Executive Department during the time I held the position. I would also like to thank all of the members for the friendships I have enjoyed while a member here, and for all of the help I have received as a member of the squadron.

In closing, I will not say goodbye; I will only say that until we meet again, may your seas be calm and your horizons clear and sharp. As Bob Hope used to sing, "Thanks for the memories."

Ed

The June membership meeting will be on Thursday, 12 June 2003. It will center upon the Spirit of South Carolina under construction in downtown Charleston. To see everything before dark, we will actually tour first. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Charlie Sneed who oversees the project.

Everyone is asked to be present at the site by 1845 for the tour to begin promptly. After the tour, dinner will begin. Due to popular demand for it, Po Pigs BBQ out of Edisto Island will cater our dinner once again.

The total cost, which includes the tour and dinner, for the evening will be $15 per person. This should be a memorable event for all those in attendance. Please, bring family and friends to enjoy this sight! Come and have a great time!!

To make your reservations for the June membership meeting, please contact me at (843) 875-0510 or via e-mail at cfyedisto@aol.com with your reservations prior to Monday, 9 June 2003, as a headcount is required for this meal. Please remember the "You Say; You Pay" Policy; also, any attending without reservations will pay $18 instead of $15.

As a reminder, P/C Harry Gindhart will be teaching the Operations Training Course on Monday, 2 June 2003, at 1900. The course should last approximately two hours. Bridge members are required to take this course every five years. It is strongly recommended for everyone in the Squadron to develop a better understanding of USPS. Beverages and light hors d'oeuvre will be provided.

If you would like to help with mentoring, meetings, cruises, speakers, membership, set-up, anything involved with the Administrative Department, please let me know. I can be reached at home at (843) 875-0510, or via e-mail at cfyedisto@aol.com.

Hello fellow members! Well the nice weather is finally upon us; just what us boaters have been waiting for. It's time for fun in the sun. Now for the announcement so many of us have been looking and looking and looking for. Well we finally did it after many man- hours and lots of folk's involvement. The Bylaws have been approved by the National Representative D/Lt/C Allan Larkin. Did you ever think we would see this day?

On our quest to be an environmentally correct Power Squadron, I have added a Charleston County Recycling container to our headquarters building. During events held at the Headquarters building it will be available to discard recyclable materials, such as aluminum cans, metal cans, glass containers and bottles and #1 and #2 recyclable plastic containers, Please help us stay in step with today's environment, we do so well out on our water ways cleaning up. Lets go that extra mile and pitch in folks. It will take a concerned effort to separate our trash, but I feel it's worth it. We can all stand proud and say that the Charleston Power Squadron is making a difference if even in the smallest of ways.

Hey everyone, come on out and get involved. Take a course, do a cruise, attend a meeting and meet some new people. We have so much fun when we get together; we want you there to share in the good times. We want to know how to make it more fun for you, so tell one of your Executive Committee members what you think. It's your Squadron!

Bob

I've always been surprised by the number of email questions I receive at my web site about lightning. When you compare the 90 or so total deaths each year from lightning strikes in the United States to the 600 or so PFD-less drownings during a similar time period, you would think that boaters would be far more interested in why they should be wearing life jackets. But lightning apparently holds a deeper fascination than vests for most people. And I guess that's proven by the fact that hardly anybody stays up half the night during a thunderstorm waiting for just that one critical instant when they can photograph a type III PFD.

I also know that lightning is more fascinating than PFD's by the fact that there are many groups and institutes studying lightning, and hardly any looking at a way to get more people to wear life jackets. Without much research at all, you'll find the LPI. (Lightning Protection Institute), the NLSI (National Lightning Safety Institute), and the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council), just to name a few.

If you cruise around the Internet, you'll even see web sites published by and for lightning survivors. People tell stories of how they're now broadcasting classical music from their fillings after taking a 50,000,000-volt hit. Can you blame people for finding that fascinating? For some reason, I can't find a single web site of testimonials from people who had a near drowning experience while their life jackets remained stuffed in a locked storage locker.

So I guess it's time that I yield to the pressure, take a pause from my compulsive advocacy to see life jackets on all boaters, especially kids, and give you some of my observations about…lightning.

First of all, there are some things about lightning that may surprise you.
1. Although three-quarters of the surface of the earth is covered by water, there are significantly more lightning strikes over land. This should provide some solace to those who have an unnatural fear of being vaporized at the helm.
2. The average length of a lightning bolt is six miles. This doesn't mean that if you're seven miles from a storm you should climb the mast and wave a copper plate in the air with one hand whilst thumbing your nose at the clouds with the other. On the other hand, unpredictable as lightning seems to be, it might not make a difference.
3. Having a lightning protection system on your boat (a masted cone of protection with heavy copper bonding straps and a massive copper plate nailed to the hull) will not prevent a lightning strike. It may even increase the possibility of a strike. But what it probably will do is minimize damage to the boat and the boat's people if you do get hit. That's a good enough reason to consider lightning protection on your vessel.

The thing to remember is that there are no absolutes with lightning, on land or on the water. And when dealing with an element of such power, such energy and such unpredictability, a prudent individual will do everything possible to avoid it.

A group of Power Squadron members from my town were on the Tom Bigby several years ago, and pulled into a little sheltered area one afternoon to wait out a thunderstorm. They anchored their three boats side by side in the backwater and watched as the storm approached their area. A lightning bolt struck the water some distance away, and discharged in all directions across the surface of the water. The boat nearest the discharge had a hole blown in the hull about three inches in diameter at the waterline. The middle boat suffered no damage whatsoever, and the boat furthest from the strike had hundreds of pinholes and blisters across a large section of the vessel's port side. Unpredictable? I'd say.

Remember, the best way to manage the risk of lightning is by avoidance. If you see a storm approaching, and can get off the water, do it. If you can't, put on lifejackets, keep your passengers low in the boat and clear of electronics, cables and conductive metals. If there's a wind with the storm, head into it. If you're being pushed toward a dangerous situation, or shore, lower an anchor from the bow and play out lots of anchor line. Here, like in most things in life and in boating, common sense goes a long way toward getting you and your passengers home safely.

Now, grab your camera, put on rubber-soled shoes, take off all your jewelry, and go out and see if you can find a life jacket to photograph.


Commander Bob's Boating Safety Handbook, www.commanderbob.com/

There are two cruise events scheduled for this month, June, 2003

The weekend of 6, 7, and 8 June is the Hilton Head Cruise to Skull Creek Marina. This trip coincides with the USPS District 26 Summer Council. Last minute attendees need to contact the dock master at Skull Creek Marina (800-237-4096) for slip availability.

The second scheduled cruise is on 21 June to Brittlebank Park as a day cruise and picnic. Cruise Captain, Wendy Walsh has requested volunteers to help with the picnic. Please contact her at 556-3258. With or without a boat, this event is for everyone.

All our members should try and participate in the squadron's cruises.

National Safe Boating Week was 17-23 May 2003. As a part of our efforts to promote this week dedicated to recreational boating safety, through the efforts of Lt Eleanor H. Parker, JN, our squadron received proclamations from the City of Charleston, signed by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.; the City of Isle of Palms, signed by Mayor F. Michael Sottile; and the Town of Mount Pleasant, signed by Mayor Harry M. Hallman, Jr. These proclamations recognized this week as National Safe Boating Week, and supported boating safety in their respective communities. We are greatly appreciative of the support of these governmental entities, and of Eleanor's work in obtaining these certificates.

History Lesson...Quite amusing...

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck?

The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon.

There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called a Monkey.

But if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make brass monkeys. Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.

Thus, it was quite literally, Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!
(And all this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you?)

This fabulous bit of nautical historical knowledge submitted by John VanWay.

Western adventure novelist Louis L'Amour is quoted as saying, "Adventure is just a romantic name for trouble." Adventure surely has romantic episodes but when trouble comes the romance is deep sixed. Trouble doesn't normally follow the Annie Mae but trouble this time takes a circuitous route to find a weakness in her majesty.

The usual Sunday crowds bulged the restaurants lining Shem Creek that Memorial Day weekend. The Annie Mae, with the Captain's number one son alone in the boat at the helm and his faithful lab Hannah perched in Jake's place on the bow, glided slowly passed the trawlers and into the Cooper River. Just out for a Sunday afternoon cruise, the inland reaches of the Cooper were selected as a diversion from the historic harbor.

Through Navy Yard Reach where to port the U.S. Navy once proudly called homeport and where the number one son's grandfather toiled for his wages. Goose Creek, the U.S. Naval Weapon Station and Bushy Park Landing all were left to port with the Annie Mae on an easy plane and her motor turning effortlessly at 4000 RPM. Then, just as pluff mud rises at low tide, she lost her plane and her heart stopped. But there was no pluff mud to cause the stall - 35 feet on the fish finder.

While raising the Johnson to check for an obstruction smoke began billowing from the louvers in the cowling. "Fire in the hold!" Not her hold but her motor was belching smoke. Quickly, number one son insured the ignition switch to be off, donned a PFD and grabbed the fire extinguisher. Hannah was safely on the bow. Meanwhile, along the banks of this beautiful river numerous fishermen in their high-powered bass boats enjoyed the dilemma of a vessel in distress. Yet not one knew the meaning of "…render assistance whenever possible…"

Now the smoke was becoming thicker but fortunately the wind was carrying it away from the Annie Mae. Number one son could do nothing but watch. Smartly reluctant to remove the cowling he discharged the extinguisher through the louvers into the motor. The smoke eventually subsided.

Adrift in the river with the anchor line fouled in the locker two grubby old fishermen in a grubby old Renken powered by a grubbier old Suzuki (at least it was running) saw the predicament and offered assistance. Holding another fire extinguisher at the ready these gentlemen secured the Annie Mae's drift and stood by. With the smoke gone and its source assumed to be extinguished the cowling was gingerly removed. The electric controls on top of the motor had been aflame.

The Annie Mae had embarrassingly succumbed to mechanical deficiencies in her lifeline. Number one son asked the rescuers for assistance to shallower water for anchorage but these fine gentlemen insisted that they tow her Royal Highness to Bushy Park Landing - about a three (3) mile trip. A hip tow was rigged and off she went sadly. These fine gentlemen refused compensation for their generosity.

"SeaTow, SeaTow, SeaTow this is the Annie Mae, over" went the call. Sea Tow responded swiftly and in less than one knows, SeaTow had the Annie Mae in tow.

Back among boats of lesser pride and resting peacefully on her throne in the marina, the Annie Mae will heal. She will be readied for troubleless adventures quicker than the flash of the yellow light on a hovercraft.

An after thought --- Had the number one son not used the Annie Mae on Sunday, She would have gone off shore with her Captain and the number two son on Monday to troll and bottom fish. The fire could have occurred at sea.

Reprinted with the kind permission of Harry Darby

Cdr. Vince Lombardo called the meeting to order at 1934 at the Headquarters Building. Those in attendance were: Lt/C Loretta Lombardo, Cdr. Vince Lombardo, Lt/C Steve Kromer, Lt Janice Kromer, Lt/C Ed Kridler, P/Lt/C Cindy Kridler, Lt Corrin Marinko, Lt Terry Marinko, Lt Wendy Walsh, Lt/C Bob Gulbrandsen, P/C Harry Gindhart, Lt/C Charlotte Yeomans, Caitlyn Yeomans, Ashley Yeomans, P/C Anthony Ward, P/C Merellene Ward, Lt Richard Finn, P/Lt/C Martin Gipe, D/C Marge Schulte, P/C Mike Page, P/C Harry Gindhart, Steve Rustin. The minutes of the Aprils Executive Committee Meeting were amended and accepted. A quorum was established.

Executive: Per Lt/C Edwin Kridler: Dinner meeting of May, we have invited the members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to join us and the guest speaker will be Brett Grooms their Commander. The only response to the proclamation request of Safe Boating Week was by the Town of Mt. Pleasant; they will have a representative at the Dinner Meeting. Lt Kirk Williams will be setting up a booth at one of the boat landings; he is looking for help. To contact Kirk, call him at 768-7454. Per P/D/Lt/C Mike Page: We will have a cooperative charting event this June.

Educational: Per Lt/C Stephen Kromer: The educational department has been very busy with many Boat Smart and Squadron Boating Classes. The certificates for the first responders course is being looked into, and the Commander will be investigating the outcome.

Administrative: Per Lt/C Charlotte Yeomans: Upcoming cruises are the Shem Creek Cruise on 3 May and the Georgetown Cruise 16-18 May. The OT class will be offered on the 2 June and P/C Harry Gindhart will be conducting the class. Per P/C Merellene Ward: We are working on a package to welcome new and transferred members to the squadron, Lt/C Bob Gulbrandsen is helping with this project.

Treasurer: Per Lt/C Loretta Lombardo: The squadron remains solvent, and money is coming in with the membership renewals. Per P/Lt/C Cindy Kridler we are over due for an audit and as the bylaws state we need to complete this as soon as possible.

Secretary: Per Lt/C Bob Gulbrandsen: In Lt Nelson Hicks absence the deadline for the Palmetto Log is 11 May. Please have all articles into Nelson by that time. The Bylaws amendments have been approved by National Representative D/Lt/C Allan Larkin. He stated that the signed approval sheet would follow in the mail shortly. All the Directories have been sent in the mail to members that did not pick them up at squadron functions.

Commander: Per CDR Vince Lombardo: Our Executive Officer, Lt/C Ed Kridler has submitted his letter of resignation due to his company moving him. So the Executive board met prior to the evening ExCom meeting, there were nine of the eleven members in attendance. Per the squadron bylaws the present Administrative Officer will be moved into the Executive Officers position. The replacement Administrative Officer will be Lt Janice Kromer; these two positions will be for the remainder of the present term of office. Lt/C Ed Kridler motioned that this be the case, Lt/C Bob Gulbrandsen seconded. The Executive committee voted unanimously to accept this proposal.

Old Business: No old business was addressed.

New Business: Per P/C Anthony Ward: we will have a booth set up at Boaters World in Mt. Pleasant for the 3 and 4 May to promote Safe Boating Week. At present only Lt/C Bob Gulbrandsen and myself have volunteered to help, we need people to help out, please.

The meeting adjourned at 2013.