SDSPS 50th Anniversary Burgee

San Diego
Sail & Power Squadron

San Diego, CA

Call to Dinner: Commander Ron Weiner called the group to dinner at 1845. Lt. Andrew Backus gave the Invocation. Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lt/C Dave Baer, Commander Weiner thanked Lt/C Katherine Law for an outstanding job of organizing the Change of Watch and D/C Lou Loth for coming.

Introductions by Commander Weiner:
Head Table: D/C Lou Loth. Suzanne Weiner, Lt/C Dave Baer and his wife D/Lt/C Marie Baer, Lt/C John Isaksen and his wife 1/Lt Katherine Isaksen, Lt/C Katherine Law, Lt/C Mike Fontaine and his wife Carol, and Lt/C Virginia Prutow and her husband Richard.

Other Tables: Tom Griffin and his wife Lani Donohoe, the SDSPS Administrative and Assistant Administrative Officers-Elect, George Weston from Gloucester, MA, and three couples from San Luis Rey Power Squadron: Commander Wayne Best and his wife Marietta, D/Lt/C Adriaan Veldhuisen and his wife Cheryl, and Commander-Elect Van Diehl and his wife Cida.

Recognitions:
Rear Commander Ed Mraz
District Lt. Commander Chester White
Past District Commanders: Bill Bridge, Duane Leathers, Irwin Pascoe, and Tom Swift
Past Squadron Commanders: Shelley and Steve Bakalis, Jerry Donovan, Bob Hubbard, Nadine Christensen, J. Brockway Clark, Shaun McArdle, and Mel Mones
Past Squadron Lt. Commanders: Steve Gawara and Gordon Parham

Call to Order: Commander Weiner called the group to order at 2030.

New Members: Bob Jasek, Kent Hildreth, and Cathy Mangold were sworn into the squadron by Commander Weiner.

Donald L. Shockey Award: D/C Lou Loth presented the D/28 Donald L. Shockey Award for excellence in the elective grade courses to Lt/C Mike Fontaine, SEO, and P/D/C Bill Bridge, Chair of Elective Courses. The squadron has won all three of the D/28 education awards.

Honorary Memberships: Commander Weiner presented his wife Suzanne Weiner with a USPS honorary membership pin and
a framed Certificate of Appreciation. Marsha Smelkinson was also approved for honorary membership but was not present.
The Commander quoted from the motion for their approval made by P/C Bob Hubbard at the December, 2003 Executive Committee Meeting:

"By reason of their conspicuous service to the San Diego Sail and Power Squadron in the upgrade and publication of the squadron newsletter, THE SHIP'S MAIL, I propose that Suzanne Weiner and Marsha Smelkinson be elected by the Executive Committee to receive honorary membership in the squadron for the year 2004".

Life Member Recognition Award: Commander Weiner presented this award to P/C Steve Bakalis for earning
25 merit marks. He announced that Mike Grinnell who was not present had also earned this award.

Sail Fleet Trophies: Ted Umland announcd that Frank Giaimo had won the first place trophy and that Bill Frame had won the second place award. Neither was present.

Senior Member Recognition Award: Commander Weiner presented plaques to Richard Prutow and Rhoda Mones for earning 5 merit marks. He announced that Barbara Goddard had also earned this award but was unable to be present.

National Journalism Award: D/C Loth presented the National Excellence in Journalism Award for 2003 to Suzanne Weiner, editor of The Ship's Mail. Commander Loth noted that an acknowledgement of this award appeared in a recent issue of the Ensign.

National Web Site Excellence Award: D/C Loth announced that the squadron had won this award while Lt. Bill Frame was Webmaster. It is a new award and is the highest one given for a web site. The award will be given to Lt. Frame at a later time since he was not present at the meeting.

Twenty-five Year Pin: Commander Weiner announced that P/L/C Jim Fetzer had recently been given a pin for 25 years of membership in USPS. He has moved to Arizona.

Member of the Year: Each year the Commander with recommendations from the Executive Committee selects a member who is not an elected officer who has made an outstanding contribution during his watch. Commander Weiner presented this award to IT Chair, Lt.
Tom Fota. He noted his many contributions to the squadron information technology program and announced that he had been appointed to the USPS Information Technology Committee.

Departing Commander's Remarks: Commander Weiner thanked Gretchen Ritter from SWYC for her efforts in organizing the Change of Watch. He thanked Lt/C Katherine Law for preparation of the COW booklet and the decorations. He thanked the Executive Committee and the Committee Chairs for their hard work throughout the year. Finally, he thanked his wife Suzanne for editing the Ship's Mail and for all her patience with his activities as Commander. He expressed confidence in the new commander and said that he was looking forward to a good year.

Closing of the 2003 Watch was announced by D/C Loth.

Administration of Oaths:
D/C Loth administered the oath to the Commander-Elect Dave Baer who in turn administered the oath to the
2004 Bridge Officers, Members at Large, and the Elected Committee Members.

Presentations:
D/C Loth presented Commander Baer with the USPS Commander's Kit.

P/C Weiner presented Commander Baer with shoulder boards, a Commander's flag, and a gavel.

Commander Baer presented P/C Weiner with P/C shoulder boards, a P/C flag, and a plaque recognizing his service as Commander.

The 2004 Bridge was called to the Head Table by Commander Baer.

Incoming Commander's Remarks: Commander Baer said that his main goal was to encourage members to have fun. He wants to increase participation in on-the-water activities, VSC, and Co-operative Charting. He wants to have Boating Courses more frequently. He thanked both the retiring bridge members and committee chairs and those on-going. He noted that there were many committee chair positions unfilled. He thanked his wife Marie for getting him involved in the squadron 10 years ago.

The meeting was adjourned at 2110.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia Prutow
Secretary