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Volume XL Number 11 January 2023

Past Commander’s Log

Happy New Year2023!!
Ahoy everyone!

Welcome to 2023! Let’s hope that this year is more ‘normal’ than the last few years.

There are some exciting events coming up. Our speakers for January Social night at the FCYC will be my friends Harald Riffel and Janet Coates. Many of you will remember their 2021 boating exploits aboard Raven Song when they circumnavigated Vancouver Island. The summer of 2022 saw them up the ante by circumnavigating Moresby Island in Haida Gwaii. Harald is a great photographer and whether this trip is one that you would like to do yourself or to just live vicariously through them, it is sure to be a great evening.

There is still room in our in-class Boating 2/3 course starting Jan 24 at Prince of Wales School. If you or someone you know could do with a boating course, contact Peter Girling. Our February Radio course has been moved from February 4^th to February 11^th due to a scheduling conflict at   As mentioned before, the ROC(M) is mandatory even if you only turn your radio on! Contact Peter Bennet Bennett for more information or scroll further down in the Masthead for more information plus the links for online registering.

The Vancouver International Boat Show will be back in person this year, Feb 01-05. This is always a great event. Pacific Mainland District will have a booth to promote CPS and our boating courses, especially Boating 1 (PCOC). The online sign-up sheet is now up and running for you to sign up for a 4-hour shift. Besides a chance to chat with fellow members, this will also give you free admission into the Boat show for that Day – what a deal! If you are driving, Vancouver squadron will refund VPSS members parking as another way to say thank you. See further for the link.

On the National front, CPS has begun the implementation of the 2023-2025 Strategic and Tactical Plan. Items include continuing tweaks of the website to make it more intuitive and easier for members and possible new members to navigate, more communication from National to the Squadrons as well as updates to the educational courses. A big topic, which has been bandied about before but appears to have teeth this time around, is the rebranding of CPS. Some people may be put off joining CPS because of the use military terms like Squadron or Commander that could be perceived as paramilitary. The abbreviation, CPS, also means nothing to many people unless they are already part of the organization. In the USA, the organization has rebranded itself as ‘America’s Boating Club.’   Should we be ‘Canada’s Boating Club’? Or maybe another name? What should a Squadron be called? Should the commander be commodore, or president or chairperson or? What are your thoughts on this topic?
Other good news is that CPS members can now get a 20% discount on a subscription to Pacific Yachting.   See cps-ecp.ca for details as well as other member benefits.

We are always looking for new ideas and new volunteers. Come on down to FCYC for Social night and talk to about your ideas!
Looking forward to seeing you.

Elizabeth Zygmunt
Past Commander, Vancouver Power & Sail Squadron

Squadron Social night, Monday January 16^th at the False Creek Yacht Club

False Creek Yacht Club (Top floor)
Doors Open at 7:00 pm
Event begins at 7:30 pm
Cash bar is available for your enjoyment.
Parking at False Creek Yacht Club is limited. There is free parking in designated stalls in the open lot below and street parking is also available.

Join Vancouver Squadron’s social night on Monday January 16, 2023 @ 7:30 for a presentation on Harald & Janet’s cruise to Haida Guaii and circumnavigating Moresby Island

“Cruising on the Edge - Exploring Haida Gwaii and Moresby Island's Outer Coast.”

Harald Riffel has been adventuring on our local waters for many decades via power, sail, kayak and back to power
In 2016 while on a beach cleanup on a remote part of the west coast of Vancouver Island, he met the perfect boating partner in Janet Coates. In 2018, they purchased Raven Song, a North Pacific 38 and each spring since has seen them on a 3-4 month boating adventure.
In 2022, this adventure was up the coast to Haida Gwaii, an adventure in itself but then they decided to up the ante by circumnavigating Moresby Island.
Join them on Monday January 16 to hear about the planning, execution and all the thrills of this wild trip which very few boaters have ventured.

Vancouver International Boat Show 2023

The Vancouver International Boat Show features the province's largest display of boats, engines, electronics, marine gifts and accessories. It's a great place to see what's new in the world of boating.
A good way to see the show for free is to volunteer on the Pacific Mainland District booth. You will meet other CPS members and future members. Each shift is 4 hours.

To sign up for your shift, click here: (or cut & paste into your browser)
volunteersignup.org/XW4JQ

Upcoming Boating Courses

Boating 2/3 Classroom course starting January 24, 2023
Start Time:7:00 PM
Contact: Peter Girling
(604) 313-5508
prg@telus.net
Address:  Prince of Wales School
2250 Eddington Drive
VANCOUVER, BC
Additional Information
The classes run for 12 sessions (interrupted by the school Spring Break) and start at 7:00 pm and end about 9:30 pm. The first half hour is spent reviewing homework and then is followed by a presentation by one of the instructors. An optional weekend day on the water is also planned. We reserve the right to cancel the class in the unlikely event there are insufficient numbers or if covid protocols subsequentially become too restrictive.
Pricing and Packages:
Boating 2 and 3 Combined with Printed Book
Non-Member Price
375.00 (Early Bird Discount $355.00 ends Jan 9th, 2023
Member Price
337.50 (Early Bird Discount $317.50) ends Jan 9th 2023
There is also an option for a Boating 2 and 3 Combined No Book option for a 2nd Family Member
Non-Member Price
260.00 (early Bird Discount $240.00 ends Jan 9th, 2023)
Member Price
234.00 (early Bird Discount $214.00 ends Jan 9th 2023)

https://www.cps-ecp.ca/ecommerce/course-calendar/?cps_show_course_details_id=79&cps_show_class_id=4905

********************************************************
Maritime Radio Operator Course (Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate (Maritime)
Start Date:   Feb 11, 2023 (1 day) (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Address:   St. James community Square, 3214 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.
Contact:   Peter Bennett
(604) 817-4165
training.radio@vpsboat.org
To ensure that you will receive the course materials before the class, you should register at least two weeks before the class. Registration will not be accepted on the day of the class.
The fees for all courses are $135 for CPS Members, or $150 for non-members

There is also a "no book" option for a second student sharing course material: members $112.50, non-members $125
Please see https://www.cps-ecp.ca/ecommerce/course-calendar/
For the self-study course:
https://www.cps-ecp.ca/ecommerce/course-calendar/?cps_show_course_details_id=204&cps_show_class_id=2258
Scroll down to Vancouver

Save the Date: June 10th, 2023

Boat for Hope is a one-of-a-kind event that brings kids who have been helped by Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC out for a memorable day on the ‘high seas’. Generous boat owners donate their time and their vessels to take the kids and their families on a pirate adventure through False Creek. The young pirates collect loot bags along the way at various ‘Treasure Stations’ which are sponsored by local businesses. Following their frolicking voyage, they’ll head over to Hastings Mill Park to enjoy a a hearty BBQ along with games & live entertainment. Boat for Hope provides a day of adventure & amusement for over 450 children with special needs and their families allowing them to spend quality time together in a stress free environment.
What are your responsibilities as a Boat for Hope Skipper? Bring your boat (at least 25 ft power boat) and crew to the docks of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club on Saturday, June 10th. They will be there waiting with pint-sized pirates and their families. Once everyone’s boarded, you will take them out on an unforgettable pirate adventure! Most Skippers take part in 2-3 trips each lasting approximately 90 minutes. Skippers will be required to provide life jackets for the adults who will be accompanying the kids. Life jackets for the children will be provided by Mustang Survival
In appreciation of your participation as a Skipper and a Boat for Hope fundraiser, Variety will be providing you with a tax receipt up to $750 for your fuel.
For more information, contact:
James Botham
Boat for Hope Committee https://www.boatforhope.ca/
604-837-2574
james.botham@telus.com

BRIDGE POSITIONS OPEN! SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!

As previously mentioned. there are several Bridge positions still open
Commander
Executive Officer
Education Officer
Assistant Education Officer
Masthead Editor
Programs Officer

Volunteering can be fun, a great way to meet people and an opportunity to learn new skills.

Please consider volunteering for any of the above-mentioned positions.

Please contact any current Bridge member to let them know that you are interested in keeping Vancouver Squadron strong and vibrant in the years ahead.

Do you have any Stories?

...that you'd like to share?

If you feel the urge to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be), and have a story you'd like to share with fellow members, we'd like to read it!

Funny stories, lesson-learned stories, great cruising stories, you-won't-believe-what-happened stories...

Please send any short masterpieces to pro@vpsboat.org and we'll try to include them in the Masthead when we have space.

Happy writing... and boating!

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 16, 2023: Squadron night at FCYC "Cruising on the Edge - Exploring Haida Gwaii and Moresby Island's Outer Coast." Harald Riffel & Janet Coates with MV RavenSong

January 24, 2023 Combined Boating 2/3 starts Prince of Wales School
January 30, 2023: Squadron Bridge night Maritime Museum - everyone welcome!
February 01 -05, 2023 Vancouver International Boat Show
February 11, 2023 Maritime Radio Course - one day St James Community Centre
February 13, 2023 Squadron night at FCYC - note a week early because of Family Day holiday -Speaker TBA

Membership Renewal

A reminder to members to renew your membership before or within 30 days of your expiry date!

In order to renew, you must log into the cps-ecp website. If you have forgotten your password, you can create a new one. If you no longer use the email with which you made your profile, you will need to contact Moe to forward to National. For security reasons, only the member can change their email.
Remember that the ‘head of the household’ renews for the entire household. Lifetime members must still renew at 0.00.

Membership Renewal

The Member or Family Group can renew their membership in advance of their expiry date.
The Member or Family Group has 30 days after the expiry date to renew their membership.
On day 31, the Member or the Family Group become Non-Members and have no access to the Benefits of CPS-ECP Membership.

If it is more than 30 days after their expiry date a former member must reapply for membership using the same process as a new member

Steps to reapply:

Each member must Login.
Complete Membership application process.
Complete payment process
Each member will receive a new expiry date.
Historical profile data for a member will be carried forward to new membership.
Family Groups can be reformed in one year at the next renewal date.

Any questions? Any problems? Ask our membership officer, Moe Forrestal smo-vancouver@cps-ecp.org

Squadron Bridge (2022-2023)

Past Commander Elizabeth Zygmunt
Commander
Member -At-Large: Bill Botham
Executive Officer
Assistant Educational Officer Peter Girling
Assistant Educational Officer (Radio) Peter Bennett
Secretary Charles Tai
Financial Officer Don Mathew
Assistant Financial Officer Les Hausch
Membership Officer Moe Forrestal
Assistant Membership Officer
Programs Officer
Environmental Officer Bill Blancard
Communications Officer
Newsletter Editor
Supply Officer (Regalia) Don Zarowny
Webmaster/IT Officer Peter Bennett
Historian Dennis Steeves
Officer-at-Large
Officer-at-Large
Officer-at-Large

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