Potomac River Squadron's next safe boating class to begin March 11, 2013

If hypothermia leaves you cold, then read this....

If you're like me, and I know I am, I shudder at the thought of freezing to death.

Bad pun aside, the human body operates best when its internal temperature ranges between 98 and 100-degrees F. The body starts to lose function when its internal temperature falls below 96-degrees F. Hypothermia is a bitch.

News of the blizzard expected to hit the northeast U.S. this afternoon brought hypothermia warnings to the fore. Hypothermia is easily avoided for most. Avoid the cold. Dress warmly in layers. Pay your heating bill. Be alert for signs of hypothermia.

Wikipedia -- you can always trust Wikipedia -- lists mild, moderate and severe hypothermia symptoms. At its mildest, hypothermia can cause involuntary shivers and mental confusion. At worst, hypothermia causes loss of muscle coordination, decreases in heart and breathing rate, blood pressure and can cause hypoglycemia.

The Power Squadrons is a boating civic & safety group. We are concerned with captains and crew who fall from the boat into cold water. This 2007 story at The Ensign is a dandy piece on hypothermia safety for boaters. It includes a chart that show survival times based on water temperature. If you fall into 32.5-degree water, you've got 15 to 45 minutes to get the heck out.

A second chart lists survival rates in 50-degree water with and without flotation devices. A life vest keeps you warmer as well as afloat. That's why the Coast Guard has become a doggone pest about wearing one all the time.

By the way, boaters, alcohol won't keep you warm in cold water. Instead, it speeds up hypothermia's effect. Save the drinkin' for the dock party.

Hypothermia is best avoided. If you must run the risk on land or on the water, be ready.

Image found on kayakquixotica.com, which also pointed me to this 10-minute NASBLA video on surviving hypothermia in the water.




NEWS:
Coroner: Woman suffers hypothermia, drowns after swimming in 45-degree water.

The Power Squadrons is going social

Though United States Power Squadrons members are of all ages, it's most active volunteer leaders are, um, "seasoned." That can mean that we they are slow to adapt to trends and culture shifts. Power Squadrons* members are especially slow to adapt to all things Internet.

Members I speak with -- nearly all are, or near retired -- are casual users of email and downright distrustful of social media. We always laugh when I tell them their grandchildren will force them to Facebook, Twitter and texting. Young people will listen to music on their handhelds, but will not answer a phone call. Granny, meanwhile, believes one-on-one contact is the only authentic form of communication.

The Power Squadrons was wildly successful with authentic communication in the mid-20th Century. Today, that's a tough way to reach potential members who haven't the time for after-hours meetings and sit down classes. Face time will always be important to the Power Squadrons, especially for events like dock parties. That one-on-one stuff has faded as the best channel to reach the demographic critical to the Power Squadrons' future -- the 40-somethings new to boating.

Power Squadrons is no longer fighting the tide. Now they are on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with links to all three from the Power Squadron's home page.

But members have to "get it" that Facebook and Twitter ( and Google+) are conversational. One visits them to say something, not just to soak updates. Soaking is for Web sites. Social Media is for everybody, EVERYBODY, to start conversation. I'm skeptical, yet hopeful, that Power Squadrons members will share.

Social media draws an audience because everyone shares something -- anything -- from comments to a post, to links to a story, or reaction to unfounded rumors that old people (yes, I said it) frown upon. I find that unfounded rumors draw bigger audiences (It's called trolling for hits), and that reaction to the reactions lead to the most vibrant conversation, if not to the truth itself.

Social media just does not work if the site moderator is the only contributor.

In time, Power Squadrons will reach more potential members through Facebook and Twitter than face-to-face. Since YouTube is more visual, that channel makes the most compelling case for what we do. In fact, Boating Fever will  link some of those video's here in the future.

I worked for a high tech company for 20 years, so have always been comfortable with the potential of this stuff. Threats to privacy are real, but nowhere near what old folks make it out to be. That's why I am comfortable pointing you to links to my personal Facebook profile, my Facebook Hog Heaven page covering the Washington Redskins and to my Twitter page that also covers the Redskins. Feel free to "friend" my profile page, "like" my Hog Heaven page, and "follow" my Twitter page.

The more you use social media, the more you learn to protect yourself. The first step is always to set your privacy settings to your comfort level. Your grandchildren can show you how to do that.

* United States Power Squadrons and Power Squadrons is always shown as a plural even when used in the singular. It's the Power Squadrons recognition of the 400 or so individual squadrons that make up the organization. Local squadrons are always shown in the singular when referring to a single squadron. 

Used in sentences:
The Power Squadrons is the largest non-profit volunteer boating safety civic group.
Power Squadrons is no longer fighting the tide on social media.
Boating is fun. Power Squadrons shows you how. 

History of Potomac River Squadron now online

Founder’s Day 2012

View more PowerPoint from Potomac River Power Squadron

This is a brief history of Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power Squadrons, that I presented at the squadron's 97th Founder's Day & Change of Watch Ceremony.

Potomac River's history is United States Power Squadrons' history. Potomac River is the oldest Power Squadron in continuous operation. Potomac River's early leaders, especially Dr. A.B. Bennett, SN, were significant early leaders of the Power Squadrons movement. (By the way, Power Squadrons" is always expressed as a plural.)

Slideshare.net hosts the presentation. It's on the free account so there is advertising and clutter if you go directly to Slideshare.

If you are like me and I know I am, you enjoy histories. If so, check out the links to these well-written histories:

Northern Virginia Sail and Power Squadron,

Corinthian Yacht Club (Washington, D.C.) A Historical Review.

Northern Virginia is a descendant of Potomac River Squadron, which was itself formed by members of the Corinthian and Capital Yacht Clubs.

Enjoy.

Chesapeake Bay Magazine features story on the Anacostia River, birthplace of the Potomac River Power Squadron.

When was the last time the Anacostia River got any good press?

I'm a native Washingtonian and I can't recall any. Even the positive story in Chesapeake Bay Magazine, that I am about to refer to you, goes by the headline The Bad and the Beautiful. The subhead tells the full story, however. "Washington's hard-luck Anacostia River may be the city's ace in the hole." (February 2012 issue, pp 22- 27, continued on pp 48-49)

The Anacostia is still muddy, still polluted, still infested with litter and I wouldn't eat anything caught in those waters, but the river is about to get the mother of all face lifts along with the nearby Washington Channel.

The projects are already underway, kicked off by the District of Columbia's heavy and much fought-over investment National's Park, the baseball stadium.

The magazine story touches on that, goes into the District's Southwest waterfront project for the nearby Washington channel and has waxes eloquent about features about the river of interest to small craft boaters. Yes, Anacostia still features wildlife areas. The Kenilworth Gardens, contains the sole remaining marsh that was the dominant feature of the area when George Washington picked the place as the nation's capital.

The area is important to the Potomac River Power Squadron. It was born there in 1915 when Dr. A.B. Bennett, then cruise captain of the Corinthian Yacht Club, convinced members of his club and the nearby Capital Yacht Club to join the power squadron movement.

The Corinthian was based on St. James Creek on the Anacostia. The have since moved downriver, but Capital Yacht Club remains on the Washington Channel. News accounts of the day reported squadron on-water activity from the channel to Occoquan Bay.

Potomac River Squadron is one of many sponsors of the Anacostia River Cleanup Day held annually on Arbor Day. Past Commander Howard Gasaway, Sr., P, is the spark plug behind both the squadron's participation and the clean-up day itself.

Read the feature story on the magazine's web site, www.cheasapeakeboating.net. Click here.

Long articles are hard on eyes, especially old ones, when read online. So look for the February 2012 edition of Chesapeake Bay Magazine, if you can find it.

For a brief history of Potomac River Power Squadron, check out the Founders Day presentation posted on SlideShare here.

Other Anacostia links:

washingtonpost.com - Anacostia River from then till now.

Anacostia Watershed Society web site - http://www.anacostiaws.org/

State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources - The Anacostia: River of Recovery

.pdf document - History of the Corinthian Yacht Club.

Web site - History of the Capital Yacht Club.

Web site - History of the District Yacht Club.

Web site - History of the Seafarer's Yacht Club.

BoatUS Mourns the Passing of President Nancy Michelman

ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 10, 2011 – Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of President and Publisher Nancy Michelman, who died on Friday after a year-long battle with cancer. A selfless leader with an infectious laugh and the gift of inspiring others to get together and do their best, Nancy’s courageous fight was marked by her optimism and energy.

Michelman was a self-described “Jersey Girl” who began sailing at summer camp in Maine as a child, and grew up with a love of boating. In 1989, as a rising star with the American Automobile Association (AAA), BoatUS Founder Richard Schwartz was impressed with her energy and intelligence. He hired her immediately to run the BoatUS membership department, manage partner relationships and grow benefits and services.

Read the rest of the story here.

New Century Demands New Solutions for the Marine Industry and the Power Squadrons

Tradeonlytoday.com published an opinion piece, Boat rentals are a viable option to boat ownership. Trade Only Today covers the marine industry and the story was interesting for the story it tells of the plunge in new boat sales since 1988.

Here are excerpts you need to read:

"Although the world, and especially commerce, has undergone a wholesale transformation since 1988, how the recreational boating industry markets its products remains little changed and the engine that drives the entire industry — new-boat sales — has dropped into a black hole. From 1988 to 2010 annual sales of new outboards have plummeted from 355,000 to 112,000, inboards from 20,900 to 7,300, sterndrives from 148,000 to 18,700 and sailboats from 14,500 to 4,300.

"Although all sorts of studies have been commissioned in recent years by and for the marine industry, common sense tells me three things: First, new boats have become just too expensive to be sold at the rate they once were; second, it’s increasingly hard to justify putting a boatload of money into a fixed asset that sits at a dock and may only be used a few times a month; and third, folks just don’t have the time to devote to one recreation anymore, especially if their children would rather spend their time on Facebook than fishing or facing into the wind offshore.

"It’s an article of faith in our industry that boating can’t be compared with other industries. That said, a look at other industries is instructive. Before the Great Recession as much as 25 percent of all new cars were leased, with the luxury BMW brand at the top of the list, leasing 85.7 percent of its 7 Series automobiles. To strengthen its share of this market, BMW earlier this year launched a $100 million fund — BMW i Ventures — to invest in companies that will, among other things, develop alternatives to traditional car ownership."

Michael Sciulla, vice president of the Marine Marketers of America, wrote the opinion piece. He gently scores his industry for its sense of uniqueness that inhibits open-mindedness to new business solutions. That is only human nature. Every industry says "we're different" and are blind to successful new concepts developed by other businesses to solve similar problems.

The economy that sustained marine industry growth in the 1970s and '80s is never coming back, says Sciulla (Tell me about it!). The auto, travel and vacation property industry found ways to cope by parsing ownership into slices of use for a fraction of the cost. Full ownership of luxury items are a barrier to next gen customer whose lifestyle leads them away from the hobby.

New boat sales sputter as the engine of the industry. Rentals, boat clubs, fractional shares, syndication are solutions. Groupon and Living Social are new marketing channels. Sciulla wants the industry to wake up to this before it sinks.

Read the full opinion piece here.

Charting a new course for boat membership groups

The Power Squadrons faces similar issues. Membership waxes and wanes with the industry. But, the nation's oldest non-profit boating safety, education and social membership group may be slow to adapt to next gen members. Power Squadrons membership at fewer than 45,000 pales in comparison to BoatUS with over 500,000 members. (By the way, the correct term is always "Power Squadrons" plural.)

The United States Power Squadrons™ and BoatUS are allied organizations. Every active boating Power Squadrons member I know is also a member of BoatUS. BoatUS is an association not unlike AAA. Like AAA, most boaters join BoatUS for the towing service, the on water equivalent of road service. The touch point of BoatUS members to the association is a PC screen, or these days one of those handheld thingies.

The Power Squadrons is a face-to-face membership group, with face-to-face being both and attractant and an inhibitor. I look at power Squadron members and see that we are all (ahem) "seasoned," at or near the end of our employment life. Squadron and national leaders have a vague sense that we may be missing the next generation members because their lifestyle allows less time for meetings. BoatUS may be on to something with that.

The Power Squadrons is adapting, if slowly. The Governing Board approved selling its excellent education texts direct. Boating courses and memberships are offered online. It has simplified its membership tiers and the confusing dues structure that came with it.

But the Power Squadrons is still all volunteer all the time. That lowers cost, but restricts some of its capabilities. A visit to the national and local web pages illustrate the point. They are functional, but are not as slick as BoatUS, AAA or your college alumni association web pages.

The Power Squadrons has a private area on the SailAngle social media site to facilitate internal communication—that current members resist using (Get over it, people!). There is no national United States Power Squadrons outreach on SailAngle or Facebook to reach 21^st Century boaters, the only way to reach and maintain an ongoing relationship with that demographic.

The Power Squadrons excels at keeping hands-on navigation skills alive for recreational captains at a fraction of the cost of commercial schools. That is a family jewel and must remain so. (A person who completes all of the Power Squadrons' core courses can navigate anywhere in the world with the proper charts and a sextant.) On most other things, we could use a few new ideas to expand our reach beyond face-to-face. Before we sink.