At the US Power Squadrons (USPS) Annual Meeting held recently in Orlando, FL, Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron took “Top Squadron” honors while US Power Squadron District 27 was named “Top District.” The awards are sponsored by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and given annually in recognition of exceptional service and public boating safety education and service to the boating community.
“Power Squadron members work hard giving up their own time to help make boating safer. They offer boat owners free vessel safety checks, provide boating safety instruction, and more. Their commitment to ensuring everyone has a safe day on the water is greatly appreciated,” said BoatUS Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner.
Annapolis Sail & Power Squadron’s accomplishments were many. The group held a local collection for Toys for Tots; a clothing and food drive to benefit a local food bank that filled an entire member’s pick-up truck; contributed financially and gave through volunteer work at the National Sailing Hall of Fame in their community; and assisted a local non-profit organization, Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) in getting those with disabilities on the water. Squadron members also participated in the National Safe Boating Council “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day” and wrote many articles for the local papers about boating safety. The vessel safety checks its members performed found nearly a dozen recalled fire extinguishers.
The Top USPS District Award recognizes the collective efforts of all of the squadrons within a region. USPS District 27 includes 20 Squadrons in North Carolina. The award is based on the amount of classroom hours logged, community outreach hours and number of vessel safety checks performed. These voluntary and free safety reviews are designed to educate boaters about recommended and required safety equipment aboard recreational vessels and to assess the condition of the safety equipment they have aboard.
US Power Squadrons began with the efforts of Charles Chapman, who in 1914 realized that owners of recreational powerboats needed instruction on how to operate safely and with confidence. Today, the USPS has over 350 regional Squadrons for owners of both sail and powerboats.
