EACH One, Reach One, TEACH ONE - USPS

1 Website: District 26 VOLUME 65, Issue No. 1, Fall 2020 WHAT S INSIDE Our Commander s Message ..1-2 Featured Articles DXO C&R April 2021 DAO Report ..4 Clubs Creativity During Educational Department ..6 Bridge Bios ..7-10 ABC Annual Meeting Flyer ..10 D26 Awards ..11-13 Bridge Officer s Contact Information ..14 I wasn't planning to be the one to write the D26 Commander's report for O26 True this year; however, the untimely passing of P/C David Sapp, the nominated Commander, necessitated a change of plans. Words cannot express our disappointment for this all know Dave would have done a magnificent job. Beyond that, we also lost the D26 Flag Lieutenant P/D/C Ed Kridler earlier in the year. What a year we've had. Beyond these losses, we also had to suffer the consequences of the pandemic which disrupted virtually everyone 's plans for the year.

2 I have to admit that I have been very impressed with the way each Squadron has responded with a variety of ways to keep their members engaged. The pandemic did force us to learn how to conduct virtual meetings and conferences. Many Squadron and District meetings, Changes of Watch, educational classes, etc., were successfully conducted using a variety of platforms for such purposes. I was especially pleased with how well the Awards Celebration was conducted were a few hiccups but, overall, accomplished the mission. That having been accomplished gives us the confidence to know that we can make greater use of teleconferencing in the coming year. It's been decided that this coming Spring we will conduct another virtual Awards Celebration complemented by also offering some additional seminars/workshops. In essence, we will be reimplementing a Spring Conference without participants having to travel and incur the related expenses.

3 The Conference Planning Committee will be providing more details as they become known. Beaufort and Hilton Head are proceeding with plans for a Cruise & Rendezvous, realizing that the pandemic may, again, have a negative impact. Also, we have determined that to make significant financial commitments for a Fall Conference is not prudent at this continued presence of the virus remains a threat to there being adequate member participation to ensure a successful event. Therefore, we are fully prepared to conduct another virtual Fall Conference and Change of Watch. If magically the threats of the virus COMMANDER S MESSAGE D/C Jim Wilkins, AP (Continued on page 2) Abc of South Carolina and Coastal Georgia 026 True A quarterly newsletter publication of America s Boating Club Beaufort Charleston Dreher Shoals Golden Corner Lakes Golden Isles Hilton Head Lake Hartwell Lake Murray Long Bay North Strand Savannah River Swamp Fox Thurmond Lake Tybee Light United States Power Squadron Volume 65, No.

4 1, Fall 2020 026 True Page 2 Innovation, Education, Community" America s Boating Club and logo are registered trademarks of the United States Power Squadrons . December 2020 significantly diminish, we will re-evaluate the possibility of an in person Conference. With our new knowledge and confidence in conducting teleconferences, we are planning to offer various educational, informative, "how to" sessions available to all members throughout the year. This will be a collaborative effort between the Conference Planning Committee, Administrative and Education Departments, and Commander's Aide, Jan Wright. I've also asked Ron Osburn, Flag Lt, to monitor the community activities performed by all Squadrons so we can recognize their efforts at the Awards Celebration. Hopefully, the pandemic will soon subside, so we can return to our normal activities and offering of educational courses.

5 With the unprecedented sales of new water vessels over the past year, there is a much larger audience to benefit from our offerings and, subsequently, to join us as members. As Chief Commander Mary Paige Abbott has is Job 1! P/C David Sapp had adopted "Innovation, Education, Community" as his theme for the coming year. Because of its appropriateness, it will be our theme for this year. As I said at the D26 Change of Watch, it's all hands on deck for the coming year. I'm looking forward to your continued efforts to overcome the obstacles facing us in the coming months. Wishing everyone a Joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. Jim Commander s Message (continued from page 1) XO Corner hello all and thank you for allowing me to serve D/26 as Execu-tive Officer.

6 In general, my job as DXO is to assist the District Commander and Squadrons in every way possible to maintain a cohesive environment for the best interest of all members of this District. Rest assured, we are totally aware that it s not the D/26 Bridge that makes this District function the way it does, nor any individual member, but rather joint efforts of every sin-gle member of this District to make us all proud being part of D/26! That said, to help improve our overall func-tionality we need somebody or somebodies to Chair or Co-Chair the District s VSC Pro-gram. There are many folks out there with the wherewithal to stand out and step for-ward to fill this important vacancy. Hopefully, the vaccine or vaccines soon to be made available will allow us to enter 2021 somewhat back to normal leaving 2020 a distant bad memory.

7 Let s all hope and pray this comes to frui-tion! Rich D/Lt/C Rich Norris, SN District Executive Officer The D/26 2020 Fall Conference Minutes are available on the D/26 website at info/2020%20D26% D/26 2020 Fall Conference Minutes Volume 65, No. 1, Fall 2020 026 True Page 3 America s Boating Club and logo are registered trademarks of the United States Power Squadrons . December 2020 America s Boating Club of Beaufort & America s Boating Club Hilton Head invite you to save the dates District 26 Cruise & Rendezvous April 21-25, 2021 Finally, we have an opportunity to do what we are meant to on the water. Let s take this opportunity to reconnect while enjoying a social distancing Cruise & Rendezvous. Explore the Lowcountry like the Conquistadors of the 16th Century Discover Santa Elena More than 40 years before the English settled at Jamestown in Virginia, the Spanish established a town and fort on the shores of Port Royal Sound in Beaufort County.

8 Santa Elena. Cruise to mysterious islands through rivers, channels and creeks. Discover the history and mystery of these crucial waterways. Take the opportunity to circumnavigate an island under the leadership of captains who understand the changing tides. District 26 Raft-Up Raft Up in the Beaufort River to enjoy the Marine Corps Air Station s Air Show featuring The BLUE ANGELS Volume 65, No. 1, Fall 2020 026 True Page 4 Innovation, Education, Community" America s Boating Club and logo are registered trademarks of the United States Power Squadrons . December 2020 I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving despite the pandemic. I have made Membership Job One as a priority within the District Administrative Department. With this focus in mind I solicited input from all 14 district boating clubs.

9 What I was asking for was what each boating club has done over the nine months of the pandemic to help members communicate with each other and maintain the camaraderie that our association is famous for. I am pleased with the input from many boating clubs and have organized in the three motivational words our district commander has proclaimed for this bridge year: INNOVATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY. Innovation Outside gathering where every household brought their own food, and everyone was socially distant at separate tables. Boating trip where each boat had only their household within it and rafting was done at social distancing. Some beach ups were held where everyone was socially distant. ABC boating skills course was held virtually with the test administered in a local parking lot. A in-house scavenger hunt was organized and participants enjoyed themselves via ZOOM.

10 Created boat and land yacht gatherings outdoors to enjoy meet and greet socially distant. Education Several virtual ABC classes were held to educate the community and solicit new members. ABC classes were held at marinas where social distancing was upheld. Several new members were signed up. Community Bridge members and membership chairs helped via telephone trees to keep in touch with members and helped where possi-ble. Monthly newsletters were published as per usual. Focus of these monthly newsletters was member personal stories. Held monthly ZOOM meetings where boating club business was discussed and a new interesting speaker informed membership of various interesting local topics. ATON inspections were held with socially distanced crews. GEO hunts were encouraged. Beach clean ups were held, and a lot of waste gathered.