Ponce de Leon Sail & Power Squadron, a Unit of United States Power Squadrons®, New Smyrna Beach Florida

Ponce Inlet Househouse approach from Atlantic Ocean

www.PonceInletSquadron.org

Our Courses

Our Courses...

Way to go Mike

Congratulations go out to Lt/C Mike Aloise, JN

on passing the Junior Navigation course.

Public Courses

Boat Smart Class

Boat Smart class starts on October 29, 2008 and will last for four weeks. Class hours will be 7:00pm to 9:00pm. It will be held at the Daytona State College (DSC) (AKA Daytona Beach Community College) South Campus at 904 10th Street, New Smyrna Beach. Class registration can be made through the USPS National Web Site or on-site at DSC South Campus on the 29th at 6:30pm. There is no charge for the instruction, but there is a $35.00 fee for a book. A book can be shared, but there will be a $5.00 charge for the extra person or persons. If potential students have any questions they can contact P/C William R. Myers, SN on his cell 386-321-4370 or email..

Since our last report, we had 5 Sea Scouts pass the Boat Smart class.

America’s Boating Course - delayed in getting the new version to the printer.

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) - Florida Statutes 327.395 (and most other state’s statutes for that matter) specifies that anyone 21 years of age or younger is required to either have successfully completed a NASBLA approved boating safety education course, or have passed a course equivalency, or temporary certificate examination, and have in their possession a boating education ID card and a photo identification card before operating a vessel with a motor of 10 HP or more in Florida. Now we have a connection between USPS and NASBLA. The BoatSmart curriculum is being replaced and updated with the America’s Boating Course Version 3 curriculum. It was originally scheduled to be released in late August. It was given to NASBLA in June for review and approval. After some minor tweaks the new course is expected to be approved and should be available to the squadrons on 1 November 2008. This puts us on a course to begin teaching in early 2009.

For more information contact:

Lt/C Will Benny, JN - Squadron Education Officer

Educated Boaters Are Safe Boaters - Call Today For A Course Near You!

*** Our local information request hot-line 877-276-0837 ***

email your request for Course Information

Member Courses

Seamanship course scheduled for 7 October 2008 - We had originally scheduled a Seamanship course beginning 9 September. Due to many members being on vacation, we were not able to get in touch with many of the prospective students. Therefore, we are postponed this class until 7 October 2008. It will be held on consecutive Tuesdays in portable #110 at Daytona State College (formerly DBCC) in New Smyrna Beach.

Over the summer some members were busy with courses they had begun before the break. Congratulations are in order for Lt Paul Yeaton, S, who successfully completed the Instructor Development course. Paul is now a certified instructor. Anyone wishing to become a certified instructor can contact me or any of our current instructors for information about the class.

We are currently awaiting the results of Lt/C Mike Aloise, AP’s, Junior Navigation course. I’m told that the course is over and the exams have been forwarded to National. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

I started the Beta Version of the new Navigation course in May. We have completed the first 7 chapters and our sight folders. However, we have been waiting for the release of the final 3 chapters since 25 June. We hope that will happen soon.

For more information contact:

Lt/C Will Benny, JN - Squadron Education Officer

*** Our local information request hot-line 877-276-0837 ***

email your request for Course Information

Keep your mind sharp and your skills up-to-date - enjoy a seminar, take a course, review

by proctoring our safe boating classes - education is a major part of our organization.

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United States Power Squadrons
Educational Opportunities

United States Power Squadrons provides many educational opportunities to both the boating public and to its members. One of the key concepts of the United States Power Squadrons is the self-education of its members, meaning that successful students go on to teach other students to perpetuate boating knowledge. USPS instructors who teach public courses are also certified regarding their ability to teach and use modern instructional methods.

USPS University

- is here with new programs targeted to a range of boaters and types of boating. The hallmark of this concept is the Seminar Series. These short seminars are targeted to specific topics and needs with a two-hour format, and valuable take-away guides. Each seminar provides credits toward the soon to be released Boat Operator Certification program, and credit toward elective courses.

Using VHF & VHF/DSC Marine Radio	Using GPS
How to Use a Chart	Onboard Weather Forecasting
Boat Handling Under Power	Sail Trim
Paddle Smart	Knots, Bends, and Hitches

Three New Seminars Available

Anchoring
Hurricanes and Boats
Marine RADAR.

Public Educational Opportunities

Public Courses

USPS provides basic boating education to the public with no charge for instruction. Local squadrons may teach The Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, or America's Boating Course. Squadrons may also follow a Boat Smart or America's Boating Course with a Chart Smart course to provide charting and plotting information not covered in those two courses. Locate a course to be taught near you soon.

USPS Seminars

USPS has a series of short seminars open to the public on a variety of boating related topics, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), weather, and marine radio. The materials included with each two hour seminar include a Student Note Book and other take-away guides related to that particular topic. Check here to see the offerings.

USPS Guides

A series of short guides on a wide variety of subjects of interest to boaters are also available; these are known as USPS Guides. Some Guides are also available to the public at various marine supply stores and book stores. These items may be used in USPS® classroom courses and seminars or for home study.

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Member Educational Opportunities

Member Educational opportunities are available through two segments, Advanced Grades and Elective Courses. Learn how to become a member.

Member Advanced Grades

The Advanced Grades are a series of in-depth navigational courses for members, and completion of the highest level course determines a member's "grade". Letter grades may appear in USPS printed materials while insignia appear on a member's uniform. Descriptions of these courses, as well as the letter grades and insignia, are given on the Advanced Grades page.

Member Elective Courses

A wide discipline of courses that cover related boating topics other than navigation are also offered as part of the instructed course curriculum for members. Descriptions of these courses are given on the Elective Courses page.

Recognition Levels

USPS awards grades to its members to indicate how far they have progressed in the continuing education program. Since one of the USPS objectives is boating safety through education, USPS encourages every member to strive to achieve the Educational Proficiency level, with the ultimate goal being that of the Educational Achievement Award.

Educational Proficiency Insignia Anyone completing a grade level of at least Advanced Piloting (AP) and three Elective Courses receives the Educational Proficiency Award. Shown below is an AP insignia with the Educational Proficiency bar below it.

Senior Navigator Insignia Anyone completing all Advanced Grade navigational courses that results in a grade of Navigator (N) and all Elective Courses receives the Educational Achievement Award. This award, also known as the Senior Navigator award, is the highest educational recognition awarded by USPS. Holders of this honor can be recognized in print by the "SN" following their name. Shown here is the Educational Achievement Award insignia that you might see on a member's uniform.