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USPS 100 Year Anniversary:
POWER SQUADRON AND ME:
It all started when our family went on vacation at Lake Winnipaskie in New Hampshire. I was transferred to New Jersey in 1964 to work on Apollo equipments and the whole family came along for a period of 2 years. Our real home town was Cedar Rapids, IA. What a great opportunity to visit the East Coast. Let’s take a special vacation. We ended up renting a 16 footer with a small outboard engine. My 2 boys, ages 11 and 12 as well as my wife were enamored by the boating on the lake. Fun, Fun. We ended up buying an 18 foot lapstrake wooden boat with a 95 hp motor. Back in NJ, I signed up to take power squadron courses from the Saddle River Power Squadron.
I really knew nothing about boating and I had heard that USPS was the way to learn. In those days the public course was the Seamanship Course. I think I found USPS very interesting because it was full of information that would result in fun activities for everyone in the family. Also there needed to be proper judgment on safety as every boating activity is a new experience. And I made many mistakes over the years, like running aground, or having the motor stall in the wrong place. Guess I can say again: fun, fun. Power Squadron teaches safety so that the boating public can be properly informed by the members. Power Squadron outreach to the public has benefited many new boaters.
Back in Iowa in August, 1966, I transferred to the Cedar Rapids Power Squadron now known as the 4 Rivers Sail and Power Squadron. I was so into boating that I trailed by 18 foot boat back to Iowa and started having fun right away. I decided the really good place for the boat was the Mississippi River. Why? When cruising I would not run out of water ahead. There was always more cruising water up or down stream. Power Squadron and the boat became a way of life over the years. When did I quit boating? Well, my boat and I became too old by 2003. Overall 37 years of boating.
Power Squadron efforts continue as my activities slow down. Thank you Power Squadron for many great boating years and 43 Merit Marks.
P/D/C Arnold Bucksbaum, SN, #B019681, Cedar Rapids, IA
Note on the above: National Power Squadron asked the question in regard to the 100th Anniversary issue of 2014: What has USPS done for you? Thus, I have written my answer and have sent it into headquarters. In a way it should be easy to answer the question, and in another way it is not easy as Power Squadron was also educational and also social which drew me into the organization.
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