Alouette Hailer

I'm humbled and appreciative of all the support from the members. It's been a great year with ups and downs but through it all I've come to know that Alouette Squadron members "step up to the plate" when needed. I knew this when I first became an active member " way back when", but this past year it has been especially evident to me. Then membership participation at last year's Pacific Mainland District Change of Watch was awesome.

This year our very own Anne MacDonald pledged as the Pacific Mainland District Commander. I invite all of Alouette there with me for Anne on May 28 & 29th. Lets show the PMD that Alouette really supports their members! I was amazed at the dedication I saw in the classrooms – both the Boating course and Boat Pro English and Chinese. Alouette can be proud to say we are one of the only squadrons to offer Boat Pro in English and Chinese.

Participation and turn out for our socials has also been excellent. New and old members have been turning out in "Droves" ... if you haven't, then I invite you to come and see what you're missing. Our own Change of Watch last year had the best turn-out I've seen in quite a few years, and this year I hope to see even more. We'll be having it at the ECRA centre on May 7th and as one "Old Timer" told me... " Why don't we have one of our famous POTLUCK dinners for our COW? ".... So we decided to try it, who knows, it could become another great Alouette tradition! This is a family night and as always our children are welcome! (After all they ARE future Alouette Squadron members!) I hope to see you all for a spectacular evening with good food, good friends, good talk, and good entertainment, CHEEP too.

I was humbled; and proud, to see the support for Donna Carlson at our Past Commander Bob Carlson's Memorial Service and I'm sure Donna and her family were as well. I saw not only most of the Alouette Bridge members, many from the District Bridge; but as well, new members Bob had taught in the Fall Boating Class. Bob has been a tremendous addition to Alouette Squadron and he will be sadly missed.

Finally, I have to say that none of the Squadron events would be possible without the dedicated bridge members we had this year. From the Training Team to the Socials Team and more; everyone contributed 110%. I noticed it and I know new members noticed it because they're coming on board for next year.

Our Annual General Meeting is on April 16 at the ECRA centre. The Bridge has been set... and I can't "rope" you into anything, so I encourage everyone to come out for our speaker Darren Steele of Hydra Boat Lifts.

Thank-you, Alouette Squadron for a great year and I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.

We are preparing for our next Social, coming up April 16^th,1900 hours, at the ECRA Centre. This is our AGM and once the formalities are over there will be a special speaker, goodies to eat and lots of time for socializing. Please note the flyer inside this Hailer.

May 7^th 1800 hours, is our Change of Watch Dinner, held at the ECRA Centre. This dinner will be potluck (the best food anywhere), with the meats being prepared by your Social Committee. So please bring your favourite dish and join us for a great time. There will be door prizes and other surprises.

Make sure you check out the Pacific Yachting magazine this month. Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons Pacific Mainland District Conference Registration Form is included. Remember our very own Anne Macdonald will become Commander of Pacific Mainland District. The dates are May 28 and May 29, 2004. It would be great to have a good turnout from Alouette Squadron to support Anne.

I would like to thank Roger Gendron for all his work on the Alouette Squadron Web site. The site is now up and running. Check it out at: www.members.shaw.ca/alouettesquadron this is the correct address for our web page. I missed the "s" in members so please check your address books if you put the address down from Februarys Hailer. Please visit the site, you can read or download the Hailer from here. Roger is always looking for information to place on the site so please feel free to contact him at rgendron@shaw.ca

I thought that you should know what is happening with NDI and CHS and what it means to those of us who use chart-plotting systems. As an organization, we are not a lobby group, as individuals we are certainly free to express our satisfaction or dissatisfaction with what CHS is allowing NDI to do. I have attached a web site for you to peruse. If you feel strongly about this, please write CHS and NDI and express your individual feelings.

Announcement Regarding Canadian Hydrographic Service Charts Purchased Between August 2002 and March 2003

The Canadian Hydrographic Service has recently discovered that some CHS charts, purchased between August 2002 and March 2003, have been experiencing unacceptable durability problems. The problem consists of inconsistent ink adherence to the paper that may affect erasing, paper folding and water contact. These charts may be easily identified by a white chalky coating sitting loosely on the surface. Unfortunately, the coating, which rubs off easily onto your hands with normal chart handling, was improperly applied during the manufacturing process of the paper. Testing charts for this condition is best done by scratching a white area of the chart with a fingernail. Until March 31, 2004, the CHS will replace, with the same chart version, any charts purchased between August 2002 and March 2003 that exhibit the above-noted characteristics. You are asked to contact your dealer to arrange for your free replacements. CHS is changing to adapt to new technologies while working diligently to ensure that resources are used effectively to permit the distribution of essential information to our clients. We thank you for your understanding during this transitional period. We are developing solutions to prevent this situation from occurring in the future. Meanwhile we apologize for any inconvenience that it might have caused.

I just received this document so this is very short notice to have these charts replaced. Check the web sites for further information. www.charts.gc.ca/pub/en/help/notices.asp

I was surprised by the article in the last Hailer, re: Burrard Inlet pollution. The only source quoted for this position was a report by the BC Environmental Network. Please let me assure your readers that the inlet is cleaner now than it has been in the last 50 years.

Lets start by looking at the oil refineries. Twenty years ago, there were up to six refineries operating on the inlet. Most of which were stinky, leaky operations, which had little, if any emission controls. Today there is only one left in operation, and it must meet or exceed modern emission standards, not those of 1957. I have friends who were raised in Vancouver in the 50.s and 60,s, who would venture up the inlet on weekends in the summer. They could wade into the inlet waters and stand knee deep in crude oil that had been left by tankers that had cleaned there holds into the inlet. These same tankers had come to the inlet to pickup oil products from those same refineries. I can assure you that this is not the case today.

In the early years, the Burrard Thermal Power Plant ran on crude oil and left a thick stinky haze over the inlet. Today it uses high efficiency boilers to produce electricity with very low emissions and no visible smoke. The outboard engines on pleasure boats of 1957 used dirty 2 stoke oil mixed gas. Most of those have now been upgraded to clean, fuel efficient, low emission 4 stoke engines. Many boats today are equipped with holding tanks for wastewater. Combined with all these improvements, are strict pollution control laws and monitoring as well as oil spill response teams with state of the art equipment.

The level of public awareness to green boating and pollution in general has taken quantum leaps. The high number of new effluent permits that have been taken out is evidence of this. This effluent must be highly treated and in many cases is as clean as storm drain runoff.

I do understand that pollution is still entering the inlet, but all one has to do is use the inlet on a regular basis to see the water quality is improving. The crabbing in the inlet is also some of the best on the West Coast. With increasing recreational boating in the inlet I believe the situation will only improve with more people taking stewardship of this beautiful inlet. Thank you for reading my alternate views on the inlet.

Our Boating class, reduced from 17 students to 15 students seems to be doing very well. Two students will continue the course in September because the class interferes with their flight lessons.

Bob Carlson, member of our training department and Officer for Boat Pro will be very missed with his high expertise as instructor and proctor. Bob passed away on March 12, 2004. Bob was a mentor for many of us and we will always remember him

Anyone who would like to proctor or be willing to take the instructor training course-please give me a phone call. By helping others you can refresh yourself on all the important details so necessary to safe and enjoyable boating. Remember – someone was there and willing to spend the time for you!

Lorena Brady our Commander, will teach a VHF-Course on April 26 2004 and May 4, 2004 at Maple Ridge Secondary. To register please contact Lorena Brady at (604) 463-9258 if interested.

At the National Training meeting in Toronto, March 12-14, 2004 the national stats indicate that enrollments are down. Boating Courses are down 11.2%, Piloting Course –10.5%, VHF –24.4%. Reduced incomes are hurting CPS across the board. All departments are analyzing, reviewing and developing new methods of increasing productiveness.

The ranks of our members holding the grade of Advanced Pilot is now increased by six.

Congratulations to the following members who have successfully completed this somewhat difficult advanced course:

For those who revel in statistics the following may be of interest: The squadron now boasts

Our training officer would like to hear from those members who are interested in taking the Piloting course. A number of students in the recent boating courses have expressed an interest in qualifying for the grade of Pilot and, if there is sufficient interest, it may be possible to provide the course in September.

In the course of my career, and a lot of it was working on the water, I noticed, over the years, that a few accidents were the direct cause of people joking around, playing tricks on one another. I think horseplay on the water is just an accident waiting to happen.

Another item I mentioned to the instructors during my course is folks who don't slow down for small craft. One late Sunday afternoon my wife and I were canoeing up on the East Side of Pitt Lake. There must have been at least thirty big boats heading home at full throttle and not one slowed down. I had a 16 Frontiersman canoe and the only reason we didn't capsize is that I have had ample experience canoeing and managed to hit each wake just right to not turn over. When I looked at all these boats passing at this speed, not one person ever even looked back to see if we made it. Needless to ask me of my opinion of Pitt Lake boaters!

Alouette Squadron received the following notice from the Pitt Meadows Airport that I would like to pass along to our members.

YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FUN FILLED FAMILY DAY AT YOUR AIRPORT

Fair seas and a calm crossing Bob a fond farewell. Bob sailed quietly into the sunset March 12, 2004. He will be greatly missed.

Memorial Donations can be made to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation or "the ICU in memory of Robert Carlson"

I would like to Congratulate Mike Herity, (Murphy) on his purchase of a new vessel. Good sailing Mike. I think he should call it Murphy's Law. Smooth Sailing from Mike Dixon and if I may, congratulations from the rest of the members of Alouette.

Please take notice THAT THE Annual General Meeting of the Alouette Power Squadron will be held at the ECRA Centre at 12150-224 Street Maple Ridge, on April 16. 2004 at 1900 hours for the purpose of:

Under Squadron Regulation 12.1 any further nominations for elective office must be made by way of a petition in writing signed by not less then five (5) members of this Squadron who shall confirm the consent of their nominee to stand for election. The petition must be filed with the Squadron Secretary not less than two (2) days prior to the date of this meeting.

Commander	Lorena Brady
LtC Executive	Thomas Baumann
LtC Training	Al Slater
1^st Lt Membership	Holly MacMillan
1^st Lt Secretary	Bob MacMillan
1^st Lt Treasurer	Donna Carlson
1^st Lt MAREP/Safety	Jennette Westerink
1^st LT Public Relations Officer	Lorena Brady
Recommendation for Officers that are appointed
Lt Environment	Ross Wright
Lt Training Aids	Mark Vanderwal
Lt Supplies	Lloyd Gregson
Lt Training
Lt Training Boat Pro	Thomas Baumann
Lt Training Boat Pro Chinese	Michael Wong
Lt Training VHF	Lorena Brady
Lt Socials
Lt Editor	Ann Wright
Lt Communications	Jennette Westerink
Lt Chief Proctor	Wilf Jacobson
Lt Cruisemaster	Mike Dixon
Lt At Large	Lorne Riding
Lt At Large	Kimberly Van Den Muijsenberg
Port Captains	Bill & Jennette Westerink
Squadron Historian
Past Commander	Dianne Gregson
Webmaster	Roger Gendron

A knot is the nautical term used to indicate speed. 5 knots mean, a speed of 5 nautical miles per hour. Perhaps it could be considered the equivalent of a young person of today, referring to the speed of his or her new car, as so many clicks. It should also be noted that the speed used in dead reckoning in the CPS Boating Course is the speed of the vessel through the water, not necessarily over the bottom.

The following explanation and illustration is an extract from "Bowditch". The American Practical Navigator, which is generally accepted as the classic authority on navigational matters:

The oldest speed measuring device known is the Dutchman’s log. Originally any object, which would float was thrown overboard on the lee side, from a point well forward, and the time required for it to pass between two points on the desk was noted. The time, as determined by sandglass, was compared with the known distance along the deck between the two points to determine the speed.

Near the end of the 16^th century a line was attached to the log, and as the line was paid out a sailor recited certain sentences. The length of line, which was paid out during the recitation, was used to determine the speed. There is record of this method having been used as recently as the early 17^th century. In its final form this chip log, ship log, or common log consisted of the log chip (or log ship), logline, log reel, and log glass. The chip was a quadrant-shaped piece of wood weighted along its circumference to keep it upright in the water. The log line was made fast to the log chip by means of a bridle, in such manner that a sharp pull on the line dislodged a wooden peg and permitted the log chip to be towed horizontally through the water and hauled back aboard. Sometimes a stray line was attached to the log to veer it clear of the ship’s wake. In determining speed, the observer counted the knots in the log line, which was paid out during a certain time. The length of line between knots and the number of seconds required for the sand to run out were changed from time to time as the accepted length of the mile was altered.

The chip log has been superseded by patent logs that register on dials. However, the common log has left its mark on modern navigation, as the use of the term knot to indicate a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour dates from this device.