Gainesville Sail and Power Squadron Receives Awards

“It was a banner weekend for our Squadron,” GSPS Commander David Teiss, JN, reported after attending the District 23 Fall Conference held Friday, 6 October through Sunday, 8 October in Melbourne, Florida.  The Gainesville Squadron was honored in a number of categories, including Membership and Advance Course Teaching Aids.  In addition, the Squadron’s new Sea Scouting initiative was informally briefed during several conference sessions.

Teiss led the Gainesville delegation that included: Laraine Teiss, Faith and Tracy Connors.

The Conference led off with a 50^th Birthday Anniversary Party—“Bash”—to honor the Banana River Squadron on its significant milestone.

Saturday sessions included departmental meetings and special interest workshops.  Teiss participated in the  Commander and Co-Op Charting sessions.  Faith Connors participated in the Squadron Secretary and Public Relations Sessions.  Tracy Connors participated in the Website Development and Public Relations sessions. 

[Fortunately, the Council’s meeting agenda’s were completed in time to rout the Gators to victory over LSU—“it’s hard to be humble when you’re a Gator.”]

During the Website Development sessions, "the Gainesville Squadron website was used frequently as an example of an outstanding web site," Connors reported.  The instructor, a senior NASA Administrator and web site developer/administrator for the Banana River Squadron, used his wireless connectivity to access the Gainesville site on several occasions during the session to illustrate clean cut design, interesting graphics and timely information. (GSPS member Paul Prusakowski and his staff designed the website)

The GSPS initiative to establish an Organizing Committee for a new Sea Scout Ship was of significant interest to many attendees during the Public Relations sessions.  Participants saw the connection between youth boating safety education, interesting and fun activities for young adults, and participation by their parents as having major potential as a membership recruiting tool and public relations initiative.  District 23 XO Don Clark offered his encouragement and support to GSPS.  He and Tracy Connors discussed plans to add a Sea Scout Ship briefing session to future District Conferences.

During the formal dinner held on Saturday evening, Squadron Commander Teiss was called to the podium on three occasions to receive squadron and personal recognition. 

“We were honored in a number of categories,” he reported.  “We were number one in increased membership of all the squadrons in our district.”  In addition, GSPS “placed second in the advanced course teaching aid contest…and seventy first in the NATION in individual coop charting.”

By Tracy Connors