The Torch Passes
 

 

By LEN BURTON

 

Commander’s Report – March 2012 

This is my last Commander’s report.  

The last three years have been exciting, fulfilling and, at times, challenging. We have moved up to the number three position in Vancouver Island South District membership from the number eight position.  

We have accomplished many milestones:

• We won the Boat Armour Trophy in 2009.

• Our past six Boating Course classes have had the highest marks in Vancouver Island South District. That is three consecutive years in a row!

• Our Training Officer, Dawna Burton, won the Jim Bryce Memorial Award at VISD for Individual Efficiency and Dedication in 2010.

• Dawna won the CPS National Award for Officer of the year in 2011. 

• I (Len) won the CPS National Award, the G. William Bowman Volunteer Instructor of the year, for 2011 (Western Provinces).

• Gilly Maycock, following in her dad’s footsteps, won three MAREP Awards in 2011. She won the CPS/CHS National award presented for Best Squadron Effort; the Len Burton/Dave Jackson perpetual MAREP Hydrographic trophy for best quality accepted MAREP submissions; and the George McKimm MAREP Trophy awarded to the best VISD Squadron in the MAREP Hydrographic program.

• Our Squadron won the Pig War last summer (a significant accomplishment in its own right!).

A couple of years ago an unnamed Commander from another Squadron in VISD made the remark at a meeting I was attending that Brentwood Bay was “the social squadron.”  I took it as a compliment. We not only took the most trophies home; we are the Social Butterfly Squadron that plays to win.

Brentwood Bay Squadrons Boating Course is almost finished. We had a successful Student Cruise to Genoa Bay, March 4th. We had the pleasure of holding our cruise on the same day as Victoria Squadron. We supplied the hot dogs and condiments; Victoria Squadron cooked them up. This was a great way for our students to meet with Victoria’s students to compare notes. The weather was relatively good for the better part of the day.

Our elective courses are almost finished:

• Navigating with GPS and Electronic Charting are finished and all students passed.

• Radar is in progress.

• VHF Radio course to follow the Boating Course.

Starting in May, we have scheduled one Squadron Cruise a month through to September. Our kick-off cruise in May will be to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This has always been a successful cruise and all Squadrons are welcome to join in.

Our Squadron is doing well. We are maintaining membership. We have a strong and healthy bridge that works well together sharing ideas.

Our Grad/AGM is April 25th with a change of watch. Doug Beech, Brentwood Bay Squadron Executive Officer, will move into the Commander’s position.

On a final note, I wish Doug and his Executive all the best in the coming year, and, no I’m not going anywhere. I will close with my favourite quote “Brentwood Bay Squadron rocks.”

 

Len Burton

Commander

Brentwood Bay Squadron.