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2014 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 296
Commending the Nansemond River Power Squadron and the United States Power Squadrons.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 14, 2014
Agreed to by the Senate, February 20, 2014

 

WHEREAS, on September 13, 1964, 23 men in the Suffolk community received a charter to establish the Nansemond River Power Squadron as a local division of the United States Power Squadrons, which is dedicated to promoting boating education and safety; and

WHEREAS, since 1964, the Nansemond River Power Squadron has provided boating education and safety classes as a civic service to the Suffolk community, and members of the public are taught how to handle a boat, seamanship, the type of equipment needed for safe boating, rules of the road, lines and knots, charts and navigation aids, engine troubleshooting, boat trailering, and other important aspects of safe boating and water safety; and

WHEREAS, these courses will become increasingly important to Virginia boaters over the next few years when all boaters will be required to pass a boating safety course in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, piloting, electronic and celestial navigation, weather, sailing, cruise planning, engine maintenance, and marine electronics are among the advanced courses offered to squadron members by the Nansemond River Power Squadron; and

WHEREAS, the Nansemond River Power Squadron also provides free vessel safety checks to the public, supplies data on depth surveys, range status, geodetic marks, and aeronautical charts, and helps maintain the accuracy of nautical charts by supplying information to the Marine Chart Division of the National Ocean Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which corrects nautical and small craft charts and Coast Pilot publications; and

WHEREAS, members of the Nansemond River Power Squadron participate in sailing, cruises, annual fundraising, and social events; the Squadron is one of the few boating fraternities in the nation whose membership is continuing to increase; and

WHEREAS, the United States Power Squadrons was established in 1914, as a nonprofit educational organization to make boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation, and related subjects; and

WHEREAS, the United States Power Squadrons, the nation’s largest nonprofit boating organization, consists of families who contribute to their communities by promoting boating safety through education; each local squadron focuses on community service, continuing education, and enjoying the friendship and camaraderie of fellow members; and

WHEREAS, local squadrons of the United States Power Squadrons offer boating safety courses on a regular basis to boaters in their communities, which are open to the public without regard to the age of the participant; and

WHEREAS, the United States Power Squadrons has offered boating safety courses for more than 95 years, has educated more than 3 million boaters, and has provided boating safety courses that meet the educational requirements for boat operation in every state; and

WHEREAS, the Nansemond River Power Squadron has provided and promoted boating education and safety services to the citizens of Suffolk for 50 years as a member of the United States Power Squadrons, which will commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2014; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Nansemond River Power Squadron on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly hereby commend the United States Power Squadrons on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Commander Rana Weaver of the Nansemond River Power Squadron, and Administrative Officer and Vice Chairman Gary P. Cheney of the United States Power Squadrons, as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for the Squadrons’ dedicated service to the citizens of Suffolk and best wishes for many years of future success.