April 2003 Chartroom Chatter

Commodore's Corner

Kenneth W. Bean

The Commodore Balls are about over and now it is time to get our boats ready and gear up for the club Opening Day ceremonies. The warmer weather will certainly be a welcome relief. I believe we have all seen enough snow to hold us over for a few years to come. At least the water levels are back up to where they should be so maybe we can avoid the water restrictions.

We attended the Queen's party that was held at North Point YC. There were 20 princesses in attendance along with Queen Bridget Smith and past DRYL Queen Ms. Barbara Gricco. There was a nice luncheon and the club Commodores attending were reminded of their responsibilities concerning their princess. In addition, guest speakers gave the princesses advice as to how to dress, conduct and present themselves while representing their clubs.

It was announced that the 2003 CBYCA princess T-shirt will be available for pre-ordering by each club. The shirts will have the princess logo on the front with a complete listing of all 2003 princesses with club on the back. We must receive all orders no later than April 16, 2003 to guarantee delivery by April 26, 2003 at the Marley Boat Club Opening Day ceremony. The cost is only $15.00. The princesses were given order forms to take back to their clubs. This will be a fine way to honor these young ladies that give so much of their time representing our clubs. Queen Bridget announced that again this year there will be a charm exchange between the CBYCA princesses and the DRYL princesses in attendance at the Opening Day/Queens pageant to be held at Maryland YC 5/31-6/1/03. For additional information please contact Queen Bridget.

We hope that all Delegates and Alternate Delegates will be able to attend the Delegates meeting scheduled for April 19, 2003 at Eastern YC. The Delegate pins will finally be presented plus the CBYCA 2003 Chartroom Chatter Roster Issue will be distributed to each club. We hope to see you all there.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

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Vice Commodore's Report

Betty Stahler CBYCAQO@aol.com

The Delegates Meeting will be held on April 19^th at Eastern Yacht Club. Please see flyer for directions. It is important for all Delegates to attend, as we will be distributing the 2003 CBYCA Roster Book between the hours of 10:00 and 12:50 and at the end of the Delegates Meeting. The new Delegate pins will also be presented. Our guest speaker will be the renowned Maryland angler and columnist Bill Burton, back by popular demand. LUNCH RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST (410-437-5448).

I would like to congratulate Queen of the Chesapeake Bridget Smith for a wonderful job she did hosting a princess luncheon. Not only was the lunch delicious but, Queen Bridget set up a guest speaker who gave the princesses and their Commodores informative information toward making this year a fun, successful time for the princesses.

Inserted in this edition you will find a Communications Committee survey. Please take some time to complete the survey and mail it to me by April 16^th. It is very important for the committee to receive input so we know if the changes we have implemented are working.

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Ceremony Coordination Committee Report

V/C Betty Stahler CBYCAQO@aol.com

The Opening Day Ceremonies are about to begin. Please check the inserted goldenrod sheet and the CBYCA Website http://www.cbyca.org for the upcoming opening day ceremonies. If your club would like yacht club representation and your opening is not listed, please e-mail me complete information so we can get it posted. CBYCAQO@aol.com. The website is updated as information is received.

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Rear Commodore's Report

R/C John Garlotta CBYCARC03@yahoo.com

Hello to everyone, I hope everyone has made it over the winter weather . It is now time to get back into the boating season. By the time this edition of the Chartroom Chatter reaches you we should be into good weather, and a lot of our boats will be back in the water.

Over the winter we have been busily putting the CBYCA 2003 Chartroom Chatter Roster Issue together. It has been a big task, and many hours of effort by many people have gone into making this roster book. My heartfelt thanks go out to P/C Penny Orth, P/C Donald Antos, P/C Joe Hellner, our current V/C Betty Stahler and the many others who have helped to get this project completed. Bea Bean has again done a superb job in getting our friends and patrons list together. Thanks also go to the clubs, individuals, and commercial entities, who placed advertisements in the book. These ads make this book possible and fund the activities of the CBYCA.

There was a new page addition to the book, THE PRINCESS PAGE. This page was a huge success. Not only did we have a page for the Queen and Princesses of the Chesapeake, there is also a page for the Queen and Princesses of the DRYL. I am sure you will agree these pages make a great addition to the book. CBYCA 2003 Chartroom Chatter Roster Issue books will be distributed at the April meeting which will be held at Eastern Yacht Club on the19th.

Please, this is an important meeting, you need attend the meeting to receive your books. If you cannot attend make arraignments with another club to pick up your books. We do not send out the book by mail.

On a last note I want to thank Bordentown YC and Commodore Guy Erickson for the great reception they gave us at the March meeting of the CBYCA/DRYL.

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Maryland Legislative Report

Coles Marsh, DSLMD marshcr@prodigy.net

With just several weeks left of the 2003 legislative session some key issues are still on the table that would affect the recreational boater.

1. House Bill # 442 will establish a task force to study the feasibility of licensing boaters. It looks like this will happen. The Governor will appoint the chair of the task force, requiring the task force to study certain policy, administrative, security, and economic issues surrounding the establishment of a state boating license. The task force will consist of eight persons, three of these from organizations that represent the interest of boaters in the state. The report will be due on or before December 1,2003.

CBYCA HAS REQUESTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT TASK FORCE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN GETTING ON THE TASK FORCE.

2. House Bill # 1001 Exemptions from excise tax. This bill exempts from the vessel excise tax the purchase of a vessel by a nonresident from a licensed dealer within the state if: (1) the vessel will be used on waters of the state for 90 days or less of a calendar year; and (2) the vessel displays a sticker developed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and provided to the dealers. The sticker must include a space to be filled in by the dealer for the date the vessel was delivered to the purchaser and a statement that the vessel may only be used on the waters of the state for 90 days or less. The bill also expands an existing exemption from the vessel excise tax to provide that a person is not required to pay the tax resulting from the transfer of a vessel to a business for charter, resale, rental, or lease purposes.
3. Waterway Improvement Fund looks like it will take a big hit as part of the budget-balancing act. CBYCA is against this, as the boater generates the fund to be used to enhance and maintain our waterways. This would encourage out-of -state boaters to visit our area and keep our waterways safe and navigable for all to enjoy. If that is to be, we would suggest short-term obligation bonds as re-payment. We cannot start a habit of neglecting our precious asset, the Chesapeake Bay.
4. CBYCA gave testimony in support of SB420. The support was for " island restoration" to dispose of dredge materials as recommended by the DMMP (Dredge material Management Program). New islands in the Chesapeake Bay, our state treasure, are not needed.

YOUR CLUB'S VOICE IS IMPORTANT.

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New Jersey Legislative Report

Jerry Donofrio, Sr., DSLNJ Security@fcc.net

Waiting for the Other Shoe

The Assembly Waterway Safety Sub-Committee public hearings have concluded after listening to testimony at three locations around the State. The last location was at Pine Beach, near Toms River, held at 2PM on a Friday afternoon. Committee Chairman, Assemblyman Smith and the panel gave everyone an opportunity to speak to the issue of Bill A3184 calling for mandatory Boating Safety Education and Certification. At the last meeting testimony was received from speakers representing the National Traffic Safety Board, Bill Gossard, Ocean Marine Specialties, Dan Rutherford, boating accident recreation and investigation insurance underwriters and the CBYCA Jerry Donofrio.

Our testimony emphasized the importance of safety education presently offered by the USCG Aux and the USPS. It was recommended that the state look to these organizations for education first and also contemplate an online educational tutor website utilizing an interactive testing page. Opposition to the 60 day rule was entered for public record. This clause allows first time purchasers to operate a vessel provided they were instructed by the salesman on safety It is ludicrous to believe that we are attempting to improve waterway safety requiring mandatory education for experienced boaters only to allow totally inexperienced new boat owners 60 days of mayhem on the water. Inexperienced new boaters entering our sport should be held to the same quality standards for safety. Sales staffs are trained to sell and are not certified to educate.

New Jersey ties certain infractions of boating to automobile motor vehicle licensing. These include intoxication and drug impairments. We gave testimony in opposition to boat operator licensing. The New Jersey plan is to call it Certification and an operator must have this certification, issued by the State Police, on their person during the operation of the power vessel.

The Legislative process is in full gear and recommendations of the Assembly and Senate hearing committees will most likely modify the two bills presently in their respective committees. S2246 and A3184 (identical bills) await a move to the floor. We sit at the helm waiting for the other shoe to drop!

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Cell Phone Warning - Safety Issue

The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations. In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline pump. In the second case, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car. And in the third case, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they were fueling their car.

You should know that:

Mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes. Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition. Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, boat, etc. Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, i.e., solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.

Four Rules for Safe Refueling:

1. Turn off engine.
2. Don't smoke.
3. Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off.
4. Don't reenter your vehicle during fueling.

We ask you to please share this information with ALL your family and friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children out in time.

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Giving First Aid

Arthur R. Murray

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Chairman Safety Committee

At any time someone can sustain an injury or become ill on board a boat. If the boat is moored to a dock in some marina or similar facility there are more options available for providing aid or assistance. However, if the boat is out on the water the available options are much reduced. Whatever the situation may be, the people on board should know where the first-aid kit is located so that the person in distress can be attended to as quickly as possible. The people on board should also know what communication equipment, VHF radio, cell phone, or other is available and how to use it. One of the first things a skipper or operator should do is to make sure the crew and guests on board know where the first-aid kit is stored and how to use the communications equipment. This would be essential if the skipper or operator happens to be seriously injured or becomes ill to the extent of being unable to function.

In an ideal situation there would be someone on board who has had training in first-aid and CPR as well as having a complete and up to date first-aid kit available. Then if someone became injured or ill they could receive prompt and knowledgeable aid. Unfortunately all too often when first-aid is needed there is only a minimal first-aid kit, if any, available and a person with only limited knowledge on how to administer first-aid. Minor cuts and abrasions are usually simple and easy to take care of. An aspirin will usually suffice for a common headache. However, a severe bleeding laceration, broken bones, heat induced exhaustion or stroke, heart attack, or unconsciousness from any cause will require medical assistance in the shortest possible time. If the boat is at a dock a phone call can summon such help. Out on the water it will be necessary to call the Coast Guard on the VHF radio or a cell phone for help. The Coast Guard will determine the fastest way to get medical help to the boat and the person in distress. Giving first-aid can in some situations place the giver at some risk. If aid is being given to a bleeding person or a person requiring CPR there is always the possibility of the giver being exposed to blood-borne pathogens or infectious diseases. The most dangerous of such pathogens would be the HIV or some variety of venereal disease. The risk of the aid giver being infected is more likely when treating a stranger or an acquaintance that one knows very little about. In order to minimize the chance of becoming infected, the aid giver should be sure to wear clinical type rubber gloves and to avoid as much as possible allowing bare skin to come in contact with any body fluids of the person being treated. After rendering first-aid it would prudent to thoroughly wash one's face and hands and any exposed skin with soap and water. One should render first-aid when appropriate, but one should also take precautions to prevent ones self from becoming infected while doing so.

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2003 CBYCA Meeting Schedule

Mark Your Calendars!

Please be prompt with your articles. It makes our job easier.

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