Common Questions about ASPS
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Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron FAQs
What is the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron?
The Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron (ASPS) is an Atlanta-area boating club, associated with the United States Power Squadrons. Each squadron is independently organized and locally managed under a charter from the USPS. The Atlanta squadron is a group of 225+ power- and sail boaters in the metropolitan Atlanta area who enjoy having fun on their boats, enjoying the camaraderie of boating friends, learning more about boating, and doing something to improve the boating environment around Atlanta. ASPS boasts members with boats on Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, Lake Hartwell, Lake Jackson, the Tennessee River, and coastal marinas throughout the Southeast. Members range in age from 17 to 97 and members boats range from Jet Skis to 52' power yachts. On almost any weekend, you can see their members rafted up, on the beach, or chatting together in the marina, flying their distinctive blue and white striped flag and Atlanta squadron burgee. The Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2003.
What are the requirements for membership?
There are two requirements for membership: (1) At least one member of the family who will be considered an ASPS member must have passed a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), or equivalent. ASPS offers one such course called “Boat Smart”, an introduction to navigation rules, boat handling, and boating safety. It is offered in two formats - an intensive all day class, or on three consecutive Monday nights; (2) Payment of dues.
An individual membership is $77.20 per year and a family membership is $115.80 per year. A one-time initiation fee of $69.00 or $79.00 for a single member or a family, respectively, also applies. Membership is renewable and dues are payable annually.
Several ASPS members are also members of other boating organizations and find the activities and opportunities highly complementary. You will enjoy the advantage of a national organization which includes transferability of membership to 450 squadrons across the country and in some US territories, access to port captains nationwide, discounted insurance rates, and extensive boating education classes. In addition to our many local social activities, you will have opportunities to attend district and national functions as well.
What on-the-water activities does ASPS sponsor?
ASPS’s on-the-water activities fall into two major areas: raft-ups and cruises. The squadron sponsors at least one raft-up per month between March and November on Lake Lanier. Each raft-up is usually set around some theme such as the annual blessing of the fleet, school colors, Hawaiian luau, fall leaf cruise, etc. These events usually take place on Saturday afternoons and may have fifteen or more boats participating. ASPS also has two cruises each year: an ICW cruise in the spring and a river cruise in the fall. The ICW cruise is usually a week-long event along the coast. The river cruise can vary in length – from a 4 to 7 day event. ASPS members also have the opportunity to join their fellow squadrons in surrounding areas and participate in their lake, river and coastal cruises.
What social activities does ASPS sponsor?
In addition to the raft-ups mentioned above, ASPS holds monthly meetings with speakers addressing topics of interest to the lake and boating communities. These dinner meetings at local restaurants are both informational and a great opportunity to socialize with fellow boaters. In December, ASPS holds its annual Seafarers’ Ball, a formal holiday event that features dinner, dancing and an opportunity to assist with a worthy community service initiative.
What educational opportunities are available?
For the general public, ASPS teaches a NASBLA-approved basic boating course called “Boat Smart”, a basic navigation course called “Chart Smart” as well as about a dozen 2-3 hour seminars on various topics of interest such as reading charts, basic weather, GPS, anchoring, trailering, etc. ASPS members have access to an extensive curriculum of multi-week courses on coastal and celestial navigation, weather, engine maintenance, marine electronics, sailing and cruise planning. They are typically 8+ weeks for two hours each Monday night. These are offered in two semesters each year, one beginning in January and the other in September. Three or four different classes are offered each semester.
Tell me more about the courses available.
The Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron teaches the full spectrum USPS courses, ranging from introductory boating safety to 8 and16-week long in-depth classes. Their Boat Smart class is an introduction to boat handling, safety equipment, rules of the road, and navigation. Boat Smart is free, open to the public, and offered in intensive all-say-Saturday sessions. Boat Smart is approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators as the boating safety class required in many states. Classes for members are likewise free and include Seamanship (an 8-week expanded Boat Smart), Coastal Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Introductory and Advanced Celestial ("Blue-water") Navigation, Engine Maintenance, Sailing, Marine Electronics, Weather, and Cruise Planning. Specialty classes in GPS, on-the-water CPR, and basic chart reading are included. Classes are taught on Monday nights during the normal public school year, typically from 7PM to 9PM at the corner of Northside Drive and Moore's Mill in Buckhead. ASPS instructors are all certified by USPS and have extensive on-the-water experience that they bring to the classrooms. The only cost for any of their classes are for the textbooks and materials, almost all of which were written by nationally recognized experts who are members of the USPS.
Can I obtain the “6-pack” Captain’s license or similar certification through ASPS?
Only the U. S. Coast Guard can certify qualifications for this commercial boat operator’s license. However, the ASPS curriculum addresses most of the material related to safety, navigation and general boat handling required for that certification.
ASPS is an amazingly eclectic group. Members include businessmen, accountants, doctors, dentists, computer wizards, salesmen, mechanics, homemakers, bankers, fishermen, cruisers, working, retired, young, old and just plain folks; but they all have one thing in common--they love boats and being on the water. Don't have a boat, or your boat isn't on Lake Lanier? Don't worry - our captains always appreciate the help of able crew and we always work hard to accommodate if at all possible.. many of our longer trips include hotel accommodations for those unable to bring their boats. Boating is always more fun when you have friends come along and these people know how to make you feel welcome.
How does ASPS contribute to boating safety?
Along with the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, ASPS is one of two boating organizations authorized to perform Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) on recreational boats. Our certified inspectors perform these inspections free of charge. A boat that passes a VSC will have met all the registration, documentation and safety requirements for the jurisdiction where the boat is located. The results of the inspection are reported only to the vessel owner. In addition, ASPS teaches an extensive curriculum of boating courses, each of which provides the students greater insight into safe operation of their vessels. ASPS also offers the Boat Operators Certification program. This newly launched, comprehensive program enables participants to obtain an internationally recognized certification based on their demonstrated abilities at the helm, their past experience and their classroom training.
Is the Power Squadron just about education?
Absolutely not! The Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron is about having FUN! While most of their members consider learning more about boats and boating as fun, the squadron's primary focus is on enjoying the close friendships of being with others who are passionate about boats, boating, and being on the water. The ASPS has monthly dinner meetings with boating-related speakers, monthly on-the-water events ranging from raft-ups to beach parties, at least two high adventure boating trips each year, a semi-formal holiday dinner-dance, and a formal Change of Watch. Obviously the subjects around the tables are heavily about boats, boating, who went where, on what boat, and the experiences that we have shared.
Did you say "high-adventure" trips?
Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona are great, but so are a lot of other areas. Each year, the ASPS plans at least two trips to other areas. For example last April, they took 31 people and seven boats down the Intercoastal Waterway from St. Mary's GA to Jacksonville to Saint Augustine and back over a 7-day period. Some slept on their boats while others stayed in local motels. Adventure? Try backing your boat into a narrow slip with an 8-knot current in downtown Jacksonville! But in the typical Power Squadron way, everyone pitched in, grabbing dock lines and offering encouragement. Or walking the streets of St. Augustine shopping for just the right nick-knack for the boat. Or just enjoying a drink with close friends on a patio overlooking the marina as the sun sets. In September, the ASPS is going back to the Tennessee River, for the third year in a row. This time, they're going downstream from Chattanooga to Guntersville and back over a 3-day weekend. Have you ever skippered your boat through a lock? These people can show you how, and make it look easy.
What types of public service are performed?
As part of each annual Seafarers’ Ball, ASPS has selected a worthy community service project. The Sea Scouts and Calvary Children’s Home are two of the recent areas of focus. ASPS plays a key role in the Parade of Lights on Lake Lanier, providing mark boats for the parade route and general logistical support. One of the missions of the national USPS is Cooperative Charting. Under this program, members supply information to the Marine Chart Division of NOS/NOAA leading to corrections to nautical charts, small craft charts, and Coast Pilot publications. They also supply data on depth surveys and range status. All good boaters try to be good stewards of the lakes and rivers around us and good neighbors to other boaters. ASPS strives to help by offering free Vessel Safety Checks to anyone interested. On Lake Lanier alone, they've found leaking fuel lines, crushed and malfunctioning bilge blowers, burned out running lights, boat registrations that don't match the boat, and dangerously damaged flame arresters.
What kind of speakers do you have?
Everything from "How to buy a boat," and the "Latest in Marine Electronics," to the horror stories of a TowBoat operator. Several speakers have talked about cruising adventures, "The Panama Canal," "The Bahamas in a 25' Sloop," Geology from the perspective of a boat on Lake Powell," and "The Great Loop." Even the author of the cruising guides for the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers has spoken. Representatives of the Dolphin Project have talked of efforts to count and characterize the dolphin population along the Georgia Coast.
Some of the best sailors in the world are women, and so are some of the best engine mechanics. ASPS is no different. Women are welcome and often serve at all positions including Commander. There are many female members of ASPS who are the primary helmsmen... uh, helmswomen, of their vessels!
Who should I contact for more information?
For more information, contact: Sheryl LaBoda - Membership Chair - membership@usps-atlanta.org or Patti Price – Education Officer - edu@usps-atlanta.org
