The New England Flotilla hosts
The New London
Sea Scout Rendezvous
June 5-7, 2009
Commodore’s Welcome
On behalf of the New England Flotilla, I look forward to welcoming you all aboard in New London, June 5-7, 2009.
This is our second annual New England Flotilla Rendezvous, and our first incorporating a Safety at Sea Weekend. We are very fortunate to have the excellent facilities of Fort Trumbull State Park to use for the weekend as well as the outstanding support and hospitality of the crew of USCG Station New London.
The Rendezvous Staff has put together an outstanding weekend full of exciting events to challenge all of our Sea Scouts. In developing this event, we hope to call upon both the customs and traditions of Sea Scouting’s long history as well as the ambitions of Sea Scouting’s future in serving our community’s youth. An interest in boating, ships, and the sea is the venue through which we instill values of Scouting, character development, and fellowship as a program. It is our hope that the New London Rendezvous will provide a unique challenge to mark the growth of these values through the learning and exercise of maritime skills in this historic setting.
I think you will see the “Four Ships” of Sea Scouting underway with all sails set. We hope to develop or refine Seamanship skills with the activities we have planned. Good Citizenship should be in evidence throughout the weekend as we all get along and work together, respecting each other and cleaning up after ourselves as we go along. This is a youth run program. Sure, us old adults put the program together, but the Flotilla Quarter Deck Leadership will carry out the program along with the Bosun of each Ship. Finally, we will have the opportunity to renew old Friendships as well as make lasting new ones through out the weekend.
It is no “accident” that safety and fun go hand in hand. There is always some measure of inherent risk when stepping aboard a boat and shoving off, and that’s part of what makes a challenge real and exciting. As Sea Scouts, Be Prepared is not just a slogan, anymore than Semper Paratus is for the Coast Guard. At sea it is an absolute necessity. We ask ALL PARTICIPANTS, youth and adults, to follow the safety rules, exercise care, and call “avast” if safety is threatened. “Safe boating is no accident” is a very old slogan but it is just as appropriate today as it ever was.
Yours In Safe Sea Scouting
Commodore Al Beal
New England Flotilla, Northeast Region, BSA
CWO4 USCG (ret)