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Notes are by Skipper THom Harrison

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Sea Scout Meeting, May 25

Hello from Ship 510, aboard USS Yorktown, somewhere on Charleston Harbor...

Another exciting meeting last night! Here are the details...

In cooperation with the Charleston Sail and Power Squadron, Mr. Billy Lynes and Mr. David Walsh joined Ship 510's meeting last night to present a unique and very important opportunity to the Ships Crew.

Ship 510 has been offered the responsibility to explore and check aids to navigation in the Charleston Inner Harbour! http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11518.shtml

"Cooperative Charting" is a critical part of NOAA's upkeep of US Nautical Charts. The data that the Scouts collect will be used to update and verify the actual charts that all boaters should utilize. We will be purchasing handheld GPS units to accomplish so any input on your experience with them will help the Scouts with their purchase decisions. Waterproof...

Thanks to Mrs. Walsh for her photographs of the evening.
This task will require a new skill set for our Ship, to include more power boat use and training. We have traditionally focused on sailing and marine science, and based on the Scouts requests, are now expanding to a new frontier of boating and kayaking. If anyone has access to a powerboat, and would consider working with Ship 510 on this important project, please contact the Skipper. "All adult leaders for such activity must complete Safety Afloat Training, No. 34159, have a commitment card, No. 34242, with them, and be dedicated to full compliance with all ninepoints of Safety Afloat."

In anticipation of this new skill set, Mr. Andy Poole joined the meeting last night and has offered the training resources of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, to teach the entire Ship and extended family the SC DNR Boater Safety certification. This will be an 8 hour course, that will be held at Patriots Point, and upon completion and passing test, Ship 510 will have a full crew of Certified Safe boaters! Imagine how this can expand the capabilities, possibilities and adventures available to the Sea Scouts, while being properly trained and safe.

In addition to advancement through Sea Scout ranks for the work.

To all of our Coastal Carolina Boy Scout Troop and Venture Crew friends, please come join us for this important Cooperative Charting project! Email back if you want to be on the update list...

Many thanks to Mr. Lynes, Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Walsh and Mr. Poole for their continued support and partnership with Sea Scout Ship 510 and Scouting.

A special thanks to Mrs. Donna Lynes, Mr. Evans and Troop 722 for the excellant gift and donation of new Signal Flags to the Ship. We will use these to aid our co-registered Boy Scouts to earn the Centennial Signalling Merit Badge.

Sailoree 2010, April 30 - May 2

It was a terrific weekend, with great sailing, great food and great fun.

The efforts by Ship 510 and Crew 241 Senior youth leadership (Alisha, Elizabeth, Andrew & Davis) made the event a success from the water to the table.

Our guest speakers from Spirit of South Carolina, Ms. Sara Piwinski and Water Missions, Mr. Brad Reed inspired the Sailors to reach for new adventures both in travel and rendering aid to others. Thank you.

Mr. Kenny Himes (Crew 241) prepared our daily bread each day, and provided much needed nourishment to the Sailors. His work and that of his Crew Alisha and Elizabeth in preparation for the Sailoree made it even better. Thank you to Crew 241!

The Water Buffaloes from recent Wood Badge training created and built the best buddy board in these United States. The Sailors were more safe because of this. Thank you to the Water Buffaloes!

Camp Moultrie and Ranger Stan provided very important and timely support of the event along with Darien Mucha providing Quartermaster and engine maintenance for which we thank them greatly.

Sea Scout Meeting, April 13, 2010

Mr. David AuVrutick, President of FOLBOT Charleston SC joined the Sea Scouts for the meeting. Starting with the history of folding kayak's, and their use in life, recreation and battle including use by General Mark Clark in WWII David next gave the history of FOLBOT and its journey to Charleston, leading ultimately to his purchase of the company. The Scouts and guests were most interested in hearing about the adventures to which a FOLBOT kayak can lead such as ocean crossings and paddling across arctic waters to a paddle in the Vogalonga.

The Scouts then met David on the Hangar Deck to be introduced to a FOLBOT. The Scouts worked together to piece together and assemble the aircraft grade aluminum into a frame. Then the second group attached the "skin" on the kayak and then the whole team finished the assembly. After a review of the water dynamics of using a skin and frame the Scouts began to disassemble the FOLBOT...just in time for the fire drill!

We are most grateful to have made friends with Mr. AuVrutick and FOLBOT and look forward to his continued participation with Sea Scout Ship 510.

Boatswain Andrew presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. AuVrutick.

Sea Scout Meeting, March 30, 2010

Mr. David Stanton, President of American Sail, Inc. Charleston SC joined the Sea Scouts for the meeting. Basing his words on the Boy Scout Oath, the values that one learns in Scouting and a theme of "The Word of a Scout" Mr. Stanton shared his thoughts and experience about how following the principle's in the Scout Oath have led him to adventure, success and a life of accomplishments. From a mentoring point of view, Mr. Stanton provided a unique perspective as an Eagle Scout of his success in the business world, and ultimate purchase of a sailboat company. He told several great stories, one of which included his only visit to Charleston on a Marine Corp bus, prior to moving here with his wife to escape the cold weather of Ithaca NY We are most grateful to have made friends with Mr. Stanton and look forward to his continued participation with Sea Scout Ship 510.

Boatswain Andrew presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Stanton.

At the end of the discussion, Boatswain Andrew and Capt. Bob took the Sea Scouts and guests for a first visit of SSTV Amore. As you can see, the cabin was quickly filled with Scouts. The Amore looks great and was pulling at her lines to get the Scouts out on the water. The Senior Scouts lit up the cabin and showed off the running lights for Friday. Several of the Senior Scouts will be navigating up the Cooper River through the Lock to the new mooring at Lake Moultrie on Friday. Go to photo page.

Sea Scout Meeting, March 23, 2010

Michael Hodges from South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources was our guest speaker tonight Michael shared a great deal about the importance of oysters to our local waters and agreed to help the Scouts replenish and monitor the Patriots Point Reef and to create a new one as well. Apprentice Tancey presented a Certificate of Appreciation to our speaker. Thank you to Michael for being a part of Ship 510.

The Ship also had a visit from the Charleston Sail and Power Squadron Liason Mr. Billy Lynes. Mr. Lynes is a Trained Scouter and grandfather of an Eagle Scout. He is also friends with one of our biggest supporters, Ranger Stan! A win win for the Ship!!! It was great to meet Billy and we look forward to activities with our local Power Squadron.

The Ship also had a visit from our friend Dave Joyce of Sea Scout Ship from Winston Salem. Dave is a terrific supporter of our Ship and Scouting and is helping us get access to Regional Sea Scouting activities and training. We appreciate Dave and always look forward to seeing him.

At the conclusion, the Scouts took the guests to show off the new Education Center.

Thank you to all that support Scouting and Ship 510.

Sea Scout Meeting, March 16, 2010

The Sea Scouts attended the Grand Opening of the Education Center at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum aboard the USS Yorktown. The Sea Scouts made a terrific impression upon the guests, and lended a hand where needed to escort or assist.

The Scouts were rewarded by an impromptu discussion with Admiral J. Flatley. Admiral Flatley, an Eagle Scout, encouraged the Scouts to reach Eagle and Quartermaster, and will join us again soon to check on each Scouts progress towards their rank. He also stayed with the Ship for quite a while, telling of his adventures as a Naval Aviator (especially the carrier landings on the C-130)!

In addition, the Ship was honored to have Capt. Andy Poole, (USN Ret.) of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary join the Scouts meeting after the ceremony. Capt. Poole has generously offered to present the South Carolina Boating Certification Class to our Ship on behalf of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This is a tremendous opportunity for the Ship to be associated with such a terrific organization as the USCG Aux.. More on dates soon.

Bravo Zulu Keith Grybowski, Ned Forney and Ship 510 on a terrific program last night.

Sea Scout Meeting, February 23, 2010

We were honored to have Tripp Fillabom and Keith Grybowski as out guest speakers.

Tripp Fillabom owner UK Halsey Sails Charleston let the Scouts in on the mechanics behind the shaping of sails and an overview of recent history of fabrics used to create sails. Turns out that the math learned in school actually has practical application in the world of Sailing! As a younger man, Tripp was a Sea Scout in Philadelphia and was exposed to the maritime world through his ship. He tells a great story about some of the terrific activities and events in which he participated while with his Ship and noted that this exposure to the maritime world shaped his future business and career. Boatswains Mate Kyle presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Fillabom on behalf of Ship 510. Thanks again to Tripp. You are a welcome part of Ship 510!

Keith Grybowski founder of Charleston Explorers and long time supporter of Ship 510 lead the Ship and guests for a tour of the new Education Center. It is hard not to get excited about the Marine Science program when Keith builds the dream of what the Sea Scouts can do to help. The Sea Scouts were encouraged to "think" about the aquarium projects to help solve exciting challenges involving multiple tanks. Keith told several entertaining stories about our marine environment. We were also glad to meet Keith's son Kevin who joined us for the meeting Yeoman Davis presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Grybowski on behalf of Ship 510. Thanks again Keith for continuing to support Scouting on many levels and for being a part of Ship 510!

Sea Scout Meeting, January 26, 2010

Rob Fowler was our guest speaker.

Rob Fowler, Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist, taught the Scouts about the many different weather patterns and conditions that they should look for while on the water. He also brought several interesting weather measuring tools, including the makings of a weather balloon. He tells several great stories about his experience with weather, including the weather balloon landing on the freighter and in a local field here in Charleston. Rob is aiding the Sea Scouts in building a mobile weather station, so that they can rely on their own data to make forecasts with regard to activities on the Harbor and at Camp Moultrie. (and maybe even provide information to aid Storm Team 2.) We look forward to taking Rob up on his invitation to join him at the Weather Station for a tour and are glad to have him as part of Sea Scout Ship 510.