This year the Annual General Meeting was held in the Wardroom of H.M.C.S. Carleton on 25^th March. The following officers were elected for 1971/1972 :

Commander	C.M. Ladelpha, JN
Lieut. Commander and Executive Officer	Arthur H. Huddleston, AP
First Lieut. and Secretary	Grant H. MacCarthy
First Lieut. and Treasurer	Lloyd J. Hargrave, AP
First Lieutenant	Herbert E. Barrett, S
First Lieutenant	David A. Plaunt, AP
Auditor	Percy B. Wooster
Jackson J. Brooks, AP was appointed Lieut. Commander and Training Officer.

The Squadron Lieutenants appointed by the Commander were George W. Booker, JN, James Craig, JN, David W.B. Fair, S, William Guard, JN, Robert C. Kennedy, AP, David A. Plaunt, AP and Edgar A. Wiggs, AP.

In his year-end report the Treasurer reported that 1970-71 had been a successful year. Again there was a satisfactory increase in net income and net worth over the previous year. This was a pleasant change from the tight financial situation in the early years of the Squadron.

The Training Officer reported that for the 1970/1971 Piloting Course there were 88 registrations. Of these 36 passed the examination, 12 failed and the others did not write. In view of the academic records of previous years these poor results were a disappointment. There were 68 students registered for other courses during the period but results were not available at the time of the Annual General Meeting.

At the last District Meeting there was a motion as follows: "All persons regardless of sex, eighteen years or over, who have passed the Piloting Examination should be granted full CPS membership". Squadron Commanders were asked to determine the reaction of their Squadrons to this motion. After considerable discussion this motion carried at the Squadron Annual General Meeting.

Membership in the Squadron was now 145 full members, 33 lady associates and one junior associate member.

The Annual Graduation Dinner was held at the Britannia Yacht Club on 16^th April. For the first time an orchestra was engaged to play for dancing after dinner from 2100 to 2400. A total of 118 members and guests were present. The guests of honour were Past District Commanders H. Norton and J.A. Calvert, Commander Ralph Sparham of the Ottawa Power Squadron and Commodore A.C. Blouin of the Britannia Yacht Club.

At the Executive Committee meeting on 23^rd April the Commmander appointed Ellen Devine to a new Squadron position to be known as Lady Associate Coordinator.

The summer of 1971 was the last year for the adult course in basic sailing. There were forty registrations in May. Then unfortunately there was some misunderstanding over the dates of lectures with the result that only twelve students participated in the lectures and practical sailing.

Another problem was a shift in emphasis from "learning to sail" to "learning to race" that emerged in 1970. For 1971 the Squadron borrowed the junior Club boats of the Britannia Yacht Club for the practical sailing. One of the boats was damaged and the Yacht Club refused the Power Squadron the use of the boats for 1972.

In the winter of 1975/76 the Squadron Executive discussed a revival of the early basic learning to sail courses. When it was learned that Britannia Yacht Club was developing a similar concept this proposal was dropped.

Lieutenant Grant MacCarthy resigned as Secretary in June due to the pressure of his work. The Squadron Commander appointed Squadron Lieutenant David W.B. Fair to be First Lieutenant and Secretary.

The Annual Rendezvous was held at Baskins Bay on the weekend of 3/4 July. The program was the same as in the preceeding year. Forty seven members with their guests were present. Jim Craig was the winner in the second annual competition for the Squadron Seamamship Trophy. In the issue of 10^th July the Ottawa Journal devoted a half a page of text and a photograph to a very favourable report on the Rendezvous. It reported also the more serious activities of the Squadron.

At the Executive Meeting in September Lieutant McGarry reported on the interest in Arnprior and Fitzroy for the possible formation of a new squadron. It had been decided earlier in the year that Britannia Power Squadron would offer the 1971/72 Piloting Course in Fitzroy with Lieutenant McGarry as the instructor.

A total of 159 students registered for Squadron courses in September. For the Boating Course there were 88 students in Ottawa and 8 in Arnprior. There were 12 registrations for Seamanship, 28 for Advanced Piloting, 12 for Junior Navigator and 4 for Navigator. In the elective courses there were 5 registrations for Weather and 2 for Engine Maintenance.

The Squadron Executive was concerned with the disappointing attendence at social events and more than once discussed ideas for making these events more attractive to members. Attendance at the Caribbean Cruise, the Annual Dinner and Rendezvous were below expectations. Revenues from social events were not covering expenses

One suggestion was for a "Meet the Student Night" during October at the R.A. Center with a charge of $5.00 per couple. This event would give the new students an opportunity to meet members and encourage the students to attend subsequent social events. The Student Night was a pleasant social evening on 23^rd October for the total of thirty nine members and students who were there. Unfortunately this event did not achieve its objective and there was a loss of $62.50 for the evening.

Again this year the Britannia Power Squadron was host to the two day Annual Meeting of Rideau District. The location of Talisman Motor Inn for the weekend of 11/12^th September proved to be a popular choice. The conference was a success professionally, socially and financially. After all expenses were paid the Squadron was able to send a cheque for the surplus of $28.47 to the District Treasurer.

The fourth Annual Calypso Night was held on 11^th February at the Algonquin College Cafeteria on Woodroffe Avenue. This location was chosen for two reasons; the cost would be Iess than in previous years and the prospect of an outstanding buffet prepared by student chefs of the college. The program was the same as in other years. Unfortunately this Caribbean Night was not a success. There were only forty-six participants and not the one hundred or more that were expected.

In the month of March Mr. B. Fullerton, Chairman of the National Capital Commission, was reported in the Ottawa Journal as calling boat owners "fat cats" and advocating such restrictions on the Rideau Canal that in effect it would be closed to power boats from the Ottawa River to Hartwell's Locks. Commander LaDelpha wrote to the newspapers and also sent a strong letter to Mr. Fullerton. At the end of April he received a half-hearted apology.

Year 9 – 1972 / 1973 Year 7 - 1970 / 1971