The twenty-fourth Annual General Meeting of the Squadron opened at 1930 on 28^th April at the Britannia Yacht Club.

After the 1987 meeting some members of the Squadron suggested that 1930 would be a more suitable time than the 1800 of recent years. The change to 1930 seemed to be generally acceptable since there were twenty-eight members at the AGM.

The following officers were elected for 1988/1989:

Commander	Howard G. Peck, AP
Lieut. Commander and Executive Officer	Alex C. Falkner, AP
Lieut. Commander and Training Officer	Andris Rezebergs, JN
First Lieut. and Secretary	Beverley Rezebergs, S
First Lieut. and Treasurer	Christopher Brown
First Lieutenants
Public Relations Officer	Norman R. Grover, AP
MAREP Officer/Historian	John T. Woolsey, AP
Membership Officer	Robin E. Dingwell, AP
Deputy Training Officer	Dorothy Lloyd, S
Assistant Training Officer	Christopher McKenzie, AP
Supply/Regalia	A. Ian Swan, S
Safety	Bruce Kingsley, S
Activities	Allan Strain, AP
Editor, Running Fix	Anita Comeau, AP
Squadron Auditor	Ralph C. Smith, JN

The Commander and the Executive Officer reported another very successful year. The membership in the Squadron reached an all time high of 416.

The Treasurer reported a sound financial position although the Squadron did not get all of the raise in Squadron dues requested a year ago. The deficit on the operations of the Squadron for the past year was $5.06.

In his report the Training Officer emphasized the manpower employed on the program. The training staff consisted of the Training Officer, the Deputy Training Officer, the Assistance Training Officer, eight lecturers and numerous proctors.

The total number of students registered for courses was a small decrease from the previous year. There was a total of 189 registrations including 57 on the Super-Accelerated Boating Course conducted jointly with the Ottawa Squadron.

The pass rate on the Super-Accelerated Course was far below previous years. Out of the 57 registrations 42 wrote the examination and only 28 passed for a pass rate of 64 percent.

The results of the other courses were good. Eighty-five percent passed the examinations on the regular Boating Courses, there was a 100 percent pass on Seamanship and for the other courses the success rates were up to our usual standard.

For the first time in the history of the Squadron the MAREP Officer made a positive report to the AGM and he spoke of achievements. In the 1987 revision of the Small Craft Guide to the Ottawa River four of the corrections reflected MAREP Reports submitted by members of Britannia Squadron. The 1988 edition of Chart 1550 contained five changes recommended in MAREP Reports from members of the Squadron. Thus the Squadron made a significant contribution to the Marine Reporting Program.

The full texts of all the Reports of Officers to the AGM are filed with the historical documents of the Squadron.

At the Annual Rideau District Conference and AGM at Mallorytown, Ontario two members of Britannia Squadron were elected to office. They were A.K. Findlay, AP to the position of Secretary and S.K. McNeely, S the position of District Lieutenant and MAREP Officer. Both continued to serve on the District Bridge in various positions for a number of years.

The Annual Graduation Dinner and Awards Evening was held at the Britannia Yacht Club on Thursday, 19^th May. Ninety-six members and guests were present. The distinguished guests were Past Chief Commander John Richards, N, and Mrs. Richards, District Commander Evelyn Clue, AP, and Commodore Dennis Foy of the Britannia Yacht Club and Mrs. Foy.

It was an excellent dinner. The ceremonial and awards features of the program were as smooth and as efficient as a year ago. No one became bored and departed before the end of the formal program.

Peter and Margaret MacLeod were presented jointly with the Rideau District MAREP Trophy. This is awarded annually to the CPS member in the District submitting the greatest number of MAREP Reports during the calendar year.

A special award of a copy of Chart 1550 was made to Evelyn and Jack Noonan. This new chart was issued in February, 1988 and included the range and range lights at the Britannia Yacht Club Harbour. Evelyn and Jack submitted the MAREP Repot that led directly to this chart correction. This was without doubt the most important correction to the chart from the point of view of members of the Britannia Yacht Club and the Britannia Power Squadron.

Some deficit is expected from the Annual Dinner. This year it was a modest $196.00.

For business reasons, 1^st Lt. A. Ian Swan, S, resigned as Supply/Regalia Officer shortly after the AGM and was replaced by Lawrence H. Brown, AP.

With the cooperation of the Power Squadron the Britannia Yacht Club planned a "Sail Day" similar to the 1987 event for 26^th June. Unfortunately the weekend weather was a disaster and there was no choice but to cancel the event.

Again this year a schedule of course fees was agreed between the Ottawa and Britannia Squadrons.

The strength of the Squadron in July was 365 members and family members and 33 lady associates for a total 389, a small decrease from July, 1987. By September the total membership had increased to 407. Britannia is the eighth largest Squadron in Canada.

There was a successful rendez-vous at Pinhey's Point on Sunday, 7^th August. Twenty boats anchored inside the Point and a few members arrived by automobile. Altogether there were forty-five participants. There were several competitions with donated prizes being won by Beverley Rezebergs, Andris Rezebergs, Phyllis Meloche, Lorne Minoque, Percy Hillier and Howard Peck.

The Training Program for 1988/1989 was off to a good start in September. Three Boating Course classes were offered at Woodroffe High School on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week with examinations scheduled for mid-December. The total registration was 108.

Courses were offered also in Seamanship, Advanced Piloting and Junior Navigator. A few members of Britannia Squadron registered with the Ottawa Power Squadron for Marine Maintenance and Navigator.

The tuition fees for courses this year were $75.00 for Boating, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigator and Navigator. Other courses were $55.00, $60.00 or $65.00. The VHF Seminar was $15.00.

A Wine and Cheese Party was held in the Lower Lounge of the Britannia Yacht Club on Sunday, 6^th November, from 1500 to 1730. To encourage attendance members were telephoned during the preceding week to remind them of the event and the price was reduced to $5.00 per person for this year.

The result was disappointing as there were only forty-nine members and guests in attendance. The reasons are obscure. Possibly the day or the time were not popular or perhaps a beautiful warm Sunday afternoon encouraged members to get out-of-doors rather than attend a social event, especially since for a number it was the first weekend after haulout.

The distinguished guests of the Squadron at this party were Commodore Dennis Foy of the Britannia Yacht Club and Mrs. Foy, District Commander Evelyn Clue, AP, and Commander John Ferguson, AP, of the Ottawa Power Squadron and Mrs. Ferguson.

On 22nd, 23^rd and 24^th November, at the invitation of the Squadron Training Officer the Squadron MAREP Officer gave a short lecture on "Marine Reporting" to each of the three Boating Courses. The lecture appeared to be well received by the students.

Two manuscripts from members of Britannia Squadron were published in the December issue of The Port Hole. There was the story of the thirty-six years of development and progress of the Rideau District by Past Commander Ralph C. Smith, JN, and an article on the Canadian Survey Ship Acadia by First Lieutenant John T. Woolsey, AP.

The first event of the winter season was a presentation on the evening of 7^th February by Laurie and Pat Hunter and by Bob Boole and Sharon Scarfe on their sailing in the Bahamas. This event was co-hosted by the Britannia Yacht Club and the Britannia Power and Sail Squadron.

Laurie Hunter spoke first with some comments from Pat on the journey overland from the Britannia Yacht Club to Dow's Lake and the cruise from there on the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence, Lake Champlain, New York and the intercostal waterway to Florida. Their comments were illustrated with numerous slides. It was a leisurely voyage of five months.

Bob Boole trailed his boat to Fort Lauderdale. He described his trailer, the modifications to his car and the problems of obtaining permits separately for travel through each of the states, routes and times and days when travel was restricted for large boat trailers. The actual travel time was five and one half days excluding the times when highway travel was prohibited.

After a break for cash bar or cake and coffee slides were shown of cruising in the Florida Cays and in the Bahamas. All four speakers participated and there were numerous questions from the audience of more than a hundred members and guests. It was an interesting evening enjoyed thoroughly by all who were present.

By the end of January the strength of the Squadron had increased to a total of 437 including family members and associates.

Again this year the Britannia Squadron assisted the Ottawa Squadron with the erection and the manning of the CPS Booth at the Ottawa Boat Show.

The short VHF Marine Radio Telephone Course was held at the end of February with thirty-one registrations. Thirty students wrote and passed the examination.

On Saturday, 11^th March there was a joint social evening of the Outaouais, Ottawa and Britannia Squadrons. The speaker for this event was Dr. David Baird, the nationally known historian and museum curator. He is now "retired" and is working on the establishment of a museum of the Rideau Canal at Smith Falls. Dr. Baird spoke on the history of the Canal, the progress made to date on the new museum and the plans for the future. It was an interesting lecture with slide illustrations.

After the talk by Dr. Baird there was an enjoyable social hour for the speaker and the thirty-six CPS members present. The small total number of the CPS members from the three Ottawa Area Squadrons indicates that a Saturday evening is not a popular time for a Squadron winter social event.

Year 26 – 1989 / 1990 Year 24 - 1987 / 1988