St. Andrew Bay Power Squadron
Membership Meeting
November 9, 2006

The November meeting of the St. Andrew Bay Power Squadron was called to order at 7:25PM by Cdr Ric Corley on November 9, 2006. P/C Doug Clark gave the invocation, and Cdr Ric Corley led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Eleven members attended the meeting held at the Healthplex in Baldwin Plaza.

Reports of Officers

Executive Department
Cdr Corley reported merit marks have been submitted. SABPS is on the honor roll for Cooperative Charting. This is the 25th year our squadron has been on the honor roll. Our national ranking is 123. Dave Guest heads up this important effort-good job, Dave! SABPS has 65 members currently. Ric reported that like all volunteer organizations he's involved in, USPS is losing members. So it's a constant challenge to recruit new members.

Administrative Department
Lt/C Rick Smitherman talked about the upcoming Christmas party at Regency Towers. The Hodges are securing the room for us. The party will start at 6:30. As in the past, the bridge will be responsible for bringing the meat, and all members are asked to bring a dish to share. We will have a gift exchange, so please bring a gift that is either gender neutral or that is for your gender.

Treasurer's Report
In the absence of Lt/C David Hurst, Lt/C Anji Smitherman read the Treasurer's Report and filed the secretary's copy. The report was accepted as read.

Education Department
No report

Secretary Department
No report

Announcements and Discussion
Staci Doucett, our webmaster, reported we are not getting the number of hits to the website she would expect. There was discussion about what to do to ensure members receive the newsletter as well as other information we currently broadcast via our website. Darlene Soskin mentioned difficulty in getting the newsletter-she has WebTV.

Cdr Corley announced the District Christmas party will be held at the Sandestin Beach Resort, and he has a flyer available for anyone who is interested.

The members discussed potential nominations for the Bridge for next year. Cdr Corley will follow up with some of the members to see if they would be interested in a bridge position.

Our rendezvous will be at Ebro Greyhound Park Saturday, November 11th. We will meet at 6:30. There is a great dinner buffet, and we will have seats next to the windows so we can watch the dogs run.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20.

Respectfully submitted,
Anji Smitherman, Squadron Secretary

December 9, 2006
St. Andrews Boat Parade of Lights:
Starts at the Yacht Club and ends at the Marina. Beginning at 5:30 PM near St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, cruising past Panama City Marina, and ending at St. Andrews Marina. St. Andrews shops open late for shopping. 850-872-7208.
Boat Parade of Lights applications are on the web at www.historicstandrews.com.

When you think of the Christmas season, it's usually thoughts of snow and bone-chilling cold as winter settles in. Well, how about a trip to Panama City instead, where the Christmas images are much the same though set against palm trees, warmth and... a Parade of Boats!
That's right, the boaters of Panama City and Panama City Beach go to extraordinary lengths, decorating their boats with style, panache, and the ocasional touch of whimsy... then gathering at Historic St. Andrews Marina on Beck Avenue (just 6 blocks south of Hwy 98). From there, it's a leisurely cruise along St. Andrews Bay, past the stately homes lining Beach Drive, and into the City Marina at the foot of Harrison Avenue (also south of Hwy 98).

The Christmas fleet then proceeds past thousands of spectactors lining the Marina in downtown, and slowly the boats disperse... it's magical!

In year's past boats and ships from the Naval Coastal Systems Station base on the Beach have taken part, lending an air of the unreal to the proceedings. If your memories of Christmas are of frosted windowpanes and frozen waterpipes, the Boat Parade of Lights in Panama City will be a warm and welcome delight!