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From: KSC_ADMIN (IDS.NET!KSC_ADMIN)
Date: Wed Oct 16 1996 - 12:31:29 EDT
Don't know who Ken is, Rick - But I'm Tom! <G>
Gee Ken. You feel warmly in the matter?
Hot and Cold, actually.. :-)
Actually, I don't blame you much. The leadership of the SSCA has
always been autocratic, high-handed and sanctimonious--it was often
embarrassing to read between the lines of the President's message and
divine what was really going on with the SSCA board. There must have
been blood on the floor many times after a meeting.
It is pretty clear that there is a vicious "cruisinger-than-thou"
faction inside the SSCA that strives to continually raise the bar for
Associates aspiring to be full Commodores. That puts the
organization in the awkward position of being so amazingly successful
at continually taking in more and more Associates and encouraging
Associates to take up the cruising/liveaboard lifestyle that an
unprecedented number of Associates are actually taking the plunge and
becoming full-time cruiser, which increases the pressure to create
more Commodores, which makes the status less exclusive, etc., et al.
Now, THAT is the most perceptive analysis I've ever seen!! <G> - Yes, the "I'm more Cruisinger than thou" syndrome WAS apparent. I felt almost GUILTY accepting the Commodore ranking, because i hadn't yet done the roaring 40's single-handedly!! :-)))
There is also the problem of relying more and more on the funding of
their ever growing operations with Associate dues and on depending on
Associate worker bees at functions while never allowing Associates
any voice in the operations--even areas that have nothing to do with
the Bulletin or Cruising.
You noticed that, too, 'eh? <G> - I just stopped going to the "bashes" altogether. We felt awkward as non-inner-circle types (Despite our successful recruiting efforts over the years, etc.) - Sortova a Fort-Lauderdale Cruising, Marching and Chowder Society Key Club syndrome..:-)?
During all those years while Gayle and I were running SSCA Cruising
Station Guam, we hosted a lot of SSCA cruisers passing through the
Marianas. There is a decided difference between the folks out doing
it and the crowd that hangs out around Ft. Lauderdale. It was
because of the warmth, charm and generosity of the former that we
stuck it out. Never got a word of support or thanks from the home
office until we closed the station to return stateside.
And we served as the Port Canaveral CS, and helped a number of folks, Got them Launch Passes, ran up a lot of LD and even international phone calls, UNTIL (And this is an assumption!) our Membership expired, and all calls or letters to us stopped. I can ONLY assume that we were struck from the Cruising Station listing when we "expired", leaving Port Canaveral CS's status void. Something's wrong there, if we were stopped from assisting other cruisers because of OUR financial difficulties, and the resultant necessary suspension of paying the membership dues. (Do "Commodoreship" Qualifications mandate solvency, also?? <G>)
But, Then, I DID say this was an ASSUMPTION, and MAYBE <G> it was just a coincidence that we never received another Central FL/Port Canaveral inquiry - not in the last 9-10 years, at least. - At my request, they sent me another "application" for Cruising station (AND a copy of my old one! - Note inference), but i think I'll just announce HERE that I will be happy to answer questions, watch boats stored in the area, make arrangements, handle E-Mail, and/or POST my Port Canaveral area Cruising Station data HERE in the two Lists and put that SSCA CS application on the shelf here, in the manner my original CS data was apparently shelved somewhere south of here for so many years.. :-)))
Rick - Did you check the SYRINX Home page recently (Http//spacecon.ids.net/public /sail/syrinx.htm)?
Am trying to continue SYRINX's story with the new owners, and will update it as i receive info from Chris.. Also am playing Paparazzi with "The Cape" TV series.. <G> - They are filming just about across the street and keep bumping into 'em around Merritt island! <G>
It's at "Http//spacecon.net/public/the_cape.htm" - Havin' fun.. <G>
Tom, W4NOV
ex-W1WJR, WN1VBZ, O1AK/mm
ex-W32 SYRINX Capt.
ex-Rear Commodore, SSCA
Port Canaveral, FL
Hmmm... Wonder how many other "ex"'s I can come up with?? :-))
(NOT the XYL - We just passed 33 Years together!! <G>)
Rick - nh2f
Xapic, Westsail 32
Annapolis
nh2f-abs.net
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