American Legion Dinners - The Orion crew served the American Legion National Commander's Dinner, which is a public service we provide for Post 21 each time the National Commander visits Santa Rosa - about every three years. The color guard provided the escort for the POW-MIA flag for the evening. Each year we clean up for Post 21's Thanksgiving, Christmas, and St. Patrick's Day dinners, also. This gives our Scouts the opportunity to provide a public service for the Veterans of our community.

Color Guard Services - The Orion Color guard had the extraordinary honor of performing a POW-MIA ceremony at the American Legion National Commander's Dinner on December 9^th. The four color guard members advanced the flag while one of the Legion members played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes; then they draped the flag over a vacant chair in honor of still-missing veterans. It was a very moving ceremony.

On November 3^rd, the color guard presented colors for the National Women's Veterans Organization for their yearly luncheon.

On February 6^th Jenny Berry and Eric Wahl helped Post 21 commemorate the Four Chaplains' Ceremony by reading the history and laying a rose for each of the World War II heroes.

The color guard also provided services at Sam Terrell's Eagle Court of Honor in February.

Lighted Boat Parade - December 8^th found Scouts busily decorating four boats for Petaluma Yacht Club's yearly Lighted Boat Parade. After dark the Orion, Santanna, Cal 20, and B.O.B., all decked-out in colored light strings, carried guests from the Petaluma Marina to the Turning Basin in downtown Petaluma. The Scouts then helped the Compass Rose crew secure other parade boats for the night's stay in Petaluma. After dinner of chili, hot apple cider and hot cocoa, the crew spent the night on the boat before returning to the Marina Sunday morning. Guests included family, friends, and members of United States Power Squadron, American Legion, and American Legion Auxiliary.

Orion Cruises - Orion cruised to Vallejo on the only two calm, warm, dry days of winter break. The Cal 20, which had lost her rudder and tiller at the start of the August summer cruise, had been berthed in Vallejo. It was time to bring her home. Crewed by Nick Rogers and Evan Bowers, the Cal 20, with new rudder and tiller, sailed all the way home to the Petaluma Marina under her own power.

In February, the Orion cruised to Sausalito so the crew could visit the Bay Area Model and be "tourist" on the waterfront. Again, it was warm and dry - a nice break from the rain and cold of winter.

Cruises with Chaser and Compass Rose - Our Crew has been very fortunate to be invited to cruise with the Chaser in January and with the Compass Rose in February. Chaser visited Pier 38 in San Francisco, then anchored off Paradise Cove in San Pablo Bay for Saturday night. In the morning, the Scouts toured Angel Island before cruising home. Compass Rose cruised to Redwood City for Pacific Skyline's Bridge and Ball.

These cruises give our Scouts a look a operations procedures on other boats, and we can incorporate good ideas. It also gives Scouts a chance to socialize with other Scout units and build new friendships. Thank you to these fine ships, their officers, and crews for allowing us to share their outings.

Safety Training Weekend - Redwood City - October 19-21 Orion cruised to Redwood City so the crew could participate in the annual Safety Training Weekend. Each year the Scouts learn skills such as fire fighting, damage control, cold-water survival, signaling techniques, first aid, and many other techniques for use in case of emergency on the water. These skills we learn in the hope that we never have to use them. We worked in Napa with the Chaser crew the weekend before loading training equipment and building a trailer to carry it all. The event was reported in U.S. Boat Magazine.

USPS - Dinner - March 9^th found our Scouts serving their first dinner for the United States Power Squadron. For years the Power Squadron has provided our unit with text books and instructional materials for boating safety classes, and three of our Scouts are squadron Apprentice members. The Redwood Squadron hosts a shrimp feed each year to provide funding for various boating safety instructional activities. This year they asked our Scouts to serve, and we were pleased to do so. Tips from the tables will go to provide summer cruises for Scouts.

USPS Classes - Five of our Scouts, Amanda Gonzales, Jennifer Moll, Jessica Cameron, Derek Lockhart, and Eric Wahl, are currently taking the United States Power Squadron basic safety class. Scouts learn piloting, navigation, radio techniques, trailering, rules of the road, weather, marlinspike, and other useful boating information. This eight-week class is the basis for part of the requirements for the rank of Ordinary, and Scouts who have been with us for over a year have taken it. The class is necessary before a Scout in this unit can operate a boat and command a crew. United States Power Squadron, Redwood Squadron provide materials for this class.

Napa - mini regatta and Bridge and Ball - November 9-11 Orion cruised to Napa to attend Chaser's annual mini regatta. We attend the Bridge and Ball Saturday night, and cruise home the next morning. This event gives Scouts who have not seen a regatta season, a chance to see regatta events before the spring practices begin.

Inspection - Boats - USCGA - All five of our boats passed the required United States Coast Guard Auxiliary examination in January. Scout policy requires the larger of our boats to pass this inspection each year before carrying Scouts. Boats passing included Orion, Santanna, Cal 20, B.O.B., and Zodiac. Thank you to Ed Rogers for making sure our boats had up-to-date registration and stickers.

Retire Flags April 10 - As a public service, Sea Scout Ship Orion will retire several American flags at Howarth Park after 1900. Thank you to Kathy Berry for making all the reservations for that night.

Stockton -AMR and base clean-up - Ancient Mariners' Regatta is moving this year to the Reliance Base in Stockton. This grand-daddy of all regattas is traditionally held at Coast Guard Island in Alameda over Memorial Day weekend. However, the Coast Guard base is closed to civilians because of 9-11. So, the regatta has been moved to Stockton, and all participating Northern California Sea Scout units are spending one weekend cleaning the base do it will be ready for the 500 Scouts who will compete. This is a required event for all Scouts, and we hope several parents will come, also.

This year is the 50^th anniversary of the Ancient Mariners' Regatta, and we will have helped to make it a great success.

Fund Raising Activities - Events of the calendar that have a * on them are required events. This year, because of the work of our Scouts, we are in a position to drastically reduce outing costs. Cost has been $5 or $10 a day. Scouts who have participated in fund-raising events will find that their costs for this coming year are less than usual; Scouts who cannot participate in required events, will find that they will pay much more than in the past, if they are eligible at all.

The Human Race provides Scouts with the opportunity to earn their entire summer cruise. If a Scout collects pledges of $200, the entire cruise is free. It is best to begin collecting pledges now, because so many people participate in the event. It is hard to find people who have not pledged by late April, so it is best to start NOW!

We also have the opportunity to help run the Sonoma Marin Fair parking lot June 19-23 this year. This is also a required event, and parents are requested to help, also. Please put it on your calendar now. Besides, you get in to the fair for free on the days you work.