America’s Boating Club Presents Service Awards

America’s Boating Club (formerly US Power Squadrons) honored three squadrons with its Distinguished Civic Service Awards at its annual meeting held in Jacksonville, Florida. Sponsored by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the awards are given annually to club squadrons in recognition of exceptional service and public boating safety education and service to the boating community. This year’s regions were North Carolina, New York and Florida.

The three award recipients were Peace River Sail and Power Squadron, Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron, and Patchogue Bay Power Squadron.

Florida’s Peace River squadron was singled out for its work with the Punta Gorda Boaters Alliance, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte County Marine Advisory Commission, and Englewood Chamber of Commerce. As part of the Weather Ready Nation, the squadron participated in child drowning prevention and awareness programs, supported Hook Kids on Fishing, participated in the Charlotte Harbor Coastal Clean-up, and created fishing and boating events focused on children with special needs.

North Carolina’s Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron earned accolades for offering an optional course-extension, a “teaching cruise,” donated to the Marine Technology Scholarship Fund of its local community college, and were also Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors helping to watch environmental issues in their area. They also assisted Cape Fear River Watch, participated in the North Carolina Clean Boater Program, supported the Coastal Plain Conservation Group, and completed a river clean up.

New York’s Patchogue Bay Power Squadron was honored for its success working on the National Safe Boating Week campaign, earning local support from the Village of Patchogue, the town of Brookhaven, West Marine, the U.S. Coast Guard, Patchogue Fire Department, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau, Fire Island National Seashore. The group earned local TV coverage for its efforts to keep boaters safe