Introduction of SSS Scurvy Chaser and Skipper Sam Marshall
Sam Marshall (ke4fsm@home.com)
Fri, 29 Jan 1999 12:19:48 -0500
Hello to the fellow members of the list.
I have been monitoring the list for the last month and it is now past time
to introduce myself. I am Sam Marshall, Skipper of SSS Scurvy Chaser 869 at
Salisbury Presbyterian Church in Midlothian Virginia. The ship chartered in
early December 1998 with five youth and five adults. We are now eight youth
and six adults. The ship will follow the traditional Sea Scout program.
Our goal is to stay small--under 10 youth--until the fall when the majority
of the current youth will have attained Ordinary and will be prepared to
lead. All but one of the youth will complete their requirements for
Apprentice by the next meeting.
We are in the process of finalizing a uniform standard. The work uniform is
chambray and dungarees. The crew has not yet selected a dress uniform. We
meet the first and third Thursdays at the church for business meetings and
programs and on the fourth Thursday by appointment for advancement training
and review. Later in the spring weather permitting, we will meet the second
Saturday of the month to sail and the fourth Saturday to sail or maintain
our vessels or do a service project.
The ship has been given an O'Day Day Sailer as its sail training vessel and
a local sailing association has several others that they will permit us to
use for special events. Various adult leaders will supply their boats for
cruises. (I have just sold a Cal 39 and have just made an offer on a Mason
43, so I am between boats at the moment.) Several of the Scouts or their
families own a selection of one design boats from Opti to Laser to Flying
Scott.
The youth of the ship are very interested in international activities. They
have set a long run goal of attending an international Sea Scout event or
visiting with a Sea Scout ship in another country during the summer of 2000.
One of the crew is now combing the web sites of the international ships for
potential events to bring to the group for discussion in March. Several of
the ship's crew will be going to Florida Sea Base this summer as part of a
contingent a local troop had reserved but who then lost some boys who had
planned to go. We will also do a two week Chesapeake Bay cruise this
summer.
In real life, I run a company with three main divisions, but my wife
believes that I work full time on Scouting. ;-) My partners and I provide
conference management services to non-profit groups and trade associations;
we provide marketing research principally to financial institutions; and we
provide management development and training services to non-profits. I am
married and have two sons--ages 16 and 11. My older son lost interest in
Scouting three or four years ago one Eagle required merit badge short of
Life, but is an avid sailor and the Ship has caught his interest. My
younger son is a First Class Scout. Both of my sons have participated in
the Junior Program for 4 or more years at our yacht club, Fishing Bay YC in
Deltaville, Virginia, and sail recreationally. When my younger son is off
to college, my wife and I will resume a circumnavigation that I started in
the 1960's. (I had sailed from Norfolk, Virginia to Hawaii when I found I
was about to be drafted.)
I have been active in Scouting since I was eight years old. I am an Eagle
Scout (1958) and a Quartermaster (1961). In addition to my duties with the
ship, I am an Assistant Scoutmaster of my younger son's Scout troop and
serve as District Chairman for the "Legendary" Shawondassee District, Robert
E. Lee Council. Our district is the largest in the council with over 4,500
youth in 107 units. I have applied to attend Sea Badge SR-XII to be held in
April. I am looking forward to helping grow the best kept secret in
Scouting.
We are getting great support from the Council. The Ship's Boatswain, a very
sharp young woman, will deliver the invocation at the Council Recognition
Dinner during Scout Week. This will be great promotion to the 800 or so
attendees and should help raise awareness of Sea Scouting in the Council.
There are two Sea Scout Ships in our council. The Council has some of the
best sailing waters in the Mid-Chesapeake Bay area as a part of its
geography and should have many more ships. I am working with our Scout
Executive to try to organize several more ships. My best current prospect
is an environmental group with a boat that wants youth to help in their
program, but the current leadership has some difficulties with the
"navy-like uniform" and their perception of Sea Scouting as "militaristic."
I know I'll get them signed on, but it may have to start in a less
traditional form.
Sorry I rambled on so long, but sometimes I just can't stop talking about
Sea Scouting!
Sam
-------------------------
Samuel F. Marshall, Jr. e-mail sam@marshall-assoc.com
Skipper, Sea Scout Ship Scurvy Chaser 869, Salisbury Presbyterian Church,
Midlothian VA
Shawondassee District Chairman, Robert E. Lee Council
I used to be a Buffalo and a good ole Staffer too...but remain an Eagle
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide
the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and
endless sea." Antoine Marie Roger de Saint-Exupery
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