The National Sea Scout Committee has selected a new National Sea Scout Commodore. Mr. Charles D. Wurster took over the title from the outgoing Commodore Mrs. Jimmie Homburg. Mr. Wurster posted a letter of introduction (quoted below) on the Sea Scouting Website which also discussed the recent reorganization; placing Sea Scouting under the “Outdoor Adventures Standing Committee”, and is no longer being administered under a unified Venturing Division.

Dear Sea Scout Leaders:

I’m pleased to introduce myself as your new National Sea Scout Commodore. At the recent meeting of the National Sea Scout Committee, the title was transferred from outgoing Commodore Mrs. Jimmie Homburg. As you know, Jimmie has served ably for the past ten years. During that time, Sea Scouting made significant progress in providing a quality program to America’s youth. The National Sea Scout Committee celebrated her tenure at a special recognition dinner. Jimmie received a good?natured “roasting” with smiles and laughter all around. More importantly we all celebrated her successes and our friendship. We are fortunate that Jimmie will continue to serve on the national committee and will focus her efforts on marketing.

Other changes are underway at the national level in the Boy Scouts of America. The professional staff was reorganized last month from program?based to function?based. Similarly, this past week at regularly scheduled meetings, the national volunteer committee structure was realigned to match “The New BSA” national organization.

What does that mean for Sea Scouts? New opportunities to improve and strengthen the program for our youth members; present and future. What does that mean for your National Sea Scout Committee? Two big changes; first, the Sea Scout Committee is now under the “Outdoor Adventures Standing Committee.” Second, Keith Christopher, head of the “National Events Department,” is our new professional director for Sea Scouts. In that new role, he will be our main connection point with the national professional staff. He’s already been great to work with and we all look forward to his advice and support.

Charles Holmes, our previous director, has been assigned to new duties as head of the “Community Alliances Team.” Although he is excited about his new role, he confided that he will miss his daily connection to Sea Scouts.We will miss him, too. We thank him for the great job he did for Sea Scouting as well as Venturing.

Whenever there is a change in leadership it is natural for questions to arise about possible changes. For the time being, “steady as she goes” will be our watchwords. We must maintain course and stand a tight watch. Meanwhile, we will plot a track line for success in our future adventures in the Boy Scout of America. The national committee is already looking at new opportunities and challenges. You can help us and the program by bringing your ideas forward at the unit, council, area, regional, and national levels. All of us on the committee look forward to serving you and the Scouts.

Sincerely,
Charles D. Wurster
National Commodore, Sea Scouts, BSA
VADM, USCG (Retired)

What do you think of the reorganization? Will this be good for Sea Scouting? Post your comments below!

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Patrick Arrington, 15, of Pinecrest, Florida was awarded the silver trophy at the closing ceremonies held at Annapolis Yacht Club, July 18, 2008, after sailing his Vanguard 420s in 14 fleet races. His teammate was disqualified for off-the-water conduct at the end of the regatta.

Arrington, a member of Sea Scout Ship 1946, Coconut Grove, FL, defeated Hayley Anderson, 18, and Gareth Moore, 16, of Christchurch, New Zealand. It was the fourth time a New Zealand team placed second in the international youth regatta. Jeff Adam and Delana Stoica of the Del Mar took third.

A sophomore at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Arrington is hoping to study biophysics in college. In addition to Sea Scouts, he is currently a Life Scout with Troop 840 in Pinecrest, Florida where he is working on his Eagle Scout service project, collecting used sails for impoverished fishermen in Haiti.

Approximately 80 young men and women gathered at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, to compete in the week long regatta. Sea Scouts from New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, sailed against youth from across the United States. The winds were light and variable most of the week, with a southerly breeze freshening on Thursday, building to 12 knots on the final day on July 18th.

The biennial event is underwritten, in large part by William I. Koch, the Palm Beach industrialist and last American to successfully defend the America’s Cup. Other sponsors include General Motors, which awarded the Chevrolet Sportsmanship Award, and West Marine.

Sea Scouts are divided into two fleets: more experienced sailors compete for the Koch Cup, and a second fleet sails for the Kiwi Cup, a Maori carving donated by New Zealand Sea Scouts. Both trophies are displayed at the Boy Scout Museum in Irving, Texas.

Eric Johnson, 17 of Mercer Island, and Levi White, 16, of La Conner, Washington, won the Kiwi Cup.

“The most interesting part of the Koch Cup is that it’s an international event,” said Eric Johnson. “Meeting people from different countries and seeing how similar we all are was cool. One of the last things I imagined was that we would be representing our country in any competition other than the Olympics. It felt like was sailing for America or at least the Pacific Northwest.”

Paula McFarland, Zone Manager for Chevrolet, presented the Chevrolet Sportsmanship Awards to Monica and Ryan Orphan, of Woodland Hills, CA and Franklin Simmons and Gary Burner of Akron, OH.

Sea Scouts is part of the Venturing Division of the Boy Scouts and is open to men and women between the ages 14 and 21 who learn leadership skills through seamanship.

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