Lake Murray Power Squadron
Celebrates the Holiday Season
Lake Murray Power Squadron celebrated the holiday season with a
lovely dinner at Saluda Shoals on Saturday 17 December 2011.
Highlighting the evening was the squadron's annual awards
presentation, spectacular door prizes, a delicious dinner and time with good
friends talking about boating.
The first award of the evening to be presented was the Bent Prop
Award; not the most coveted award, but the awarding of which always offers
plenty of laughs and sometimes a few tears when repair checks are written. The
Bent Prop Award is presented to the member who inflicts in a most spectacular
fashion the most damage to his or her vessel or the vessel and/or property of others.
The first and only three-peat recipient P/C David Allen, SN, presented the 45th
annual Bent Prop Award to Cdr Charlie Bruce, SN, for trying to remove an
outdrive on a submerged tree in the Waccamaw River.
Next on the evening's awards agenda was the Rusty Anchor, which
is presented for an "unscheduled, unplanned, full immersion." Unfortunately,
there were no recipients to take ownership of the award from Lt Fred Ruinen, S,
for his 2010 double-dip performance for which family and friends ratted him out.
So Fred will hold the award and collect any and all nominations during the 2012
boating season!
But Fred did not get to sit down after admitting he had no one
to whom he could pass the Rusty Anchor, because he became an award recipient for
the second year running; but this time it was the Spark Plug Award that is given
to a new member of two years or less who started their squadron career with a
real spark. Fred was recognized for his enthusiasm and hard work hosting the
squadron's hospitality committee.
The recipients of the squadron's two most prestigious awards
— the Golden Anchor Award and the Commander's
Award — were unable to be present and will be
presented their awards at a future meeting.
The 23rd recipient of the Golden Anchor Award is Lt Bryant
Blakeslee, AP. The award is presented annually to a squadron member "for
distinguished and unselfish service to the squadron with outstanding leadership,
vision and ability." Bryant was specifically recognized for his dedication and
commitment to coordinating and leading the squadron's Vessel Safety Check
efforts.
Lt David Moxley, AP, received the 2011 Commander's Award. The
recipient of this award is solely determined by the commander and offers an
opportunity to recognize a member who has been an asset in making Lake Murray a
better squadron. In announcing the award that will be presented at a future
meeting, P/C Lee Ayers, SN, cited David's ongoing commitment to helping the
squadron maintain the lake's system of reference lights.
You can click on the thumbnail photos below to open our
Christmas Party slide show and see what a wonderful time was had by all who
attended.
