Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron, Inc.®
A unit of the United States Sail & Power Squadrons, Inc.®
Cooperative Charting Program
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Chairman: Lt Albert A. Shemo, SN
Above patch was designed by National Oceanic Service (NOS) and
given to the USPS to use as their logo for Cooperative Charting.
The Cooperative Charting Agreement between the United states Power Squadrons (USPS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), first executed in 1963, is the most effective user-participation program in all the Federal services. Of all the other groups that has signed agreements, the USPS is the only remaining volunteer organization still reporting on the complete agreement which includes, Survey Marker recovery, Marina Surveys, Adopt-A-Chart Program, and Aeronautical Structures.
Click on any below picture for an enlarged view - click back to return.
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Photo #1 D/Lt Al Shemo searching for a marker on a bridge found they were tearing down the bridge and the Foreman said if you want the marker chisel it out. NOS takes it off the roll and you keep the marker. #2 In 2001 photo shows marker chewed by lawnmower #3 In 2002 the same marker after the lawn mower finished the job - pictures sent to NOS and marker taken off rolls. #4 Tools used by Lt Shemo when searching for markers. #5 State Surveyors use satellite reading instruments to marker location of Benchmark. #6 Capt Jim Miles at the helm of his vessel the "Vigilant" used for Cooperative Charting Surveys. #7 Crew of the "Vigilant" after completing a survey of Lake Worth Inlet get ready for lunch at a restaurant.
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#8 Lt's Purdue Gould, Hans Heynau, Jim Tedesco and Al Shemo use current meters, charts and GPS to conduct year long eight hour monthly Current Survey of Lake Worth Inlet and reported results to NOAA. #9 The lighting rod atop the Jupiter Lighthouse itself is a Survey Marker. #10 Stakes indicate where the radio tower once stood but now dismantled. #11 Medallion given to those who ranked high on the Co/Ch Honor Roll. Receiving this honor were Lt's Al Shemo, Scott Clinton and Alan Patti. #12 Upper most point of Baptist Church used as a Geodetic Mark. #13 Found out that the spire was removed and would not be replaced. Sent report and pictures to NOS and data sheet listed as Destroyed. #14 While searching for a marker on a bridge Lt Alan Patti discovered a piece of the wall was missing due to an accident. Found the marker down the embankment along with parts of the bridge wall.
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#15 Lt Jim Tedesco interviews Kelly Pate at Zachary Taylor Marina on Lake Okeechobee about the marina facilities #16 One of the 15 Marinas on Lake Okeechobee that PBS&PS survey for the small craft facility listing on nautical charts. #17 Survey Markers are encased in concrete - 4 feet deep. While grading the highway a bulldozer blade caught the disk and pulled it half way out of the ground. #18 This marker was reported Not Found for years. Lt's Al Shemo and Scott Clinton found it by the Jupiter Lighthouse in dense snake grass and brush. #19 Marker reported not found for 12 years. Door opener and and meter box blocked some of the view of marker and when asked what I was looking for, a resident pointed it out to me.
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#20 Lt Jim Palmer, right and D/Lt Bill Eldridge using a differential GPS survey and record each marker into Inlet Harbor Marina and mid-channel depth was recorded and reported to NOAA. #21 Photo is attached to reports submitted to NOAA. Photo into Rybovich Marina identifying all the private buoys is reported. #22 Chartlet reflects all the plotted positions confirming that the range is as charted.
#23 Photocopy section of nautical chart 11472 reporting channel depths according to water survey conducted by squadron members.
#24 Ch/Co/Ch/Com Lt Al Shemo receiving the Messlingslager Award at the District Conference on behalf of the Palm Beach PS. This award and $200 is given to the squadron number one in the district. 25> Angela the Office Manager at Jolly Rogers Marina on Lake Okee and her parrot assistant "J.R" Greet Lt's Al Shemo and Jim Tedesco as they conduct marina surveys of Lake Okeechobee.
Members who have who have done field work and submitted reports: Phil Bouckaet, Scott Clinton, Bill Eldridge, Dick Finn, John Litwinka, Jim Palmer, Alan Patti, Elmer Macke, Les McWhorter, Jim Miles, Ed Newman, Joyce Newman, Al Shemo, Ben Swanka, Jim Tedesco, John Worssman and Barbara Patti.