Watchung Sail and Power Squadron were chartered in 1956 as Watchung Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadron.  Since we were chartered, three basic principles have remained unaltered; namely our commitment to teaching basic boating safety to the general public, our civic commitments and the fellowship of our members.  Some things have changed and change is good.  We have added the word “sail” to our squadron name to enforce the fact that we are a boating organization and that not all of our members are power boaters.  Many of the big changes originated at our National level and have filtered down through the squadrons.  We can now teach our advanced grades of Seamanship and beyond to the general public as well as carry our classroom work out onto the water and actually teach on the water so that students can get hands on experience.  Many of our classes can now be taken on line making it easier for students to learn at their own pace at their leisure.  Many insurance companies offer discounts to those who have completed our courses making membership more valuable.  Our member benefits have grown over the years and have expanded to provide many discounts to our everyday activities.  I am proud to say that I am a member of the United States Power Squadron and that my membership has provided me with knowledge that keeps me safe on the water.  Check out our national website at www.usps.org and see what we are all about and feel free to browse our squadron website to see what we are all about.  If you have any questions about Watchung Sail and Power Squadron, contact me at chieftwallace@yahoo.com and I will be glad to spend time with you answering any of your questions.