NMHF's Broadsides: April 2007!
Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Join NMHF at the Blessing of the Fleet!
NMHF Sponsors World Premiere of Lessons from the Waterfront: The Anacostia
The National Maritime Heritage Foundation Golf Classic!
Little Spirit Was a Big Hit at
the Cherry Blossom Festival!News
NMHF Welcomes Rob Bader
NMHF Hosts Visit by Captain Bill Pinkney
NMHF Proposes STEM Education Program for 2008
Sponsor a Kids Set Sail Sailor!
Volunteer for The BIG Team Regatta!
Become an NMHF Member!Program Updates
American Spirit
National Capital High School Sailing
Kids Set Sail
DC Sail
Upcoming Events
Join NMHF at the Blessing of the Fleet!
Passed down through generations of sailors, fishermen, merchant mariners and navies around the world, the centuries-old “Blessing of the Fleets” ceremony is intended to safeguard fishing crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a traditional blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. As a tribute to our nation’s rich maritime heritage and the men and women who have contributed to its growth and success, the United States Navy Memorial will host its sixteenth annual Blessing of the Fleet on Saturday, April 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and is an official event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
NMHF is proud to partner with the United States Navy Memorial for this event. Our Spirit will be on display for this event and we would encourage all our friends and members to come down and see this moving ceremony.
Schedule of activities:
12:00 p.m. U.S. Navy Band performs on the Plaza
1:00 p.m. Blessing of the Fleets Ceremony
1:30 p.m. U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard charges the fountains
1:45 p.m. U.S. Navy Band music
2:00 p.m. Sailors from the White House Mess serve Navy Bean soup in the Naval Heritage Center
The United States Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center are located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 123, Washington, D.C., 20004-2608. The D.C. Metro's Green and Yellow Line stops at Archives-Navy Memorial are steps from the Navy Memorial.
NMHF Sponsors World Premiere of Lessons from the Waterfront: The Anacostia
The world premiere of Lessons from the Waterfront: The Anacostia, a documentary written, produced and directed by the youth of Multi-Media Training Institute (MMTI), is scheduled for Monday, April 23, 2007 aboard The Odyssey, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm (The boat leaves the dock at 7:00 pm from 600 Water Street, NW, Washington, DC).
While learning the finer aspects of documentary development, the MMTI students captured the early community meetings that The Anacostia Waterfront Corporation held at the Cesar Chavez School. The documentary focuses on the past, present and the possible future of the Anacostia River from the eyes of young people as they celebrated the 2006 summer experience and speak to the residents of Anacostia. Also, included in the documentary are comments by Mayor Adrian Fenty; The Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Interim Director of the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation, Neil Albert; Chairman Vincent Gray; Councilmember Marion Barry and the lead developer of the Anacostia Waterfront, Lamont H. Hoffman.
NMHF is proud to sponsor this event along with Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, Anacostia Watershed Society and the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association. Tickets are $100 dollars and all proceeds go to the MMTI. For more information or to RSVP go to www.mmtidc.org/premiere or call Jeremiah Pope at 202-701-5757.
Please support this excellent undertaking!!!
The NMHF Golf Classic Needs Your Help!
On Thursday, June 7, 2007 NMHF will enter new waters when it hosts the 1st Annual National Maritime Heritage Foundation Golf Classic at Potomac Ridge in Waldorf, Maryland. The proceeds from the great event will go to support NMHF and its mission of inspiring minds through maritime educational experiences. An event like this needs lots of hands to put on! Please join the volunteer committee, sign up as a volunteer for the day or sign your company up as a sponsor and come play some golf for a great cause!!!
Thank you!
For more information or to get involved please contact Liz Gossens at LGossens@nmhf.org or 202 547 1250.
News
Rob has been hired to run the general operations of NMHF’s many sailing programs and will be seen captaining American Spirit. As the Executive Director of the sailing program Destination Bright Future in Baltimore, Rob has been a friend to NMHF for many years. If you see Rob on our boats, make sure to welcome him to the NMHF crew! 
NMHF Hosts Visit By Captain Bill Pinkney
Captain Bill Pinkney visited Washington, D.C. during the week of March 19, 2007 as a guest of NMHF. Capt. Pinkney spoke to over 600 students during this visit, including visits to the Bald Eagle Park and Recreation Center (Ward 8), Washington Jesuit Academy (Ward 5), YMCA Calomiris (Ward 5) and King Greenleaf Park & Recreation Center (Ward 6.) Captain Pinkney was a wonderful spokesman for commitment, sailing, education and inspiration. He discussed his voyage around the world and his role as the Captain of the Freedom Schooner Amistad with the kids and urged them to follow their dreams. Thank you Capt. Pinkney!!!
NMHF Proposes STEM Education Program for 2008
NMHF, in its desire to continue fulfilling its mission of inspiring minds through maritime educational experiences, is proposing a STEM Education after school program starting in April 2008. The name of the new program will be MaritimeDC.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and the program will combine NMHF’s current on-the-water education programs with classroom and hands-on design and development projects. The proposed program would work in local DC schools, in partnership with DCPS, and focus on students in the 6, 7, and 8th grades.
We need your help! NMHF is actively looking for educators, engineers, naval architects or anyone who has the interest and time to support this project. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rob Bader at RBader@NMHF.org or 202 547 1250.
Sponsor a Kids Set Sail Sailor!
When kids arrive at our Kids Set Sail Program, over half or them have never been on a boat or on the rivers of Washington, DC. Kids Set Sail provides these youth with access to the sport many of us love. Our youth acquire the leadership, teamwork, communication and profound respect for the environment that come with sailing.
With your help, we were able to provide sailing scholarships to over 50 young sailors in our Kids Set Sail and High School Sailing programs last year. These new sailors liked the program and some have found their way into high schools with sailing teams. NMHF has always partnered with DC’s non-profits (DC Park and Rec, Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and others) to serve area youth. This year, we are excited to include partnerships with the FBR Boys and Girls Club and National Capital YMCA. Your sponsorships have made these partnerships possible.
Please consider sponsoring another sailor this year. With $500 we can give a scholarship to one sailor. This pays for boat maintenance costs, safety equipment and program materials. Sponsorship levels include:
- Sponsor-a-sailor - $500.00
- Support-a-sailor - $250.00
- Maintain-a-sailor - $100.00
You can make a donation by going to www.nmhf.org and clicking on “Donate Now," or, call the NMHF office at 202.547.1250 for more information. You will support a great cause and help a young person experience the joy of sailing this summer!
Volunteer for the BIG Team Regatta!
Want to help out for a great event? The Regatta Committee is making BIG plans for our next race in September. If you like to have fun and sail this is a great group for you. The BIG is going into its fifth year and has raised over $100,000 for NMHF on the water programming. This year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever! Our co-chairs for this terrific event are Adam Levithan, from True-Wind Coaching, LLC, and Kyra Szanto, from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and we have five returning committee members from last year. Would you like to get involved? Please contact Kevin Traver at KTraver@NMHF.org for more information.
There are several upcoming BIG Team Regatta events as well. Contact Adam Levithan by email at adam@atruewind.com if you would like to attend!
A BIG Hello!
When: May 15th, 6:30 PM
Where: Aboard Schoonerr American Spirit, 600 Water St. SW, Washington DC, 20024
May 15 is DC Sail's Tuesday race night. Watch High School sailors and DC Sail members race, meet the BIG Team, and have fun aboard schooner American Spirit!
Sail'ebrity Happy Hour & Clinic
When: Mid-June; Specific Date To Be Determined
Where: To Be Determined
Meet a sailing personality, learn advanced skills, hear about the latest technologies, and Have Fun!!
BIG Regatta Countdown
When: Early September; Specific Date To Be Determined
Where: NEW NMHF Office
2 weeks before the Regatta, meet the teams and sponsors, congratulate the volunteers, join the fundraiser at the last minute, and Have Fun!!
BIG Team Happy Hours in Annapolis
Do you sail in Annapolis on Wednesday nights?
Keep your eyes peeled in August at the Boat Yard Bar & Grill, or other supreme venues for Happy Hour BIG Team Giveaways!
We would like you to join us in the 2007 NMHF membership drive! The foundation is at a very exciting point in its development and your support will allow us to continue our growth and follow through on our mission of inspiring minds through maritime educational experiences.
NMHF has had a great year in 2006, putting over 4000 children and adults on the water – more than ever before! Over the past two years, NMHF has:
* Founded the Schooner American Spirit Education Program
* Established the National Capital High School Sailing Program
* Established partnerships with 23 well-known civic and educational organizations in Washington, DC including the Boys & Girls Club, YMCA and Boy Scouts.
* NMHF was named Cultural Partner for Re-development of Southwest Waterfront, Washington, D.C in October 2006
We hope to be able to continue to build on our accomplishments and evolve our programs. Please click the hyperlink to join http://www.nmhf.org/membership.asp or call 202-547-1250 to join NMHF. Membership lasts for one year from the day that you join. Please take the time to review our information, lend your support and join us!
Program Updates
American Spirit
After a brief stay in Annapolis for minor repairs, NMHF’s 65 ft. schooner, American Spirit is ready for the 2007 season. Her first passenger cruise is on April 21st and the boat is already full! Educational trips begin in May and Grey Line has booked every Saturday in June and July for sunset cruises. Our first Friday night Members and Friends cruise is May 4th from 6:00pm-8:30pm. The cost for these outings is $15 for members and a one-time $50 fee for non-members. The non-member fee will be credited as a membership, and then you can return the next time as a member! Please call Liz at the office at 202.547.1250 or email her at lgossens@nmhf.org for more information.
The National Capital High School Sailing Program is Now Underway!
| The National Capital High School Sailing Program commenced on April 3, 2007. This year, we have over thirty students involved from Thurgood Marshall Academy, The Lab School, TC Williams High School, Bishop O'Connell and Sidwell Friends. We are pleased to welcome Thomas Deal to the program as well. As an experienced high school teacher, past camp counselor, KSS sailing instructor and racing coach at the Uppingham School in England, Thomas will coach students in the High School racing program, and, he will assist Oliver Whitney with instruction in the learn-to-sail program. |  |
Kids Set Sail
Kids Set Sail begins its fifth season on June 25 and NMHF is ready to make this the best summer to date! Two sessions are already sold out and word is spreading like wildfire. If you know any kids ages 8-14 who want to experience D.C. from the water, be sure to click HERE to get the full details. This summer D.C. youth involved in the Kids Set Sail program will not only learn how to sail but also excel in leadership, teamwork and communication. Each instructor is US Sailing Level 1 Instructor certified as well as at least one year of experience as an instructor for KSS. It’s time to get your kids excited about learning how to sail! Sign up for Kids Set Sail 2007 today!
DC Sail
The Flying Scots and FJs are rigged and ready to sail at DC Sail's sailing Facility! Check our website, www.dcsail.org, to sign up for lessons or a certification test, and, start sailing next weekend!
DC Sail Happy Hour at Rocket Bar!
When: Thursday, April 12, 6pm
Where: 714 7th Street NW, Washington DC, 20001 (Located across the street from the Verizon Center and Clydes, in a space underneath Ruby Tuesdays and Legal Seafood)
Who: Everybody! Members and Non-Members are both welcome to attend.
To celebrate the beginning of the season, we are congregating at the brand new Rocket Bar in Chinatown! Washington Post gives this bar an Editor's Pick. Please contact Oliver at owhitney@nmhf.org if you would like to attend.
Free Instructor Training
When: Saturday, April 14, 9:30am-12:30pm & Sunday, April 15, 9:30am-4:00pm
Where: The Gangplank Marina, 600 Water St SW , Washington DC 20024
If you were an instructor last year or if you want to instruct this year, come on down! We highly recommend everyone interested in instructing to take this class. It consists of a classroom & on-water portion. It's free and open to everyone who has gone through our beginner sailing course. It's taught by our own Duncan Hood, an internationally recognized award winning instructor trainer. Please contact Oliver Whitney at owhitney@nmhf.org or call 202-547-1250 if you would like to attend.
DC Sail Hosts US Sailing Small Boat Instructor Level 1 Training Course
When: Friday, June 1 – Monday, June 4
Where: The Gangplank Marina, 600 Water St SW, Washington DC 20024
To sign up for the course, visit the US Sailing Website
We recommend that all volunteer instructors take a US Sailing Instructor Course (Note: This is not a necessary requirement). The US SAILING Small Boat Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course, approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, is designed to teach sailing instructors on-the-water group management and instruction techniques for dinghies, multihull and small daysailing keelboats. This is a 40 hour course conducted in four days. Topics covered include: sports psychology, sports physiology, lesson planning, safety issues, risk management, classroom and on-the-water teaching techniques. Participants must have experience and expertise in sailing small boats such as prams, dinghies, multi-hulls, and day sailing keelboats. These skills will NOT be taught and are mandatory for satisfactory completion.
Save the Date: DC Sail Programming Begins Soon!
See our DC Sail calendars at http://www.dcsail.org/calendar.htm for more details:
- First Learn-to-Sail Course: April 14, 15, 21, 22, 9:30am-12:30pm
- First certification test: Sunday, April 15, 9:30am-12:30pm
- First opportunity to rent a boat: Saturday, April 14, 10:00am-1:00pm