Member of the United States Power Squadrons^® - Sail & Power Boating
Boating is fun . . . We'll show you how

Last updated Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Lackawanna provides tangible evidence that many USPS units come into being as spin- offs from other large, well organized Squadrons. Many of our charter members were formerly with the Northern New Jersey Squadron. As the Northern New Jersey Squadron continued to grow until It had about 700 members, its Planning Committee recommended sponsorship of a Squadron In the Morristown area. This suggestion was carried forward at the District 4 Spring Conference in March 1958 with the decision to conduct a Piloting Course in that locality. About the same time a questionnaire circulated among NNJ members revealed considerable interest in having such a new Squadron formed.

Then Lt/C A. J. Sequeria, N called a preliminary meeting at Winchester's Turnpike Inn, Morristown. Martin Reed, Jr., AP, was named chairman of a group to carry on the organization work and make arrangements for the initial Piloting Course. Telephone calls and group conferences beyond number took place in the next few weeks, culminating in another meeting at Winchester's on 14 June when the New Squadron Kit was presented. Specialized duties were then assigned: W. Sheldon Bennett, AP secretary pro tem and chairman of the name committee; Harold W. Butler, N chairman for nominating officers and committee chairman; Robert I. Ward, N chairman of the by- laws committee.

The efforts of these and many others resulted on 29 September 1958 at Winchester's in the signing of a charter petition by 51 members. The group also provisionally approved the name Lackawanna Power Squadron, adopted the by-laws, and elected officers. These provisional actions were ratified on 10 November 1958 when the National Governing board granted the charter.

Lackawanna Squadron attracted new and active members to complement the founders and through the years continued to grow. By 1966 Lackawanna's membership was well over 400 and during that year the Hopatcong Squadron was formed largely from Lackawanna members residing and boating in the Lake Hopatcong area.

Lackawanna continued to thrive until again there were over 400 members. For several years the squadron had been successfully holding classes in the Long Valley/Califon area, and it was determined that a new squadron should be formed for this locale. Thus, the Long Valley Squadron was spun-off from Lackawanna in 1998.

Lackawanna Sail & Power Squadron By-Laws