COMMANDER`S MESSAGE By P/C Frank Marobella, AP Janet Goss

October 2013
A publication of the
Nobscot Sail & Power Squadron Inc.
Volume 60 No. 3
COMMANDER’S MESSAGE
By P/C Frank Marobella, AP
Janet Goss and Joe Barone have joined the Executive Committee as Members at Large. Their
fresh ideas and comments will be greatly appreciated as we discuss the business and policies of our
organization as we re-build our organization.
The October Membership meeting attendees enjoyed a fascinating "trip" of a life time racing
a 72' sail boat named Logica from Boston harbor to Buenos Aires. We experienced the trip via photos
and the experiences of Jere Douglas. Jere participated as a crew member on one leg of an around the
world race specifically designed to travel against the wind and current. One of the large sail boats with
its 95' high mast suffered a knockdown and two other boats collided causing serious damage to both
boats, one more than the other. This race was to benefit the "Save The Children Foundation". Nobscot
donated $100.00 to the foundation as Jere's honorarium.
One of my goals is to augment Peter Withol's efforts and I would appreciate your help by suggesting topics and if possible join him on his committee. Another goal is to increase our summer fun
quotation by re-establishing the Rendezvous' committee. In the past we have taken day, week end,
and longer trips to Nantucket, Block Island, Newport, Mystic Seaport and other great locations. We
have had great picnics at members' homes. We could take a whale watching trip or maybe charter a
bus and visit the New York Boat show. I have included some pictures from recent rendezvous' in
Quisset and Falmouth, both of which ended with dinners at the Flying Bridge Restaurant.
FOR THE GALLEY SLAVE: A BARGAIN FRENCH CHEF’S KNIFE
by Peter J. Wihtol
Victorinox 8" Chef's Knife: Victorinox Swiss Army 47520. Sometimes the number 40520 will be
printed on this knife. This is latter number is sometimes used to indicate that the knife is in open
stock. But otherwise these are identical knives. High carbon, stainless steel, nylon non-slip handle.
The Winning Chef's Knife in the October 2013 issue of Cook's Illustrated. Several other
cooking publications rated this chef knife about as good as the $100-plus knives. The selling price
ranges from $27 to $37. That is inexpensive and compares favorably against more expensive knives
because it uses a similar blade steel found in better Western / German knives. Plus its thinner blade
cuts with less wedging.
And Quality Knife Sharpening:
Stoddard’s Cutleryhttp://www.swissknifeshop.com/media/catalog/product/
cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/f/
vf40520vix_x1000.jpg
360 Watertown St. (Route 16)
Newton, MA 02458 (617) 244-4187
http://www.stoddards.com
Several years ago I had bought two very nice, high-quality, high-carbon stainless-steel alloy Japanese kitchen knives -- they finally needed sharpening. One was a Damascus blade with a 50/50%
ground blade and the other one had a 70/30% right-hand ground blade. I learned that Dave
Stoddard of Stoddard’s Cutlery was quite knowledgeable about sharpening such knives and about
alloys and what to look for in spotting better quality knives – and which ones to avoid. He told me
about: cutting board materials (both the good and bad choices) and how to clean/sterilize them;
the pros and cons of hand-sharpening using water stones versus oil stones; plus the brief histories
of my other kitchen knives.
Phone them for the days and approximate times they would be at the shop and then phone
them to confirm your visit, earlier on the day that you intend to visit. Quality work plus reasonable
Not Making a Decision By: Theresa A. Capobianco, S
– it can be the worst decision of all
On occasion, we get a phone call from an individual that goes something like this:
“My wife and I need wills. We don’t have one. I’m 68 years old, our kids are all old enough
to take care of themselves. We have a home, some stocks, savings, and a vacation place in the
Maine woods [or a yacht, or a home in Florida, etc.]”
“I assume you are both in good health, but have you considered what will happen if either or
both of you enter into a nursing home and need long-term care?”
“Oh no, we haven’t. That happened to my mother [my wife’s aunt; my father; insert family
member here]. They needed to spend a good portion of their money before they qualified for
Medicare coverage. We don’t want that to happen, how can we protect our savings for our children
and grandchildren [or the dogs, the cats, the charities, etc.]?”
When planning for asset protection in the event of long-term nursing home care, there is
only a small variety of options available. Most of these options require the individuals to change
the legal title which holds the asset. For example, moving the family home into an irrevocable trust
can protect the largest asset from attachment or sale, but it will require the couple to give up the
ability to use the equity in the home. They can sell the home and move into an apartment
or into a smaller home or condominium but the additional money realized from the sale must stay
in the irrevocable trust. The interest and/or divided earned from the investment of the additional
money can be taken and spent by them but they cannot ever touch the principal. This strategy
needs to be planned at least 5 years before the individual seeks MA Health assistance.
Faced with this, the conversation concludes with this sentence from the individual:
“OK. I’m not sure we want to do that just yet. I’ll need to think about it a while and I’ll get
back to you.”
“That’s fine, just don’t die before your planning is done; and don’t get hurt, fall ill, or suffer
some other ailment that will require some long term care. Stay safe, and let us know when you
are ready.”
The standard warning having been issued, this is the individuals’ first decision:
they’ve decided to make no decision on how to proceed.
The next time we hear from them – it could be weeks or months or years later – it’s usually
after one of the spouses has become injured, and it’s scared them into taking action. Understanding that the outcome could have been much worse, the planning process begins, assets are protected, and inheritances eventually will flow to the children/grandchildren (unless the individual decides to spend it all first on some really great vacations.)
But consider the alternatives: Let’s say the couple opt to do nothing but a simple will, leaving the assets to the surviving spouse or the children if none. At the age of 73, the husband suffers a major stroke and requires long term rehabilitative care. Both individuals are retired, retirement income is modest, assets (excluding the house) are $700,000.00. The wife, now acting
alone, is going to need some quick footwork to salvage just a percentage of those assets from the
spend-down requirements before qualifying for Medicaid benefits.
Had the individuals engaged in some pre-planning, the assets would have been excluded,
and Medicaid benefits could have been secured earlier in the process without having to spend
down (not to mention the CPA, financial planning, and/or attorney fees incurred after the inpatient admission just to protect the assets remaining).
The lessons learned:
Sometimes no decision is the worst decision.
See your attorney before you need him or her when it may be too late.
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU)
By P/R/C Don Hagen, SN, Radio-Tech Officer
There are two international organizations that affect radio operations at sea: IMO and ITU.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) was discussed in this column last month. Although an
oversimplification of their differences in mission, the IMO regulates carriage requirements and operation of vessels; while the ITU regulates global use of the radio spectrum, a much broader mission.
Regulations of both organizations have treaty status within the U.S. and other nations. 1.
More specifically, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), originally founded as the
International Telegraph Union, is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for issues of
information and communication technologies. 2. The ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation is assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards. ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and over 700
private-sector entities and academic institutions. ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and
has twelve regional offices around the world. 3.
The ITU is active in areas including broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technolo-
gies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence
in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, television broadcasting, and next-generation networks. 4.
ITU has three sectors, each managing a different aspect of the organization.
(1) Radio Communication (ITU-R): managing the international radio-frequency spectrum
and satellite orbit resources. Prior to 1992, this sector was called CCIR (International Radio
Consultative Committee)
(2) Standardization (ITU-T): the best known and oldest activity. Prior to 1992, this sector
was called CCITT (International Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee).
(3) Development (ITU-D): Established to help spread equitable, sustainable and affordable
access to information and communication technologies (ICT)
Much of the work at ITU is done in study groups which comprise diverse expertise. The main
output of a study group is the establishment of technical standards or guidelines (called
"Recommendations"). The Plenipotentiary Conference is the key event for ITU policy-making. It is
held every four years. The next conference will be held in Busan, South Korea, in 2014. Largely due
to divisive national interests, the ITU does not enjoy the amicable internal relationships that the IMO
does. Mariners have more in common with one another.
______________
1.
www.navcen.uscg.gov, "Radio Watchkeeping Regulations"
www.wikipedia.org
3.
www.itu.int
2..
4.
Wikipedia, ibid.
A publication of the Nobscot Sail and
Power Squadron, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to:
Safe Boating
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Photographer: Stephen Eakman, SN