Monday, May 19, 2008                                  Hotel Providence
Board Meeting: 5:00 pm (Lounge)                At 311 Westminster St (Located on Mathewson Street between
Social Hour:      5:30-6:30                                                           between Westminster & Washington Streets)
Program & Dinner:  6:30                               Providence, RI 02903    (401)861-8000
Cost: $40 per person                                    For map & directions: www.hotelprovidence.com

The U.S. Congress, by joint resolution of May 20, 1933, designated May 22nd of each year as National Maritime Day,  and
requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling upon people of the United States to observe National Maritime Day.
This has been issued by the President each year since 1933.  This date honors on May 22, 1819, the S.S. Savannah, 1/30th the
size of a Liberty Ship, with a 90 horsepower engine, collapsible paddle wheels, and unique elbowed stack, left Savannah, Georgia, for
Liverpool on the first voyage across the Atlantic by steam.  No passengers could be induced to make the crossing on the "smoking
coffin", even though President Monroe visited the Savannah, and took a short cruise before she sailed.  As the ship was also
equipped with sails, Captain Rogers did not use his engines continuously during the twenty nine day passage for fear of running out
of fuel.  On her return, the Savannah was converted into a sailing packet and was later wrecked in a storm off Long Island.

National Maritime Day commemorates the feat of this American Ship.  Despite the fact that Savannah did not make the entire trip
under steam, it was a historic voyage which opened the age of steamships.

Our Propeller Club, Port of Narragansett Bay Chapter, will celebrate National Maritime Day on May 19th, at the elegant
Hotel Providence, a beautifully restored building in the Arts & Entertainment District, in downtown Providence, and set within
an entire area designated on the National Register of Historic Places.  When you arrive on Mathewson Street, please tell
the Valet you are with the Propeller Club, and the Hotel has offered us free Valet Parking.

We are so very proud that this year, we will have two recipients of our "Maritime Person of the Year" Award. 
President Brendan MacGillivray announces the 2008 Award will be presented to David A. Cohen & Joel H. Cohen,

of Promet Marine Services.  Both are long time members of our Club, and have had their business on the Providence Waterfront

for over 34 years.  This past year, they were very instrumental in the formation of the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance,

which has worked tirelessly in trying to keep the present Port of Providence a vital regional economic resource and protected

from mixed uses that are imcompatible with a working waterfront.  We will honor the Cohen brothers for their many years of

participation and support to the Club and the area.

 

In addition, we are so very excited to have the first presentation of our Education Fund Scholarship Awards.  This fund was
founded to assist students pursuing careers related to the Maritime Industry.  Our three top applicants, in alphabetical order:

Christopher Duarte, of Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Brian Eisenhower, Roger Williams School of Law (Admiralty & Maritime Law)
Tiffany Smythe, URI, Ph.D Candidate, Marine Affairs.

They will hopefully be able to join us, read their Essay Application, and receive their financial award.

We are offering one choice for dinner, Roasted Organic Chicken Breast with a Champagne Cream Sauce.  Reservations are
mandatory, and cut off will be at Noon on Friday, May 16th at the Hotel's request.  We will not accomodate walk in's,
and is Club Policy, "no shows" will be billed.  Please kindly reserve be e-mail to propclubnb@aol.com or call, Nancy
at (401) 785-9100.

The Raffle Gifts for this evening will be courtesy of Northeast Diving Services, but as we expect a large crowd, we would
appreciate your kindness in donating a Raffle Gift.

We have worked very hard on making this a very special evening for all of our honorees, so we ask you to make every effort
to join us, and please feel free to bring guests.

Plans are underway for our last meeting of this year, June 16th, aboard the "Harbor Queen"

Nancy Croce
Port Secretary
Propeller Club, Port of Narragansett Bay