Ted Reiss Receives National Charles F. Chapman Award

This year, America’s Boating Club, also known as Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron, is proud to announce the recipient of the prestigious National Charles F. Chapman Award for Excellence in Teaching went to Ted Reiss, Past District Commander and Senior Coastal Navigator.

At the National level, the Chapman Award is the highest recognition that United States Power Squadron (USPS) can give to the three instructors who are selected as the best of the best each year. 

The Charles F. Chapman is named after one of the founding fathers of the USPS and the award recognizes educators who embrace their work with unparalleled dedication and deep commitment to their students. These volunteer instructors have devoted themselves to teaching boating and boater safety courses to prepare their members to become the best trained, most prepared boaters on the water.  

Ted Reiss has boated for over 50 years and has owned day boats, water ski boats and then cruisers between 34 to 48 feet. He became involved first as a student taking all the USPS courses and seminars and then giving back what he learned to others both in the classroom and in the water. Along the way, he earned a 100-ton Master License from the Coast Guard, giving him another opportunity to help new boaters learn the knowledge and skills of boating. 

Since joining the USPS in 1988, he became involved with the education department first in Shrewsbury Squadron in New Jersey, next in Kent Narrows Maryland Squadron and now in Marco Island. 

Ted is a strong advocate of teaching boating skills on the water. Many students took advantage of the “on the water training.” One of his students said, “Ted scheduled time out on the water on my boat so I could learn firsthand the maneuvering of my craft and the local waters around Marco Island.”

Currently, Ted is a USPS Life member with 26 merit marks. Over the years Ted was recognized several times at the District Level for Excellence in Teaching. Now, he is recognized throughout USPS nationally as the recipient of the Chapman Award for Excellence in Teaching.

According to Commander Dave Cheney, "our Squadron is very proud of our Educational Officer and Past District Commander, Ted Reiss. He is much deserving of this nationally recognized award and it is an honor to serve with him on our bridge." 

I met Ted Reiss on Monday, March 13th along with members of Marco Island’s Boating Club as they were getting ready for a CPR/AED/First Aid Course taught by the Marco Island EMS team.  

He also mentioned that on Saturday, March 18th, he will be leading a “Boat Around Marco – The Loop” trip for new members and boaters who are new to Marco Island.  It is a perfect opportunity for new members and less experienced boaters to Marco waters to follow a lead boat and record a track on their GPS around Marco Island, up Marco River to Goodland, out to Coon Key, through the “Picket Fence.”  This is a highly educational event as Ted will be pointing out hazards, significant channel markers, speed zones and other cool points of interest.”  Even if you don’t have a boat and want to make the “Loop,” they usually have space available.  

Ted was a very busy man that Saturday, March 18th as he made time to participate in the early morning Beach Cleanup co-sponsored with Marco Sportfishing Club.