Our regional organization is managed by a team of volunteers that make up the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of flag officers, assistants, and on some occasions a committee chair. Please take a few minutes to meet them:
OFFICERS
Commander
Richard Hibbs, SN (Rochester)
Raised in the Rochester NY area, Rick wasn't introduced to sailing until he attended the University of New Hampshire. After college, Rick proceeded to teach himself how to sail on Lake Ontario on a series of sailboats starting with a Sunfish through a Sabre 28-2, his current boat. He continued building his sailing and boating skills via self-teaching, reading books on sailing, and racing in the program at Genesee Yacht Club, ultimately earning a 50 Ton USCG Master with a sailing endorsement.
Along the way, Rick became fascinated with marine sextants and wanting to learn how they worked. He discovered the United States Power Squadrons and started taking their classes. During his studies, he started helping out with teaching and became an instructor. He then served multiple terms on the Bridge of the Rochester Squadron before being asked to serve on the District Bridge, eventually becoming District Commander.
Rick and his wife, Bridgett, who is also very active within America's Boating Club, enjoy bareboat chartering in exotic locations such as Greece and the Caribbean.
From Rick: "I am very lucky to be working with a fine, capable Bridge, also dedicated to keeping the District viable, fun, and supportive of the missions of America’s Boating Club. We are all ready to enthusiastically follow up on suggestions from any member to help us achieve that goal! Don’t hesitate to contact me, or any other member of the Bridge.
"Let's go boating!"
Executive Officer
Karen Green (Syracuse)
Growing up in Central New York, Karen has always admired the beautiful cool deep blue lakes and rivers the area offers. Her boating experience started on the Seneca River. With her three young sons boating became a wonderful means to enjoy family time on the water.
The first vessel was a 20-foot Four Winns open bow. It was perfect for fishing, cruising, learning to water ski and to enjoy picnics with family and friends. Her family’s boating experience then led to a 21-foot Sea Ray and boating continued on the St. Lawrence River, a most majestic location. Now she and her family explore the River on a 31-foot Sea Ray SLX and all enjoy a most comfortable ride.
Karen, along with her husband Ken, have been very active members of the Syracuse Sail and Power Squadron since 2010. Karen held the position of Administrative Officer for District 6 in 2020-2022.
A graduate of Cazenovia College with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, Karen was the general manager of Stickley Furniture for 15 years. In addition, she served three terms as Manlius Town Councilor and was appointed Deputy Supervisor.
Karen has always enjoyed working with the local community and municipalities. She is looking forward to staying involved in America’s Boating Club and District 6 for many years to come.
Administrative Officer
Michael Acciai, AP (Susquenango)
Born in Scranton, PA and raised on a small farm in Factoryville, PA, Mike was driving farm equipment and raising vegetables for the Nicholson Farmers Market by age twelve.
After graduating from Penn State Scranton Worthington Campus with an Associate’s degree Mike began his thirty three year career at the IBM Glenda Lab in 1969 as a Laboratory Technician.
Mike met his spouse, Peg, in 1970 on a blind date set up by his and Peg’s aunts who were close friends. They have been together ever since.
During his time at IBM, Mike completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and then attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on a five year work study program sponsored by IBM where he received a Master’s of Science degree in Engineering and Manufacturing Management in 1997.
It was during the Clarkson years that Mike began his interest in boating while visiting his friends, P/C Steve Tisdale, AP and Lt Sue Dunlap in Alexandria Bay on weekends, cruising with them on the St. Lawrence River when he couldn’t get home.
In October of 1998, at the age of 52, Mike bought his first boat, a 24-foot Doral Cavalier at Bonnie Castle. He took the ABC class and has been spending his summers in Alexandria Bay ever since.
Mike joined the Susquenango Power Squadron in 2002 and became Secretary in 2003 moving up the bridge and becoming Commander for the first time in 2007. During this time he taught Chart Smart, ABC, Marine GPS, Marine Electrical and Electronics and various Radar and Radio seminars.
A career change took Mike to Atlantic City, NJ as a Senior Test Engineer running Certification tests on Explosive Detection Systems for eight years and he was unable to participate in Squadron or District functions during that time.
Returning home in 2016, Mike became an active member again. He has held the position of Executive Officer and Commander multiple times as well as being the co-editor of the SeaChest, Susquenango’s monthly newsletter.
Mike enjoys working with Susquenango and District 6 members and considers many of the members to be his extended family. He also a big advocate of maintaining the District as an active organization because our Squadrons are stronger working together than as individual organizations working alone.
Educational Officer
Leslie Smith, JN (Susquenango)
Raised in the Binghamton area, Les was introduced to boating by his father when he bought his first boat. Les was taught how to drive it when he was only10 years old.
Many years (and boats) later, Les started cruising in a new 25-foot Larson cruiser. He travelled the entire length of the Erie Canal from the Hudson to the Niagara, and up the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. At that time he took the Coast Guard Auxiliary's version of the ABC class. After taking the class he wanted to teach it so he joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary and began teaching their safe boating class.
Now Les and his wife Ann have a 23-foot open bow Rinker Captiva. (They spend as much time on it as possible, usually on Oneida Lake or the St. Lawrence River).
When the Rinker was purchased in 2006, Ann wanted to take a course. The USPS had one that summer, so they took it together. They joined the Susquenango Squadron right after the class so Les could resume teaching boat safety. During the following years Les took more classes and seminars and taught himself JN (beginning celestial navigation).
Les became the Education Officer for the Susquenango Squadron in 2011, and won the Chapman teaching award that year, too. Les was asked to become the ADEO in 2018 and will become the DEO at the COW in spring 2022.
Les has often said: “Joining the USPS was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I thoroughly enjoy teaching the classes and am very thankful for all the things I’ve learned and the new friends I’ve made.”
Secretary
Christopher Foster (Syracuse)
Chris has been a member of the Syracuse Sail & Power Squadron (SSPS) since October, 2020 and the USPS shortly after. Chris was elected to the USPS District 6 Secretary position in April, 2021.
Sailing is a hobby that Chris has always wanted to do. Prior to joining the SSPS, Chris was employed at Lockheed Martin Syracuse (2005 – 2015), Lockheed Martin Owego (1996 – 2005) and IBM Owego (1979 – 1996). Chris had a very distinguished career in Design Engineering, Systems Engineering and Systems Architecture. Chris retired in 2015 to enjoy life and explore new hobbies, of which sailing was a top priority.
Chris has two daughters, a son-in-law and two granddaughters, whom he hopes to introduce to sailing when they are a little older.
Chris also enjoys kayaking, motorcycle riding, astronomy, golfing and working to improve the Onondaga Yacht Club with his fellow members. Chris has taken advantage of the many sailing classes that are available through the America’s Boating Club.
Treasurer
James Sharpe, AP (Syracuse)
We can't get Jim off his boat, either, but we're trying. Stay tuned!
ASSISTANT OFFICERS
Assistant Educational Officer
Ira Goldman (Iroquois)
Assistant Secretary
David Daniels, SN (Susquenango)
Dave is further inland and spends lots of time stargazing. As soon as we figure out which remote location his telescope is in, we'll get his bio, too.
Assistant Treasurer
Bridgetta Arieno, JN (Rochester)
Bridgett started sailing as a teenager on her father’s Coronodo 25. Her father (Joe Arieno) was very active in the US Power Squadron, even serving as D/6 Commander, so it made sense for Bridgett to join in 1988. Bridgett took an interest in the boating classes offered, taking several electives and the “core” classes through Junior Navigator (JN). With the amount of work involved in JN, Bridgett decided to go back to school to earn her MBA rather than continue on with Senior Navigation.
In addition to sailing with her husband, Rick Hibbs, on their Sabre 28, Bridgett also enjoys puttering around on Irondequoit Bay in her Bayliner Element 16. To round out their boat collection, they also have a canoe and an 8-foot sailing dinghy.
Bridgett retired from a career in Internal Audit in July 2020 so she can enjoy more time boating and travelling, cooking, reading, and spending more time with family.
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor
Thomas Alley, SN-CN (Finger Lakes Chapter)
Tom and his family sail a 1965 Alberg 35 sloop, Tomfoolery, and are active racers and cruisers with the Finger Lakes Yacht Club in Watkins Glen, NY.
Tom has been a USPS member since the late '80s when he got serious about sailing and having fun on the water. He served multiple terms as the Education Officer for the Niagara Squadron before transferring to the Finger Lakes Chapter (Seneca) when he relocated to the Southern Tier area in the early 2000's. There he served as the Education Officer for a dozen years before being elected to the District 6 Bridge, first as Assistant Education Officer (2017-2019) and then as District Education Officer (2019-2022). He is also a member of the USPS National IT Committee, Chairman of the Boat Systems Committee, as well as the District 6 webmaster and newsletter editor.
In addition to his duties above, Tom manages the Alberg 35 User Group web site and spends a little time indulging in amateur radio under the call sign NT2S ("Nice Time 2 Sail").
When he's not sailing, thinking about sailing, or tinkering with his boat, Tom is either scuba diving, hanging out with fellow amateur radio operators, or (as a last resort) working as an engineer to support his sailing addiction and, if there’s any money left over, send his kids to college.