The Newsletter for the Detroit Power Squadron is called The Dumping Grounds.
The Dumping Grounds is designed, written, & edited by Lt/C Dara Brooks, P.

The Dumping Grounds publication has distinguished itself throughout DPS history. National agrees and has awarded our squadron the Distinguished Newsletter Award consistently for many years. 

Our publication, The Dumping Grounds, was started in the late 1940s shortly after World War II. Named for the special area on Lake St. Clair charts near the intersection of the Detroit River and the shipping channel where garbage and trash was taken and dumped. An appropriate name because it was well known to our fellow boaters and because the intention was to dump into our newsletter information of interest to boater enthusiast in the area.

In its original form the issues were mimeographed and printed only when enough information had been gathered to warrant a publication. With the passage of time and the surprising growth of the squadron it became necessary to issue the Dumping Grounds as a monthly publication. By the 1980s it was being professionally printed and distributed to our membership.

Former editor of the Dumping Grounds Lt Bert Styles, JN noted in a 1980 publication that you can’t please everyone all the time. His position was, “I will do my best to please the majority but I WILL PUBLISH and BE DAMNED!”

In 1982 Pat Wilson took over the publication during the tenure of her husband and our 1981 Commander Stuart Wilson, AP. Elsie Verbal took over the publication during the tenure of her husband and our 1984 Commander George R. Verbal, AP. After his term she was looking to pass the baton but there were no takers. What was once a multiple page publication became a flier containing the DPS masthead, the Commander’s Message and a list of proposed members.

It looked like maybe a trend was taking hold, because from 1985-2005 P/Lt/C Dorothy Atwood, SN graced us with her flare for jokes and accounts of her travels while editing these pages. Initially, she stepped up to co-edit the publication but history tells us “the rest of the story”. Her husband, Alfred H. Atwood, JN was our 1986 Commander but Dorothy stayed on for twenty years.

At one point our publication took on booklet form with lots of important squadron information. That is when, in 2000, then treasurer Lt John Williamson and Mitch Gawrysiak, JN wanted to improve our image going into the next century. They talked of adding color and glossy paper for a more professional look. It was determined that to make this happen, it was critical that the publication pay for itself. That is when the search for advertisers began with Mitch as the lead.

Our first enthusiastic sponsor was MacRay’s Marina on Anchor Bay. Steve Remias was our contact with the full and generous support of the owner and president, Ray Nicholson. Their first ad appeared in 2000. Many more advertisers came onboard.

Lt/C Joan Stoll took up the reins following Dorothy’s request to step down. Joanie introduced us to clip art and whimsy while keeping us informed in our squadron world. She worked extremely hard to accommodate our tardy contributors.

Currently, yours truly, Lt Dara Brooks, P has the reins, interjecting my interest in history and desire to keep a well informed and entertained readership. These pages chronical in one form or another, the history of our squadron and the people who have been the foundation of its success.

Reaching back into our history, more names come up prior to those familiar names of our editors. They were Lester L. Lodge (1947), J. A. Humberstone (1949), P/D/C Fred L. Chalcraft, N (1952/55/56), P/C Gerald S, Rouston, N (1953), Charles L. Oberly (1954), Sr/Lt Paul Ross, AP (1957/58), Lt William A. Post, JN (1963); and Bert Styles, JN (1980). It’s interesting to note that these editors were all men

reflecting upon the squadron’s early “all male” membership. Other editors and the specifics of their tenure have yet to be identified.

This publication has been the place where many Commanders shared their vision, kept the membership informed and steered the helm. There have been many who stepped up to be reporters and photographers, providing first-hand information important to the squadron and overall boating community. It has been a place where editors could utilize their skills while making sure a quality publication was regularly produced.

The Dumping Grounds is published 6 times per year, but special issues are not unheard of.
All members, regardless of squadron affiliation are welcomed and encouraged to submit articles relevant to boating and safety.
Submit any articles or ideas to Dara Brooks = dtolbrk@gmail.com
Article Deadlines for 2022 are as follows ;
January 15th = February/March Issue     
March 15th  = April/May Issue
May 15th = June/July Issue 
July 15th = August/September Issue
September 15th = October/November  Issue
November 15th = December ’22/January ’23 Issue  

Dumping Grounds editions from 2024 – (click on any of the following links)
Special Issue – 3 Wonderful Ladies
April/May 2024
Feb/Mar 2024

Dumping Grounds editions from 2023 – (click on any of the following links)
Dec 2023/Jan 2024
Oct_Nov 2023
Aug/Sept 2023
Jun/Jul 2023
May 2023
Mar/Apr/May 2023
Feb/Mar 2023

Dumping Grounds editions from 2022 – (click on any of the following links)
Dec 2022 / Jan 2023
Nov 2022
Sept/Oct 2022 (Special Issue)
Aug/Sept 2022
Jun/Jul 2022
Apr/May 2022
Feb/Mar 2022
Dec 2021/Jan 2022

Dumping Grounds editions from 2021 – (click on any of the following links)
Issue #7 – Dec 2021/Jan 2022
Issue #6 – Oct/Nov
Issue #5 – Aug/Sept
Issue #4 – June/July
Issue #3 – Apr/May
Issue #2 – Late Feb/Mar – 2021
Issue #1 – Feb/Mar – 2021

Dumping Grounds editions from 2020 – (click on any of the following links)
Dec – 2020
Nov – 2020
Oct/Nov 2020
Aug/Sept 2020
May – Special Self-Quarantine Issue – 3rd Installment
May – Special Corona Virus Newsletter
April – Special Corona Virus Newsletter
Apr/May 2020
Feb/Mar 2020
Dec2019/Jan2020

Dumping Grounds editions from 2019 – (click on any of the following links)
#1 – Dec18/Jan19
#2 – Feb/Mar
#3 – Apr/May
#4 – Jun/Jul
#5 – Aug/Sep
#6 – Oct/Nov