Nationwide, there are around 450 local Power Squadrons providing boating safety, education and related recreational services to the 55,000 members they represent. The national United States Power Squadron^® is the umbrella organization for what has become known as "America's Boating Club."

Within the national organization are 33 geographic districts, each of them being an umbrella organization for the squadrons that operate in that district's domain. Chartered by the USPS Governing Board on 9 April 1955, District 19 includes all squadrons in northern New England, including Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Currently there are ten squadrons in District 19, as diagrammed in the figure above and listed below.

• Amoskeag Power Squadron serving southwestern New Hampshire, including the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers and the lakes in between. This squadron was chartered in 1957
• Aroostook Valley Sail and Power Squadron which serves the Aroostook County region of far northeastern Maine. This squadron was chartered in 2003.
• Kennebec River Sail and Power Squadron serving the Kennebec River basin and the many lakes and rivers in southern and central Maine. This squadron was chartered in 1954.
• Lakes Region Sail and Power Squadron  serving the Lake Winnipesaukee region of central New Hampshire since 2001.
• Mid-Coast Sail and Power Squadron serving the Muscongus and Penobscot Bay regions of mid-coastal Maine. This squadron was chartered in 1993.
• Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron which serves the Penobscot River and Northern and Eastern Penobscot Bay, was chartered in 1967.
• Portland Head Power Squadron which was chartered in 2004. This squadron services needs of boaters in the Portland, Maine coastal region.
• Portsmouth Power Squadron which was chartered in 1942. This squadron services the New Hampshire and southern Maine coastal region.
• Wawenock Power Squadron which serves the Maine coastal regions between Casco Bay and Muscongus Bays. This squadron was chartered in 1959.
• Winooski Valley Sail and Power Squadron serving the Lake Champlain region of Northern Vermont, This squadron was chartered in 1962.

The chart above diagrams the organization of the Mid-Coast Sail & Power Squadron. (Click on the image for an enlarged view.) The day-to-day management of our squadron is accomplished by a group of officers collectively referred to as the Bridge, the term being adopted from that cadre of officers commanding a ship. These officers are elected by, and are responsible to all of the members. The Bridge consists of:

• The Commander (Cdr) is the highest ranking officer in the Squadron. He or she presides over all of our membership and Executive Committee meetings and performs all of the other tasks normally accomplished by the president or CEO of any corporation or similar group.
• The Executive Officer (XO) is our "senior vice president." As second in command, the XO performs the Commander's duties when the Commander in unavailable. This member is responsible for the external functions of the squadron, such as public relations, cooperative charting, boat show booths and other forms of publicity, legislation of interest to us as boaters, radio technical information, and safety issues.
• The Squadron Educational Officer (SEO) is responsible for the entire educational program of the squadron. This officer may well be our busiest member (having the most fun), because he or she supervises our busy educational program, both for courses offered to the public and those for our members only.
• The Administrative Officer (AO) is responsible for all of the internal functions of the squadron (as opposed to the XO's external function). The AO's tasks include recruiting and retaining members; keeping us involved in squadron activities; arranging for membership meetings, programs, and entertainment; and setting up cruises and rendezvous.
• The Secretary is our records keeper. This officer records and keeps minutes of all of our meetings and safeguards our legal documents. The Secretary maintains squadron membership records and is responsible for publishing our newsletter and roster of members.
• The Treasurer manages all of the financial transactions of the squadron.

The Bridge Officers are elected at our annual meeting, installed at our Change of Watch (COW) meeting in March, and serve until our next Change of Watch. Usually our SEO serves for three consecutive one-year terms, but our other Bridge officers usually serve for one or two year terms.

The executive committee consists of the bridge officers (Cdr, XO, SEO, AO, Sec, and Treas.) and three or more members-at-large. The immediate past commander is normally a member as well. The executive committee usually meets monthly. It has general charge of the policy, management, and the finances of the squadron. The Executive Committee is responsible to all of our members to see that things are done properly, Its meetings are announced in our news letter, and we encourage you to attend them. They're open to all members. When you attend, your questions and suggestions will be welcomed. Remember - we are all volunteers and can use all the input and help we can get!

The General Committees are elected at the annual meeting. They are responsible only to the membership and include at least an auditing committee to monitor the squadron's finances, a nominating committee to select candidates for elective positions, and a rules committee to monitor the squadron's compliance with USPS rules.

Standing committees are appointed by the commander and approved by the Executive Committee. These committees provide analysis and specialized information needed to help guide Executive Committee decisions.

The functional headings beneath each bridge officer describe general fields of activity for which that officer is responsible. Many of these activities are staffed by squadron members. The Mid-Coast Sail and Power Squadron has permanent assignments for the Assistant SEO, the Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretaries, Membership Chairman, Member Involvement Chairman, Roster Maintenance Chairman, Historian, Editor of our Prevailing Winds newsletter and Local Boards chairmen for Boating, Advanced Grades, and Elective Courses.