2009 - USCGAUX District 7
2009 - USCGAUX District 7
2009 - USCGAUX District 7
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Volume LVI Number 2 Summer <strong>2009</strong><br />
Special Pre-Conference Edition<br />
D7 Celebrates<br />
National Safe Boating Week<br />
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
7th <strong>District</strong><br />
http://www.cgaux7.org/
MIAMI: Judy Sanchez, Flotilla Vice Commander, 6-11, trains for her coxswain certification at the helm of the flotilla-owned operational facility<br />
Bravo Zulu during a night mission on the waters of Biscayne Bay on August 7, <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Photo: Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E, D7<br />
Below:<br />
D7’s Dynamic Duo: From planning the numerous Public Service Announcements made by football legend Dan Marino, to engaging the Miami<br />
Dolphins Cheerleaders and the Goodyear blimp Spirit of Innovation --and, did we add persuading the Florida Department of Transportation to<br />
flash boating safety messages along Florida’s interstate<br />
highways during National Safe Boating Week--<br />
the Public Affairs team consisting of Bill Hanlon,<br />
SO-PA 3 and Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E made<br />
the <strong>2009</strong> NSBW one for the record books. We can<br />
only wait to see what they are planning for the 2010<br />
NSBW campaign year!<br />
Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L , D7<br />
Cover Photo: Mr. Wayne Carter, Assistant Director<br />
of Constituent Services – Office of Miami-<br />
Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, RADM<br />
Steve Branham, <strong>District</strong> Commander,7th <strong>District</strong>,<br />
Dan Marino and U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna<br />
Ros-Lehtinen, Florida 18 th <strong>District</strong> display the<br />
National Safe Boating Week Proclamation on<br />
May 12, <strong>2009</strong> at Miami Beach, Fla. Bill Hanlon,<br />
SO-PA 3, who coordinated much of this year’s<br />
events is visible just behind the Congresswoman.<br />
Photo by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA, D7
Division Commanders <strong>2009</strong><br />
Is the official publication of the<br />
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
7th <strong>District</strong><br />
Volume LVI Number 2 Summer <strong>2009</strong><br />
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD<br />
<strong>District</strong> Commander:<br />
RADM Steve Branham, USCG<br />
Director of Auxiliary <strong>District</strong> 7:<br />
CDR Jennifer Ketchum<br />
Acting Operations Training Officers:<br />
Jeffrey A. Bronsing, <strong>USCGAUX</strong>, Surface<br />
Eugene Kahn, <strong>USCGAUX</strong>, Air<br />
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY<br />
<strong>District</strong> Commodore<br />
COMO Donald L. Frasch<br />
Email: d7dco@aol.com<br />
<strong>District</strong> Chief of Staff<br />
Walter Jaskiewicz<br />
Email: captwrj@aol.com<br />
Immediate Past<br />
<strong>District</strong> Commodore<br />
COMO Allen Brown<br />
Email: abrown5217@aol.com<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain - East (DCAPT-E)<br />
Diana Figueroa<br />
Email: dcapt.east@gmail.com<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain - West (DCAPT-W)<br />
Raymond Paysour<br />
Email: captainraymond@msn.com<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain - North (DCAPT-N)<br />
Reginald Hollar<br />
Email: snoopy@sccc.tv<br />
Division 1……………….. ….Osvaldo Manuel Catinchi<br />
Division 2…………………….….…….... Bruce Lindsey<br />
Division 3…………………….……... J. P. Feighery, Jr.<br />
Division 4………………………..........… Frederick Hill<br />
Division 5………………………..…… Daniel Jacquish<br />
Division 6………………...………..Eduardo L. Burbank<br />
Division 7……………………...……...………Peter Lore<br />
Division 8……………….....……….….....Ted Kermode<br />
Division 9…………………..…………..….. John Tyson<br />
Division 10……………………....….... William Capitan<br />
Division 11………………..……..… Gregory Gamache<br />
Division 12………………………….. Robert Weskerna<br />
Division 13……………….... Russell (Dewey) Jackson<br />
Division 14………………..……...…….. Jesse Stevens<br />
Division 15…………… …. Rosemary Boennighausen<br />
Division 16…………………...……...…...Duane Minton<br />
Division 17………………………………....Nevin Lantry<br />
Logistics<br />
James E. Dennen, Directorate Chief<br />
Email: dennen@bellsouth.net<br />
Prevention<br />
Cathie Welty, Directorate Chief<br />
Email: haimar@terranova.net<br />
Response<br />
Richard Leys, Directorate Chief<br />
Email: rjleys@bellsouth.net<br />
Editor & Publications Officer<br />
Dorothy Joan Riley<br />
dottieriley1@verizon.net<br />
The D7 PB Team (ADSO-PB Staff Officers):<br />
James E. Dennen, Content Editor<br />
Gary Barth, ADSO-E<br />
Jan Sprague-Williams, ADSO-N<br />
Paulette Parent, ADSO-W<br />
T. J. Kerbs, Pre-Press & Printing<br />
BREEZE is the official and educational tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th <strong>District</strong> and is intended as a publication to keep the membership<br />
apprised of the activities of the Auxiliary. All articles and photographs submitted must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and<br />
the Auxiliary and may not be returned.<br />
Personal information of members is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any<br />
computer or online service including the Internet is prohibited by the Act.<br />
Comments are encouraged and may be sent to the above named Publication Officer. Articles in the BREEZE may be reprinted provided credit is<br />
given and a copy is sent to the above Editor and Publications Officer.<br />
Do not send changes of address to the BREEZE. You can obtain a change of member information report (7028) from your Materials<br />
Officer and submit it through channels.
Page 2<br />
Volume LVI Number 1 Spring <strong>2009</strong><br />
Bridge<br />
<strong>District</strong> Commodore ....................................................3<br />
<strong>District</strong> Chief of Staff....................................................4<br />
Immediate Past <strong>District</strong> Commodore ……..…..….......5<br />
Director of Auxiliary D7 …..…….…………………....….6<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain West …...............................................7<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain North …..............................................8<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain East …..............................................10<br />
Departments<br />
Logistics, DDC-L…... …………………...…..…….…...12<br />
Prevention, DDC-P…..………………………...…........14<br />
Response, DDC-R ……….………...………..…...…...16<br />
Articles<br />
<strong>District</strong> Conference Announcement……………….….18<br />
D7 Materials Store ……………………………………..19<br />
NSBW Kick-Off Event…………………...………….….20<br />
<strong>USCGAUX</strong> 70th Anniversary………………………….22<br />
AUXAIR Pilot Certification…………………………….23<br />
An Egret, a Leatherback Turtle and a Sooty<br />
Shearwater………………………………………………24<br />
Teams That Work Together……………………………26<br />
Flotilla Chartering at Lake Marion……………...……. 28<br />
A Visit to Sector St. Petersburg ……………………....29<br />
New USCG Pipe Band Major ……………………...….30<br />
Nina Buxton: A Picture of Commitment ……………...31<br />
D7 ToyMakers……………………………………...….. 32<br />
MOU Benefits………………………………………….. 33<br />
Auxiliary Member Honors Guardian…………………..34<br />
Marine Science Educator of the Year………………...35<br />
ICS-210 Deadline Extended…………………………...36<br />
Rescuing Manatees…………………………………….38<br />
AUX Supports USCG R&D Center…...….…………...40<br />
D7 Fall Conference Schedule…………………...…….42<br />
The D7 Fall Conference is fast approaching. One look at the schedule<br />
should make it apparent that a great deal of planning went into<br />
offering relevant training for our members. This will undoubtedly be<br />
one of the most productive and memorable training conferences<br />
ever, so be sure to register as soon as possible.<br />
Of note is a joint four-hour Public Affairs-Publications presentation.<br />
While we expect our PA and PB officers to attend, this training is<br />
open to everyone and we hope to see our elected and staff officers<br />
at both flotilla and division levels in attendance. ―PA is everybody’s<br />
business!” Anyone who interacts with the public, be it through a<br />
Public Education Program, a Vessel Safety Check, or staffing a<br />
table at a boat show or other event should be aware of the do‘s and<br />
don'ts of interacting with the public. The afternoon is broken into<br />
four 50 minute presentations:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A Word From the Editor:<br />
Introduction: Learn how to conduct TV and radio interviews,<br />
learn about the D7 PA protocol, Release of Information and<br />
how to get published in various Auxiliary publications.<br />
News and Feature Writing: How to write for Auxiliary and<br />
civilian publications; how to write a good lead line and title; the<br />
importance of the inverted pyramid style and more!<br />
Auxiliary Photography: How to take and send high-resolution<br />
images; how to write photo captions, VIRIN numbers and basic<br />
photo editing.<br />
Auxiliary Newsletters: Current and future PA/PB Officers will<br />
learn the fundamentals of getting your Flotilla/Division newsletter<br />
up and running and to take an existing publication to the<br />
next level. Learn about newsletter templates, editing and how<br />
to create an eye-catching newsletter that begs to be read by<br />
your members. The D7 <strong>2009</strong> Newsletter Contest entries will be<br />
reviewed and critiqued. Learn key tips that will help make your<br />
production life easier.<br />
I hope this summary will motivate you to spend an afternoon with<br />
some outstanding and interesting speakers.<br />
See you there!<br />
Dorothy Joan Riley,<br />
DSO-PB D7<br />
Remember: ―PA is Everybody’s Business!‖
From the Bridge<br />
Page 3<br />
Commodore Donald Frasch<br />
Our Fall Election Conference is coming up on September 10 th through the 13 th at the<br />
Hilton Bay Front Hotel in St. Petersburg. The Coast Guard will be holding their Commanding<br />
Officer‘s Conference at the same time. What a great chance to meet the<br />
―brass‖!!!<br />
The theme for this year‘s Conference is simply, ―JUST DO IT !‖ This theme conveys<br />
the basic reason the Coast Guard is so successful with Mission Execution. If you<br />
think about the training process the Coast Guard uses, ―Train--Test–Certify—<br />
Recertify,‖ you will understand what I‘m getting at. Because they are so very well<br />
trained, Guardians instinctively know what to do when faced with an incident or situation.<br />
Whether they are rescuing people from a boat in stormy weather, intercepting a<br />
human smuggler, finding people adrift at sea, or plucking hurricane survivors from<br />
rooftops, they know their mission very well. Everyone in the leadership chain, from<br />
the Commandant to the boat coxswain, knows that their people are highly trained.<br />
They create an environment that says, ―You know what to do; don‘t ask permission; just do it.‖ And<br />
they do!<br />
We need to think and act the same way. Take personal responsibility for being completely ―trained,<br />
tested and certified.‖ Keep your skills sharp by practicing. Then, when faced with a situation you are<br />
trained to handle, JUST DO IT.<br />
Additionally, this Conference is being planned and run as an ―ICS Event.‖ Nearly all of us are required<br />
to complete various levels of Incident Command System (ICS) training, but we don‘t get many<br />
chances to use that training. Without the practice, we forget the skills learned, so our Conference<br />
itself will be a training event to help keep our ICS skills sharp. I think you will find it a rewarding experience.<br />
I invite you all to attend, learn, practice, meet the Coast Guard and your fellow Auxiliarists and then<br />
go back to your Flotillas and JUST DO IT.<br />
“Take personal<br />
responsibility for<br />
being completely<br />
“trained, tested and<br />
certified.” Keep your<br />
skills sharp by<br />
practicing. Then,<br />
when faced with a<br />
situation you are<br />
trained to handle,<br />
JUST DO IT.”<br />
Thanks & Regards,<br />
Don Ω<br />
The ―Just Do It‖ motto at work made<br />
this year‘s National Safe Boating Week<br />
an event to be remembered!<br />
(Story on page 20)<br />
From left: RADM Steve Branham,<br />
USCG <strong>District</strong> Commander, 7th <strong>District</strong>,<br />
U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna Ros<br />
-Lehtinen, Florida 18th <strong>District</strong>, football<br />
legend Dan Marino, CAPT Robert<br />
Grant, USCG, Deputy Chief of Staff<br />
D7, CAPT James Fitton, USCG, Commander,<br />
Sector Miami and COMO<br />
Donald Frasch, <strong>USCGAUX</strong>, D7.<br />
Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L, D7
Page 4<br />
From the Bridge<br />
Walter Jaskiewicz, <strong>District</strong> Chief of Staff<br />
The Volunteers 70 th Year<br />
Across our great country, we recently honored another Independence Day Celebration.<br />
Since our colonial days, volunteers have quickly responded to the call to arms to gain our<br />
independence and to secure our freedom.<br />
Today, the call for help rings out, and volunteers respond 24/7. Did you know that 72% of<br />
our Nations Firefighters are volunteers? I could go on and on naming countless volunteer<br />
organizations that serve our country proudly. However, a more interesting pursuit is to<br />
learn who volunteers for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Ellsworth A. Weinberg, a 30 year Auxiliary<br />
volunteer, answered this question in his book, ―The Volunteers: The Story of the U.S.<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary‖ published in 1986. If you have not had the opportunity to read this<br />
short book, I recommend you do so. After you have read it, I am sure you will double-check your uniform<br />
for correctness every time you wear it.<br />
“Thousands of<br />
members of the past<br />
have contributed so<br />
greatly to our<br />
organization; these<br />
men and women have<br />
delivered talents<br />
unsurpassed and, yes,<br />
even their lives.”<br />
In the same spirit of volunteerism, I share a few words written over 30 years ago by a person I never<br />
met but consider a mentor. His words provide me the inspiration to continue my service to the Auxiliary.<br />
―Thousands of members of the past have contributed so greatly to our organization; these men<br />
and women have delivered talents unsurpassed and, yes, even their lives.‖<br />
The duties, responsibilities and challenges before me may, at times, seem to set a course for dark<br />
skies and restless seas, but should I have any doubts or hesitations, I grasp this worthy book called<br />
―The Volunteers‖ and open my ears to the words spoken in remembrance of all the efforts and sacrifices<br />
of those members from the past. They call out to me to stay on course.<br />
Let all of us continue to be members of value to this great organization. We do not stand alone to<br />
meet what lies before us; we do it together. Our 70 Year history of service is our guiding light--our inspiration.<br />
We must steadfastly contribute our service so that the spirit and traditions of the Coast<br />
Guard Auxiliary remain strong during our watch; so those who follow us will speak of what we have<br />
accomplished as we speak of our past brothers and sisters.<br />
To each and every member, ―Thank you for all that you contribute.‖<br />
Semper Paratus Ω<br />
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.: On June 20,<br />
<strong>2009</strong>, USCG Station Ft. Lauderdale hosted<br />
the 70th USCG Auxiliary Anniversary celebration.<br />
At the end of the day, an MH-65C<br />
helicopter conducted hoist and rescue swimmer<br />
deployment training with a USCG Auxiliary<br />
Division 3 facility. The facility coxswain<br />
was Liz Clark, FC 37, with crew Pat<br />
Feighery, DCDR 3, and Scott Cleary, Flotilla<br />
37. The MH-65C helicopter is flown by CDR<br />
Don Taylor, Operations Officer at Air Station<br />
Miami. His copilot is LT Aaron Hofius. The<br />
flight mechanic is Aviation Maintenance<br />
Technician 2nd Class Billy Wilbur and the<br />
rescue swimmer is Aviation Survival Technician<br />
2nd Class Brian Fitzpatrick.<br />
Photos by Jerry Edelman, FL 36
Page 5<br />
Allen Brown, Immediate Past <strong>District</strong> Commodore<br />
When we last met on these pages, I emphasized the importance of a training/<br />
education time at each flotilla or division meeting--a short session of about twenty to<br />
thirty minutes aimed at enhancing our professionalism as Auxiliarists. Currently, some<br />
workshop sessions are mandated. Additional subjects are limited only by the vision of<br />
the leadership.<br />
Together let us take another step forward. People in any organization have a tendency<br />
to get involved or not get involved. In most volunteer organizations, this tendency<br />
stems from their initial introduction to the organization. Members usually choose<br />
one of three roles: (1) ―stay and stagnate,‖ (2) ―flee and vanish,‖ or (3) ―commit and<br />
develop.‖ Our goal as leaders is always to point the member toward the third.<br />
This membership vision of committed and continually developing individuals requires,<br />
at a most pragmatic level, committed and continually developing ―mentors.‖ As Auxiliarists, we need<br />
to look at our own professional development and seek ways to pass our good experiences on to<br />
others, while at the same time learning from the bad. The U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, one of<br />
our great sea-service journals, published an excellent article on the subject, ―How to Make Mentoring<br />
Work.‖ Former Army Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger noted in a letter in the Comment<br />
& Discussion section of the June issue of this journal that, ―Mentoring is about taking and giving<br />
advice and wise counsel, about taking the time to share ideas and experience with others. It provides<br />
beacons and checkpoints, provoking and stimulating thoughts and ideas, visions and goals,<br />
as well as (heading) adjustments, all in an effort to steer and guide. Each of us as citizens,<br />
(Auxiliarists), and leaders has a responsibility to serve as a guidepost–directly or through example–<br />
for those around us.‖<br />
Well stated, Sergeant Major! This is indeed a beacon to maintain in our relationships with all with<br />
whom we come in contact. Mentoring is so much more than just one person signing all entries in a<br />
boat crew task book; many should be involved in this sharing of experiences.<br />
Quite a challenge for a great D-7 Team! Perhaps a good place to start would be with a unit session<br />
on mentoring.<br />
Semper Paratus. Ω<br />
TAMPA Fla.: On March 28, <strong>2009</strong>, at<br />
the Division 7 Annual Awards Banquet<br />
held at the Colonnade Restaurant<br />
in Tampa, Raymond Paysour,<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain West, COMO Allen<br />
Brown, Immediate Past <strong>District</strong><br />
Commodore, D7, and Peter Lore,<br />
Division 7 Commander presented<br />
the Auxiliary Achievement Medal to<br />
Kathi Kruczek from FL 79. Kathi<br />
received this distinguished award<br />
for her role as a Mentor. She is<br />
committed to the Division 7‘s Crew<br />
Training- Member Training program<br />
and has Mentored as many as six<br />
new crew members and one new<br />
coxswain.<br />
Photo by Dottie Riley, DSO-PB D7
Page 6<br />
Director of Auxiliary, Seventh <strong>District</strong><br />
Commander Jennifer Ketchum<br />
Commander Jennifer Ketchum, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, reported as the Director of<br />
Auxiliary for the Seventh Coast Guard <strong>District</strong> June 1, <strong>2009</strong>. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii,<br />
she grew up in Miami, Florida before enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1982. After<br />
Boatswain‘s Mate ―A‖ school she served at Station Miami until receiving an appointment<br />
to the US Coast Guard Academy and graduating from there in 1987 with a<br />
Bachelor of Science degree in Government.<br />
She served at sea on the USCGC Sagebrush and USCGC Confidence and ashore at<br />
Coast Guard Headquarters, entering the Reserves in 1992. Reserve tours included:<br />
Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak, AK; LANTAREA International Operations Branch;<br />
and as an instructor at Marine Inspection and Investigation School in Yorktown, VA.<br />
CDR Ketchum is a licensed mariner and served five years as a Third Officer and Second Officer<br />
aboard M/V Caribbean Mercy and M/V Anastasis, two hospital ships of the international aid organization<br />
Mercy Ships which worked primarily in Central American nations of Guatemala, El Salvador,<br />
and Nicaragua and the West African nations of Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, and the Gambia. In<br />
2002, she returned to active duty in the Coast Guard serving as Coast Guard Liaison and member<br />
of the Maritime Administration faculty at the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden; as a graduate<br />
student at the University of Oxford, UK; and as Chief of the Waterways Management Branch in<br />
the Seventh Coast Guard <strong>District</strong> Prevention Division.<br />
CDR Ketchum has a Master‘s Degree in Social Science/International Relations from Syracuse University‘s<br />
Maxwell School; a Master‘s Degree in Maritime Education and Training from World Maritime<br />
University, Malmö, Sweden; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford,<br />
UK where she researched how professional mariners learn and use the Convention on the International<br />
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). In <strong>2009</strong>, CDR Ketchum was a parttime<br />
faculty member at the University of Miami‘s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science,<br />
Marine Affairs and Policy Division.<br />
CDR Ketchum is the recipient of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and two Coast Guard<br />
Achievement Medals. She is married to CDR Clement Ketchum, USNR and they have two sons,<br />
Benjamin and William. Ω
Page 7<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain West<br />
Raymond Paysour, DCAPT-W<br />
Our National Safe Boating Week was one of the most successful that I have experienced<br />
with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The planning, coordination and execution on the flotilla level<br />
was excellent. We saw participation from Sector St Petersburg, Clearwater Air Station and<br />
all of the small boat Stations. It was truly an interaction between the Gold and Silver sides to<br />
promote Recreational Boating Safety. Our Public Affairs people did a good job of arranging<br />
newspaper and television coverage.<br />
The West completed the realignment of flotillas to coincide with our Coast Guard Station<br />
Areas of Responsibility on April 6, <strong>2009</strong>, when Flotilla 73 was re-chartered as Flotilla 11-3.<br />
This gives Station Sand Key additional docking and building facilities when operating in the southern<br />
end of their AOR. Earlier this year Flotilla 89 was moved to Division 9 and re-chartered as Flotilla 99<br />
in support of Station Fort Myers Beach. Flotilla 89 had been located at the Southern end of Division<br />
8, but performed most of their operations in Division 9.<br />
On May 22, members of <strong>District</strong> 7, West Coast, participated in the retirement ceremony for Peter<br />
Louzao, BOSN4 and AUXLO, Sector St Petersburg, held at Station Fort Myers Beach. The five Divisions<br />
in the West Coast of <strong>District</strong> 7 presented him a shadow box with all of his ribbons, medals, and<br />
accumulated ranks in the Coast Guard. Division 9 hosted a luncheon afterwards expressing their<br />
appreciation for his support while serving as the prior Commanding Officer of Station Fort Myers<br />
Beach.<br />
The USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) completed testing and evaluation of three<br />
airborne radar systems in the Gulf of Mexico off Clearwater on May 27, <strong>2009</strong>. During the three<br />
weeks of testing, which was frequently interrupted by inclement weather, Divisions 11 and 15 provided<br />
48 boat sorties to populate the test area with typical SAR targets. This helped determine the<br />
sweep width of the three radar systems being tested on Coast Guard C-130 aircraft. The testing required<br />
that 12 boats report to specified locations each day, maintain those locations for five hours<br />
and continuously record their locations on a Global Positioning System (GPS) data recorder. This<br />
data is being compared to the detection data recorded in the test aircraft to establish sweep width<br />
standards for use in the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System program utilized by Coast<br />
Guard search planners in Rescue Coordination Centers and command centers throughout the Coast<br />
Guard. Divisions 11 and 15 used 30 Auxiliary boat facilities and 78 coxswains and crew in support of<br />
these tests. The Research Data Center estimates that Auxiliary support for these tests saved the<br />
Coast Guard at least $125,000.00. This is an excellent example of how the Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
supports the Coast Guard.<br />
The West Coast, <strong>District</strong> 7, looks forward to hosting the Seventh <strong>District</strong> Coast Guard Auxiliary Fall<br />
Training & Business Conference from September 10–13, <strong>2009</strong>. Plans are in progress to make this<br />
an exciting time for all attending. Bring your spouses to this Conference as events are planned for<br />
their participation. Members are encouraged to attend with day trips to St. Petersburg, as many flotillas<br />
are located well within driving distance. Ω
Page 8<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain North<br />
Reginald Hollar, DCAPT-N<br />
―Modernization,‖ according to Webster, is ―to make or become modern.‖ This has become<br />
a way of life in Auxiliary <strong>District</strong> 7 North. Considering the challenges that lie ahead, to not<br />
change would spell disaster down the road. <strong>District</strong> 7 North has made the commitment to<br />
modernize.<br />
<strong>District</strong> 7 North has grown in size and now has six divisions. Most of these divisions cover<br />
large geographical areas and uniquely different working environments.<br />
One major change was the formation of the new Division 17, accomplished by taking the<br />
very large Division 4 and spinning off the new Division 17. As a result, we reduced overlapping<br />
areas of coverage and better defined areas of responsibility. Division 4 now concentrates on<br />
supporting CG Station Ponce, while the new Division 17 focuses its efforts on Station Canaveral.<br />
“Other divisions in the<br />
north have actively<br />
created new flotillas<br />
and detachments.<br />
At least one flotilla and<br />
four detachments<br />
were added this year.“<br />
Division 14 has been on a recruiting mission. After losing one flotilla to Division 4 during the reorganization<br />
of Divisions 4 and 17, it is well underway to rebuilding its membership through the formation<br />
of a new detachment at Green Cove Springs. The detachment is rapidly growing and will, no<br />
doubt, become a flotilla in the near future. This detachment fills the gap between Jacksonville and<br />
Palatka on the St. John‘s River, an area with dense boating traffic and a true need for Auxiliary presence.<br />
Other divisions in the north have actively created new flotillas and detachments. At least one flotilla<br />
and four detachments were added this year. The newest Flotilla is 12-1, located at Lake Marion,<br />
S.C. Flotilla 12-10 has formed a detachment at Socastee, S.C., located just south of Myrtle Beach,<br />
which will support CG Station Georgetown.<br />
Division 2 in central Georgia has formed two new detachments. They are the Lake Chatuge and the<br />
Oconee/Sinclair Detachments which serve on inland lakes and rivers. A dedication to duty and a will<br />
to modernize has made this growth possible.<br />
Division 2 is responsible for most of inland Georgia, tasked with educating and re-educating boaters.<br />
After several years of extremely low lake levels which resulted in reduced boating activity, the lakes<br />
are near full pool. They are offering accelerated Public Education Classes, Vessel Safety Checks,<br />
and Public Affairs activities. Division 2 maintains superior working relationships with multiple agencies,<br />
including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, Sheriff‘s<br />
Departments and Environmental Management<br />
Systems. With nearly all of their members completing<br />
ICS 210, they are truly Semper Paratus.<br />
Division 10 has their reorganization program in<br />
place with well-qualified directors to manage and<br />
measure the results. This program will be a huge<br />
benefit to the Division Vice Commander (DVCDR)<br />
as help with the Response, Prevention, and Logistics<br />
programs will be readily available. The narrower<br />
span of control for each director will give<br />
new life to the Division Staff Officers. Division 10<br />
continues to provide excellent support to Air Station<br />
Savannah, helicopter operations and surface<br />
facility support to the small boat stations.<br />
Division 12 was tasked by Sector Charleston to
Page 9<br />
support the ―Tall Ships Festival‖ which arrived in Charleston during June. Many of the flotillas in Division<br />
12 were involved in securing safety zones in the Charleston Harbor during this event. For<br />
four days, safety zones were maintained in 100 degree weather and occasional thunderstorms.<br />
Division 12 members also served as guides on the USCG Barque Eagle during its four-day stay in<br />
Charleston. From Edisto Beach to the North Carolina line, across the state to Lake Murray and<br />
Marion, flotillas in Division 12 provide support to Sector Charleston and CG Station Georgetown.<br />
Bob Funk, ASC, Sector Jacksonville, and Ron Goldenberg, ASC, Sector Charleston, continue to<br />
develop and monitor training operations for Auxiliary personnel at the active duty Sector units.<br />
Their dedication to duty and hard work has built a close-knit bond between the Auxiliary and the<br />
Regulars.<br />
Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) continues to support the Coast Guard with a large number of scheduled patrols.<br />
Recently, two flights participated in a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) coordinated by<br />
Air Station Savannah and Station Ft. Pierce. Thirty-five Auxiliarists participated and AUXAIR completed<br />
four SAR patterns before bad weather set in. New survival packages were recently demonstrated<br />
that include a life jacket (PFD), survival materials pouch, 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon<br />
(PLB) and raft. This will be tethered to the crew person. Ω<br />
Left: The Barque Eagle at Charleston<br />
Harbor.<br />
This page: The Baggywrinkle on the<br />
Eagle. Baggywrinkle is a soft covering for<br />
cables (or any other obstructions) to reduce<br />
sail chafe and is made from short<br />
pieces of yarn cut from old lines that have<br />
been taken out of service. The Eagle has<br />
over six miles of running rigging.<br />
Photos by Reggie Hollar
Page 10<br />
<strong>District</strong> Captain East<br />
From May 25-31, <strong>2009</strong>, Flotilla 12 participated at Nauti Expo, Plaza Las Américas. The<br />
estimated daily number of visitors to this event was about 40,000! The Auxiliary does<br />
most of the Public Affairs programs for Sector San Juan.<br />
Our National Safe Boating Week <strong>2009</strong> was widely covered by the media in Puerto Rico<br />
thanks to Vicente Vélez, SO-PA 1, Orvil Miller, FSO-PA 12, and PA Ricardo Castrodad,<br />
USCG. I participated in a one hour radio Program (WOSO 1030 AM)) that promoted<br />
Boating Safety and the Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) programs throughout<br />
Puerto Rico and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Flotilla 12 goes on air<br />
weekly with three different radio programs. They are ―Mar, Tierra y Aire‖ (WCMA 96.5<br />
FM), ―On Board with Flotilla 12‖ (WOSO 1030 AM) and ―En vivo with Angel Oliveras‖<br />
(WAPA 680 AM). On Memorial Day, May 25, <strong>2009</strong>, the Auxiliary was invited to<br />
participate in all the activities scheduled for that day.<br />
Sector Miami (SECMIA) garnered the national spotlight by hosting the <strong>2009</strong> NSBW Public Affairs<br />
event attended by RADM Steve Branham, USCG, Commander Seventh <strong>District</strong>, U.S. Congresswoman<br />
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and retired Miami Dolphins Quarterback Dan Marino. Vessel Safety<br />
Checks (VSC), Boating Safety programs and RBS public affairs events were conducted simultaneously<br />
throughout the Sector.<br />
During the month of June, events included a conference between Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation<br />
Commission officials and RADM Branham regarding a Memorandum of Agreement. Also in<br />
June, the South Florida Coast Guard Association sponsored the Auxiliary 70 th Anniversary celebration<br />
at Station Ft. Lauderdale.<br />
Despite the heat and the temporary absence of members due to summer vacations, every Division<br />
within the eastern area of responsibility has remained quite active and performed a wide array of<br />
missions in support of the USCG.<br />
Division 1<br />
Auxiliary facilities from different flotillas worked on several Boating events, including the International<br />
Sail Regatta, the Offshore Speed Boat Race and the annual Puerto Rico (PR) Kayak Race.<br />
All of these events are celebrated on the eastern part of the Island. Other events are planned<br />
throughout the summer and early fall months.<br />
The PR Kayak Race between Fajardo, Icacos and Palominos Islands was held on June 7, <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
This 13 nautical mile race is held in a very busy area with six marinas and hundreds of boaters. In<br />
addition to providing vessels to help establish a safety zone, Flotilla 12 used their mobile Auxiliary<br />
Radio Station to assist in maintaining communications between the participating Auxiliary vessels<br />
and in advising the public about the event. That same day, Divisions 1 and 16 conducted a Radio<br />
Net drill to test all radio facilities in preparation for the hurricane season.<br />
Division 3<br />
In addition to the incredible Public Affairs events, the Division has been deeply involved in member<br />
training. Their training accomplishments include, but are not limited to, providing 193 CPR classes<br />
in support of SECMIA by the end of June <strong>2009</strong>. Most of the Instructors are from Divisions 3, 5 and<br />
6.<br />
Division personnel crewed and provided an operational facility for a Helo demonstration as part of<br />
the 70 th Anniversary of the USCG Auxiliary and USCG Reserve on June 20 th held at Station Ft.<br />
Lauderdale. RADM Branham and Sector Miami Commander, CAPT Jim Fitton, attended the event.<br />
Division 5<br />
Diana Figueroa, DCAPT-E<br />
USCG Station Ft. Pierce Commander, BOSN Kagarise, worked in conjunction with the Auxiliary<br />
units in his AOR to develop and implement a search and rescue (SAR) exercise involving numerous<br />
Auxiliary Facilities and Aircraft. This was a real-world exercise involving flares, signaling mirrors,<br />
search patterns and communications. It was a valuable drill allowing our surface and air assets to<br />
work together performing actual search patterns. The training will go a long way in adding both ex-
Page 11<br />
perience and confidence for our crews. We are hoping to duplicate this at Station Lake Worth and<br />
again at Station Ft. Pierce.<br />
Division 6<br />
Members of Division 6 assisted in coordinating the Memorandum of Agreement between the USCG,<br />
FWC and the Auxiliary. The Division currently awaits instructions/guidelines on the implementation<br />
of this MOA from the Auxiliary Chain of Leadership.<br />
Division members staffed a booth at the Miami Boat Show from June 4-7, <strong>2009</strong>. Over 100 contacts<br />
were collected for boating programs. Members also assisted with ―beach clean-up‖ in South Beach.<br />
Five Auxiliarists supported Station Miami Beach in a two-hour ―Causeway Clean-Up.‖ Station Miami<br />
Beach adopted the MacArthur Causeway.<br />
Jim Shea and Bruce Farkas, members of Flotilla 6-10, conducted a Boating Safety Class for the<br />
Broward County SWAT Team. Later in the month, Division members lead by Jim Shea assisted<br />
Station Miami Beach with a High Value Asset escort demonstration for Homeland Security personnel.<br />
Other direct support of the USCG missions include assisting Station Miami Beach in a demonstration<br />
for Immigration Judges in Miami and a mock boarding demonstration for the Advanced Policy<br />
Seminar for English Speaking Caribbean Nations. The use of Auxiliary vessels for mock boarding<br />
in these exercises presents a considerable savings to the USCG.<br />
Division 13<br />
Station Key West Commander Morgan Dudley presented ―The Coast Guard Letter of Commendation‖<br />
to Ed Pratt for his initiative in organizing and implementing a Station Augmentation team for<br />
Station Key West. Ed Pratt led a team of Auxiliarists from Flotilla 13-1 who provided water and<br />
power to the finger piers, painted the pilings, built shipping boxes for the propellers, built steps to<br />
the docks, installed an air conditioner in the coxswain ready room, laid tile in the office building and<br />
helped organize the mechanics tool boxes.<br />
Division members are participating in Operation Dry Water. This is a joint effort between the Coast<br />
Guard and the FWC to limit alcohol consumption on the water. Division 13 crews have been ―flying<br />
the flag‖ and delivering posters to marinas in the division‘s AOR.<br />
The Vandenberg arrived in Key West and was sunk on May 28, <strong>2009</strong>, as an artificial reef. The flotillas<br />
in the lower keys provided random patrols for crowd control. More information on artificial reefs<br />
can be found at http://www.bigshipwrecks.com/.<br />
Division 16<br />
NSBW week started with a ―kick-off‖ event on St. Thomas on May 16, <strong>2009</strong>, at the Coast Guard<br />
Station. The Cutter Reef Shark was available for tours and several agencies set up information<br />
booths. Additionally, members of the Auxiliary introduced ―Coastie‖ to an appreciative group of children.<br />
―Coastie‖ also made appearances throughout the week at Yacht Haven Grand and the Tutu<br />
Park Mall.<br />
On St. Croix, members of the Auxiliary accompanied the Department of Planning and Natural Resources<br />
in visiting five schools in five days and made safety presentations to over 1,100 students.<br />
On Memorial Day, a large event was held on the Fredericksted Pier featuring the Reef Shark and a<br />
Helicopter from Air Station Borinquen. More than 2,500 people enjoyed the festivities. Over the<br />
course of the day, 100 life jackets were given away to children. The new flotilla on St. John participated<br />
in this event for the first time. Throughout the week, an information table was set up in the<br />
main square in Cruz Bay and many island children were instructed about the importance of wearing<br />
life jackets while on boats.<br />
On June 14, <strong>2009</strong>, the St. Croix Flotilla covered a kayak regatta with over ninety participants. Ω<br />
Photo of sail regatta by D. Riley
Page 12<br />
Logistics Directorate<br />
James Dennen, DDC-L D7, ASC Sector Key West<br />
Active-duty Guardians and Auxiliarists from Sector Key West took a very active role in<br />
the recent Lobster Mini-Season. Bruce Wright, Coast Guard <strong>District</strong> Seven recreational<br />
boating safety specialist, brought the Boating Advisory Trailer--Public Awareness Kit<br />
(BAT-PAK) to the Keys to spread the word about boating safety and the importance of<br />
wearing life jackets. He was supported in different locations by Auxiliarists from Division<br />
13.<br />
The Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual permits Auxiliary Assets to be used as boarding<br />
platforms for specific missions where a low degree of criminal activity is expected. This<br />
allows a four-man crew of a Coast Guard asset to be split in two, providing boarding<br />
teams onboard two Auxiliary vessels. Auxiliarists do not perform any law enforcement activity; they<br />
simply deliver a Coast Guard boarding team. During such operations, Auxiliarists fly the Coast<br />
Guard Ensign and act as a Coast Guard vessel.<br />
In preparation for the Lobster Mini-Season, Jeff Bronsing, DSO-OP, Conrad Sankpill, FSO-OP, Flotilla<br />
13-8, Dewey Jackson, DCDR 13, Al Zelinsky, Flotilla 13-8, and I attended two days of fisheries<br />
training presented by personnel from the Coast Guard's Southeast Regional Fisheries Training Center<br />
in Charleston, SC. Bronsing and I transported boarding teams including BM2 Juliano and BM3<br />
Snyder aboard my operational facility Nite Owl on day one and BM2 Spriggs and SA Mumper on<br />
day two. The teams boarded approximately 40 boats. COMO Peter Fernandez aboard OPFAC Lorelei<br />
Too with Sankpill and Zelinsky carried boarding officers BM2 Spriggs and SA Mumper on day<br />
one and MK2 Jason White and BM3 David Jay on day two. They boarded approximately 20 boats<br />
over the two day period in a less active area. The operation was a complete success as mentioned<br />
in the all hands letter from CAPT DeQuattro. Our interaction with the public was busy and enjoyable.<br />
We‘d like to thank CW02 Chris Acklin, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Station Islamorada, for<br />
making this happen and look forward to participating in this type of operation in the future.Ω<br />
Logistics:<br />
Communication<br />
Services<br />
Information<br />
Services<br />
Public Affairs<br />
Publications<br />
Personnel Services<br />
Materials
Page 13<br />
FM: COMCOGARD Sector Key West FL<br />
TO: COGARD STA Key West FL<br />
COGARD STA Marathon FL<br />
COGARD STA Islamorada FL<br />
COGARD AIRSTA Clearwater FL<br />
SUBJ: <strong>2009</strong> MINI SEASON BRAVO ZULU<br />
1. I wish to pass along my sincere appreciation for an outstanding<br />
job to Station Key West, Station Marathon, Station Islamorada,<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary forces and the flight crew of 6019 from A/S<br />
Clearwater. In close coordination with our Law Enforcement partner<br />
agencies, a total of 303 Coast Guard boardings were conducted<br />
and over 4356 lobsters were measured in this two day time<br />
period. As a result, seventy-seven (77) 4100 safety violations were<br />
issued, three vessel voyages were terminated, and 67 undersized<br />
lobster were identified.<br />
2. Additionally, all units were instrumental in quick responses to<br />
six SAR cases during this tremendous surge in boating activity<br />
throughout the Florida Keys; upholding SAR readiness with rapid<br />
response by sea and by air.<br />
3. Bravo Zulu for outstanding planning, coordination, and mission<br />
execution during the <strong>2009</strong> mini season.<br />
CAPT P. Dequattro, Commander, Sector Key West<br />
Opposite page: James Dennen and Jeff Bronsing aboard the vessel<br />
Night Owl with BM2 George Spriggs and SN Jason Mumper.<br />
Top: BM3 Marshal Snyder measures a lobster.<br />
Mid page: BM2 George Spriggs holds up safety flares found on a<br />
vessel. SN Jason Mumper can be seen behind the boater.<br />
Left: SN Jason Mumper, aboard the vessel Nite Owl, completing a<br />
4100 boarding form. Seventy-seven safety violations were issued<br />
over the course of two days by Sector Key West assets.<br />
(Top photos by James Dennen, DDC-L, ASC Key West - photo on<br />
left by BM1 Andrew Babione, Ops Officer, Station Islamorada)
Page 14<br />
Prevention Directorate<br />
Cathie Welty, DDC-P D7<br />
All Prevention programs touch upon Public Education in one way or another. When<br />
we present Marine Safety Program topics, we are educating the public. When we perform<br />
Vessel Safety Checks, pass or fail, we educate the public about vessel safety,<br />
and of course, when we offer Recreational Boating Safety Programs within our flotillas,<br />
we have no difficulty identifying this function as Public Education.<br />
In this great article by Coast Guard Auxiliarist Burnette Sheffield from Flotilla 12-3 in<br />
Lake Murray, S.C., we are reminded that by educating one child, we can influence an<br />
entire family, and by teaching 450 pupils, we can possibly impact an entire community.<br />
Children do not hesitate to tell their parents what they learned at school about<br />
wearing life jackets or how to stay safe on the water. This is what we are all about- preventing accidents<br />
before they happen.<br />
The Newberry Elementary School Experience<br />
Kim Morris, school nurse at Newberry Elementary School in South Carolina, wanted all her pupils to<br />
gain basic water safety information before they left for the summer break. She was concerned because<br />
many of her pupils go fishing with their families in nearby lakes and rivers and take family<br />
vacations along South Carolina‘s many wonderful beaches. Yet few children enroll in swimming instruction,<br />
and many parents are non-swimmers. Morris found enthusiastic support from Coast<br />
Guard Auxiliarist Burnette Sheffield, Flotilla 12-3, Lake Murray, S.C. The two women set up an efficient,<br />
entertaining schedule to include each child. Sheffield took a day away from her regular school<br />
near the Lake Murray dam to work with all four hundred fifty Newberry Elementary pupils.<br />
South Carolina got off to a rough start in <strong>2009</strong>, with several drownings well before summer set in. In<br />
the US, there are about four thousand drownings per year, averaging about ten a day, with signifi-<br />
Prevention:<br />
Marine Safety<br />
Member Training<br />
Public Education<br />
Program Visitor<br />
Burnette Scheffield from FL<br />
12-3 in Lake Murray, S.C.<br />
helps one of the pupils of<br />
Newberry Elementary<br />
School in Newberry, S.C.<br />
adjust a life jacket.<br />
State Liaison<br />
Vessel Examinations
Page 15<br />
cantly more during hot<br />
weather. For every fatality,<br />
there are six to ten neardrowning<br />
accidents severe<br />
enough to cause permanent<br />
neurological damage.<br />
Proper use of life<br />
jackets could prevent<br />
many of these tragedies.<br />
Statistics may impress<br />
parents enough for them<br />
to insist that their children<br />
wear life jackets, but<br />
youngsters need a more<br />
engaging format.<br />
At Newberry Elementary<br />
in May, the water safety<br />
assemblies started early.<br />
As each grade level filed<br />
into the historic auditorium,<br />
Sheffield initiated a<br />
question-answer trivia quiz<br />
about water and water<br />
activities. She launched<br />
Pupils at Newberry Elementary School put on a ―life jacket fashion show‖ for their<br />
classmates. Burnette Scheffield spent an entire day at the school and presented Recreational<br />
Boating Safety information to 450 pupils attending the school.<br />
Photographs provided by Burnette Scheffield.<br />
the program by telling them--singing with the younger children--―Water is WONDERFUL, as long as<br />
we learn to be safe!‖ From water for drinking and washing to water for staying cool, particularly in<br />
scorching summers, pupils explored the benefits of water. After some practice breathing and breathholding,<br />
each group sent about eight volunteers to the spotlight.<br />
―Then we had a life jacket fashion show, with many types, and gave each wearer a thumbs-up or<br />
thumbs-down for correct size,‖ Sheffield said, having made sure that some were preposterously<br />
wrong. ―I always tell children that some day they may need help in the water. If they have on a properly-fitting<br />
life jacket, people can find them to help them. I tell them that I‘m a good swimmer, really<br />
quite a good swimmer, but I can‘t swim if I‘m too tired or cold or unconscious. I say, ‗If I bonk my<br />
head as I fall in the water, I might not be able to swim. My husband loves me, and he wants to help<br />
me, but he can‘t help me if he can‘t find me!‘ I remind them that lake water is not clear, and it is often<br />
much too deep to dive to the bottom. I hope that putting life jacket use in the context of getting help,<br />
especially when swimming in natural bodies of water, can impress on the children the biggest benefit<br />
of life jackets.‖<br />
Repeating the theme ―Water is WONDERFUL as long as we learn to be safe,‖ Sheffield segued into<br />
the America‘s Waterway Watch program and ways that all citizens, even children, can help the<br />
Coast Guard keep our waters safe and clean. ―You‘ll go lots of places, and you may see things that<br />
Coast Guard people won‘t be near. Tell a grown-up if you see a problem. You can tell your parents<br />
or teachers or your wonderful school nurse, Mrs. Morris!‖<br />
―I always tell children<br />
that some day they<br />
may need help in the<br />
water….I hope that<br />
putting life jacket use<br />
in the context of<br />
getting help,<br />
especially when<br />
swimming in natural<br />
bodies of water, can<br />
impress on the<br />
children the biggest<br />
benefit of life jackets.‖<br />
As each session concluded, Sheffield showed samples and then gave teachers bags with Coast<br />
Guard children‘s publications to distribute back in the classrooms. After all six assembles concluded,<br />
Morris and Sheffield took a deep breath and reflected on the sessions. Morris said, ―I had never<br />
known about the resources the Coast Guard Auxiliary could offer. I‘m so appreciative for this help in<br />
keeping my pupils safe!‖ Ω
Page 16<br />
Response Directorate<br />
Richard Leys, DDC-R D7<br />
The Response Directorate consists of Aviation, Communications, Navigation Services and<br />
Operations. Don Zinner, DSO-AV; Joe Colee Jr., DSO-CM; Rocky Reinhold, DSO-NS and<br />
Jeff Bronsing, DSO-OP, provided input.<br />
Aviation:<br />
The <strong>District</strong> 7 Aviation leadership team goals include providing USCG Aviation with effective<br />
resources to enhance Team Coast Guard operations, maximizing communications,<br />
standardizing Auxiliary Air operations and developing a safety culture within the aviation<br />
community.<br />
A new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual has been approved by the D7 Aux Air leadership<br />
and the Air Board with representatives from the four air stations. It is a very comprehensive<br />
document defining the common and fundamental rules for Aux Air operations and other useful<br />
information to have in the cockpit. Once issued, it will replace all the existing D7 aviation directives<br />
for flight. We will develop the administrative directives as soon as the Standard Operating<br />
Procedures manual is finalized and completely vetted by 1) the Management Team 2) the Air<br />
Board and 3) the Air Stations‘ Commanding Officers.<br />
A major challenge now faces our operations that involve international travel and clearing US Customs.<br />
Customs has enacted a new reporting procedure for civil aviation. As we are US Government<br />
facilities while under orders, the Customs officials are having a difficult time understanding<br />
our missions. CDR Denby, D7 Aviation Resource Officer, is working with each Air Station‘s Ops<br />
Officers and meeting with Customs and Border Protection to resolve the issue.<br />
Communications:<br />
<strong>District</strong> 7 is well ahead of our goal to qualify members as Telecommunications Operators through<br />
the Personal Qualification Standards (PQS). Digital Selective Calling (DSC) classes are being<br />
held in all areas of the <strong>District</strong>. Successful radio nets have been conducted throughout the district,<br />
including a digital radio transmission with California and a High Frequency net with stations along<br />
the east coast.<br />
Navigation Services:<br />
Response:<br />
Navigation Services<br />
Operations<br />
Qualification<br />
Examiners<br />
Aviation<br />
Communications<br />
Aid Verifier classes are being taught throughout the district. Check out the DSO-NS website<br />
to find out how to request one in your area. Division 1 in Puerto Rico has been working<br />
closely with Sector San Juan‘s Aids to Navigation (ATON) department. Division 14 is working<br />
with the Aids to Navigation Team in Sector Jacksonville both on the water and in the<br />
office. LCDR Tony Powell, Officer in Charge, the ATON/PATON (Private Aids to Navigation)<br />
Program and the Waterways Branch of D7, requests two or more members to assist with<br />
the backlog of PATON work at D7 Headquarters in Miami. Volunteer members will access<br />
CG Workstations to do all the data entry and administrative work once the aids are checked.<br />
Operations:<br />
Air Station Miami is being assisted by Divisions 3, 6 and 13 in HELO training operations.<br />
Flotillas from Division 5 that support Station Ft. Pierce worked together with Station personnel<br />
on a Search and Rescue exercise. The exercise was deemed a success for learning<br />
―best practices.‖ Division 11 recently completed a Radar Research and Development (R&D)
Page 17<br />
project with Air Station Clearwater. They are also providing search and rescue (SAR) standby boats<br />
two days a week for Station Sand Key. This frees the Station to provide facility maintenance and<br />
training. Division 15 is supporting Station Yankeetown with the Red Tide Research Project. Division<br />
10 is assisting the Marine Safety Unit in Savannah with patrols in Savannah Harbor and Port. Division<br />
12 assisted Sector Charleston when the Tall Ships visited the area. Division 14 held a joint<br />
training session with Station Mayport.<br />
As you can see, the Response Department plays a major role in Team Coast Guard. Ω<br />
On July 12, <strong>2009</strong>, while assigned to an air patrol from Sector San Juan, a CG Aux Air crew spotted a small<br />
Yola type vessel just southwest of Mona Island making its way through three foot seas toward Puerto Rico.<br />
The crew consisted of Doug Hansen, Aircraft Commander, Sandra Jastremski, Air Observer, and Mary Rodriguez,<br />
Air Observer trainee.<br />
They made a 500-foot low pass over the vessel, took photos with their video camera and enlarged one of the<br />
images. The enlarged image revealed several persons on board a 24-foot vessel. This information was passed<br />
on to Sector San Juan, which sent the CGC Key Largo to investigate. The Auxiliary Air crew maintained watch<br />
overhead until the CGC Key Largo arrived on scene. Once more, Auxiliary Air assisted the Coast Guard in successfully<br />
achieving one of its missions.<br />
Photos and text provided by Doug Hansen, Aircraft Commander<br />
AUXAIR Coordinator, CGAS Borinquen, P.R.
<strong>2009</strong> <strong>District</strong> 7 FALL CONFERENCE (DCON)<br />
September 10 - 13, <strong>2009</strong><br />
Hilton Bayfront Hotel<br />
333 First Street South<br />
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701-4342<br />
Phone: 727-894-5000<br />
ROOM RATE: $104.00 per night<br />
COMO Frasch and his team have planned a very informative<br />
conference with many training opportunities for <strong>District</strong><br />
7 Auxiliarist. We will present ICS 210, CPR, RBS,<br />
Operations, PS, Joint PA-PB workshop, table-top presentations,<br />
computer classes and more! The complete schedule<br />
is posted on the <strong>District</strong> 7 website where you can also<br />
find conference registration forms and other information<br />
about this annual training event. The tentative schedule is<br />
also published in the Breeze. Be sure to see turn to pages 42-43.<br />
In addition to training and instruction, several fellowship events are scheduled. Meet<br />
members from other sectors and divisions.<br />
Come for the training! Come for the fun!<br />
Thursday night:<br />
Commodore‘s Open House at Sector St. Petersburg. The Sector will have a cookout<br />
for us at their beautiful clubhouse and deck overlooking the water.<br />
(Uniform: Casual civilian attire)<br />
Friday Night:<br />
RADM Branham and several of our USCG Sector Commanders will be attending<br />
the Friday Banquet.<br />
(Uniform: Dinner Dress or appropriate civilian attire is suggested.)<br />
Choice for Friday‘s dinner is: Chicken, Steak or Fish<br />
Saturday Night:<br />
Western Theme Fun Night with live entertainment featuring song and dance music. As<br />
always, we will have contests and several prizes to give away!<br />
The cost for the both banquets is $38.00 per person.
Page 19<br />
D7 Material Center is New and Improved.<br />
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA D7<br />
CLEARWATER Fla.: Even the name is new and<br />
improved. What we all knew as the ―D7 Store‖<br />
has moved, grown and improved and is now<br />
known as the D7 Material Center.<br />
In June 2008, the Center moved to its new location,<br />
a very visible and identifiable two story red<br />
brick building called the Annex by Station personnel,<br />
just outside the gates to the USCG Air Station-Clearwater.<br />
An extremely dedicated group of<br />
Auxiliarist volunteers spent hundreds of hours<br />
during the first 30 days converting an open-bay<br />
room into the professional facility that it is now.<br />
They put up drywall, painted walls, moved boxes,<br />
laid carpet, assembled desks and shelves, and<br />
connected the seemingly miles of computer connections.<br />
Commodore Frasch was one of those<br />
tireless volunteers - but hanging drywall is definitely<br />
not one of his favorite pastimes now. The<br />
loss of time during the move to its new location and<br />
the website being down for maintenance caused<br />
many in the Auxiliary to think the Center had closed.<br />
The D7 Material Center is new and it is improved and is<br />
far from closed.<br />
Tom Brickey, <strong>District</strong> 7 Materials Center manager and his<br />
all-Auxiliary volunteer staff is making the Center even<br />
more customer-friendly with new ideas, such as having<br />
walk-in hours from 1000 to 1600 on Mondays, Thursdays<br />
and Saturdays. Since the Center is in a secure area, call<br />
the store at (727) 535-2593 or Tom on his cell phone at<br />
(727) 492-3679 and he or one of the staff will come out to<br />
the gate and escort you to the Center. The center‘s new<br />
address is 15300 Fairchild Dr, Clearwater Florida 33762.<br />
The D7 Material Center website is literally available to<br />
you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using your computer‘s<br />
Internet browser, go to CGAUX7.org and select<br />
D7 Material Center on the top row. If you need assistance<br />
call the Center (727) 535-2593.<br />
The staff members are all Auxiliarists from Division 7 and<br />
Division 11. The size of the staff may need to be increased<br />
due to the increasing volume of orders, the quality<br />
of the products, the varied selection of items, the<br />
growing trust in their inventory and the quality of the personal<br />
services they provide.<br />
Do you have a question about uniforms? Call the Center.<br />
In doubt about the order of your ribbons? Call the Center.<br />
Bernice Brickey and Brian Dillard restock shelves at the new and improved<br />
D7 Material Center located by Clearwater Air Station..<br />
If they do not know the answer, they will either get it and<br />
call you back or they will give you the reference or contact<br />
to resolve it. If you have any suggestions—call the Center.<br />
If you have an idea for a product that the Auxiliary<br />
could use—yep, call the Center. ―Give us suggestions‖,<br />
says Brickey, ―and we‘ll do our best to help.‖<br />
The Center has over 800 different items for purchase and<br />
John Curtis, Division 11, Inventory Manager, is constantly<br />
reviewing the prices of the items as well as ensuring the<br />
products conform to Auxiliary regulations. A previous staff<br />
member once stated that they had everything from A to Z.<br />
When pressed for an example he replied, with an elfish<br />
grin, ―Everything from Aviation patches to Zippers.‖<br />
Brickey states that the Center formerly sold items only<br />
worn from the waist up, however, they are planning to<br />
stock pants, shorts and skirts in the near future.<br />
The staff honestly enjoys bringing the D7 Material Center<br />
to the <strong>District</strong> conferences and to the National Conferences<br />
whenever they are held in the D7 area of responsibility.<br />
Their devotion to duty doesn‘t stop there, nor does it<br />
stop at four o‘clock on the three days that the center is<br />
open since several staff members serve on ―days off‖ or<br />
are doing work from home.<br />
Bravo Zulu to the dedicated members of the D7 Material<br />
Center and every one of the volunteers who have worked<br />
so hard to make it the success that it is today. Ω
Page 20<br />
Taking the Field<br />
D7 Scores Big With <strong>2009</strong> NSBW Kick-Off Event<br />
Story by Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E, Photos by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA<br />
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.: The <strong>2009</strong> National Safe Boating<br />
Week (NSBW) Campaign in the Seventh Coast Guard<br />
<strong>District</strong> kicked-off on May 12, <strong>2009</strong> with the help of some<br />
massive star power and a little boost from Washington<br />
D.C. Dan Marino, the former Quarterback of the Miami<br />
Dolphins football club who has remained a national media<br />
persona since his playing days, continued building his<br />
relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by serving<br />
as the featured speaker for the <strong>2009</strong> NSBW media<br />
kick-off event.<br />
Joining Marino at the event were U.S. Congresswoman<br />
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, RADM Steve Branham, Commanding<br />
Officer USCG D7, COMO Donald Frasch, USCG<br />
AUX DCO-7, representatives from the Florida Fish and<br />
Wildlife Commission (FWC), Miami-Dade County, local<br />
partner agencies, as well as Guardians and Auxiliarists<br />
from around D7. Also present to cover the event were<br />
reporters and photojournalists from several local media<br />
outlets.<br />
The participants met in the ―Gator Den‖, a private room<br />
located off the Mess Deck at USCG Integrated Support<br />
Command, Miami for a coffee reception starting at 9 a.m.<br />
Marino and RADM Branham were able to meet and discuss<br />
a variety of issues including Recreational Boating<br />
Safety (RBS). As the crowd surged beyond capacity,<br />
Marino graciously posed for photos with many attendees<br />
before the dignitaries retired to a second private room to<br />
take group photos and receive an event briefing from LT<br />
Matt Moorlag, <strong>District</strong> Public Affairs Officer.<br />
After the briefing, the featured guests were joined by Miami<br />
Dolphins cheerleaders and then led to the pier where<br />
the CGC Dolphin was moored, complete with sideboys at<br />
the gangway. Following protocol, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen was<br />
piped aboard first, followed by RADM Branham, whose<br />
flag was hoisted at the main. Marino, COMO Frasch, and<br />
the remaining distinguished guests then followed. After a<br />
tour of the Dolphin led by her Commanding Officer, LTJG<br />
Peter Lang, the group posed for photos with her crew.<br />
When the photos were finished, the group disembarked<br />
the vessel in the same order of precedence and the
Page 21<br />
RADM‘s flag was lowered. They then proceeded back to<br />
the pier for the news briefing where the audience was<br />
gathered with the D7 Boating Awareness Trailer – Public<br />
Advisory Kit (BAT-PAK) on display.<br />
After the remaining media arrived and completed their set<br />
-up, LT Moorlag, serving as Master of Ceremonies, introduced<br />
the keynote speakers and began the media portion<br />
of the event. First to speak was RADM Branham, who<br />
discussed the need for increased RBS and the role the<br />
Coast Guard plays in keeping our waters safe. Next Marino<br />
discussed RBS and four key steps boat operators<br />
should follow:<br />
filmed at Miami High School under the direction of Dr.<br />
Joe Underwood, Lead Educator for Media Arts, and<br />
member of Flotilla 31. Both audio and video versions of<br />
these PSAs were made available to Team Coast Guard<br />
units throughout the Nation.<br />
Bill Hanlon, Staff Officer-Public Affairs, Division 3 spearheaded<br />
this effort and served as the primary liaison with<br />
Marino during the project. Due to Hanlon‘s efforts, these<br />
PSAs were shown to over 1 million movie patrons at Muvico<br />
Theaters in Florida, California, and Illinois, as well as<br />
countless others via alternate distribution channels during<br />
Summer <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Taking an approved boating safety class.<br />
Getting a FREE Vessel Safety Check.<br />
Filing a Float Plan before leaving the dock.<br />
Always wearing your Life Jacket while underway.<br />
After Marino, COMO Frasch discussed the role of the<br />
Auxiliary in NSBW and provided a summary of the events<br />
the organization would be offering. This was followed by<br />
remarks from Congresswoman<br />
Ileanna Ros-Lehtinen, Florida<br />
18 th <strong>District</strong>, the FWC, and Miami-<br />
Dade County – along with NSBW<br />
Proclamations.<br />
To close the event, gifts were<br />
presented to Marino and the Congresswoman,<br />
including a custommade<br />
oar presented to Marino by<br />
RADM Branham and COMO<br />
Frasch. The oar thanked Marino<br />
for his support and dedication in<br />
promoting RBS on behalf of the<br />
U.S. Coast Guard and USCG Auxiliary.<br />
―This was one of the most memorable<br />
NSBW events we have ever<br />
had in D7,‖ said COMO Frasch.<br />
―Our Public Affairs team, working<br />
closely with their Gold Side counterparts,<br />
performed exceptionally<br />
in the execution of their missions.‖<br />
Marino had previously demonstrated<br />
his dedication to Team<br />
Coast Guard by taping a series of<br />
Public Service Announcements<br />
(PSAs) promoting Recreational<br />
Boating Safety. The PSAs were<br />
―It was both an honor and a privilege working with Dan<br />
Marino on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary,‖ said<br />
Hanlon. ―People are bound to listen when they hear Dan<br />
Marino talking to them about Recreational Boating<br />
Safety. His assistance will undoubtedly help us save<br />
many lives.‖ Ω<br />
Photo facing page: COMO Donald Frasch, D7 and RADM Steve Branham, USCG <strong>District</strong><br />
Commander, 7th <strong>District</strong>, present Dan Marino a custom made oar as a small token<br />
of our appreciation for his dedication in promoting RBS on behalf of the U.S. Coast<br />
Guard and USCG Auxiliary. To Marino‘s left is U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna Ros-<br />
Lehtinen, Florida 18 th <strong>District</strong><br />
Below: Mr. Wayne Carter, Assistant Director of Constituent Services – Office of Miami-<br />
Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, tours the CGC Dolphin with members of the Miami<br />
Dolphin cheerleading squad.
Page 22<br />
Team Coast Guard Hosts 70 th Anniversary Party<br />
By Gwendolyn Leys<br />
Left: Walter Jaskiewicz, DCOS 7, RADM<br />
Steve Branham, USCG <strong>District</strong> Commander,<br />
Bill Tejeiro, ASC, Sector Miami and Gwen<br />
Leys cutting the cake at the 70th Anniversary<br />
Celebration held at Ft. Lauderdale on June 20,<br />
<strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Below: An HH-65C helicopter conducts hoist<br />
and rescue swimmer deployment training with<br />
a CG Auxiliary Division 3 facility. The facility<br />
coxswain is Liz Clark, FC 37, with crew Pat<br />
Feighery, DCDR 3, and Scott Cleary, Flotilla<br />
37. The HH-65C helicopter is flown by CDR<br />
Don Taylor, Operations Officer at Air Station<br />
Miami. His copilot is LT Aaron Hofius. The<br />
flight mechanic is Aviation Maintenance Technician<br />
2nd Class Billy Wilbur and the rescue<br />
swimmer is Aviation Survival Technician 2nd<br />
Class Brian Fitzpatrick.<br />
Photos by Jerry Edelman, FL 36<br />
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.: Division 3 presented a Team<br />
Coast Guard Celebration of the 70th Anniversary for the<br />
US Coast Guard Auxiliary on Saturday, June 20, <strong>2009</strong> at<br />
CG Station Ft. Lauderdale. The barbeque/picnic, sponsored<br />
by the South Florida Coast Guard Association, was<br />
attended by over 200 members of Team Coast Guard<br />
family and friends for an evening of fellowship and commemoration<br />
of the 70 years of dedicated service from<br />
civilian volunteers in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.<br />
After enjoying the delicious picnic fare, guests were ushered<br />
to the waterfront by Piper Steve Rogers, Flotilla 36,<br />
to participate in the official Commemorative Ceremony.<br />
Master of Ceremony, CAPT Rick<br />
Kenin, Commanding Officer, Air Station<br />
Miami, welcomed the special<br />
guests in attendance and presented<br />
an entertaining and informative history<br />
of the Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
from 1939 to the present. The program<br />
included an Invocation from<br />
CDR Bernard Pecaro, a <strong>District</strong> 7<br />
Chaplain, along with a special proclamation<br />
by The Honorable C. K.<br />
McElyea, Vice Mayor of the City of<br />
Dania Beach proclaiming June 23,<br />
<strong>2009</strong> as ―Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
Day‖. Closing remarks from Walter<br />
Jaskiewicz, Chief of Staff, <strong>District</strong> 7<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary and RADM<br />
Steve Branham, USCG <strong>District</strong> 7<br />
Commander acknowledged the Coast Guard Auxiliary‘s<br />
dedicated service to the Nation.<br />
A specially adapted cake cutting ceremony by Dr. Bill<br />
Tejeiro, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, Sector Miami was<br />
performed by representatives from Team Coast Guard to<br />
round out the 70 th Birthday celebration.<br />
At the close of the ceremony all eyes went skyward to<br />
watch a Helo/Search and Rescue Demonstration provided<br />
by Air Station Miami and Auxiliarists from Division 3<br />
demonstrating the partnership of our active duty and<br />
Auxiliary forces. Ω
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist Completes First Pilot Certification<br />
Photo and story by Joe McCoy, FSO-PA, FL 14-7<br />
Page 23<br />
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla: U.S.<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliarist T.J.<br />
Wagner completed certification<br />
as First Pilot on Saturday, June<br />
13, <strong>2009</strong>, during a mission completed<br />
just before a storm cell<br />
brought hail to the St. Augustine<br />
Airport. In fact, the 1979 Piper<br />
Archer II that he co-owns just<br />
made it into the hanger before<br />
hail dropped on the airport.<br />
Before departing at 8:30 a.m.,<br />
Wagner completed his pre-flight<br />
briefing with John Roderick who<br />
served as a crewperson, while<br />
also managing the certification<br />
testing process as instructor<br />
pilot. Roderick heads up Flight<br />
St. Augustine Air Operations for<br />
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
out of the St. Augustine Airport<br />
and is certified as an Aircraft<br />
Commander and instructor pilot.<br />
Piper N8098M received several upgrades to prepare her<br />
for service as a U.S Coast Guard Operational Facility: a<br />
marine band radio and accompanying external antenna,<br />
four-person life raft on board, a Personal Emergency Position<br />
Indicating Radio Beacon (PPIRB) and an observation<br />
manual. Each of the crew members wears an official<br />
flight suit and life jacket. Piper N8098M also takes on a<br />
new identity when on official U.S. Coast Guard missions:<br />
―Coast Guard AUXAIR 98 Mike.‖<br />
The AUXAIR flight departed St. Augustine for the Spruce<br />
Creek Airport to rendezvous with Mike Renuart, the designated<br />
AUXAIR Flight Examiner (FE) for Wagner's check<br />
flight. Renuart reviewed all examination requirements<br />
with expected airmanship performance criteria. Next, the<br />
three Auxiliary Airmen departed Spruce Creek for the airspace<br />
designated for Search and Rescue (SAR) patterns.<br />
During the flight, Wagner performed two Search and Rescue<br />
(SAR) patterns known as the sector search and<br />
creeping line search. He executed the patterns in an excellent<br />
manner and then demonstrated his Instrument<br />
Pilot skills. The latter demonstration was added, not for<br />
First Pilot certification, but because Wagner is very close<br />
to achieving Aircraft Commander. Aircraft Commanders<br />
John Roderick and T.J. Wagner conduct the pre-flight briefing.<br />
are Instrument Rated Pilots, a milestone already achieved<br />
by Wagner. To remain certified, Wagner will have to complete<br />
the two search patterns every three years with a<br />
flight examiner. Following the successful check flight,<br />
Renuart returned to his home base where the three debriefed<br />
the mission. Then Roderick and Wagner returned<br />
home via a coastal patrol route.<br />
Several new goals are planned. Wagner is not far from<br />
achieving the 1,000 hours Pilot In Command (PIC)<br />
needed to advance from First Pilot to Aircraft Commander.<br />
He would also like to upgrade the plane‘s avionics<br />
to add a third GPS radio. Currently it has two, one installed<br />
and one portable. The third GPS would be an installed<br />
unit. He is also considering an upgrade to a glass<br />
(computer display) panel. This would add an additional<br />
layer of safety over the reliance on a vacuum pump for<br />
the altitude indicator and directional gyro. Lastly, Wagner<br />
has advised that Mike Thompson, his partner in the plane,<br />
is now considering becoming a member of the U.S. Coast<br />
Guard Auxiliary. Congratulations to T.J. Wagner on<br />
achieving his First Pilot certification! Ω
Page 24<br />
An Egret, a Leatherback Turtle, a Sooty Shearwater, and a<br />
Pelican: What does the Auxiliary have to do with them?<br />
Photos and story submitted by Karen Miller, SO-PB Division 11<br />
Karen Miller holds the beak<br />
of the wounded pelican to<br />
pose for this photo with the<br />
rescued bird.<br />
CLEARWATER, Fla.: Through the first six months of<br />
<strong>2009</strong>, members of Division 11 participated in 50 Search<br />
and Rescue (SAR) cases, but none of the training they<br />
normally employ prepared them for three recent, interesting<br />
situations.<br />
The first one began in Clearwater on a Saturday afternoon<br />
in May. The crew of Auxiliary facility Broad on the<br />
Bow was traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway on a<br />
multi-mission safety and training patrol. Right in the middle<br />
of channel was a beautiful white egret. That, however,<br />
was the problem. Egrets are wading birds, and this<br />
egret was not faring too well as a swimming bird. One of<br />
the crewmembers netted the egret and brought it on<br />
board. After holding it upside down to remove any water<br />
in its esophagus, the crew wrapped it in a towel. This<br />
helped dry the bird and kept it warm.<br />
Considering their next steps the Auxiliarists contacted<br />
USCG Station Sand Key for the number of Suncoast<br />
Seabird Sanctuary, a local bird rescue organization.<br />
They were connected with authorized volunteer rescuer,<br />
Larry O‘Brien, who is also a member of Flotilla 11-10,<br />
Dunedin, Fla. Larry rushed to the Coast Guard Station to<br />
pick up the distressed egret. Three days later, he advised<br />
the crew that the rehabilitated egret was freed in the<br />
same area where it was originally rescued.<br />
A few weeks later, Memorial Day Weekend, a Good Samaritan<br />
in the Gulf of Mexico came across a large Leatherback<br />
Turtle tangled in a crab trap float in obvious distress.<br />
They called USCG Station Sand Key about their<br />
find. The Station contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife<br />
Commission (FWC) Turtle Specialist, Rhonda Bailey, a<br />
former member of Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, Fla.<br />
Rhonda Bailey requested the Coast Guard free the turtle,<br />
since Leatherbacks do not do well in captivity. Station
Page 25<br />
Sand Key dispatched<br />
Auxiliary<br />
Facility Guardian<br />
from 11-10, Dunedin,<br />
to the reported<br />
position of the turtle.<br />
After a struggle<br />
with the frightened<br />
turtle, the Auxiliary<br />
crew untangled its<br />
flipper and the turtle<br />
swam safely<br />
away. The Auxiliary<br />
and Coast Guard<br />
received many<br />
thanks from FWC<br />
for the inter-agency<br />
cooperation.<br />
Another week later<br />
and Broad on the<br />
Bow was on patrol<br />
again, and right in<br />
the middle of the<br />
Intracoastal Waterway<br />
is what appears to be a seagull that isn‘t flying off as<br />
the boat goes by. Something is wrong, so, the boat turns<br />
back and the crew nets the bird. After wrapping the bird in<br />
a towel to dry it and calm it down (one crewmember sustained<br />
superficial scratches where the bird tried to bite<br />
her), they again called Larry O‘Brien. He met the crew in<br />
Dunedin at the municipal marina docks and brought the<br />
bird down to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. Later that<br />
day Larry let the crew know that the bird they rescued<br />
wasn‘t a seagull; it was a Sooty Shearwater. Now, Sooty<br />
Shearwaters seldom land and are almost never found in<br />
the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
The crew of Guardian are seen working to untangle the endangered Leatherback turtle from the crab trap.<br />
The turtle swam away unharmed after being freed.<br />
Fast forward a week and Broad on the Bow is again patrolling<br />
the Intracoastal Waterway and discovers a swimming<br />
pelican with a broken wing. Out comes the net and<br />
the big bird is scooped aboard. After wrapping it in a<br />
Just what is a Sooty Shearwater?<br />
Its Latin name is Puffinus griseus and it is a medium-large shearwater<br />
in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is predominantly<br />
brown, between 15.5 to 20 inches long and with a 36.5 to 46.5 inch<br />
wingspread. They breed in the islands of the South Pacific and<br />
South Atlantic and have incredible circular migration routes covering<br />
as much as 9,000 miles (longer on the Pacific side).<br />
The bird rescued by the crew of Broad on Bow was likely returning<br />
from its March to May nesting season in the South Atlantic.<br />
Photograph: One-time permission to reprint granted by wildlife<br />
photographer Harold Stiver, Ontario, Canada.<br />
towel to keep it calm, they called Larry O‘Brien who came<br />
rushing down and met them at Coast Guard Station Sand<br />
Key. Larry picked up the pelican and it is now recuperating<br />
at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.<br />
Because of the all the recent bird rescues, Suncoast Seabird<br />
Sanctuary has permanently placed a carrier at Station<br />
Sand Key to keep any further bird ―finds‖ safe until<br />
they can be picked up and transported to the Sanctuary.<br />
It has become apparent from these four situations that<br />
Division 11 may need to add bird and turtle rescuing to its<br />
training program. Ω
Page 26<br />
Teams that Work Together . . . Work Together.<br />
Photos and story submitted by Mike Moore, ADSO-PA-W<br />
LAKE CHATUGE, Ga.: Let‘s play word association:<br />
What is the first word that comes to mind when you read<br />
the word ―shoreline?‖ Did you think ―beach‖ or, perhaps,<br />
―ocean?‖ Most people offer a similar response, but a recent<br />
example may enhance that association for you.<br />
According to the United States Geological Survey<br />
(USGS), the United States has an ocean shoreline of<br />
90,000 miles, all of which come under Coast Guard jurisdiction.<br />
However, the state of Minnesota, with no ocean<br />
coastline, has 90,000 miles of shorelines along its many<br />
lakes and streams.<br />
Our inland lakes and waterways support an industry of<br />
recreational boating that thrives far from any body of saltwater,<br />
and it would be easy to imagine that recreational<br />
boating has touched every body of water in the U.S. With<br />
Minnesota as an example, consider the resources<br />
needed to keep boating safe on these numerous smaller<br />
bodies of water. Publicly funded groups such as local<br />
police, Natural Resources police, fire departments, and<br />
even the Coast Guard have an ever-increasing burden of<br />
responsibility for this role in public safety. All too often,<br />
the burden is so great that some waterways go without<br />
sufficient coverage. This can result in serious problems.<br />
Some places are in more of a pinch than others. Towns<br />
County, a rural area of Northeast Georgia, is a case in<br />
point. According to Towns County Fire and Rescue Chief,<br />
Mitch Floyd, his three-man county paid department has<br />
―virtually zero resources‖ to support the nearly 200 miles<br />
of freshwater shoreline in his county. His counterparts in<br />
the area, including police and Department of Natural Resources<br />
(DNR) officers, need to cover an area of five to<br />
six counties, and their modest resources in these rural<br />
areas are stretched to the absolute limit.<br />
The practical solution to this shortage of resources is the<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary. With our extensive operational<br />
training in safety and search and rescue, the force multiplying<br />
assets of the Auxiliary can be a best-case solution<br />
for under-funded public departments charged with boating<br />
public safety missions. Such is the case in Towns<br />
County with a newly established Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
flotilla on Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee, Georgia.<br />
In a recent case of outstanding multi-departmental cooperation,<br />
members of the Auxiliary, Towns County Sheriffs<br />
Department, Towns County Fire and Rescue, Georgia<br />
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), American Red<br />
Cross, and Towns County Emergency Medical Service<br />
(EMS) participated in a water-based search and rescue<br />
evolution. The two-day event took place June 6-7, <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Participating Auxiliarists were from three different Flotillas:<br />
Mark Moore and Bruce Lindsey from FL 29 in Lake<br />
Lanier, Leslie Moore from FL 15-2 in Yankeetown, Fla.,<br />
While searching the waters<br />
of Lake Chatuge near<br />
the Towns County Beach<br />
in Northeast Georgia with<br />
Department of Natural<br />
Resources Officers, the<br />
crew of the Miss Dolly spot<br />
and recover an "Oscar"<br />
type victim. The emergency<br />
response exercise<br />
involved personnel from<br />
Towns County Georgia;<br />
Fire and Rescue, Sheriff's<br />
Office, Emergency Medical<br />
Service, Georgia Department<br />
of Natural Resources,<br />
USCG Auxiliary,<br />
and the American Red<br />
Cross .
Page 27<br />
Georgia's Towns County EMS medics prepare to receive the simulated near-drowning victim from the crew of the beached Auxiliary<br />
facility, Miss Dolly. After giving CPR during the 10-minute trip across Lake Chatuge to the nearest shore point, the Auxiliary crew<br />
handed off a viable "patient" to the EMS personnel while Georgia Department of Natural Resources Officers supported the transport<br />
and transfer.<br />
and Darrell Scott and Jim Maloney from FL 13-8, Upper<br />
Keys, Fla.<br />
In a realistic, task-based drill, the Auxiliary joined the<br />
Georgia DNR to search for a possible drowning victim<br />
reported missing while swimming in Lake Chatuge. After<br />
a thorough search, the Auxiliary facility located an unconscious<br />
person floating in the lake. In the simulation, EMS<br />
personnel were alerted, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation<br />
(CPR) was administered during transport to a preplanned<br />
pick-up point. At the shore transfer point, the<br />
victim was handed off to the EMS and transported to the<br />
hospital, while Auxiliary members provided information<br />
needed for the subsequent accident investigation.<br />
Drills and evolutions like the one played out in Georgia<br />
are vital to the growth and continued success of inland<br />
water flotillas. First and foremost, actual drills and practical<br />
learning keep operational crews‘ life saving skills<br />
sharp. Classroom learning is only part of operational<br />
prowess. Skills like situational awareness, team coordination,<br />
area familiarity, first aid and first response, and ‗best<br />
practices‘ (after action briefing) are learned more successful<br />
when they are practiced. When practice represents<br />
real life situations, results are even better!<br />
As an added benefit of participation in joint department<br />
drills and evolutions, volunteer Auxiliarist are ‗vetted‘ by<br />
those paid departments often charged by law to control<br />
and respond to public safety issues. In the Lake Chatuge<br />
drill, the extensive capabilities of an Auxiliary Operational<br />
Facility and crew were demonstrated. The Auxiliary‘s performance<br />
during the Lake Chatuge exercise was ―very<br />
professional,‖ commented Bill Kendall, Towns County<br />
Commissioner. He further commented that having a team<br />
of local volunteer water rescuers is definitely an asset to<br />
public safety.<br />
Let‘s try that word association game again. When you<br />
hear the word ―Auxiliary,‖ you can now think, among<br />
other things, ―A proud force multiplier that can reach out<br />
and take up the slack wherever in <strong>District</strong> 7 the recreational<br />
boating public plays.‖ Ω
Page 28<br />
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Comes to Lake Marion<br />
Christine Siwirski SO-PA 12, FSO-PA 12-10<br />
SUMMERTON, S.C.: The Chartering Ceremony<br />
of Division 12‘s newest flotilla took<br />
place on July 18, <strong>2009</strong> on the shores of Lake<br />
Marion at the Big Water Resort in Summerton,<br />
South Carolina.<br />
Members of the United States Coast Guard<br />
and Auxiliary attended the ceremony along<br />
with County Council Chairmen from Orangeburg<br />
and Clarendon counties. Local dignitaries<br />
and members of the media were also present.<br />
The ceremony began with an impressive<br />
presentation of colors by the Color Guard of<br />
Flotilla 12-10. Members of the Color Guard<br />
include Reggie Hollar, <strong>District</strong> Captain - North<br />
(DCAPT-N), Vito Giardina, Vice Commander,<br />
Division 12 and members John Chalk and<br />
Karin Hollar. Following the National Anthem,<br />
Flag Salute and Invocation, Robert<br />
Weskerna, Division Commander (DCDR-<br />
RADM R.S. Branham, USCG <strong>District</strong> Commander, COMO Donald Frasch,<br />
<strong>USCGAUX</strong> <strong>District</strong> 7, and CDR Jennifer Ketchum, USCG Director of Auxiliary,<br />
D7, stand together after the Chartering Ceremony of the new Flotilla 12-1 in<br />
Summerton, S.C.<br />
members.<br />
The formal charter was then presented to Perry Moses,<br />
Flotilla Commander, 12-10 by RADM Branham and<br />
COMO Frasch. The new flotilla was joined in this proud<br />
moment by representatives of all of the other flotillas in<br />
Division 12. Flotilla 12-1 becomes the seventh flotilla in<br />
this division.<br />
12) welcomed participants and guests.<br />
The Chartering Ceremony was led by CDR<br />
Jennifer Ketchum, USCG, Director of Auxiliary<br />
D7, who was assisted by RADM R. S. Branham,<br />
USCG, <strong>District</strong> Commander in administering<br />
the members‘ pledge. Both officers gave<br />
inspiring remarks to all in attendance.<br />
Flotilla 12-1‘s elected and appointed officers<br />
were administered their pledge by CAPT Michael<br />
McAllister, USCG Sector Charleston and<br />
COMO Donald Frasch <strong>District</strong> 7.<br />
Reggie Hollar, DCAPT-N, CAPT McAllister and COMO<br />
Frasch offered congratulations and support to the new<br />
Flotilla 12-1 represents a group of very hard working,<br />
dedicated individuals whose accomplishments and perseverance<br />
were rewarded<br />
on this day.<br />
As the United States<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
marks its seventieth<br />
anniversary, we<br />
are proud to welcome<br />
Flotilla 12-1 as<br />
a member of ―Team<br />
Coast Guard.‖ Ω<br />
Center Page: Reggie Holler, DCAPT-N welcomes the new<br />
flotilla.<br />
Bottom: RADM Branham presents the Charter to Perry Moses,<br />
the first elected Flotilla Commander, 12-10.<br />
Photos by David A. Hastings, ADSO-CS <strong>District</strong> 7
A Visit to Sector St. Petersburg<br />
By Dave Robinson, FSO-PB FL 83<br />
Page 29<br />
Next, their caravan headed 15 miles south to Sector St.<br />
Petersburg where Petty Officer Duke, Officer of the Day,<br />
welcomed them. The highlight of this visit was a tour of<br />
the newest Coast Guard vessel, CGC Alligator. The cutter<br />
was commissioned just five days earlier, but parking at<br />
Sector St. Petersburg is limited and consequently many<br />
Auxiliarists did not attend the ceremony. It was a therefore<br />
a privilege to receive a private tour. FA Jerry Jones, who<br />
has been in the Coast Guard for only five months, greeted<br />
them as they boarded the Alligator. He was very pleased<br />
to serve on the cutter as his first assignment. They traversed<br />
the vessel from the bridge to engine room. The engines<br />
still had the smell of fresh paint and discovering<br />
the faux alligator skin piston covers surprised them all.<br />
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.: Six members of Manatee Flotilla<br />
83 acted as "silver side" ambassadors when they visited<br />
Air Station Clearwater and Sector St. Petersburg on<br />
March 14, <strong>2009</strong>. Upon arrival at Air Station Clearwater,<br />
Don Hoge Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, Sector St. Petersburg,<br />
showed them a PowerPoint presentation about the<br />
Air Station. They then toured the base, getting an upclose<br />
look at the HH-60 Helicopters and the C-130 Transport<br />
Planes. They topped the morning off by enjoying a<br />
wonderful lunch at the Air Station‘s award-winning galley.<br />
The amount of room for crew quarters and galley was<br />
surprising. The Alligator has a crew of 11 and is able<br />
to cruise for three to four days without putting into port<br />
for supplies. Most of the deck space is configured to<br />
accommodate a small inflatable that can be directly<br />
launched and brought aboard again from the stern<br />
without lifts. This feature makes the cutter particularly<br />
suited for Search and Rescue as well as recovery missions.<br />
The visitors were thoroughly impressed by this<br />
newest Coast Guard asset. Upon going ashore, they<br />
were honored to be greeted by Captain Close, Commanding<br />
Officer, Sector St. Petersburg, who was just<br />
returning from a retirement ceremony that he attended<br />
earlier that day. The Auxiliarists left Sector thanking Petty<br />
Officer Duke who had made them feel a part of the whole<br />
operation.<br />
Of course, no visit to Sector would be complete without<br />
making the short hop to the Southside pier where the<br />
Coast Guard Exchange is located. Some of the members<br />
outfitted themselves with uniform items and other Coast<br />
Guard Auxiliary supplies. Their drive home was full of<br />
excited talk about the day's events and the privileges afforded<br />
them as members of Team Coast Guard.Ω<br />
Above: Paulette Parent, SO-PB 8 tries out the captain‘s chair<br />
aboard the Alligator. Note its name sake adorning the console.<br />
Below: A look inside the Alligator. The crew berths are as spacious<br />
as those found on modern cruise ships, the galley absolutely<br />
gleams with polished stainless steel and the alligator skin<br />
accents add an almost whimsical touch to this cutter. (Who said<br />
shipbuilders don’t have a sense of humor?)<br />
Photos submitted by Paulette Parent
Page 30<br />
Flotilla 29 Member Named as New Pipe Major for<br />
U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band.<br />
Submitted by Mike Sheaffer, FSO-PB 29<br />
Photo of M.L. Loudermilk courtesy of the USCG Pipe Band<br />
LAKE LANIER, Ga.: Congratulations to Flotilla 29 member<br />
M. L. Loudermilk on his appointment as Pipe Major of<br />
the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band. On May 20, <strong>2009</strong>, the<br />
band‘s Board of Directors announced that they had<br />
unanimously selected M.L. Loudermilk to be the leader of<br />
their national organization.<br />
The Pipe Major is the primary musical authority<br />
for the band and exercises responsibility<br />
for its operation and activity. The Pipe<br />
Major selects the band‘s musical repertoire<br />
--the music played at appearances and<br />
auditions. The Pipe Major also approves all<br />
musicians who wish to perform with the<br />
Band and all performances by band members.<br />
The U. S. Coast Guard Pipe Band currently<br />
has over 90 members, including: active<br />
duty, reserve and retired members of the<br />
U. S. Coast Guard, active members of the<br />
Auxiliary and honorably discharged wartime<br />
Coast Guard Veterans. The band performs<br />
annually at the U.S. Coast Guard<br />
Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, and<br />
plays at many national and regional events.<br />
Detachments and solo performers play at<br />
hundreds of Coast Guard changes of command,<br />
dinners, retirement ceremonies, memorial<br />
services and funerals, as well as public performances<br />
promoting the Coast Guard. Ω<br />
More information about the band can be found on their<br />
website at: http://www.uscgpipeband.org/.<br />
NEW YORK CITY: When member<br />
Dorothy Joan Riley from FL 79 in<br />
Tampa is not working on the Breeze or<br />
the Intercom, Division 7‘s newsletter,<br />
you can likely find her at her easel<br />
doing what she loves best.<br />
Dottie is a member of the Coast Guard<br />
Fine Art Program. Her second painting<br />
to be accepted into the program is<br />
called ―Night Launch‖ and depicts an<br />
Auxiliary vessel from Division 4 maintaining<br />
a safety zone under the flight<br />
path of a shuttle launch at NASA. She<br />
is shown here accepting a Public Service<br />
Award presented by Rear Admiral<br />
Charles Michael, USCG, Director of<br />
Public Affairs, and Nancy Little, President<br />
of the Salmagundi Art Club at the<br />
<strong>2009</strong> Acceptance Ceremony on June<br />
23, <strong>2009</strong> in New York City.<br />
Photo by PA3 Barbara L. Patton,<br />
USCG 1st <strong>District</strong>, NY
Nina Buxton: A Picture of Commitment<br />
Photo and story submitted by Hugh Avery, VFC 14-3<br />
Page 31<br />
PALM COAST, Fla.: Member Nina<br />
Buxton from flotilla 14-3 in Palm<br />
Coast, Fla. is not just an artist; she<br />
is a world-renowned artist. Combine<br />
her commitment to the United<br />
States Coast Guard and the Auxiliary,<br />
a love of the sea and her incredible<br />
artistic talents and the result<br />
is almost certainly a contribution<br />
to the Coast Guard Fine Art<br />
Program.<br />
Nina was born in Khartoum, Sudan,<br />
of French parents, and raised in<br />
Egypt where she studied art under<br />
Professor Carlo Minotti and Tahia<br />
Halim. She then moved to Paris to<br />
continue her studies at the University<br />
of Paris – Academic de Grand<br />
Chaumiere, and Academie Julien.<br />
Nina has a tremendous background<br />
in all phases of art. Most<br />
notable are her works in oils on<br />
canvas. She has lectured and demonstrated<br />
on television, for Art<br />
Clubs and Universities.<br />
Her paintings are part of collections<br />
in the private homes of Senator Pat Murray, Wash.; the<br />
late Governor Lawton Chiles, Fla.; Senator Bell, Fla.; as<br />
well as diplomatic offices, state buildings, the Smithsonian<br />
in Washington D.C. and other public buildings<br />
such as Sun Bank of Fla.; Florida National Bank, IBM,<br />
Gerber, Coca-Cola, University of Florida, Shands Hospital,<br />
the Museum of Florida Art in Deland, Fla. and other<br />
collections both within the U.S. and abroad.<br />
Nina‘s murals and paintings can also be seen at the<br />
Showboat, Hacienda, and the Silver Slipper in Las Vegas<br />
Nev., the inter-island resorts at the Kona Inn, Kailua Kona<br />
and Naniloa in Hilo, Hawaii.<br />
Nina joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 14-3 in<br />
Palm Coast, Fla. and has been an active member since<br />
2001.<br />
Nina is an official artist for the U.S. Coast Guard. Her<br />
painting ―CGC Mustang‖, was accepted into the Coast<br />
Guard Fine Art collection at a presentation ceremony held<br />
in New York City in June 2008.<br />
Besides her work as an artist she is widely known for her<br />
willingness to volunteer. Nina volunteered her services<br />
during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She has spent<br />
countless hours in this humanitarian effort working with<br />
Katrina victims in New Orleans and Houston. Her work<br />
with FEMA continues wherever she is needed.<br />
From the Valdosta Daily Times, by Dean Poling, Valdosta,<br />
Ga.:<br />
―With a palette knife, artist Nina D. Buxton shapes the<br />
seas and ships that sail them. Buxton’s ships are massive<br />
plows of form that cut through her painted waters as<br />
surely as her palette knife slices through her canvas’ oils.<br />
….There are many striking features to Buxton’s ships but<br />
the most outstanding dichotomy of her work is her loose<br />
painterly style and the intricate detail with which she rigs<br />
her Coast Guard vessels. Such detail is usually reserved<br />
for more illustrative and realistic rendering, but she captures<br />
these intricacies while maintaining a loose nigh impressionistic<br />
approach.” Ω
Page 32<br />
Are Auxiliarists All About Water?<br />
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA<br />
Auxiliarists are all about water, right? Not necessarily.<br />
We all have other interests.<br />
Take five members of Division 11 D7 for example:<br />
they like to play with wood. Parks Honeywell,<br />
Don Hoge and Tom Loughlin, all of<br />
Flotilla 11-10, and Edna and Ernie Schwabe of<br />
Flotilla 11-7 are members of a group called<br />
The ToyMakers. They work their magic in the<br />
ToyShop, a 32 square foot building behind<br />
Loughlin‘s home.<br />
The ToyMakers started in 1982 with one man<br />
and, through the years, has grown to 29 men<br />
and women. During that period of time, The<br />
ToyMakers made and gave away over<br />
240,000 toys to children in emotional or physical<br />
distress. As a nurse once told them, the toy<br />
doesn‘t just bring a smile to the child. It also<br />
brings smiles to the family and medical staff caring for the<br />
child. That is an awful lot of smiles that this group has<br />
helped to make!<br />
Ernie Schwabe from FL 11-7 (left) and Parks Honeywell from FL 11-10<br />
assembling toys.<br />
The toys are all wood--no metal, and they are brightly<br />
painted in happy colors. The ToyMakers deliver them<br />
every three months (about 1,900 toys each time) to such<br />
Tampa Bay, Fla., agencies as Shriner‘s Hospital, All Children‘s<br />
Hospital and its local clinics, a local domestic violence<br />
shelter, St. Josephs Hospital (pediatric cancer<br />
clinic), Pasco County EMS, as well as local fire and police<br />
departments. They also deliver to Ronald McDonald<br />
Houses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando and Gainesville.<br />
Toys have been sent to Afghanistan and Iraq, to the<br />
Gulf Coast after Katrina, to the Caribbean, to Mexico, to<br />
orphanages in South Africa and to local counties after<br />
last year‘s hurricanes.<br />
The group has received many stories about how their<br />
simple toys made a difference in a family‘s life. Nearly a<br />
year ago, a small boy was found at the bottom of a pool<br />
in Pasco County, Fla. He was resuscitated and, in a<br />
coma, airlifted to All Children‘s Hospital in St. Petersburg.<br />
A doctor advised the family that the little boy might never<br />
come out of the coma. If he did, he might never talk, walk<br />
or do anything. The little boy stirred. He opened his eyes.<br />
That answered the coma question. He saw one of the<br />
toys and reached out for it. That answered a couple of<br />
other medical questions. Then he ran it back and forth<br />
over his stomach saying, ―Zoom--Zoom--Zoom.‖ The doctor<br />
said that tens of thousands of dollars in medical procedures<br />
could not have done what that toy did.<br />
The ToyMakers are actively promoting a program to get<br />
more groups started across the United States. As of September<br />
15, 2008, they have sent out informational ―how<br />
to do it‖ packages to seven groups in Canada and 122<br />
groups here in the United States. They have also received<br />
several calls from fellow Auxiliarists asking for<br />
information to start a group. The ToyMakers invite everyone<br />
to visit their web-site at www.thetoymakers.org and<br />
pass the word.<br />
Tom Loughlin at the drill press.<br />
Auxiliarists put smiles on the faces of relieved boaters all<br />
the time. The ToyMakers just do the smile thing a little<br />
differently. Ω
MOU Benefits Partners and Boating Public<br />
Photo and story submitted by Ronald Albert, SO-PE 3<br />
Page 33<br />
Ronald Albert, Larry LaClair and Brian Emond, Instructors from Flotilla 38, Plantation, Fla. stand next to Captain J.A. Cirrincione,<br />
Reserve Coordinator for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. On the right side of the poster are Larry Smith, the<br />
Store Manager for the Bass Pro Shop in Dania Beach, Fla., and Diana Rodriguez the promotions manager, along with Dan Hess,<br />
Instructor, and Bob Hackney, Instructor Aide for 38.<br />
DANIA, Fla.: On May 13, <strong>2009</strong>, the Coast Guard Seventh<br />
<strong>District</strong> entered into a Memorandum of Understanding<br />
(MOU) with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation<br />
Commission (FWC) that defines the relationship between<br />
both parties regarding the conduct of boating safety programs<br />
and law enforcement. The Coast Guard is referenced<br />
in Section C -Public Education and Training and<br />
Section F -Coast Guard Auxiliary.<br />
In summary, Section C states that the Coast Guard will<br />
furnish to the FWC information concerning time and place<br />
of public education courses and recreational boating<br />
safety outreach programs sponsored by the Coast Guard<br />
Auxiliary. Both parties will cooperate in developing public<br />
boating education and awareness programs within the<br />
state. The Coast Guard Auxiliary will ensure that the standards<br />
for inclusion of state-specific information are met,<br />
and will forward course completion data to FWC. The<br />
FWC will assist the Coast Guard Auxiliary in meeting<br />
state specific information and testing requirements.<br />
Division Three is currently instructing the laws which<br />
cover the ten state specific questions on the test. and<br />
forwarding all information to the FWC for issuance of the<br />
Fla. Boaters identification card. In late May, the FWC<br />
contacted the Division regarding this MOU. They decided<br />
that an FWC officer would attend one of the America‘s<br />
Boating Safety (ABS) programs as a pilot.<br />
On June 20, Captain J.A. Cirrincione, Reserve Coordinator<br />
for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission<br />
spoke on the state specific laws at the Bass Pro<br />
Shop in Dania Beach, Fla. during an ABS program sponsored<br />
by Flotilla 38, Plantation Fla. As a result, the FWC<br />
is coordinating with Division 3 to have a FWC officer present<br />
at each ABS program taught within the division.<br />
Another win-win outcome for both the Auxiliary and the<br />
FWC is that the FWC is allowing the Division to use their<br />
space at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA)<br />
to hold their ABS programs. The IGFA is adjacent to the<br />
Bass Pro Shop. This new venue will provide enhanced<br />
space for our courses.<br />
Point of contact for this MOU is Bruce Wright, Recreational<br />
Boating Safety Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard<br />
<strong>District</strong>. Ω
Page 34<br />
Auxiliary Member Honors a Guardian.<br />
Photos and story submitted by Jim Rudy FSO-PA, FL 25<br />
Auxiliarist Jim Rudy presents Veteran Winford Williams (Seaman Third Class)<br />
with the Certificate of Appreciation and letters from Thad Allen, Commandant<br />
of the Coast Guard and MCPO Charles Bowen, Master Chief Petty Officer,<br />
USCG.<br />
HARTWELL, Ga.: It was a pleasure to do the legwork<br />
and an honor to recognize Seaman Third Class Winford<br />
Williams at a ceremony held at the Seneca (S.C.) Health<br />
& Rehabilitation Center on Memorial Day this year. He<br />
was presented with personal letters from Admiral Thad<br />
Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and MCPO<br />
Charles Bowen, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast<br />
Guard.<br />
I happened upon Seaman Williams while engaging in one<br />
of my favorite pastimes as a retiree. In addition to my<br />
USCG Auxiliary duties, I am also a volunteer for the<br />
Army‘s Freedom Team Salute program. This is an outreach<br />
program established by the Army to honor Army<br />
veterans. Wearing that ‗hat‘, I approached the activity<br />
director of a local nursing home to see if I could arrange<br />
for commendations for any Army veterans at the home.<br />
There happened to be six veterans residing at the home<br />
and I was able to arrange a Certificate of Appreciation<br />
and a Letter of Thanks signed by the Army Chief of Staff<br />
and the Secretary of the Army for each man. There was<br />
only one other military service veteran at the home, Seaman<br />
Williams from the USCG, and not wanting him to<br />
feel slighted, I took it upon myself to find a way to recognize<br />
him as well. I wrote to the US Coast Guard Public<br />
Affairs Office. They promptly contacted me, asked for<br />
some specific details about Seaman Williams‘ experience,<br />
and came through with two personal letters, one<br />
signed by the Commandant and the other by the Master<br />
Chief Petty Officer.<br />
Seaman Williams is a World War II veteran<br />
(1941-1945) who manned the 20 mm gun on<br />
a Landing Ship Tank (LST). He served in the<br />
Pacific and participated in the Battles of Iwo<br />
Jima, Okinawa, and in the Philippines. Williams<br />
made five beach landings under fire and<br />
shot thousands of rounds during his combat<br />
experiences. He explained that his gun had a<br />
rate of fire of 70 rounds every 10 seconds.<br />
When I asked him how he happened to become<br />
a gunner he smiled and replied: ―They<br />
just told me that I was going to be a gunner.‖<br />
Seaman Williams is 84 years old and the only<br />
survivor of a Texas family of seven brothers<br />
and two sisters. He and three of his brothers<br />
served in WW II at the same time, Williams in<br />
the USCG and his brothers in the Army. After<br />
the war he worked as an insurance adjustor<br />
and eventually owned his own insurance<br />
agency as well as a gas station in Hooks, Texas, which is<br />
located near Texarkana.<br />
Family present at the ceremony were his only son,<br />
Johnny, Johnny‘s wife, Karol, and Johnny‘s mother-inlaw,<br />
Kathryn Jordan. Seaman Williams and his family<br />
were pleased with his recognition on Memorial Day.<br />
Again, it was a pleasure and an honor for me to take part<br />
in recognizing these men‘s outstanding service to their<br />
country, particularly my first Guardian. Ω<br />
Seaman Third Class Winford Williams
Toni Borman Named Marine Science Educator of the Year<br />
Photos and story submitted by Paulette Parent, ADSO-PB-W<br />
Page 35<br />
Florida Marine<br />
Science Educators<br />
Association<br />
held their Annual<br />
Conference at<br />
Mote Marine<br />
L a b o r a t o r i e s ,<br />
Sarasota, Florida<br />
from May 15-<br />
17, <strong>2009</strong>. Science<br />
educators,<br />
r e s e a r c h e r s ,<br />
scientists and<br />
marine science<br />
educators from<br />
all over Florida<br />
attended including<br />
Dr. Eugenie<br />
Clark ("The Shark Lady") who founded Mote. Also among<br />
the attendees was Toni Borman, a member of Sarasota<br />
Flotilla 84, USCG Auxiliary. At the annual banquet the<br />
attendees gathered to present the prestigious "John<br />
Beakley Marine Science Educator of the Year" Award.<br />
As the accolades and accomplishments of the <strong>2009</strong><br />
award recipient were related to the group, Toni wondered<br />
whom they were referring to since she knew just about<br />
everyone present. Who was this person who had accomplished<br />
so much during the year? Toni sat momentarily in<br />
shock when the presenter announced the recipient: "Toni<br />
Borman".<br />
Afterwards, Toni remarked: "Here I am sitting in the presence<br />
of all these great people, research scientists who<br />
are working on a cure for cancer, Dr. Clark who founded<br />
Mote Marine and educators from all over Florida and they<br />
were standing and applauding me. It was a very humbling<br />
experience and, uncharacteristically at a loss for<br />
words, all I could say was 'Thank You'!"<br />
Who is the Auxiliarist receiving such a special honor?<br />
Although many of us work together doing the varied tasks<br />
involved in being a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary,<br />
sometimes we know very little about the person beside<br />
us.<br />
Antoinette "Toni" Borman is a graduate of the University<br />
of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special<br />
Education. She married Milton C. Borman, Jr., a<br />
Colonel in the US Army, and lived a 'military' life teaching<br />
in schools on military bases all over the world. The couple<br />
planned to retire in Sarasota, Fla. because of their<br />
love of the water. They liked the programs, especially<br />
those involving children at Mote Marine Laboratories and<br />
planned to volunteer there.<br />
Sadly, Toni's husband passed away without realizing<br />
their dream, but she decided to carry on and relocate to<br />
Sarasota. She became a volunteer at Mote and trained to<br />
care for sick dolphins at Mote's hospital. She then went to<br />
Pelican Man‘s Bird Sanctuary and became the Director of<br />
Education and Director of Volunteers working hand-inhand<br />
with Mote. With the closing of Pelican Man, Toni<br />
returned to Mote and its extensive education program.<br />
She loved teaching and being with youngsters. She studied<br />
through Mote at University of South Florida and also<br />
participated in Mote's various educational programs including<br />
environmental programs, shark and squid dissecting,<br />
dolphin safety and sea turtle awareness. Toni is<br />
also involved in the "World Strides" program, an educational<br />
program that includes people from all over the<br />
world who come to Mote to participate. She is a member<br />
of Florida Marine Science Educators Assoc. (FMSEA),<br />
National Teachers of Science Assoc. (NTSA) and Florida<br />
Assoc. of Science Teachers (FAST).<br />
Toni writes her own educational programs. She has<br />
adapted Auxiliary boat safety, the clean marina program<br />
and monofilament programs into presentations for children<br />
as the "Daisy Dolphin" program. She presents her<br />
programs in public and private schools and during after<br />
school activities. Unlike Toni's friend Peter Sullivan who<br />
often accompanies her to various programs costumed as<br />
"Officer Snook", Toni presents a more formal image by<br />
wearing her Auxiliary boat crew uniform and life vest. It is<br />
members like Toni Borman whose efforts reflect so well<br />
on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Ω<br />
Bravo Zulu!<br />
The Florida Marine Science Educators Association<br />
Recognizes Toni Borman For her dedicated efforts in<br />
Promoting and providing outstanding Marine Science<br />
Education<br />
John Beakley Marine Science Educator of the year<br />
<strong>2009</strong>
Page 36<br />
ICS-210 Deadline Extended<br />
By: Tom Hayden, DSO-MS D7 and USCG ICS Lead Instructor<br />
Tom Hayden and Stu Stewart, USCG D7 Miami ICS instructor present ICS-210 to active duty members of Sector Jacksonville,<br />
USCG, earlier this year. The classroom was provided by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).<br />
Photos provided by Tom Hayden, DSO-MS D7<br />
The deadline for completion of ICS-210 was extended to<br />
April 1, 2010. Per the ALAUX 002/07 bulletin, this course<br />
or the full ICS-300 course is required for Auxiliary Single<br />
Unit Resource Leaders (SURLs) such as coxswains,<br />
PWC operators, pilots (Aircraft Commander, First Pilot<br />
and Co-Pilot), members in the Trident Program or any<br />
other team/task force leader determined by a Coast<br />
Guard unit Commander to have a need. ICS-210 (or ICS-<br />
300 as an equivalent) will be required to qualify for these<br />
p o s i t i o n s . xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<br />
[Posted: Mar 26, <strong>2009</strong>. Source: Tom Nunes, Deputy<br />
Chief, Public Affairs Department]<br />
Additionally, all QEs were notified by DIRAUX that all<br />
coxswain and pilots who pass their qualifications before<br />
Apr 1, 2010, will be certified in AUXDATA but must complete<br />
ICS 210 by the new deadline or be placed in REYR<br />
(Certification lapsed because of failure to complete required<br />
currency maintenance after the deadline).<br />
While the classes may have required some travel and<br />
schedule reorganizing by the members, they were, nonetheless<br />
made available. It is estimated that we have accomplished<br />
over 95% of the required training in D7.<br />
While we have an extension for all current coxswain/<br />
pilots/Trident members, it is highly recommended that<br />
they get the ICS 210 completion soon and not wait until<br />
later.<br />
WHY ICS-210<br />
Many do not understand the importance of ICS 210,<br />
―Initial Incident Commander,‖ and what it means to the<br />
U.S. Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. Simply stated it is<br />
important as another element in the Auxiliary force multiplier<br />
for the U.S. Coast Guard.<br />
ICS 210 enables a coxswain/pilot/Trident Auxiliarist who<br />
comes upon a serious incident to assume the on-scene<br />
―initial incident command.‖ Using a Form 201 CG as<br />
taught in the ICS 210 classes, the initial on scene com-
Page 37<br />
mander will make a record of the incident with a map/<br />
chart and describe the ―current situation,‖ list initial response<br />
objectives, current actions, and planned actions,<br />
make a simple organization chart of all involved in the<br />
incident response, and list what resources are working<br />
the incident.<br />
The ICS 210 class teaches the Auxiliarist how to complete<br />
an ICS 201 form.<br />
Again, the purpose of the ICS 201 form is to document<br />
what the initial incident commander has done and prepare<br />
for ―transfer of command‖ to the best-qualified arriving onscene<br />
U.S. Coast Guard officer.<br />
INITIAL ON SCENE COMMANDER<br />
The initial response activities are to: (1) gain situational<br />
awareness, (2) assume command, (3) determine objectives<br />
and take initial response action, (4) organize and<br />
track resources responding, (5) delegate response action,<br />
and (6) evaluate actions and potential activities. More and<br />
more often, a Coast Guard Auxiliary operational facility<br />
will ―come upon‖ a serious incident and should be prepared<br />
to gain situational awareness, take initial incident<br />
command, and be prepared to transfer command to the<br />
U.S. Coast Guard officer responding to the incident.<br />
COMO Don Frasch, <strong>District</strong> 7 Commodore, in a message<br />
to all D7 Auxiliarist, stated that our ability to understand<br />
the roles and responsibilities presented in ICS-210 are<br />
critical to our ability to function interactively with U.S.<br />
Coast Guard units and other agencies during an incident.<br />
ICS TRAINING<br />
ICS 100, ―Introduction to the Incident Command System,‖<br />
introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides<br />
the foundation for higher level ICS training. This<br />
course describes the history, features and principles, and<br />
organizational structure of the ICS. It also explains the<br />
relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management<br />
System (NIMS). ICS 200 and ICS 700 give<br />
more details on how an Incident Command Post will function.<br />
For further information and on-line training go to<br />
www.training.fema.gov/EMICourses/.<br />
For more information on U.S. Coast Guard ICS information<br />
and training go to www.homeport.uscg.mil and click<br />
on Library (top bar). Then click on ICS (side bar).<br />
Each Division Commander has appointed an ICS Point of<br />
Contact for all Divisions. This individual and/or the Flotilla<br />
Staff Officer- Member Training (FSO-MT) and Division<br />
Staff Officer- Member Training (SO-MT) can help.<br />
ICS 210 will be offered at the Fall <strong>District</strong> Conference<br />
in St Petersburg on Saturday, September 12, <strong>2009</strong> at<br />
1 p.m.<br />
Please contact Mary Kennedy to register for that class at<br />
maryk19@bellsouth.net. Ω<br />
Walter Jaskiewicz, Chief of<br />
Staff, and Allen Brown, Immediate<br />
Past <strong>District</strong> Commodore,<br />
are both ICS Instructors.<br />
Achieving 95% of the required<br />
training within D7 can be attributed<br />
to the number of<br />
quality instructors available<br />
within our <strong>District</strong>.
Page 38<br />
Rescuing Manatees: Not Without Serious Training!<br />
By Otto Spielbichler SO-MS Division 5<br />
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.: Mating. The manatees were<br />
mating. Well, it did not look like it to me or to the anxious<br />
boater who approached us. We tied up to the dock in the<br />
Ocean Ridge Natural Area after crew training on the Intracoastal<br />
Waterway. The boater thought two manatees<br />
were holding up the head of a third, injured manatee<br />
while pushing it into shallow water. To me it looked like<br />
two manatees were roughing up the third one. In any<br />
event, it did not look good.<br />
I probably sounded anxious when I called the Manatee<br />
Hotline (1-800-404-FWCC). The person I spoke with<br />
asked several questions about the manatee‘s location<br />
and behavior. As I watched the manatees for answers to<br />
his questions, it began to look like the injured manatee<br />
was trying to get away from the other two. Then, I saw<br />
another smaller manatee.<br />
The voice on the phone suggested that I was watching<br />
two males trying to mate with an unwilling female and<br />
that she was trying to protect her calf. It turns out the<br />
man on the phone was right! We went back to training.<br />
The person on the phone that day was John Cassady.<br />
He and one other person manage the Florida Fish and<br />
Wildlife (FWC) Manatee Protection and Rescue Program<br />
for all of South Florida. My call was one of approximately<br />
four hundred the team receives each year from people<br />
witnessing manatees in distress. Actually, fewer than ten<br />
percent require rescue by the team. This event prompted<br />
me and several other Auxiliarists to attend a workshop<br />
offered by the FWC, ―Marine Mammal Protection and<br />
Rescue Basics‖.<br />
On June 24, <strong>2009</strong> I meet John Cassady and Pamela<br />
Sweeney. They were conducting the workshop at Boynton<br />
Beach‘s Intracoastal Park. The workshop dealt with<br />
the management of sick, injured and dead marine mammals.<br />
Twenty-three law enforcement agencies including<br />
the US Coast Guard were present. Four members of the<br />
Coast Guard Auxiliary also participated. The workshop<br />
included classroom lectures and on the water training.<br />
In the classroom participants learned about<br />
provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection<br />
Act, the Endangered Species Act and<br />
the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. Under<br />
these acts, only trained personnel are au-<br />
John Cassady (center in brown hat) from the<br />
Florida Fish and Wildlife Manatee Protection<br />
and Rescue Program oversees workshop participants<br />
retrieving the net and bringing the<br />
mock manatee aboard at a workshop held on<br />
June 24, <strong>2009</strong> at Boynton Beach‘s Intracoastal<br />
Park. The workshop was attended by Florida<br />
Law Enforcement officers, USCG, and Auxiliarists<br />
who learned how to identify and handle<br />
injured marine mammals. Otto Spielbichler (left)<br />
raises his camera to photograph the mock rescue<br />
while Jerry Dolson, also from Division 5,<br />
watches from the right. Each of the four groups<br />
trained that day practiced the netting procedure<br />
while the others watched.<br />
Photo: Bill Ingram, Palm Beach Post Staff Photographer.<br />
Reprint permission granted.
Page 39<br />
Top left: Once the injured animal is located the participants pay out the net as the boat accelerates and<br />
surrounds the animal with the net.<br />
Top right: The net used to capture injured, sick or dead marine animals has floats along the top and weights along the bottom side.<br />
The net is used to bring the animal over the transom of a vessel designed with its engine in the center to protect it<br />
from further injuries.<br />
Photos by Otto Spielbichler.<br />
thorized to handle marine mammals. Workshop participants<br />
learned about the numbers and causes of injuries<br />
or entanglements to marine mammals. They also learned<br />
how to determine the type and extent of injuries and what<br />
to include when reporting an injury or death. Immediate<br />
care of injured or stranded animals, crowd control and<br />
dealing with the media were other topics included in the<br />
classroom training.<br />
The afternoon portion of the workshop included an ―onthe-water‖<br />
mock training rescue of an injured manatee.<br />
This was accomplished using a boat modified for the<br />
task. The outboard motor that powers the boat is located<br />
in the center of the boat and there is no transom. When<br />
the injured animal was located, in this case a<br />
plastic barrel filled with water, the boat accelerated<br />
and circled the animal while a long net was<br />
paid out. The animal was brought on board by<br />
retrieving the net.<br />
Workshop participants learned that it is a physically<br />
demanding task but worth the effort. Most animals<br />
recover from their injuries and are returned to the wild.<br />
Those with permanent injuries are cared for in special<br />
facilities.<br />
Is it worth the time and effort for Auxiliarists to participate<br />
in workshops of this type? A few days after the workshop<br />
one of the Auxiliarists, a resident of a condominium along<br />
the Intracoastal Waterway, noticed some residents gathered<br />
on their dock. When she arrived the residents told<br />
her that there were about fifteen manatees in the water<br />
fighting. Fighting? Well no, the Auxiliarists observed, they<br />
were mating. Ω<br />
John Cassady, FWC explains to the participants<br />
how the net would be paid out and then retrieved<br />
once the manatee is captured. Marine LE members<br />
(rear vessel), Otto Spielbichler (left) and Jerry Dolson<br />
(back to camera) listen carefully to his<br />
instructions.<br />
Photo by Stu Landau, FSO-PS, FL 54.
Page 40<br />
D7 Auxiliary Earns the USCG R&D Center Respect<br />
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA<br />
probability that an aircraft crewmember<br />
can detect each type of search object as<br />
the aircraft flies by at a specified lateral<br />
range (closest point of approach) on any<br />
given pass.<br />
The Sentinel heads out to its assigned position.<br />
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary Divisions 11 and 15<br />
in <strong>District</strong> 7 assisted the USCG‘s Research and Development<br />
Center (R&D) in conducting search performance<br />
field tests off the West Coast of Florida during May <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
The tests simulated search and rescue (SAR) flight patterns<br />
when looking for typical search objects, such as life<br />
rafts and small craft.<br />
Test participants included three different types of US<br />
Coast Guard search and rescue aircraft from as far away<br />
as Elizabeth City, New Jersey. Each aircraft has a different<br />
type of search radar with different capabilities that, to<br />
this point, had not yet been fully tested. The R&D Center<br />
staff designed the tests so that search planners could<br />
learn more about the capabilities of each system to improve<br />
the probability of success in future searches.<br />
The R&D test team set up ranges for the search objects<br />
containing pre-positioned small boats and life rafts with<br />
only the test team and USCG Auxiliary boat operators<br />
knowing the locations of the search objects. Sensorequipped<br />
aircraft performed parallel (ladder) searches,<br />
while R&D data collectors onboard the aircraft logged<br />
detection times, along with various environmental and<br />
human parameters.<br />
Information gathered by this experiment, including search<br />
object position logs, radar screen shots, aircraft position<br />
logs and environmental records will be used to reconstruct<br />
each search. From that reconstruction, analysts<br />
can determine--for a range of search conditions--the<br />
To ensure accuracy and confidence in<br />
these performance measurements, test<br />
aircraft must fly over known search objects<br />
hundreds of times; in short, the<br />
more searches, the better the results.<br />
The R&D Center‘s team estimated a<br />
need for at least eight boats to serve as<br />
search objects each day. The USCG<br />
Auxiliary exceeded expectations, providing<br />
12 boats daily. Moreover, 30 different<br />
boats were used over the course of the<br />
entire testing period, staffed by 78 Auxiliary<br />
members.<br />
Mike Hicks, Project Manager for the R&D Center, stated,<br />
―This search performance data is critical to the success of<br />
USCG search planning because the information will be<br />
entered directly into the Search and Rescue Optimal<br />
Planning System (SAROPS).‖ SAROPS, a computer program<br />
used by SAR controllers to simulate possible<br />
search scenarios, provides information that helps them to<br />
optimize the allocation of scarce resources to locate mariners<br />
in distress. SAROPS is used in every Sector and<br />
<strong>District</strong> Command Center throughout the USCG. The<br />
work of the USCG Auxiliary will greatly increase the value<br />
of this critical search planning tool by providing SAR<br />
planners with the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of<br />
the USCG‘s newest airborne radar systems during an<br />
actual search. Ultimately, these efforts will optimize the<br />
employment of these radar systems.<br />
The first of the two-week test periods went very well with<br />
12 Auxiliary operational vessels positioned at precisely<br />
prescribed locations and anchored from 10 a.m. to about<br />
3 p.m. each of the test days. The test region covered the<br />
area from just north of St. Petersburg, Fla., northward to<br />
Homosassa, Fla., a distance of approximately 80 miles.<br />
The width of the test area varied as did the specific assignment<br />
of the Auxiliary boats. The sizes of the boats<br />
used as search objects ranged from 18 to 30 feet, some<br />
with cabins and some with center consoles. Each boat<br />
had an onboard global positioning system (GPS) tracking<br />
unit to record its exact location throughout the day.<br />
When the second week began with what amounted to
Page 41<br />
the additional data that they wanted and needed<br />
to provide useful results to USCG mission planners.<br />
Mike Hicks stated that it would take several weeks<br />
to analyze the information from the aircraft GPS/<br />
radar instruments and the GPS units on each of<br />
the Auxiliary boats, but he is confident that the<br />
results will positively help in future USCG search<br />
and rescue missions by ensuring that the newest<br />
sensors are used in the most effective way possible<br />
to improve the chance of successfully locating<br />
boaters in trouble on the water. At the exit briefing,<br />
Hicks acknowledged the contribution of the Auxiliary:<br />
―The USCG Research and Development<br />
Center could not possibly have done this without<br />
the enthusiastic help of the Auxiliary.‖<br />
gale-force winds, conditions took a turn for the worse.<br />
Seas were running over five feet with winds far exceeding<br />
the 20-miles-per-hour limit imposed by the R&D test plan.<br />
Heavy thunderstorms and lightning made operations impractical,<br />
and testing was put on hold as Auxiliary members<br />
waited for the weather to improve. Don Hoge, Flotilla<br />
11-10, Dunedin, Fla., Auxiliary point of contact for the test<br />
exercise, explained, ―It is as much work to plan for a day<br />
that is cancelled as it is for one that goes as scheduled.‖<br />
The Flotilla and Division Operations Officers throughout<br />
both Divisions were pushed to the limit with one change<br />
after another due to forces beyond their control. Several<br />
days, the crews were onboard and ready to get underway<br />
when the calls came to stand<br />
down due to weather uncertainty.<br />
Jerry Osburn, newly appointed<br />
Division 11 Operations Officer,<br />
commented with a smile and a<br />
good natured laugh that this was<br />
a good baptism by fire.<br />
To which we respond, ―Semper Paratus.‖ Ω<br />
Opposite page: The Sentinel, owned and operated by Tom<br />
Loughlin, DSO-PA D7 and member of FL 11-10 and his crew<br />
head out to take their assigned position.<br />
This page top left: Sea Bear owned by Lou Davis,<br />
FL 11-9 heads home framed by a golden sunset.<br />
Below: Raven, Owned and operated by Greg Gamache, DCDR<br />
11 participated in this exercise along with facilities from Division<br />
15.<br />
Because of the crazy weather, the<br />
R&D Team called on the Auxiliary<br />
to continue their support into the<br />
third week, and Divisions 11 and<br />
15 unhesitatingly agreed. It was<br />
the great desire of these two <strong>District</strong><br />
7 Divisions to help and support<br />
Team Coast Guard, and their<br />
dedication showed. By Wednesday,<br />
the weather had improved to<br />
the point that it was safe to go<br />
back out. In fact, conditions were<br />
perfect for the R&D Team to get
Page 42<br />
Seventh <strong>District</strong> Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
Fall Training & Business Conference<br />
“JUST DO IT”<br />
September 10-13, <strong>2009</strong><br />
This conference will be an ICS “structured event.” The event Command Post located in the Hallway will display updated conference<br />
information. Be sure to register and check out the Command Post display charts.<br />
Thursday, September 10, <strong>2009</strong><br />
(Uniform: Civilian Casual)<br />
0900-1200 EXCOM Meeting Suite 1510<br />
0900-1200 ASC Meeting (closed) Board Room<br />
1300-1630 Registration/DIRAUX Desk Hallway (*Command Post)<br />
1300-1630 Material Center Harborview<br />
1330-1430 ICS Command Staff Mtg. Bayboro *List at Command Post<br />
1400-1600 TABLE TOPS Hallway<br />
1600-1700 Meet the Candidates HTC<br />
1730-2030 Commodore’s Reception Sector St. Pete Windjammer Club<br />
Friday, September 11, <strong>2009</strong><br />
(Uniform: Tropical Blue; Banquet: Dinner Dress White Jacket, Dinner<br />
Dress Blue or Appropriate Civilian Attire.)<br />
0800-1300 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hallway (*Command Post)<br />
0800-0850 DIRAUX Q&A Petersburg Ball Room<br />
0900-1245 Material Center Harborview<br />
0900-0950 DCDR (closed meeting) HTC 3<br />
0900-1200 Spouses’ Social TBA<br />
0900-1100 TABLE TOPS Hallway<br />
0900-0950 First Timers Welcome Petersburg Ball Room<br />
1000- DCDR & EXCOM Mtg. (Closed) HTC 3<br />
0950-1000 Coffee Break Petersburg Hall Way<br />
1000-1050 Directorate Meetings R-Suite 1510; P-Skyway; L-Boardroom<br />
1000-1200 WEST Divisions Host Room Bayboro<br />
1145-1300 Lunch Buffet or menu Hotel Restaurant<br />
1315-1630 Opening Ceremonies/<br />
<strong>District</strong> Board Meeting<br />
Petersburg Ball Room<br />
1630-1700 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hall Way<br />
1700-1745 Jewish Services HTC 1<br />
1800-1900 Commodores’ Reception (Cash Bar ) Grand Bay Function Area<br />
1900 Commodore’s Banquet Grand Bay North Ball Room<br />
Saturday, September 12, <strong>2009</strong><br />
(Uniform: Tropical Blue; Fun Night-Western Wear or Casual Attire)<br />
0730-1300 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hallway *Command Post<br />
0800-1530 Material Center Harborview<br />
0800-0850 AWW/Mumbai St. Pete 1<br />
0800-0950 PS Presentation St. Pete 2<br />
0800-0850 OPS Update St. Pete 3<br />
0800-1150 QEs Meeting (QEs only) HTC 4
Page 43<br />
Sat., Sept. 12, cont.,<br />
0900-0950 State Liaison Presentation St. Pete 1<br />
0900-0950 IS Staff - ADSO/SO/FSOs St. Pete 2<br />
0900-0950 DIRAUX Admin Procedures HTC 3<br />
0900-1600 WEST Division Host Room Bayboro<br />
0950-1000 Coffee Break<br />
1000-1150 SC&E & C-Schools Updates St. Pete 1<br />
1000-1150 CS Presentation St. Pete 2<br />
1000-1050 ATONS St. Pete 3<br />
1000-1050 Leadership in D-7 HTC 3<br />
1100-1130 PDCPA Meeting Grand Bay N Ball Room<br />
1145-1245 PDCPA Luncheon Grand Bay N Ball Room<br />
(CAPT Tim Close, USCG Speaker)<br />
Everyone Welcome!<br />
1145-1300 LUNCH - buffet or menu Restaurant<br />
1300-1600 ICS-210 (pre-register) Demen<br />
1300-1450 PE, PV, & VE Updates St. Pete 1<br />
1300-1650 PA/PB Presentation St. Pete 2<br />
1300-1350 Surface Safety St. Pete 3<br />
1300-1350 TCT Refresher HTC 3<br />
1300-1700 Aviation Meeting HTC 4<br />
1400-1450 OPSEC Brief St. Pete 3<br />
1400-1450 Sexual Harassment HTC 3<br />
1500-1650 QE Program Update St. Pete 3<br />
1650-1730 Roman Catholic Mass HTC 1<br />
1800-1900 Fun Night Reception (Cash Bar) GRAND BAY N Hallway<br />
1900 Fun Night -Western GRAND BAY N Ballroom<br />
Sunday, September 13, <strong>2009</strong><br />
(Uniform: Civilian Casual)<br />
0730-0800 General Protestant Service HTC 1<br />
0730-1130 Travel Order Processing* Demobe Hallway *Command Post<br />
0800-1200 Air and FE Board Meeting St. Pete 3<br />
0800-0900 OPSEC Brief St. Pete 1<br />
0830-1030 MS Office 101/Computer Class Williams<br />
0830-0930 AWW/Mumbai Demen<br />
0830-1130 CPR (pre-register) St. Pete 2<br />
1000-1100 Operations Update St. Pete 1<br />
1100-1200 Safety Program Update St. Pete 1<br />
1030-1130 Conference Review Mtg. *Debrief Demen<br />
Commodore's Open House - Will be held Thursday night at Sector St. Petersburg Club House<br />
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.<br />
Menu will be hamburgers, hot dogs, & Italian sausage with all the<br />
condiments, tea & lemonade.<br />
Everyone is welcome to this FREE event!
<strong>District</strong> Staff Officers<br />
Past <strong>District</strong> 7 Commodores<br />
Prevention Directorate<br />
Henry T. Hayden …..ICS Coordinator/DSO-MS<br />
Richard Metzler…………..……………DSO-MT<br />
James R. Meritt…………………………DSO-PV<br />
Ruth Ann White…………………………DSO-PE<br />
William S. Griswold……………………..DSO-SL<br />
Herbert C. Hanson…..…....……………DSO-VE<br />
Response Directorate<br />
Rodney ―Rocky‖ Reinhold……..………DSO-NS<br />
Donald A. Zinner………………...……..DSO-AV<br />
Joseph Colee, Jr. ……………..………DSO-CM<br />
Jeffrey A. Bronsing ………...………….DSO-OP<br />
Lee A. Bertmann………………………......DFSO<br />
Kevin McConn……………………………..DSSO<br />
Logistics Directorate<br />
Nestor Tacoronte..……………...……...DSO-CS<br />
Susan Z. Hastings …………….…...…...DSO-IS<br />
Thomas A. Loughlin ………….………..DSO-PA<br />
Dorothy J. Riley…. ……………………..DSO-PB<br />
Angela Pomaro .……...…….…….…… DSO-PS<br />
Terry Barth …… …………..……...……DSO-MA<br />
Karen Miller …………………...……….. ADSO-L<br />
Nestor Tacoronte ………………….. Webmaster<br />
Lillian G. GaNun ……………...……….DSO-SR<br />
William F. Everill …………….………….DSO-LP<br />
Antoinette Borman………………….……....D-LL<br />
William Malone ....…………..…………DSO-FN<br />
Gwendolyn S. Leys ……...………….PPDCPA<br />
Karen L. Miller …………...………………Grants<br />
Doreen M. Kordek ………...…………..Historian<br />
Thomas Brickey .…….. <strong>District</strong> Material Center<br />
<strong>District</strong> Administrative Assistants & Aide<br />
Carolyn R. Hooley...................................D-AD<br />
Ronald Goldenberg.................................D-AA<br />
Rosalyn A. Lucash..................................D-AA<br />
COMO Mary Larson..........................Advocate<br />
Antoinette Borman..........................Lay Leader<br />
COMO Peter Fernandez....................Planning<br />
2007-08…………………………....Allen Brown<br />
2005-06…………...………….Peter Fernandez<br />
2003-04 ……..…………..……... Jay Dahlgren<br />
2001-02………...…….…...…...….. Mary Larsen<br />
1999-00………………….……... Helmut Hertle<br />
1997-98…………………….….. E.W. Edgerton<br />
1995-96……………...…. George E. Jeandheur<br />
1993-94……………......…. Joseph E. Norman<br />
1991-92…………………..…… Walter W. Bock<br />
1989-90…………...………. Guy R. Markley, Jr.<br />
1987-88………………………. Rene E. Dubois<br />
1985-86……………….... Robert B. Waggoner<br />
1983-84………………….…… John C. King, Jr.<br />
1981-82……………….… William J. Callerame<br />
1979-80……………………… Bolling Douglas<br />
1977-78…………………...………. James Titus<br />
1975-76……………………….... Newton Baker<br />
1973-74…………….. Lawrence G. Danneman<br />
1971-72……………...…… Dr. Elbert C. Prince<br />
1969-70……………….….. George B.M. Loden<br />
1967-68……………....…….. Ernest A. Baldine<br />
1965-66………….……..…..…….. Roland Birnn<br />
1963-64…………….…...… Miguel A. Colorado<br />
1961-62……………….…..... E. E. Vanderveer<br />
1959-60……………………… Richard L. Smith<br />
1957-58……………….….……. Herbert L. Lutz<br />
1956…………………….… A. Harlow Merryday<br />
1954-55…………………….... Stanley W. Hand<br />
1952-53………………………... N.J.M. McLean<br />
1951-52…………………... Fred T. Youngs, Jr.<br />
1950…………………….... Guersey Curran, Jr.<br />
1948-49…………………... Charley E. Sanford<br />
1946-47……………….…….… W. N. Mansfield<br />
1939-45….….. No DCOs yet, DCPs governed<br />
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators<br />
Ronald Goldenberg …. ASC Sector Charleston<br />
Donald C. Hoge .... ASC Sector St. Petersburg<br />
Robert Funk ……...… ASC Sector Jacksonville<br />
James E. Dennen …….. ASC Sector Key West<br />
Osvaldo M. Catinchi…... ASC Sector San Juan<br />
William V. Tejeiro………….. ASC Sector Miami
HOMESTEAD, Fla.-May 8, <strong>2009</strong>:<br />
Division 6 in the Miami/Dade region<br />
adds a new flotilla to its ranks with<br />
the addition of Flotilla 61 in Homestead,<br />
Florida. Donald Grimsley, the<br />
newly sworn in Flotilla Commander<br />
accepts the flotilla’s charter from<br />
RADM Steve Branham, <strong>District</strong> Commander,<br />
7th <strong>District</strong> and COMO Don<br />
Frasch, <strong>USCGAUX</strong> D7.<br />
Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L, D7<br />
TAMPA, Fla.-May 9, <strong>2009</strong>: Two Auxiliary vessels are diverted<br />
from a routine training mission to assist in a real emergency when<br />
a privately owned 33-foot cabin cruiser caught fire at a popular<br />
recreational area known as Picnic Island in Tampa Bay. Kathleen<br />
Heide with crewmembers Bruce Thornton and Paul Moen on the<br />
All Booked Up from FL 79 in Tampa, Fla. and Coxswain Walter<br />
Wagner with crew members Joanne Wheeler and Sid Maillet on<br />
the Gulf Lady from FL 75, Ruskin, Fla., assisted in maintaining a<br />
safety zone around the vessel while emergency vessels from<br />
MacDill Air Force Marine Security, Tampa Fire Rescue,<br />
USCG Sector St. Petersburg, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and<br />
Hillsborough County Fire-Rescue rushed in to assist the<br />
victims, several of whom sustained life-threatening injuries.<br />
At least one victim was transported by emergency helicopter<br />
to a local area hospital.<br />
Photographs by Joanne Wheeler, FL 75 Ruskin, FL<br />
CHARLESTON, S.C.: From bow to stern,<br />
the Barque Eagle evokes a sense of<br />
pride. Every details is examined, cherished<br />
and photographed as in this image<br />
captured by Charlie McCarty, PDCP 12,<br />
when the Eagle entered Charleston Harbor<br />
for the Tall Ship festival in June <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Back cover photo:<br />
Al Crothers, FC 12-6, and Neal<br />
Cormany, a member of FL 12-6, in Mt.<br />
Pleasant, S.C. stand behind the helm of<br />
the Barque Eagle during the Sunday<br />
morning Auxiliary tour on June 28, <strong>2009</strong><br />
during the Tall Ship Festival<br />
in Charleston Harbor.<br />
Photo by Charlie McCarty, PDCP 12-6.
Homeland Security<br />
U.S. Coast Guard<br />
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary<br />
DSO-PB D7<br />
1630 Wakefield Drive<br />
Brandon, FL 33511-2325<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID<br />
U.S. COAST GUARD<br />
PERMIT NO. G-157<br />
OFFICIAL BUSINESS<br />
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300