46 minute read
From the Bridge-Mar n S. Goodwin, DCAPT-N (e
from BREEZE Winter 2020
(Con nued from page 15) So let us come to the table without complaining and ask our leaders to query the USCG on ways to support their needs. Let us not talk about what we cannot do; instead, what it is we can do. Almost every day I hear some comments by an individual indicating, “I did not join just to sit around, and since there is nothing to do, I am not sure I will stay.” Obviously, the op on is theirs to choose for determining what value the member brings to the organiza on.
No ma er who we are, no ma er our age, no ma er where we come from or what we do, every member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary brings value to our communi es, the Coast Guard and our na on. We must bring our collec ve energy together and be determined that nothing will cause our ship to broach. Just because the storm clouds of a pandemic are on our beam, we will steady the course together. You can look up broach; it is a nau cal term.
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We will get through these mes. As it is said, “It is always darkest before the dawn.” We need to hold one another up and check on each other, including our service members and families. When all is said and done concerning the hazards and seriousness of the mes we face, you will feel great personal sa sfac on that you were there to support missions, which will aff ord new opportuni es requiring our skills, talents and commitment. Be proud of who you are. Be proud of the contribu ons you off er to our unique organiza on and be proud of the na on you serve. We are the “Volunteer Service Organiza on of Choice.” We are the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
There will be a me when you will look back and know, without a doubt, the contribu ons off ered made a diff erence in the lives of those individuals we serve. There will also be a me when and where we all will be able to “Splice the Main Brace.” Another nau cal term.
“The sea will grant each man new hope…as sleep brings dreams of home.”~ Christopher Columbus Ω
Martin S. Goodwin, District Captain-North (e) It is 6:30 on a Saturday morning as I get into my car and prepare to drive to a popular boat ramp about 45 minutes away. I’m going there to meet up with another vessel examiner and set up a vessel safety check station. It’s a beautiful summer day, the type of day that entices boaters to put off whatever other plans they’ve had and spend the day on the water. I know there will be a lot of activity at the ramp, and we’ll be quite busy conducting vessel safety checks.
Alone with my thoughts as I Every Vessel Safety Check is an opportunity to educate boaters. When indrive to the ramp, I begin to specting equipment, make sure you know which items have been recalled or wonder about the role that I have expired. Safety First. (USCG Auxiliary photo from fl icker) play, the role that the Auxiliary as a whole plays, in promoting boating safety. I’m (Con nued on page 17)
(Con nued from page 16) well aware of our eff orts to connect with the boating public and the number of hours our members contribute to the recreational boating safety mission. Indeed, in my leadership positions at both the fl otilla and division levels, I’ve kept careful track of my Auxiliary unit’s performance statistics for program visits, vessel safety checks, public education classes, operations patrols and other RBS eff orts. Th ese statistics are useful in tracking an Auxiliary unit’s performance over time and detailing how diff erent Auxiliary units compare to each other in the RBS mission. Still, they don’t answer the basic question of measuring our direct impact on boating safety. How do we measure the infl uence we have in terms of accidents prevented and lives saved? Is this even measurable?
It’s widely accepted that proving a nega ve is diffi cult, if not impossible. A emp ng to determine the extent that our ac ons infl uence the nonoccurrence of an event, such as a boa ng mishap, in the context of our Recrea onal Boa ng Safety (RBS) eff orts is akin to trying to prove a nega ve. However, we can see our eff orts’ impact if we stop doing them, thereby removing our infl uence. The global pandemic and resul ng Auxiliary standdown have enabled us to do just that. The COVID virus, while terrible in its own right, has provided us the opportunity to see the results when the Auxiliary is unable to perform its missions. It has, in eff ect, allowed us to measure what has previously been considered to be unmeasurable. This year, there has been an increasing trend in boa ng accidents and more signifi cant percentages of the boa ng public not wearing life jackets. While there may be other contribu ng factors infl uencing these results, the simple fact is that recrea onal boa ng safety suff ers when the Auxiliary is unable to do its job. These results show that our RBS eff orts, both individually and collec vely, are signifi cant and have a direct infl uence on boa ng safety.
As I arrive at the ramp, my mind switches gears to the tasks involved with setting up the vessel safety check station. Yet, the renewed sense of purpose I feel is palpable. While I may not know exactly how many accidents I may prevent or how many lives I may save as a result of my eff orts on this day, I do know that my individual actions, and our actions as an organization, make a tremendous diff erence and bring immense value to those we serve.Ω
Operation Extended Hands https://www.cgauxa.org/
A devastating fi re destroyed two Coast Guard homes near Coast Guard Station Cape Hatteras Inlet, N.C. with fatalities and total property loss. The Auxiliary Association asks you as a member of the Coast Guard family to extend your hand to assist those in need. The Auxiliary Association has established OPERATION EXTENDED HANDS to receive your donations. 100% of all donations will go to USCG Cape Hatteras Station to provide assistance to the families aff ected. Our hearts and prayers go to our shipmates and their families. Your help is much needed and appreciated. Make your checks payable to the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association and please write “OP-Extended Hands” on the check
Mail to Coast Guard Auxiliary Association 1301 West First St. Suite E-1 Granite City, IL 62040
(Photo: USCG Auxiliary Public Aff airs)
2019 Florida Fish and Wildlife Boating Educator of the Year
COMO Gary P. Barth
Dan McIntyre, a member of Flo- have produced 1,959 third-grade lla 17-6 Central Brevard, has graduates. McIntyre achieved this been a Coast Guard Auxiliarist since success level while also delivering 2008. He is a veteran who served a full schedule of adult and youth in the Coast Guard Reserve for 42 “About Boa ng Safely” classes. years, re ring in 2000 with the rank During that same period, he taught of Chief Warrant Offi cer, CW04. Dan or facilitated 52 adult classes at 14 was recalled to ac ve duty in 2002 schools resul ng in the gradua on of and served for another 2 ½ years as 619 adults and 1,533 youth graduates a Performance Excellence Consultant under 17. at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He has had an exemplary service record As a result of McIntyre’s dedica on with the Auxiliary and has earned and hard work, the “Boats N’ Kids” numerous awards and promo ons class safety ini a ve has become a as he has moved up the ranks. He District 7 Coast Guard Auxiliary priorwas fi nally allowed to really re re in Dan McIntyre, a member of ity a er the 2019 Na onal Execu ve 2005. Flotilla 17-6 Central Brevard earned the 2020 Florida Fish Board Mee ng. McIntyre is planning to implement a new program with In 2015 McIntyre found his calling and Wildlife Commission ‘Boating Educator of the Year’ instructor ac vi es designed for 6 to when he became fully engaged in award. (USCG Auxiliary photo) 11-year old in groups. The program Recrea onal Boa ng Safety Public will focus on life jackets, dockside Educa on. Mo vated by the increas- safety, boa ng safety, environmental ing number of drowning fatali es among children stewardship and basic emergencies, designed to be in Florida each year, he decided to seek a solu on. taught with a team of two or more instructors. In McIntyre researched child water-related accidents his current posi on as Assistant District Staff Offi and sta s cs and consulted with the Coast Guard cer for Public Educa on, Dan has embarked on an Auxiliary and other organiza ons. He fi nally adopted ambi ous plan to export this class beyond Brevard a syllabus that had been shared by Auxiliary Flo lla to encompass schools throughout the Auxiliary 7th 14-1 Amelia Island. McIntyre then envisioned teach- District Area of Responsibility which includes Floriing children how to be safe in the water, around da, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. boats, and how to respond to water emergencies. Virgin Islands.Ω His goal was to grow more responsible boa ng adults by developing a simple yet impac ul course that would ins ll basic water safety concepts in 9-year old students. That spring, McIntyre partnered with the Brevard County School Board to deliver a unique approach to third-grade elementary school students en tled, “Boats N‘ Kids.”
Since that humble beginning, the Brevard Schools have asked McIntyre to return every year with class sizes averaging 15 to 30 students. From 2015 to 2018, he served over 2,300 volunteer hours as a Recrea onal Boa ng Safety instructor or facilitator. Dan’s work has resulted in the delivery of 120 “Boats N‘ Kids” classes at 31 Brevard County schools that
Boating Educator of the Year
Catherine Heibel, a Charleston Coast Guard Auxiliary member, represents the Coast Guard Academy Admissions Division in a recruiting event on the tarmac during the Air and Space Expo in December 2019, at Charleston Air Force Base. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo provided by Barbara Burchfi eld).
The U.S. Coast Guard honored a local Charleston Coast Guard Auxiliary member for outstanding volunteer service to the Coast Guard Academy Admissions Division based in New London, Connec cut.
Catherine Heibel, a member of Charleston Flo lla 12-8, was commended for performance of duty while assigned as South Carolina coordinator in the Academy Admissions Partner Program from July 2019 to July 2020. The cita on notes that Heibel demonstrated outstanding dedica on for recrui ng and outreach missions to assist many talented young men and women for the Coast Guard Academy. As a member of the na onal volunteer network, Heibel helped to improve and expand student outreach while signifi cantly improving the Academy Admissions program awareness to educators and community leaders in the Charleston area. During the past year, Heibel par cipated in several events represen ng the Coast Guard Academy Admissions program, including college fairs, high school visits, student outreach, congressional events, and appointment presenta ons. Par cipa ng at her own cost, she found crea ve ways to engage interested applicants during an unprecedented global pandemic.
The le er of commenda on applauds her excep onal and noteworthy representa on and contribu ons to a ract highly mo vated candidates for Coast Guard service. The commenda on was signed for the Commandant by M.S. Fredie, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Admissions, USCG Academy. Heibel was commended for her meritorious service as she upheld the highest tradi ons of the United States Coast Guard. Ω
The President’s Volunteer Service Award
In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Par cipa on founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the vital role of volunteers in America’s strength and na onal iden ty. This award honors individuals whose service posi vely impacts communi es in every corner of the na on and inspires those around them to take ac on, too.
Thirteen members of Flo lla 59 Stuart received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their hard work and dedica on to recrea onal boa ng safety in the community. Mar n County Commissioner Edward Ciampi presented the award separately to each Auxiliarist during a private ceremony at the USCG Auxiliary building in Sandsprit Park on Thursday evening, October 8, 2020.
Ac ng as a force mul plier for the United States Coast Guard, Flo lla 59, Stuart is ac ve in search and rescue, public educa on, vessel safety examina ons, and radio watchstanding. Our members provide the valuable tools necessary for the public to stay safe on the water. Ω
Reprinted from October 2020 issue of “Crossroads Currents,” newsle er for Flo lla 59 Stuart, R. Michael Stringer, editor. Photos: Flo lla 59 archive photographs.
Karen L. Miller, Division Chief, Public Education Directorate
Photos: Zoom shots of Public Education Class run by Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater. Each attendee granted permission.
With the advent of COVID-19 and the almost complete shutdown of the CG Auxiliary in March, fl o llas across the country could not fulfi ll their Recrea onal Boa ng Safety missions. One of the most important of those missions is Public Educa on. We saw classes canceled mid-stream and all future classes canceled for the safety of the instructors, aides and students. This shutdown also caused a signifi cant hiccup in the fl o lla’s ability to bring in income to cover its essen al expenses.
Almost immediately, the Na onal Public Educa on Directorate contacted the Na onal Associa on of State Boa ng Law Administrators (NASBLA) to obtain permission for the CG Auxiliary fl o llas to conduct classes via the Internet. A er much nego a on, discussion, paperwork and follow-up, NASBLA and most individual states approved the online proposal. There are a few hold-outs, but all of District 7 states and Puerto Rico have received approval.
As soon as the “all-clear” was announced, several fl o llas in District 7 began the process of announcing their new, online videoconferencing classes and had great success in picking up students from pent-up demand and even from classes that were stopped in March midway through. This represented hundreds of students enjoying the benefi t of learning boa ng safety from CG Auxiliary instructors in the comfort of their homes. The CG Auxiliary was back in ac on!
To assist the other fl o llas in overcoming some reluctance they may have encountered from their leadership and/or instructors, a whole series of interac ve workshops were developed. These included how to decide on a pla orm to off er the classes, register and collect course fees; step-by-step procedures to get well-prac ced and professional in an online environment, etc. Many of these are also in PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat format to be used as a reference guide for the Public Educa on staff offi cer and elected bridge members and in(Con nued on page 22) BREEZE Issue 2 2020 Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary 21
(Con nued from page 21)
structors. (See: HTTP://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=E-DEPT&category=virtual-pe-classes for these workshops.)
These workshops succeeded in bringing many more fl o llas into the world of virtual classes. Now they can fulfi ll the RBS mission and bring in a signifi cant income to the fl o lla. On Aug. 31, under the tutelage of Dewey Jackson, District Directorate Chief for Preven on and Harry Tipper, District Staff Offi cer for Public Educa on, and assistance from Hortensia now implemen ng virtual classes in their fl o llas. while COVID-19 is s ll rampant, take advantage of
Sampedro, SO-MT 6, we conducted a Kick-Star ng shop. Over 40 members of the district a ended the evening videoconferencing session. Several a endees received the material enthusias cally and are
If your fl o lla hasn’t go en on the virtual Public Educa on class bandwagon yet, ask yourself, why not? With face-to-face classes not even on the horizon Your Virtual PE Class via Videoconferencing work-
the material available to you and start your venture. If you have ques ons or concerns, contact Harry Tipper, DSO-PE, via your chain or contact the author or Hortensia Sampedro (all info in the AuxDirectory), and they’ll do everything they can to help you get your fl o lla up and running with Public Educa on off erings. Ω
You Can Help!
COMO Judith Hudson, IPDCO
All of us want to make our earthly environment safer and be er – we want to protect it. Also, we need to educate and remind others how all of us can care for our precious asset – our planet. Let’s renew our eff orts and communicate with neighbors, co-workers, and friends about ac ons all of us can take to help with the eff ort.
Here are some things that the World Wildlife Fund recommends:
1. Raise the thermostat even one or two degrees – more when you are not at home. When the thermostat needs to be lowered to save on energy, put on a sweater in the winter. Reducing the use of fossil fuels is an excellent way to help save the environment.
2. Put one foot in front of the other - start walking more and driving less. Use your bicycle, take the bus or the train instead of driving, when appropriate. Think about buying an electric car when the me comes to do that. Plan your errand runs to reduce the number of trips; combining reasons for ge ng in the car.
More exercise and fewer trips is a win-win.
3. Go for seconds. Make reuse and recycle part of your conscious thinking about everything. Use things for the third me or for as long as you can. Plas c bags, padded envelopes, paper towels, newspapers, other household goods, furniture, toys, etc. can all be used for other purposes and be produc ve repeats.
4. Watch your waste. Items you may be throwing away can contaminate the soil and water for thousands or even millions of years. Check with your community resources to see if you have special procedures or disposal loca ons for things like oil and ba eries. Ink cartridges usually can be recycled. Many of the new super-effi cient light bulbs contain mercury, so proper disposal is crucial. Check with the store where you bought them.
(Con nued on page 23)
You Can Help!
(Con nued from page 22) 5. Paper, not plas c. Bring your cloth bags or paper bags with you to the grocery store. We desperately need to reduce the 350 plas c bags the average person uses each year. As you know, plas c bags can easily end up in the oceans, rivers and bays, killing fi sh and mammals.
6. BYOB. Last year Americans went through about 50 billion water bo les. Refi ll your bo les. Buy a fi lter for your home tap water. Much of the bo led water sold today is just fi ltered water.
7. Flip ‘em off . Use lights only in the rooms you are in. Otherwise, turn them off .
8. Plant a tree, bush, hedge or fl owers. They are good for the soil, good for the birds, good for climate change, and good for the air you are breathing.
9. Sign off . If you are ge ng catalogs from companies you don’t buy from, call them to get removed from their mailing list.
10. Support environmental organiza ons. Volunteer, give dona ons and keep informed on how you can support environmental groups, causes and organiza ons.
Thank you for improving our way of life!
Photo: Bill Oxford, Unsplash, license free
Award Presentation in the age of COVID: Judi Bidwick (center) displays the Auxiliary Achievement Medal which accompanied the District 7 COMO Daniel Maxim Award for Excellence in Education presented Oct. 5, 2020. She is fl anked by Toni Borman, current Division 8 Commander and District Captain-West (e) and Tom Bamford, current District Captain-West. (United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photograph.)
Based on feedback from districts reques ng addi onal incen ves and recogni on for the best instructors, the Educa on Directorate developed a pres gious na onal level award to recognize the best-of-the-best.
This year, District 7 selected Julia (Judi) Bidwick, a member of Flo lla 86 Venice, as their nominee for the na onal COMO Daniel Maxim Award for Excellence in Educa on for her outstanding work as an instructor in both member training and public educa on.
Bidwick came to Venice over 20 years ago where she took the Boa ng Skills and Seamanship course. She was impressed with the members’ dedica on and commitment to the core values of the USCG Auxiliary. She decided to join, recognizing that she possessed unique skills that could prove benefi cial to the Coast Guard.
Bidwick was re red from the Montgomery County School System in Maryland. She served as an elementary school teacher, a secondary school teacher, a gi ed and talented teacher, department head, curriculum developer, elementary principal, and fi nally middle school principal un l she re red a er 33 years of service.
The Auxiliary soon became Bidwick’s primary focus.
(Con nued on page 25)
Award for Excellence in Educa on over the years. Recently she met with the younger (Con nued from page 24) children and parents in the local 4-H Club for two are outstanding and are recogout the day. They reached out to the Elks, who Bidwick has taught numerous community groups sessions, the fi rst focusing on water safety and the She immediately became cer fi ed and began teach- second on environmental issues. At the conclusion, ing public educa on classes. She served as the Public Bidwick awarded the children a Panda Cer fi cate. Aff airs Offi cer before taking on Public Educa on. The club leader was so impressed that she obtained Meanwhile, she worked toward Air Observer, Oper- permission from her school principal for Bidwick to a onal Auxiliarist, coxswain and crew cer fi ca on. meet with a group of 80 second-graders to show Inky In just a few years, Bidwick a ained all of her cer - the Whale and follow it with discussion. A short me fi ca ons and was recognized as the Auxiliarist of the later, Epiphany Cathedral School invited Bidwick to Year. meet with small upper elementary school children Bidwick’s accomplishments went far beyond those. that, she met with pre-school children to talk about She taught classes for the division and worked on water safety. The children put on life jackets and curriculum development at the district and na onal, enacted how to be safe around water. She met with holding Branch Chief offi ces at the na onal level lev- 10th graders at the local high school to give an overels. Back at the fl o lla, she taught and coordinated view of boa ng safety and the state laws. Bidwick member training courses while holding Publica ons loves opportuni es like these to and Public Educa on Offi cer work with children and get back posi ons. Division 8 members into schools whenever possible. view Bidwick as a valuable asset, These are just a few recent public and they give her praise for the educa on programs with children Risk Management classes. By the to illustrate what goes on all the way, her monthly newsle ers me. nized as such by members up The list of Bidwick’s teaching the chain of leadership. Bidwick eff orts is numerous. She has spends countless hours each provided programs or has spomonth edi ng, a aching photos, ken with youth sailing groups, and researching relevant ar - lady sailors, civic associa ons, cles for inclusion in each issue. local yacht clubs, Captains Clubs, Throughout her career, Bidwick service clubs, etc. She is the has rarely had any member of D7 COMO Daniel Maxim Award for best in every way, one of the her fl o lla who logged more Excellence in Education most posi ve and helpful persons hours. Borman has ever met. UnquesJudi Bidwick and author Toni Borman are friends. recognized. Over the years, she has done it all, crew, They are both teachers and have worked together coxswain, proctor, mentor, food services worker, to plan projects and, at mes, team teach. Working Flo lla Commander, what have you. Bidwick’s dedwith the Girl Scouts, they developed a water safety ica on is a model for everyone, as witnessed by her program for over 100 girls, where small groups met fl o lla members, class members, and children who Auxiliarists at study sta ons as they rotated through- have worked with her. graciously allowed them to use their Lodge for the Judi Bidwick has received many accolades over the program. Bidwick and Borman worked together that years and, together with her husband, Al Bidwick, day. The Scout leaders were extremely apprecia ve has been awarded thirteen Na onal Public Aff airs of their eff orts. On another occasion, they worked Photography awards. In receiving the Commodore together at an elementary school focusing on envi- Daniel Maxim Award, Judi Bidwick has reached a pinronmental educa on. nacle of achievements in both member training and to speak about careers in the Coast Guard. Following onably, Bidwick is a superb teacher, universally so public educa on. Ω
A Conversation with Commodore Gary Barth
R. Michael Stringer
The image of corpsman Gary Barth under fi re, red in 1994. He has always loved teaching, so a er feverishly tending the wounded, and saving lives re rement, he became a high school teacher. He paints a diff erent picture than his current guise as taught a Criminal Jus ce class to high school juniors mild-mannered USCG Auxiliary District Commodore. and seniors. His teaching partner, also a re red cop, some don’t even remember the Gulf War. You’ve got was in the USCG Auxiliary. That is how Barth became In 1965, Gary Barth was a U.S. Navy hospital corps- an Auxiliarist in Columbus, Ohio. He laughed when man a ached to a Marine Infantry unit par cipa ng he told me, “I never bought a uniform un l I moved in an Arc c Circle exercise. This 30-day cold-weather to Florida. At that me, the fl o lla in Columbus was training took place 250 miles north of the Arc c Cir- more of a social and fellowship gathering place.”cle in Norway. The ba alion slept in tents on the ice and snow in temperatures of 50 degrees below zero. Gary Barth and his wife, Terry, moved to Florida, and The purpose of the exercise was to protect Norway he worked as a Park Ranger in Saint Lucie County for from Russia should they nine months. His work a ack. Wearing all white took him past the USCG gear and either snowshoes Auxiliary Flo lla 58 in or skis, they moved camp Fort Pierce. One day he every night at midnight. stopped by to talk with A er spending thirty days on them and spent the next the exercise, the ba alion 17 years as a member received three-day liberty. of that fl o lla. Unhappy Unfortunately, there was with his Park Ranger a large An -Vietnam War job, Gary became an ESE protest in Oslo, which soured assistant (Excep onal their liberty. Student Educa on). He A er his Arc c Circle assign- with learning disabili es ment, Barth’s ba alion was for seven years at Sebas-next deployed to Panama an High School. Living for jungle warfare training. in Sebas an, Florida, it A revolu on to overthrow made sense to transthe government in Santo fer to Flo lla 56, Vero Domingo, Dominican Repub- Beach/Sebas an, where lic, broke out. The ba alion COMO Barth and his wife of Marines was ordered to are currently members. intervene. The a er-ac on report references 4-KIA (killed in ac on) and 27-WIA Gary Barth serving as an offi cer of the Columbus Division of Police. Terry Barth was a member of the force reserve unit. Photo from Facebook page. He published the Flo lla 58 Ft. Pierce newsle er for many years and was (wounded in ac on) in the the Assistant District fi rst two days of the confl ict. Staff Offi cer-Publica ons “Most kids today don’t know about Vietnam, and (ADSO-PB) for seven years. worked with students to know your history before you know what’s hap- Commodore Barth genuinely likes people, and he pening in front of you, so you don’t repeat some of enjoys being part of the public educa on program. “I the same things,” he said. am very fortunate to have the support of our members,” he said. “One of the be er accomplishments A er his me in the military, Barth worked 27 years with the Columbus Division of Police before he re- (Con nued on page 27)
A Conversa on with COMO Barth
(Con nued from page 26) of the Auxiliary is offi cially recognizing the hard work of our members. Awards are o en the only payment our members receive, and without our members and their support, we aren’t an organiza on.”
“Moving forward, recruitment and reten on are two of the biggest challenges the Auxiliary faces. Last year, we did a good job with recruitment, but things have slowed down with the COVID pandemic. Ge ng members to step-up for leadership posi ons is another challenge. Also, going out of the chain of leadership can be a serious problem. Members must follow the chain of leadership when addressing issues. It is embarrassing when the Commandant of the Coast Guard asks, ‘Why is one of your Auxiliarists wri ng a congressman’?”
“District 7 is opening ac vi es more than many of the other districts. We can now do one-on-one proctored tests. Vessel examiners can go out with a trainee to get new examiners qualifi ed. The same goes for program visitors. Avia on missions (AUXAIR) have opened up, and surface patrols are now allowed if requested by the Coast Guard,” he explained. With the precau ons in place, District 7 is
Photos of COMO Gary P. Barth and his wife and fellow Auxiliary member, Terry Barth from COMO Barth’s Facebook page.
learning to func on within this new normal.Ω
Pat McMenamin, District 7 Chief of staff and District Commodore elect, with COMO Gary P. Barth at the Auxiliary Na onal Training Conference in 2019. (USCG Auxiliary photograph)
Commodore Gary Barth elected DNACO-E
Barbara Burchfi eld, USCG Auxiliary PA3
COMO Gary Barth is sworn in as DNACO at District 7 Headquarters in Miami, Sept. 23, 2020. The event was held at the offi ce of Rear Admiral Eric Jones. Capt. Jeff rey Randall, District 7 Chief of Staff , read the prologue and Rear Admiral Eric Jones swore in COMO Barth as a Deputy National Commodore. COMO Barth was also presented with the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal by Commander John Briggs, Director of Auxiliary. He was “frocked” by his wife, Terry Barth, National Executive Assistant to National Commodore Larry King. (United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo)
District 7 Commodore Gary Barth was elected Deputy Na onal Commodore-East (DNACO-E) Saturday, Aug. 22, in the fi rst-ever online elec on for Auxiliary na onal posi ons. The elec on was hosted and chaired by Auxiliary Na onal Commodore Larry King and a ended by U.S. Coast Guard Captain Sco Johnson, Chief Director of the Auxiliary.
The East region covers fi ve districts in the Atlan c Eastern Seaboard area, north from Maine to the southern-most unit in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The two-year term of duty begins Nov. 1, and oversees the programs and missions involving more than 12,500 members, nearly half of the en re auxiliary volunteer workforce.
NACO Larry King stated, “The role of an elected Deputy Na onal Commodore (DNACO) is misunderstood and unappreciated by many, but it is without ques on, a vital posi on. DNACOs func on as tutors for District Commodores (DCO) in their geographic area, which can be a me-consuming responsibility since all new DCOs come into offi ce within two months of a DNACO taking offi ce.
“However, each elected DNACO is also assigned oversight of a signifi cant por on of na onal staff . (Con nued on page 29)
COMO Gary Barth elected DNACO-E
(Con nued from page 28) That is a me-consuming chore for which there is no pre-acceptance training program. To have complete responsibility for Auxiliary Opera ons, Recrea onal Boa ng Safety, or Mission Support disciplines is a challenging responsibility that requires a new DNACO to do a lot of research and study to be eff ec ve and demands excellent personal me management. If a DNACO is not organized in his/her daily rou nes, they can become overwhelmed with the responsibility.
“An elected DNACO can exert great infl uence over the workings of the en re Auxiliary and is a cri cal accountability posi on, preparing one to move into the posi on of Na onal Commodore eventually. After I got over the ini al shock of all the new responsibili es I had been assigned, I found the posi on of DNACO to be as personally rewarding as any posi on to which I was ever elected.”
In addi on to his na onal elected posi on responsibili es, COMO Barth will also oversee the all-important Recrea onal Boa ng Safety (RBS) directorate, one of the primary ini a ves tasked to the Auxiliary by the Coast Guard. As an ardent advocate of boa ng safety, COMO Barth said, “During the current COVID restric ons this year, recrea onal boa ng and on-water ac vi es have signifi cantly increased in all categories of power and sailboats and all types of human-powered watercra . Unfortunately, there is also an increase in boa ng accidents, par cularly in the paddlesports category. The Coast Guard Auxiliary wants to reduce those accidents, loss of life, and property through our RBS educa onal and safety programs. I am excited to be a part of the dynamic RBS outreach team across the Atlan c Eastern Seaboard.”
COMO Barth has been a member of the Auxiliary since 1998, volunteering more than 35,700 hours in his 22 years of service. He has held many elected and appointed leadership posi ons. Over the years, Barth has seen and been a part of the Auxiliary’s expansion and progress as it adapts to increased missions and performance requirements by the Coast Guard.
He con nues to support his local Sebas an fl o lla as Informa on Services Offi cer. He maintains earned qualifi ca ons and competencies as a boat crew member, instructor, vessel examiner, aids to naviga on verifi er, and recrea onal boa ng safety program visitor. Ω
For more assistance or for more information call 1.800.881.2462 or visit www.CGMAHQ.org/locations to fi nd your local representative.
To donate visit https://www.cgmahq.org/give
AUXDATA II Is Here John Robbins, Division 7 Staff Offi cer-Information Services
Photo by Myriam Jessier on Unsplash, royalty free to use. Edited for illustrative purposes by Dorothy J. Riley
Note: The author serves as Staff Offi cer-Informa on Services Division 7 and the ar cle is published here because it contains a lot of useful informa on. While Mr. Robbins would be pleased to off er his assistance, please observe the chain of leadership and contact your Flo lla Staff Offi cer or Division Staff Offi cer-Informa on Services fi rst with your ques ons.
General Informa on
The new database to record all Auxiliary ac vi es, AUXDATA II, was rolled out in April, and as expected with any new system, there have already been numerous changes. If you have any problems logging into the system, let me know. Once you get your password, you should be ready to go; however, the system uses a 2-factor authen ca on each me you sign in. You can either have it send you a one- me passcode by email each me, or you can download the Salesforce Authen cator app that con nually generates temporary codes for you to use. Emails to my Gmail account usually take only a few seconds to arrive on my iPhone.
Entering Ac vi es
The system was designed so that all members could enter their regular ac vi es as normally submi ed on electronic forms like the 7029 WEBFORM - Member Ac vity Log, 7030 - Mission Ac vity Report, 7038 - Recrea onal Vessel Examina on Ac vity Report, and 7046 - RBS Visita on Report. Early versions of the so ware did not check for correct and complete entry, and the district quickly ended up with a list of over 1,500 ac vity logs that had errors such as no member listed for the ac vity, no unit listed, wrong mission codes, etc. Updates to the system that aff ect how ac vi es are entered and approved con nue to be made and are likely to con nue through the end (Con nued on page 31)
AUXDATA II is Here
(Con nued from page 30) of this year. Therefore, for Division 7, I have made the following recommenda ons: (Many divisions throughout the Auxiliary are following these as well.)
• Con nue to submit the electronic forms for your ac vi es. The 7029 webform and the other
E-forms should con nue to be available. If there is an issue with the electronic submission of a form, save it as a PDF and a ach it to an email to your Flo lla Staff Offi cer-Informa on Services (FSO-IS).
• Do not a empt to make any entries directly into
AUXDATA II un l you have been trained on how to fi ll in and submit the form correctly. For anyone who desires instruc on on how to do this, I off er Zoom training sessions, either as a group or 1-on-1 for those with special requirements. Send me an email if you are interested in training.
Core Training course comple ons have to be entered by an IS staff offi cer who has completed AUX-10, the AUXDATA training school. Those should be submi ed using the Self A esta on form with Version 12JAN19 at the bo om. IS courses and other special courses s ll have to be submi ed to DIRAUX via the D7 Help Desk. Members can do that themselves or send the comple on cer fi cates to their FSO-IS or to me for submi al.
AUXDATA II Repor ng
The new system off ers a wide variety of report op ons. Many reports are designed to duplicate the reports you are used to ge ng from AUXDATA or AUXINFO. Na onal IS staff uses the list of reports in the D7 AUXINFO Quick Access website to design more reports that should be available soon. There are two reports that were quite useful that will not be available in their past form: the color-coded Training Management Report (TMR) that showed the training status of all members in a fl o lla, and the Unit Summary Data (USD) report that showed all unit ac vi es in the various mission areas for a calendar year. All reports in AUXDATA II can be exported in a forma ed Excel fi le that can be further manipulated, but the new TMR is not color-coded and is more diffi cult to read than the old one. The USD, the reports I use to determine division awards each year, will not be available in a single report, but reports for each mission area will have to be run separately. Those reports are s ll in development.
The so ware is supposed to allow for the sharing of reports, so someone can create a report then share it with others; however, that func on does not yet work in our system. If any division or fl o lla offi cer needs a specifi c report, I can run that report for their unit if it exists or create a new report to meet their need. One report I created lists the emergency contacts for each member along with their contact informa on. With us being in the middle of the hurricane season, that type of report could be par cularly useful. If anyone would like to learn how to modify exis ng reports for their unit or design something new, I also off er Zoom sessions for that. I can either share my screen with you and show you what to do, or have you share your screen, and I walk you through the process so you will have the report available in your folder.
AUXDATA II is here, and we will have to learn how to use its capabili es best and get past its limita ons.Ω
More AUXDATA II links and resources:
wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=IT-GROUP&category=auxdata-ii
AUXDATA II Help Desk / Service Requests. HTTP:// wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=IT-GROUP&category=training-resources
Ge ng Started with AUXDATA II - USCG Aux
wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=IT-GROUP&category=ge ng-started
Video for DIRAUX Users. Crea ng a Member and Adding them to the Community. Links to User Guides: Auxiliary Member User Guide v1.3 (PPTX with links)
AUXDATA II Training Resources - USCG Aux
wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=IT-GROUP&category=training-resources
Nautical Originals
Geri Daley, Vice Commander Flo lla 98 Charlo e Harbor
Reprinted with edits from July/Aug. 2020 edi on of HARBOR LIGHT, the newsle er of Flo lla 98 Charlo e Harbor, Virginia Bryant, editor.
SLUSH FUND: Unregulated funds o en used for illicit purposes. Originally — salted meat cooked onboard a ship.
BITTER END: Last extremity, however painful or calamitous. On a ship, the word “Bi er” is used to turn the anchoring line around the bi s or posts fi xed on the deck for securing lines.
OFFING: Near or foreseeable future. The nau cal term refers to the part of the open sea in sight of, but a safe distance from shore refers to a posi on or course near but safely clear of land.
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND: Drunk. In the 19th century, sheets were not on your bed. Sheets referred to ropes and chains that are attached to the lower corner of ship sails. If you were on a three sailed vessel and all three sheets are loose in the wind, the ship would wallow about uncontrollably, much like a staggering drunk. Slightly psy was “one sheet to the wind.”
PIPE DOWN: Stop talking or making noise. Refers to a Boatswain pipe or whistle to summon crew or relay orders— a piping. Piped to a meal or to dismiss the crew, the pipe is sounded. Upon the command to “pipe down,” the crew will leave and all will be quiet.
BY AND LARGE: on the whole or overall Nau cal term is the ship’s ability to sail well toward and away from the wind ‘BY’ means near or at hand, and ‘LARGE’ means with the wind or the quarter.
CABOOSE: Freight train car a ached to the end or rear of a train, used mainly by the crew. Refers to a ship’s galley or deckhouse where cooking is done. Origins probably Dutch word “Kabuis,” derived from middle low German “Kabuse.”
HEAD: Toilet. Refers to the carved head on sailing ships, located at the bow where the fi gurehead was a ached to the hull. It was where the sailors went to relieve themselves, so they were going to the head.
ABOVE BOARD: Honest and forthright. Pirates would masquerade as honest merchants. But as they approached an unsuspec ng ship, the pirate crew was hiding below the boards. Ω
I am anything but bored, how about you? With all this spare me during COVID restric ons, I’ve been able to reorganize my brochures, supplies and even my offi ce. Researching area businesses in the newspaper and online have brought in new Program Partners. And learning the new AUXDATA II (aka XDATA II (aka AD2) system has been interes ng, challenging and halleng gin ng g a an nd rewarding (when I fi nally get it to do what I want). o wha at I wa want n ) ).
ANSC SUPPLIES – Get them while they’re hot! hey ye ’ ’r re e h hot t! !
Be prepared with new stock. The Auxiliary Na onal ux xi ili iar ary y Na aN o on nal a Supply Center advises two shipments of literature ts s of of lit i era atu ur re e that have been received in the warehouse. You eh hou ous se e. Y Yo ou can request supplies and literature from your FSOfrom m you our FS SF OOMA and have them delivered right at your door. It t yo our ur do oo or r. . It I doesn’t get any be er than that.
ANSC#3000 - Pamphlet, Vessel Safety Check “Boat Responsibly” - 125,280 copies
ANSC#4015 - Sammy The Sea O er Coloring Books – 60,000 copies
See the latest ANSC catalog (June 2020) here: https:// www.uscg.mil/Portals/0/ OurOrganization/auxiliary/ publications/misc/DCAT.pdf
Welcome Aboard!
This year we have 29 newly gram Visitors in District 7. We’re so glad you’ve joined our Team. A big shoutout for all those who help with assistance to our teammates – thank you!
7046
There’s a lot of talk about remember – you can s ll use Form 7046 to report your program visits!
USCG Boa ng Safety Circular – Fall 2020
The Coast Guard Offi ce of Boa ng Safety just recles on naviga on sidelights and a study to improve cl c es e on naviga the shallow dra water ATON system. Share this th the sh hs al allow dr with your Vessel Examiners, boat opera ons and wi ith ht yo ou ur r Ve V ss program partners. pr prog go ra ar m pa ap r rtn
By the Numbers – 2020 year to date By yB the he Num umb be e
Okay, it’s been a trying year, to say the least. You Ok Oka ay, it’s bee een might be interested in knowing that District 7 m mi ig ght be e in nt te ere Program Visitors performed nearly 35% of all visits P Pr ro ogra am Vi Vis sito na onally. What a great team!!! Thanks for doing na a on no al ally yl . W your part. Ωyo oy u ur r pa art. Ω
cer fi ed or recer fi ed Protraining, qualifi ca ons, and
Yes, you can s ll use Form
AUXDATA II these days, but leased the fall 2020 Boa ng Safety Circular with ar -
Words from the Editor
Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB 7
Some of this is a repeat from my message last issue but some things bear repea ng.
During this cri cal me we must stay engaged with the Auxiliary and with each other, and newsle ers are a great way to do that. At the fl o lla level, let your fellow members know what you are doing to fi ll your me. Are you taking Auxiliary courses? Have you learned something new? It ma ers not that it is Auxiliary related. Sharing with our fellow members keeps us connected to each other. Send a photo to the BREEZE.
Have you read a great book? You need not write a full book review. Simply off er your impression of the book and say why you liked it or did not like it. Write a review or brief paragraph about the book and send it to the BREEZE.
Not all new skills are Auxiliary qualifi ca ons or courses. Maybe you taught yourself how to crochet or embroider. You may not be aware of this, but after both World Wars I and II, veterans recupera ng in veteran hospitals were taught how to crochet, so do not let your gender stand in the way of “fessing up.” (I happen to have some beau ful pieces made by a World War I veteran.)
Maybe you are brushing up on your photographic skills while on your morning walks or learning how to paint. Some of you may be learning how to cook for the fi rst me while others are becoming a gourmet chef.
How you keep yourself busy is not as crucial as maintaining our connec ons with each other and our commitment to the Auxiliary- and remember to share with your unit newsle er and the BREEZE.
This, by the way, is my last issue as editor of BREEZE. R. Michael Stringer from Flo lla 59 Stuart will step in next year. He is quite talented and I have no doubt that you will enjoy his work. Please make his job easier and submit your photographs and ar cles for publica on. I wish him the best! Ω
Reminder to all users of social media:
Members of the public are more likely to see our social media posts than see our newsle ers. Newsle ers are typically internal documents while social media are public. For this reason, it is cri cal to never post photographs of members of the Auxiliary not wearing the uniform correctly. Before taking that photograph, do a visual check of every member. Are they wearing refl ec ve sunglasses? Do they have pens in their pockets, keys hanging from their belts or things hanging from their necks? Is everyone wearing the same uniform?
Take correc ve measures. Ask the members to remove the discrepant item. If the discrepancy cannot be readily remedied, ask that member to step out of the frame. While we want to give everyone credit for their eff orts, when someone should not be included in the photograph, you can add the text, “also par cipa ng but not shown was -.”
Auxiliary Social Media
Auxiliary social media pages are a good source of informa on and ideas as well as a great way to spread the recrea onal boa ng safely message and recruit new members. But…yes, there is a caveat… to help spread the boa ng safely message you must do three things:
1. LIKE the page so that its posts appear in your newsfeed.
2. LIKE posts that appeal to you, and
3. SHARE these posts on your page so that your friends can see these messages.
Everyone has their own newsfeed so your friends do not see the contents of yours unless you SHARE on your meline.
Spreading the word is not all that diffi cult. LIKE and SHARE!
United Staes Coast Guard Auxiliary
Seventh District
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/uscgauxiliary/
While you are online, check out all of the new features on the District 7 Web page. Between the links on the sidebar and the ones within the table, it could not be any easier to fi nd what you need!
h p://www.uscga-district-7.org/
U.S.C.G Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecreationalBoatingSafety/
Please remember to LIKE and SHARE to help spread the boating safely message!
