A Wedding at the Auxiliary National Conference

The ties that bind us: A Wedding at the Auxiliary National Conference

By Diane Riggan, ADSO-PA (SECMIA)

When was the last time you attended an Auxiliary conference? Maybe it was your district or National Conference? Do you remember anything special about it? Maybe you remember seeing friends, attending seminars, or the awards presented. In my 17 years of attending conferences, I learned that I can still be surprised. You never know whom you will meet or what you will see at these conferences. On one occasion penguins walked into the formal dinner at the 7th District conference in South Florida without skipping a beat. Rear Admiral Steve Branham (ret), then District 7 Commander, United States Coast Guard, introduced the cute flightless birds. This year there were no penguins at the National Conference in Orlando, Florida, although something unique happened: a wedding. Yes, that is right, a wedding. As Auxiliary and active-duty members mingled in the reception area quietly off to one side, National Commodore Alex Malewski and National Commodore-elect Gus Formato stood along with a small gathering. Soon everyone in attendance quieted down as they found themselves guests at the wedding of Auxiliary member Robert Fabich and his longtime partner, Alexis Pawlick. The official wedding party included Auxiliary chaplain Reverend Philip Poole as officiant; witnesses were Commodore Gary Barth and his wife Mrs. Terry Barth, executive assistant to the National Commodore. “Ring-bearers” were Commodores Malewski and Formato and Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, was the guest of honor. Admiral Fagan is the first female to wear four stars and to command the Coast Guard in its more than 100-year history . Commodore Malewski told those in attendance, “This is not going to be a regular thing. Only when there has been no national conference in three years due to a worldwide pandemic. If we see that again, then we will talk.”

Much coordination was required between the Chief Directors Office at Coast Guard Headquarters, the Auxiliary National Commodore, and Vice National Commodore as

ORLANDO, Fla.—Mr. Robert Fabich Sr.and his bride, Ms. Alexis Pawlick-Fabich at the National Conference Aug. 20 in Orlando. USCG Auxiliary photo by Robin Priestly

ORLANDO, Fla. —Waiting for dinner to be served at the National Conference August 20. From left are Terry Barth, Robert Fabich Sr., Alexis Pawlick , and Commodore Gary Barth . USCG Auxiliary photoby R. Michael Stringer

well as the staff for the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The responsibility for making all that communication work fell to Mrs. Terry Barth who said, “Commodore Malewski supported the idea. He thought something nice should be part of this conference as we have not gathered in years.” The groom, Mr. Robert Fabich Sr., joined the Auxiliary in 2009, and his list of accomplishments is quite lengthy. In 2019 he was named District 7 Auxiliarist of the Year. Currently, he serves as the Aide to National Commodore Alex Malewski and the Aide to Gary Barth, Deputy National Commodore for Recreational Boating Safety. The bride, Ms. Alexis Pawlick is very accomplished in her own right. While she has her full-time job as a professor of English at South University, she also is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author with 31 published books. Many Auxiliary members in District 7 know Mrs. Fabich from assisting Bob in past years with the District 7 store. Alexis and Bob have embraced the task of transporting, setting up, and managing the store at the conferences.

Auxiliary and Coast Guard members from every district in the nation come together at a National Conference. While the wedding added a little sparkle to this year’s conference, the focus is on C oast Guard and Auxiliary business and training. We trust our members w ill not plan personal ceremonies and events at future c onferences. Ω