Breeze
District 7 • United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
COVID-19: Not the “ROUND TUIT” we wanted, but the one we got!
Tips for how to take advantage of our time at home.
Issue 1, 2020
In this issue...
WHAT’S INSIDE....
(Click on the tle to read the ar cle. Click on the Auxiliary logo at the bo om of each page to return to this page.)
Page 19
From the Helm: Commodore Gary Barth
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From the Helm: Pat McMenamin, District Chief of Staff
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COVID-19: Tips for how to take advantage of our me at home
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Share facts about COVID-19
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Na onal Safe Boa ng Week May 16-22, 2020
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Planning your NSBW events during the COVID-19 pandemic
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COVID-19 Cleaning and Storing Your Life Jacket
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COVID-19 Awareness Training Course
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COVID-19: Making Face Masks for Coast Guard Ac ve Duty
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COVID-19 Na onal Safe Boa ng Campaign
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Flo lla 17-6 Central Brevard Welcomes Favored “Snowbird” Visitors
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Introducing Team North by John Holmes, District Captain-North
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Division 11 Member Training Classes by Karen Miller, SO-MT 11
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Award Follows Member Across District 7 By Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB
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Social Distancing When Boa ng
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Pan Pan! Pan Pan! Pan Pan!
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Propeller Club, Port of Tampa Recognizes U.S. Coast Guard
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Heaving a Line by George Papabeis, FSO-PA FL 74
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Chronicles of a Newly Elected District Captain: The First Hundred Days By Robert Sherman, District Captain-East
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Do you know “WHY?” By Tom Bamford, District Captain-West
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United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Diversity Directorate: First Book Program
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Words from the Editor by Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB
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Use Social Media to Help Spread the Boa ng Safely Message
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COVID-19 Let’s Stay Engaged!
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Coast Guard Mutual Aid
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stay at home! wash your hands! stay safe! stay engaged! 2
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Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
BREEZE Issue 1 2020 Read the BREEZE online at: www.uscga-district-7.org/breeze.html
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD District Commander
District Staff Officers
Director of Auxiliary District 7
CDR John Briggs
Russell Dewey Jackson, DDC-P Gary Gunter, DSO-MS Michael Griffith, DSO-MT Mark Chiappone, DSO-NS Barbara D. Burchfield, DSO-PV Harry Tipper III, DSO-PE William S. Griswold, DSO-SL Patricia Zuluaga, DSO-VE
Opera ons Training Officer
CWO4 Hailie Browne U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY District Commodore
Commodore Gary P. Barth
Response Directorate
District Chief of Staff
Patricia McMenamin
Frank Wondolkowski, DDC-R Thomas E. Powers, DSO-AV Mark C. Gaisford, DSO-CM Bruce A. Lindsey, DSO-OP William F. Hanlon III, DSO-IM
Immediate Past District Commodore Commodore Judith L. Hudson District Captain North
Logis cs Directorate
John Holmes
James F. Stone, DDC-L Craig R. De Toma, DSO-CS Gary Gray, DSO-DV Paule e R. Parent, DSO-FS Angela Pomaro, DSO-HR Susan Z. Has ngs, DSO-IS Edward Zaret, DSO-MA Robert Quigley, DSO-PA Dorothy J. Riley, DSO-PB Diane Riggan, NSBW Coordinator
District Captain West
Thomas Bamford District Captain East
Robert Sherman Auxiliary Sector Coordinators ASC Sector Charleston
Walter Runck
Others ASC Sector Jacksonville
William Sekeres
Jullianne Bouchard, DSO-SR Carl Dalton Motes, DSO-LP Donna Miller, DSO-FN
ASC Sector Key West
Division 1...........Juan Humberto Vazquez Division 2...................James McMenamin Division 3 .................... Jeffrey W. Barnes Division 4 ................... Zoraida Sorren no Division 5.............. ChristopherJ. Haarer Division 6............................ Mark Barros Division 7............... Anthony R. Novellino Division 8................Antoine e V. Borman Division 9.................... Douglas Donovan Division 10..................... William G. Ballard Division 11.......................... Leslie D. Long Division 12................ Richard G. Bankert Division 13................... Claude M. Bullock Division 14.................... Jonathan A. Hunt Division 15............. Raymond W. O’Connell Division 16..................... Doug Armstrong Division 17.................. Jules H. Moquin
District 7 Staff Officers
Preven on Directorate
BREEZE is the official publica on of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 to provide ar cles of interest and informa on to its members. All ar cles and photographs submi ed must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. Electronic submissions are encouraged. Send high resolu on images as a achments not embedded within a document or email. Ar cles should not exceed 750 word length. BREEZE ar cles and photographs may be reprinted with proper a ribu on to BREEZE and the author/photographer. Send comments and submissions to: do eriley@gmail.com .
Edward Pra
District Administra ve Assistant & Aide
ASC Sector Miami
Andrea J. Rutherfoord David M. Sco , D-AA DAC Richard Washburn, D-AD-SA Teresa A. Barth, D-AD-LT Carolyn R. Hooley, D-AD-CC Douglas Colwell, D-AD RR Phillip T. Poole, D-AD-LL Robert Weskerna, D-AD ST Robert A. Fabich, Sr., D-AD-SP
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Division Commanders
Rear Admiral Eric C. Jones
ASC Sector St. Petersburg
Ronald R. Howington ASC Sector San Juan
Ramses Rodriguez-Diaz
Issue 1 2020
Personal informa on of members is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any computer or online service including the Internet is prohibited by the Act. Submission deadlines: Apr. 15, June 30, Sept. 15, Nov. 30, 2020.
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
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Commodore Gary P. Barth
FROM THE DISTRICT 7 BRIDGE
Historic Times Today we are witness to something that has never happened in our life me - a global pandemic (the unseen enemy) that will impact everyone. Please follow the safety guidelines distributed from the Center for Disease Control and the Coast Guard. You, our members, are our #1 priority and asset. I hope that each of you stays safe, healthy and prepared to “get back to work” as soon as possible in support of the boa ng public and our Coast Guard. What a great start to the New Year we had! At the end of the first quarter, we were up 9% in membership from Jan. 1, 2020. Unfortunately, we had to stop the momentum of our regular ac vi es, but the health and safety of all members are of the utmost importance. District 7 tried to keep our members as ac ve as possible, for as long as possible, by performing Program Visits and Vessel Examina ons. Due to a con nuing increase of COVID-19 cases within District 7, the decision to stop PVs and VEs was made for your
health and safety. Program Visits and Vessel Exams were the last regular ac vi es to come to an end. Now we have online training available for our District members. Flo llas and divisions who did not have the electronic mee ng appendix in their Standing Rules currently no longer have to request a waiver to u lize this format. If you do have a mee ng and have a quorum, please vote on and pass the electronic mee ng appendix and add it to your Standing Rules. You do not need to rewrite the Standing Rules; just add the electronic appendix to them once approved. Remember to send a copy to (Con nued on page 5)
Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard addresses Coast Guard and Auxiliary present at an “All Hands” meeting at Sector Key West, Feb. 21, 2020. Members of Division 13 a ending the mee ng are pictured behind him. (United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo.)
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Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
(Con nued from page 4) the Director of Auxiliary and a copy to Carl Motes, District Staff Officer-Legal Parliamentarian. Don’t know what to do during this “down me”? Try to catch up on any online training that is needed. Have you completed the BQII course? Is your CORE training up to date? What about the introduc on to Risk Management? How about reviewing the Auxiliary Manual? Many courses are available for you to con nue your competencies and training during this down me. Even more training is being made available to you from na onal, District 7, divisions and flo llas. Thanks to those members who responded to the call and have donated blood during this crisis. The district has also received a request to help make face masks for the ac ve duty. This will help ensure the safety of our ac ve duty partners, so a big thank
you to those members who are making masks to donate. Auxiliarists want to help, and the Auxiliary and the ac ve duty greatly appreciate your assistance in this endeavor. One of the best ways to help is to prac ce all the safety precau ons, as stated by the Center for Disease Control and the Coast Guard. When this crisis is over, we need our members ready and able to resume all normal ac vi es. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), social distancing also applies to recrea onal boaters. Recrea onal Vessel Update: Execu ve Order 20-09 has been enacted to reflect direc on from Governor DeSan s, the Florida Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Preven on. Effec ve immediately, all recrea onal boats must be at least 50 feet apart. Each recrea onal vessel must not have more than 10 people on board.
Currently, many of the boat ramps throughout Below: Division 1 Change of Watch in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Feb.29, 2020. the state remain open From le are Robert Sherman, District Captain-East; Ramses Rodriguez, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector San Juan; Juan Vazquez, Division 1 Commander; to the public. The FWC’s Aracelis Mass, Division 1 Vice Commander; COMO Gary Barth, District 7 Com- Florida Public Boat Ramp Finder is updated evmander. (United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo.) ery 24-hours to include informa on regarding boat ramp open/closed status. Before leaving on a trip, it’s essen al to check with local, county, and statewide emergency orders and with the managing en ty of the boat ramp if the FWC does not run it. Recent Events In February, I, along with CDR Briggs, Robert Sherman, District Captain East and Vickie Aponte, Auxiliary Affairs Assistant, had the privilege of a ending the Division 1 Change of Watch in San (Con nued on page 6) BREEZE
Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
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FROM THE DISTRICT 7 BRIDGE
Commodore Gary P. Barth
Commodore Gary P. Barth
“SAVE THE DATES” informa on that will be forthcoming.
FROM THE DISTRICT 7 BRIDGE
(Con nued from page 5) Juan, Puerto Rico. We also a ended mee ngs with CAPT King, Commanding Officer of Sector San Juan, the Auxiliary Liaison and Chief of Response. We also had the opportunity to meet with some Division 16 members. Much was accomplished during this trip. A big thank you to Juan “Hache” Vazquez Division 1 Commander and Ramses “AUX-UBER” Rodriquez, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator San Juan. What a great event for us as well as the members in Division 1! I also had the privilege of a ending the Commandants “All Hands” mee ng with Division 13 at Sector Key West. Ed Pra , Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector Key West, gave a great tour of the Sector. If you have not been there, it is interes ng to see the storm surge height from mul ple hurricanes marked on one of their buildings. Admiral Schultz gave an inspira onal speech and thanked the Auxiliary for all that “we” do throughout the Coast Guard. There was an excellent showing of Division 13 members. A big thanks go out to Claude Bullock, Division 13 Commander, for his hospitality. AUXDATA Update As of now, the Auxiliary Data System (AUXDATA) is officially closed for the migra on of data from the old system to the new AUXDATA II. Please have pa ence during this cri cal transi on to the new system. Expect that there will be some “bumps in the road” as we update to this more modern and advanced system. Previews of the new AUXDATA II appear much improved, with many posi ve changes introduced in the future for members. Training will be scheduled in stages, star ng with Informa on Services officers and then filtering down to the members.
Elec ons for na onal, district, division and flo lla officers will be happening soon. Have you considered running for an elected office? Are you eligible to run for an elected office? How about an appointed posi on? Mix it up! Try to get out of the “Flolla rut” where the same officers are elected and rotated almost every term. There is a real need for more members to step up to leadership roles – both elected and appointed offices. Do you have good management skills? Are your personal communicaon skills with other members good? Do you have a good understanding of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Auxiliary Manual? If the answer is YES, please, consider running for an elected office. There is a need for “new blood” at all levels of the organiza on. District 7 now has a “Unit Pride” ballcap that is an official uniform item and can be worn with the opera onal dress uniform (ODU) uniform. They are $25 each with $5 going to “Campaign for Zero” (deaths on the water). To order, please contact me with the size you need, medium, large or extra-large. The sizes are the same as inside of your current ODU ballcap. Once again, please follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preven on and Coast Guard guidelines for safety during this COVID-19 pandemic. We want everyone to be able to resume normal ac vi es as soon as permission is granted. I wish you and your families health and safety during this crisis. Ω
Presently, NACON and D-TRAIN are s ll being planned, and work is progressing on both. Watch for 6
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Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
Pat McMenamin, District 7 Chief of Staff
During this me of uncertainty and day to day challenges, I have heard many stories of Auxiliarists coming together to weather the storm. From daily checkups on fellow members to dona ng blood at the local blood banks and ensuring neighbors are ge ng their groceries are just a few things our Auxiliarists are doing to help in their communi es. I applaud our member’s selfless efforts. I want to express how important it is you stay healthy and safe. However, it is also essen al during this me to keep ourselves engaged within the Auxiliary.
to take this opportunity to enhance your Auxiliary training. You can update your CORE training, maybe work on cer fica on as an instructor, program visitor, vessel examiner or public affairs officer. Thinking of taking a staff officer posi on or seeking elected leadership? Then this is the place for you! There are many leadership courses available. Just about any area you can think of offers some type of online training available at your finger ps. Here is a par al list of areas courses are available: • • •
Public Affairs Computer and Inorma on Technology skills Diversity • Public Educa on • Human Resources – Auxiliary Chaplain Training, Civil Rights Awareness, Ci zenship verifier, Food Service • Preven on – Good Mate, Introducon to Marine Safety • Response – Naviga on Rules, Opera ons Policy, Telecommunica ons Operator • Training – Leadership Competencies, Auxiliary Opera ons (AUXOP) Communica ons & Weather, Auxiliary CORE and Basic Training (BQII) • Vessel Examina on and Program Visita on
Granted, we need to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally during these challenging mes. Since we are not out dock walking, conduc ng program visits, or patrolling the many lakes and rivers, there are many ways to keep yourself physically fit within your own home. There are plenty of resources on videos accessible through the Internet or even on the television to help you achieve this task. Another form of exercise is mental exercise. Doing puzzles, playing games and yes, con nuing TThese are just a few of the areas where educa on. Let’s look at the conw we need people to train and enhance nuing educa on piece from the Auxiliary viewpoint. their skills to keep current with the ever-changing needs of suppor ng the Coast Guard and the Coast Have you visited the Auxiliary Learning Directorate Guard Auxiliary. So, are you prepared to exercise page? This page shows you the many learning aveyour mind and enhance your training? Are you nues available to expand your horizons. ready and willing to accept the challenge? (h p://wow.uscgaux.info/content. Pat McMenamin, DCOS php?unit=T-DEPT&category=aux-member-training) District 7, USCG Auxiliary From here, you can access the Auxiliary training portal called Moodle. (h p://classroom2.cgaux.org/ moodle/) There are many other sites also accessible from this main page. I would like to challenge you BREEZE
Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
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FROM THE DISTRICT 7 BRIDGE
Are you ready and willing to accept the challenge?
COVID-19: Tips for how to take advantage of our time at home. COVID-19 social distancing means no mee ngs, no Vessel Examina ons, Public Affairs events, Public Educa on classes, Safety Patrols, or other ac vi es in which we rou nely engage. The goal now is to keep our members involved and engaged.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The ‘silver lining,’ if we dare call it that during something as dreadful as this frightening pandemic, is that now our members have me to pursue the training we delayed un l we “got around to it.”
This may not be the “round tuit” we hoped for, but it is never-the-less, the one we got! While nothing will ever turn the nega ve of this pandemic into a posi ve, we can at least u lize this me to complete a course we started but never finished or earn a new skill or qualifica on. It will keep us involved and engaged and increase our value to the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary when this ‘thing’ is over. Ω U.S.C.G. AUXILIARY DISTRICT 7 ONLINE TRAINING Roll your mouse over the icons on the document image or on the links below for more informa on about classes. Addi onal online training courses will soon be available for all members of District 7 Auxiliary.
Click, Login and Learn! WEBSITE LINKS: AUXLMS: h ps://auxlearning.uscg.mil/ NTC: h p://ntc.cgaux.org/ WEBSITE LINKS:
FEMA: h ps://training.fema.gov/emi.aspx
AUXLMS: https://auxlearning.uscg.mil/ NTC: http://ntc.cgaux.org/ FEMA: https://training.fema.gov/emi.aspx Auxiliary Training Directorate: http://wow.uscgaux.info/ content.php?unit=t-dept BQC: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=T-DEPT&category=basic-qualification LEADERSHIP: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=AUX60 ONLINE CLASSROOM: http://classroom2.cgaux.org/ moodle/
Auxiliary Training Directorate: h p://wow. uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=t-dept BQC: h p://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=T-DEPT&category=basic-qualificaon LEADERSHIP: h p://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=AUX60 ONLINE CLASSROOM: h p://classroom2. cgaux.org/moodle/
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Share facts about COVID-19
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
fo tniop
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National Safe Boating Week
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
May 16-22, 2020
The NaƟonal Safe BoaƟng Council encourages partners to communicate with their local community via social media, newsleƩers, local newspapers, and other digital communicaƟons about recreaƟonal boaƟng safety.
Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day May 15, 2020 Wear your life jacket to work and post your photo to social media. Please visit the NSBC Resource Kit for free social media images, videos, posts and other content at: https://safeboatingcampaign.com/ resources/
Right: Glen Canyon Na onal Recrea on Area Superintendent William Scho wears his life jacket to work May 19, 2019. (Photo courtesy Na onal Park Service)
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Revisions were made on 3/29/2020 to reflect Older adults and the following: persons with severe underlyThe President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for ing health conditions (https:// www. America -- Slow the Spread of Coronavirus cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/spe(COVID-19): During the next 30 days, individuals cific-groups/high-risk- complications. and organiza ons should cancel or postpone html) are considered to be at increased in-person events that consist of 10 people or risk of more serious illness after conmore throughout the U.S. Read the White tracting COVID-19. House no ce (h ps://www.whitehouse.gov/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coroPriority should be given to ensuring navirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf). the safety of these groups of people, particularly for any mass gatherings that are expected to have a large number of The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published older adults or persons with underlyguidance for mass gatherings or large community ing conditions. events.
Planning your NSBW events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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At this me, we do not know if the 30-day direc ve to cancel or postpone events will end within the coming weeks or be extended beyond Na onal Safe Boa ng Week, May 16-22, 2020. Download and follow the CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of our members and of the boa ng public. Presently, the link is located at h ps://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/ mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html Please note that this URL may change as the document is constantly updated. If the link does not work, please enter “Interim Guidance: Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” in your search engine to locate the most current version. The document offers: •
Considera ons for Cancelling or Postponing a Mass Gathering
•
Steps to Plan, Prepare, and Proceed with a Mass Gathering
•
Follow-up A er a COVID-19 Outbreak has Ended
•
Readiness Resources Ω
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Interim Guidance: Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
COVID-19: Cleaning and Storing Your Life Jacket The U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division (CG-BSX-2)
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Life Jacket Associa on (LJA) provides the following guidance. For more informa on on the LJA please visit their website at www.lifejacketassociaon.org If you think your product has been exposed to a virus, clean as recommended by the manufacturer and then let dry in warm, low humidity environment for at least 72 hours before reuse.
crevasses and metal/plas c construc on. •
Using 60 – 90% solu ons of alcohol sprayed/ we ed on these components is acceptable.
•
Avoid spraying inflatables with specific disinfectants that are detrimental to the fabric. e.g. bleach-based products.
•
Do not machine launder life jackets.
Manufacturer’s recommenda ons for cleaning your PFD:
• Life jackets should be hand-washed with gloved hands – wash as hot as possible (< 90F) to kill virus.
Cleaning and storing your personal flota on device (PFD:) To clean your inflatable PFD, • Ensuring complete hand wash or sponge drying is cri cal, down in warm, soapy heated air drying is water, taking care not encouraged < 90F to submerge the inVirus likes moisture flator. Rinse your PFD and can survive in cold with clean water and – virus dies by drying hang to dry on a plas c out and by heat, which coat hanger. Do not some fibers can endry-clean, use chlorine Royalty free/free to use image from PeakPx hance. bleach, or apply direct heat. Always store your This pandemic is a new challenge and it is truly not fully dried PFD in a warm, dry, well ven lated place known how all materials and the virus respond to out of direct sunlight. laundry. Inherently buoyant PFDs (foam) are cleaned in the same manner except they may be fully submerged.
If hanging to air dry, allow 72 hours (three days) before reuse.
If you must reuse your product within 72 hours, the following precau onary guidance is suggested.
Do not share garments.
COVID-19 virus may exist three days on or in clothing. Virus can exist longer on porous surfaces.
DISCLAIMER: Remember it is not possible to carry out or guarantee complete disinfec on, the goal is to minimize risk.
Synthe c fabrics, plas c and metal surfaces may harbor the virus longer.
Link: h ps://www.uscgboa ng.org/mul media/ news-detail.php?id=532.
Buckles, zippers, other hardware and hook/loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro®) are hard to clean due to 12
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COVID-19 Awareness Training Course By Jonathan Ahlbrand, Division Chief - Advanced Distance Learning Management, T-Directorate
Awareness Training
The course format is designed to facilitate “exploratory learning”. There are no tests. Simply, this course is for informa onal purposes.
Below is a direct link to the course. Users will need to log into the Aux Classroom and will be prompted to “self-enroll”. Direct link: h p://classroom2.cgaux.org/moodle/course/view.php?id=141
COVID-19: Helpful Videos and Other Information CAPT Tom Walco , Chaplain, U.S. Coast Guard offers words of comfort and encouragement. h ps://www.youtube.com/watch? me_connue=10&v=wV0hPw0SSIk&feature=emb_ logo Lower right: Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and MCPOCG Vanderhaden, Master Chief Pe y Officer of the Coast Guard address the Coast Guard family on the novel COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our members. h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phHSFJYYW0 .
Find additional resources on the Auxiliary Q-Directorate Emergency Management and Disaster Response page: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=Q-DEPT&category=covid-19-info
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Training Directorate is pleased to provide you with a new COVID-19 Awareness Course within the Auxiliary Classroom. There are 16 mini video lessons on a wide variety of topics. Addi onally, there are web links to live interac ve maps and government resources.
COVID-19:
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Making Face Masks for Coast Guard Active Duty The Coast Guard has issued a policy effec ve immediately direc ng its members to wear face masks, “…to the extent prac cal as determined by unit COs/OICs, when onboard USCG assets, property, facility, installa on, or when conduc ng official USCG business in a public se ng where social distancing measures are not able to be maintained, all Coast Guard personnel are required to wear cloth face covering when they cannot appropriately social distance themselves from others by maintaining six feet of physical separa on.” Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, all personal protec ve equipment (PPE), including face masks, is in short supply. For this reason, “surgical masks should be worn as a last resort and only with command concurrence. N95 respirators shall not be used for this purpose.
To assist the Coast Guard in mee ng the demand for cloth face coverings, several District 7 Auxiliary members have volunteered to sew cloth face masks. Members wishing to par cipateshould follow the guidelines outlined in ALCOAST 124/20 https://www.uscgboating.org/multimedia/newsdetail.php?id=532 Making face masks is not tricky. Li le to no prior sewing experience is required. The best way to
learn is to search for “how-to” videos. Many are available on YouTube and other video pla orms. Try h ps://www.youtube. com/watch?v=FW1TCQDN4do to start, but search for and watch several videos. Just be sure to follow the guidelines for type of fabric (co on) and preferred colors (neuOne of many “how-to” videos available on sewing face masks tral).
“For ini al implecan be found at h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW1TCQDN4do Per COMO Gary Barth, menta on, either “Once the masks are home-fabricated or made and ready for dona on, contact the Auxiliary personally procured non-medical cloth face coverSector Coordinator to arrange delivery to ings following Centers for Disease Control the ac ve duty. Members should not and Preven on guidance are accept. a empt to enter Coast Guard faciliable. Homemade and do-it-yourself “Once the masks are made es on their own. ...Please con nue “(DIY) cloth masks or personallyand ready for doto u lize the safeguards to prevent procured are the preferred op on nation, contact the spreading and contrac ng the for non-opera onal use.” Auxiliary Sector CoCOVID-19 virus. Thank you for all “Face coverings are approved for ordinator to arrange you do, especially during this cri wear in uniform. Cloth face coverdelivery to the accal me.” Ω ings of neutral solid coloring (e.g., tive duty” navy blue, black, gray or white) are preferred. However, other colors and pa erns are permi ed if they are workplace appropriate.” 14
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National Safe Boating Council, April 1, 2020 Dear Safe Boa ng Campaign Partners, With the ongoing coverage surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, our top priority is to keep our Safe Boa ng Campaign partners around the world safe. Historically the Na onal Safe Boa ng Council (NSBC) has developed resources for partners around the world to use in their local grassroots efforts and encouraged local par cipa on in events such as Na onal Safe Boa ng Week, Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day, and Ready, Set, Wear It Days. In following recommenda ons from the “PostCenters for Disease pone or cancel Control, the NSBC all large gatherings encourages partners to postpone un l otherwise no or cancel all large fied by your state or gatherings un l local officials.” otherwise no fied by your state or local officials. For event guidance related to COVID-19, please visit: h ps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/massgatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html#plan-prepare. Smaller gatherings may be acceptable if proper risk reduc on methods, including proper handwashing and social distancing, can be done. However, event organizers should consider the safety of ALL par cipants as their top priority and follow the recommenda ons provided by the CDC and local officials. BREEZE
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The NSBC encourages “Enpartners to communicate with their courage local community local par cipa on via social media, in events such as ... newsle ers, local Wear Your Life Jacknewspapers, and et to Work Day, and other digital comReady, Set, Wear munica ons about It Days.” recrea onal boa ng safety. During this me of social distancing, new and seasoned boaters may be out on the water. Please visit our Resource Kit for free social media images, videos, posts and other content. Select free resources, such as brochures, s ckers, pledge cards, wristbands and other printed giveaway items are delayed due to stay-at-home orders impac ng warehouse distribu on and delivery. We’re all in this together. I encourage you to monitor SafeBoa ngCampaign.com for updates and addi onal digital resources. Please feel free to contact me directly with any ques ons or concerns at ypentz@safeboa ngcouncil.org. Best, Yvonne Pentz Communica ons Director Na onal Safe Boa ng Council Ω
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
COVID-19
Flotilla 17-6 Central Brevard Welcomes Favored “Snowbird” Visitors.
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Photo and article submitted by Jack G. Miller, Flotilla 17-6 Central Brevard Commodore Robert Laurer visited Flo lla 17-6 Central Brevard Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, with two of the flo lla’s ‘snowbird’ friends, Cathy Trenton, the current Flo lla Commander of Flo lla 15 Ogdensburg, and the Ogdensburg flo lla’s past commander, Stephen Trenton. (District 9ER) Commodore Laurer is the current director of the Auxiliary Na onal Public Educa on Directorate. Commodore Laurer presented Eus s King an award for his excellent performance in Public Educaon during 2019. As it happened, the flo lla had one of their largest Flo lla 17-6 Central Brevard welcomed guests at its general mee ng on flo lla mee ngs of all me with Jan. 14, 2020. From le are COMO Robert Laurer, Director, Public Educa70 members in a endance. It was on Directorate, Stephen Trenton, Immediate Past Flo lla Commander, Flo good that Commodore witnessed lla 15 Ogdensburg 9ER; , and Cathy Trenton, current Flo lla Commander of the New York flo lla. Photo by Jack G. Miller the flo lla’s strength in numbers before he walked out the door. The The flo lla’s 2020 opera ons were on full speed by flo lla logged over 23,000 hours in 2019 and 110 ac ve members. COMO Laurer kept mid-January, but like every other flo lla, was at a stand-s ll by April. As soon as they get the all clear, saying things like, “Wow you are ac ve!” “You do the flo lla and its members is ready to resume ac veverything well!” “You did a great job in Public Edui es. Ω ca on during 2019!”
The Unit Commander and Staff Leadership Conference was held Jan. 4-5, at the Lee County Emergency Opera ons Center in Ft Myers. Eighty members from all five divisions within Sector St. Petersburg’s area of responsibility a ended, including three members from Division 13 in the Keys. Read about this training on page 28 in an ar cle by Tom Bamford, District Captain-West Auxiliary photo provided by Tom Bamford
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Introducing Team North Team North encompasses Divisions 2, 4, 10, 12, 14 and 17. Our volunteers serving as force mul pliers act in every capacity authorized by the Commandant and assist in a few other areas that make team north unique. Our area of responsibility spreads over three geographic areas which include Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. We are proud to assist the boa ng public on inland lakes, offshore and on the Intracoastal Waterway in each of these states. The list of support missions our members are involved in covers a broad spectrum of cri cally important missions that would be difficult to complete without our dedicated United States Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers.
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By John Holmes, District Captain-North
Dave Fuller and Nan Ellen Fuller, members of Flo lla 22 Marie a, gear up for Naonal Safe Boa ng Week 2020 in front of their home in Acworth, Georgia. Stay-athome orders do not prevent them from hanging a promo onal banner and wearing life jackets to broadcast the Auxiliary’s boa ng safety message. Dave Fuller serves as the Deputy Director of the Public Educa on Directorate and Nan Ellen as Deputy Director of the Recrea onal Boa ng Safety Directorate at Auxiliary na onal level. Auxiliary photo submi ed by Nan Ellen Fuller
The North area of responsibility falls under both Sector Jacksonville and Sector Charleston and includes six Division Commanders, two Auxiliary Sector Coordinators and almost 1,400 members, or about 30 percent of the en re District 7 membership. The team is involved in everything from helo opera ons to rocket launches and repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment at various sta ons. Our members annually support all missions as authorized by the Commandant and provide some unique Auxiliary support staff that includes doctors, den sts, EMTs and a orneys. The current situa on, as disturbing as it is, may be an opportunity for comple ng online training or other advanced training that is op onal.
Revenue Cu ers, to the Lighthouse Service, to the Reserve in WWll and then to the Auxiliary is imbedded in our culture and our desire to serve. It is this history of service and dedica on that will allow us to prevail and con nue well into the future once this health crisis is resolved. We are a family and we are here for each other. The Division Commanders in team north are true leaders and I am honored to serve them as their District Captain. Ω
The Auxiliary has played a vital role in this na on’s history and our survival. The evolu on from the BREEZE
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“When things were normal”... Division 11 Member Training Classes
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Photos submitted by Karen Miller, Staff Officer-Member Training Division 11
Division 11 conducted Member Training classes up through the first week of March, but like every other Auxiliary ac vity, the classes ended therea er. We take these “rou ne” ac vi es for granted and rarely photograph them, so these images serve as reminders for us all. Top le : Greg Ashe and Tom Maloof, members of Flo lla 11-9 Tarpon Springs a end a plo ng course Mar. 3, 2020. Top right: Wally Weakley from Flo lla 11-10 Dunedin focuses on plotng a course. Bo om row: Division 11 members a end a Instructor Development Course Feb. 25, 2020. Auxiliary photos submi ed by Karen Miller
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Award Follows Member Across District 7:
When one is as
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loved as they are admired, Auxiliary leaders will go to extraordinary lengths!
Photos: (1.) Olga Pagan a member of Flo lla 1-12 Cangrejos. (2.) From le : Kevin Buckley, Division 7 Vice Commander, Tony Novellino, Division 7 Commander and Terry Hershman, Immediate Past Division 7 Commander present Pagan an Auxiliary Commenda on Medal Feb.2, 2020, in Tampa. (3.) Vickie Aponte, member of Flo lla 6-11 Miami and Heleyde Aponte-Johnson, a member of Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg pose beside their mother, Olga Pagan before the presenta on of the Auxiliary Commenda on Medal. Photos by Do e Riley
Photos and text by Do e Riley, District Staff Officer-Publica ons Auxiliary awards are presented by the member’s division or flo lla commander, but once in a while, there is an excep on. This was the case when Tony Novellino, Division 7 Commander presented Olga Pagan, a member of Flo lla 1-12 Cangrejos, an Auxiliary Commendaon Medal. Novellino, along with Kevin Buckley, Division 7 Vice Commander and Terry Hershman, Immediate Past Division 7 Commander presented Pagan the award Feb.2,
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2020, in Tampa for her accomplishments while overseeing the San Juan Puerto Rico Division District 7 Security Program from 2004-2018. The award is dated May 16, 2019, and signed by CDR Harry Mau e, District 7 former Director of Auxiliary, but could not be presented to Pagan in San Juan due to Hurricane Marie. Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico Sept. 20, 2017 and sent 3.4 million residents into extreme humanitarian crisis. The island lost all power, roads were washed out and fresh water was not available for many months.
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Award Follows Member Across District 7
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(Con nued from page 19) Pagan’s daughters, Vickie Aponte, a member of Flo lla 6-11 Miami and Heleyde Aponte-Johnson, a member of Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg, urged their mother to move temporarily to the mainland un l power and u li es were restored. Unfortunately, Pagan was never able to return due to health factors, but she remains a member of the Cangrejos flo lla.
award to be presented in Tampa. Novellino was more than happy to oblige. Pagan, a 23-year member of the Auxiliary is nearly as well-known and dearly loved by Division 7 members as by the members of the San Juan division. Also present was Do e Riley, District Staff Officer-Publica ons; not just for photographic support, but because she regards Pagan and her daughters as family. Bravo Zulu, Olga Pagan, from the members of Division 1 San Juan and Division 7 Tampa Bay. She is truly a “superior model of Auxiliary leadership” who “deserves the respect and admira on of her fellow members.” Ω
The award remained at Director of Auxiliary’s office un l Vickie Aponte contacted Tony Novellino and arranged for the
Social Distancing When Boating SeaTow, a member of the Na onal Boa ng Safety Advisory Council created this poster to encourage social distancing when boa ng. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and several of our boating safety partners offer posters delivering the same message. Let’s get the word out! Safe boa ng prac ces now include social distancing too!
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pan pan! pan pan! pan pan! To All Publica ons Officers: For those of you who are Communica ons Watchstanders or Telecommunica ons Operators, you know that a PanPan is an urgent broadcast announcing an emergency and reques ng an all-hands response. That’s what this ar cle is too; an urgent request to publish edi ons of your newsle er. The emergency engendered by COVID-19 has disrupted our Auxiliary life. We no longer can par cipate in face-to-face mee ngs, fellowship events, in-person classes, and general get-togethers with our Auxiliary friends and shipmates. We’re losing our camaraderie. This is where your newsle ers come in. Let’s do what we can to help our members feel like they’re s ll part of a vital organiza on. How about featuring what your members are doing while they’re staying at home? Facebook is probably a great place to start your research. Has your unit been conduc ng member training classes via webinar? How’s that working out? Did anyone take screen shots of webinar class par cipants? Ask your unit leader to write an upbeat, inclusive ar cle. So, don’t worry about photos of members in uniforms; instead, do what you can to keep each member feeling how the Coast Guard Auxiliary values them. Your newsle er will go a long way to accomplish this and bring us together again.Ω
Propeller Club, Port of Tampa Recognizes U.S. Coast Guard
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By Dottie Riley, District Staff Officer-Publications
Members of the Auxiliary a ending the Propeller Club of Tampa 29th Annual Salute to the Coast Guard Jan. 28, 2020 at the Westshore Grand Hotel in Tampa. From le are members Anthony Novellino, Division 7 Commander; Antoine e (Toni) Borman, Division 8 Commander; Paule e Parent, District Staff Officer-Food Service; and Craig DeToma, District Staff Officer-Communica on Systems. Auxiliary photos this page by Do e Riley
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he Interna onal Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Tampa, held its annual “Salute to the Coast Guard” Jan. 28, 2020, at the Westshore Grand Hotel in Tampa. Tampa Propeller Club President Shannon LeMoine and event chairman Rear Admiral William F. Merlin, United States Coast Guard (Ret) welcomed Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant, United States Coast Guard as the guest speaker. The co-hosts of this year’s event were the Navy League of the United States, Tampa Bay Council and the Coast Guard Founda on.
Several members of District 7 United States Coast Guard Auxiliary a ended this year’s event including Ron Howington, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator St. PeRon Howington, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator St. Peterstersburg; Paule e Parent, District Staff Officer-Food burg and David Rockwell, Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg at the Service; Toni Borman, Division 8 Commander; Tony social gathering before the Salute to the Coast Guard Novellino, Division 7 Commander; Craig DeToma, event, Jan. 28, 2020, in Tampa. (Con nued on page 23) 22
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(Con nued from page 22)
to Sector St. Petersburg in recogni on for their overall performance as Team Sector St. Petersburg throughout 2019.
District Staff Officer-Communica on Systems; Do e Riley, District Staff Officer-Publica ons: David Rockwell, Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg; and Admiral Schultz presented this year’s Special Recogni on Awards to Coast Guard units. The first award was presented to Airsta on Clearwater for their Search and Rescue efforts on three separate search and rescues during 2019. The second award was presented
Paule e Parent, District Staff Officer-Food Service talks with Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard at the Tampa Propeller Club’s 29th Annual Salute to the Coast Guard, Jan. 28, 2020. USCG Auxiliary photo by Do e Riley
From the welcome text of the event program, “We have two main purposes tonight, one being to thank the men and women of the Coast Guard throughout the West Coast of Florida, including our great volunteers in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, for their dedica on to duty and valuable service to our country.” Auxiliary members were proud to be included in the annual salute. Ω
Wanted: Volunteers to publish Unit Newsle ers! Newsle ers are a great recrui ng tool. Ar cles and photographs tell others who we are and what we do. Does your unit have a newsleƩer? If not, you are missing out on an opportunity to spread the word. The D7 Publica ons Department will help train publica ons officers. You might also consider recrui ng new members with publica on and computer skills.
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Propeller Club Recognizes U.S. Coast Guard
Heaving a Line By George Papabeis, Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Affairs 74 Brandon
“We need someone capable to go to the front of the boat and prepare to receive a line. Please put the loop on your front le cleat and have the operator of the vessel steer to track with us.” All boat crew members in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary are familiar with this direc on. It is one in a series of ques ons and instruc ons we are trained to calmly and methodically deliver to a vessel in distress. At this point, an Auxiliarist heaves a line to the disabled boat and crea ng a physical connec on between the two boats. The exchange ends with: “We will tow you to the nearest safe haven....” It is a pact between those in need and those who can offer assistance. The heaving of the line is in its own way metaphor for all those who serve in the Coast Guard, Armed Forces, first responders, medical personnel, and in this latest na onal emergency the “front line” of essen al workers. All par cipate and expose themselves to harm in service of their families, community, and na on regardless of their sex, age, ethnic background, religion or poli cal affilia on. Even those who are not ac vely serving, just “plain” ordinary ci zens, do their part by following quaranne and social distancing. Humanity’s strength is in its coopera ve endeavors, and in the recogni on that we are all “in boats” and that our allegiance is to each other. All of the previously men oned services sacrifice their me, personal comfort and economic resources. Our challenge will be to maintain that which is required over an uncomfortable period. Our resources, physical, mental and spiritual, will be tested. I have faith that our service, our na on and most importantly, our peoples will weather this storm and reach a safe haven. It will take courage, endurance and pa ence. We are up to this task.Ω Background photo by Valerie Fernandes, Flo lla 78 St. Pete Beach
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Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
Chronicles of a Newly Elected District Captain: The First Hundred Days By Robert Sherman, District Captain-East
In late December 2019, I contacted the 2020 District 7 East leadership team to understand their thoughts and goals for 2020. Only one Division Commander (DCDR) was in their second term, and the remaining five were star ng their first term in office, as was I. They were enthusias c, idealis c and their morale was high.
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2020 is a precedent-se ng year for the Auxiliary. We are now working our way through a global pandemic while s ll striving to be effec ve Auxiliarists, and in my case, an effec ve leader. I have wri en down some goals, experiences, thoughts, and guidance that has helped me through the first 100 days in office.
Bravo Zulu to our members of Flo lla 32 Fort Lauderdale who were awarded the Presiden al Volunteer Service Award. This award honors individuals whose service posi vely impacts communi es in every corner of the na on and inspires others to serve as well. Auxiliary photo-credit District 7 Facebook page
The first month involved ge ng to know each DCDR and their unique leadership styles. Each division had its own set of accomplishments and challenges, and no two DCDRs were alike in their style, goals or personality. I soon found out that I had to become adaptable to each one to be an effec ve leader. The three Auxiliary Sector Coordinators were different as well; each of them was in their second term and had established a rapport with their Sector, and each had a dis nc ve rela onship and role in Sector opera ons I decided to take the same leadership approach as District Captain that had served me well as a DCDR. In every conversa on, every email message and every report, I tried to include the words, “One Team, One Mission.” In essence, it means that although we are very different in our backgrounds, personali es, cultures, skills sets and personal goals, our shared goal is to provide excellent service to the United BREEZE
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States Coast Guard, the public and our members. This is reflected in our mission statement to which the en re District 7 East leadership team contributed: “District 7 East is comprised of three sectors, six divisions, 34 flo llas and 1,557 members. It is my goal to provide excellent service to the District Commodore, District Chief of Staff, District 7 East Division Commanders, Auxiliary Sector Coordinators and members by being responsive, transparent, innovave and effec ve. District 7 East provides excellent administra ve and opera onal support to the Coast Guard by using the best prac ces and the best qualified personnel to be proficient and safe. We provide honest, accurate, and mely communica on and responses. We support our members by engaging them through meaningful and effec ve training and educa onal opportuni es. We recognize members who provide superior services and take the me to (Con nued on page 26)
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The First 100 Days
System II so ware and the rollout process.
(Con nued from page 25)
Several of us who a ended the AULOC course formed a friendship and kindred spirit rela onship that will hopefully last a life me. We all were in new posi ons with a set of circumstances unique to our area of responsibility and geographic region.
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train them for success. We look a er one another. We willingly serve by applying the Coast Guard core values of Honor, Respect and Devo on to Duty in our daily lives. We are District 7 East: One team, One mission.” We started moving forward as one team, and although it was only January 2020, things looked promising. Then reality set in. I realized that each division has a unique set of circumstances and challenges. Each Division Commander and Auxiliary Sector Coordinator has its own management and leadership style. As the District Captain, it is my job to ensure that all district protocols, policies, communica on, and guidance make its way to the membership level. Ge ng the correct, accurate, and mely informa on to all members is s ll a high priority.
Two weeks later, it was on to Sector Key West to meet Division 13 Division Commander, Division Vice Commander, and Sector Key West Auxiliary Sector Coordinator for the first me. The 26th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Karl Schultz, was scheduled to address the Sector and Auxiliary members. A er driving 60 miles to Florida City, I met up with COMO Gary Barth and to grab a few hours of sleep, and then drove the final 110 miles to Sector Key West. I was impressed with the rela onship between the Sector’s command staff, Ed Pra , Auxiliary Sector Coordinator and Claude Bullock, Division 13 Commander. They make a great leadership Many of us have family members who team. work on the front lines of this pandem-
January was a whirlwind ic both in Florida and throughout the I learned a lot from those folks month. I spent 10 days in St. na on. Pictured is Carol Dombrowsthat day and enjoyed the opporLouis a ending the Auxiliary ki-Gullakson, daughter of Barbara tunity to discuss some important Upper-Level Officer Course Dombrowski, Flo lla 38 Planta on, a and relevant issues with them. COVID-19 intensive care unit nurse in (AULOC) course and Na onal The highlight of the trip was Harford, Conn. We thank all of these Training conference. What an when Admiral Karl Schultz asked angels! eye-popping experience. As me if I had any ques ons and newly minted District CapPhoto provided by Barbara Dombrowsinvited me up to the podium. I tains, we were permi ed to ki was thinking about how lucky I a end most of the Na onal was to be called up and thankful Training seminars and workthat COMO Barth gave me a new shops. This opened my eyes to how the Na onal pair of blousers for my opera onal dress uniform level works. This was a different ballgame for me, trousers! A er I addressed the troops, Admiral a different league. I had the opportunity to discuss Schultz shook my hand, thanked me and said, “Give surface opera ons with the Chief Director’s Office, this gentleman a microphone, and he will give you a safety protocol, and proficiency with Na onal Comspeech!” modore Larry King, and par cipate in the discusA few weeks later, it was off to San Juan for a worksion regarding the future of Auxiliary uniforms and ing weekend with CDR John Briggs, Director of Auxiliary Data System II. It was a privilege to a end (Con nued on page 27) a seminar that discussed the new Auxiliary Data 26
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(Con nued from page 26 ) Auxiliary and COMO Barth. We were treated like royalty from the moment we stepped off the jetway un l we departed March 1. I had the opportunity to meet Doug Armstrong, Division 16 Commander, and listen to his plans to rejuvenate his division. As of this wri ng, it looks like they are on their way thanks to Doug and his team. We held several mee ngs with the Sector San Juan command staff, CDR Briggs, COMO Barth, Juan Vazquez, Division 1 Commander, Ramses Rodriguez-Diaz, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator and Vicki Aponte. The highlight of this trip was being a part of the Division 1 Change of Watch and mee ng the terrific members who have been successful a er two hurricanes and several earthquakes over the past two years. Their spirit is unstoppable, and their enthusiasm is irresis ble. So here we were, at the beginning of March with the en re District 7 East area of responsibility firing on all cylinders and making real progress. And then the global pandemic took over all our lives and Auxiliary missions.
virtual mee ngs quickly. Our Vessel Examina ons, Partner Visita ons, surface and air opera ons shut down. No more Recrea onal Boa ng Safety missions. No more face to face ac vi es. We had to adapt. Now our mee ngs are held remotely. We are conduc ng virtual training sessions and seminars. Andrea Rutherfoord, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Miami, engaged a face mask project for the ac ve duty. Many members donated face masks to other Auxiliarists. We started to look a er one another vigilantly, to check up and check-in, le ng all members know that they are not alone. We are s ll One Team, One Misson. Now we will be faced with a new normal. What that will be will anyone’s guess. But we will adapt, and we will succeed. Over the past 100 days, I have made mistakes and have learned from them. I have seen people perform at their absolute best during unprecedented mes. I have benefited from the mentorship of others, especially COMO Barth, Pat McMenamin District Chief of Staff, John Holmes District Captain-North, and Tom Bamford, District Captain-West. Hopefully, I am helping others become be er leaders for their units, and we will all become be er Auxiliarists in the months and years ahead.Ω
We had to pivot and resort to distance learning and
Ever thought you would miss making Recreational Safety-Partner Visits? For now, all Recrea onal Boating Safety ac vi es are not permi ed, but soon... Auxiliary photo reprinted from the March 2020 issue of “Message Bearer,” newsle er for Flo lla 38 Planta on, Barbara Dombrowski, editor
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The First 100 Days
Do you know “WHY?” By Tom Bamford, Division Chief- Diversity Administration Division, District Captain-West “What can be done within the divisions of an area of responsibility to enhance leadership succession for elected and appointed offices?”
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This ques on, posed during the 2019 District Training Conference (DTRAIN) in Orlando, became the precept for the “Unit Commander and Staff Leadership Conference.”
Jim Barnard, Vice Commander Flo lla 82 Longboat Key, Toni Borman, Division 8 Commander and Ross Jacobs, Commander, Flo lla 82 Longboat Key display the cer ficates received for comple ng the weekend course Jan. 22, 2020. Auxiliary photo provided by Tom Bamford, District Captain-West
Interes ngly enough, during this past year, a few Division Commanders expressed the desire to resurrect a training ini a ve long ago discon nued. That districtwide ini a ve had been known as the “Flolla Commanders Academy,” which was conducted over a weekend for all incoming Flo lla Commanders and the Flo lla Vice Commanders. The previous training opportunity became the footprint for what has now become the “Unit Commander and Staff Leadership Conference.” The training was open to all the flo lla and division leadership teams within Sector St. Petersburg’s area of responsibility, as well as to anyone else from the district. Addi onally, it was open to any member who might aspire to become part of their units’ leadership team. Immediately a er the ini al presenta on at DTRAIN, Vickie Apon-
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te from the office of the Director of Auxiliary was the first to say she was on board to help develop the material we would be using for the new leadership training. To address the ques on posed during DTRAIN, a team of nine including support from CDR Briggs, Director of Auxiliary D7 and CAPT Thompson, Commander, Sector St. Petersburg, set out to develop a program encompassing policies, direc ves and best prac ces. The many other contributors, some of whom became instructors with their exper se included COMO Judith Hudson, Immediate Past District Commodore; Donna Miller, District Staff Officer-Finance; Terry Hershman, Immediate Past Division 7 Commander; Braxton Ezell, Immediate Past Division 8 Commander; Ray O’Connell Division 15 Commander; Ron Howington, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector St. Petersburg; Douglas Colwell, Flo lla Vice Commander 99 and John Sollecito, Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, Ft. Myers Beach. Also recognized were Brenda Burger, Assistant District Staff Officer-Informa on Systems, Craig De Toma, District Staff Officer-Communica on Systems and Tom Strzycki, Division 9 Vice Commander for their assistance in helping a endees set up computers for their access to Auxiliary Data System (AUXDATA). (Con nued on page 29)
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
Do you know “Why?”
The purpose of the conference was not to be the same old ‘nut and bolts’ concept but rather a handson experience of learning the daily needs and applica ons for the leadership teams to become aware of the real daily responsibili es each would encounter. The Unit Commander and Staff Leadership Conference was held Jan. 4-5, at the Lee County Emergency Opera ons Center in Ft. Myers. Eighty members from all five divisions within Sector St. Petersburg’s area of responsibility a ended, including three members from Division 13 in the Keys. In addi on to the learning experience of one’s du es, we enjoyed the opportunity for fellowship, good food and fun. The training informa on was all rolled into an e-handbook and “toolkit” for easily accessing the answers to the many ques ons, which may arise in the execu on of unit and department leadership roles. The handbook and a vast array of materials used during the training were provided on a USB drive to those who a ended the two-day training. Each a endee who completed both days also received a “Cer ficate of Training.”
incident and injury management, as well as expecta ons and performance. We also had a unique presenta on concerning con ngency planning and the District 7 West Auxiliary Incident Management Team structure that supports the Sector’s Incident Management Team group. Donna Miller provided an online finance presenta on from Jacksonville. One of the most cri cal areas we discussed focused on the one word: “WHY?” The leadership training conference was intended to be a “fire starter;” an opportunity to open the eyes to what each would be facing as the year unfolds in their respec ve “The leadership training conferrole. This conference was just the ence was intended to be a “fire p of the iceberg. starter;” an opportunity to open We could have spent an en re the eyes to what each would week diving deepbe facing as the year unfolds in ly into the intricacies of every area. their respective role.” The reaffirma on to the “Prologue and Pledge for Elected and Appointed Leaders” was administered by COMO Judith Hudson to all a endees at the beginning of the weekend. This was a vital ingredient of the leadership commitment.
Among the topics presented and discussed in break-out groups were the values inherent to culture, member value, diversity and inclusion. We discussed who are “leaders” and what key aspects of leadership are necessary for taking “ownership” of the role chosen, be it a unit commander or staff member.
Thank you to all a endees for your open par cipa on, and we look forward to hearing of your successes. A very special thank you to all of those involved in the review and instruc on process because you are the team that made this real.
Presenta ons covered diverse topics such as recrui ng and reten on, discipline, uniforms, opera ons,
Want to know more about the “WHY?” Join us the next me to learn more.Ω
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(Con nued from page 28)
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Diversity Directorate: First Book Program (Source: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=D-DEPT&category=diversity-resources) The Diversity Directorate works with the en re Coast Guard community to support the mission and vision of the Na onal Commodore, and to ensure that diversity, in its many forms, is understood, respected, and valued. The Diversity Directorate leads efforts to conceptualize, assess, and cul vate diversity as an organiza onal resource.
First Book is a unique partnership between the US Coast Guard and First Book - a na onal, private, non-profit organiza on whose mission is to allow disadvantaged children to read and own their first books. Their primary goal is to work with exis ng literacy and mentoring programs to distribute new books to children, who for economic or other reasons, have li le access to books.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary will con nue to meet America’s ever-changing needs through increased a en on to recrea onal boa ng safety, the security of America’s waterways, and improved methods of educa ng the boa ng public.
First Book: Our Mission
Outreach Programs COMPASS program deploys Ac ve Duty, Reserve, Civilian, and Auxiliarists into their communi es to increase America’s Understanding and Awareness of the Coast Guard. Partnership in Educa on (PIE) program enhances educa onal opportuni es and career awareness for the na on’s youth through direct par cipa on in educaon-related programs. PIE is an excellent way to access young audiences of all backgrounds, show the Coast Guard colors, and contribute to the community in your area.
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We believe that educa on is the best path out of poverty for kids in need. But access to quality educa on is far from equal. Significant barriers stand in the way for kids in low-income communi es, including scarce books and learning materials, and a lack of diversity in the books that do reach them. Even their most basic needs go unmet. First Book’s mission is to remove these barriers, so every child has the chance to learn. Learn more at h ps://firstbook.org/
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
Words from the Editor
I hope you read our ar cle on page 21, “Pan Pan! Pan Pan! Pan Pan!” If you have not, go back and read it now. While District 7 Auxiliary Publica ons Officers are the intended audience, it applies equally to Public Affairs Officers and all members of District 7. We must stay engaged with the Auxiliary and with each other at this cri cal me. At the flo lla level, let your fellow members know what you are doing to fill 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. Have you read a great book? You need not write a full book review. Simply offer your impression of the book and say why you liked it or did not like it.
Not all new skills are Auxiliary qualifica 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 first 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 commitment to the Auxiliary. Ω
Reminder to all Auxiliary 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 reflecƟve 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 efforts, when someone should not be included in the photograph, you can add the text, “also par cipa ng but not shown was -.”
Never post photographs of members not wearing the uniform correctly! BREEZE
Issue 1
2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
31
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB 7
Use Social Media to Help Spread the Boating Safely Message Auxiliary Social Media
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
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.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uscg.auxd7/
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 difficult. LIKE and SHARE!
United Staes Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/uscgauxiliary/
Seventh District
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 find what you need!
h p://www.uscga-district-7.org/
BREEZE
Issue 1
2020
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!
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
32
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Original image by Kim Holland, DSO-PB D5 SR
BREEZE
Issue 1 2020
Newsletter for District 7 USCG Auxiliary
33
