Breeze Summer 2012 by Dorothy Riley

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze Volume LVIII

Number 2

http://www.cgaux7.org/

Summer 2012

Is the oﬃcial publica on of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

h p://www.cgaux7.org/ District Commander: RADM William D. Baumgartner, USCG Director of Auxiliary District 7 CDR Jose’ Quinones

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY District Commodore COMO Walter Jaskiewicz District Chief of Staﬀ John Tyson Immediate Past District Commodore COMO Donald L. Frasch District Captain North Robert Weskerna District Captain West Melvin Manning District Captain East Judith Hudson

BREEZE is the official and educa onal tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District and is intended as a publica on to keep the membership apprised of the ac vi es of the Auxiliary. All ar cles and photographs submi ed must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and may not be returned. Electronic submissions are encouraged. 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. Comments are encouraged and may be sent to Dorothy Riley, Editor (District OfficerPublica ons) at: do eriley1@verizon.net. Ar cles in the BREEZE may be reprinted provided credit is given and a copy is sent to the above Editor and Publica ons Officer. Do not send changes of address to the BREEZE. You can obtain a change of member informa on report (7028) from your Materials Officer and submit it through channels.

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

Auxiliary Sector Coordinators

District Staﬀ Oﬃcers

ASC Sector Charleston Reginald B. Hollar

Preven on Department Lyle E Le eer …….................................DSO-MS Frank R. Lann ….………...................…..…DSO-MT Ronald D. Foreman……………..............….DSO-PV David M. Wall....……..……...............……..DSO-PE William S. Griswold……..…..............…..…DSO-SL Chuck Kelemen ……....................…………DSO-VE David Cawton …………………....................DSO-NS

ASC Sector St. Petersburg Donald C. Hoge ASC Sector Jacksonville David C. Cawton ASC Sector Key West R. Dewey Jackson ASC Sector San Juan Osvaldo M. Ca nchi ASC Sector Miami William V. Tejeiro

Division Commanders 2011 Division 1……...........…………………Angel Benero Division 2….….......…..……....... Loren R. Emery II Division 3….….........….……….. Samuel E. Duda Division 4………..........William J. Sorren no, Sr. Division 5……….…............…….... Gary P. Barth Division 6……..........……….…….Thomas R. Walker Division 7…..............…..…...….. J. Michael Shea Division 8……........................... Paule e Parent Division 9……….....…….....….. David C. Crockwell Division 10………….............…..Warren M. Wilson Division 11……..............………….. Jimmy R. Ryder Division 12…………............……….Vito W. Giardina Division 13…………….............. Jeﬀery A. Bronsing Division 14…….…….................…Henry T. Hayden Division 15……….............……………….. Craig Elliot Division 16……….......................…... Lee E. Elvins Division 17……..............……....…..... Carl D. Motes

District 7 Directorate Chiefs

Response Department Cecil Christopher..…………..….................DSO-AV Harry S. Reynolds…..…...…...............…..DSO-CM Dudley W. Davis .....……………..................DSO-OP Jerald Henderson.……......................…..Chief QE Logis cs Department David Has ngs....…...……...............……...DSO-CS Susan Z. Has ngs……...……...…................DSO-IS Alejandro M. de Quesada.......................DSO-His Constance O. Irvin...…………...............….DSO-PA Dorothy J. Riley…. ……………................…DSO-PB Angela Pomaro .…..…...….............….…..DSO-HR Terry Barth ……………...…...............……..DSO-MA Richard J. Leys………...............…………....DSO-DV Other Lillian G. GaNun …….……………................DSO-SR Thomas Brickey....................................DSO-MC Douglas Hanson..…...….…..……..................DSSO Douglas Hanson..…………................……..….DFSO Andrew Anderson………….............….…….DSO-LP Antoine e Borman………….............….……....D-LL James Mayer.......…………................…..…DSO-FN Richard Leys………..….………....................PPDCPA Peter Fernandez……................Plan Coordinator District Administra ve Assistant & Aide Carolyn R. Hooley ……...…..........................D-AD Elaine J. Cornell ……………………..................D-AA Barbara Jaskiewicz.....................................D-AA COMO Mary T. Larsen ...………............Advocate

Logis cs James Dennen, DDC-L Preven on David M. Fuller, DDC-P

h p://d7materials.org/index.php Response Donald A. Zinner, DDC-R

The center is now open Monday & Thursday 1000-1600 You can reach the center by phone during these hours at:

(727) 535-2593

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

The official publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District In this issue... 2

From the Bridge: Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz

AUXCHEFs in Training Paulette Parent, ADSO-HR/AUXCHEF

From the Bridge: John Tyson, DCOS

District Directorate Chief-Prevention David M. Fuller, DDC-P

District Captain North Robert Weskerna, DCAPT-N

What’s the Weather? Judi Bidwick, FSO-PA 86

District Captain West Melvin Manning, DCAPT-W

District Directorate Chief- Logistics James Dennen, DDC-L

District Captain East Judith Hudson, DCAPT-E

Historical Coast Guard Sites: Baltimore, Md. Alex deQuesada, District Staff Officer- Historian

Clearwater: Florida’s First Coast Guard City Karen Miller, ADSO-MT D7

District Directorate Chief- Response Donald Zinner, DDC-R

Coastie: Clearwater’s ‘First Dog’ Karen Miller, ADSO-MT D7

WWII Cutter to be Sunk Off Sanibel Island Constance Irvin, DSO-PA D7

Ocean Festival Key West Dorothy Mattern, SO-PA Division 13

Service Beyond the Call of Duty Dudley Davis, DSO-OP D7

Vessel Safety Day M.D. Schlitt, FSO-PA Flotilla 98

Betty Underwood Wins Jefferson Award Arthur Slepian, FSO-PA/PB 51

Keeping our Hawk Eyes Open Jeffery Carrier, Flotilla 13-3

National Safe Boating Week Around District 7

Sea Cadet Mission GAR a ‘Go’ Andrea Rutherfoord, Flotilla 36

Cover photo: PORT EVERGLADES, Fla.—Jan Cox from Flotilla 38 Plantation, Fla. gets friendly with Oscar. The training dummy rarely wears a hat, but at least he is in uniform on this day. Photo by Brian Lichtenstein, Flotilla 38

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

From the Bridge Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz District Commodore D7

Uncommon Strength Due to great planning and the many hours that you dedicated last month, public attendance at Seventh District’s 2012 National Safe Boating Week events was the highest on record. Your efforts have provided our District’s recreational boating public with the educational tools that will—not ent boating tragedies. traged dies. “may”— save lives and prevent unds with oopportunities ppor pp ortu tuni nities i to Your Seventh District abounds ting ng tthe he new chalfocus our member’s energyy on meeti meeting aryy as an effective and lenges of the Coast Guard Auxiliar Auxiliary Coa oast st Guard. Gua uard rd. To this efficient force multiplier forr the Coast ew sstrategies. t ategiess. tr end, we have implemented two n new Develop pme ment nt”” (OPD) “Operational Performancee Development” everall months, montths, District ExDashboard. Over the last several velopeed a da data ta m easureement ea ecutive Committee has developed measurement he dashboard dasshboard on your boat, “dashboard.” Rather like the tilla, division division and sector to this tool will allow each flotilla, erform mance in six key areas. see at a glance its specific performance Auxillia iary ry unit can monitor With the dashboard, each Auxiliary its own performance quarterly, terly, aass w well ell as the perforee wheree tthey hey are meeting mance of other units, to see

Unwavering Service

objectives and where they might improve their performance. The D7 Commodore’s Cup Award will be based upon data from this dashboard. This insures fairness in the awards for all units, regardless of size, as each will be competing against their own previous performance. “Auxiliary Mass Rescue Operations Specialist” (AMROS) Designation. Recent disasters such as HurDee ricane Katrina and Deepwater oil spill have shown the need for qualified response teams to provide suppor Our dedicated appointed mass operational support. AMROS Committee se selected 16 Auxiliarists from among some sixty appli applicants who met the commites D7 members are now retee’s requirements. These trainin as responders to Type #3 ceiving specialty training and higher incidents. The new specialty areas include Division/Group Superv Supervision, On-Scene Coordination, Landing Site Op Operations, Reception Center Contin Operations and Contingency Planning. Our new “Sector Centric” Strateg Strategic Plan requires each Sector to have a team in place b based on this pilot program. strang or mystical about these There is nothing strange ca upon your creativity and changes. They simply call ste beyond the mission and your willingness to step v bring our new strategic vision to life. th Seventh District, have the You, the members of the talents and skills that allow me to anticipate our success in achieving our goals. Be assured that, for this, I have the greatest admiration for all that you do. Ω Semper Paratus UPPER KEYS, Fla.—Conrad Sankpill, currently in training for Pollution Response Investigator in Sector Key West, opens a length of containment boom. Sankpill and others will likely go on to qualify as Auxiliary Mass Rescue Operations specialists. Photo by Patricia Gross, Flotilla 13-8 Upper Keys

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

From the Bridge John Tyson District Chief of Staﬀ By now you may have visited the new “District Dashboards” page on the Seventh District Auxiliary website. If you have not done that, you will find the “District Dashboards” tab on the left side of the member’s home page. You may also access the page directly by using the link www.cgaux7.org/D7Perf.html. When the page opens, click on the name of the flotilla or division you want, and you will see results for first quarter 2012, as well as a comparison with the results achieved in the same quarter last year. As the year progresses, the results will be posted for each quarter, and a year-to-year comparison will be posted at year end. Why is flotilla and division performance data being made available to flotillas and divisions? Because the data provides Seventh District Auxiliary units with a ready score card for measuring their performance. In addition to that, its use in decision making is universally recognized as a sound leadership practice. The data displayed graphically in the “District Dashboards” will also be important to programs that recognize units and individuals for their contribution to the organization’s success.

essential. Training in the use of data to measure and analyze performance was introduced at the district leadership training workshops earlier this year. The “District Dashboards” page on the D7 web site followed in early April. While many units have begun using dashboard data to guide action plans, more work needs to be done to ensure that all elected and staff leaders are comfortable employing the dashboard data. Additional leadership workshops are planned for the remainder of this year, and a workshop on leadership practices and the Hamilton Criteria will be conducted at the District Training Meeting (D-TRAIN ) in September. And speaking of D-TRAIN 2012, mark your calendar and plan to attend the September 20-23 meeting at the Hilton Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. The location is outstanding, and the opportunities for learning will be among the best to be offered at any district meeting! Ω

Although the use of data measurement and analysis may be new to many Auxiliarists, it has been used by Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard since 1993, when it adopted the Mal- John Tyson colm Baldridge Award Criteria as a guide for Coast Guard leadership practices. Today, a Coast Guard unit that achieves the highest level of mission effectiveness under the Malcolm Baldridge Criteria may be awarded the prestigious Alexander Hamilton Award. Not surprisingly, the Coast Guard found that guiding leadership practices by elements of the Malcolm Baldridge Criteria significantly improved goal achievement and mission effectiveness. Using measurement and analysis of data to guide leadership practices is an element of both the Malcolm Baldridge and Hamilton award criteria. When Seventh District Auxiliary leadership elected to follow the Coast Guard in using Hamilton Award Criteria as a guide for leadership practices, the use of measurement and analysis by Auxiliary units became

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

District Captain North

Robert Weskerna, DCAPT-North ...Also proudly serving! If you ever had a chance to read an email from our District Commodore (DCO) during his first year in office, you would note that he always cl loses his closes message, ““Proudly Prroou udly dlly d Serving, C OMO OMO OM COMO Walter R JJaskieask ski kie ieR.. Ja laudaabblle: e: I’m II’’m servseerv r vwicz.” The message Walter sends is laudable: ing, and I do so with pride. us su uaalllly lly aab bou out th out he Accordingly, my Breeze articles are u usually about the istricct Cap C Ca ap pttain ain No ai N orrtth members I meet in my role as District Captain North ervin ng. g. In In this th his is article, arttiiccle cle, le, le – our members who are Proudly Serving. ut fi firrrst stt a “th han nk yyo ou u”” I’ll add a few names to this list, but “thank you” note. otilla Co omma mmaan mm ndeer ooff On April 18, John Sollecito, Flotilla Commander ct 7 Execu uttiive ve C omom Flotilla 93, welcomed the District Executive Comild ldin ing in in mittee (EXCOM) to his fantasticc flotilla bui building uilding dedica ated to a Naples, Fla. Trust me, having a building dedicated single flotilla, complete with Flotilla Commander’s office, boatlift, etc., is something to be envied by the many of us who meet at Coast Guard Stations, firehouses, lighthouses, municipal buildings, etc. Thanks for your hospitality, John. The tour was great, and we wish you and your flotilla members all the best! Coming back to South Carolina from Naples, Jackie and I stopped off in Savannah to attend a Division 10 meeting and to visit with Warren Wilson, Division

Commander 10, and his group. At this meeting, I had the pleasure of speaking with the “Gepetto” (carpentercum-puppeteer) of Coastie, Don Wellons. As Division 10’s Staff Officer-Communications and Assistant District Staff Officer-Communications D7, Don is our very own Gepetto, who says he can re-build a Coastie in less than a day. This means a fully functional Coastie. Please contact Don by linking to the National Directory for members at www.cgaux7.org. He’s very capable, easy to talk to, and willing to hel help you with your Coastie issues. O nM arcch ar h 31, while atte On March attending a Division 2 meeting in A Ac kwor kw orth th th, h, G Ga a.,. I had the luck to meet Auxiliarist Miguel a., Ackworth, Ga., C Co rco, rc o F looti tilllla 23. 23 I understand 23 unde Corco, Flotilla that Miguel used to live in ssouth in outh F ou lori lo lori rida, soo p erha more than a few of you know Florida, perhaps h hi im m.. O n th he d ay we we met, Miguel was just back from an him. On the day as ssi siggn nme ment ment nt iin nB Ba arrb bad ados as a member of the Auxiliary’s assignment Barbados IIn nte terp rpre rete etteer Co orrp ps. s. H Interpreter Corps. Hee had just flown in that morning at 3 aa. .m. .m. m. bbut ut w ut aass h aap ppy to share some of his experiences a.m. was happy wi w ith hu s. II’ll s. ’’lll le lleave ave ou av ut the details of our conversation for with us. out th he sa sak ake ke of of any any security an seccu se urriity issues, i the sake but suffice it to say that tth he In Inte terrp te preetteer C Co orrp ps do the Interpreter Corps does a great service for the Coast G Gu uar ard and and ot an oother heer br her bbranches. ranche I’ve seen the spreadsheets of Guard IIn nterp prreete ter er Co C orrp ps m embe and know that we have many Interpreter Corps members re em maark ark rka kab ably ly ttalented alented indiv remarkably individuals available for this service un und nde de our Auxiliary bann der under banner. To each of you, as well as Miguel, please accept my sincere thanks for your service. As one of your district captains, I have the privilege of meeting a handful of you and listening to the details of the contributions that you make to our organization. Your talents, efforts, and accomplishments are nothing less than amazing. In spite of the occasional hiccups we all experience with the ‘system,’ you – and I – continue on – Proudly Serving. Ω

Left: NAPLES, Fla.— The home of Flotilla 93, the host of April’s EXCOM meeting. Thanks to the dedication of a number of Flotilla 93 members, this 1950s structure looks like it was built recently. Photo by RobertWeskerna

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

Top left: JACKSONVILLE, Fla.— USCG Commander James Rush stands beside Tom Hayden, Commander of Division 14, and William Sekeres, Division Vice Commander, at the Division 14 meeting held at Queen’s Harbor Recreation Room on March 24, 2012. Photo by Robert Weskerna Top right: ACKWORTH, Ga.— Bob Weskerna, District Captain North meets Miguel Corco, Staff OfficerMaterials Division 2 and member of the Auxiliary Interpreter Corps, at the division’s spring meeting held on March 31, 2012. Photo by Jackie Weskerna Below: ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. —A rebuilt Coastie makes a new, young friend. Photo provided by Don Wellons

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

District Captain West Melving Manning, DCAPT-West Following the successful television series Coast Guard Alaska, Al Roker Entertainment launched its next project highlighting the United States Coast Guard— Coast Guard Florida. The new series will focus on Coast Guard activities throughout Florida, with its production headquarters at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida.

in full swing, and Member Training is in high gear, preparing members for Qualification Examiner missions, as well as offering Auxiliary Operations classes and general knowledge training. Air and surface operations are conducting missions at a heightened pace, after the windy winter caused numerous cancelations. Much of this activity took place in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week activities.

ed, and the Aux xiliaaryy h as as Filming has already commenced, Auxiliary has n the Gulf off M exic ex ico off ff been photographed in scenes in Mexico th m crews b boarded oard oa rded rded ed A Auxiluxxxiil u ilClearwater. On April 19 , film ou Davis, Davviisss,, Flotilla F loottil Fl ill lla la ComCom miary Facility Sea Bear, with Lou Co oxxsssw waain w wain in, too fi filllm m mander 11-9 Tarpon Springs, Fla.,, C Coxswain, 0 He errcculles aaircraft ircr irc ir craf raf aft from ffrrom the training mission of a C-130 Hercules ss tthan haan iid h deeaal wea we eat atth heer h e Air Station Clearwater. Despitee less ideal weather n was waas accomplished. accco comp mplliish hed. ed d. Th Thee conditions, the filming mission Thee Weather Weath ther er Channel Ch haann nnel e television series will be offered by Th beginning in October of 2012.

The AUXCHEF program continues to grow under the tutelage of Paulette Parent, Division Commander 8 and Assistant District Staff Officer-Human Resources/ AUXCHEF, with the latest class concluding at Air Station Clearwater on the weekend of April 29. There are gradu now over forty graduates in District Seven who have ccoomp mpleted all trainin completed training requirements and are AUXCHEF CH EF qualifi qua u lified. Paulette Paul CHEF and five other AUXCHEFs s hedu sc hed he du ule led to be deployed d aree scheduled to Barbados in June to ssu upp ppooorrt one one Fo on F ood o Ser support Food Service Facility for Southern Commaand m n (SOUTHCOM). (SO OUT THCOM In mid-April, two AUXmand CHEF CH EFs assisted asssiisstted as d at at a reception for incoming cadets to CHEFs tth h hee Coast Coast Co asst Guard Gu G Gua uar ard Academy hosted by Admiral the Baum Ba umga gart rtne rtn ner. r. Th Thiis is type typ of duty is becoming fairly comBaumgartner. mon, mo n, aass iiss sserving er viing ng iin n ggalleys at numerous Coast Guard mon, facciili fa littiieess. facilities.

ins on n June JJu une ne 1, 1, 2012. 220 012 12. At At Hurricane season officially begins Condi diittiion on 4 ( Ju JJun. Jun un. n. 1 ttoo that time, Hurricane Readinesss Condition on n ffor or aall or l D ll isis Nov. 30 – Seasonal Hurricanee Condition Disffect. divisi siion ons in in the the trict Seven Units) will be in eff ect. All divisions nootifi fication cat attion west region have been diligent in finalizing notifi procedures in their flotillas. This includes preparing and maintaining current accountability membership lists to comply with District Seven and Sector St. Petersburg requirements for both heavy weather drills (e.g. Hurricane GISPERT drill at the end of May) and actual storm conditions. The flotillas have their Hurricane and Disaster Contingency Plans in place and are prepared for appropriate deployment if needed.

F in Fi naall ally, lly, ll y, the the he Auxiliary Aux uxiilliary l Finally, also continues to prepare for the Repu Re epu publ bliiccan National Naattio i nal Convention C Republican being held in Tampa in August. Aug ugus ust. t. Although Alth Al lt ough the main event will be centered in the he Tampa Tam ampa Bay Times Tim Forum, in downtown Tampa, att the dellegates will be housed hous and events scheduled in vendelegates ues from Saddlebrook Resort at Wesley Chapel, in the north, to St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach, south and west of Tampa. Numerous waterways and ports will see the impact of heightened security to process the delegates and manage the thousands of demonstrators and visitors expected in the area at that time. Auxiliary tasking is expected to support the Coast Guard and other government agencies, both afloat and ashore. Ω

The Atlantic East Auxiliary Search and Rescue Competition (ASAR) is scheduled for finals at the Coast Guard Academy in July. West Region teams, including an all-female team from Division 9, are eagerly preparing to represent District Seven. Spring is buzzing with activity at all levels. Auxiliary public affairs exhibits at local events are taking place throughout the area, involving hundreds of Auxiliarists and thousands of visitors. Public Education classes are

Photo by Brian Lichtenstein, Flotilla 38 Plantation, Fla.

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

Coming Soon on the Weather Channel

CLEARWATER, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Al Roker is greeted by Captain John Turner, Commanding Officer Air Station Clearwater, on March 21, 2012, as he arrives at the Air Station to plan the filming of his new series. Below: Roker talks about his planned series, Coast Guard Florida to the media. The series comes on the heels of the most successful Coast Guard Alaska. Photos by Deb Mallory, Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater, Florida

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

District Captain-East Judith Hudson, DCAPT-East The Eastern area of responsibility of District 7 is busy, busy, busy, and it is definitely not just “busy work.” As the rest of the Auxiliary nation, every division in the East planned many events for National Safe Boating Week, is involved in boat crew and coxswain training, p g In and many are taking part in air operations training. arning new cert tificati ion ons addition, many members are earning certifi cations Invveessti tiggaattoors rs, as Vessel Examiners, Assistantt Pollution Investigators, nt planning plannin ng with wiit w itth h sectors seecct cto torrss tor and radio watch standers. Joint eparatioon nss tto o part pa art rtic tic icip ciip pat ate and stations is taking place, preparations participate der way, waayy,, rrecruiting eecccrrru uitin ingg pl p lan ans ns in changes of command are under plans ts to sschools chooolllss by by Sea Seaa PartPaarrt rtare being developed, many visits d public pub ub blic lic aff li affairs air irs events evven ents ts are are r ners are making an impact, and Auxxiilli liarists are liar are re working woorrrkkkiing ingg transpiring. More and more, Auxiliarists thoossee on on active acttiive ac ve d utty ttoo u uty at Coast Guard units, enablingg those duty orityy duties. duti du ties. WOW! WOW WO W!! We We train and perform higher priority n area. a. a. are very active in every mission

Congratulations to both of these active flotillas! Your festivities, as well as your histories, were very impressive, and you continue to contribute significantly to our missions today!

At these celebrations, units displayed amazing historical news articles, pictures, past publications and other items commemorating their history; active and retired members educated and entertained us with stories about the accomplishments and antics of the past; delicious lunches were served; awards were presented; the appropriate anniversary streamers were attached to flotilla flags; and a wonderful fellowship for all transpired. Remembering and recounting our histories always makes us swell with pride at what our forbearers contributed to our communities and to the Coast Guard.

•

Inquire as to what mission(s) they would like to join, and let them know we can help them to do that,

•

Ask when they can participate,

•

Set a date for them to have coffee with you, attend a meeting, participate in an activity, go to a training session, etc.

•

Assign a proactive mentor.

With all of this being said about how much all flotillas and divisions are accomplishing, we return to the fact that there is always room for improvement, right? As we all know, we have talents and skills that are not being utilized, members who have become inactive, and members who are disappointed because their expectations are not being fulfilled. What percentage of our membership is actually performing all of our activities? 50%? Less? Think how much more we could do if 75% or even eve ven another 15% of our membership were actively or in nvvoolved lved lv ed. d. H ave we be involved. Have become too focused on the memberss who who ho do do attend attend t m bers meetings, go on patrols, teach public li ic education, educ ed ucaattion, uc ion and and n conduct con lic vessel exams to care about the members th m m me mb bers wee are be are not n seeing? We are part of a service the oorrga gani n za zattiioon zati n ccreated reeated e to serve and support the Coast organization Gu G uaarrd, d, our our ur local loc o al al areas area and our nation. But, don’t we Guard, haave h ave ve a responsibility res espo pons on nssib sib i iliitty to serve first our fellow shipmates? have Coom C mm maan nda dant P app co ap Commandant Papp continues to remind us to “respect oou ur shipmates.” ship sh ipm maate tes. s.” F Fo orge our Forgetting or ignoring those who are abseent from ab fro rom ou rom oour ur ttraining, rain absent meetings, and missions does ion 5 ccelebrated eelleb ebra ratteeed d not noot one, n one, not on not equal no equ uaal respect. resp re speecct. Please Ple make contact with our missIn addition to all of that, Division saries rece ent ntly ly – F lootiilllla ing iin ng members: memb memb me mber ers: s: but two Flotilla 70th anniversaries recently Flotilla aand nd F Fl loottil illa llaa 58, Ft. Pierce, commanded by Joe Walsh, an Flotilla Giive these membe G • Give members a call, nnie Mister. Theese se memmemme 59, Stuart, commanded by Lonnie ll planned l d and d executed, d • Express that h he/she h / h is missed, orable occasions were very well and a joint program of the two flotillas was held on • Learn if they need our help or support, Sunday, April 15, at Coast Guard Station Ft. Pierce. Gary Barth, Division Commander, conducted the cer- • Question why they have become inactive, emony, which was highlighted by the attendance of, and • Examine what is needed to motivate him/her to respeeches from, our own Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz gain their enthusiasm and participation, and Rear Admiral William D. Baumgartner, our Seventh District Commander. • Tell them we need their help,

Continued on page 9

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

Mentoring is not only for prospective or new members. Not all will respond, but if only a few become active again, we have better served our first customers - our shipmates, our family. We will all benefit from regaining their participation.

our results, and with the clear direction this program provides, we are improving and getting even better. We just need to constantly examine how we can continue to grow and serve, welcoming new ideas that improve our progress.

Thank you all for everything you are doing to make D7 the best. With our current Organizational Performance Measures, which offers us quarterly charts showing

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller Ω

•

Right: FT. PIERCE, Fla.—RADM William D. Baumgartner, Commander 7th District USCG, watches as Joe Walsh, Flotilla 58 Commander, cuts the cake at the 70th Anniversary celebration on April 15, 2012. Assisting is William Tejeiro, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector Miami, with Gary Barth, Commander Division 5, behind him. Photo by Terry Barth Below left: KEY WEST, Fla.— Auxiliarists Janie Gallagher and Nick McManus assist fishing instructors Mike Gorton and Jamie Connell with students Drew and Ryan Kaye during the Key West Ocean Festival on March 24, 2012. The USCG Cutter Ingham in the background. Photo submitted by D. Mattern Below right: PORT EVERGLADES, Fla.— George Kozel and Marc Brody bring aboard a raft bag, one of three hooked together that the HC 144A Ocean Sentry drops during training exercises on May 11, 2012. The two served as crew, along with fellow flotilla member Burnie Radosh, aboard the Auxiliary vessel Heartbeat, owned by Brian Lichtenstein, Flotilla 38 Plantation Fla. Photo by Brian Lichtenstein

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

Florida’s First Coast Guard City – Clearwater By Karen L. Miller, ADSO-MT D7 CLEARWATER, Fla.— Even months later, Clearwater, Florida, is still basking in the glow of being declared the 12th Coast Guard City in the United States and the first one in Florida. Enacted by law in 1998, the Coast Guard City Program is designed to recognize communities nationwide that go above and beyond in their support of the Coast Guard Family – active duty, reserves, Auxiliarists and all their families. Clearwater worked hard to earn the designation of Coast Guard City. The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, the multiple Coast Guard Stations, CLEARWATER, Fla.—Mayor Frank Hibbard and Admiral Bob Papp display the the Naval Sea Cadets, the proclamation designating Clearwater, Fla. the 12th Coast Guard City at a public Clearwater City Council, ceremony on Jan. 27, 2012. Photo by Karen Miller Clearwater Veterans Alliance, local and federal congressmen and numerous and Gulf of Mexico waters. Then there’s the Port Secuother parties all contributed to the effort. Besides the rity Unit 307, a reserve unit based in Clearwater, which formal application, the City of Clearwater submitted concerns itself with the safety of local ports and has a picture scrapbook of the long and mutually benefi- regular deployments to the Middle East. cial relationship between the city and the Coast Guard. Several members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11- The Coast Guard City celebration officially occurred on 1, Clearwater, were pivotal in supplying material for the January 27, 2012, in downtown Clearwater and was atapplication, the cover letter and the picture scrapbook. tended by hundreds of Coast Guard members and even more local citizens. The event was hosted by ClearwaWhat does it take to become a Coast Guard City? ter’s former mayor Frank Hibbard and featured Coast Clearly it’s the support of the community for the Coast Guard Commandant Bob Papp and many other federGuard members and support of the Coast Guard mem- al, state and local dignitaries. Admiral Papp and Mayor bers for the community. The City of Clearwater meets Hibbard read the proclamation declaring Clearwater a those criteria in spades! It’s home to Air Station Clear- Coast Guard City. This was followed by short speeches water, the largest air station in the Coast Guard, where from the dais. Admiral Papp concluded his remarks by the men and women of the Coast Guard support a saying, “I am absolutely delighted to see Clearwater variety of missions that extend from the local area, all named a Coast Guard City. Clearwater has a real sense the way to the Caribbean. A few miles to the west of of community. It is not just the climate that is warm – Air Station Clearwater is small boat Station Sand Key, it is the citizens. When our men and women return to home to more than 45 active duty members who are Clearwater, it’s not just a welcome home, but a welcome responsible for over 2,000 square miles of near shore home to a Coast Guard City.” Ω

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

Coastie: Clearwater’s ‘First Dog’ By Karen L. Miller, ADSO-MT D7

Jim Ryder, Commander Division 11 (left), scratches Coastie’s back while Clearwater Mayor George N. Cretekos (below) gets up close and personal with the city’s first community sponsored guide dog. Since Clearwater was recently designated a “Coast Guard City,” city officials voted to name this service dog Coastie – an affectionate name for a Coast Guardsman. Photos by Karen Miller

Captain John Turner represented Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater at Coastie’s introduction ceremony, while Petty Officer Lee Koushan attended from Coast Guard Station Sand Key. Additionally, Jim Ryder, Commander of Division 11, and Karen Miller, past Commander of Division 11, represented the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Petty Officer Koushan “pinned” Coastie’s cape with crossed anchors insignia, representing a boatswain mate in the Coast Guard. Captain Turner plans to pin wings on Coastie when he visits the Air Station, at a later date. Ω

Since becoming a Coast Guard City,

has Clearwater“Gone to the Dogs”? CLEARWATER, Fla.—On May 17, during their regular City Council Meeting, Clearwater, Florida’s mayor and council members formally introduced “Coastie,” the city’s first community-sponsored Southeastern Guide Dog in training. Since Clearwater was recently designated a “Coast Guard City,” city officials voted to name this service dog Coastie – an affectionate name for a Coast Guardsman. A fourteen week old Lab, Coastie will be in foster care for the next year, while he learns the social skills he will need when he goes into service. When ready, he will be brought to Palmetto, Florida, to the Southeastern Guide Dog headquarters to train as a guide dog for the visually impaired.

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

Ocean Festival Key West By Dorothy Mattern, Division 13 SO-PA

KEY WEST, Fla—On March 24, 2012, the city of Key West, Fla., celebrated the vibrantt marine environment of the Florida Keys with live music, educational exhibits, and activities for the youngsters, good food and more during the third annual Florida Keys Ocean Festival. The five flotillas of Division 13 combined their talents and resources, as they reached out to educate attendees about enjoying, preserving and protecting our marine environment and being safe boaters. Auxiliarists gave hundreds of pamphlets, coloring books, and stickers to eager children and their parents. Auxiliary members manned two booths, talked to many prospective members from throughout the Keys, and signed people up for both future boating safety and seamanship classes and vessel safety checks.

Truman Waterfront, the center also provides great fishing experiences for many of the youngsters. In addition, the glistening, white USCG Cutter Ingham is docked at Truman Waterfront, just a short distance away from the festival. After 50 years of around the world service, this impressive cutter is now a maritime museum and national historic landmark.

Presented by Mote Marine Laboratory, the Ocean Fest event was free to all, and it was estimated that it attracted more than 6,000 people of all ages. Connie Irwin, District 7 District Staff Officer-Public Affairs; Armando Ingratta and Ray Knoll made the trip from Ft. Myers to Key West and brought along their Coastie. The children loved interacting with this moving-talking The Visitor Center, created by Mote Marine Labora- boat; some even had the opportunity to handle the contory for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, trols. Temporary Coastie tattoos were put on dozens of highlights the region’s unique ecosystem with exhib- outstretched arms. its of a living reef, as well as the above-water habitats The fishing booth estimated that over 500 children atof a variety of marine wildlife. Located on Key West’s tended fishing seminars, quickly learning how to use a fishing rod and reel. Over 100 free rods and r reels were awarded to children between the a ages of 5 and 11 years of age, and the spons could have given away many more. sors N Nearby, Auxiliarists provided a variety of p personal flotation devices for children to try o while explaining to their parents proper on s size and fit, and using the opportunity to t teach key points about boating safety and h to protect our priceless marine environhow m ment. F Flotilla 13-2 from Marathon and 13-4 from O Ocean Reef each brought and set up their “ “trash games” to educate players about how l long it takes for typical trash items thrown KEY WEST, Fla.—Tom Meyer helps Officer Snook (Kristy Meyer) give out stickers to children at the Mar. 24 Ocean Festival in Key West. The children were thrilled to interact with and hug the big fish. Photo by Dorothy Mattern

Volume LVIII

into the water to disintegrate. All ages really seem to enjoy this game and players are always amazed at the facts they learn. Officer Snook made several appearances throughout the day. The recent emphasis on, and increased frequency of marine safety programs in, the Keys’ elementary schools means that many children readily identify Officer Snook and the Coast Guard Auxiliary as part of their school lessons. There seems to be something special about hugging this big silver fish! Many thanks should go to Division 13’s Tom and Kristy Meyer and Sue Redding for their dedicated work with Snook on such a warm day. A variety of crafts people, food booths, marine artists, and two dozen other exhibitors and vendors spotlighted the Keys’ conservation efforts and the work of its non-profit organizations. A silent auction offered an assortment of art, crafts and water adventures, with something for everyone. All proceeds from the day’s activities went to support Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral reef restoration and research programs. Division 13 was proud to be a major part of this marine safety and environmental protection event. Five flotillas, spanning 125 miles, combined their time, resources and talents to make this Ocean Festival a special day for all. Ω

Top: Tatoo for You: Connie Irwin, District Staff Officer-Public Affairs District 7 applies a tattoo on a youngster’s arm while his sister keeps an eye on Coastie. Bottom: Auxiliary Air Crewman Nick McManus chats with local mermaid about protecting our marine environment at the Key West Ocean Festival on March 24. McManus is the current Flotilla Vice Commander, 13-3 Big Pine Key, Fla. Photos by Dorothy Mattern

Issue 2

Summer 2012

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

Vessel Safety Day 2012 By M.D. Schlitt, FSO-PA, Flotilla 98 PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Even brief experience with recreational boaters confirms the need for “hands-on” instruction in the use of the safety equipment required on recreational vessels. Most boaters have no experience using their safety equipment, and the middle of an emergency is no time to learn. So, for the second year, Flotilla 98 put on a “Vessel Safety Day” in Punta Gorda, Florida. Boaters lack familiarity with their safety equipment because it is illegal to set off a visual safety device (VDS) unless a real emergency exists; because boaters rarely willingly set a fuel fire or “waste” a Fire Suppression System device for practice; and because boaters rarely voluntarily jump overboard to test their life jackets. Interviews with recreational boaters told us that they need such “hands-on” instruction for Visual Distress Signals (flares/pyrotechnic devices), Fire Suppression Systems (fire extinguishers), and Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets). Preparation for the event required coordinating with Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, which created the Securite message that our Watchstanders and Sector St. Petersburg broadcast every 30 minutes; the Punta Gorda Fire Department, which supplied the fuel-fed fire pan and the fire apparatus; and the Dockmaster of Laishley Marina, who let us use the marina’s sea-wall for the clinic. The Charlotte County Sheriff, Punta Gorda Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers were also notified of the event in case they received reports from the public about aerial flares. Even so, we stationed an Auxiliary vessel just off-shore to keep any curious boaters outside the firing area.

B f i i di h d their h i VDS h heard h da Before participants discharged VDS, they brief lecture on what constitutes an emergency, and why boaters need to have a Marine VHF radio and know how to use it. I also showed the six types of VDS usually carried by recreational boaters, including a handheld flare; a hand-held smoke aerial “sky blazer”; a 12 gauge flare gun; a 25mm. flare gun; and Safety of Life at Seas (SOLAS) parachute rocket flares. West Marine of Punta Gorda again graciously provided in-date flares for all types except the last two so we could compare them with the expired ones that we used in our demonstration.

Members of Flotilla 98 who devoted their time to this worthy event included Renee Plant, Ronald Dressler, E. Michael English, Stephen Kapin, Kenneth Johnson, John Ghougasian and Thomas Gramza. These members ensured safety by monitoring the participants and ensuring that no one handled a VDS before they reached the firing line, and ensuring that each participant received individual attention when their turn came. Additionally, member participants included the two radio watchstanders, Richard Sikorski and Kenneth Johnson, and the crews of the two Auxiliary vessels that provided In addition, the flotilla had a Recreational Boating Safety booth adjacent to the demonstration area where the safety zone. Continued on page 15

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Summer 2012

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.— Previous page: Ken Johnson participates in the Punta Gorda Vessel Safety Day event by serving as radio watchstander in the Flotilla 98 Mobile Radio Van. Above: Mitch Schlitt demonstrates orange smoke flare on Laishley Marina waterfront located along the Peace River. In the background is the Flotilla 98 vessel with coxswain Robert Knabe and crewmembers Frank Wondolkowski and Richard Kenyon aboard. Photos by Dick Carl Continued from page 14

all five types of life jackets were available to try on. Of course, they also had boating safety literature and signup sheets for classes, vessel examinations and Auxiliary membership.

“Please extend my thanks to the Coast Guard Auxiliary for the demonstrations they held this weekend. Sunday’s presenter was excellent. As he said, you have to carry this equipment but you can’t practice with it. I learned a lot and the presentation answered all my questions.”

Although the number of participants was less than anticipated, everyone who attended expressed their grati“I had customers in West Marine today letting me know tude to the Flotilla 98 team. As far as the team was that they were very pleased with the demonstration.” concerned, if their demonstration saved the life of even Preparation will soon be underway for Vessel Safety one recreational boater, then they did their job. Day 2013! Ω Two comments received afterwards confirm that conviction:

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

Keeping Our ‘Hawk’ Eyes Open By Jeffrey C. Carrier, Flotilla 13-3 Big Pine Key, Fla., and Flotilla 26-4 Alpena, Mich. Among the assets available to Hawkeye and Sector is “Fat Albert,” an aerial observation platform, most commonly called a blimp, but among more technically savvy personnel, called a Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS). Assets of the United States Air Force, this series of balloons is positioned from California to Florida and on Puerto Rico, providing unbroken radar coverage along the entire southern border of the US. Coast Guardsmen from Sector Key West, Auxiliary members from Flotillas 13-3 and 13-1, as well as local firefighters and law enforcement personnel were treated to a First Responder Open House on February 23, 2012. There, they observed the “care and feeding” of Fat Albert, a term given to the blimp decades ago by locals accustomed to seeing the ship flying above its home on Cudjoe Key. At the open house, these first responders learned how to recover the blimp in the event of a breakaway and downing of the ship in local waters, including procedures for how to secure the scene and how to protect the public from the many lines and support equipment associated with the balloon.

CUDJOE KEY, Fla. Emergency responders from the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and local firefighters and law enforcement agencies learn the equipment and procedures used to launch and recover “Fat Albert”, a Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), in “flight” above Cudjoe Key, in the Florida Keys. Photograph Jeffrey C. Carrier. CUDJOE KEY, Fla.—Among the many operational tasks performed by members of Flotilla 13-3 Big Pine Key, Florida, and Flotilla 13-1 Key West is the assistance flotilla members provide to Sector Key West in standing “Hawkeye” watches. These special watch standers assist the Coast Guard with maintaining port security in the busy region of southernmost Florida, an active area for recreational boating activity and for the transit of international boat and ship traffic. Sector Key West must routinely deal with illegal immigrants and potential drug smugglers. News reports abound with tales of successful interdictions by evervigilant Coast Guard assets from Key West, Marathon, and Islamorada. Flotilla Hawkeye watch standers often assist by identifying vessels that might require closer scrutiny by active duty personnel.

Fat Albert is another hard working, never-tiring “watch stander” used by Team Coast Guard helping active duty Coast Guard and Auxiliary personnel to assure safe boating and port security in the busy region of south Florida. Ω

Volume LVIII

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Summer 2012

Sea Cadet Mission GAR is a “Go”. Story and photos by Andrea Rutherfoord, Youth Programs Coordinator for Flotilla 36

BOCA RATON, Fla.—Flotilla 36 has had a relationship with the Delray Boca Sea Cadets since late 2010, when Auxiliarists began to offer the cadets classroom training including “About Boating Safely,” marlinespike, and marine radio operations. This spring, we received approval to conduct underway training and held our first on-the-water mission, on an overcast Sunday, April 22. It proved to be an outstanding success. Coxswain Mike Hanuschak’s 65’ facility had ample room for the 16 persons on board. Back at the flotilla’s base, radio watchstanders Jon Derr and Herman Feldman took up the radio guard. Before casting off, Coxswain Mike briefed both Auxiliarists and cadets about the mission and stepped them through a pre-mission fitness determination known as a “GAR,” in which crew members evaluate the complexity of the mission itself, the conditions under which they will have to operate, and the fitness of the crew to perform the mission on that day. The result of that evaluation determines whether the mission gets a “green light” (“G”), amber (“A”) or red (“R”); hence the acronym “GAR.” On this day, the

mission rating said “Go.” Just as each new Auxiliarist gets a mentor, so each Sea Cadet on the mission received a trainer who stayed with him/her for the entire mission. The teams rotated stations throughout the mission stations, working through each task, without interfering with its regular crew. Training tasks included knots (and cleating), aids to navigation checks, anchoring, and a man-overboard drill. Both Auxiliarists and Sea Cadets rated the mission a success and look forward to participating in future missions together. Ω Left: Member Tom Kegan teaches a young cadet how to correctly call the radio guard to report location and conditions. Top: Trainer Jim Goldasich stands bow lookout with a sea cadet. The cadets changed assignments several times while on board to learn the various tasks and stations.

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

They Heard. They Came. They Saw and They Did:

AUXCHEFs in Training. By Paulette R. Parent ADSO-HR/AUXCHEF

CLEARWATER, Fla.— Under the watchful eyes of FS2 Forrest Backman, U.S. Coast Guard (rear), and Instructor Paulette Parent (in white), students Bernardo Alicea, Carlos Velez, and Brian Garry (behind Parent) make mashed potatoes at the Clearwater Air Station galley in March 2012. Toni Borman, Instructor, is partially obscured by Parent. Photo by Judy Bidwick CLEARWATER, Fla.—They came to Clearwater from Divisions 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11. Their trip was not funded and all of their expenses were out-of-pocket. They received no mileage reimbursement, no hotel reimbursement, no meal or per diem reimbursement, and yet they came and they were happy to be there! What can produce such a dedicated response from Auxiliarists? It was the Auxiliary Chef (AUXCHEF) Program offered at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater March 23-25, 2012. Under the direction of Paulette Parent, Assistant District Staff Officer – Human Resources/AUXCHEF, along with Toni Borman, Instructor, and Ara Charder, Instructor, the future AUXCHEFs met for class at 9 a.m. on Friday. Most of the stu-

dents had already visited the Air Station Clinic earlier that morning to receive the first of two Hepatitis-A inoculations. (The second is administered after six months.) Between Friday morning and Saturday evening, the eight students were taught subjects ranging from nutrition to sanitation, spice and herb identification, and correct knife handling. Everyone, including some spouses, gathered for dinner Friday evening at a local Italian restaurant and soon were like a family, sharing stories and united in their efforts to become AUXCHEFs. By Sunday morning the original group of strangers were working with the Food Service personnel in the Air Station’s galley, preparing omelets, pancakes, Continued on 19

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Summer 2012

The final group gathering after llunch was filled with praise for the A AUXCHEF program. Such a great ssense of accomplishment that it virttually permeated the room! All the sstudents were eager to return home aand continue training with their resspective active duty stations. They w were confident that they would ccomplete their personal qualificattions (PQ s) to become fully qualified AUXCHEFS as soon as posssible. Many were anxious to serve iin Coast Guard galleys or aboard ccutters and to help with Auxiliary ffunctions. O Once again, the AUXCHEF proggram has inspired a growing cadre oof Auxiliarists who are anxious to sserve. Ω ((For more information on the AUXC CHEF program in District 7 please ccontact Paulette Parent ADSO-HR/ A AUXCHEF.)

Top: Toni Borman, Instructor, supervises as Jim Scholz and Stu Landau carve a pork roast in the United States Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater etc., and serving breakfast “on the line” to military per- galley during the AUXCHEF training Mar. 23-25, sonnel. They were learning hands-on techniques and 2012. Photo by Judi Bidwick performing the lessons they had learned in the classroom, and they were smiling and enjoying what they Below: Students and Instructors of the AUXCHEF were doing. Many were actually surprised at how far program conducted Mar. 23-25, 2012, pose in front they had progressed in just three short days. Before atof the Albatross, the HC-130 Hercules aircraft at the tending the program, some were barely able to boil wa- entrance to United States Coast Guard Air Station ter while others had extensive experience in the kitchen. Clearwater Annex. From left are Judy Bidwick, Jim All were now working as a well-oiled machine prepar- Scholz, Ara Charder (Instructor), Brian Garry, Eileen ing a full lunch menu including soup, boneless pork Garcia, Carlos Velez, Stu Landau, Paulette Parent loin, garlic mashed potatoes and Southern-style (fresh) (Instructor). Kneeling are Bernardo Alicea and Joseph Corrigan. Photo by: Toni Borman green beans.

Continued from page 18

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

District Directorate Chief-Prevention David M. Fuller, DDC-P Teamwork – Webster defines this as the action or effort of people working together as a group. For our programs to reach their maximum potential, we must rely on cooperation and assistance from others. Single individual efforts cannot obtain the same overall program results as a well-organized team. One example is in Public Education. The Flotilla Staff Officer – Public Education must carefully consider the game plan for their program. They must decide which classes to offer, when and where to offer them, and put together a team of Instructors to conduct the classes. This is where the team becomes critically important. No matter how well your Instructors perform, unless you have students in the seats, all the earlier efforts at organizing and preparing for the classes will not bear fruit for your flotilla. You need help from your Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Affairs to get the word out with local news media, newspapers, radio stations, etc. You need help from your Flotilla Staff Officer-Vessel Examination and the team of Vessel Examiners. They need to have brochures with class schedules to hand out at every Vessel Examination performed. You need the help of the Flotilla Staff Officer-Program Visitor and the

Program Visitation team to keep the racks full of class schedule brochures. Don’t forget your flotilla membership – they are some of your best sources for referrals with friends, relatives, and general acquaintances they make at the supermarket, library, health club, church, work, and everywhere else they go. For a list of ideas to increase attendance at your Public Education classes, go to the 7th District Website at http://cgaux7.org/ and click on “Members Section” and “What’s New in D7.” Thanks to Judith Hudson, District Captain–East, and her team for putting this list together. We welcome your suggestions to add to this list. If something different has worked for your flotilla, please share it so others can benefit from your successes. Other than dues, Public Education is one of the primary sources of revenue for many flotillas, and success or failure to put students in the seats can have a substantial financial impact for your flotilla. Flotillas with successful Public Education programs share many similar characteristics, starting with a positive attitude. Our most successful flotillas have overcome the roadblocks of competition from the Internet, state programs, and other courses, some of them free and some paid. Ask yourself - why should someone pay us to take a class when they can get one for free? First, we can offer many classes not available elsewhere. Go to the National Continued on page 21

VENICE, Fla.—Lou Magyar throws out life jackets to participants at a Boating Skills and Seamanship class and asks them to don the jackets quickly. This brief hands-on demonstration, which emphasizes making sure that life jackets fit persons on board, may result in a somewhat humorous situation in a classroom but could result in grim consequences in a real emergency. Photo by Judy Bidwick, FSO-PE 86

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Spring break for schoolchildren in Broward County means a week of free classes at local YMCA for children 2-10 years old including this “drown proofing” lesson presented on March 27 by Auxiliary members Ron Hady, Flotilla 31, and Dave Cox, Jan Cox, Brian Lichtenstein (shown here beside the front canoe), and Marie Duda, all from Flotilla 38 Plantation. The Auxiliarists taught the little ones about safety in and around water, the importance of wearing properly sized life jackets, and even brought along a canoe, kayak and a surfboard for the youngsters to try out. Photo by Dave and Jan Cox Continued from page 20

Public Education website and look at all the possible courses you can offer. Most Flotillas have never considered all the options. Second, you must add value to the class as an Instructor. Hands on demonstrations, close interaction with other students and Instructors, props in the class – if you are not using these, you are not

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands— David Richardson, Air Observer and Commander of Flotilla 16-2 St. Thomas, conducts a Recreational Boating Safety Program Visit at Alliance Aviation before flying a mission on May 26, 2012, during National Safe Boating Week. Photo by C.C. Kreglo

adding value. Our students don’t want someone to read a slide to them! They can do that on-line. When done properly, your students will feel that it was a good use of their time and they become great sources for referrals. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth. It is one of your Continued on page 22

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

Continued from page 21

most important and effective recruiting tools for students, and prospective members for your flotilla. By the time you read this, National Safe Boating Week will be completed. Many flotillas and divisions planned special activities for this critical event as we kicked off the boating season nationwide. Let us hear about what you did so we can add your ideas to our list for next year. Member Training continues at a torrid pace across the District, with so many different training opportunities that it would take just about the entire Breeze to list them all. Member Training is flourishing in District 7. In Marine Safety, Lyle Letteer, District Staff Officer-Marine Safety, reports that, so far this year, he has turned in paperwork for four Trident awards and 20 Marine Safety Training Ribbons (MSTRs). He has also assumed the duties of the Verifying Officer for the Commercial Fishing Vessel Program at Sector Charleston and is currently the only Certified Fishing Vessel Examiner at Sector Charleston. In Navigation Systems, David Cawton, District Staff Officer-Navigation Systems, reports increased Navigation Systems verification activity and additional training classes to prepare members to sign off their Navigation Systems-Personal Qualification Standards. LEXINGTON, S.C.—Festus Burchfield, a member of the Coast In Vessel Examinations, Chuck Kelemen, Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-6 East Cooper, S.C., and of the Lake District Staff Officer-Vessel Examination, Murray Safety Consortium, conducts a Vessel Safety Check and reports that we are picking up momentum shares boating safety literature with a recreational boater on Jun. 3, 2012, on Lake Murray. Photo by Barbara Burchfield as the season for Vessel Safety Checks moves into high gear. Chuck reminds us to make sure that your Flotilla Commander carefully As we move into the prime boating season of summer, reviews all Facility Offers for Use before submitting. remember that you can make a difference by actively Far too many of them have been returned as incomplete participating with your flotilla, no matter what your or incorrect. Many of those errors should have been area of interest. It takes all of us working together as a caught before being submitted. This causes unnecessary team to help improve boating safety for the public and delays and extra work for all involved. Let’s get them to support our partners and the Coast Guard. Ω right the first time when initially submitting.

Volume LVIII

Issue 2

Summer 2012

What’s The Weather? Make it Real. Judi Bidwick, FSO-PA Flotilla 86 Venice VENICE, Fla.—Teaching weather to recreational boaters is a challenge. If you’re too scientific, you turn the class off. If you make the lesson too light, you’re not really offering anything more than they get on the weather channel. Instructors can use visual aids that create an awareness of everything from cloud formations to the effects of lightning. Balloons, cotton balls, a bowl of water, a fan can recreate for a class much more than a PowerPoint picture. Often we tie our Boating Skills and Seamanship lessons to the PowerPoint that is handed to us from the national site with little or no revision to suit our particular area. This handicaps the class and the instructor. Revising the PowerPoint presentations to include pictures and information from your local area brings a realistic view of what you want students to see and learn. Taking a picture of a local inlet, showing the inset of a local chart, displaying pictures of local signage that includes lateral markers, buoys, manatee zones, no wake and minimum wake zones, bridge lights and heights are just a few of the things that can be added to make your lesson more interesting and real for the boaters in your class. This gives your students a picture of what they will see in their area on the water.

John Kandes, an instructor at Flotilla 86 Venice, uses cotton balls to show towering cumulus clouds and rubs two balloons together to demonstrate static electricity, which generates lightening in clouds. To show how heat is generated and air is cooled, he lights a very short cigarette, places the cigarette in his fist, and then blows on it. The cigarette disappears, much the way weather dissipates. Not all instructors are magicians and can pull this off, but it certainly gets the attention of the class. Judi Bidwick teaches the signs from the Boating Skills and Seamanship Chapter 13. She has modified most of the slides to include local bridges and signage, with particular emphasis on no wake and slow speed zones. She uses pictures of boats that are overloaded with passengers, and photos that show what a hull and stern look like when they are speeding through a no-wake zone. Additionally, she includes the state and federal fines for feeding wildlife, since a local dolphin named Beggar frequents their intra-coastal waters near one of the popular restaurants on the water. Lou Magyar, another instructor at Flotilla 86 in Venice, throws out various types and sizes of life jackets to the class and asks the students to don them quickly. This brief hands-on demonstration emphasizes making sure that life jackets on board fit the passengers, something that should be done before a boat leaves the dock and n after an emergency occurs. not I summary, modify the standard, generic slides with In s slides that show a relationship to the local area where y teach and live, and use interesting and relevant you h hands-on demonstrations. Students will better learn a about cloud formations and fog and will show more i interest when they recognize local fuel docks, boat r rentals, bridges, islands, inlets, water towers, restaur rants, docking areas, beaches, and lighted markers. Ω VENICE, Fla.—John Kandes, Instructor at Flotilla 86 in Venice, is popular with the students for his many creative demonstrations, including cotton cumulus clouds, when teaching the weather portion of the Boating Skills and Seamanship program. To compete with Internet and free venues, flotillas must add value to training offered to the public. Photo by Judi Bidwick, Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Education 86

U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

District 7

Breeze

District Directorate Chief-Logistics JamesDennen, DDC-L In this issue of Breeze, we introduce you to someone who is no stranger to many in District 7, Alex deQuesada, our District Staff Officer-Historian. Alex is a professional his-

torian who has worked for both private and government agencies as a historical researcher and consultant. He is the author of a host of articles, books and publications. The Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and other maritime themes are frequent subjects of his writings. We are proud to call Alex one of our own.

Historical Coast Guard Sites: Baltimore, Maryland Article and photographs by A.M. de Quesada, District Staff Officer- Historian D7 Baltimore is rich in maritime history, especially to those dealing with the United States Coast Guard. Within the city’s harbor is a collection of “Historic Ships in Baltimore.” Amongst these are three relics of interest for devoted “Coastie” history buffs. The sites are a short walk from each other: USCGC Taney, Lightship Chesapeake, and the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse. The US Coast Guard Cutter Taney is one of the famed Secretary/Treasury Class Coast Guard cutters built in the mid 1930s that saw extensive service in war and

peace for half a century. Taney’s keel was laid on May 1, 1935, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was built alongside three of her sister ships, Campbell, Duane and Ingham. At 327 feet long, with a beam of 41 feet, and originally displacing 2000 tons, Taney was designed for peacetime missions of law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime patrol. Her original armament consisted of two 5”/51 caliber deck guns, and two six-pounder saluting guns. Taney was also originally equipped to carry a Grumman JF-2 “ “Duck” float plane. The Taney was in P Pearl Harbor at t the time of the J Japanese surprise a attack on Decemb 7, 1941. Durber i ing the war, she s served in both t the Atlantic and P Pacifi c Theatres. W Worthy to note t that during April a May of 1945, and a the height of the at c campaign, Taney w under frequent was

USCGC Taney in Baltimore city’s harbor.

Continued on page 25

Volume LVIII

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The Chesapeake, once known as Light Vessel 116 of the United States Lighthouse Service, was decommisioned in 1971 and is now one of three Coast Guard vessels maintained by the Historical Ships of Baltimore group. Continued from page 24

attack and was credited with destroying four Kamikaze planes and one “Betty” bomber during 119 separate engagements in which her crew stood to battle stations.

sel still in commission that had seen action during the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Hawaii. Consequently, from that time on, she was often referred to as “The Last Survivor of Pearl Harbor.” On December 7, 1986, after more than 50 years of continuous service, Taney was decommissioned at Portsmouth, Virginia, and donated to the City of Baltimore to serve as a memorial and museum.

After World War II, the Taney resumed to her peacetime duties, only returning to military service briefly during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. By the late 1960s, Taney had become the last United States ves- Lightship 116 was built in 1930 at Charleston Drydock and Machine Company in CharlesA tour of the USCGC Taney reveals many artifacts from her service ton, S.C., for $274,434.00. Lightship during World War II. She is often referred to as, “The Last Survivor of 116 took on the name of whatever Pearl Harbor.” station she was anchored at. The ship w absorbed into the United States was C Coast Guard in 1939, as were all vesssels in the United States Lighthouse S Service.

S Since 1820, several lightships have s served at the Chesapeake lightship s station and have been called Chesap peake. It was common for a lightship t be reassigned from one Lightto s ships Station to another and thus “ren named” and identified by its new stat tion name. Even though the “name” c changed during a Lightships service l life, the hull number never changed. H However, the Coast Guard did asContinued on page 25

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sign a new hull number in April 1950 to all Lightships still in service on that date. After that date, Light Ship /Light Vessel 116 was known by the new Coast Guard Hull number: WAL 538. The Coast Guard further modified all Lightship hull designations from WAL to WLV, so Chesapeake became WLV 538.

Chesapeake’s last tour of duty was from 1966 to 1970, at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, where she was named “Delaware.” A large 104-ton buoy beacon replaced her at this sta- The USCGC Taney’s illustrious World War II credits for destroying four tion in 1970. After leaving Kamikaze planes and one “Betty” bomber during 119 separate engagements is Delaware Bay, Chesapeake proudly emblazoned above the main deck. was moored in Cape May, New Jersey, until her decommissioning on January 6, 1971. She was then transferred to the National Park Service and used as a sea-going environmental education classroom until she was handed over to the city of Baltimore in 1982. The Seven Foot Knoll Light was built in 1855 and is the oldest screw-pile lighthouse in Maryland. It was initially installed on a shallow shoal, Seven Foot Knoll, at the mouth of the Patapsco River. The northern reach of this river is the Baltimore Harbor, where the nowdecommissioned lighthouse has been placed as a museum. The sites are managed and operated by the “Historic Ships in Baltimore,” a group devoted to preserving our nation’s maritime history. In addition to the Coast Guard vessels, the group maintains the USS Constellation, a Civil War era Sloop-of-War, and the USS Torsk, a World War Two era submarine. When you visit them, your entrance fees and donations go into the continuing maintenance and preservation of these relics of our past. Ω Right: Seven Foot Knoll, once deployed at the mouth of the Patapsco River, was built in 1855 and is the oldest screw-pile lighthouse in Maryland.

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District Directorate Chief-Response Donald Zinner, DDC-R Conflict Management

Ditrict Seven Operations-East

By Donald Zinner Overall conflict management should aim to minimize affective conflicts at all levels, attain and maintain a moderate amount of substantive conflict, and use the appropriate conflict management strategy. In order for conflict management strategies to be effective, they should satisfy certain criteria. •

Organization Learning and Effectiveness— conflict management strategies should be designed to enhance critical and innovative thinking to improve diagnosis and intervention.

•

Needs of Stakeholders— Sometimes multiple parties are involved in a conflict in an organization, and the challenge of conflict management would be to involve all parties in a problem solving process that will lead to collective learning and will improve organizational effectiveness.

•

Ethics— A wise leader must behave ethically. To do so the leader should be open to new information and be willing to change his or her mind. By the same token, subordinates and other stakeholders have an ethical duty to speak out against the decisions of supervisors when consequences of these decisions are likely to be serious.

Steps to Manage 1. Anticipate – Take time to obtain information that can avert conflict. 2. Prevent – Develop strategies before the conflict occurs. 3. Identify – If it is interpersonal or procedural, move to quickly manage it. 4. Manage – Remember that conflict is emotional 5. Resolve – React, without blame, and you will learn through dialogue. Ω

Top PORT EVERGLADES, Fla.—George Kozel and Marc Brody recover a barrel dropped by an HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft on May 11 during a routine training mission. The two served as crew, along with fellow member Burnie Radosh, aboard the Auxiliary vessel Heartbeat, owned by Brian Lichtenstein, Flotilla 38 Plantation Fla. Below: PORT EVERGLADES, Fla.— Heartbeat, an Auxiliary vessel from Flotilla 38 Plantation, Fla., conducts training with an HH-65 Dolphin from Miami on March 19. Crew members included Dave Cox at helm, George Kozel, Mike Sokasits and Brian Lichtenstein as crew. George Kozel is pictured letting go of the trail line. Photos by Brian Lichtenstein

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Ditrict Seven Operations-North CHARLESTON, S.C. — Flotilla 12-8 Charleston crew members Paul Berka and Barbara Thibodeaux stow dock lines and fenders, preparing to get underway from USCG Station Charleston for a regatta safety patrol in support of the Charleston Sail Boat Races on April 22, 2012. Nearly 260 racing teams participated in the three-day event. Not shown is Joe Fleming, coxswain. Photo by James Bird, Flotilla Staff OfficerPublic Affairs, Flotilla 12-8 Charleston.

Ditrict Seven Operations-West

TAMPA, Fla.—David Rockwell, member of Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, stands radio guard on March 24, 2012, at Tampa Radio One located at Flotilla 79 in Tampa during the Division 7 Boat Crew Training Program. Division 7 has successfully combined its flotillas’ resources to present Member Training programs for several years. Photo by Dottie Riley

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World War II Coast Cutter Mohawk to be sunk off Sanibel Island By Constance Irvin, District Staff Officer-Public Affairs D7 FORT MYERS, Fla.— Coast Guard Auxiliary facility Carol D from Flotilla 9-10 runs perimeter security for the 165- foot World War II Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, as it is towed under the Matanzas Bridge near Fort Myers Beach. The Carol D’s crew is Dan Godfrey, coxswain; Dick Huczek, and Jack Salis crew, all members of Flotilla 9-10, Fort Myers/Cape Coral Florida. The Mohawk, which was commissioned in 1935, saw action in the Atlantic as a convoy escort and is credited with engaging 14 German U-boats in battle. After the war it was declared surplus material and was sold to a private company which used it as a pilot boat on the Delaware River for over thirty years. Most recently, it became the property of the MiamiDade Historic Maritime Museum Inc. However, maintaining the vessel became too expensive and it was donated to Lee County. Utilizing a grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District, the county had the vessel towed from Key West to the Fort Myers area. It will be stripped of all hazardous material and, in July of 2012, it will be sunk 16 miles off Sanibel Island in about 60 feet of water. Its final resting place will serve as an artificial reef and a veteran’s memorial. County officials believe it will attract tourism dollars from divers and from fishermen who will be drawn to the site.

For some, the scuttling of the vessel will be a sad passing for such a gallant ship. Others recognize that, as an artificial reef, the Mohawk will live on to serve man and marine life for another 80 years. Ω

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Service Beyond the Call of Duty By Dudley Davis, District Staff Officer-Operations, D7

CLEARWATER, Fla.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;On a Tuesday morning in April, the Auxiliary facility that was scheduled to be the target and pickup boat for an HC-130 Hercules aircraft drops suffered a mechanical failure. This wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t normally be a tragedy since the mission would just have been cancelled and training for the Air Station Clearwater pilots and crew would be rescheduled for another day. However, during that week, the Air Station personnel were going through their biannual Standardization (STAN) Team flight checks. For those who have never experienced one, think of it as a super Qualification Examiner (QE) recertification. Since these drops and flights were vital for the Air Station crew and pilots

to maintain their qualifications, cancellation was not an option. At the same time that Tuesday, Ed Kasper, coxswain, aboard his Auxiliary facility Ghost was at Coast Guard Station Sand Key as the training boat. He and his crew were scheduled to undergo a vigorous Ready for Operations (AUX-RFO) evaluation by CWO Morgan Dudley, Commanding Officer. Mr. Dudley attempts to get all the Auxiliary crew and facilities evaluated prior to the start of the active search and rescue (SAR) season. When Ed and his crew learned of the Air Station dilemma, they agreed to postpone their AUX-RFO examination and perform the STAN Team patrol instead. They agreed even though they had never participated in a Hercules drop mission before. They had heard stories from the crews and coxswains who have been doing these missions for years now, but they were newcomers to the experience, themselves. To accomplish this mission, they had to travel north almost 20 miles to pick up the Air Station ground crew and then transit out about six miles into the Gulf of MexContinued on page 31

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ico. Once there, they stood by in two to three foot seas while two Hercules aircraft dropped flares and bags simulating rafts and pumps near their position, and then picked up these bags with over 200 feet of line between each one. They then had to reverse the trip: return from the Gulf of Mexico, offload the wet and heavy bags at the boat ramp, drop off the ground crew and travel about 20 miles south back to Station Sand Key. The crew aboard Ghost certainly showed what the Auxiliary is made up of â&#x20AC;&#x201C; devotion to duty and a willingness to adapt and go beyond what is expected. Bravo Zulu to Ed and Teresa Kasper, Harry Bickford and Rob Mancuso, the crew aboard Ghost from Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater. ÎŠ

Photographs Previous page, top: CLEARWATER, Fla.-The crew of the Ghost photographs one of two HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Clearwater preparing to drop flares and bags to the Auxiliary vessel standing by below about six miles into the Gulf. Previous page, below: Ed Kasper, coswain aboard the Ghost, at the helm as the Auxiliary vessel and its crew heads out into the Gulf to participate in the HC-130 Hercules aircraft biannual Standardization (STAN) Team flight checks. This page, top: The Ghost and its crew spots one of the loads dropped by the HC-130 Hercules aircraft. Below: The Auxiliary vessel Ghost and its crew tow a disabled vessel near Clearwater. The crew is Ed and Teresa Kasper, Harry Bickford and Rob Mancuso. Photographs provided by Karen Miller, Staff Officer-Member Training and Publications Division 11

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Betty Underwood Wins local Thomas Jefferson Award for 2012 Article and photos submitted by Arthur Lloyd Slepian, FSO-PB/PA 51 PALM BEACHES, Fla.—If you get an e-mail from After saying she needed a “portable ocean” to make her Betty Underwood, be sure to read the six words at point with the children, her husband said, “Make one.” the bottom of the page. “One Person, One World, One So, she did. Chance.” It’s Betty’s message. “I went into the bedroom and pulled a plastic sweater The creator of what has come to be called the Marine storage box from under the bed,” Betty says. After empDebris/Garbage Game in the 2012 Auxiliary National tying the box and deciding to give the sweaters to a Supply Center Catalog says she was looking for a way charitable organization, she had the beginning of her to bring her message to future environmentalists. She ocean. specifically had five and six-year-old children in mind Although it was 11 p.m., her husband, Jim, started because they are “the ones who could make a difference. painting the bottom of the box beige. Betty went over They are the ones who can influence their parents and the seawall near her home in Stuart and came back with grandparents.” a bag of sand. The sand was sprinkled on the wet paint But Betty, who served as Flotilla 51’s Marine Safety and became the ocean floor. An artist friend volunteered staff officer during 2010 and 2011, wanted to find a vi- to paint the inside of the box to look like an ocean. sual way to reach the children. “I needed something they “We have waves and fish, and boats and birds,” Betty could interact with,” says Betty. “I needed a game.” says. “Yes, we have an ocean.” The shape of the game, which she called Trolling for Unfortunately, these days, an ocean needs trash to be reTrash, began in 2009 with a comment to her husband. alistic. “We took the wheels off a toy car, hot-glued a magnet to the tire and threw it in the ocean.” Small tin cans, paper cups and small plastic bottles – all with magnets – were added. Shells, coral, plastic fish, small boats and turtles – all without magnets – came next. “Kids love to fish, so Jim took some dowels and made fishing poles, with magnets at the end of the lines instead of hooks. We now had a great teaching tool that was fun,” Betty says. “The kids got it. Trash does not belong in the ocean.” Most recently, the game was used at the Port Salerno Seafood Festival where teachers and Scout leaders told Betty they were going to build one for their own use. “It works. We get great response from the kids and I feel as though I have a whole flotilla helping me clean up the beach,” Betty says. “This simple game truly promotes environmental stewardship. Education is the key – the game allows us to engage, educate and inspire the next generation of environmentalists.” In addition to becoming an item in the Auxiliary National Supply Catalog, Betty’s initiative resulted in her winning the Auxiliary Achievement Medal, Continued on page 33

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the Auxiliary’s second highest award.

Summer 2012

ners in more than 90 communities across the country. A local panel of judges selects the winners at the grass roots. These media partners are major local newspapers, television and radio stations. Most media partners honor a volunteer monthly or weekly. Some honor five or six at an annual ceremony. From each community, the Jefferson Awards Board selects one local winner to represent their community and be honored as part of the National Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., in June.

During the Division 5 Change of Watch ceremony in December of 2011, Capt. Christopher Scraba, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Miami, presented Betty with the Achievement Medal. The citation recognizes Betty’s “exceptional vision,” noting that the game plays a key role in emphasizing “vigilance in environmental preservation among the boating public.” But the awards Betty will be in Washington to accept her award.Ω did not end there. Betty Underwood won a local Thomas Jefferson Award for 2012, the prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. The Jefferson Awards are presented Build Your Own Game on two levels: national and local. They began in 1972 to create the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for public service. Betty’s original Trolling for Trash game is still Today, their primary purpose is to serve as a “Call to in her possession and is still in use. Action for Volunteers” in local communities. Betty’s game can be found listed on page 14 of The Jefferson Awards has more than 150 media partthe 2012 Auxiliary National Supply Center catalog. The description says: “Travel Trunk, Marine Debris/Garbage Game – (e.g. toy fishing poles, marine debris, watershed charts, marine debris fact sheet, etc. (W-18” .. D-9” .. H-21”) Wt. 15 lbs. on wheels” But, you can build your own. Here are Betty’s instructions: 1. Get a 34-in. by 16-in. by 6-in. plastic under-the-bed storage box. 2. Paint the inside of the box blue to look like an ocean. 3. Sprinkle sand on the bottom and place shells, coral etc. 4. Hot-glue small magnets on “trash” such as small paper cups, bottle caps, small tin cans, etc.

5. Make a fishing pole from a dowel and tie a string for the line, with a magnet on the end instead of a hook.

PALM BEACHES, Fla.—While Betty Underwood had five and six year-olds in mind when creating the Trolling for Trash Game, younger children – and their parents – enjoy the game as well.

The plastic box costs about $12 at mass merchandise stores or home centers. A 48-in. dowel, cut in half, will make two poles for less than $1. String and magnets from a craft store will cost about $3. Sea shells and trash are free. The game costs less than $20.

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Puerto Rico’s Ready-Set-Wear It: Helping to Set a New World Record for the Second Year in a Row By Lourdes R. Oliveras, Assistant District Staff Officer-Public Affairs-South GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO – Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 1-10 San Juan organized and sponsored, for the second year in a row, the “Ready-Set-Wear It” event on May 19, 2012, in the flotilla’s Public Affairs booth at the San Patricio Plaza Shopping Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, as part of the 2012 National Safe Boating Week Activities. Ready-Set-Wear It is a National event sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, in partnership with the Canadian Safe Boating Council. Forty-one participants, nineteen of them Auxiliarists from Flotilla 1-10 San Juan, including Jose Caban, Flotilla Commander, other members of Division-1 Puerto Rico, along with

Boy Scout Troop 304 San Ignacio Academy-San Juan, some local children and adults participated by gathering around the booth wearing life jackets. The event is intended both to increase awareness about life jacket wear and to break the world record set last year for the number of people wearing life jackets on the same date, worldwide. Other organizations and private sector sponsors gathered across the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to participate in “Ready-Set-Wear It,” timed to kick off 2012 National Safe Boating Week. Ω

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VENICE, Fla.— Members of Flotilla 86 in Venice, Fla., teamed up with the Venice Sail and Power Squadron, Girl Scouts USA, the Venice Fire Department, Venice Police Department cadets, Marine Max of Venice and members of the community for this year’s Ready Set Wear It event on March 19, 2012. While 82 persons registered for the event, several more – and two dogs – donned life jackets for this national event staged at the old Venice Circus Train Depot and dock. Photo by Walter Jennings, Flotilla 86 Venice, Florida

may 19, 2012 Several Divisions throughout District 7, from the Virgin Islands to South Carolina and Georgia, participated in Ready Set Wear It. Some were first time or small events while others boasted record-breaking attendance. Above: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.— Division 3 hosted an event in the Fort Lauderdale area and offered Vessel Safety Checks. Photo by Brian Lichtenstein. Left: FORT PIERCE, Fla.—The largest event on record in Florida, Division 5 boasted 85 participants that included Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and members of the general public. Photo by Gary Barth, Division Commander 5

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ATLANTA, Ga.â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia signs the proclamation declaring May 19-25 National Safe Boating Week. Participating in the ceremony are, from left: Homer Bryson, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Ed McGill, State Liaison Officer, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; Major Walter Rabon, Law Enforcement, DNR; Lt. Colonel Jeff Weaver, Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement, DNR; Governor Nathan Deal; Roy Crittenden, Division 2 Public Affairs Officer, USCG Auxiliary; Loren Emery, Division 2 Commander, USCG Auxiliary; Glenn LaBoda, Executive Officer, U.S. Power Squadron (Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron); Mark Williams, Commissioner, DNR. Photo by Mrs. Loren Emery II, Civilian, Georgia Army National Guard.

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From governors to beauty queens and from safety booths to Vessel Safety Checks, District 7 Auxiliarists did whatever it took to spread the boating safety message! SAINT CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands—

Deidre DuBois, Miss Frederiksted, reacts with surprise when Lee Elvins, Division Commander 16, snaps the cord to inflate her life jacket. A myriad of events took place throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hosts and participants included the Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 16, Virgin Island Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Virgin Islands’ Police Blue Lightening Task Force, National Guard, Hovensa, Marines, Air Force and Army, members of the Golden Hook Fishing Club, and the St. Croix Power Squadron. The division received donations that allowed them to give away 100 life jackets to children. Photo by St Croix News

TAMPA, Fla.—Bruce Wright, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist, United States Coast Guard, and Stacey Wright, member of Flotilla 6-11 Miami Beach, came to Tampa for the National Safe Boating Week events scheduled at Flotilla 79 Tampa. In addition to having the BAT-PAK on hand for the Ready Set Wear It life jacket event, the flotilla staged a Vessel Safety Check blitz at the docks on Gandy Boulevard. Pictured is the front of the Vessel Examination station with Darren Hart, Larry Ivey and Ernie Costa performing Vessel Examinations. Photo by Dottie Riley

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D-TRAIN 2012 District Seven Training Meeting Sept. 19-23, 2012 Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel 333 1st St S, Saint Petersburg, Florida, 33701-4342, Phone: 1-727-894-5000 Come for the Learning! Come for the Fun!