Volume LVI Number 2 Summer 2010
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District http://www.cgaux7.org/
The USCGC Eagle enters Tampa Bay on July 10, 2010 for the Tampa Parade of Sails. Division 7 escorted the Eagle into Tampa. Photo by Tim Manning, Flotilla 79 Tampa.
Division Commanders 2010 Is the official publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District
Volume LVI
Number 2
Summer 2010
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD District Commander: RADM William D. Baumgartner, USCG Director of Auxiliary District 7: CDR Donald L. Winfield Operations Training Officer: CWO Ursula Walther
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY District Commodore COMO Donald L. Frasch Email: d7dco@aol.com
District Chief of Staff Walter Jaskiewicz Email: captwrj@aol.com
Immediate Past District Commodore COMO Allen Brown Email: allenbrown902@aol.com
Division 1………………...… Osvaldo Manuel Catinchi Division 2…………………….….……....... David Fuller Division 3…………………….……... J. P. Feighery, Jr. Division 4………………………...........… Frederick Hill Division 5………………………..……... Wilson Riggan Division 6………………...……….….…. Judith Hudson Division 7……………………...…...….. Amos Johnson Division 8……………….....……….…..... Braxton Ezell Division 9…………………..…………...….. Louis Conti Division 10……………………....…..... William Capitan Division 11………………..………...… Melvin Manning Division 12………………………….. Robert Weskerna Division 13……………….... Russell (Dewey) Jackson Division 14………………..……...…….. Jesse Stevens Division 15…………………………. Lawrence Berman Division 16…………………...…... James “CC” Kreglo Division 17………………………………... Nevin Lantry Logistics James E. Dennen, Directorate Chief Email: dennen@bellsouth.net
Prevention Bruce Lindsey, Directorate Chief Email: blind21414@aol.com
Response Richard Leys, Directorate Chief Email: rjleys@bellsouth.net
District Captain - East (DCAPT-E) Dan Jacquish Email: djacquish@aol.com
District Captain - West (DCAPT-W) John Tyson Email: jtyson0906@aol.com
District Captain - North (DCAPT-N) Reginald Hollar Email: snoopy@sccc.tv
Editor & Publications Officer Dorothy Joan Riley dottieriley1@verizon.net
The D7 PB Team (ADSO-PB Staff Officers): James Dennen, Content Editor Gary Barth, ADSO-E Susan Carty, ADSO-N Karen Miller, ADSO-W T. J. Kerbs, Pre-Press & Printing
BREEZE is the official and educational tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District and is intended as a publication to keep the membership apprised of the activities of the Auxiliary. All articles and photographs submitted must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and may not be returned. Personal information 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 the above named Publication Officer. Articles in the BREEZE may be reprinted provided credit is given and a copy is sent to the above Editor and Publications Officer. Do not send changes of address to the BREEZE. You can obtain a change of member information report (7028) from your Materials Officer and submit it through channels.
Volume LVI
Number 2
Summer 2010
Bridge and Staff
A Word From the Editor:
District Commodore ....................................................3 District Chief of Staff....................................................4 Immediate Past District Commodore ………………….5 District Captain North …..............................................6 District Captain West …...............................................8 ASC– Sector Charleston …………………………….....9 District Captain East …..............................................10
The Publications Department is as always, a mixed bag. We have flotillas that are publishing newsletters monthly or for the first time in years, and too many that never publish at all. We have divisions that do not have Staff OfficersPublications and many of the communications that travel down the Publications chain may or may not reach the intended recipients.
Directorartes Logistics, DDC-L…... …………………...…..…….…...12 Prevention, DDC-P…..………………………...…........14 Response, DDC-R ……….………...………..…...…...18
Articles A Memorable Good-bye to a Shipmate …….………..20 Loss of A Patriot: Tom Phelps. ……………………….22 Deepwater Horizon…………………….……………….24 Flotilla 11-1 60th Anniversary………………………….26 Ready-Set-Inflate!......................................................28 NSBW Activities ………………………..………………30 Never a Dull Moment…………………………………...32 Division 14 Memorial Wall……………...……………...34 Division 3 “Helo Ops”…………………………………. 35 Use of E-Mail in the Auxiliary………………………….36 Looking Out for the Sailors…………………………….38 “CC” Kreglo: Volunteer Leader Award Nominee…….39 Betty Riddle: 30 Years of Service……………………..40 Write Your Flotilla Number Correctly!.........................41 D7 Sector Changes of Watch………………………….42 Trimming a Boat…………….…………………………..44 Flare and Fire Safety Expo…………………………….46 DCON…………………………………………………….48 Summer Reading Program…………………………….49
Publications are an important tool for building and maintaining member morale and for conveying a sense of appreciation for our volunteer members’ efforts. While none of us volunteer for this great organization in order to be rewarded, it can sometimes be disheartening when our hard work is not acknowledged. Recognition of our contributions may come via a mention from a Flotilla Commander or other member at a meeting, but the more tangible acknowledgements take the form of awards and published accounts in our newsletters. Now, here is something that members can share with family and friends or print to use as recruitment tools. Besides serving as effective tools for morale building, newsletters chronicle our activities and serve as important historical records. As our annual elections approach, I implore the incoming elected officers to appoint Publications Officers at both division and flotilla levels. There is that great line in the movie, Field of Dreams: “If you build it, he will come!” With apologies to the script writers of that great movie, allow us to reword that: “If you appoint them (publications officers), we will train!” One more thought: newsletters are a big job! Why not appoint a publications team? This will help spread the load. Some of our best newsletters use this approach to publication. Sincerely, Dorothy Joan Riley DSO-PB D7
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From the Bridge Commodore Donald Frasch I can’t believe how fast the last eighteen months have flown by. It must be because we have been so very busy that we have not even had the time to notice. Our first quarter this year was a bit slow. I think it was because of a weak economic condition plus being the second coldest winter on record for just about every part of the district. We had an EXCOM meeting in January in Orlando and one night it snowed. Despite that slow quarter, we bounced back with a fury in all missions including our core mission of Recreational Boating Safety (RBS). Our second quarter versus first quarter performance was up for Vessel Safety Checks by 202%. Our RBS Program Visits were up 165% and our Public Education classes were also up by 163%. There were several factors contributing to that success, but I believe the largest single contributor was the creation of our “Team RBS” program. It is truly amazing what a team can accomplish when they work together rather than as individuals. My challenge for everyone is to find new ways to work with your shipmates as a team and leverage everyone’s success into an even larger flotilla, division or district effort. (Integration, Innovation & Integrity) One of our goals moving forward is to increase our Marine Safety support including a new Uninspected Vessel Program (UVP) being driven by Coast Guard Headquarters for the Auxiliary. Our DSO-MS is working diligently on these to bring them up to full speed throughout the District. Both of these will be featured training events at our Conference in September in Orlando. Don’t miss the opportunity to get involved. The mere mention of Marine Safety triggers thinking about the oil spill in the Gulf known as “Deepwater Horizon”. Our District has responded unbelievably well to requests for help. We have already had several members on site working in the Incident Command System (ICS) Command Centers, providing Public Affairs assistance, and providing over flights of the spill area with our Auxiliary Air teams. I expect these efforts to continue at least to the end of the year. If you want to volunteer to deploy to the spill area, please be sure you complete the application form and send it up through the Chain of Leadership. Our District Conference will take place the last week in September at the Florida Mall Hotel in Orlando. It will be packed with training and information as well as elections for all District Officers. Again this year, Admiral Baumgartner will hold his Commanding Officer Conference right along with us. It is an excellent opportunity to meet and talk to the Commanding Officers of the Sectors and Air Stations in a more relaxed social setting. I hope you all take advantage of it, including meeting Admiral Baumgartner. He is an avid supporter of the Auxiliary. Thanks for all you do!! CLEARWATER, Fla.—COMO Donald Frasch and his wife, Sandy, at the Clearwater Yacht Club on May 22, 2010 for the Flotilla 11-1 60th Anniversary celebration. Photo by Deb Mallory
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From the Bridge Walter Jaskiewicz, District Chief of Staff The last several months have been extremely busy for all of us. The Coast Guard Changes of Command throughout the Seventh District bring to the table new command officers at many levels from Sectors to small boat stations. The departing command has passed on the value of our service with praise to their incoming command. One of our hidden advantages now becomes of greater value, and that is that the majority of our members remain year after year in the same area of responsibility, and our knowledge of the local water is needed for area familiarization for incoming personnel. Auxiliary Aircraft are an important asset in this. We must not take for granted the relationships we earned with the outgoing command. We need to stand proudly by our past commitments as we step forward to present our talents, skills and resources to assist the Coast Guard with their increasing needs. Our Auxiliary Sector Coordinators are at the front lines of Sectors and are our representatives at their planning sessions to present our organizational resilience and continued support.
“The Auxiliary organization is now parallel to that of the Coast Guard in operations, training, mission support and policy development.”
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has brought a call for Auxiliary assistance. Those members holding personal qualification standards for Incident Command System (ICS) at USCG Command Posts have been called up to serve. Special Hazardous Work Operations (Hazwoper) and IPI Training is required and many members have been attending the courses provided by approved agencies. Response commitments on site can last two weeks to thirty days. So far, we have provided members to check the readiness of response vessels, monitor deployed booms, and participate in clean-up operations and public affairs. Our September Conference not only offers great training classes, we will be holding our new bridge elections as well. Our nominees this year include a field of members who all have the professional talents, skills and experience to step up to the bridge, who are ready to serve, and who exemplify our core values. The Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrated seventy-one years of service on June 23, 2010. The Auxiliary has come through many changes these past years and the continued desire to improve our service has brought modernization to our national organization. The Auxiliary organization is now parallel to that of the Coast Guard in operations, training, mission support and policy development. To the exceptional men and women who serve in the Auxiliary, I am confident that we and our future members will continue to serve the United States Coast Guard and our nation with all of the pride and honor that we have shown since 1939. Ω Semper Paratus,
“Guard Your Own” Give generously to the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program. http://www.cgmahq.org/index.htm
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From the Bridge COMO Allen Brown, IPDCO Greetings to all members of the Great Seventh District. This evening I am in the process of rereading an article in one of my favorite magazines, an unusual and far from normal periodical. I would recommend this particular publication to all members who are involved in the maritime environment and earnestly seeking to enhance their knowledge and nautical background. What is this magazine that will surely help you in following the calling to which we all responded when we took our oath as Coast Guard Auxiliarists? The U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings which has benefitted the naval services well over the years. As Auxiliarists we are called to further our training and education in order that we might better serve the Coast Guard, the boating public and our shipmates. It is essential that we as “blue shirts” do not let down any of those who have put their trust in us. During my tenure as your commodore, I had as a theme “the three I’s:” Integration, Innovation, and Integrity. It is the last I wish to address for a few moments as this is demanded by the ethos of the Coast Guard. Integrity does not come with graying hair nor with chronological age but through those who have gone before us. John Paul Jones put it well when he noted in his qualifications of a naval officer: “Every commander should keep constantly before him (or her) this great truth, that to be well obeyed, he/she must be perfectly esteemed.” Just around the corner is our opportunity as Auxiliary members to enhance our knowledge and to share with others what we have brought to the Auxiliary and Coast Guard table. Take advantage of the district conference this September. Learn, share and communicate the knowledge gained with those who for whatever reason, could not attend.
“Every commander
should keep constantly before him (or her) this great truth, that to be well obeyed, he/ she must be perfectly esteemed.” John Paul Jones
Always stay Semper Paratus. It is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. Ω
WIGGINS PASS, Fla.—COMO Allen Brown presents Betty Riddle with an Auxiliary Member Service Award at the May 2010 meeting of Flotilla 96 in Wiggins Pass. Riddle’s service to the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary is featured in this issue of the Breeze, page 40.
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District Captain North Reginald Hollar, DCAPT-N With half of 2010 now history, District 7 North can report that goals and expectations that were set are being met or have been exceeded. After a record cold winter, lost ground has been recovered and in most cases, we exceeded in operational activities. National Safe Boating Week resulted in numerous events and some first time programs. Bill Griswold, District Staff Officer State Liaison and his aides are to be commended for the very first “Life Jacket For Life Tour 2010.” The tour was a joint effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Coast Guard District 7, and all local partners. Local partners included the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, maritime law enforcement agencies, and marine vendors. The event was scheduled Sunday, May 23 to Friday, May 28, 2010. The concept was to begin in Jacksonville, Fla. and run a tour boat down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Miami. The tour boat was a “Wear it Florida” jet boat accompanied by a marked FWC boat. At various stops along the way, partnering vessels accompanied the boat and media events were scheduled. Auxiliarists at local stops were selected to be “Port Captains” and helped organize events highlighting the tour and the “Wear It” message. A shore contingent was also formed around the Seventh District BAT-PAK life jacket display trailer including both maintenance and relief personnel.
“Division 12, Coastal
and Inland South Carolina is having a banner year in reaching and exceeding goals that were set for all programs.”
It is estimated that 40,000 people saw the BAT-PAK as it was towed from Jacksonville to Miami. On the initial media event in Jacksonville, about 500 boaters saw the displays at Sister’s Creek Marina and Auxiliarists and Power Squadron members conducted 55 vessel safety checks. Along the way down the ICW, stops were made at Daytona Beach with CG Station Ponce Inlet hosting another media event. The next stop was Titusville and then Stuart, Fla. for more quick Public Affairs events. Other stops along the way which included the BAT-PAK were Riviera Beach, Pompano Beach, Watson Island, Miami. The Goodyear Blimp was flown overhead at Pompano Beach displaying the “Wear It” message. During the tour, 42 inflatable life jackets/belt packs and one PEPIRB plus several dozen other prizes were raffled off for giveaways. Estimated highway awareness contacts exceeded 100,000; boater and marina awareness contacts numbered over 1,000, and 935 people attended the media events. Forty-eight agencies and partners participated and at least two television and two newspaper articles were verified. Full credit should be given to the participants, the port captains, members of the FWC and Coast Guard units, Auxiliarists, Power Squadron members and the various vendors who made all this possible. Particular credit should be given to Brian Rehwinkle, coordinator for FWC, and Bruce Wright, who led the Coast Guard resources. Division 4, Central Florida, Division 14, North Florida Coast, and Division 17, The Space Coast all supported the event. Division 2, Interior Lakes of Georgia has made headlines with their efforts to expand their area of responsibility (AOR). Just in the first half of this year, they chartered two new flotillas. Flotilla 23 will serve to assist the boating public and Coast Guard on the upper eastern lakes in Georgia and North Carolina. They have already conducted safe boating classes and placed fishing line recycle containers at some of the local marinas. All seventeen marinas have been set up as Program Visitation Partners. Flotilla 27 was chartered on July 10, 2010. This flotilla will serve Lakes Oconee and Sinclair which are southeast of Atlanta, between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. This flotilla has already partici-
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pated in numerous Auxiliary programs in Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) missions and marine operations. All of the flotillas in Division 2 continue to support the Coast Guard and the boating public with RBS activities and operations. Division 10, Coastal Georgia and South Carolina continues to support the Marine Safety Unit (MSU) in Savannah and Coast Guard Air Station Savannah. Helo operations with the Air Station are ongoing as are weekend safety patrols in support of MSU Savannah and the boating public. Numerous Public Affairs functions were conducted in support of National Safe Boating Week. Some of the events included were the Harbour Town Marina Day at Hilton Head, the Darien Waterslide Fair at Darien, and the Bass Pro Shops in Savannah. Division 12, Coastal and Inland South Carolina is having a banner year in reaching and exceeding goals that were set for all programs. Although 2009 was the best year ever for Division 12, the first half of 2010 has set a new standard. Overall performance as measured in hours invested by the membership is up 15.5%, Public Education programs are up 18.3%, Coast Guard Administrative Support is up 87%, Government Agency Support 738% and Marine Safety up 8% just to name a few. Inland Flotillas, 12-3 and 12-1 continue to provide excellent support for the major lakes in South Carolina with the RBS programs and operations. Flotillas 12-6, Mt. Pleasant, 12-8, Charleston, and 12-12, Edisto Island provide ongoing support for Sector and Station Charleston and training for the Citadel Cadets. Flotilla 12-10 and their Socastee Detachment is on the water every weekend during the summer to help the Coast Guard and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources cope with the influx of tourists visiting Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Many of the tourists become involved in water activities on the ICW, and a large number of them have a limited amount of boating experience. Weekend incidents are almost a normal occurrence due to the number of personal watercraft and inexperienced operators on these vessels, many of which are rental units. Flotilla 12-2 continues to support the boating public in the most northern area to the North Carolina border. â„Ś
LAKE MURRAY, S.C.—Increased boating accidents on Lake Murray, S.C. prompted WLTX-TV, the South Carolina DNR and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray and Flotilla 12-1 Lake Marion to join forces during National Safe Boating Week to increase public awareness of the importance of wearing a life jackets and practicing safe boating. Together, they produced a press event for local WLTX-TV in Columbia, S.C. which aired on May 28, 2010. Pictured from left to right: DNR- Lt Robert McCullough, Media Liaison, Lt Billy Downer, Education and Sgt Wes Potter, Boat Owner; U.S. Coast Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3 Festus Burchfield, Flotilla 12-1 Perry Moses III, and Joe Livingston. Photo by Barbara Burchfield, Flotilla 12-3.
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District Captain West John Tyson, DCAPT-W Like its sister regions in the Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7, the West and its nearly 2,000 Auxiliarists had a busy first half of the year. Several Auxiliarists provided direct support to Deepwater Horizon clean-up operations; many others volunteered their time and skills assisting Sector Saint Petersburg, its five surface stations and eight cutters, and Air Station Clearwater. Nearly 12,000 hours were provided in surface operations and operational support to the Coast Guard, over 1,500 hours of public education instruction was conducted, 4,000 vessels were examined, and Auxiliary aviation facilities flew 650 hours assisting Air Station Clearwater on logistics, safety, search and rescue and other missions. All divisions and flotillas conducted exemplary National Safe Boating Week programs. Shortly before leaving for his next assignment, Sector Saint Petersburg Commander Capt. Timothy Close said, “Once again, simply outstanding effort by the Auxiliary.” He was referring to work by 50 Auxiliarists from Division 11 who devoted the better part of a week assisting on-the-water field testing of new surface radar, electro-optic and infrared sensor equipment by the Coast Guard Research and Development Center. The data collected from those field tests will be used to develop sweep width tables for planning Coast Guard search and rescue missions. The month before the sensor testing exercise, more than 100 Auxiliarists from flotillas across the West stood one or more radio watches, some most of a night, during a four-day period when the west Florida Rescue-21 Hi-Site antenna network was disabled. Two Auxiliary aircraft and their crew provided emergency radio relay coverage over hundreds of miles of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, relieving Air Station Clearwater C-130 aircraft from that duty during daylight hours. Auxiliary radios intercepted and forwarded two distress calls that were not heard by Coast Guard surface unit radios. While electronic sensor testing and Rescue-21 emergency radio relay coverage provided important services to the Coast Guard, they were but a few of the many outstanding services performed yearto-date by Team West Auxiliarists. We should all take pride in their accomplishments; they exemplify our dedication and commitment to serving Coast Guard missions, and to achieving a high level of performance through teamwork. We must make every effort to continue our work as a team – communicating the importance of boating safely, assisting our active duty shipmates, and maintaining the Coast Guard Auxiliary as America’s premier volunteer lifesaving organization. Bravo Zulu to all you shipmates; thank you for all you do. Keep up your outstanding work! Ω TAMPA, Fla.— Tampa Radio One, centrally located within Division 7, was open 24 hours a day between May 24-29, 2010 when Sector St. Petersburg’s Rescue-21 radio system was off line. Mike Cabrera was one of several radio watchstanders who volunteered. He is seen here on April 29, 2010 responding to a call in the Flotilla 79 radio room which houses the Tampa Radio One communications facility. Photo by Tim Teahan
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Ronald Goldenberg, ASC Sector Charleston Sector Charleston’s Change of Command took place on June 18, 2010 at The Citadel in Mark Clark Hall. Captain Michael F. White relieved Captain Michael F. McAllister, who assumes new duties at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. With Auxiliarists from all over Georgia and South Carolina present at the ceremony, we welcomed Captain White and wished Captain McAllister a fond farewell and presented him with a plaque expressing the Auxiliary’s appreciation for his support and encouragement over the past three years. April and May were busy months in our Sector’s area of responsibility (AOR). A new flotilla was chartered in Division 2 at Lake Chatuge. The lake is both in Georgia and North Carolina, but is over 200 miles from Sector Charleston. Having established excellent partners with law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and local marine dealers and marinas, the new flotilla offers a Coast Guard presence on a large inland lake which extends from North Georgia into North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains. May brought the Blue Angels to Charleston and Sector utilized the Auxiliary from the two flotillas in the Charleston area to set up safety zones during the exhibitions. As expected, the Auxiliary performed magnificently. As has been the custom in Sector Charleston’s regular meetings with the Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, the District Captain and Division Commanders are invited to attend. With this plan in place, Auxiliary leadership is privy to firsthand information from Sector, participates in the planning process, and makes determinations on how the Auxiliary can augment Sector’s varied missions. Ω
Above: CHARLESTON, S.C.— Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary stand shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Coast Guard during the Change of Command ceremony on June 18, 2010 at The Citadel when Capt. Michael F. McAllister relinquished command to Capt. Michael F. White. Auxiliary members look forward to working under White and presented McAllister a plaque expressing the Auxiliary’s appreciation for his support and encouragement over the past three years. Photo by Barbara Burchfield
Left: Geography 101— Lake Chatuge in the Appalachian Mountains is far removed from both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The lake stretches from the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia to the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and offers boating, swimming, fishing and a host of other water sports. The Auxiliary offers a much needed Coast Guard presence on this vast inland water body. (Google map image)
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District Captain East Dan Jacquish, DCAPT-E The East area of District 7 is an immense area stretching from Vero Beach in Division 5’s area of responsibility (AOR) in the north all the way south through Ft. Lauderdale and Division 3, through Miami and Division 6, to the end of the Florida Keys and Division 13. It also encompasses Puerto Rico and Division 1 plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Division 16. It is big and beautiful, but most importantly, diverse. We have Lake Okeechobee and swamps, we have beautiful beaches, huge cities with the Intracoastal Waterway and rivers, along with beautiful tropical islands. Along with such a diverse geographic area comes a diverse and amazing membership. I encourage all of our members to put in time and energy in your flotillas and look to the divisions and then district to spread your talents. It is a pathway to personal growth and experience that is unparalleled. Gaining the opportunity to work with so many talented and dedicated people is a true blessing. I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for what you do for this organization and your country. Each one of you brings special talents to the whole and we are all better for your gift of time and talent. Recently, I lost a dear friend who was one of my regular boat crew members. We had spent many hours together cutting holes in the water. Tom Phelps was a special man. A former Army medical specialist, he had many stories that bordered on episodes of M.A.S.H. He was a quiet man and respectful of everyone he dealt with. Whenever asked to do another job, he always accepted and did it with enthusiasm. He filled many roles in the Auxiliary, but I will always remember him for filling a special spot in my heart. We will all miss him very much. I know you all have friends here like Tom was to me. Make sure they know how special they are to you and to all of us, every day. You are all unique and special people. You give freely of your time and wealth, to serve a greater good. You ask for little, expect nothing, and serve without question. Thank you. It is truly appreciated. In the last issue, I discussed the many talented people supporting the various National Departments from Division 5 and Division 3. This month, I would like to recognize those individuals from Division 6 and Division 13 providing service above and beyond while supporting National Departments. Division 6, serving the Miami-Dade AOR is lead by Judith Hudson as Division Commander. You probably all know Judith from her work in the Director’s Office, but she is also the Director’s Executive Assistant for Security. She is assisted in Division 6 by Thomas Walker as the Division Vice Commander. George Navarini hails from Division 6, Flotilla 3 and serves in the International Affairs Department as a Branch Chief. You might remember this next guy, who grabbed national acclaim by bringing home a national Public Affairs Department award, Christopher Todd of Flotilla 6-11. Chris serves in the Public Affairs Department as an Assistant Branch Chief. Moving over to the beautiful Florida Keys and Division 13 we find Dewey Jackson as the Division 13 Commander assisted by Jeff Bronsing as Division 13 Vice Commander. Dewey has been extremely involved with the county Equal Opportunity Commission representing the Auxiliary and helping to organize volunteers. Division 13 -- Flotilla 13-8 to be exact is home to John Cooper. John serves as the Deputy Director in
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the International Affairs Directorate (IA). Additionally, he holds another position in IA as a Division Chief. Finally, we want to recognize Donald Zinner, also of Flotilla 13-8. Don serves as the Branch Chief for Training in the Aviation Division of the Response Department. We have special people from one end of this great area to the other. Whether serving in the prestigious positions on national staff, working on the various district positions, on the division or flotilla level or doing vessel exams, teaching public education or patrolling our waters, each and every one of you performs a role that makes this organization great. Each role is a key to making everything work together. Thanks again for everything you do. Someone is watching. Whether it’s the boater that waves hello; the kid that smiles; the young person that thinks the Coast Guard might be a good career; or the motorist who says, “Wow, I didn’t know the Coast Guard did that!” Someone is watching and thinking, “Boy, I’m glad they’re out there.”
MIAMI - Flotilla 6-11's operational facility Bravo Zulu helps enforce a safety zone at the Red Bull Flutag regatta held on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Working the vessel are Don Manson, coxswain and boat crewmembers Bob Evans, Karen Lanahan, and Alex Tellchea. Photo by Christopher Todd
Be safe…….Be proud…….. Be Semper Paratus! Ω
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Logistics Directorate James Dennen, DDC-L D7
The memo below illustrates the impact that the oil spill has had on one flotilla’s new member e-Responders. This same situation is occurring throughout the district. The oil spill has created a tremendous opportunity to talk to prospective members about joining the Auxiliary. We have to make certain, however, that we tell the prospective members that while the courses they need such as Incident Command Systems (ICS) and Hazardous Waste Operations (Hazwoper) training are available, the chances that a new member could get trained in time to be used effectively in this contingency is probably not realistic. We want new members. What we don’t want are members that join under false pretenses and disenroll a few months later because their goals aren’t met. Jim Dennen DDC-L
From: Gilbert F. Thomas ADSO-7 To: Angela Pomaro DSO-PS-7 Subject: How the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Affected e-Responders.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill started on April 20, 2010. Between May 20 and July 8, 2010, Flotilla 74 received Logistics: thirteen e-Responders. Out of the thirteen e-Responders Communication received, eight have had Services their file closed. Fifty percent (50%) of e-Responders files Human Resources that were closed would not return phone calls or EInformation Mails. Twenty-five percent Services (25%) of the remaining applicants wanted to clean up oil Public Affairs and were not interested in joining the Coast Guard AuxPublications iliary. Out of the thirteen applicants, two became memMaterials bers, which is the Flotilla 74
monthly average. From May 1 through 30 May 2010, there was an increase of 125 additional applicants compared to the same time period last year. The increase in applicants is probably due to the oil spill. The net effect of those 125 additional applicants was an increased number of hours for all Human Resources officers at all levels. If each applicant is called three or four Gilbert Thomas is the current Flotilla times, e-mailed Commander, Flotilla 74 Brandon, Fla., once, and spoken and continues to serve as both Staff Offito once, the avercer Human Resources for his flotilla as age time exwell as Assistant Staff Officer Human pended per new Resources, member applicant Division 7 Tampa Bay. is four hours, for Photo by John Lowe a total of approximately 500 hours of additional work beyond the normal duties of a Division Human Resources officer and staff. It has been my experience from both e-Responders and phone calls that I received via the Flotilla 74 Volunteer phone line that most of the applicants wanted to help the US Coast Guard clean up oil immediately, or were looking for a job to supply them with an income. Another thing became apparent, and that was while they were looking at the US Coast Guard Auxiliary web site, they found very little information about the Auxiliary. A lot of time was expended answering questions about the oil spill; time that could have been saved if the first question they were asked had been if they wanted to join the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or clean up oil. Were we to have another emer-
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gency such as Deepwater Horizon, I would recommend that the National Web Site have information posted on it redirecting people to other agencies where people can get involved.â„Ś
Flotilla Gains 100th New Member: Matthew Gary Seel As a Charleston, South Carolina native and a son of the Seel's Outboard Marine Dealership owner, to say that I was raised on Charleston's waterways would be an understatement. Boating in my family has always been a cornerstone; I couldn't imagine my life without it. From my earliest memories to present day, my fondest ones always involved the water and boating in some form or fashion. When the opportunity presented itself to enlist in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, I felt the USCG was a perfect fit: they serve where I feel is home - the water. Upon completion of my freshman year at the Citadel in May of 2000, I decided to enlist in the reserves. Little did I know my enlistment would give me the opportunity to serve my country during one of her greatest times of need, September 11, 2001. I served the USCG through
9/11, and after graduating from the Citadel I made the decision to take another step toward my favorite pastime. I loved boating but I wanted bigger boats; I wanted ships. I decided to attend the State University of New York Maritime Academy where I receive a USCG Merchant Mariner's License and a Master's Degree. While in school, I finished my Coast Guard commitment at Coast Guard Station New York, the same station that was among the first to respond to the 9/11 crisis. I felt honored and privileged to serve at that Station and finishing my commitment there gave me a polished view of the significance of our Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has presented me with more experiences and opportunities than I could have ever imagined. From providing tuition assistance at the Citadel to conducting search patterns for fellow boaters in distress to providing a security escort to the Queen Mary II (cruise ship) into New York Harbor, the Coast Guard has given me memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Today, I deal with the Coast Guard in a different light due to my capacity as a deck officer aboard merchant ships. The Coast Guard is our Nation's issuing authority on licensure for vessels and therefore grants me the authority to perform my occupation. The Coast Guard has played such an integral part in my life and given me so much since my enlistment. When the opportunity arose to volunteer and serve the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Charleston, I felt again that it was yet another perfect fit and another perfect opportunity to serve the Coast Guard and the boating public. â„Ś
Matthew Gary Seel is the 100th new member of Flotilla 12-8 Charleston. Seel holds a Merchant Marine License and is a former member of the Coast Guard Reserve. Photo provided by Matthew Gary Seel
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Prevention Directorate Bruce Lindsey, DDC-P D7
Prevention Directorate functions include environmental protection and getting the word out about safety, be it boating or environmental. Obviously, the oil spill in the Gulf has heightened both interest in, and the need for environmental protection. We’ve had calls for Auxiliarists to augment the Coast Guard with several environmental protection specialties. In the following article, John Sprague-Williams, District Staff OfficerMarine Safety (DSO-MS) provides details to qualify for in-demand technical environmental specialties. One group of common requirements John mentions are the Incident Command System (ICS) courses required for operations and environmental qualifications. Among these is ICS-210, a Coast Guard specific course required for first responders. The course is not offered often, and as a result, is very difficult to get. Tom Hayden, District Staff Officer Member Training (DSO-MT) has arranged for the course to be conducted twice on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the District Conference. Those wishing to attend may get more information and must register in advance with Mary Kennedy, Assistant District Staff Officer Member Training (ADSOMT) at mayrk19@bellsouth.net.
Prevention:
Marine Safety Member Training Public Education Program Visitor State Liaison Vessel Examinations
In the second article, Chuck Kelemen, District Staff Officer Vessel Examinations (DSO-VE) provides information for qualifying for the prestigious Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Device. The requirements for this award represent significant accomplishment in several areas of promoting boating safety and environmental protection. The award can justifiably be worn proudlybut is worn by very few. This
article can help you become one of these select members.
Marine Safety and Environmental Protection John D. Sprague-Williams, DSO-MS With all the ‘turm-oil’ in the Gulf, environmental protection has once again come into vogue. The demands for Auxiliarists who are Assistant Pollution Response Specialists and Assistant Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representatives (Formerly Assistant Pollution Investigator) have been among the first to be requested as volunteers to go to the Gulf. I have been asked many times how soon a member could earn these two Personal Qualifications and head out. It’s just not that simple. To get started, I recommend this procedure: 1. First, take the Good Mate course. This will allow the newcomer to Marine Safety to see whether or not s/he even likes the field. It is an e-learning course that can be started and completed entirely online and is divided into three main parts: (1) The Water Environment (2)The Connection Between Water And Recreational Boating and (3) Potential Environmental Impacts Of Recreational Boating And Marina Operations 2. Complete IMSEP (Introduction to Marine Safety and Environmental Protection) E-Train Course. The main objectives of this course are: a. The history, organization and missions of marine safety in the Coast Guard. b. The elements of the marine safety program in the areas of marine inspection and port operations. c. The marine environmental protection program of the Coast Guard. d. Planning and emergency management responsibilities of the Coast Guard. e. Port security and waterway management functions of the Coast Guard. f. The Reserve and Auxiliary support program, its relationship with the Coast Guard in planning and allocating resources to program needs, and its communications and information management initiatives to insure that it is working smartly and effectively with the Coast Guard.
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g. Member training resources, structure and recognition of members for development and completion of professional skills to support the marine safety program. The course is available in several formats to meet student learning needs and preferences. It is produced in traditional booklet format for individual and group study; and it is produced in electronic format for presentation on personal computers and workstations for user-driven study opportunities. In this latter format, it is able to interact with new learning management software to manage the student’s individual progress, present audio-visual and interactive formats, and provide real time updates on
You can complete the application for the Marine Safety Ribbon once you have successfully completed all of the above requirements and now you can start working on the Personal Qualification Standards (PQSs)-four of them - but you can’t just pick and choose which ones you want from the below list. Unlike other Auxiliary programs, where you have autonomy in selecting what you wish to pursue, you do not have sole control over which specialties you may pursue. Because each Coast Guard Unit has specific needs for your geographic area, you must select the specialties from among those that your local unit has a need for Auxiliarists to perform. You will also need to find a mentor that can help you through the process. Below are the specialties that are available:
John Sprague-Williams District Staff Officer Marine Safety and member of Flotilla 27 Lake Sinclair, Ga.
student progress and performance. 3. Complete ICS courses, most of which are available online: ICS-100.a, 200.a, 700.a, and 800.b are available at: http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp. Also required is ICS-210, which is a Coast Guard four-hour classroom course, or as an alternative, ICS-300, which is a threeday classroom course frequently available from local emergency management agencies or other (usually) governmental sources. 4. Complete IIMS course – this course must be ordered and proctored by USCG active duty. Check with your Flotilla Staff Officer Marine Safety (FSO-MS) before doing this.
AUX-ACP Assistant Contingency Planner (Formerly Assistant Contingency Preparedness Specialist) AUX-AEI Assistant Port State Control Examiner (Formerly Port State Control Boarding Team Assistant ) AUX-CI Assistant Container Inspector AUX-ED Assistant Federal On Scene Coordinator Representative (Formerly Assistant Pollution Investigator) AUX-EK Assistant Harbor Safety Officer AUX-ET Assistant Pollution Response Specialist AUX-EU Assistant Facilities Inspector AUX-LDEV Assistant License & Document Evaluator AUX-LDEX Assistant License & Document Examiner AUX-LR Assistant Liferaft Inspector AUX-MEES Prevention Outreach Specialist (Formerly Marine Environmental Education Specialist) AUX-MSAM Marine Safety Administrative & Management Specialist AUX-MSW Marine Safety Watchstander AUX-PSC Port State Control Dispatcher AUX-UPV Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examiner AUX-UTV Uninspected Towing Vessel Examiner CFVE Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examiner AUX-FO Assistant Marine Casualty Investigator AUX-EO Assistant Maritime Enforcement Investigator AUX-FN Assistant Suspension and Revocation Inspector AUX-TI Assistant T-Boat Inspector AUX-KI Assistant K-Boat Inspector AUX-MI Assistant Machinery Inspector AUX-MS Assistant Machinery Inspector (steam) AUX-BI Assistant Barge Inspector AUX-HI Assistant Hull Inspector AUX-FPVE Assistant Foreign Passenger Vessel Exam(Continued on page 16)
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(Continued from page 15)
iner AUX-FFVE Assistant Foreign Freight Vessel Examiner AUX-WM Assistant Waterways Management Representative
hour limited to actual mission hours (preparation or travel not included). Public Lectures, mission code 10 B Participation in Radio / TV programs, mission code 10 C Information / VSC Booth, mission code 10 F
For further information please visit the website http:// pdept.cgaux.org/TridentMain.htm If you have any questions, please contact your FSO-MS.
Recreational Boating Safety Device Award Chuck Kelemen, DSO-VE The Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Device recognizes the extraordinary efforts of Auxiliarists in the 7th District who consistently provide strong support to the D-7 RBS Plan and its programs. Consequently, the eligibility criterion requires significant RBS program activity over a minimum period of two years. Members must compile 120 points per year for two consecutive years (for a total of 240 points) to be eligible. Hours for prescribed mission codes are reported on the Mission Activity Report (ANSC - 7030) form. Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) and Facility inspections are reported on the Vessel Examination Activity Report (ANSC-7038). RBS Program Visits are reported on the RBS Visitation Report (ANSC-7046). Public Education: Hours must be recorded using any mission code 14. One point is earned for every hour as lead instructor and 0.5 points per hour as an assistant/ aide. (Preparation and travel time does not count towards earning the device.) Public Affairs: Activities promoting RBS in the following areas count as one point per
Vessel Safety Checks (VSC): Points are earned based on the number of VSCs and/or facility inspections and count as one point per VSC or facility inspection. RBS Program Visitor: One point is earned for each RBS Program visit. Legislative Outreach: Hours recorded as Federal or State Legislative Outreach, mission codes 65A or 65B. One point per hour limited to face-to-face contact hours (preparation or travel not included). (Continued on page 17)
Chuck Kelemen, District Staff Officer Vessel Examinations congratulates a boater after performing a Vessel Safety Check. He is a member of Flotilla 29 Lake Lanier, Ga. (Photographer’s name not provided.)
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State RBS Outreach: Hours recorded in meeting with a state Boating Law Administrator (BLA) or state BLA staff member, mission code 65 C. One point per hour limited to face-to-face contact hours (preparation or travel not included)
strive to attain and it can be proudly worn as a testament to your hard work! Let’s continue to support our District 7 RBS Plan to achieve our goals and be eligible for this outstanding RBS Device! Ω
Only Directors of the Auxiliary are authorized to place orders for the RBS Device from ANSC for the purpose of awarding to Auxiliarists who meet the eligibility criteria as reported in AUXDATA. Auxiliarists who meet the criteria are entitled to wear it (uniform location is the same as for insignia like the Coxswain insignia and Auxiliary Marine Safety [Trident] insignia) above the left breast pocket. I believe you will find this is a great goal for all of us to
One point for each activity towards the RBS Device Award...
Below: WIGGINS PASS, Fla.— Handing out literature at the Bass Pro Shops during National Safe Boating Week in May 2010 are Flotilla 96 members Neil Arnal, Dave Shuster and Jim McCaffrey. Photo by Jim Mayer.
Above: MIAMI—James Simpson from Flotilla 6-11 Miami conducts a Vessel Safety Check at the Rickenbacker Marina on February 12, 2010. Photo by Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-SP.
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Response Directorate Richard Leys, DDC-R D7
The Response Department consists of Aviation, Communications, Navigation Services and Operations. For this issue of the Breeze, we are featuring aviation operations and communications with articles by Cecil Christopher, District Staff Officer Aviation (DSO-AV) and Joseph Colee, District Staff Officer Communications (DSO-CM).
VIP Transport By Cecil Christopher, DSO-AV VIP transport is one of the many varied missions flown by Auxiliary Aviation. This month, I am reporting on a recent VIP mission at Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Borinquen flown by one of our crews. This year, we here in the 7th District have provided transportation for all levels of the United States Coast Guard command structure
Response: Navigation Services Operations Qualification Examiners Aviation Communications
from the Vice Commandant of the USCG down. On June 14-16, 2010 Rear Admiral Baumgartner, Commander, 7th District started his District tour with a visit to Puerto Rico and St. Croix. AUXAIR 222FG, a Cessna 414A owned and piloted by Chuck Fischer and assisted by Doug Armstrong provided support along with an MH65 from Air Station Borinquen for the VIP visit. A slight change in travel plans required the admiral to be transported back to San Juan prematurely, making this CGAS Borinquen Air Auxiliary’s first VIP flight. The flight was a huge success and we anticipate many more to follow. (Report from AAC Doug Hansen, CGAS Borinquen) ℌ
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Communications By Joseph Colee, DSO-CM
What’s new in Communications? Almost everything! The Coast Guard has asked me to submit names of watchstanders who could be deployed to the Gulf to cover the Horizon Deepwater Oil Spill. I sent them some names of members who volunteered for deployment. The Coast Guard has also inquired about our fixed land and mobile VHF and HF facilities on the gulf coast of Florida. We have 96 fixed land and 33 mobile facilities in that area at this time and the Coast Guard now has the information on each station.
Above: Joseph Colee (standing) and Jerry Neal test and inspect a new radio facility for Flotilla 14-5’s new detachment in Green Cove Springs, Fla. Photo by Helen Russette, Flotilla 14-5
There are a lot of questions about who can operate a radio, who can inspect a radio, and the difference between Telecommunications Operator (TCO), Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOM), and Watchstander. I will try to cover some of the more frequently asked questions. Who can inspect a radio facility? Any flotilla, division, district, or national communications
Left to right: Captain Eduardo Pino, Commander, Sector San Juan; Rear Admiral William Baumgartner, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District; Douglas Armstrong, CGAS Borinquen, Auxiliary Aircraft Commander and Charles “Chuck” Fischer, CGAS Borinquen, Auxiliary Aircraft Commander. Photo by
staff officer who has also either completed AUXCOM or TCO. Who can own and operate a radio facility? Any member who has passed either AUXCOM prior to August 1, 2008 or qualified as TCO and has also turned in the proper security paperwork for Operational Support. (In order to stand radio guard at an Auxiliary radio facility for a vessel or aircraft facility, the member must be either qualified as a Watchstander or be under the direct supervision of a qualified Watchstander.) Who can mentor and sign off the task for TCO? Any member who is qualified in telecommunications may mentor, but the sign off for the task must be from a communications staff officer or a person already certified as TCO. For more information check out ‘Resources’ tab on the DSO-CM web page at http://cgaux7.org/index7.htm? page=members. Click the ‘Directorates’ link on the left side of the page, select ‘Response Staff Officers’, then select ‘DSO-CM site’. Ω
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A Memorable Goodbye to a Shipmate Edwin Greenfield, PAO Station Lake Worth Inlet, USCG
STATION LAKE WORTH INLET— The Gold and Silver join forces at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. On Wednesday, June 9, 2010, members of team Coast Guard gathered at the side of one of their own at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Hospice. Confined to his bed, Auxiliarist Thomas Phelps of Flotilla 51 appeared to be holding court; his hospital bed was surrounded by many of his shipmates, friends and relatives. Since Tom entered the hospital a week earlier, CWO4 James Mullinax, Commander of Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet visited Tom two or three times a day as did many of his crew. They considered Tom Phelps, a radio watchstander for Station Lake Worth, one of their own. Many Auxiliarists visited him similarly throughout his ordeal. Leaving Tom alone was not an option. Though unable to speak, Tom opened his eyes when BOSN (his signature C.G. calling) Mullinax, called out,
“All Surfmen, Heavy Weathermen, Coxswains, Crewmen, Oarsmen and Boatmen, man the rails.” BOSN asked Tom’s shipmates to sound off one at a time and as each person said their name Tom looked in their direction and acknowledged them with his eyes. He knew they were here for him as the end drew near. The occasion was to pay formal honors to a shipmate close to crossing the bar. Auxiliarists in dress uniform representing Division 5 and District 7, and active duty shipmates for Station Lake Worth Inlet in ODUs stood at attention, some struggling to keep their emotions in check. Once role call was complete, BOSN began the ceremony by presenting Tom with the Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement Service Medal with the Operational Distinguishing Device. In addition to the achievement medal from Captain James O. Fitton by order of the Seventh District Commander, the station’s active duty component made Tom an honorary active duty crewman and
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awarded him the Senior Boat Forces Insignia. Dan Jacquish, District Captain East, was given the honor of pinning the prized badge on Tom’s pajama top. Following the formal ceremony, Tom’s shipmates spoke privately to Tom congratulating him on a job well done; but for many, the service was a bittersweet experience. Tom Phelps’ contributions to the Auxiliary as a Public Education Instructor, Division Officer, and Fingerprint Technician are but a few of his accomplishments, but he will best be remembered for his role as a radio watchstander at Station Lake Worth Inlet where his quiet demeanor and droll sense of humor were enjoyed by everyone. Four of his closest friends in the Auxiliary and in life, Joanne Mills, Chris Abernethy, Dan Jacquish and Angela Pomaro, all from Flotilla 51, remained in close contact with Tom throughout his final ordeal. They bear witness that Tom desired to be buried at sea after his ashes are mixed with those of his wife. His wishes were carried out.
On Saturday, June 12, 2010 at approximately 6:15 p.m., BOSN Mullinax honored the long military tradition of leaving no shipmate alone or behind and was with Tom as he crossed the bar. Tom will be remembered for many things by a great many people. The men and women of Station Lake Worth Inlet will remember Tom as a “Patriot”, perhaps the greatest honor any American can be paid. May God rest his soul and may he be greeted by “Fair Winds and Following Seas”. Ω
Photographs– Left page: An Auxiliary vessel from Division 5 escorts the USCG vessel from Station Lake Worth Inlet as they carry Tom Phelps’ ashes out to sea. Due to inclement weather, the Auxiliary vessel could not follow the USCG boat past the inlet. Below: CWO4 James Mullinax, Commander, Station Lake Worth Inlet accompanies Tom Phelps’ ashes out to sea along with family members willing to brave the rough waters. Photos by Diane Riggan
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The Loss of a Patriot, Gentleman and Friend – Thomas O’Brien Phelps Article and photographs by Diane Riggan, SO-PA 5 LAKE WORTH, Fla. - The Honor Guard arrived early to practice and to make sure that their uniforms were in order. This was a special occasion and everything needed to be perfect. They rehearsed their moves, salutes, and talked about the timing for the changing of the guard. Then they took a deep breath. It could have been a gathering for an Auxiliary awards ceremony or meeting with scores of Auxiliarists in Tropical Blue. As you looked through the doorway to the next room, you were reminded of why you were here. White gloves, combination caps and Auxiliary members solemn and at attention helped the reality set in. We gathered to honor Thomas O’Brien Phelps, who joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2005 and never wasted a moment since - be it teaching boating safety courses, qualifying as a crew member or carrying out his duties as Division Department Chief – Response, Division Five, District Seven. He would show up in the Mobile Communications unit anywhere or arrive by boat anytime. He carried out every mission with the same level of professionalism and always with a smile. His sister, Deborah Phelps, observed that since moving to Florida, Tom seemed reborn, adding, “He loved the ocean.” Becoming a valued member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary was just a natural step. With the loss of his beloved wife, Gale, his new family, the Auxiliary, gave him a renewed sense of purpose. Though his children, Lisa and Katie and grandchildren, Evin and Sawyer were his pride and joy, his extended family, the Auxiliary, welcomed him and embraced him. In five short years he touched many people’s lives by his leadership example and kindness. The sitting room was filling up fast. There were those offering condolences to his sister, Debby, sister-in-law Sharon, and his mother, Mrs. Betty Phelps. Everyone wanted to share a story about some event in their lives where Tom came to their aid, disregarding his own personal struggles with a terminal illness. If you needed a place to stay, he offered his own home; if you needed someone to talk to he offered his ear. Chris Abernathy recalls that if you needed a partner for a public affairs event, he would be there. If the Station was responding to a case of great need, Tom could be counted on to come in and relieve the watchstander at Lake Worth without being asked.
As recently as May 2010, during open house at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, he was driving visitors to and from their cars in a golf cart and he was still instructing public education classes. He was passionate about his support for the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. As neighbors and family and other friends gathered, the ten members of the Honor Guard queued up. Quietly they took their turns honoring their friend by standing watch at his casket or standing towards the back of the room. Close friends and shipmates Joanne Mills, Angela Pomero and Stu Landau along with Dan Jacquish, Chris Abernathy, Phil Bouckaert, Wilson Riggan, Louis Townsend, Les McDermott and Bob Krell, filed silently into the chapel. For nearly two hours, every ten minutes they would salute and relieve one other, each time passing the casket rendering a slow, steady salute to their friend. Tom’s mother whispered at one point, “It looks like the entire Coast Guard is here.”
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As the ceremony closed and everyone filed out of the chapel, they looked at photos of Tom and his family and at the commendations and awards placed around the room such as: Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Public Education and Member Training Instruction Annual Service Award, the Sixth Sustained Auxiliary Service Award, Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Team Commendation Award for Miami Regional Examination Center Auxiliary Support Team, and presented to Tom on June 9, 2010 while he was in the hospital, the Boat Force Operations Award which read: “Having achieved a heightened level of qualification, knowledge and experience that includes both practical and operational components, with a broader understanding and appreciation for boat force command, management, support and leadership issues…Auxiliarist Thomas O. Phelps “Honorary” is awarded the Boat Force Operations Gold and Pewter Tone Insignia.” Signed, J.T. Mullinax, BOSN4, CO USCG STA Lake Worth Inlet
In his final days, Tom Phelps experienced what we hope we all will: his family and friends at his side paying tribute to his life and to his service to his country and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Everyone had a chance to let Tom know how he had touched their lives and how much they loved him. Tom Phelps commanded the respect of Auxiliarists across Division Five as well as the active duty at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet. Ω
Captions: Left page: Members of the Division 5 Honor Guard wait solemnly for the service honoring the passing of member, Tom O’Brien Phelps to begin. This page: CWO4 James Mullinax, Commanding Officer, USCG Station Lake Worth Inlet, escorts Tom Phelps’ mother to her seat at the ceremony to honor him. The Guardians assigned to the Station stand at parade rest to the front right of the guests assembled. Photos by Diane Riggan
At the memorial service held a few days later at Station Lake Worth Inlet, CWO4 James Mullinax honored Tom Phelps with these words: “For some, being patriotic is something they do from time to time when the mood strikes them. For others, patriotism isn’t enough and they dedicate their lives to being “Patriots”…Tom Phelps didn’t talk about being a patriot he showed he was a patriot through his deeds and actions…through his involvement with the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. For people like Tom Phelps being “Patriotic” isn’t enough. A love born of sacrifice, a love that comes from volunteering yourself for the betterment of your community…All of the men and women standing to your right are America’s Maritime Guardians, some paid, some volunteers. Some of them are quite literally heroes. They have distinguished themselves by rescuing victims of the sea from certain death while others have distinguished themselves in combat against their enemies while serving in the military. Still others have served their country quietly working to make the waters of the Palm Beaches safer for its citizens…Tom Phelps was all of these. If you ask the Guardians standing to your right who they look up to, they’ll tell you men like Tom who could have been enjoying retirement on a beach, a cruise in the Caribbean or playing shuffle board in a retirement community. Your son, father and grandfather chose the road less traveled and by doing so, earned the highest honor that can be placed on any American, that of Patriot. Tom was a friend and shipmate to his Coast Guard family. Today our service and our country are a lesser place without him, he will be missed.” Still standing watch over all of us are those men and women like Thomas O’Brien Phelps who have gone on before us. We carry on in their name, the traditions of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary “Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty”. Thomas O. Phelps 1946-2010
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Mission Deepwater Horizon - Are You Semper Paratus? By William F. Hanlon, ADSO-PA-E
opments in the media and suspected that they would receive such a call. The immediate response was, “Yes sir, our GoKits are ready -where do you need us?”
VENICE, LA: - April 2010, more than 50 miles off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico, a BP oil rig explodes killing 11 crew members. The subsequent fire and damage results in the sinking of the platform and the beginning of the most massive oil spill in history. Within minutes of the event, the U.S. Coast Guard is preparing for a full scale response which will test the very limits of personnel and resources like never before. The Incident Command System (ICS) springs into action. Initial personnel are dispatched for the immediate Search and Rescue Operations. The necessary efforts to provide Logistics and Planning support to the operational response take shape. People with necessary ICS skill sets are quickly identified and dispatched to the Gulf. Nearly three weeks into the response Bill Hanlon and Gary Krantz (District 7 - Flotilla 31) receive a phone call from Lt. Ken Jones, Planning Section Chief assigned to a Command Post at the mouth of the Mississippi River Delta. The Lt. asked, “Are you available for deployment to the Gulf?” Both Auxiliary members had been following the devel-
Within days, Coast Guard official Temporary Duty Assignment Orders were issued and preparations made to fly to New Orleans. Transportation was arranged to the Command Post (CP) in Plaquemines Parish. The forward operating base in Venice, La. was staffed with more than 3,000 pri-
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availed themselves of advanced Auxiliary training opportunities, practical exercises, and participation in actual operations involving ICS management and tasking. This particular oil spill mission (Deepwater Horizon MC 252) is like no other ever involving the Coast Guard. The personnel and resources of Team Coast Guard are being tested to their very limits as the net for qualified volunteers is cast wider. How can you prepare to be effective if requested to volunteer? Answer – Completion of ICS courses is the first step. The next is to be being current in Boat Crew, Coxswain, and Air Operations qualifications. Also, experience in both surface and air search pattern techniques will be a valuable asset for this mission.
vate contractors, clean-up workers, BP Oil employees, and U.S. Coast Guard Active Duty and Reserve personnel. Immediately, upon arrival at the CP, the Auxiliary members were ushered through the check-in process, provided all necessary safety related gear and a situation orientation briefing. Both were assigned to the Planning Section, Krantz in the Resources Unit and Hanlon in the Documentation Unit. For nearly a month, the two Auxiliary members worked side-by-side with Petty Officers, Chiefs, Commissioned Officers and BP Executives as the strategy for the response to the oil spill was executed on a daily basis. The days were long. Each morning started with an Operations Briefing at 5:30 A.M. Working 12-15 hours per day was the norm. From the very first day, their presence at the CP and interaction with Active Duty and Reserve Coasties was a seamless integration. The single task and goal at hand was assisting the local community with protection and clean-up of spilled oil from their pristine wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas. As a testament to the readiness and effectiveness of the Auxiliary to provide mission critical support to Team Coast Guard – the Commanding Officer at Plaquemines Branch asked if the two members could stay on for an extended tour. Why were these Auxiliary members specifically selected for this mission? Answer – Both were ready (Semper Paratus) when called. In this instance, Hanlon and Krantz
It is likely that as the oil spreads and reaches the East Coast of the Atlantic Ocean, there will be a need for Auxiliary Recon vessels to maintain a search of areas for evidence of oil sheens. Locations will need to be identified so that Rapid Attack Teams may be dispatched for actual clean up of the discovered oil slicks. If not currently ready to help -- now is the time to become prepared. Ω
Captions: Left page, top: VENICE, La. – Rev. Jessie Jackson tours the Plaquemines Branch Command Post and staging area for oil spill clean up efforts on July 1, 2010. Here, Rev. Jackson takes a moment along the docks to offer a prayer for the workers involved in the coastal restoration mission. Pictured in the gathering is District 7 Bill Hanlon, ADSOPA (East) who was under Coast Guard orders assisting in Command Post operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo by U.S. Lt. Ken Jones, Planning Section Chief Left page, bottom: MYRTLE GROVE, La. – National Incident Commander Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen and Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes on a staging barge in the Louisiana Bayou on June 17, 2010. Traveling with the VIP party on a two-hour boat tour of the area affected by the oil spill is Gary Krantz, FSO-MT Flotilla 31 District 7 Auxiliary. U.S. Coast Guard photo by U.S. Lt. Ken Jones, Planning Section Chief Right page: VENICE, La. – Bill Hanlon, ADSO-Public Affairs-East, District 7 aboard a BP Recon Team Helicopter on June 13, 2010 before liftoff on an orientation flight of the affected wetlands. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Gary Krantz, District 7 FSO-MT 31.
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Getting Better While Getting Older 60th Anniversary – Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater, Florida Story by Karen L. Miller, SO-PB 11, ADSO-PB CLEARWATER, Fla.— Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater, Fla., celebrated its 60th Anniversary over the weekend of May 22 and May 23, 2010, with a banquet at the Clearwater Yacht Club on Saturday night followed by a picnic at Sand Key Park on Sunday. The events leading up to this memorable celebration were often very exciting and rewarding. This included everything from fund raising to decorating decisions to designing souvenir mugs and receiving city and county proclamations. On June 19, 2010, Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young, U.S. House of Representatives, even had a flag flown over Congress for the flotilla which goes along with the proclamation which he read into the Federal Register. How did the flotilla finance such an extravagant celebration while keeping it free for all of the attendees? The funding and other preparations commenced three years prior to the celebration and were successful because the members of the flotilla supported the whole idea of a super special party. To start off the fund raising, the members of the flotilla unanimously voted to donate all the money provided by the Finance Center for the meal entitlement from all patrols. This brought in thousands of dollars over the three years. There were numerous Silent Auctions where members donated new items and services. This raised hundreds of dollars. Plus, they held annual White Elephant sales which brought in more money and let the members buy each other’s discards. Then, Deb Mallory’s (11-1’s Finance Officer) employer rewards its employees who perform volunteer work, and those checks helped to fill the Anniversary Fund coffers too. In addition, the members earned additional funds by the bridge and staff feeding the “Lingo Loot” jar for using acronyms without a proper explanation. These efforts ensured a first class celebration that included a super venue, highquality food, souvenirs, lots of guests from within the Coast Guard family and local community, snazzy decorations, etc.,-- in other words, an event that
will be remembered affectionately for years. The formal celebration began with a proclamation from Pinellas County. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala presented the members of Flotilla 11-1 with a proclamation that she read into the records. Jerry Osburn, 11-1 Flotilla Vice Commander, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the members. Then, on May 20, 2010, the City of Clearwater presented the flotilla a proclamation celebrating its 60th Anniversary. On Saturday morning the decorating committee began their work. They met at the Clearwater Yacht Club at 9:00 am and turned the dining room into Flotilla 11-1’s domain. As one of the servers said, he had never seen the place look so good; better even than the decorations for the many weddings they had there. The decorating committee was made up of Steve Acuff, Heath Wilder, Barb Masson, George Masson, Ed Kasper and was under the watchful eye of Teresa Kasper. Teresa had the magnificent artistic ideas that made the dining room so festive. Saturday night began about 5:00 pm when the stalwart workers arrived (Teresa Kasper, Ed Kasper, Jerry Osburn, Mel Manning, and Karen Miller) to put the finishing touches on the room. A little while later, the flotilla’s face to the public reported (Barb Masson, George Masson, Kim Clark and Frank Toal). The reception table was ready with the programs, dinner tickets,
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his earliest days in the United States Coast Guard, and told his audience how comfortable his late wife Mary was with the company of Auxiliarists. At the conclusion of his speech, the audience rose in unison for a standing ovation.
door prize tickets, the page from the Federal Register, and guest sign-in book. After Barb, George and Kim worked with them, Ed and Frank escorted each esteemed guest to their tables. Almost all the tables were set up with six seats — just the right size for good conversation! The evening began with cocktails and appetizers and lots of good conversation. As the guests arrived they were escorted to their tables, brought to the front of the room to have their picture taken, and then led to the bar area for appetizers and cocktails. This allowed everyone to get comfortable, relax with each other and get ready for the evening’s activities. At 7:30 pm the gathering was called to order. Jim Rudolph, Flotilla Commander, introduced the long list of dignitaries (members, Auxiliarists, city, state and federal politicians). Jerry Osburn, Flotilla Vice Commander, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, Gary Gray, a member of the Dunedin Flotilla and the flotilla’s host at the Yacht Club, provided an invocation. COMO Don Frasch presented Flotilla 11-1 with a plaque for its 60th Anniversary. Dinner was served—the attendees had a choice of Chicken Oscar, Grouper Picatta or Filet Mignon. After dinner, retired Rear Admiral Bill Schwob, a long-time member of 11-1, was asked to come to the podium. COMO Don Frasch presented Bill with an Auxiliary Membership Services Certificate for thirty years as a member of 11-1. Schwob then delivered an outstanding Keynote Speech—with just the right combination of humor and pathos. He entertained the guests with Coast Guard jokes, described his relationship with the Auxiliary from
The honored guests were offered the opportunity to speak to the attendees. The flotilla members were regaled with praise and positive comments. The evening ended with heartfelt remarks from Jim Rudolph, who presented a history of 11-1’s service to the Coast Guard and the City of Clearwater and then told the audience about the flotilla’s plans for the future—a search for a permanent headquarters on the local waters. Gary Gray concluded the evening with his rendition of the Coast Guard Hymn. Even though it was about 10:30 pm, many people stayed much later to continue socializing. On Sunday, the members of 11-1 continued their celebration of the 60th Anniversary with a picnic at Sand Key Park. This was a catered affair so the members could enjoy themselves and not worry about slaving over a hot barbeque. The hot dogs and hamburgers, salads, fruit and cake were all delicious. Peter Palmieri and Jim Moore were responsible for the picnic arrangements, and got all of the liquid refreshments, the special cake and arranged for the caterer. Paul Ingham arranged for the flotilla to use the shelter at the park; he got a waiver from the no-alcohol policy; and even provided for free parking. Flotilla 11-1 might indeed be getting older, but if this celebration is any indication of their abilities to plan and execute a mission, then they are surely getting better too! Ω
Photograph this page: CLEARWATER, Fla.- Mel Manning, DCDR 11 and retired RADM William Schwob, USCG, a 30 year member of 11-1 and keynote speaker stand at the podium on May 23, 2010 for the Flotilla 11-1 Anniversary celebration. Photo by Deb Mallory Photos of tables and “Lingo Loot” jar by Karen Miller.
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Ready-Set-Inflate! By Barbara Burchfield, FSO-PA 12-3
On May 20, 2010, at precisely 11:00 am EDT, a coordinated effort was made to set a world record for the most life jackets inflated at one time. This event also set the tone for launching National Safe Boating Week on 22-28 May. This first annual challenge to inflate life jackets simultaneously all across North America, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada was dubbed “ReadySet-Inflate” (RSI). Sponsored by National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), early results totaled 1,137 life jackets inflated in this effort. Not bad for the first event! In South Carolina, 28 USCG Station Charleston personnel and Auxiliarists from several coastal flotillas participated in a group effort. Burnette Sheffield, Flotilla Staff Officer Vessel Examinations (FSO-VE) 12-3 Lake Murray, joined with U.S. Army soldiers Jamie Abel and Allison Chan at Fort Jackson to inflate their life jackets during a safety event on the base. As intended, the life jacket inflating events, now called “inflations”, have brought attention to life jacket use and general boating safety awareness. Promoting the use of light-weight, versatile, and comfortable life jackets is intended to convince boaters to wear them all the time while boating. Twelve inflatable life jackets were donated by Mustang Survival to prize winners in a RSI competition
among participants. You can see this event growing in popularity, with event photos and stories available at www.ReadySetInflate.com. There are photos and videos on the RSI Facebook site, including a pretty funny video of two people and their dog inflating life jackets to the tune of “O Canada”. Before and after inflation photos are filmed in some clever settings. Replacement CO2 cartridges were provided by Leland,
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Ltd. to 1,000 participants. National sponsor of Ready-SetInflate, Cabela’s offered their store locations to hold inflation events. In Canada, SmartBoater supported the event as a sponsor and advocate for safe boating. Next year, Ready-Set-Inflate will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Get your cartridges ready, folks! Ω Photos:
Left
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top:
Photos on left page by Barbara Burchfield. Photos this page: TAMPA, Fla.—Eighteen (18) Members of USCG Station St. Petersburg, Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 7 Tampa Bay participated in the ’Ready-SetInflate’ event held on May 20, 2010. As part of the day’s demonstrations, member Michael Cabrera from Flotilla 79 in Tampa dons an inflatable life jacket and jumps into the water to demonstrate how the life jackets inflate when wet. With television cameras rolling, much to everyone’s chagrin, the life jacket did not automatically inflate and Cabrera had to resort to inflating it manually. Photos of Division 7 ‘Ready-Set-Inflate’ event by Jeff Young Photography, Tampa. CHARLESTON, S.C.-Twenty-eight (28) members of USCG Station Charleston and Auxiliarists from several coastal flotillas participate in the ‘Read-Set-Inflate’ event sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council on May 20, 2010. Bottom left: Burnette Sheffield from Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray is joined by U.S. Army soldiers Jamie Abel and Allison Chan at Fort Jackson Army Post to assist in setting a world record for the ’Ready-Set-Inflate’ event.
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D7 National Safe Boating Week Activities WLTX-TV Films Boating Safety Segments By: Joe Livingston, FL 12-1, Lake Marion, S.C. LAKE MURRAY, S.C.— On Friday, May 21, 2010, members of Flotilla 12-1 Lake Marion, S.C., participated in a public safety awareness patrol mounted in collaboration with Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray, S.C., and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Lake Murray, S.C. This patrol was organized at the request of WLTX-TV in Columbia, S.C., in an effort to promote boating safety to the South Carolina public in the wake of the recent fatal boating accidents that occurred on Lake Murray, and due to the high number of boating related deaths in state waters this year.
LAKE MURRAY, S.C.— Matt Youngblood, WLTX-TV Channel 19 photographer, shoots video for their press event on May 21, 2010 and airing on May 28 to promote safe boating during National Safe Boating Week, May 22-28, 2010. He is shooting film from U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3’s Auxiliary Operational Facility Unit One with Festus Burchfield, coxswain. Flotilla 12-1’s facility Reel Thrill with Perry Moses III, coxswain, along with crew members Larry Odom and Joe Livingston demonstrate various moves when boats approach each other. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Barbara Burchfield.
Barbara Burchfield, State Auxiliary Liaison Officer and Division 12 Public Affairs Officer and husband Festus Burchfield, from Flotilla 12-3, worked with the staff at WLTX in planning the event which included the demonstration of some of the “Rules of The Road” for boating as well as interviews with Barbara Burchfield and state DNR officials.
While the Burchfield’s’ facility Unit One, provided a stable platform for the film crew, the DNR boat with three officers onboard as well as Flotilla 12-1 facility Reel Thrill with Perry Moses, Larry Odom, and Joe Livingston onboard demonstrated the proper way for two boats to safely cross each other’s paths when crossing at 90 degrees, when meeting head on, and when one boat is overtaking another. The filming went well with the WLTX staff getting plenty of good footage both on the water and on the dock at Flotilla 12-3 headquarters, Flotilla Island. Their plan at
the time of filming was to air the segment on the evening news sometime during the week of May 23, 2010, which was the 2010 National Safe Boating Week. They also had the segment available on their website - www.wltx.com for several days. The segment actually aired on May 28th. There is much work yet to be done in promoting boating safety on South Carolina waters. The U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the DNR, along with many other state and local agencies are working hard toward this end. And we now owe the staff at WLTX a great big “Thank You” for their efforts to help promote boating safety in South Carolina! Bravo Zulu, WLTX! Ω
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TAMPA, Fla.— Captain Bill Miller, host of the popular Brighthouse Sports Network cable show "Hooked on Fishing," recently assisted the Auxiliary in promoting Vessel Safety Checks (VSC), life jacket use and boating education programs during National Safe Boating Week. With cameras rolling, Vessel Examiner Craig Starns performs a thorough VSC on Bill's boat at the Gandy Ramp on May 22, 2010. The VSC aired in several segments during NSBW on "Hooked on Fishing," an invaluable help to Auxiliary boating safety efforts. In case you're wondering: Bill's vessel did not pass the initial VSC. His sound producing device was defective. He replaced the air horn and brought the boat back for a recheck. Bill's boat now proudly sports a 2010 VSC decal. Photos by Tim Teahan
Below: CLEARWATER, Fla.—Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater Florida, traditionally offers its About Boating Safely program (ABS) at the beginning of National Safe Boating Week (NSBW). This year was no different, other than the flotilla was hard pressed to get enough instructors since several members were busy staffing a booth and Vessel Safety Check station at West Marine and several more were preparing the Clearwater Yacht Club for the flotilla’s 60th Anniversary Celebration that night. Pictured at the About Boating Safely Program is Teresa Kasper standing at the far end of the room, and staffing the booth at West Marine are from left, John Caddigan, Jeff Lawlor and Tom Kellum. Photos by Karen Miller
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Never a Dull Moment On a ‘Routine’ Patrol. Article by Fr. Dan Freitas, Edited/Co-Authored by Sue Carty, Photos by Julius Nagy
MELBOURNE, Fla.—“Routine” is the word most crew members think of when they patrol but “unusual” was what the crew of the Angel experienced on April 11, 2010 after they got underway for an ordinary training mission. The Angel, an Auxiliary Operational Facility from Flotilla 17-2 South Brevard, Fla., and crewed by Fr. Dan Freitas, coxswain; crew- Mike Donahue and Terry Riley; traineesJulius Nagy, Pete Anderson and Joe Kirkman, got underway from Waterline Marina in Melbourne, Fla., and proceeded south in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) where their scheduled training went as planned. Soon after anchoring for lunch near Marker #21, a set of floating objects and tubes with a makeshift sail, nicknamed by the crew as the “armada”, floated by with four persons onboard. The first was two men; one had a line around himself and the bow of the “vessel” and the other was holding to the back with one hand and trying to paddle with the other. It was the first of three such groups. The crew could not believe what they were seeing. With two pairs of binoculars onboard, they took turns checking the progress of the “armada”. Since no abandoned boats were in the area and by the gear they were carrying, the Angel’s crew presumed that the group had probably camped overnight on the spoil island, the direction from
which they were coming. The “armada” was headed for the mainland, 0.6 of a mile away. Station Canaveral was notified and the Angel followed their progress as requested. It took over one hour for the last group to reach land. No life jackets were seen anywhere and no one was wearing one, but they had an Angel to watch over them until they all safely reached shore. Back in the ICW, Julius Nagy mentioned he had never been in Melbourne Harbor, so they took a side trip into the harbor and to do more training. After clearing the Melbourne Causeway back to the ICW, they noticed a sailing vessel having trouble lowering its sails and changed their course towards it. It was Solitude, a 34 foot sailing vessel with three persons on board. The 11/12 knots east wind carried it across the ICW from East to West. We suggested they lower the anchor and Angel came along its starboard side. After unsuccessfully trying to lower the sail, Pete Anderson and Terry Riley, who own sail boats, saw the forestay had broken, preventing the sail from being lowered. They also knew if the sail could not be lowered, the mast could fall, possibly causing major damage. Dan Freitas, coxswain, noticed the sail was already cut and asked Echart Schneider, owner of the Solitude, for permission to cut
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Above: MELBOURNE HARBOR, Fla.: Auxiliarists Joe Kirkman, Pete Anderson and Terry Riley rein in a sailing vessel’s errant sail on while on patrol April 11, 2010. Mike Donahue can be seen in the left foreground. Below: During the same patrol, the crew of the Angel spots the Solitude, clearly in trouble! Opposite page: The “armada” meanders past the Angel, likely originating from the nearby spoil island.
more of the sail to help spill the wind. The crew used a boat hook to enlarge the cut, which helped to bring the sail down. The owner tied the sail to the mast and weighed anchor. Solitude was escorted safely back to its slip in Melbourne Harbor. Not only did the owner and occupants of the Solitude appreciate the help, but it was a day to remember for the crew of Angel, who felt good that they were able to assist in what could have been a disaster. Now, that is what you call on the job training. What a “reel” story to tell! Ω
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Memorial Wall: Division 14 Honors Members Who Have ‘Crossed the Bar’ By David Green, VCDR flotillas. No permanent record exists of those who have passed away. Since its initial engraving, five more Auxiliarists have been identified who have earned their “rite of passage” and will have their name added to the wall. Presently, the division is relying on the memories of their most senior Auxiliary members to provide additional names. In its continuing efforts to show respect, the Division will conduct a yearly memorial ceremony for members who have crossed the bar.
Members of Division 14 Honor Guard pose behind the Memorial Wall honoring members of Division 14 Coast Guard Auxiliary who have passed on. From left, the members are Rich Craven, Scott Thomas, David Jones, Paul Davis, David Green, Ken Perrone, Bill Sekeres. All personnel are from 14-4 except Scott Thomas and Bill Sekeres, who are from 14-2. Photograph by Rusty Gardner, FL 14-5 JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla.— A ceremony honoring Division 14 District 7 members who have “Crossed the Bar” coincided with the 71st anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary this June 26, 2010. The highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of an Auxiliary Memorial Wall, located at the US Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Station in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The memorial service commemorated the work of those members who embodied a commitment to personal duty and responsibility to their neighbors, community and country. The names immortalized on the wall will act as a continual reminder of our friends and shipmates who preceded us, showed us the way, and did so because of their love of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Sixty-five names have been engraved on the three-piece memorial which was carved from Virginia quarried granite weighing in at 1,200 pounds. David Green, Vice Commander (VCDR) Division 14 commented that it was naïve of him to think that it would be a simple task to collect all the names from the division’s
Funds raised for the Memorial Wall were generously contributed by the community, the division, flotillas and Auxiliary membership. As the Division Vice Commander 14, it was a labor of love for David Green to do this for all of the division’s shipmates, past, present and
future. Special guests who attended the ceremony included Captain Andy Blomme, Commander, USCG, Sector Jacksonville, Reggie Hollar, District Captain-North, Mayor Fland Sharp of Jacksonville Beach, Mayor Harriet Pruette of Neptune Beach, City Councilman Tom Taylor of Jacksonville Beach, Chief Petty Officer Robert Lehman, Officer in Charge, Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team in Jacksonville Beach, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Devane, Commanding Officer, Station Mayport, as well as Mrs. Anne Ping and Mrs. Reidunn Petroni. In addition to the support shown by the many members and dignitaries who attended, David Green, VCDR, wishes to thank Lonnie Young, Florida Project Manager of the Moyer Marble and Tile Company of Jacksonville, who was helpful in procuring the granite and arranged for the project to be completed on time and under budget! Ω
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Scott Cleary, Flotilla 37 Lighthouse Point and Gary Joseph, Flotilla 38 Plantation, Florida receive him while Don Banos, Flotilla 34 Pompano Beach, is at the helm. Also on board is Brian Lichtenstein from Flotilla 38 in Plantation, Florida, who took these great shots.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Members of Division 3 regularly assist with the on-going training of the Search and Rescue swimmers assigned to Station Fort Lauderdale and call these missions “Helo Ops”. These photos were taken during a “Helo Ops” mission April 30, 2010. A USCG helicopter lowers AST2 Brad Fitzpatrick to the Operational facility Heartbeat.
Above: Swimmer being hoisted out of the water!
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Use of E-Mail in the Auxiliary Braxton Ezell, DCDR 8
E-mail is a wonderful communication tool. It has virtually eliminated the game of telephone tag. Sometimes the game of tag goes on for so long that you forget what the original call was about. Not so with e-mail. With e-mail you transmit a message to your intended recipients and maintain a record in your computer of the message and the eventual reply. E-mail has become an accepted means of communicating in business and with friends and family. E-mail messages contain correspondence and reports for business purposes and personal e-mail containing correspondence, stories, jokes, or religious or political messages. Usually these are to people we know well and from whom we have received e-mails containing similar content. There is relatively small risk in offending our friends and family with these types of e-mail because we know they are amenable to receiving them. E-mail is a powerful and dangerous tool. We can instantaneously broadcast a message to a single recipient or multiple recipients. But it is one of the easiest forms of communication to misunderstand. The speed with which we can fire off a message or reply to one can result in a message that conveys an entirely different meaning than the one we intended to send. In our Coast Guard family, e-mail has become a vitally important tool in conducting our business and is considered official correspondence. E-mail is a very efficient form of conveying reports, meeting notices, meeting agendas, and informational messages. But it can also offend, hurt, incite, or spread misinformation, causing animosity and division within the organization. E-mail is useful when you want to: • • • • • •
Convey detailed information. Arrange a meeting. Recap your understanding of a spoken conversation (phone or in person). Provide a carefully worded response. Send a consistent message to a group. Provide a paper trail.
Avoid using e-mail when: • • •
You’re angry. You’re responding to someone who is angry. You’re addressing a sensitive issue.
• • •
You’re reprimanding someone. You’re sharing information that you don’t want to be shared with others. You’re gossiping or spreading unsubstantiated rumors.
Here are some guidelines to consider before you click on “send” the next time: •
•
• •
•
•
• • •
All Auxiliary and Coast Guard e-mail addresses are obtained from rosters, other Auxiliarists, Auxiliary email lists, etc. and are protected under the Freedom of Information Act. When you give out your e-mail address for the conduct of Auxiliary business, you do so with the expectation that its use will be limited to Auxiliary business. The roster should not be used as a distribution list to send e-mails that express personal, political, religious, or sexual views. Such e-mails only serve to cause animosity among members and are detrimental to the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard. Never send unsolicited personal e-mail to a member of the Coast Guard at a *.uscg.mil address! Be careful about sending unsolicited e-mails to other Auxiliarists that do not pertain to Auxiliary business. E -mails that contain jokes, pictures, degrading comments about others, etc. can be offensive to others. Before sending non-business related e-mails, make sure that the e-mails will be favorably received and is not unwanted due to its nature and subject matter. Think about your recipients, the subject matter of your e-mail, and your recipients’ knowledge of the subject before sending. Write clearly to avoid misunderstandings. Consider that the e-mail may go beyond your intended recipient. Avoid rumor and innuendo, or stating things as fact when you can’t be certain that they are.
Give serious thought about the impact on the sender or others before forwarding someone else’s e-mail. Don’t alter the words in someone else’s message without stating that you have done so or use another’s words without attribution. Don’t use e-mail to discuss personal issues or for problem resolution between Auxiliary members. (Continued on bottom of page 37)
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TAMPA, Fla.— Amid much fanfare and escorted by Auxiliary vessels from Division 7 Tampa Bay, the USCGC Eagle enters Tampa Bay on July 10, 2010. Division 7 facilities both escorted the Eagle and ferried dignitaries such as Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, Commander, Sector St. Petersburg to board the Eagle before the ship made her grand entrance up the narrow channel to the Tampa Convention Center. Seen beside the Eagle are Auxiliary vessels Miss Marla from Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, Fla., Lucky Dog and Omnia from Flotilla 79 Tampa, Fla., and Gulf Lady from Flotilla 75 Ruskin, Florida. The red vessel just forward of the Eagle is the Patriot, Tampa’s new 32 foot fire rescue vessel. Photo by Jim Newman, Flotilla 7-16 Gulfport, Fla.
Use of Email (Continued from page 36)
Avoid using e-mail when dealing with a controversial subject. Keep the number of recipients to the minimum necessary. Don’t CC up the chain unless it’s necessary. So before you click the “Send” button take some time to read your message. Make sure it clearly communicates what you intended to say. Run spell check to check the spelling and grammar. Above all, don’t write and send an
e-mail when you’re angry or upset. Instead, write your message and then sit on it overnight. Read it the next day and you will probably have a different perspective. Just writing the proposed e-mail is usually enough to vent your aggravation with the proposed recipient. As Falstaff said, "The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life." (Falstaff, Henry IV, Part One, W. Shakespeare) Ω
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Looking out for the Sailors Karen Miller, SO-PB 11, ADSO-PB
CLEARWATER, Fla.—Clearwater Yacht Club (CYC) Vice Commodore Brenda Hanson recently presented plaques of appreciation to five of the flotillas in Division 11 for their all out support of the Yacht Club’s ten regattas this past regatta season. A total of 44 Division 11 members participated in ten regattas from September 2009 through March 2010 (some, multiple times) helping keep more than 650 sailors from over 30 different countries safe during CYC sailboat racing events. CYC runs local, regional, national and international regattas; almost all of them require Coast Guard Auxiliary assistance. The Clark Mills Regatta is local and regional and includes eight year olds just learning how to sail. The High School Cressy Qualifier is for regional high school championships. The US Sailing Youth Worlds Qualifier is on a national scale and includes participants from all over the country. The Laser Midwinter’s East Regatta is CYC’s largest international competition with 198 sailors from 30 different countries. CYC also used the Auxiliary to assist in the Snipe Midwinter Championship which is an international competition and is their longest running one – it’s in its 73rd year. They also run the annual Clearwater Challenge which is
their only big boat, multiple crew regatta. Ms. Hanson attended Division 11’s Awards Dinner in 2010 and presented 11-1 Clearwater, 11-3 Madeira Beach, 11-7 Hudson, 11-9 Tarpon Springs and 11-10 Dunedin with attractive plaques showing CYC’s gratitude for Division 11’s assistance.
Photos: Clearwater Yacht Club sailboat race and one of the beautiful plaques presented to Division 11 flotillas by the Clearwater Yacht Club to express their appreciation. Auxiliary Operational Facility Sea Dip owned by Roy Bertke from 11-10 assists at a Clearwater Yacht Club sailboat race. Photos by Karen Miller
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“CC” Kreglo Named as a University of Phoenix™ Volunteer Leader Award Honoree ATLANTA, GA. (April 22, 2010)- Captain James Kreglo, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands has been named a University of Phoenix Volunteer Leader Award Honoree, an award given by HandsOn Network and the University of Phoenix to 10 outstanding volunteer leaders in the nation. These leaders motivate others and are catalysts for change in their communities. The award celebrates the first anniversary of the landmark Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which authorized the largest expansion of national service in America in decades. Kreglo will receive $10,000 to donate to the organization of his choice. Kreglo’s dedication to service stretches back three decades. He moved to St. John in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and became a sea captain and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He quickly recognized the need to develop youth into civic leaders. In 1981, Kreglo, a scout leader with the Boy Scout Council of the USVI, established the Boy Scout Sea Explorers program. More than 200 young people from underserved neighborhoods have participated in the program and have become environmental stewards of the island chain. To further engage youth, Kreglo utilized his unique talents as a fencer and fisherman to train young people in the athletic, moral and ethical principles emphasized by sporting and scouting organizations, which encourage self-respect and hard work. Kreglo continues to lead by example. He identifies unmet needs and mobilizes people and resources to address critical health, education, and public safety issues. He is a volunteer EMT, and certified in Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid and Boating Safety Instructor, preparing youth and adults for disaster mitigation and response. He trains residents of the Virgin Islands and Florida in CPR, First Aid and CERT. Most recently, he initiated the effort to establish the first Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla on St. John. The 18member group provides boating safety courses to the
public, educates youth groups on environmental issues and life jacket use, and provides courtesy boat inspections. Kreglo currently serves as the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Division Commander for the Virgin Islands. With more than 8,000 hours of service recorded since 2001, Captain Kreglo has inspired adults and youth in the US Virgin Islands and Florida. He has empowered them to improve their community in significant ways by becoming active change agents.
About University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As of February 28, 2010, 458,600 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu. About HandsOn Network: HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at about $600 million. For more information, please visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org. Submitted by HandsOn Network. Permission to reprint granted.
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Betty Riddle - 30 Years with the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary By Jim Samples quite an eye-opener for them. Betty worked in the communications room doing whatever was asked of her. That is when she decided she really enjoyed the “comms” room. “Miss Betty,” as she is affectionately known, has held every position at the flotilla level including two years as Flotilla Commander and positions at division and district levels. During these years, Betty has dedicated most of her time as a watchstander at the local Coast Guard Station in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Even after giving up most of her flotilla staff office and district positions, she typically puts in 30 plus hours per week at the Station. Riddle has been a qualified watchstander at the Station for 29 years, and during her years at the Station, she also became qualified as an Officer of the Day and a Coxswain on the 41 footer and various smaller boats. Additionally, she has also been designated as “Sailor of the Quarter.” Riddle has served under many different commanders and has also taught numerous Guardians in the communication room. Some, who have moved on, contact her to see if she is still there. She says it’s always nice to hear from them.
WIGGINS PASS, Fla.—Betty Riddle talks on the phone in the Flotilla 96 office. - Photo by Michael Dobrovic
WIGGINS PASS, Fla.- “Thirty years. But who’s counting?” So says Betty Riddle of her 30 years as a volunteer member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. After moving to Bonita Springs, Florida in 1979, Betty and her husband Tom decided to join Flotilla 96, Wiggins Pass, North Naples, Florida. And wow, did they get into it! Tom became Flotilla Vice Commander within six months after getting special permission, and moved all the way up to Rear Commodore-West (now District CaptainWest), District 7. He was very active with the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard up to the time of his death in 1995. Soon after getting involved with the Auxiliary, Betty and Tom Riddle were both sent to Coast Guard Station Marathon, Florida to work on the Mariel Boat Lift, which was
When Betty Riddle first got involved with Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, there were only 24 Coast Guard members assigned and the person in charge was a Chief Boatswain’s Mate. The Commander is now a Chief Warrant Officer and there are 52 members attached to the Station. As Betty says, “Times have really changed. With me getting older, it seems like those coming into the Coast Guard are really young! In fact, I now have grandchildren older than some of them.” If one has time to listen, Riddle can talk about numerous interesting cases she has personally been involved with. What she really enjoys, Betty says, is that there are never two days the same at the Station. No, at this time, Betty does not have a retirement date in mind. She just wants to see how things go. “I really enjoy what I am doing or I would not be doing it.” We hope she continues to enjoy what she is doing for a long time! Ω
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Write Your Flotilla Number Correctly! Bill Sorrentino, VCDR 4; BC-IUS Branch Chief IU Division, Standards Branch Department of Information Technology Dottie Riley, DSO-PB D7
The most commonly made error when writing flotilla designations is to confuse their correct designations with AUXDATA numerical data entries. Please refer to your Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790, Chapter 4, Section A.3 Designation: “Auxiliary flotillas are designated by Arabic numerals. The first number indicates the division, followed by the flotilla number. The name of a city or town in which the flotilla is located completes the designation. For example, Flotilla 32, St. Louis, is Division 3, Flotilla 2, located at St. Louis, Missouri. Different flotillas in the same area must, for record purposes, have different names. New flotillas should use the name of the community, body of water, or other name identified with the locale. When either the number of divisions or the number of flotillas exceeds nine, use a hyphen between the flotilla and division number. For example, 11-4 or 6-10.” •
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Do not use leading zeros. The leading zero is derived from computer usage and applies only to numbers entered into a database such as AUXDATA. Outside of a computer database, District 070 reads District Seventy. The placement of the zeros is what keeps the numbers in their correct order within the database, but it is simply District 7 when written, posted on a website or when spoken. Do not use hyphens between division and flotilla numbers when division number is less than ten. Using the above example, 3-2 is an incorrect designation for the St. Louis flotilla. Do not use computer designations for your flotilla. For example, it is Flotilla 79 Tampa... not Flotilla 07007-09. If your flotilla is correctly designated by number and name, the use of the district number is not necessary. When district numbers are used, they should follow the flotilla designation and the flotilla designation takes prominence. Ω
MIAMI - Boat crewmember Matthew Paulini, FSO-IS 611 D7 (right) teaches boat crew trainee Edwin Bowley the proper technique to use when tying a bowline during the Flotilla 6-11 member training session at the Miami Yacht Club. Photo by Christopher Todd
Flotilla 79 Flotilla 070-07-09 Flotilla 07-09 Flotilla 7-9
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U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Participates in Time-Honored Tradition William Hanlon, ADSO-PA-E The seamless integration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary with their active duty counterparts as one uniformed force was a powerful visual testament reflecting the important role of the Auxiliary in the overall completion of the Coast Guard’s missions. During one the many speeches on this day, Admiral Steve Branham specifically singled out the Auxiliary for praise. District 7 Commodore Don Frasch was asked to stand and be recognized for the outstanding efforts of the entire Auxiliary in support of Team Coast Guard. A informal reception was held following the formal ceremony. During this post event, Commodore Frasch and Walter Jaskiewicz, District Chief of Staff, presented a proclamation to now retired Admiral Branham inviting him into the Auxiliary. All of the Auxiliary members in attendance at this Change of Command and especially those selected for Admiral’s Honor Unit expressed a profound sense of pride and gratitude for being offered the opportunity to be part of this time honored tradition.Ω
Post Change of Command ceremony: During a reception at Miami Air Station, Commodore Don Frasch presents Rear Admiral Robert S. Branham, Ret., a proclamation from COMO Nicholas Kerigan, Auxiliary National Commodore and USCG Captain Mark Rizzo, Chief Director of Auxiliary reflecting honorary status as a Commodore in the Auxiliary. Photo by William Hanlon
OPA-LOCKA, Fla.: May 13, 2010, Coast Guard Air Station Miami was the setting for a time honored tradition known as the Change of Command, a formal ceremony where continuity of authority is transferred from one leader to another. On this day, before an assembly of more than 200 guests representing the entire Coast Guard family as well as foreign, federal, state, local dignitaries, law enforcement, and related partnership entities, District 7 command was transferred for the 31st time since 1941. One of the many traditions during the solemn ceremony is a formal inspection of the ‘troops’ by both outgoing and incoming District Commanders. On this occasion, of the thirty members making up the Coast Guard Honor Platoon, nearly half were members of the Auxiliary. Auxiliary members from Divisions 3, 5, 6, and 13 proudly stood at attention shoulder-to-shoulder in formation as the news media and invited guests witnessed Rear Admirals Branham and Baumgartner conduct the walk-by inspection.
Auxiliary Members of the USCG Unit present for Inspection Division 3 Bill Hanlon George Kozel Scott Cleary Division 5 Otto Spielbichler Diane Riggan Bob Clarke Mel Marx Mel Schumacher
Division 6 Pedro Jesus Ordaz Ruben Daniel Paz
Division 13 Dennis J. Kahler Gerald L. Metcalf Elsie Metcalf
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Several of our Coast Guard sectors, stations and vessels changed command since our last publication. To the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, this represents both a loss of familiar, friendly faces as well as an opportunity to introduce more Coast Guard members to Auxiliary roles and missions and to our great versatility. While our primary mission is boating safety education, the Auxiliary also serves as a force multiplier by performing functions and duties that free many Guardians to perform law enforcement and other critical missions. Auxiliary members attended these ceremonies both as guests and as members of the guard presented for inspection by the incoming and departing commanders.
Right: MIAMI - Coast Guard Rear Adm. Bill Baumgartner, Seventh District commander, looks on as Coast Guard Capt. Chris Scraba relieves Capt. James O. Fitton of command of Coast Guard Sector Miami June 25, 2010. Scraba took command of one of the busiest sectors in the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Barry Bena
Left: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.– July 2, 2010- Amos Johnson, Division Commander 7, Tampa Bay, Fla., bids farewell to outgoing Sector Commander Capt. Timothy Close at the reception following Sector St. Petersburg’s Change of Command ceremony at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg. Close relinquished his command to Capt. Sheryl L. Dickinson. Prior to this assignment, Dickinson served as the senior legal advisor from 2007 to 2009 for Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, a Department of Defense command conducting counternarcotics operations. Photo by Tim Teahan
Right: CHARLESTON, S.C.- Sector Charleston held its change of command on June 18, 2010 at The Citadel in Mark Clark Hall. Captain Michael F. White relieved Captain Michael F. McAllister, who assumes new duties at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. With Auxiliarists from all over Georgia and South Carolina present at the ceremony, Auxiliary members welcomed White and wished McAllister a fond farewell. Photo by Barbara Burchfield
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Trimming a Boat Article and photos by Stu Robinson, TCT Coordinator D7
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.— In today’s world of small power boats (under sixty-five feet) and with inflation/recession adversely affecting our economy, the importance of Auxiliarists maximizing the efficiency of their vessel performance becomes more important than ever. Obviously, careful maintenance of the power train and hull should be the owner’s first priority. But often overlooked on planing boats is the proper trimming of your boat’s attitude when underway. Properly balancing a boat not only includes adjusting trim tabs, or tilting an outboard motor, it should also include balancing the boat’s weight port and starboard as well. Can this “trimming” make a major difference to your wallet? Several boat and outboard manufacturers agree that paying attention to properly trimming a boat can usually improve the efficiency of operating a power boat by as much as twenty per cent!
friends you have left will give you points for not making them sick looking at a dancing bubble on a carpenter’s level.
If a twenty percent operating improvement is not sufficient incentive for you to adopt some consistent trimming routines, you need not read any further. However, if spending a few minutes underway fiddling with your boat’s attitude to reduce your vessel’s operating costs by this amount is a sufficient reward, then here are a few tips.
On boats with single outboard engines, a force called “torque” can affect port/starboard movements as well as your vessel’s fore and aft attitude. Trimming the outboard in (or bow downward) will usually increase the steering torque to the starboard. Trimming the outboard out (or bow up) will usually have the opposite effect of making the boat want to go to port.
As soon as your boat is floating (with no one in it) take a look at it to see if there is an obvious list to port or starboard. When a boat is leaning underway there is an increased drag on that side that has to be corrected by an increased rudder adjustment to the opposite side. This compounds the inefficiencies. So there are now two unnecessary drag forces to overcome causing the engine(s) to work harder to maintain the desired speed. Taking a few moments to move any portable materials (or passengers) to correct the listing is well worth the effort. From a safety perspective, a listing vessel in beam seas is not a good combination of surface dynamics. I had a friend who actually glued a small carpenter’s level on his boat. It worked fine at rest but any boat movement underway made the air bubble dance so badly it was worthless. If you are a fanatic about nautical gadgets and need to know if your boat is listing, get yourself a bronze sailboat inclinometer “thingy” that measures how much your boat is heeling. It will look ridiculous on a powerboat, but any
Just aft and above the prop of an outboard engine is a small blade that hangs down. It is generally adjustable to swivel left or right. This is designed to offset the torque movement of the prop going forward with a neutral trim and at the manufacturer’s recommended cruising speed. If your outboard motor has a “weather helm” e.g. a tendency to wander either to the port or starboard, you may want to adjust this torque offset blade.
The tachometer with an increase of revolutions at the same throttle setting.
So much for outboard configurations. Now, let's assume you're operating a boat with inboard power, either straight or V-drives. Shafts, struts and props come out of the hull at an angle, although some more than others. Therefore the props will push water down, pushing the aft end of the boat up at that same angle, either at the engine or V-drive location. Thus trim tabs are often necessary on planing and some semi-displacement hulls. A good hull design will incorporate some of these natural lift characteristics, which help offset some of this bow down tendency.
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RPMs or “Revolutions per Minute.” This is merely displaying the speed of the engine, not the boat’s speed. Although a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is not required to be on an operational facility, having one on your boat however, will give you the speed of your boat over the bottom and can give you greater efficiency accuracy. If you have both a tachometer and a GPS, you can easily generate a Cruising Speed / RPM table.
River patrol boats at rest with no one aboard showing no observable sidewise list.
In relatively calm seas and leaving the throttle alone at your cruising speed, slowly adjust your bow up or down with your trim tabs. (Be sure to have a seasoned crew maintain a lookout during any maneuvers that could distract you from complying with the “lookout” requirements of Nav Rule 5!) Leave the trim attitude adjustment for about 15 to 20 seconds for it to take full effect. If you observe any change in RPM you should note the position of the trim tabs. Higher RPMs with no change in throttle setting will indicate an increased efficiency. If you have a working GPS aboard, you may want to also note any increase in speed. You may repeat these observations under varying weight conditions with water and fuel tanks full to see if there are any significant changes. I also adjust trim just for the sea state placing a higher value on safety than economy. In most cases, I prefer no tab or a slight bow up attitude in a following sea to keep the bow high. As the boat runs off a wave, a slight bow up attitude helps eliminate a bow steer reaction and prevents the bow from being pushed into the back of the next wave if the seas are stacked. Also, in a big head sea, this slight bow up configuration will help keep the decks drier and prevent the bow from diving like a submarine.
Generally, balancing your boat fore and aft is where the major financial rewards can be obtained. This is also where there are going to be more variables to correct. As you learn the subtle nuances of your boat, you will appreciate the value of keeping a working log on board so you can record some performance information. For example: I have a 43 ft. boat with forward and aft fuel tanks. Diesel fuel weighs approximately seven pounds per gallon. With a full 480 gallons or slightly more than one and half tons of diesel on board, I discovered over time I needed a bit of bow up trim to maintain an optimum Cruising Speed – RPM Ratio. As I used up some fuel I could gradually adjust the trim back. Not to worry dear reader, the Cruising Speed – RPM ratio is about as technical as this article gets. Most power boats have a tachometer that displays the speed of the engine in
Most trim tabs function independently of each other. This can be useful for leveling, offsetting weight distribution and countering natural listing for beam seas. Next time you are on a patrol and things are getting boring waiting for John Q. Public to need our help, run a couple of trim/RPM trials. Then, when you instruct in a Public Education or Member Training class, you will have something unique and personal to share. Ω
Photo lower right: "Our gang"- Chief Hudnell, USCG, Auxiliarists Ann Gabriel, Berth Lynne, Walter Gorenflo (QE), and Garry Ford, members of Flotilla 44 Daytona Beach.
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Flare and Fire Boating Safety Article and photos submitted by Dottie Mattern, FSO-IS 13-2 MARATHON, Fla.-What can I do with my expired flares? Where can I safely dispose of them? These questions are heard every time our flotilla has a table or display during a community event. Our Vessel Examiners also report these are frequent questions asked of them, followed by an admission that the boater has never actually had to ignite a flare or use any visual distress signaling device. Where there is a need concerning recreational Sue Redding from Flotilla 13-2 Ignites a flare during the Flare and Fire Boating Safety Expo at Station Marathon on April 24, 2010. safe boating practices, you can deFlorida Fish and Wildlife office supplied literature and the pend on the Coast Guard Auxiliary! Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Marina Flotilla 13-2 in Marathon, Fla. contacted BM1 Brian Vonprogram provided the flotillas Type IV cushions and bilge noh and BMC Will Hillyer of Coast Guard Station Marasocks to give to participants signing a clean boater pledge thon to explore the idea of having a day when boaters card. Station Marathon also allowed visitors to board one could bring their expired flares, get instruction, see demof their 33 foot boats, which appealed to people of all onstrations, and under supervision, actually ignite a flare. ages. The flotilla set up their trailer with a safe boating Nearby Flotilla 13-3 in Big Pine, Fla. was invited to join in equipment display along with pamphlets and printed inforthis event, a Flare and Fire Safety Expo on April 24, mation to be distributed. A banner and table also reminded 2010. people about free vessel safety checks and several attendees signed up to have a Vessel Examiner contact them. Station Marathon agreed this was a good idea and arranged to host the expo on the Station’s grounds. With further planning, the Marathon Fire Department was asked to participate in the event so that they might help boaters become more knowledgeable about which fire extinguishers they should have on board and the most effective way to use them when extinguishing a fire aboard a recreational vessel. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and it was arranged for the Bomb Squad to pick up and safely dispose of the flares collected that day. Various other government agencies participated. The
Marathon also enjoys a wonderful small town sense of community, and one of their local banks, Centennial Bank, agreed to bring their trailer, cooker and staff to provide free hot dogs, drinks and chips to all of the participants. The day was sunny and beautiful, but 20 knot winds were a concern. Flotilla 13-2 members Dottie Mattern and Sue Redding lectured and demonstrated aerials, but did not launch rockets or parachutes due to nearby residences downwind. The orange smoke flares and other hand held flares were spectacular, and all who wanted the opportunity to actually ignite a flare were encouraged to do so
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Dottie Mattern and Sue Redding provide instruction on the safe handling, discharge and disposal of flares to attendees of the Flare and Fire Safety Expo held at Station Marathon on April 24, 2010. Below, the pair checks the expiration dates of flairs brought in by the attendees.
under the watchful eyes of Auxiliary and Coast Guard members. There were many questions from participants. There were water buckets on site for extinguished flares and fire extinguishers close by, if needed. Fortunately, the day went without incident despite the windy conditions. The Fire and Flare Expo was scheduled from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. This allowed Auxiliary members to do three demonstration/flare firing sessions, so the size of the groups was manageable. They wanted to keep the student-teacher ratio small for safety’s sake. Following the flare lessons, fireman Marcus Orozco gave an excellent talk concerning the types and the most effective uses of fire extinguishers and answered questions.
The Auxiliary received many positive comments and expressions of gratitude from the people who came, many of whom actually got a “hands on” experience with flares. They enjoyed being on the Station grounds, boarding the boats, learning useful information, and of course getting free cushions and delicious hot dogs. They ended the day with four large boxes of expired flares and aerials (over 350 items) that received a proper and safe disposal.
Auxiliary members from both Flotillas 13-2 and 13-3 felt this was a successful event that fulfilled important safety needs of their recreational boaters and plan on making this an annual or possibly a semi-annual event in Marathon. Ω
District Seven Fall Conference
SEPTEMBER 22 - 26, 2010 The Florida Hotel and Conference Center At the Florida Mall 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32809 Phone: 407-859-1500 •
Make your room reservations before August 23, 2010, by calling the hotel. (Auxiliary rate: $104)
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Form for mail-in registration is located on the D7 website at: http://www.cgaux7.org/ (Conference tab) or register and pay at the D7 Materials Center at : http:// www.cgaux7.org/
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Conference schedule is posted to the D7 website. Some course offerings require early registration, so be sure to download and read the course offerings well ahead of time!
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Mardi Gras will be The Fun Night Theme for the conference in September 2010. We hope to have beads for everyone, but if you want fancy ones, you may wish to bring your own!
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Costumes can be Mardi Gras type— anything goes: Body Painting (preferably with clothes), Halloween costumes - whatever you are comfortable with. •
We will have a costume contest, and come prepared to have fun!
The District 7 Fall Conference (DCON) is the annual event for LEARNING, SHOPPING, DINING, NETWORKING and just plain, having fun!
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MARIETTA, Ga.—U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member Sherry Blomeley, who is also a Cobb County Public Library System Regional Manager, introduces marine and boating safety topics at Powder Springs Library storytime, June 28, 2010. The program is part of the summer reading program, ‘Make a Splash-READ!’ on-going throughout the Cobb County Public Library System until August 1, 2010. Below left: A nine year-old girl creates a ‘life jacket’ after learning about water safety during the summer reading program at the Cobb County Public Library. Below right: A seven year old boy gets his ‘life jacket’ fitted by his mother. Sherry Blomeley, a member of 12-2, Marietta, Ga., definitely made a ’splash’ at the Cobb County Public Library’s summer reading program, “Make a Splash– READ!” All photographs by Erika Ruthman (CCPLS)
District Staff Officers
Past District 7 Commodores
Prevention Department
2007-08…………………………....Allen Brown 2005-06…………...………….Peter Fernandez 2003-04 ……..…………..……... Jay Dahlgren 2001-02………...…….…...…...….. Mary Larsen 1999-00………………….……... Helmut Hertle 1997-98…………………….….. E.W. Edgerton 1995-96……………...…. George E. Jeandheur 1993-94……………......…. Joseph E. Norman 1991-92…………………..…… Walter W. Bock 1989-90…………...………. Guy R. Markley, Jr. 1987-88………………………. Rene E. Dubois 1985-86……………….... Robert B. Waggoner 1983-84………………….…… John C. King, Jr. 1981-82……………….… William J. Callerame 1979-80……………………… Bolling Douglas 1977-78…………………...………. James Titus 1975-76……………………….... Newton Baker 1973-74…………….. Lawrence G. Danneman 1971-72……………...…… Dr. Elbert C. Prince 1969-70……………….….. George B.M. Loden 1967-68……………....…….. Ernest A. Baldine 1965-66………….……..…..…….. Roland Birnn 1963-64…………….…...… Miguel A. Colorado 1961-62……………….…..... E. E. Vanderveer 1959-60……………………… Richard L. Smith 1957-58……………….….……. Herbert L. Lutz 1956…………………….… A. Harlow Merryday 1954-55…………………….... Stanley W. Hand 1952-53………………………... N.J.M. McLean 1951-52…………………... Fred T. Youngs, Jr. 1950…………………….... Guersey Curran, Jr. 1948-49…………………... Charley E. Sanford 1946-47……………….…….… W. N. Mansfield 1939-45….….. No DCOs yet, DCPs governed
John Sprague-Williams …….………....DSO-MS Tom Hayden ….…………..……………DSO-MT Ronnie Merritt ..…………………………DSO-PV Ruth Ann White…………………………DSO-PE William S. Griswold……………………..DSO-SL Chuck Kelemen ……..…....……………DSO-VE Response Department Rodney “Rocky” Reinhold……..………DSO-NS Cecil Christopher..………….…...……..DSO-AV Joseph Colee, Jr. ……………..………DSO-CM Janee Henderson…...……...………….DSO-OP Jerry Henderson.…………….…QE Coordinator
Logistics Department Nestor Tacoronte .……………...……...DSO-CS Susan Z. Hastings …………….…...…...DSO-IS Thomas A. Loughlin ………….………..DSO-PA Dorothy J. Riley…. ……………………..DSO-PB Angela Pomaro .……...…….…….…... DSO-HR Terry Barth …… …………..……...……DSO-MA Nestor Tacoronte ………………….. Webmaster Lillian G. GaNun ……………...……….DSO-SR Kevin McConn ………………………..…..DSSO John Roderick . ..………………………….DFSO Andrew Anderson……..…….………….DSO-LP Antoinette Borman………………….……....D-LL William Malone ....…………..…………DSO-FN Gwendolyn S. Leys ……...………….PPDCPA Karen L. Miller …………...………………Grants Peter Fernandez……………...Plan Coordinator Thomas Brickey .……. District Materials Center District Administrative Assistant & Aide
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators
Carolyn R. Hooley ……………..…...…......D-AD Ronald Goldenberg...………………..……..D-AA Elaine J. Cornell …………………………...D-AA Rosalind M. Lucash…. …………………….D-AA COMO Mary T. Larsen …………..…...Advocate
Ronald Goldenberg …. ASC Sector Charleston Donald C. Hoge .... ASC Sector St. Petersburg Robert Funk ……...… ASC Sector Jacksonville Russel D. Jackson…….. ASC Sector Key West Osvaldo M. Catinchi…... ASC Sector San Juan William V. Tejeiro………….. ASC Sector Miami
District 7: From where do our stories come?
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7. 3.
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Our district covers a large area: from the Carolinas south to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This map shows the approximate location of each article in this issue. Get your flotilla or division on the map!
1. Division 11: Looking Out For the Sailor………………..38 2. Division 7: NSBW: Radio Show……………....…….….31 3. Division 8: Auxiliary Email……………………………....36 4. Division 9: Betty Riddle………………...………………..40 5. Division 13: Flare and Fire Safety Expo……………….46 6. Division 16: “CC” Kreglo-National Volunteer Award….39
7. Division 3: “Helo Ops” …………………………...…......35 8. Division 5: Farewell to a Friend…………………....…...20 9. Division 17: Routine Patrol…………………………….. 32 10. Division 4: Trimming Your Boat………………..…..….44 11. Division 14: Memorial Wall……………….….……..….34 12. Division 2: Summer Reading Program……………….49 13. Division 12: Ready, Set, Inflate! ……………………...28 If your division is not featured in this issue of the Breeze, be sure to submit an article next time. Submission deadline is October 10, 2010. Highlight your member’s varied activities. We want to hear from you! Ω
Homeland Security U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary DSO-PB D7
1630 Wakefield Drive Brandon, FL 33511-2325
PRSRT STD
POSTAGE AND FEES
PAID U.S. COAST GUARD PERMIT NO. G-157
OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300
CAPE CANAVERAL--Atlantis stands ready for her final launch as captured in this photograph taken on May 12, 2010 during an Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) mission with T.J. Wagner, pilot and John Roderick, crew. Photo by John Roderick. Previously published in Flotilla 14-7 newsletter, St. Augustine Buoy.