From the Helm- William Sage, FC

From the Helm

William Sage Flotilla Commander

Hello shipmates! We look forward to getting off on a positive footing this year. We have several objectives with the fi rst being painting our fl otilla building. Before the hurricane season begins. We will also be reaching out to all our fl otilla members for several things. The fi rst reason is to see how we can help you. This can be assisting you to get your required training done or provide you with the resources you may need to be a successful Auxiliary member. The second is asking you for your input and help. We would like to know what we can do as a fl otilla to be more successful, and we to ask for your help fi lling various positions within the fl otilla. We know that we have members with a lot of experience in diff erent areas and we may ask you to step up and help us in order for the fl otilla to succeed in our mission. We ask that you please attend as many meetings as you can especially when we say we need a quorum to approve minutes and budgetary motions, etc. When we have in-person meetings, we normally have fellowship time before the business meeting so that we can get to know each other and establish relationships. We will get to know each other better as we work in promoting our mission as Auxiliarists. Our Motto is “Semper Paratus” which means Always Ready. Our Mission is: • To promote and improve Recreational Boating

Safety • To 1rovide trained crews and facilities (boats) to augment the Coast Guard and enhance safety and security of our ports, waterways and coastal regions • To support Coast Guard operational, administrative and logistical requirements. The various areas in which we operate are: • Safety and Security Patrols • Search and Rescue • Mass casualty or disasters • Pollution Response and Patrols • Homeland Security There is an extensive explanation of when we were established by Congress and the various areas in which we operate. However, the basic services that we provide are helping the federal, state, and local governments improve the knowledge, safety skills, and operating environment of recreational boaters. We do this by providing these and other resources to the public: • Public Education (PE) • Vessel Examinations (VE) • Distributing boating safety literature and information to the boating public and commercial and governmental organizations through the Marine

Program Visitors program. With your help, as members of Flotilla 74 Brandon, we will work to provide as many of the above services that we can to help the public in boating safety this coming year. Thank you for volunteering in providing this valuable service to the community and people that we serve. Bill Sage, Flotilla Commander

As within most volunteer organizations, 100% of the work is done by 20% of Auxiliary members. Help us change these numbers!