Intercom fall 2014 by Dorothy Riley

Division 7 Tampa Bay, District 7 United States Coast Guard Auxiliary iary ia ry Volume XXXVII Issue 3 Fall 20 2 2014 014

INTERCOM Newsle er for Division 7 Tampa Bay, District 7, USCG Auxiliary Volume XXXVI

Issue 3

Fall 2014

In this Issue.... From the Helm: Jeffrey Gines, DCDR .................................................................................................... 4 From the Helm: Gene Keller, VCDR ....................................................................................................... 5 District 7 Training Conference .............................................................................................................. 6 Dottie Riley Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, Jack Lee, FC ............................................................................................... 7 Flotilla 74 Brandon, Jim Mulligan, FC .................................................................................................. 8 Flotilla 75 Ruskin, Guy Mandigo, FC .................................................................................................... 9 Flotilla 78 Pass-a-Grille, Bradley Marchant, FC .................................................................................. 10 Flotilla 79 Tampa, Michael Massimini, FC ............................................................................................ 11 Flotilla 7-16 Gulfport, Donald "Terry" Hershman, FC ......................................................................... 12 Crew of Miss Marla Rescues Paddle Boarders. ............................................................................... 13 Rick Short, Flotilla 72 Barry Porter Recognized for 55 Years in the Auxiliary ....................................................................... 14-15 Dick Risk, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, Fla. Division 7 Fall Meeting: Gines and Keller Re-elected to Serve Another Year ..................................... Dottie Riley, SO-PB 7 Staff Reports .......................................................................................................................................... Auxiliary Vessels Provide Assistance to Boaters .............................................................................. John Simone, Flotilla 79 Tampa Bay Boat Show Celebrates Auxiliary 75th Anniversary ......................................................... George Papabeis, SO-PA 7 Hurricane Preparedness ....................................................................................................................... George Bartuska, Flotilla 79 Flotilla 75 'Goes to Camp' ..................................................................................................................... Kevin Buckley, FSO-PA 75 Law Enforcement Ofﬁcers Learn How to Stay Safe on the Water ..................................................... James Fogle, SO-PE 7 Sad Start to a “Routine” Marine Observation Mission. ..................................................................... Valerie Fernandes, Flotilla 78 Uneventful Is Successful! ..................................................................................................................... Betty Hagan, Flotilla 79 Snow Birds: Florida’s American White Pelicans ................................................................................. Dorothy Joan Riley, SO-PB 7 Coast Guard Markings on Auxiliary Uniforms 2nd Personal Protective Gear ................................. Vickie L. Aponte, Auxiliary Affairs Assistant, D7 NOAA Offers Free Electronic and PDF Charts for Mariners .............................................................. Source: NOAA, submitted by Paul Anderson, Flotilla 79 Tech Review: iSailor Navigation App for iPhone and iPad. ............................................................... George Papabeis, Public Affairs Officer Division 7 Photo Gallery .......................................................................................................................................... Write Your Flotilla Number Correctly! ..................................................................................................

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INTERCOM Newsle er for Division 7 Tampa Bay, District 7, USCG Auxiliary Volume XXXVI

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Division 7 Elected Officers 2014 Div 7 Division Commander Jeﬀrey Gines, DCDR Div 7 Division Vice Commander Gene Keller, VCDR Div 7 Immed. Past Division Commander J. Michael Shea, IPDCDR FL 72 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander FL 74 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander FL 75 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander FL 78 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander FL 79 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander FL 7-16 Flo lla Commander Flo lla Vice Commander

Jack Lee, FC Anthony Hooper, VFC James Mulligan, FC Mark Jaqua, Jr. VFC Guy Mandigo, FC Judith Clapp, VFC Bradley Marchant, FC Zelda Troiano, VFC Michael Massimini, FC John McLoughlin, VFC Donald Hershman, FC Donald Rimel, VFC

Division 7 Appointed Staff 2014 Communica ons Communica on Systems Diversity Finance Informa on Systems Human Resources Materials Marine Safety Member Training Naviga on Systems Opera ons Public Aﬀairs Publica ons Public Educa on Program Visitor Secretary Vessel Examina ons Division Liaison Auxiliary Unit Coordinator

David Rockwell, SO-CM Franco Ripple, SO-CS Donald "Terry"Hershman, SO-DV Linda Brandt, SO-FN Theresa Johnson, SO-IS Judith Clapp, SO-HR Ronald G. Matz, SO-MA Conrad Palermo, SO-MS David Langdon, Jr., SO-MT Marvin Bayles, SO-NS Linda Churchill, SO-OP George Papabeis, SO-PA Dorothy J. Riley, SO-PB James Fogle, SO-PE Darren Hart, SO-PV Alexandra Kaan, SO-SR Richard Smith, SO-VE Richard Short Rick Short

We’re on the web! h p://A07007.wow.uscgaux. info You can contact any of our oﬃcers on the Division 7 web page! The Intercom is a publica on of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division Seven, District Seven. The cost of publica on is provided by dues-paying members of the Auxiliary, an organizaon of unpaid, civilian volunteers whose mission is to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in promo ng boa ng safety. Ar cles may be reprinted only with the express consent of the author or photographer, with proper credit given to same. For permissions or for more informaon, please contact the editor, Dorothy Joan Riley, SO-PB, Email address: do eriley1@verizon.net

Cover image: Collage created by D. Riley using historical photographs from Flo lla 79 archives and photograph of Barry Porter taken by Dick Risk, ADSO-PB D7. Porter has been a member of Division 7 for 55 years and is honored in this issue on page 14. The full color image can be seen on the bo om of page 4.

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

From the Helm Jeffrey Gines, Division Commander

hile a ending my daughter's soccer prac ce recently, the chill of a fall breeze quickly reminded me how fast this year has gone by. We have had a great and very busy year across this en re division. And, who do we have to thank for that? You, the members of Division 7. You all have played an integral part in helping your flo llas and this division meet and exceed the goals and objec ves we set out to accomplish this year, from public outreach to public educa on, radio watchstanding to on the water patrols, and from vessel safety checks to member training and every Auxiliary mission in between.

Now that fall is here, you should also be reminded that November brings with it elec ons for your next Flo lla Commander and Flo lla Vice Commander at each of your respec ve Flo llas. Your par cipa on in this process is not only your privilege as a member, but more importantly, your responsibility. Please make every effort to be a part of this process and a end your monthly flo lla business mee ng for your elec ons. With that in mind, I do want to extend my apprecia on for your confidence in allowing me to serve you this year not only as your Division Commander but also as your Division Vice Commander through the first half of this year. It con nues to be an honor and privilege working day in and day out, and I am looking forward to serving you again as your Division Commander for 2015. Throughout this year, we have had a great team of Division Staff Officers whose efforts have been invaluable in suppor ng our flo llas, helping move this division forward, and offering their leadership on a number of ini a ves and events. For their dedica on and commitment over the course of a very challenging and produc ve year, I want to extend my great thanks and apprecia on for all they have done and will con nue to do through the end of this year and leading into 2015. I'm looking forward to working with all of you in reaching our goals and objec ves through the end of this year. Respec ully, Jeffrey Gines, Division Commander

Barry Porter, a member of Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, joined the Auxiliary in 1959. He is a quiet, unassuming man who goes about doing his job and asking for nothing more than what he can do for his ﬂotilla and the Auxiliary. In this issue, we honor him for his steadfastness and for his many contributions during his 55 years of service. (See story on pages 14-15.) Thank you Barry! k Ri R sk,, ADSO-P sk Photo by Dick Risk, ADSO-PB D7

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Page 5

From the Helm Gene Keller, Division Vice Commander

ellow Division 7 shipmates,

Let me first thank each of you for your ongoing support. I truly understand the day to day struggle each of us face as we juggle family life, personal life and our paying jobs while living up to the oath that we took to serve the Auxiliary. It con nues to amaze me how much dedica on and energy Division 7 shipmates exhibit. The year ending presented a great deal of change; 2014 was a year of transi on in many ways. I know that each of us look forward to the challenges that the new year will bring, knowing well that the only constant is in fact, change. Every department and func on will con nue to evolve be er and more eďŹ&#x192;cient ways to serve our core missions. Some of the big issues that we will be dealing with in 2015 are: 1. Opera onally, we will be increasing our commitment to Sta on, providing more facili es and crews for stand by SAR missions. Upda ng our training and opera ng procedures will be necessary to be er reflect our commitment to this important mission. 2. Public educa on is our single most important mission; we will need to explore new ways to reach out to the boa ng public. The past few years have taught us that doing the things that might have worked in the past, might not serve us well in the future. Teamwork will be a big part of our strategy in the area of public educaon. We all know people and groups who might benefit from a boater safety class; we must be our own best promoters. Each department and func on should develop a plan for promo ng public educa on. We will need to explore new areas and new markets for us to serve, and new ways to reach out to the boaters who most need safety educa on. 3. Streamlining, modernizing, and increasing the transparency of our internal func ons will be an ongoing challenge. Improving departmental training to eďŹ&#x192;ciently disseminate procedural changes to the people who use the systems will be a priority. Be er controls, transparency, and accessibility to literature and equipment will be required as we expand our recrea onal boater safety missions. Division must be an ac ve resource for the flo llas, helping them find what they need to get the job done. We certainly will have a lot on our plate in 2015. To get the best results we will need to work together cross-pollina ng our best ideas. My door is always open, please call, email, or just bump into me, and let me hear from you. Respec ully,

Gene Keller, Division Vice Commander

"Public educa on is our single most important mission; we will need to explore new ways to reach out to the boating public."

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

District 7 Training Conference Dottie Riley he District 7 annual Training Mee ng was held Aug. 21–24, 2014 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. This event oﬀers the opportunity to meet members from throughout the district, get the latest informa on on Auxiliary programs, and a end informa ve workshops.

In keeping with the celebra on of the Auxiliary's 75th Anniversary, the theme for this year's conference was "Honoring the past, preparing for the future." The district holds the general board and business mee ng, tradi onally on the Friday a ernoon of the three-day event. It is open to all members. During this mee ng, the district bridge conducts elec ons, introduces our Coast Guard leaders and guests, and presents awards. This year, elec ons were held for District Commodore, District Chief of Staﬀ and all three District Captains. Robert Weskerna was elected District Commodore while Judith Hudson was elected District Chief of Staﬀ. Paule e Parent will serve as District Captain-West beginning January 2015. We congratulate them all and look forward to the coming year. Friday night’s dinner is the “Commodore’s Banquet” requiring more formal a re, usually dinner dress white, dinner dress blue or appropriate civilian a re. In contrast, Saturday night’s dinner is informal and o en follows a theme. This year, it was a Hawaiian theme. This is truly a night to kick back and have fun with your Aux-

iliary friends, new and old! Training opportuni es, and lots of them, is what draws the members to the District Training Conference. Courses and workshops ranged from Award Wri ng, Auxiliary Communications, and the Flo lla Leadership Course, to Auxiliary Weather, Team Coordina on Training, and Aids to Naviga on Verifier course. Eight members of Flo lla 7-16 a ended the Auxiliary Communica ons course on Saturday.

Heleyde Aponte from Flotilla 79 assisted in the conference's administration ofﬁce and provided interpreter services to foreign guests. Photo provided by Heleyde Aponte

If you missed the conference this year, be sure to attend next year! Get to know members just like yourself from other areas and share experiences. We learn best from each other. 

Award Writing Recognize your member’s me, commitment and extraordinary contribu ons to your flo lla and to the Auxiliary. Learn to write and submit awards. Any member can submit an award for another member! Learn how. It is not that hard, and the “Awards” secon on the District 7 web page has everything you need. There is even a “cheat sheet” to help you find the right words, templates to follow and more. Go to h p://www.uscga-district-7.org/awards.html Here, you will find: • • • • • •

Awards Cheat Sheet (pdf) Awards Wri ng Manual (pdf) D7 Formal Awards Processing (doc) and (pdf) “How to” with Awards (ppt) and (pdf) U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Awards Primer – SEP 2011 (doc) and (pdf) Important Tips About Awards---(pdf) and (doc)

Our members deserve recogni on!

Volume XXXVII

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Fall 2014

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Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg

Jack Lee, Flotilla Commander

Tony Hooper, crewmember aboard Sandi Cay looks on as a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Station St. Petersburg connects with an Auxiliary vessel for towing drills on June 22, 2014. David Perillo served as coxswain with Jim De Santo as fellow crew. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo.

ongratula ons to Gordon Hornby, Dean Hoskin and Tony Hooper for successfully passing their qualifying examina on to become cer fied coxswains. We also extend congratula ons to Dick Risk who successfully completed all requirements and oral boards to earn the designa on of Public Affairs Specialist III, a qualifica on that only 34 members in the en re Auxiliary have achieved! On Oct. 1, 2014, nine Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva on Commission staff members and three members of the St. Petersburg Police Department completed a Boa ng Skills and Seamanship Program. Both agencies allowed their staff to a end the classes from 9-11 AM during work hours for the dura on of the program. Read more on page 27.

Sector St. Petersburg South Moorings, USCGC Venturous by D. Riley

Franco Ripple was appointed the new Staﬀ OﬃcerCommunica on Services Division 7. As a member of the Division 7 Photo Corps, in September, he traveled to Myakka City to photograph the Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 307 firearms training. Flo lla 72 St Petersburg and Flo lla 7-16 Gulfport are jointly hos ng an Auxiliary Telecommunica ons Operator Training Workshop on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 at Flo lla 7-16. Despite planning and prepara ons, we rescheduled the Paddlecra Safety course for Sector St. Petersburg. New date to be announced. 

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Flotilla 74 Brandon James Mulligan, Flotilla Commander

eorge Papabeis, Staff Officer-Public Affairs 7 and member of the flo lla has received recogni on and awards for his photographic and video graphic contribu ons. These include Meritorious Team Commendaons both for his unique under water photographs of the United States Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 307 training and for the filming of three Public Service Announcements for the V-Directorate. Polk County Detachment of Flo lla 74 Brandon conducted a Vessel Safety Check and public outreach event at Lake Summit in Winter Haven on Sept. 28, 2014, in conjunc on with Chain-Life Float. Marine units from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva on Commission and Polk County Sherriff ’s Department also par cipated.

Chain-Life is a boa ng group with 1,500 members in the Winter Haven area. Flo lla 74 now oﬀers new public educa on courses, “How to Read a Chart” and “GPS for Mariners.” The Polk County Detachment conducted a children’s program on June 25, 2014, at the Lake Alfred Library featuring the story of Inky the Whale and protec ng our marine environment. They are looking to increase par cipa on to 50-60 children.

At the Division 7 meeting on Oct. 4, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Jeff Gines, DCDR, and Don Hoge, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator St. Petersburg, presented a Meritorious Team Commendation to George Papabeis and Dottie Riley for their contributions to producing three public service announcements starring bass master Shaw Grigsby. Jim Mulligan, FC, accepted the award on behalf of Papabeis. Photo by Guy Mandigo, FL 75

Inky at the library... The Polk County Detachment conducted a children’s program on June 25, 2014, at the Lake Alfred Library featuring the story of Inky the Whale and protecting our marine environment. Coast Guard Images

Williams Park, Riverview, Fla. by D. Riley

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

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Flotilla 75 Ruskin Guy Mandigo, Flotilla Commander

Flotilla 75 Ruskin supported several Veteran’s events including the “2014 Patriots Day 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony” held on Sept. 11, 2014, at Veterans Memorial Park and organized by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County. Several hundred members of "Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club" left from ﬁve separate locations and rode in as a single unit. Kevin Buckley organized the ﬂotilla's participation and provided the photographs.

lo lla 75 Ruskin supported several Veteran’s events. The first of these is the “2014 Patriots Day 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony” held on Sept. 11, 2014, at Veterans Memorial Park and organized by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County. The ceremonies included a Memorial Wreath Tribute by Gold Star Families honoring all personnel killed on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as military members who gave the ul mate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan. A second event was the Hillsborough County Veteran’s Quarterly “Field of Honor” ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park held on Oct. 11, 2014. Kevin Buckley organized par cipa on at these events on behalf of Division 7. Congratula ons to Keith Westbrook for successfully

E.G. Simmons Park, Ruskin, Fla., boat ramp by D. Riley

passing the qualifying examina on to become a cer fied coxswain. Bravo Zulu! Flo lla 75 members Judith Clapp, Kevin Buckley, Do e Engle, Maria-Elana Taylor, and Pat Stone par cipated in the “Back to School-Back to Nature” event at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin held late August. They also par cipated in the October “Na ve American” event at the camp. Members taught the children how to properly fit and wear life jackets and introduced marine environmental protec on material. Flo lla members look forward to par cipa ng in several public outreach missions to include the Ruskin Seafood Fes val on Nov. 1, the Ruskin Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 8, and the annual Nau cal Flea Market on Nov. 15, 2014.

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Flotilla 78 Pass-a-Grille Bradley Marchant, Flotilla Commander

lo lla 78 Pass-a-Grille conducted annual elec ons on Oct.13 for the oﬃces of Flo lla Commander and Flo lla Vice Commander. Tony Novellino was elected Flo lla Commander and Eric Davis as Flo lla Vice Commander for 2015. Novellino is a hands-on leader to which the following ar cle a ests.

Working With Our Neighbors Oﬀers Great Rewards Tony Novellino, FL 78 Tony Novellino, Flo lla Commander-elect, Flo lla 78 Pass-a-Grille, recently experienced the thrill of crewing aboard a Division 11 Auxiliary vessel from Tarpon Springs in support of a HC-130 Hercules aircra training mission. Novellino responded to a call for crew support from Don Hoge, coxswain, a member of Flo lla 11-10 Dunedin, our neighbors to the north. Walter Murray, also a member of the Dunedin flo lla served as fellow crew. Two Coast Guard members were scheduled to join the Auxiliary team for this Coast Guard training support mission, but due to scheduling conflicts, were not able to make it. Hoge knew this mission required a lot of par cipa ng crew, both physically and mentally. After a detailed Team Coordina on Training discussion, they decided that the weather condi ons were ideal and the crew felt up to the task. They rode out to the scheduled mission loca on and the Hercules arrived on schedule. The Hercules team deployed a series of target flares and the Auxiliary crew waited for the evolu on to con-

nue. Next, they dropped the first rescue canister with a dewatering pump by parachute quite near the target flare. The Hercules pilot radioed the Auxiliary facility to stand down while the aircra made a return over the target to give the flight crew clear indica on of the accuracy of the drop. The Auxiliary crew waited but kept a watchful lookout on parachute and canister. The canister began to sink. Down went the canister and the parachute! The coxswain radioed the pilot saying it was me to move in to retrieve the canister and parachute before they were lost. Murray and Novellino were able to pull both the canister and the parachute oﬀ the bo om of the Gulf of Mexico and con nue the training evolu on. The Hercules dropped more survival equipment with precision at the targets and all were retrieved by the crew. It was a great day requiring lots of training, rapid thinking, decision making and muscle. When the training evolu on was over, all mission objec ves were completed. Novellino said it was a fabulous day on the water suppor ng the United States Coast Guard!

Volume XXXVII

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Fall 2014

Flotilla 79 Tampa Michael Massimini, Flotilla Commander

lo lla 79 members par cipated in Recrea onal Boating Safety public outreach events on Oct. 4 at Home Depot and Oct. 25 at West Ma-

rine in Tampa. Darren Hart has conducted several Recrea onal Boa ng Safety events at Gander Mountain Sporting Goods. These events will take place on a quarterly basis beginning this fall. Hart worked directly with LTJG Jeff Mistrick from Air Sta on Clearwater and Auxiliarist Pat Pardo, USCG Academy recruiter, at the Gander Mountain Recrea onal Boa ng Safety event. They handed out Public Educa on schedules and Recrea onal Boa ng Safety informa on to over 280 store patrons. Rodney Ferguson was appointed the new Flo lla Staff Officer-Diversity for 2014 and 2015. John Simone stepped down as Staff Officer-Vessel Examina ons to serve as Assistant Staff Officer-Opera ons working with Linda Churchill. Rain did not keep members of Flotila 79 from participating in the Home Depot Safety event on Oct. 4 in Tampa. Top right: Paul Anderson engages a patron in a conversation in front of Home Depot. Right: Jim Frijouf poses next to his beautiful wood Lyman, a real crowd pleaser at Recreational Boating Safety events. Photos by Miguel Marques-Reines

Gandy Boat Ramp, Tampa, Fla. by D. Riley

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Flotilla 7-16 Gulfport Donald Hershman, Flotilla Commander

he flo lla conducted annual elec ons on Oct. 15. Tom Bodi was elected Flo lla Commander and Bill Zinner was elected Flo lla Vice Commander for 2015. Congratula ons to both! Brad Dykens received a 'promo on' from the USCG Academy for his successful comple on of training as a Cer fied United States Coast Guard Academy Partner. Our members par cipated in a Recrea onal Boa ng Safety public outreach event at the Gulfport Senior Center on Aug. 28 and will par cipate in the Veterans Day Parade with the City of Gulfport on Nov. 8. Eight members a ended the District 7 Conference in

Orlando and par cipated in workshops, training and cer fica on classes. Members also a ended the Auxiliary Na onal Conference in August and Kathy Clatworthy assisted at one of the tabletop displays. Jessica Hathaway, Terry Hershman, and Don Rimel parcipated in the Tampa Boat Show at the Tampa Conven on Center on Sept. 6, 2014. Hathaway spent most of her me with “Coas e” engaging with children and adults alike.

Left: Jessica Hathaway, a member of Flotilla 7-16, had lots of fun entertaining children and adults with "Coastie" during the Tampa Boat Show held at the Tampa Convention Center on Sept. 6, 2014. Photo by Terry Hershman Above: James Urbanawiz from Flotilla 74 stood watch with Jessica Hathaway, Terry Hershman and Don Rimel at the Tampa Boat Show. Auxiliary photo provided by Terry Hershman

T Ba Th The Bay ay in front ront of Fllot ron ro otill illla 7-16 illa 16,, Gulffpor o t, t Fla Fla. by by D. D. Rile il y

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Fall 2014

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Crew of Miss Marla Rescues Paddle Boarders. Rick Short

er a rou ne operaons training mission, on June 29, 2014, the crew of Miss Marla from Flo lla 72 was returning to Coast Guard Sta on St. Petersburg for B-0 standby mission. Miss Marla’s crew consisted of Rick Short, coxswain, with Rick Smith, Jack Lee, Greg Horst, and Frank Goyco as crew. Approximately 18 miles southeast of Bayboro Harbor entrance, they came upon five persons aboard five separate paddleboards a emp ng to paddle toward the harbor. One male flagged them down and explained they were very red and unable to make way due to wind and current. The young man told The crew of Miss Marla, Frank Goyco, Rick Smith, and Greg Horst, pose them that they had been with the three paddle boarders rescued near the entrance of Bayboro Harpaddling without progress bor on June 29, 2014. Photo by Rick Short for at least 20 minutes and needed help. dle to the dock. Miss Marla then accompanied all five The crew spoke to all five paddlers. All were alert but paddle boarders to the dock where they safely went appeared red and were happy to have assistance. All ashore, grateful to Miss Marla and her crew.  were wearing life jackets. Short reported their situa on to Sta on St. Petersburg by radio and their inten on to assist by having the five people board Miss Marla and to collect the boards. While they boarded two females and one male, a St. Petersburg Police vessel arrived and boarded the other two persons. The persons rescued on Miss Marla were alert, oriented, friendly, and grateful. They asked to be taken to Lo o Boats at Harborage Marina where they rented their boards. The three requested to be dropped oﬀ approximately 50 meters from the rental loca on so they could pad-

Note: Paddle sports are on the rise. As paddleboards, kayaks and canoes gain in popularity, so do the number of associated SARs and rescues. This should encourage us to oﬀer more boa ng educa on geared towards these boaters!

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Barry Porter Recognized for 55 Years in the Auxiliary Dick Risk, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, Fla.

arry Porter is being recognized this year for 55 years of service to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He will receive a plaque from the oﬃce of the Chief Director of the Auxiliary in Washington, D.C. Oﬃcially, according to Auxiliary records, Porter became a member on Nov. 13, 1959, but if you ask him, it was a year earlier. “I didn’t get my membership card un l May of ’59, and then got another in November ’59,” Porter explains. “So, that’s where they kind of made the mistake when I joined. But, I was there all during ’58.” His interest in the military be- Barry Porter watches as the privateer sail ship Lynx maintains a parallel gan at an early age. “When I course during the 2013 Gasparilla Pirate Invasion. Porter no longer parwas li le, I had a sailor uni- ticipates in on-the-water activities and presently focuses on Materials orform I used to wear all the dering and Public Education classes. Photo by George Papabeis, SO-PA me. And, when I got up to about six, seven, eight years old, I had this li le Army outcourse in 1957 at what was then Flo lla 73. When he fit and I used to wear it all the me and play soldier. inquired at Flo lla 73 about membership, they referred I had a wooden rifle.” Porter would him to 72 in St. Petersburg, which also play cowboys, as he had all was closer to his home. At the me, w kinds of cap guns, and movie hessays Porter, one needed to be voted roes of the day were cowboys—Roy in by the members. You couldn’t just Rogers, Gene Autry and Hopalong join. jo Cassidy. He later became interested Porter has served in several flo lla P in joining the Auxiliary because he couldn’t get into the regular mili(Con nued on page 15) tary service due to opera ons on both ears as a baby. Born in Worchester, Mass., in 1939, Porter and his family moved to his mother’s hometown, Spartanburg, S.C., at age nine. He came to Florida to a end St. Petersburg Junior College, receiving training as a licensed prac cal nurse (LPN), which launched his career in geriatrics for the next 45 years. He joined the Auxiliary about the same me he began nursing school, a er taking the Boa ng Skills and Seamanship

Barry Porter, born in Worchester, Mass., wore an Army outﬁt, carried a wooden riﬂe, and played soldier as a little boy. Ear operations as an infant prevented him from joining the military, which contributed to his interest in the Auxiliary as a young man. Photo from Barry Porter's private collection

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Fall 2014

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(Con nued from page 14) and division staff officer posions, as flo lla vice commander and commander, all with Flo lla 72. He also holds the AUXOP designa on. Porter considers when he became flo lla commander in 2000 as the highlight of his tenure. “That was really a good feeling. I enjoyed it. I only took it for one year, but I always wanted to be a flo lla commander so I finally got to serve a er all those years,” he recalls. “I really didn’t want to go any higher,” he adds, credi ng a good staff for a successful term. Two of the most memorable on-the-water experiences in the Auxiliary where when the U.S. Coast Guard Cu er Blackthorn went down on Jan. 28, 1980, after a collision with the tanker Capricorn that resulted in the A member of the Auxiliary since 1959 (1958 by his reckoning), Barry deaths of 23 Coast Guard crew- Porter has witnessed many uniform changes from the original khaki members. A few months later, on to the blues, to the present day tropical blue and operational dress May 9, 1980, at almost the exact uniforms (ODU). Photo from Barry Porter's private collection same spot, the freighter Summit Venture, a ship as long as two football fields, hit the Sunshine Skyway Bridge open- year as Flo lla 72’s materials officer. “That’s my li le no ook; that’s that s what I do.” do. ing a gap, which allowed motor tor vehicles to fall through, thro rough,, nook; and causing 35 deaths. “We were out there th her e e looking lo ookin ng forr Does Do Porter Porteer think thin nk he’ll ever get that job down pat? He bodies,” Porter remembers somberly. omberly lyy. jokingly joking jo ngly replies ng rep e lies es when whe hen asked, he aske k d “Maybe I will one of these days. I haven’t quite got it all d da a ys. ys s h ha a ve n ’ t q qu uite u go a yet.” His reflec ons on what has changed change ch ged ge d since since he si he joined: joi oine ned: ne d: d: “Basically, it’s the same but the he uniforms un nifformss have havve changed ch han nge ged His advice for fo orr newcomers: newco c me co mers: e ““Don’t be discouraged if you drama cally. We always wore ore ree kkhaki haki backk in the thee old olld d don’t do d on’ on’ n t understand un u nd deerrssta t nd all of the th he things that go on, because days, with insignia on yourr sleeve. And An nd then th hen en they th heey you you learn yo learn le n itt as as you yo ou go along. alongg. I didn’t know a thing when changed it later on to the boards. boa oard r s. And d they theey changed chaaan nge ged I came abbrevia ons and all of ccaame m in—all in— n aalll of of the acronyms, acrro on ny the color, finally, from the khaki to the blues. We had akii to th t e bluees. s. e ha had a that, and what you couldn’t th hat at,, what whaatt everything wh evvveerythingg was was about wa a dark blue uniform back then with wiith h a white whitee cap cap and an nd d the the do o and and nd what what you you could cco oul uld do. do It comes. Don’t give up if sleeve lace. And then they cchanged haan ngged ed iitt ag aagain gaaiin tto o where whe here re you’re re really interested yyo ou’ u ree rea allly iin ntteereest steed d iin n a semi-military atmosphere. we wore the sleeve lace on the dress uniform. used he d r sss u re nifo ni ifo form rm. m. We We u sed S ck se with “I’ve been here all of ck wi w itth h it,” itt,,” ,” Porter Porrtter Po te advises. advis to wear a short-sleeve khaki sshirt with the insignias hirt witth th hi the in inssiign gniiaas on on these years and planning thesse yye th earss aan nd I’ I’m ’m pl plan nii to stay un l they carry it. Then they changed that to blue blue and nd put putt the the insignias inssig ign niias as mee o out. married ut. I’m II’’m ma marrie ied ie d to tthe he Auxiliary. I couldn’t be in on the collar of the shirt. Now w you yo ou don’t d n’ do n t have have ve that tha hat anyha an nyy-- anything aan nyt ythi hin ngg else.” elsse.” more; you have the ODUs (opera onal pera on nal a dress dre ress uniforms) re uni n form r s)) “I’m proud member. I’m glad I’ve “II’m ’ p roud d to be b an Auxiliary Auxili and hat styles have changed.. We wear ball caps.” ball caaps.” lived live v d long lo ong enough eno n ugh to be here her this long.” He says he will “In the old days, all we did was mostly rega a patrols try to make it to 60 years and, if he is s ll living then, and search and rescue, that sort of thing. And now, we he’ll try for 70. “I’m never going to re re. I’ll stay in the go out and look for people who might be doing some Auxiliary as long as I am able to.” kind of damage to the bridges or ships or something like that—patrol work.” He says he is not physically able to do those things anymore but he is in his 20th

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Division 7 Fall Mee ng:

Gines and Keller Re-elected to Serve Another Year Local Radio Show Hosts Honored Do e Riley safe boa ng ini a ves. Since February of 2011, they have donated radio me every Saturday and Sunday morning for over 300 safe boa ng ps on the Reel Animals radio program, which has more than 20, 000 listeners over a vast broadcast area within Florida. Also honored was Captain Billy Nobles (not present) of the ‘Reel Animals Fishing Team.’ Gines presented several door prizes, which included Auxiliary ball caps, signal mirrors/whistles, and a USCG Cu er Eagle challenge coin. Addi onally, all a endees received a three-inch lock-blade knife in Coast Guard orange. Gines and Ezell presented a great number of recogni ons and awards to our flo llas and individual members: • Cer ficate of Award for Outstanding Jim Fogle, Staff Officer-Public Education, presents a certificate Contribu on to Membership Growth: of appreciation to Mike Mahoney of T. A. Mahoney Company as Gilbert Thomas, Flo lla 74 Brandon, Captain Michael Anderson of the ‘Reel Animals Fishing Team’ James Nelson, Flo lla 7-16 Gulfport looks on. The certificates were presented at the Division 7 meeting held Oct. 4, 2014, at Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg. Photo by D. Riley

• Na onal Vessel Examina ons and Recrea onal Boa ng Safety-Program Visitor Century Club Award: Glenn Dobos, Marty Seiden, Len Chiacchia, Jim Mulligan, Mark Jaqua, Ken Morningstar, Bob Be nger, Louis Phirrman, Don Rimel, Terry Hershman, Kevin Yeaton

hen you have a winning team, you don’t change ‘team captains!’ The Division 7 Board apparently agrees with this as at Division 7 Fall Mee ng held on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg, it re-elected Gene Keller and Jeﬀ Gines to serve as Division vice Commander and Division Commander respec vely.

• Diversity Management Three Star Award of Excellence: Flo lla 79 Tampa

•

A ending guests at the Division 7 mee ng included Don Hoge, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, Sector St. Petersburg, and Braxton Ezell, District Captain-West. Immediately a er the elec ons, Ezell presided over the Oath of Oﬃce as Keller and Gines were sworn in to serve another year.

Commodore's Cer ficate of Excellence, Operaonal/Administra ve Support 100 hours or more: Cliﬀord Holensworth, Robin Conn, Theresa Johnson

•

Captain Michael Anderson of the ‘Reel Animals Fishing Team’ and Mike Mahoney of T. A. Mahoney Company a ended as special guests. Gines and Jim Fogle, Staﬀ Oﬃcer-Public Educa on, presented the two men cer ficates of apprecia on for their endorsement, enthusiasm and con nued support of the Auxiliary’s

Commodore's Cer ficate of Excellence, 40 Vessel Safety Checks or more: Glenn Dobos, Rick Smith, Len Chiacchia, Mark Jaqua, Dan McMahan, Marty Seiden, Bob Be nger, Ted Cohen, Gary Mull, Tim Teahan, Mary Bailey, Mar n Basye, Terry Hershman, Don Rimel, Kevin Yeaton

•

Commodore's Cer ficate of Excellence, Recrea onal Boa ng Safety 250 hours or more: Galen (Con nued on page 17)

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Fall 2014

(Con nued from page 16) Johnston, Tim Teahan •

Commodore's Cer ficate of Excellence, Mul Directorate (Opera ons Marine Safety/Recrea onal Boa ng Safety) 250 hours or more: Ken Morningstar, Don Rimel

•

Commodore's Cer ficate of Excellence, Member Services 250 hours or more: Do e Riley

•

Meritorious Team Commenda on Award, Shaw Grigsby Public Service Announcement Team: George Papabeis, Do e Riley

•

Meritorious Team Commenda on Award, Communica ons Services Team: Terry Hickox

•

Le er of Apprecia on, Special Opera ons Command Change of Command Security Team

We thank both the award recipients and the members of Division 7 for your service and tremendous dedica on to the missions of our division, Seventh District, and the Auxiliary. Your efforts and accomplishments throughout 2014 are invaluable and greatly appreciated! Photo Captions: Jeffrey Gines, DCDR 7 and Braxton Ezell, DCAPT-West present awards at the division meeting held at Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg on Oct. 4, 2014. Top right: Jim Mulligan, FC 74, Terry Hershman, FC FL 7-16, and Don Rimel, FL 7-16 accept the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Membership Growth presented to Gilbert Thomas, Flotilla 74 Brandon, and James Nelson, Flotilla 7-16, Gulfport. The commanders accepted on behalf of the award recipients. Second down: National Vessel Examinations and Recreational Boating Safety-Program Visitor Century Club Award is presented to Jim Mulligan, Mark Jaqua, Glenn Dobos, Don Rimel, and Terry Hershman. Recipients not shown: Marty Seiden, Len Chiacchia, Ken Morningstar, Bob Bettinger, Louis Phirman, Kevin Yeaton. Jack Smith, FC 72, Guy Mandigo, FC 75, and Zelda Troiano, VFC 7-16, accepted on behalf of flotilla members not present. Braxton Ezell, DCAPTW is seen at left. Third down: Commodore's Certificate of Excellence for 40 or more Vessel Safety Checks is presented to Mark Jaqua, Dan McMahan, Don Rimel, and Terry Hershman. Not shown are recipients Marty Seiden, Glenn Dobos, Rick Smith, Len Chiacchia, Bob Bettinger, Ted Cohen, Gary Mull, Tim Teahan, Mary Bailey, Martin Basye, Kevin Yeaton. Accepting on behalf of those not present are Guy Mandigo, FC 75, Jack Lee, FC 72, and Mike Massimini , FC 79. Photos by D. Riley Right: With Braxton Ezell looking on from behind, Jeffrey Gines presents the Commodore's Certificate of Excellence to Dottie Riley. Photo by Guy Mandigo

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Staff Reports Logistics Judith Clapp-Human Resources The Human Resources Challenge Coin Award for maintaining a 3 percent or fewer member disenrollment as Flo lla Commander during 2013 were presented to Jeffrey Gines of Flo lla 74 Brandon, and Terry Hershman of Flo lla 7-16 Gulfport. Thanks and apprecia on to Brad Dykens, Liaison with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and member of FL 7-16 Gulfport, for conduc ng mee ngs with the Sea Scouts to help them with the applica on process to the Academy. George Papabeis-Public Aﬀairs The Tampa Bay Boat Show held Sept. 5-7, 2014, was a resounding success thanks to the many watchstanders and other members from across the division who helped with logis cs and par cipated in other ways. “Coas e” made an appearance on Sept. 5, and on Saturday, Sept. 6, Steve and Elizabeth Rogers, members of FL 36 Boca Raton and of the USCG Pipe Band made a grand entrance accompanied by the Division 7 Color Guard: Guy Mandigo, Mike Shea, John Larkin, and Adrian Spagnolo.

Dottie Riley accepts the Meritorious Team Commendation from Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, and Rear Admiral Korn, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District (not shown) at the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Conference held Aug. 21-24, 2014, in Orlando. George Papabeis, a member of this team, also earned the award. Auxiliary photograph by Joseph Giannattasio, BC-ASP

The Auxiliary 75th Anniversary served as a theme with both an informa on booth in the conven on center with over 950 individual a endees. and a table display and showcase of six vintage Auxil- Division 7 also par cipated in the Tampa Boat Show at iary uniforms in the pre-func on Mezzanine level. Over the Florida State Fairgrounds from Oct. 10-12. Watchthe course of the show, watchstanders made contact standers from Division 7 and Division 11 made contact with approximately 300 individuals during the event. Papabeis and Hart did a vendor sweep early Friday and made connec ons which will be distributed to the appropriate division officers. Channel 13 FOX news conducted an impromptu interview at the show with George Papabeis, Division 7 Staff Officer-Public Affairs. The Division 7 Photo Corps provided photographic coverage for United States Coast Guard Reserve firearms training in Myakka City, Florida. Franco Ripple covered the event. Division 7 will support the Recycle Rega a on Nov. 15, 2014. The Division 7 Photo Corps provided photographic coverage for the United States Coast Guard Reserve firearms training in Myakka City, Florida. Franco Ripple covered the event.

Dick Risk of FL 72 St Petersburg successfully completed all requirements and oral board to earn the designaon of Public Aﬀairs Specialist III, a qualifica on that (Con nued on page 19)

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Fall 2014

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Staff Reports (Con nued from page 18)

trict 7 High Frequency Net Drills on Sept. 9 and Oct. 19.

only 34 members in the en re Auxiliary have achieved.

David Langdon-Member Training

Do e Riley-Publica ons Division 7 “Intercom” and Flolla 79 Tampa “Seven Niner” newsle ers received first and second place awards respecvely at the Auxiliary Na onal Conference held August in Orlando. Both publica ons earned first place in the District 7 Newsle er contest for 2014. The awards were presented at the District Conference held September in Orlando.

Michael Massimini, FC 79 Tampa, accepts the Diversity Management Three Star Award of Excellence presented by Braxton Ezell, DCAPT-W and Jeffrey Gines, DCDR, at the Division meeting on Oct. 4 The ar cle first published in the in St. Petersburg. Photo by D. Riley

summer edi on of "Intercom" about Auxiliary assistance to the United States Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 307 was published in the USCG “Reservist” Magazine. One of George Papabeis’ photos was used in a two-page spread. The “Reservist” can be read online at: h p://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/386902.

Applebee’s Restaurant asked permission to use one or more of our photos in wall art for their new loca on in Riverview. Donald "Terry" Hershman-Diversity Michael Massimini, Flo lla Commander 79 Tampa, accepted the Diversity Management Three Star Award of Excellence presented to the flo lla at the division mee ng on Oct. 4 in St. Petersburg.

Response David Rockwell-Communica ons Bayboro Radio, Ruskin Radio, Tampa Radio One, and Gulfport Radio covered a great number of marine observa on, training and qualifying examina on missions. These missions required considerable me and commitment of our radio watchstanders and telecommunica ons operators from every flo lla to complete missions scheduled in the morning, a ernoon and evening hours. Dave Rockwell, using his NF07DR call sign, par cipated in the na onal Simulated Emergency Communica ons Exercise on Oct. 18 as well as the Dis-

Flo lla 72 St Petersburg and Flo lla 7-16 Gulfport are collabora ng to host an Auxiliary Communica ons Training Workshop on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 2014. Addi onally, several members a ended the Auxiliary Communica ons course offered at the district conference in September. Division coxswain and crew currency maintenance requirements were completed in October.

The division conducted an Opera ons Workshop on Oct. 18. Over 40 members attended. During the mee ng, the Opera ons team presented our newly approved Naviga on Standards. Dave Rockwell, Staff Officer-Communica ons, briefed those in a endance on the Division Patrol Radio Procedures s ll in dra , to be staffed and published later this year. Thanks go out to Flo lla 72 St Petersburg for hos ng this event. Linda Churchill–Opera ons Division 7 provided Auxiliary facili es, coxswains and crew to support security for the Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Classic on Oct. 4, 2014. Other on the water support include providing Auxiliary vessels for safety and security missions including but not limited to the Grand Prix of the Seas in July, and the Change of Watch in August. Senior Chief Eamon McCormack, Sta on St. Petersburg officer in charge, and Jeff Gines, Division Commander, approved the Division 7 Naviga on Standards. Bravo Zulu to coxswains Keith Westbrook from Flo lla 75, Kathleen Heide and John Simone from Flo lla 79 for providing radio relay service for another Auxiliary opera onal facility that encountered radio problems shortly a er ge ng underway. The superb relays provided by the three coxswains enabled the vessel with the faulty radio to con nue the mission. (Staff reports Con nued on page 20)

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Staff Reports (Con nued from page 19) We con nue to assist the Coast Guard Sta on St. Petersburg with B-0 SAR stand-by missions on a weekly basis.

Prevention Darren Hart-RBS Program Visitor Darren Hart worked directly with LTJG Jeﬀ Mistrick from Air Sta on Clearwater and Auxiliarist Pat Pardo, USCG Academy recruiter, at the Gander Mountain Recrea onal Boa ng Safety event. They handed out Public Educa on schedules and Recrea onal Boa ng Safety informa on to over 280 store patrons. Gander Mountain Spor ng Goods of Tampa has also requested the Auxiliary to conduct quarterly Recrea onal Boa ng Safety events as of this fall. Division 7 will par cipate in the Recycle Rega a on Nov. 15. Planning for this event is underway.

D I V 7 R B S

Richard Smith-Vessel Examina ons All Vessel Examiners must complete the 2014 workshop and then submit verifica on of comple on to their Flo lla Staﬀ Oﬃcer-Informa on Systems and Vessel Examina ons. Comple on of the course must be entered in Auxiliary Data System. Failure to do so will result in Vessel Examiners entering “REWK” status. VEs who have not completed the workshop by the end of the year will automa cally transfer to "REYR" status.These individuals must complete the required workshop as well as the required supervised examinaons to be eligible for recer fica on. The mandatory workshop can be found on the V-Directorate website at: h p://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=VDEPT &category=WORKSHOPS The new Vessel Safety Check Manual is here! Click on the image to download or visit: http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/ CIM_16796_8A.pdf

As of Oct. 24, 2014, members of Division 7 completed over 1,400 Vessel Safety Checks! Above: Tom Pate and Tim Teahan from Flotilla 79 conduct a Vessel Safety Check at the Salty Sol Boat Ramp in May 2014. Below: A satisﬁed boater walks away with a copy of his Vessel Safety Check form after Tom Pate and Emily Schmidt, both from Flotilla 79, complete a vessel examination. Photos by Darren Hart

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Page 21

Auxiliary Vessels Provide Assistance to Boaters Submitted by John Simone

Mike Shea from Flotilla 79 tows one of two disabled jet skis on July 12, 2014. John Simone, who chanced upon the distressed vessels while returning to home port, had the other in tow. Photo by John Simone

hile training in K-Cut on July 8, Sta on St. Petersburg contacted the Auxiliary vessel Southern Grace and asked their assistance in loca ng a 14-foot vessel in distress near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. John Simone was coxswain aboard the Southern Grace during this coxswain training mission with Keith Westbrook, coxswain trainee, and Pat Stone crew. Despite diminishing weather, they located the vessel and towed it to the nearest safe haven, Courtney Campbell public boat ramp. They then resumed their training with Water Won Too, with Terry Hickox, coxswain, and Mike Massimini, coxswain trainee.

turn of the race boats and the proximity of the seawall gave them no relief. They no fied Coast Guard patrol communica ons and relocated to the southeast corner from where they patrolled to the southwest corner to inform numerous mariners of the event and its safety zone. The event ended early and Tampa Police Department patrol communica ons released both vessels.

Grand Prix of the Seas

As they returned from the Grand Prix of the Seas to Simone’s homeport in Apollo Beach, they came upon two jet skis in distress in C-Cut. One jet ski’s engine failed and was being towed by the second. While in tow, the second ski suﬀered engine failure. One of the operators owned both skis.

Several Auxiliary vessels and their crews assisted by providing safety zones during the Grand Prix of the Seas on July 12 in Hillsborough Bay. They warned recrea onal boaters away from the race course and advised them about the buﬀer zone and other race issues. John Simone was coxswain on Chasin’ Tail with John McLoughlin and Pat Stone as crew. The Chasin’ Tail served as Auxiliary Patrol Communica ons (AUXPATCOM) vessel. Joe Lamb, coxswain, with crewmembers Robert Easterday and John Larkin were posi oned at the other end of the course.

The owner was not part of any commercial assistance program and requested assistance. Simone knew Mike Shea was on a safety patrol in Old Port Tampa area, so Simone contacted Sta on to inform them he would take one vessel in tow and requested assistance from Shea to tow the second. They remained on loca on un l Shea arrived, boarded one of the operators and took their ski into tow while Shea assisted the second operator. Simone and Shea then took both vessels and their operators to the nearest safe haven, Davis Island boat ramp. 

The northeast sta on was a race turn set closer to land than what appeared on the chart. Once the race started, the loca on was not deemed safe. The wide

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Tampa Bay Boat Show Celebrates Auxiliary 75th Anniversary George Papabeis, SO-PA 7

The Mezzanine level of the Tampa Convention Center provides a stage for the Auxiliary 75th Anniversary themed displays and activities during the Tampa Bay Boat Show Sept. 5-7, 2014. Steve and Elizabeth Rogers of FL 36 Boca Raton, members of the United States Coast Guard Pipe Band performed on Sept. 6. Members of the Division 7 Color Guard, Guy Mandigo, Mike Shea, John Larkin, and Adrian Spagnolo, escorted them from the dock to the Mezzanine level. Photo by George Papabeis

Saturday morning’s appearance of members of the United States Coast Guard Pipe and Drum Band was the highlight of the show. Steve and Elizabeth Rogers from Flo lla 36 Boca Raton boarded “Chasin' Tail” at Davis Island. The Auxiliary vessel then crossed the channel with the members of the United States Coast Guard Pipe Band and delivered them to the conven on Keeping with the Auxiliary 75th Anniversary theme, we center, looping by docked boats while the band played set up a table display and showcase of six vintage Aux- bagpipe and drum music for vendors and a endees. iliary uniforms in the pre-func on Mezzanine level of Once docked, the Division 7 Color Guard met them and the conven on center in addi on to our informa on together they marched along the quay, into the conbooth within the main presenta on area. The Mezza- ven on center, and to the pre-func on area on the secnine level display area set the stage for other ac vi es, ond level to entertain the gathering crowds. such as an appearance by “Coas e” on Sept. 5, and for the Division 7 Color Guard and members of the United The Tampa Bay Boat Show was a resounding success States Coast Guard Pipe and Drum Band on Saturday, thanks to the many watchstanders and other memSept. 7. (Con nued on page 23)

he Tampa Bay Boat Show held Sept. 5-7, 2014, at the Tampa Conven on Center was a great success! Focusing on the Auxiliary 75th Anniversary as the theme for the event, we received significant par cipaon from members of Division 7 as well as ancillary support from other divisions.

Volume XXXVII

(Con nued from page 22) bers who helped with logis cs and par cipated in other ways from across the division. Special thanks go out to Dave Mc Donough from 9-10 Fort Myers for bringing “Coas e;” Steve and Elizabeth Rogers of FL 36 Boca Raton, members of the United States Coast Guard Pipe Band; Guy Mandigo, Mike Shea, John Larkin, and Adrian Spagnolo, members of the Division 7 Color Guard; and John Simone for the use of his facility, “Chasin’ Tail.” John McLoughlin, Cameron Hunt, and Miguel Marquez-Reines assisted as crew. We thank Paule e Parent, our District Captain-West (elect), who provided the uniforms for the display, and are most grateful to the many watchstanders who over the course of the show,made contact with over 950 individual a endees. Bravo Zulu!  Top: On Sept. 6, “Chasin’ Tail,” facility from Flotilla 79, conveys Steve and Elizabeth Rogers, members of Flotilla 36 Boca Raton and the United States Coast Guard Pipe Band, from Davis Island to the Tampa Convention Center. John Simone, coxswain, is assisted by John McLoughlin, Cameron Hunt, and Miguel Marquez-Reines, all from Flotilla 79, as crew. Mid-page: The Rogers are met dockside by Ken Morningstar and Jeff Gines, Division Commander, and accompanied by the Division 7 Color Guard: Guy Mandigo, Mike Shea, John Larkin, and Adrian Spagnolo. Below: Jessica Hathaway from Flotilla 7-16 assists on Sept. 5 by engaging children and adults with “Coastie,” the mascot provided by Division 9 for the occasion. Photos by George Papabeis, SO-PA 7

Issue 3

Fall 2014

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Hurricane Preparedness George Bartuska, Flo lla 79 While the 2014 hurricane season is nearly over, we recommend that you bookmark or print these pages. The valuable information in this article and the accompanying guide can help you and your family survive a hurricane or other disaster. The time to prepare your kit is not when the weather service issues a storm warning. Start now and be prepared for any emergency!

everal months ago I a ended the 2014 Governor’s Hurricane Conference (GHC) held in Orlando, something I have been doing since 2008 as a volunteer during the Tropical Meteorology sessions. As you have probably heard by now, the various meteorological sta s cal predic on groups such as Colorado State University and the Na onal Weather Service are all predic ng a below-average hurricane Season. We con nue to foresee a below-average 2014 Atlan c hurricane season. The tropical Atlan c remains slightly cooler than normal, while El Niño is in the process of developing. However, the transi on to El Niño has slowed some in recent weeks, and the tropical Atlan c has anomalously warmed, causing us to increase our forecast slightly. We are s ll calling for a below-average probability of United States and Caribbean major hurricane landfall.

ORLANDO, Fla.--George Bartuska (right), a member of Flotilla 79, teaches the Auxiliary Weather course to members of Division 7. He is pictured here with Rick Knabb, Ph.D., Director of the National Hurricane Center. Photo provided by George Bartuska

However, at this year’s GHC, the warning issued by Rick Knabb, Ph.D., Director of the Na onal Hurricane Center, echoed past warnings from past year’s directors: “Remember; 1992 was a slow year as far as hurricane ac vity was concerned, yet it only takes one storm, and that year it was hurricane Andrew, which proved to be the most devasta ng hurricane to hit Florida to date.” For the record, Hurricane Andrew did the following to South Florida: The storm devastated Dade County where it caused an es mated $25 billion in damage, especially over the Homestead area. A er striking Florida, Andrew moved northwest across the Gulf of Mexico to make a second landfall in a sparsely populated area of south-central Louisiana as a Category 3 storm on August 26. In total, Andrew directly caused 26 deaths in the U.S. and indirectly caused 39 more. The number of homes destroyed was approximately 49,000, with an addi onal

es mated 108,000 damaged. In addi on, Dr. Knabb emphasized the importance of not ge ng fixated on the category of the storm! Tropical inclement weather, whether it be a tropical depression, a tropical storm, or any category of a hurricane, can do property damage, threaten life, and poten ally eﬀect Florida’s infrastructure necessary for evacua on. It only takes one storm, either of suﬃcient intensity, or to stall-out and dump massive amounts of water in a short me to cause extensive flooding. In addi on, keep in mind that hurricanes also usually spawn Tornadoes, just another hazard that we should plan for and an cipate. Something else to keep in mind is that as stated on the BayNews9 Web site: “Ten years have passed since the historic hurricane season of 2004, when four hurricanes cut across the state of Florida in the span of six weeks.” This anniversary presents a unique set of dilemmas for the Florida coastal communi es. First, many new in(Con nued on page 25)

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

(Con nued from page 24) habitants have moved to Florida since 2004 and may never have experience Tropical Storm Weather before. Also, many of the emergency responders and managers around in 2004 may have since re red, and thus the exis ng knowledge base may not be as experienced as they might have been. All this brings us to what our real job is – regardless of the volunteer organiza on we do or don’t belong to: Get Ready and Be Prepared! Fortunately, both the Na onal Hurricane Center and the American Red Cross have developed a comprehensive list to help anyone get ready for hurricanes included at the end of this ar cle. In addi on, there are several other sources of informa on that may help: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): h p://www.ready.gov/ hurricanes Na onal Hurricane Center: h p://www.nhc.noaa. gov/prepare/ Centers for Disease Control and Preven on (CDC): h p://www.bt.cdc.gov/ disasters/hurricanes/ In summary, most people drive a vehicle that has the poten al to experience a flat re. Although most of us don’t dwell on the poten al, typically somewhere in our vehicle is a spare re and a jack to help us raise the vehicle and change the flat re with one that is hopefully fully inflated. If we as Floridians, living as we do in a hurricane hazard area (just as Californians live in an earthquake hazard area) can simply internalize the need to prepare for disaster, we can poten ally spare ourselves tremendous grief, hardship, and at least the inconvenience of 'doing-

Fall 2014

Page 25

without,' when we could have go en ready to weather the storm and 'done-with' a lot easier, and with a lot more comfort and security. Hurricane Tips If you can't get cell phone recep on, move to high ground and you may be able to reach towers that are in working condi on. Have a non-cordless plug in phone (a no-frills, phone that only plugs into the phone outlet and does not need its own power supply). O en phone lines will work, but without power, cordless phones will not work. 

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Intercom

USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Flotilla 75 'Goes to Camp' Submi ed by Kevin Buckley, FSO-PA 75

n Aug. 2, 2014, Flo lla 75 Ruskin members Judith Clapp, Kevin Buckley, Do e Engle, Maria-Elana Taylor and Pat Stone a ended Camp Bayou's seventh annual “Back to SchoolBack to Nature” event. The free event a racted over 120 children and parents. Registered families visited several nature sta ons where they learned interes ng details about frogs, fossils, forests and other natural topics. Flo lla 75 members added hands-on features to the one-day event by demonstra ng how to fit a life jacket properly and simulating “man overboard” drills. Upon passing the drills, Auxiliary members presented the children with school materials such as pencils and notebooks as well as USCG Auxiliary Marine ConFlotilla 75 members Kevin Buckley, Judith Clapp, Dottie Engle, Maria-Elana serva on booklets. Taylor, and Pat Stone pose with nine year-old Skylar Truax-Owen and his

Auxiliary member Maria- mom Sherrie Truax at Camp Bayou in Ruskin, Fla., on Aug. 2, 2014. Skylar Elana Taylor introduced a passed a life preserver to another Boy Scout experiencing difﬁculty while at student, Skylar Truax-Owen the Flaming Arrow Boy Scout Camp earlier in the summer. Photo by Susan from Ruskin Elementary Green, Camp Bayou staff School. While at Flaming Arrow Boy Scout Camp this summer, Skylar passed a erva on and general admission is free. life preserver to a fellow Boy Scout who was having dif- More recently, on Oct. 18, 2014, Flo lla 75 par cipated ficulty in the water. His quick ac ons likely saved the in a “Fall Open House with a Na ve Peoples” theme at fellow scout’s life. Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center which featured The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a public- shell, bone and stone tools demonstra ons, weaving private partnership between Bayou Outdoor Learning and rope making, pinch pots, skill games, storytelland Discovery, Inc. (B.O.L.D.), and Hillsborough County ing, camp tours, a hunter-gatherer na ve plant walk, Parks, Recrea on and Conserva on. Before Hillsbor- and canoeing. Other par cipants included C.A.R.E, ough County’s ELAP program purchased the land, it Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin Pack 662, Ruskin was an RV park. Camp Bayou is open to the public for Boy Scout Troop 2140, Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum, Florida Aquarium, Na onal Weather Service- Ruskin, day use only. League of Environmental Educators in Florida, and FlorThrough volunteers, dona ons, supporters and grants, ida Master Naturalists. the managing non-profit, B.O.L.D., oﬀers pre-scheduled programs to schools, youth groups, adult groups Flo lla 75 is pleased to introduce boa ng and marine and families. Monthly canoe tours are available by res- safety topics at these events.

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Page 27

Law Enforcement Ofﬁcers Learn How to Stay Safe on the Water Submitted by James Fogle, SO-PE 7 Guard and another was an avid boater. They a ended the course to reinforce their boa ng skills. For the past five to six years, Flo lla 72 has worked with FWC and law enforcement departments to present Boa ng Skills and Seamanship classes to their researchers, sciensts, administra ve personnel and oﬃcers to enhance boa ng skills required when conduc ng their respec ve missions. The same program taught to the public teaches members of these agencies how to stay safe on the water.

ow do our local law enforcement agencies learn to operate their vessels safely? For the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva on Commission (FWC) and St. Petersburg Police Department, it is by a ending a Boating Skills and Seamanship course taught by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg. On Oct. 1, 2014, nine FWC staff members and three members of the St. Petersburg Police Department completed a Boa ng Skills and Seamanship Program. Both agencies allowed their staff to a end the classes from 9-11 a.m. during work hours for the dura on of the program. When officers were unable to a end, for example, when FWC staff were called away to perform special tes ng offshore on the large Red Tide mass menacing Florida, or for a special opera ons and tac cs (SWAT) mission, they made up missed classes during the evening Boa ng Skills and Seamanship program. Not all of the a endees were novices. At least one of the students was re red from the Coast

Left: Flotilla 72 member, Jim Nelson reviews course material with two St. Petersburg Police Department ofﬁcers.

Below: Flotilla 72 member Jim Fogle teaches one of the Boating Skills and Seamanship modules to the law enforcement ofﬁcers attending the training. Photos by Dick Risk, FL 72

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Sad Start to a “Routine” Marine Observation Mission. Submitted by Valerie Fernandes, Flotilla 78

n Oct. 23, 2014, Auxiliary vessel All Booked Up was starting a rou ne marine observa on mission with Kathleen Heide, coxswain, and Richard Rioles from Flo lla 79 and Valerie Fernandes, Flo lla 78 crew. They le Heide's dock at about 3:45 p.m. and could see a helicopter hovering over the area of the Pla Street Bridge, visible from Heide’s dock on Harbor Island. They proceeded north towards the bridge and saw a sheriff's marine patrol and a Boat US vessel near the bridge. They appeared to be looking for a person in the water. The crew of All Booked Up spoke with the Boat US operator who told them that he saw a white male just south of the Pla Street Bridge. The person in the water was not wearing a shirt and appeared to be in distress. He a empted to throw the individual a line, but the man went under the surface and never reappeared. Heide asked the sheriff's marine unit if they could be of assistance and were requested to stop vessels transi ng up Seddon Channel near their dive boat. Approximately 30 or 40 minutes later, the sheriff's divers recovered a body. They bagged it in water and transported the body to Marjorie Park. When water ac vi es end in a loss of life, it affects everyone involved. For members of the Auxiliary, events like this reinforce the need to emphasize boa ng safely and water safety topics and to encourage people to wear life jackets. 

Richard Rioles and Kathleen Heide look toward the Platt Street Bridge where the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Ofﬁce and a Boat US vessel search for a man in the water at the start of a routine marine observation mission on Oct. 23, 2014 Below: A beautiful sunset helps soothe the day's stress for the crew of All Booked Up; Kathleen Heide, coxswain, and Richard Rioles and Valerie Fernandes, crew. Photos by Valerie Fernandes

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Page 29

Uneventful Is Successful! Submitted by Betty Hagan, Flotilla 79 Tampa

ecurity was high for the Special Opera ons Command (SOCOM) Change of Watch Ceremony held Aug. 28, 2014 at the Tampa Conven on Center. All Booked Up, with Kathleen Heide, coxswain, and Terry Hickcox and Be y Hagan, all from Flo lla 79 as crew, assisted with security on the Hillsborough River. Fortunately, they were posi oned under the Pla Street Bridge in the shade, stopping vessel traﬃc coming down Hillsborough River. Each vessel had to be escorted by the Coast Guard around the secure area, the Tampa Convenon Center. Occasionally, a Coast Guard helicopter circled above. Hagan said, “We had very polite vessel operators wan ng to pass and there were no unusual incidents.”

Kathleen Heide, coxswain aboard All Booked Up, checks coordinates during a safety and security mission on Aug. 28, 2014. A Coast Guard cutter from Sector St. Petersburg patrols in front of the Tampa Convention Center. Photo by Betty Hagan

Calling All Vessel Examiners! ...and Public Education Instructors, and heck! Call out the entire Recreational Boating Safety Team! Sometimes we see things on the water that while they can be inherently dangerous, still manage to tickle our funny bone. Fortunately, this group of (boaters?) (picnickers?) is close to shore and not in any real danger... yet! Photo by Valerie Fernandes, Flotilla 78 Gulfport

An uneven ul patrol is a successful patrol! 

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Snow Birds: Florida’s American White Pelicans Dorothy Joan Riley

Keep your eyes open for white pelicans as they have begun to arrive in the Tampa Bay area for their winter migration. White pelicans are one of the largest birds in the U.S. They can weigh as much as 30 pounds and their wingspans can exceed nine feet. Thousands congregate every winter along the shores of Weedon Island near St. Petersburg. Photo by Joe Lamb, FL 79

ew sights are as wondrous as that of hundreds of American White Pelicans congrega ng along Florida’s shores. What contributes to their impressiveness is not just their immense size, but also their sheer numbers as they flock on islands, inlets, lakes and beaches. They begin to appear in November, then by late April, are gone again, disappearing a few or a flock at a me.

opments while brown pelicans, cormorants and gulls populate Florida’s coastal shores. During the winter months, from late November through April, American White Pelicans are also a common sight on our lakes and on coastlines.

The American White Pelican is the second largest bird na ve to North America. Their overall length is 50-70 One of the first things visitors to Florida take note of is inches while their wingspans can be as large as 120 the abundance and variety of birds. To our northern inches (over three yards!). Their plumage is almost visitors, many seem exo c both for their colora on and en rely bright white except for their black remiges, or for their size. Northern city dwellers are familiar with contour feathers, visible when the birds are in flight. robins, wrens, sparrows and pigeons, and while there Males are typically larger than females, and apart from are several larger bird species within the colder climes, the diﬀerence in size, males and females look exactly as towns and ci es encroach upon their habitat, these alike. birds push deeper into the wild. Unlike the Brown Pelican, the American White Pelican Florida, by contrast, has quite a few large birds that does not dive for its food. Instead, it catches its prey have learned to coexist with people. Egrets, wood while swimming. Each bird eats more than four pounds storks, cranes, herons and ibis are common sights on (Con nued on page 31) the lakes and streams within residen al housing devel-

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

(Con nued from page 30) of food a day. American White Pelicans congregate in groups of a dozen or more to feed. They cooperate and corral fish but some mes steal food from other birds. White pelicans are known to steal fish from other pelicans, gulls and cormorants and even from other birds in flight. American White Pelicans are communal birds. While as many as 500-600 pairs congregate in the brackish southern shorelines during the winter months, as many as 5,000 birds may flock together to breed in their northern habitats. Where do these magnificent birds spend their summer months?

Annual Migration Routes of the American White Pelican Photo credit: Audubon.org

Fall 2014

Page 31

America. Their summer habiA ttat ranges from as far north aas the boreal forests of Britiish Columbia to the shallow wetlands of the northwestern w Great Plains. Their migra on G rroutes follow their breeding habitats. Flocks breeding east h of the Rocky Mountains mio ggrate south and east, mostly aalong river valleys to wintter along the Gulf of Mexico, while popula ons west of the w Rockies migrate over deserts R aand mountains to the Pacific ccoast. American White Peliccans wintering in Florida may fly more than 3,000 miles to migrate to our sunny shores. m FFlorida is proud to call itself home to these wondrous h ssnowbirds even if for just the winter season!ď ? w

American White Pelicans spend the breeding and summer months in the brackish, sub-arc c regions of North

American white pelicans are at home both on salt water like the beaches along Weedon Island (left) and inland fresh water bodies such as the ponds and small lakes located in Brandon, Florida. Unlike our native brown pelicans, American white pelicans do not plunge-dive to feed. They feed while swimming and work together in groups to encircle and trap their prey, usually small ďŹ sh or crustaceans. They are not aggressive and tolerate many other species such as the egrets pictured above, and are known to steal food from other birds, a practice known as 'kleptoparasitism.' American white pelicans are highly dependent upon lakes, wetlands and coastal estuaries like those found in Tampa Bay throughout their life cycles. Photos by Joe Lamb (left) and Dottie Riley (right).

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Coast Guard Markings on Auxiliary Uniforms and Personal Protec ve Gear Vickie L. Aponte, Auxiliary Aﬀairs Assistant, D7

embership in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary can be a costly endeavor. We volunteer not just our me and eﬀort, but are also required to pay dues, purchase uniforms, personal protec ve equipment, and other items. The Coast Guard appreciates all that we as volunteers contribute to Recrea onal Boa ng Safety and to Opera ons, and when their budget permits, contributes new and used personal protec ve equipment to local Auxiliary units. While it is the responsibility of the Coast Guard unit to mark these items properly for Auxiliarists, some mes circumstances may prevent that. In this event, it is up to the receiving Auxiliary unit to mark these items properly prior to use is by adding the word “Auxiliary” a er the words “Coast Guard,” and the best me to do this may be before these items are distributed to the members for wear. The policy concerning Auxiliary members wearing uniform items and personal protec ve equipment properly marked is addressed in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790.1G, Chapter 10-10 and reads as follows: "C.2. Uniforms, Accessories, and Coast Guard Markings "Uniforms and accessories obtained through recognized sources have been Coast Guard cer fied. The products are made of modern materials and constructed to precise specifica ons with care. Cleaning and maintenance of uniforms and accessories should present no problems. Labels frequently provide specific cleaning instruc ons.

With the excep on of authorized Coast Guard unit ball caps, Auxiliarists should avoid wearing uniform items that carry Coast Guard markings, par cularly Personal Protec ve Equipment (PPE), work clothes, and organiza onal clothing. It is the responsibility of the Coast Guard unit that provides such uniform items to Auxiliarists to provide uniform items that are properly marked for Auxiliarists. Time and circumstances may not facilitate the availability of Coast Guard-provided uniform items that have Auxiliary markings. In such circumstances, Auxiliarists may wear the provided uniform items despite not having appropriate Auxiliary markings. However, all due eﬀort shall be put forth to correct such circumstances so that Auxiliarists are provided uniform items with appropriate Auxiliary markings as soon therea er as possible." Please ensure that every member of your unit wears properly marked uniforms and personal protec ve equipment, and again, the best me to make these changes to items donated by the Coast Guard may be before they are distributed to the members!

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 7

Change of Watch Saturday, December 6, 2014, 8:30- 10:45 a.m. Columbia Restaurant, Centennial Museum Room 2117 East 7th Avenue, Tampa Uniform: Tropical Blue or appropriate civilian attire Cost : $19.00 per person R.S.V.P. your Flotilla Commander by Nov. 30, 2014

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

NOAA Offers Free Electronic and PDF Charts for Mariners Source: NOAA, submi ed by Paul Anderson, FL 79 Electronic Naviga onal Charts: NOAA ENC® Na onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra on Electronic Naviga onal Charts (NOAA ENC®) are vector data sets that represent NOAA’s newest and most powerful electronic char ng product. NOAA ENCs conform with the Interna onal Hydrographic Oﬃce (IHO) S-57 interna onal exchange format, comply with the IHO ENC Product Specifica on, and are provided with incremental updates that supply No ce to Mariners correc ons and other cri cal changes. NOAA ENCs and updates are available for free download. NOAA ENC data may be used to fuel Electronic Chart and Display Informa on Systems (ECDIS). On February 5, the U.S. Coast Guard Naviga on Center issued a no ce sta ng that in the near future, the Coast Guard and other authorized agencies and organiza ons will begin transmi ng Automated Iden fica on System (AIS) aids to naviga on (ATON) messages and marine safety informa on via AIS for tes ng and evalua on. Unlike regular aids to naviga on, the new “AIS ATON” may appear to be coming from an aid to naviga on - but that ATON may or may not be physically present. To assist mariners, NOAA will add new symbols to upcoming aﬀected NOAA nau cal charts, depending on which variant of AIS ATON is used. Download NOAA agreement.htm

ENC

Data:

h p://www.nau calcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/download_

Download NOAA ENC Direct to GIS: h p://encdirect.noaa.gov/ENC_Direct/encdirect_download. html PDF Nau cal Charts NOAA provides about a thousand high-resolu on printable nau cal charts — almost the en re NOAA suite of charts — as PDF files. The PDF nau cal charts are exact images of NOAA’s tradi onal nau cal charts. Download free PDF charts from this list, or by using the chart catalog: h p://www.nau calcharts. noaa.gov/pdfcharts/ Source: Na onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra on h p://www.nau calcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/index.htm

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Tech Review: iSailor Navigation App for iPhone and iPad George Papabeis, Public Affairs Ofﬁcer Division 7

ecently, I tested the Transas iSailor naviga on app for iPhone and iPad during a night naviga on for Division 7 annual currency requirements. A er comple ng our tabletop char ng, I transferred the waypoint coordinates to iSailor by crea ng a “New Route” and tapping in four waypoints on the screen of the approximate loca ons of the route we were to run. I then opened each waypoint and entered the specific la tude and longitude for each using the numeric keypad. I also changed the screen setngs to “Night” for easier nigh me viewing. At the beginning of our run, I ac vated the “Start Recording Track” funcon. This allows for the comparison of the plo ed track versus actual course. I monitored our course periodically to see how accurate the applica on was in “meatspace” (real world). It tracked our posi on with no discernable delay, and showed aids to naviga on and other objects accurately. Tapping on any item on the screen brings up informa on for that par cular object. One thing I did noce, was that compared to the vessels on board GPS, the depth markings tended to be conserva ve. A shoal normally marked at 7 feet would be 5 feet in iSailor.

At the end of course, the track appeared as a green dashed line, and opening the track window gave us our total elapsed me, top speed and average speed. We arrived about a minute and a half early due to a slight increase in our speed from 10 knots to 10.9 average. This was due to the helmsman trimming our speed to keep the boat steerable for the slight chop that we experienced. Screenshot #1: The route as saved in iSailor. Heading and distance are automatically computed for each leg. The actual track is the green dashed line superimposed on the route. Note the two lit range markers in the middle of the triangle.

Screenshot #2: The route screen shows details of the route plotted. Tapping on the “Route Waypoints” will bring up the individual waypoints.

Screenshot #3: Data entry for individual waypoints can be accessed by tapping on them.

Screenshot #4: Tapping on an object brings up an information screen, in this example, a range marker “inside” the route.

I found that iSailor held up very well in the real world. It was rela vely easy to use, accurate, and portable. It is not recommended as a primary GPS unit but as a great backup and an inexpensive introduc on to electronic naviga on.

Volume XXXVII

Issue 3

Fall 2014

Page 35

Division 7 in the News.... Ar cles in local newspapers honor Auxiliary's 75th Anniversary and our local florillas.

Above: "St. Petersburg DOWNTOWN Newsletter," Issue 27 published July 2014 honors Flotillas 72, 78 and 7-16 in an article by Bob GrifďŹ n Above and left: TBO, The Tampa Tribune Online published an article by Elaine Speer on July 23, 2014.

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Left: In addition to the booth in the main convention area, Division 7 set up a display table on the Mezzanine level of the Tampa Convention Center during the Tampa Boat Show, Sept. 5-7, 2014. Vintage uniforms and posters commemorating the Auxiliary's 75th ﬂank an information table. Photo by George Papabeis, Staff OfﬁcerPublic Affairs Division 7

Below: Dave Fuller, District Captain-North, congratulates Judith Hudson, Immediate Past District Captain-East, after winning the election to become District Chief of Staff at the District 7 Board Business Meeting on Sept. 19 in Orlando. Hudson won the election on the third ballot after the ﬁrst two ended in a tie. Photo by Dick Risk, Assistant District Staff Ofﬁcer-Publications D7.

Above: Paulette Parent, District Captain-West (e) pictured with Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Conference, held Aug. 21-24, 2014, in Orlando. Photo by Joseph Giannattasio, BC-ASP Center page: Sector St. Petersburg Commander Captain Greg Case honors the Coast Guard Auxiliary for 75 Years of volunteer service at a luncheon on July 25 at the Windjammer at Sector. Members from ﬁve divisions attended. Photograph by Dick Risk, Assistant District Staff Ofﬁcer-Publications D7

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Right: Robin Conn accepts an Auxiliary Commandant's Letter of Commendation from Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, and Rear Admiral Jake Korn, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District at the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Conference, held Aug. 21-24, 2014, in Orlando. Conn was recognized for his contributions to the U-Directorate, Communications Division. Auxiliary photograph by Joseph Giannattasio, BC-ASP

Mid-page right: Posters created by George Papabeis and Dottie Riley commemorate the Auxiliary's 75th Anniversary. Right: Richard Risk and Dottie Riley pose with Robert Weskerna, District 7 Commodore (e) at the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Conference held Aug. 21-24, 2014, in Orlando.

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Spring 2014 Fall 2014

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USCG Auxiliary

Division 7, District 7

Write Your Flo lla Number Correctly!

ow do we correctly write our flo lla numbers and names? We cannot arbitrarily choose how flo lla names and numbers are wri en. There is a right and a wrong way, and wri ng our unit designa ons incorrectly does not reflect professionalism or pride in the auxiliary.

Please refer to Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790, Chapter 4, sec on A.4 Designa on: “Auxiliary flo llas are designated by Arabic numerals. The first numeral indicates the division, followed by the flo lla number. The name of the city or town in which the flo lla is located completes the designa on. For example, Flo lla 32, St. Louis, is Division 3, Flo lla 2, located at St. Louis, Missouri. Diﬀerent flo llas in the same area must, for record purposes, have diﬀerent names. New flo llas should use the name of the community, body of water, or other name iden fied with the locale. When either the number of divisions or the number of flo llas exceeds nine, use a hyphen between the flo lla and division number. For example, 11-4 or 6-10.” Zeroes in other instances such as those used within Auxiliary Data System (AUXDATA) or found on Auxiliary web pages are canonical numbers used to create unique iden fiers. While data-driven forms may require zeroes, they should not be used when wri ng flo lla designa ons in reports, ar cles or signature blocks. 

Use Cau on When Reproducing, Publishing or Distribu ng Public Educa on Materials. Audio-Visual Policy COMDTINST M16790.1G A.1.b: Auxiliary Created Material: "Auxiliarists who create electronic projec ons as a personal teaching aid for their own use may use Auxiliary PE materials without approval so long as the material is presented without altera on. Auxiliarists may wish to create new materials and distribute this material to other units through such means as pos ng electronic projects on flo lla, division, or district web sites, crea on of CD-ROMs or other

methods. In doing so, Auxiliarists should be aware that CGAuxA, Inc. has copyrighted the material contained in the texts, electronic projec ons, and related course materials. Pos ng this material on web sites without specific authoriza on from the president of CGAuxA, Inc., or his/her designated representa ve, is an infringement of this copyright and the unit distribu ng the material could be subject to legal ac on by CGAuxA, Inc. Thus, any material taken from Auxiliary texts, electronic projec ons, and other course support material must be submi ed to CGAuxA, Inc. through its president or designee for approval." 

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The Privacy Act of 1974 protects names, addresses, telephone/fax numbers and e-mail addresses of Auxiliary members which may appear in this or other USCGAUX publica ons. As a ma er of policy, informa on described above is not made available to the general public or outside groups without that member’s express and/or wri en consent. When such informa on appears, its privacy shall be safeguarded and the informa on will be clearly labeled. Publica on of this informa on by the general public and/or outside groups is prohibited by the Privacy Act.