Allatoona log february 2014

Allatoona Log United States Coast Guard Auxiliary February, 2014 Jim Farley, FC PO Box 641 Smyrna, GA 30081 (770) 436-6824 jimfarley@att.net

Ron Argo, VFC 8285 High Point Rd Douglasville, GA 30134 (770) 942-6948 ronargo@bellsouth.net

Flotilla 22 Skip Yost, IPFC 5065 Meadowbrook Cir Suwanee, GA 30024 (770) 945-9284 s_yost@charter.net

Allatoona Lake, GA Vol. 48 Issue 2 Bob Miller, FSO-PB 175 Don Rich Drive Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 214-0756 millerus@att.net

(L- R) Ted M. Kirk receives Retirement Plaque from Jim Farley at Roberts Community Center during Flotilla 2-2 meeting on January 18, 2014

In this issue:

Flotilla Staff Officers Roster

Reports Staff reports are included in this issue.

Only exceptions to these reports will be given at the meeting.

Feature Article Barque Eagle Cruise 2014

Lake Allatoona Elevation

Schedule of Events February, March, April and May

Photos Flotilla Activities

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The next Flotilla 22 Meeting is Saturday, February 18, 2014 starting at 1000 AM at Roberts School

Flotilla Commander – Jim Farley Gads! This year is beginning to fly by. There are only 33 days from our February Flotilla Meeting date until spring arrives. Only 90 days until the Wakeboard Tournament. And only 126 days until summer arrives. We will soon have boats on the water, folks flocking to our Vessel Inspection Blitzes, and all of our other warm weather activities. After our ice events recently, I am thinking of ski's – the kind behind boats! Can the end of 2014 be far behind?

The District Dashboard (Our Report Card) came in which is used by the Seventh District to manage performance within the District. The listings below show the category measured and the 2013/2012 year-end figures for the Flotilla and for the Division (Green is progress and Red is Slipping): CATEGORY Number PE (Public Education) Graduates Number VE (Vessel Examination) Exams Number PV (Program Visitor) Visits Number MT (Member Training) Hours Number OPs (Operations) Hours Number Members

FLOT 22 51/58 474/350 159/86 28/70 144/107 56/62

DIVISION 2 691/298 1,024/861 1,067/920 186/261 1,173/1,254 257/277

All in all, I was satisfied with our results. In the PE area, our numbers slipped, but I believe that in 2014 these numbers should climb. We did excellent in the VE and PV areas, but I think that we can increase in 2014. In the MT area, we will be having more training associated with our Flotilla Meetings and Members will be encouraged to participate in training and to report it, particularly when they are doing it on their own. Operations hours were up over 2012, but with more individuals wanting training, especially those in the Auxiliary University Program, these numbers should come up. And hopefully, our membership should rise. We started 2013 with eleven nondues-paid Members on roll; a few later paid and the others were removed from the rolls. At the end of 2013, all Members are paid-up for dues. And in January, in addition to the 56 Members at the end of 2013, we added two new Members from the Auxiliary University Program (AUP).

Comparing our Flotilla numbers to the Division numbers (rounded), we had 22 percent of the Division membership. We had seven percent of the Division PE graduates; we did 46 percent of the Division VE's, 15 percent of the Division PV's, 15 percent of the MT hours, and 12 percent of the Division Operations hours.

Hopefully, our goals for 2014 will lead to an increase in our numbers. It would be fantastic to have all of our Dashboard numbers at a higher percentage of the Division numbers than our membership percentage.

With the Auxiliary University Program underway, we need to have more of our experienced Members willing and able to take on instruction in classes for Boat Crew/Coxswain, AUXSEA, AUXWEA, AUXCOM, AUXPAT, TCO, and IMSEP. These are courses that our AUP's will require and which we should be able to deliver. In the past that I remember, we have relied on a small cadre of Instructors who have now moved on and are not readily available to teach these courses. Members taking these courses may soon be able qualify for AUXOP. And speaking of AUXOP, we currently have seven AUXOP's in Flotilla 22 and we seem to be on the verge of perhaps more than doubling that number!

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Flotilla Meeting, Saturday, 15 February 2014 starting at 1000, at the Roberts School Community Center in Acworth.

Jim Farley, FC

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Flotilla Vice Commander – Ron Argo Whatever decision you make, you make as a team” The weekend of 18JAN Jim Farley and I had attended one of 7th District’s sponsored leadership roadshows held in Savannah Georgia. Commodore Tyson was in attendance with several members of his staff, various District 7 Division Commanders and Vice Commanders along with numerous District 7 Flotilla Commanders and Vice Commanders were there and then there was me.

As I set there in the room with Division 7 leaders, on an active Coast Guard Airbase, I could not stop thinking about what it means to be a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and have the opportunities our organization presents to us. As Commodore Tyson discussed the challenges that face the Coast Guard family, I kept thinking of what I need to do to help the Coast Guard Auxiliary thrive and survive… and during one of the training sessions, a Quote from the movie The Guardian came back to me. Kevin Costner’s Character, Ben Randall, reminds Jake Fisher, played by Ashton Kutcher and Billy Hodge played by Brian Geraghtythat “The Coast Guard has been around for 200 years. I doubt a couple of knuckleheads like yourself are going to defend it.”

While I had not just been physically removed from an establishment for defending the Coast Guard, that quote did hit home. It reminded me that we are all Coasties, and that the whole is greater than the sum of its part and as parts of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, it is up to us to be working as one synergistic team.

We have all the needed elements within the Coast Guard Auxiliary to create synergistic team.  Start out by understanding how team members are similar and different o The Auxiliary not only encourages diversity but also provides excellent tools and other resources to meet our diversity goals.  Establish a recognition system that rewards both individual and team accomplishments. o Awards, Ribbons Certificates: Great recognition program for the work we do  Open and continuous communications. o The web page now has a suggestion box, plus emails phone calls or even the United States Post Office can be used to communicate with your shipmates.  Assume the best about people. o Always: we are all Coasties are we not?  Get together socially to celebrate. o We sponsor monthly Social Events  Encourage team members to be supportive of one another. o The Auxiliary provides numerous job aides, study guides, and support groups that we can take advantage of.

From Vessel Examinations to Diversity, from Public Affairs to Finance and everything in between, it is up to us as Coasties to work together and provide the service and support the Coast Guard Auxiliary needs.

If are you sitting around asking yourself what you can do to get more involved, what classes are available, what impact can you make to our Flotilla, then ask the Coastie next to you or look on our flotilla’s web page. If you just want the fellowship of our members, we have opportunities for you as well. As the weather warms up we will have multiple opportunities to serve. We always need Vessel Examiners and Program Visitors Boat Crews, Watch Standers and Coxswains, just to name a few. Training opportunities abound.

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We have dedicated, intelligent, and talented Coasties who bring unmeasurable strength to our Flotilla, Division and District. But greater strength is only possible when we are connected with our fellow Coasties. We need each other, perhaps more now than ever before. But even the strongest Coastie is made stronger by the team. Up and down the Chain of Leadership and Management and in the Flotillas, we have to support each other.

We are lucky since the Coast Guard Auxiliary already has all the pieces in place. We just need YOU to put the finishing touch on completing our team.

Ron Argo, VFC

Communications - Jim Farley

There is not much to report in the way of Telecommunications for the month of February. We will soon be having to check out equipment and get ready for early Spring Patrols and associated Watchstanding. I'm always looking for Members who want to become TCO's and work in the cool, air-conditioned Operations Center when the surface facilities are out in the hot sun ;-). If you are interested, let me know.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Flotilla Meeting, Saturday, 15 February 2014, starting at 1000, at the Roberts School Community Center in Acworth.

Jim Farley, FSO-CM

Finance – Susan Cummings I hope all had a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. If anyone has receipts that need to be paid, please submit them to me as soon as possible along with a copy of the receipts.

See you soon.

Susan Cummings, FSO-FN

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Communication Services – Ron Argo

Occam's Razor – What?

Our ever present ubiquitous shipmate continues to question me about all information I am gathering in order to determine if our efforts as a Flotilla are being successful.

In an effort to explain that there is a method to my madness, I introduced our young squab to Occam's Razor and it’s principle of parsimony, economy, or succinctness used in problem-solving. It states that among competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with the fewest assumptions should be selected.

Occam's Razor is useful for us because we live in an progressively more complex world where things are getting more complicated every day, most of time for no other reason than to make them complicated. By applying Occam’s Razor, we take all the information that we are gathering and distil it down to four basic questions; who is visiting? Why they are visiting? Are they achieving their goal when they visit? And do we know that they visited?

If we look at our current web page statistics, we can see where they came from, who they were by demographics, and we know that in some part they are achieving their goal because we continue to receive online registration forms. As I continue to update the web pages we will know what pages they visit.

"Just the facts, ma'am" Flotilla 22’s Web Page: We are continuing to update our web page. One of the techniques we are imploring to drive traffic to our site is the creation of a Boating Safety blog. The blog has been up for several weeks. If you have any ideas for the blog or you would like to be a guest writer, please let me know.

In January we had 154 visits; down 7% from the 170 visits in December with 75% being new visitors which are an impressive increase from the 60% that we experienced in December.

Our Demographics remain relatively the same as in December across all age groups.

We have started tracking a few additional analytics. We now can see where visitors were from. In December 69%, were direct, meaning they came directly to our page, the other 31% came from the Wake Boarding Magazine, a direct result of our involvement with the Wake Board event, from Google and Bing Search engines, Facebook and Lake Front Georgia.

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Our interactive sections of the web page are working well. We have received several online registrations for our Public Education Classes.

Also, do not forget that we have a suggestion “box” online… let your Chain of Leadership and Management know of your ideas and suggestions.

As we move forward we will be able to show direct correlation with our public facing events to the amount of visitors we have to our web pages.

Facebook: Our Facebook pages continue see an increase in traffic.

Flotilla 22 Facebook Page 112 Likes, with 117 clicks on our post. Our post reached 199 people in January. We are seeing a steady, be it a slow growth in the number people we are reaching.

KSUAUP Facebook Page We currently have 31 people following our AUP page. As we kick start our recruiting efforts this number will undoubtedly increase If you have a Facebook account, please like us and see what all the excitement is about.

USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 22 Marietta Georgia and Kennesaw State University Auxiliary University Program And as always if there are any issues or additions you would like to see, please email me at ronargo.uscgaux@outlook.com Ron Argo, FSO-CS

Human Resources – Larry Cook

We added Patrick Hughes, from the AUP Program, to our Flotilla in January and I added 5 prospective members from the responder program and two from the Boat Show to my in process list. I hope to have several of them finalized by late February and sent to DIRAUX for approval. I have been actively engaged with Luis, Zach and Patrick in setting up recruiting sessions at KSU. As a reminder, recruiting is everyone’s responsibility, so keep a sharp lookout for potential members. When you find them, are sure and send me their contact information.

Larry Cook, FSO-HR

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Public Affairs – Ron Argo

Public Affairs and Marketing What does Marketing have to do with Public affairs? To me, marketing is more proactive while public affair tends to be a bit more reactive. PA is used if there is news to report, a community activity that needs to be supported or a public education class to promote. Marketing can help create responses that PA can then respond to.

Marketing seems more like a conversation generator whose purpose is to create interest in our products and/or services, like PE Classes and Vessel Examinations or with the Auxiliary.

From Facebook and Twitter to direct mail and television commercials, marketing options are as varied as the demographics the people we seek to attract. However, there is a marketing method that we can use to help cut through the confusion. It’s called targeted marketing, and it involves a process of using logic, research and a bit of experimentation.

Below are eight steps that will help us get started in brainstorming marketing ideas that could make a significant difference to our Flotilla.

1. Define our target market, research similar organizations and associations.

Boat Owners, Marinas, Boating Clubs, Scuba Shops, 2. Determine the desired outcome Increase in our PE attendance, increase of VEs and Membership 3. Develop brochures and marketing materials that describe the benefits, services, donation opportunities, and values of our flotilla.

Material has been printed and distributed 4. Develop a social media marketing strategy.

Social media such as Twitter and Facebook are providing us with ways to reach out to people in a low cost and effective way.

5. Develop and maintain a professional internet marketing presence by creating a web site.

Our web site is being updated weekly with new functionality and usability.

6. Research and maintain your prospect and customer databases.

We currently are using DNR’s database to locate boat owners.

7. Generate Press Release and News Articles.

We are generating at least one press release a month. The number of press releases and news articles will increase as the weather warms.

8. Always actively search for alliances with other organizations, commerce, government, advertising media, and business.

Our Diversity program is actively seeking opportunities for us.

As you can see from the above list we have a great start on marketing our Flotilla, but we need to know where are customer base is at.

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If we look at where Georgia Boat owners live, we naturally see high concentrations of boats owners around the lake. (Darker areas represent a higher concentration of boat owners)

Data from DNR boat registry mapped by Zip code.

Data from DNR boat registry mapped by Zip code.

When we pull back and look at a larger view, we notice that there are large number of owners beyond Allatoona and Lanier. Notice the high concentration of boat owners that live away from the lakes, specifically, you will see a high concentration of boat owners in Paulding County South of 278 and Lost Mt, and then other concentration of boaters south of I-20, near Winston Ga. There are other concentrations of boat owners spread out around Allatoona.

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Now that we know that our target market is more distributed than some of us knew, we can expand our efforts into the areas with the highest concentration of boat owners. As we move forward understanding our demographics, I will be working with other FSOs to see how and if we can expand our programs to take advantage of our new knowledge.

And as always, if you have any idea on how we can better reach our target market, know of a Marina or boating related organization that is not being served by the Flotilla, please let me know.

As I pointed out last month, we are all Public Affairs Operatives, so did you asked yourself what you are doing to “put a man on the moon”?

Ron Argo, FSO-PA

Information Systems – Donna Saunders

We're off to a GREAT start! I've received and entered 45 reports for a total of 288.5 hours.

For those of you who haven't sent your January hours, it's not too late.

I'll be emailing your Annual Member Letter within the next two weeks, please watch for it and let me know if there are any problems. It has been suggested that I redistribute the Time Reporting guidelines, so I'll be attaching them to your Member Letter email. Please print a copy and check to see if you have missed reporting anything. Having just spent quite a few hours organizing and filing emails from 2013, I'm sure others have done the same.

While I won't be at the meeting on the 15th (I'll be in the AUXWEA class), please be sure and review the reports for accuracy and let me know of any discrepancies.

Now that we succeeded in topping the 20,000 hours count, we have set the bar very high. I'm convinced we can do it together!

Donna Saunders, FSO-IS

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Program Visitor – Luis Cribeiro To all members of our Program Visitors and those that need to qualify. Ladies and Gentlemen, the first quarter of the year is a very appropriate time to start your visitation rounds. As part of the National Plan for RBS we have been asked to increment our visitations for at least 2% over last year. However, our goal for the Division and Flotilla should be more than that. As a flotilla we accomplished 159 visits for the year 2013. That is an average of 20 visits per person, more or less. An increment of 2% would give us 162 in 2014. Can we do more? How about 5 more and let us set our goal to 167. Let us try.

For those of you that need to re-qualify, please let me know when you can go out with me or some other qualified member and do the required visits. It will help the program and the Flotilla.

Luis E Cribeiro, FSO-PV

Marine Safety – Juan Sola My name is Juan C Solá and I am the 2014 FSO-MS for Flotilla 070-02-02. I will like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in November 2009 and was officially admitted in January 2010.

As soon as I joined the Auxiliary, I focused my efforts towards education which allowed me to complete the requirements of AUXOP, Good Mate and Marine Safety qualifications. In addition to my efforts in education, I also became qualified as Vessel Examiner, English/Spanish qualified interpreter and Recreational Boating Safety Visitor.

During my tenure at Flotilla 17-11, I also served as FSO-VE, where the flotilla exceeded the annual VSC goal by 105% and increase the qualified VE roaster by 200%.

Since then, I moved to Georgia and now have the privilege to serve in Flotilla 02-02 as well as the honor to have been appointed to the MS office. For 2014, I plan to promote Introduction to Marine Safety &Environmental Protection (IMSEP) as well further the dock walkers and shore cleanup initiatives.

Juan Sola, FSO-MS

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Materials - Hank Bozich

The Seventh District USCGAUX Materials Center (store) is now open. Their contact information is as follows: 7th DISTRICT MATERIAL CENTER D7 Material Center P.O. box 1029 Port Richey, Fl. 34673 Web site: http://d7materials.org/ Uniform Distribution Center: www.uscg.mil/uniforms/ Email;d7materialcenter@verizon.net Phone: 727-535-2593 Hours: Monday & Thursday 1000 - 1800 hours.

Remember, before anyone orders from the Seventh District Store, please check with me to see if I have it in stock.

Also, you can e-mail me and I will e-mail a list of the items our store has on hand. If anyone has any questions, you can e-mail me or call me.

We DO NOT endorse any particular vendor for uniform items. We recommend the Seventh District Store, but you may need to go to an outside vendor to buy material. If you need sew-on insignia or nametapes, use your favorite search engine to find a vendor, or visit one of these websites: http://www.uscg.mil/uniforms/ http://www.bentneedle.net/ http://www.uniformnametape.com/(Phone 1-800-237-0011) http://www.1800nametape.com/ http://catalog.lighthouseuniform.com/coastguard/ http://stores.homestead.com/ShopAuxiliary/Categories.bok?category=Uniforms+%28All+Items%29 There are some other vendors that do not have web sites. For their phone numbers, link to: http://www.meiere.com/_CGfiles/Uniform_Web/Name_Tape.html.

Hank Bozich, FSO-MA

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Navigations Systems – Lynn Smith

New Zealand’s national pleasure boat safety strategy has led to a 50% reduction in recreational boating fatalities over the last 6 years, in spite of increasing boat numbers. The strategy has used a combination of education and targeted legislation to tackle the key risk factors in recreational boating fatalities.

The 4 key risk factors are:

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Failure to wear a lifejacket in boats under 6 - The effects of bad weather and sea meters in length conditions - Inability to communicate distress after an - Overuse of alcohol immersion accident They tell their story . . .

Statistics of their success: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Publications-and-forms/Recreational-boating/BoatingSafety-Strategy-2007-full-version.pdf Safe Boating – Essential Guide: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Publications-and-forms/Recreationalboating/Safe-Boating-an-essential-guide-2012.pdf Let’s look at the statistics of the United States. . .

The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 651, the lowest number of boating fatalities on record.

From 2011 to 2012, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased from 758 to 651, a 14.1 percent decrease; injuries decreased from 3,081 to 3,000, a 2.6 percent reduction; and the total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,588 to 4,515, a 1.6 percent decrease.

The fatality rate for 2012 of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 12.9 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 6.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $38 million.

The report states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 1; 7 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure and excessive speed ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Almost 71 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, with 84 percent of those victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. Approximately 14 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, get a free vessel safety check and avoid alcohol consumption.

View the 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics.

For more information on boating responsibly, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/ .

See more at: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1773043/U-S-Coast-Guard-releases-2012-RecreationalBoating-Statistics-Report#sthash.avuGlHLJ.dpuf

BOATING SAFETY COURSES ARE IMPORTANT Lynn Smith, FSO-NS

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Member Training – Jim Farley

Last month I discussed the need to go ahead and work on the mandatory on-line training that we all must accomplish; Members joining in 2013 or later must complete the courses by 31 December of the first full year of membership and Members enrolled at the beginning of 2013 must complete the courses by 31 December 2016.

This month, I want to discuss the Operational Auxiliarist (AUXOP) qualification which authorizes the recipient to wear the AUXOP device. Flotilla 22 currently has seven Members authorized to wear the AUXOP device; four AX who qualified under the previous rules, and three AX2 who qualified under the current rules. An E-Mail recently went out to all Flotilla 22 Members advising of the availability of the Auxiliary Weather (AUXWEA) class being held this Saturday, 15 February 2014, and the Introduction to Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (IMSEP) class being held Saturday, 1 March 2013, both by Flotilla 29. As this is being written, we have four Members scheduled to attend the AUXWEA class, seven scheduled to attend the IMSEP class, one Member who needs to complete the on-line Flotilla Leadership Course (FLC) and two Member who will need to complete one additional AUXOP course.

Several other Members are also close to achieving AUXOP status. Flotilla 22 stands a good chance of more than doubling our AUXOP Members this year.

Now the question becomes, will you/can you become AUXOP qualified? The answer is hopefully and yes, but it will take some of your time to study and/or attend classes and then to take the on-line examinations. The new program, which was effective 1 January 2011, is covered in E-Mail ALAUX 037/10, and additional courses, normally not available in our inland location, have been added to the electives. This can be accomplished by selfstudy and challenging the examinations, as we had one Member in 2011 who did this in probably three or four months. Following, in RED, is my suggested 'plan of attack' to meet the requirements for AUXOP (for a total of seven credits): The three required core courses, each worth one credit (three credits total), are: Auxiliary Weather Specialty Course (AUXWEA).

Auxiliary Seamanship Specialty Course (AUXSEA).

Auxiliary Communications Specialty Course (AUXCOM).

Auxiliarists are required to complete one leadership course, worth one credit. The recommended course is: Flotilla Leadership Course (FLC) – (online version).

Auxiliarists are required to complete their AUXOP credits by completing a combination of elective courses, totaling three (or more) credits; the recommended courses are: Introduction to Marine Safety - 2 credits.

Auxiliary Patrol Specialty Course (AUXPAT) - 1 credit.

And if you take the Good Mate Course (preferably before you take the IMSEP Course, you will be on your way to earning the Marine Safety Training Ribbon.

You can take the Auxiliary Specialty Courses (AUXWEA, AUXSEA, AUXCOM, and AUXPAT) in a classroom setting when available or you can self-study, after which in either case, you take the closed book proctored on-line examination.

I'm looking forward to seeing each and all of you at the Flotilla Meeting, Saturday, 15 February 2013, starting at 1000 at the Roberts School Community Center in Acworth.

Jim Farley, FSO-MT

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Publications – Bob Miller I would like to thank everyone for all the pictures I have received this past month. I know in the past we have had many different activies supporting boating safety and not receiving documentation for publication. Please continue taking your cameras and cell phones with you and documenting our Flotilla activies.

Please be on the lookout for any articles and pictures you might come across and always take a camera/cell phone with you on all your outings. Always remember to provide: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and who took the picture.

TAKING PICTURES - SOME FUNDAMENTAL RULES These guidelines will get you started: A. Fill the frame. Move in close to simplify the composition and eliminate distracting elements (watch for a busy foreground or background).

B. Choose viewpoint carefully. Vary your camera angles; get down low and up high, avoid shooting everything from eye-level.

C. Have a strong center of interest. All pictures need a center of interest—a point that draws the landscape this might be a mountain, river or a group enjoying the outdoors. In a portrait, the eyes become the center of interest.

Make sure the eyes are sharp and that your subject stands out clearly.

D. Avoid a “perfect balance” arrangement. Centering your subject and snapping the shutter isn’t composition. In fact, placing the subject slightly off-center is more dynamic than composing directly in the center, as shown in the illustration below.

E. Use framing to give depth. Use an object in the foreground to frame your center of interest and help draw attention to it. Doorway, trees branches, portions of foreground objects—all can work well.

F. Apply selective focusing. Open the lens aperture to throw the foreground or background out of focus.

G. Use light to best advantage. Don’t shoot everything in front light; try side lighting backlighting, shooting towards the sun.

Bob Miller, FSO-PB

Operations – Arthur Silbert

It is still somewhat quiet on the operations front this month. Surprisingly a sub-set of our operations activities were impacted by January’s snow storm. Our Boat Crew & Coxswain sign-off and study session had to be cancelled due to the weather. The session has been rescheduled as of the publication of this article and I’m excited to be getting back into the training for this season’s patrols.

Larry Cook has put together a proposed schedule of patrols starting in mid-April that will utilize his facility and take place on a regular pattern. Larry and I will be refining this schedule over the next month and then sharing it with the flotilla so members can get the patrol dates on their calendars well ahead of when they will take place.

Arthur Silbert, FSO-OP

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Diversity – Karl Scheele

The well-known author of "Roots", Alex Haley, was one of the groundbreakers for Diversity in the Coast Guard. Born in Ithaca, NY in 1921, he attended Alcorn State Univ. and Elisabeth City State College, NC, the latter location city was a USCG Station. In 1939 he enrolled as a Mess Attendant, a similar early Bio as Dorie Miller, and the famous Pearl Harbor USN Navy Cross recipient. During his WWII Pacific voyages, Haley practiced writing stories, so much so that in 1949 he was promoted to Petty Officer FC with a Journalist rating. Upon his military retirement in 1959, he was actually the first Chief Journalist of the Coast Guard. During his civilian career, he was a senior editor for Readers Digest, the author of "Roots" and co-author of "The Auto-Biography of Malcolm X", and conducted long-remembered interviews with Muhammad Ali, Sammy Davis, Jr (a veteran), Johnny Carson (a veteran), Jim Brown and many others. The USCG Cutter WMEC-39, currently based in Kodiak, AK is named after Haley. Alexander M.P. Haley (19211992), was a Veteran and Great American.

Karl Scheele, FSO-VFC

Public Education – Donna Saunders I have nothing but admiration for my predecessors in this job!

We have 22 registered students for our first class on February 8, THAT'S AMAZING! It also means that the more than 30 items included in the handout bags must be sorted, stocked and prepared for distribution. We have the Instructors scheduled; the room reserved, and hopefully hasn’t forgotten anything.

If you're interested in becoming an Instructor, Jim Farley is our Member Training Officer, and he or I can help get you started. Two hours teaching time is required to remain Certified, and we're trying to accommodate the Instructors so that they can have some 'off' days.

Thanks to those of you who worked the Boat Show. I called the entire list on the first day I received it. Unfortunately, I haven't heard back from all of them, but most of those I've talked to are scheduling for classes.

Let's keep the momentum going! I'll provide more brochures and flyers for pickup at the February 15th meeting.

Donna Saunders, FSO-PE

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Secretary/Record – Jerry Sullivan

The minutes from the last meeting are included in this newsletter. The remainder of this month's report will be given at this month's flotilla meeting.

Jerry Sullivan, FSO-SR

Vessel Examiner – Jack Sweeney

That January water is cold!

I conducted one Facility Inspection (Passed for Renewal) Still have two that expired mid-January, waiting for the owners to schedule before the 45 day grace period.

The list I received from the Atlanta Boat Show interested visitors consisted of six possible. Contacted 5, the other was a disconnected number. The results were; one is a potential recruit and should be at our meeting February 15th. The other four are scheduled for VSC's in March.

Jack Sweeney, FSO-VE

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Captain of the Port – Jerry Sullivan

Our Operations Center remains open and available for Meetings, and Training. As you know it's still cold outside and the OC is in winter mode. It will remain Winterized till warm weather shows up. The Water is turned off and the bathroom is closed and sealed. We have posted a sign with info on the Marina Bath house which can be used and the code for the doors is on the wall.

I continue to make random Security checks of our OC, one thing I would like to mention is, please if you make a visit, step back and take one more look inside and double check that all doors are secure and all lights are off before you leave and shake and turn the knob on the front door for security. If you find anything in question please feel free to call me (770-694-1845) or FC Jim Farley.

In the spring we plan to remodel the OC and bring it up to standards for the New Year. We will post a notice for volunteers.

Jerry Sullivan, COPT

Social Committee Report I must apologize to the flotilla, since I was in Savannah for the District 7 traveling leadership roadshow at the time of our January B.Y.O.M., so I was not able to attend. Also, with me being out of town several times this month and with all of our challenging winter weather, I have not had an opportunity to set up an event for February.

So, unfortunately, we will not have a social event in February but will have one in March. As I write this report, most of us, I would imagine, are snowed bound , so l have not had the opportunity to recon our next restaurant. But I can tell you the date of our next B.Y.O.M and it will be held on March 28, 2014 at a location to be named later.

And as always if you have an idea or a place for a Flotilla Social event please let me know. You can email me at ronargo.uscgaux@outlook.com.

Again, I apologize for not having an event planned this month Ron Argo Social Committee Chairman

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Auxiliary University Program (AUP) Our Kennesaw University Unit is doing great. We are well ahead of the learning curve and already taking the compulsory classes. Our progress report goes out right after our meeting to the powers to be and those that have requested it. Our agenda is quite complex and lengthily in details. If any of you would like a copy please let me know and I will send you a copy. Also, I will always bring one copy to our monthly meeting, if you would like to see it just let me know after the meeting.

Luis E Cribeiro, KSU-AUP Unit-UO.

(L-R) Luis E Cribeiro, KSU-AUP Unit UO., Patrick J Hughes, KSU- DSL, Zachary Drake, KSU-SL, Larry Cook, FSO-HR and Donna Saunders, FSO-IS. At Kennesaw University during our second official meeting for the unit. (Photo unknown)

Service Anniversaries and New Members Report NEW MEMBERS

Zach Drake

Patrick Hughes

We had two new Members come aboard during the month of January. Zackery Drake and Patrick Hughes joined us thru the new Auxiliary University Program (AUP). AUP Members are Members of our Flotilla who also are enrolled both in a Kennesaw State University degree program and the AUP certificate program at school. Many of the AUP training courses are also Coast Guard Auxiliary courses that all of our Members can take.

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Flotilla 22 Staff Officers s Flotilla Commander Jim Farley, FC Flotilla Vice Commander Ron Argo, VFC Immediate Past FC Skip Yost, IPFC Communications Jim Farley, FSO-CM Communication Services Ron Argo, FSO-CS Finance Susan Cummings, FSO-FN Human Resources Larry Cook, FSO-HR Information Systems Donna Saunders, FSO-IS Materials Hank Bozich, FSO-MA Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Juan Sola, FSO-MS Member Training Jim Farley, FSO-MT Navigation Systems Lynn Smith, FSO-NS Operations Arthur Silbert, FSO-OP Program Visitor Luis Cribeiro, FSO-PV Public Affairs Ron Argo, FSO-PA ronargo.uscgaux@outlook.comPublications millerus@att.net Public Education Donna Saunders, FSO-IS Secretary/Record Jerry Sullivan, FSO-SR Vessel Examiner Jack Sweeney, FSO-VE Diversity Karl Scheele, FSO-DV Captain of the Port Jerry Sullivan, COPT

jimfarley@att.net ronargo.uscgaux@outlook.com s_yost@charter.net jimfarley@att.net ronargo.uscgaux@outlook.com sbcummings@aol.com endeavourr29@att.net katyd0@bellsouth.net ohhenry2and3@gmail.com

Lay Leader

emery@engineer.com

Loren Emery

juansola1@yahoo.com

jimfarley@att.net storm77@att.net Silbert@gmail.com marist4@aol.com Robert Miller, FSO-PB katyd0@bellsouth.net sullyj020@bellsouth.net mainecat@ix.netcom.com serrig1979@yahoo.com

sullyj020@bellsouth.net

Schedule of Events S February, 2014 8 ABS Roberts School 8 AM- 5 PM 15 Flotilla meeting Roberts School 9 AM- 2PM

March, 2014 15 Flotilla meeting Roberts School 9 AM- 2PM 22 Division 2 Meeting Roberts School 8 AM-6PM

April, 2014 5 ABS Class at the Army Corp of Engineers 12 Vessel Safety Exams Park Marina 19 Flotilla meeting Roberts School 9 AM- 2PM 26 Vessel Safety Exams Navy Rental

May, 2014 3 ABS Class at Roberts School 8am-5pm 10 Flotilla meeting Roberts School 9 AM- 2PM 16-17 Wake Board Tournament Coverage 24 Vessel Safety Exams Blockhouse Ramp 31 Vessel Safety Exams Holiday Harbor Marina

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Lake Allatoona Elevation (Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/allafc.htm>)

Current Lake Level/Elevation for Lake Allatoona, Georgia Updated On:

Feb 12, 2014

24 Hour Change:

Current Lake Level:

828.75MSL

Full Pool:

(Lake Level Alert http://lakelevelalert.com)

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-

11.25 feet

840.00ft. MSL

Flotilla 2-2 Activities Roberts School January 18, 2014 (Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s By Bob Miller)

(L-R) Jim Farley, Larry Cook and Jerry Sullivan Flotilla

22 meeting January 2014 at Roberts Community Center

S

(L-R) Jim Farley, Karl Scheele, Hank and Larry Cook - Karl and Hank received Staff Appointment Certificate from Jim Farley

(L-R) Paul Grenier and Jim Farley- Paul received his new member I D from Jim Farley

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(L-R) Karl Scheele, Hank Bozich, Paul Grenier and Jim Farley - Karl, Hank, and Paul received the Flotilla Certificate of Appreciation from Jim Farley

(L-R) Dave Fuller, Loren Emery, and Jim Farley - Dave (Eleventh Award) and Loren (Seventh Award) for the Sustained Auxiliary Service Award from Jim Farley

(L-R) Nan Ellen Fuller, Adele Childress, Jim Farley - Nan Ellen (10 years) and Adele (5 years) received the Auxiliary Membership Service Award from Jim Farley

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(L-R) Jim Farley and Larry Cook - Jim receive the Commandant's Certificate of Excellence from Larry Cook

Flotilla 2-2 Activities Atlanta, Georgia Boat Show January 9, 2014 (Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Unknown)

S

(L-R) Nan Ellen Fuller (FL 22), Dave Fuller (FL22), Robert Quigley (FL 29), Ron Argo (FL 22), Karl Scheele (FL 22), ML Loudermilk (FL 29), Bob Miller (FL 22); (Photo's unknown)

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Retirement

Ted Kirk joined the Auxiliary 23 November 1990 and retired from Flotilla 22 on 24 June 2013 after 22 years, 7 months, and 1 day service. Ted transferred in to Flotilla 22 and retired in order to be a caregiver to his parents. He was presented his Retirement Plaque at the January 2014 Flotilla 22 Meeting.

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Feature Article (Source: http://www.seascout.org/youth/raxo-youthops/24-youth-events-a-opportunities/49-barque-eagle2014

Sea Scouts Aboard Tall Ship Coast Guard Barque Eagle Applications Accepted Now Do you want the adventure of a lifetime? Apply now to sail aboard the tall ship Coast Guard Barque Eagle! The Eagle is a threemasted barque-rigged ship used to train cadets and officer candidates in the U.S. Coast Guard. The Eagle was built in Germany in 1936 and was taken as a war reparation by the U.S. after World War II. Since then the Eagle has been homeported in New London, Connecticut, the location of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The National Sea Scout Support Committee has again made special arrangements with the US Coast Guard Academy for select Sea Scouts to join as crew aboard the Eagle during its 2013 summer cadet cruise. This opportunity is available to all Sea Scouts who desire fun, adventure, and a summer cruise to remember - you don't want to miss this chance. This year's cruises are: o

o o

Jul 27, 2014 embark at Bourne, MA to Aug 2, 2014 debark at Rockland, ME Aug 3, 2014 embark at Rockland, ME to Aug 9, 2014 debark at New London, CT Other dates/ports-of-call may become available

The ideal candidate is an active Sea Scout who is at least Able rank, a leader in his/her Ship, a SEAL graduate, 16 or 17 years old, in the 10th or 11th grade at the time of application, with an interest in the Coast Guard or other military or maritime career. Remember though, many prior successful applicants have not had all of these attributes. So who should apply? Any Sea Scout who is interested!

Get your USCG Barque Eagle Cruise App in by the deadline â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 31, 2014 Sours: (http://www.seascout.org/)

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Minutes of the November and January 2014 Flotilla Meeting

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