Commodore Lanz Crosses the Bar

Transcription

1 Page1 THE 7-3 CORNERSTONE OF FLOTILLA 7-3 BUTLER PENNSYLVANIA 8ER United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-3 Butler, Pennsylvania, Eighth District Eastern Region September 2017 David Lynch, FSO-PB, Editor and Publisher Commodore Lanz Crosses the Bar Butler, PA Commodore Joseph J. Lanz Jr., who served as Past National Commodore of the Auxiliary from 1993 to 1994, crossed the bar on 30 August 2017 at the age of 88. The Commodore was an active member of the Auxiliary for over 40 years. Lanz was responsible, along with his Board, for initiation and partial development of the landmark legislation, Coast Guard Auxiliary Act of 1996, that was signed into law on 19 October 1996, after eighteen months of effort by the Auxiliary and Coast Guard and Congressional negotiations. During Lanz's term, the Board developed and planned N-Train, the yearly training conference that replaced the three Area Conferences as of Lanz also promoted a greater awareness of the Auxiliary and its programs among the active duty and reserve Coast Guard and its leadership. COMO Lanz (left) pictured with his friend Walter Cronkite (right) Flotilla 7-3 meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at the Butler County Airport Schoefield Field in the Conference Room (1st floor) and begin promptly at 1900.

2 Page2 Nagy Recognized for Contributions to Auxiliary Article by David Lynch, FSO-PB, Photo by Jonathan Stroud, FSO-PA Butler, PA Ray Nagy, FSO-HR, a longtime member of the Auxiliary and Flotilla 7-3, was presented with a Division VII challenge coin by Flotilla Commander Don Straw earlier this year (pictured below) for his many contributions to the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Nagy is former active duty Coast Guard. Nagy helped our Flotilla kick off National Safe Boating week this May (and many years prior) by attending the Butler County Commissioner s meeting and accepting their Safe Boating Week Proclamation on behalf of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Ray Nagy, FSO-HR (left) is present with a Division VII Challenge Coin by Don Straw, FC (right). DISCLAIMER: The 7-3 Cornerstone is the official publication of Flotilla 7-3, Eighth District Eastern Region of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The information provided here is for the edification and convenience of members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the readers of this publication. The Editor and staff reserve the right to use or reject articles and photos; edit submitted articles and photos for clarity, space, and or other concerns. Reprints of articles in this publication may be used by other publications provided proper credit is given and a copy sent to the Editor of these publications. Bylines and pictures are the property of the Editor unless otherwise credited. Please direct any comments or constructive criticism to: Editor and Publisher: David Lynch, FSO-PB at address gsdk9handler@icloud.com

3 Page3 7-3 Answers Hurricanes Call Article by David Lynch, FSO-PB. Parts reprinted from USCG Achieves. Butler, PA Three members of Flotilla 7-3 have requested orders to support Hurricane relief efforts in the south, assisting the active duty Coast Guard. As of this writing, our members are still awaiting on orders to come through. Below is a reprint of the last update issued by National: 1. The current focus of our response has been working with the Coast Guard District Eight s Director of the Auxiliary to get Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) and surface facilities employed in the response. The Auxiliary Incident Management Team (IMT) has had exceptional support and integration with Auxiliarists at Sector Houston and Coast Guard District Eight. Auxiliary resources are deployed and available for operations from New Orleans, Houston, and the Western and Eastern regions of District Eight. Auxiliary surface operations are being conducted from the Sector Houston and Sector New Orleans areas of responsibilities (AOR). The Auxiliary IMT is awaiting information on available surface assets from Sectors Corpus Christi and Lower Mississippi. The response is transitioning from search and rescue to environmental response, disaster recovery, and humanitarian assistance. We also anticipate growing support for damage assessment and AUX Build support. 2. Increased operational usage of CG AUXAIR and surface facilities over the next hours is anticipated. 3. In Sector Corpus Christi, Division 7 flotillas are on standby awaiting safety determinations for air and surface operations with additional sourcing to the incident command posts (ICP) and emergency operation centers (EOC) as needed. In Sector Houston, Auxiliarists are supporting the ICP, and the Montgomery County EOC. 4. At Air Station Houston, Auxiliary members are supporting air operations and at the Southland/Lake Charles Airport (KUXL). Auxiliary Communications Specialists are supporting a fully equipped communications trailer and generator as well. 5. In place at the Coast Guard D8 office, Auxiliarists participate in a coordination cell, provide support to Air Operations, and assist with legal services. Several members certified as Auxiliary Clergy Support are either in place or en route to the district office. 6. All of the members of Auxiliary divisions in the affected areas have been accounted for including over 50 members who have been displaced and evacuated. 7. The capabilities which Auxiliarists can provide include: ICS: ICP staffing / Liaisons / GIS specialists / Check-In recorders / Data entry Air Ops: Overflights / SAR / Assessments / Crew Assistance / Photography / Transport of personnel and supplies, etc. Ops Ashore: Damage Assessments / Pollution Investigations / Watchstanders / Communications specialists / MTSRU Ops Afloat: Patrols / Safety Zones / Waterside Assessments / SAR / Transport / Evacuation / ATON Verification Public Affairs: Qualified Public Affairs Specialists / Photographers / Social Media Specialists Food Service specialists General admin assistance and data entry AUX Build: Damage assessment / Plumbers / Carpenters / Electricians / Welders / etc Interpreters 8. REMINDER: DO NOT SELF ACTIVATE: Your duty as an Auxiliarist is to standby for tasking and orders from competent authority as the situation develops. The situation has not stabilized. If you have self activated you may hinder relief efforts rather than assist, may divert important Coast Guard assets from their primary missions, and you have abandoned your right to financial protection in the event of personal injury, damage to property, or third party claims against you. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ORDERS, DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE STRICKEN AREAS. 9. Auxiliarists willing to provide on-scene support must seriously consider the harsh and primitive conditions that will prevail for an extended period of time given the severity of the damage. Auxiliarists who are available to respond and wish to do so when the situation

4 Page4 is stabilized should immediately contact their District Commodore by . Do not telephone your District Commodore or any other leader. Your District Commodore is the sole point of contact for members who are prepared to deploy to the stricken areas or to backfill at Coast Guard installations where needed. The to your District Commodore must include: Your name, address, member ID number, cell telephone number, and land line telephone number. The length of time you can be deployed before you must return home. The earliest date when you will be available for deployment. All current certifications in ANY Coast Guard Auxiliary competency or program. All ICS courses successfully completed and listed in AUXDATA. Whether you are currently a firefighter (paid or volunteer), certified first responder, EMT, paramedic, or other certified or licensed medical care provider or sworn police officer. If you are retired from any of those professions, the date of your retirement. Do you possess any skill set that you think could be useful? Describe that skill set. Do you own any specialized equipment that you believe would be useful? Describe the equipment. Do you own a trailer-able flat bottom or shallow draft facility? Describe the vessel and method of propulsion. 10. Operation Life Ring will be activated by the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, to which all Auxiliarists belong. The fund will provide financial assistance to members of the Coast Guard family, which includes Auxiliarists, who are harmed by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. Operation Life Ring was created as a means of allowing Auxiliary members and others to contribute to this effort. When activated, a link for information on Operation Life Ring will be placed on the Coast Guard Association s National Website. One hundred per cent (100%) of the tax-deductible donations will go directly to the Coast Guard Auxiliary/Coast Guard families in need of assistance. 11. If financial assistance is needed for displaced families, the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) will be accepting applications for funds. The CGMA s initial objective is to rapidly provide emergency assistance for evacuation and cash needed to meet basic living expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, etc. The CGMA is a non-profit charitable organization established to provide financial aid to the entire Coast Guard family (including Auxiliary members). While the CGMA works closely with the Coast Guard, it is an independent corporation. Please view the website for more information ( ). 12. The Coast Guard is aware of Hurricane Irma in the Atlantic Ocean. Impacts to the U.S., if any, would be a full 10 to 11 days away according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm does not pose an immediate threat to land and there are no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the development and movement of Hurricane Irma. More information to follow. Don t forget to check out the Flotilla 7-3 website!

5 Page5 History of the Emily Grace Article and pictures by David Lynch, FSO-PB and Jonathan Stroud, IPFC, FSO-PA and David Lynch, FSO-PB Two short years ago, Jonathan Stroud, IPFC, FSO-PA, was busy readying his 18 cabin cruiser for its inspection and approval as an official Auxiliary facility. It passed and made its debut appearance at the 2015 Regatta at Lake Arthur (pictured left). Over the past two years and a number of various missions Stroud has made a number of changes to his facility, as you can see pictured below. Facility Emily Grace from Flotilla 7-3 is a 1964 Glasspar Seafair Sedan owned by Jonathan Stroud and named for his granddaughter. The Glasspar Corporation was one of the largest makers of fiberglass boats from the 1950 s until 1966 when it was sold to the Larson Corporation. Glasspar had plants in California, Washington, Tennessee and Virginia. Glasspar made several models including the G3, a high performance speed boat, and the G2, which was of the first fiberglass body sports cars made after World War II. The Seafair Sedan was Glasspar s best-selling model, utilizing a planing hull patented in First available in 1959, The 17 6 cabin cruiser was a versatile recreational design with horsepower options up to 140 hp. Not only was the Seafair Sedan popular for water skiing, it was used by several police departments for harbor patrol during the 1960 s. Stroud s facility was manufactured at the Virginia plant in It currently is powered by a 1978 Mercury Tower of Power 115 hp. 6 cylinder outboard. It is registered with the Glasspar Owners Association.

6 Page6 Article by Tom Schaeffer, FSO-FO Dues are Due It is dues payment time for Cash or check in the amount of $37.00 will be accepted at Flotilla meetings. If paying by check, please make payable to USCG Auxiliary, FL-7-3. If you are not planning to attend the meeting, please send check to: Thomas Schaeffer, 204C Washington Ave., Vandergrift, PA Call-in/Video Options Now Available for Flotilla Meetings Article by David Lynch, FSO-PB Butler, PA Flotilla 7-3 has a widely dispersed membership, with some of our members driving almost an hour to get to Flotilla meetings at the Butler Airport. Over the past several months, our Flotilla has been testing a conference call/video conference service that allows members to call or video into the meetings. It has proven to work, with members calling/videoing in from as far away as Florida, during vacation and travel times. While this system provides a means for our members to attend meetings, who would probably not otherwise be able to attend, it is not meant to be a substitute for coming to the meeting when you can. We are still developing the electronic meeting policy in accordance with guidance from the Auxiliary and hope that if you can t come to the meeting, that you can at least call in. Instructions for calling and/or videoing in to the meeting will be ed out on the afternoon of the meeting day. Please allow yourself ample time to call in, or download the required software to your computer to join the video chat. It should take less than 15 minutes to completely set up and connect. We will open the call in/video meetings up 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. Our Flotilla is also experimenting with a 2-way walkie-talkie phone app that provides private communications among members during various events and operations. The Zello app (available for IOS and Android) was used successfully by various rescue groups during their response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. If you would be interested in participating in the test, please contact David Lynch, VFC for details.

7 Page7 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2017 Donald R Straw, Flotilla Commander David A Lynch, Vice Flotilla Commander PA OUTREACH MEMBER TRAINING OPERATIONS FELLOWSHIP PE Class 2017 October Wed Flotilla 7-3 Meeting at Butler Airport Mon Division VII Meeting at MSU Pittsburgh Uniform of the Day: ODU s ONE TEAM PULLING TOGETHER The 7-3 Cornerstone Staff: David Lynch Editor and Publisher Jonathan Stroud Reporter, photographer Donald Straw Reporter, photographer Tim Pohmer Illustrator, Proof reader Elaine Cornell Proof reader For vetting to insure compliance with publications regulations, policies and propriety Diane Gilman, ADSO-PB dgilman371@gmail.com Our electronic newsletter is distributed as a *.pdf file. Direct articles and correspondence should be submitted in Microsoft Word format and pictures attached as *.jpg files to the Editor, David Lynch, FSO-PB gsdk9handler@icloud.com Like Butler Flotilla 7-3 on FaceBook Find us at: