R I V E R W A T C H. F l o t i l l a training opportunities, or news items you have pictures from an event our flo- D R O P S A W A Y

Transcription

1 Volume 1, Issue 1 April 2013 R I V E R W A T C H F l o t i l l a I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Calendar of Events 2 C.G. Aux. History 3 Aids to Navigation 4 Flotilla Minutes 5 FSO Reports 8 Credits 9 R e t u r n o f t h e R i v e r W a t c h Let me begin by introducing tilla participated in, terest to everyone in myself. please share them. I the Flotilla and/or My name is Tom will make sure you the Auxiliary in general, McBride and I am the receive credit for please forward Publications FSO for Flotilla I consider it a great privilege to publish this them! Please include the names of those in the picture, the date of the event, and a them to me and I will include them in the upcoming newsletter. newsletter for the Flotilla. description of the Now that we are up event to be included in the article. Also, if anyone has any suggestions for articles, and running again, I will need a little help from everyone. If training opportunities, or news items you have pictures from an event our flo- that would be of in- D R O P S A W A Y A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J aircraft makes a practice drop in the mouth of the Pasquotank River. While active duty Coast Guard and Auxiliary get the all clear to retrieve the dropped equipment. Photo by Jim McKeever

2 P a g e 2 R I V E R W A T C H C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s A p r i l T h r u J u n e Date Event Location Start - End Time Contact Type 4/5 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/6 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/7 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/12 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/13 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/14 Advanced Skills Weekend TRACEN Yorktown Ron Hopkins MT 4/17 Flotilla Meeting Albemarle Hospital Jim Watson 4/20 Children's Festival Perquiman's Rec Center Bob McCall PA 4/20 Division Meeting Station Hatteras Inlet Jim McKeever 4/22 Coastie Pickup TBA TBA Jim Watson PA 4/23 Coastie Pickup Alternate Date TBA Jim Watson PA 4/25 Coast Guard Dining - In TBA TBA Jim Watson 4/28 Coastie Training ATTC Dave Thomas 4/29 Coastie Return TBA TBA Jim Watson 5/4 Paddle For The Border Dismal Swamp Visitor Center Bob McCall PA 5/11 Merchants Mill Pond Gatesville TBA Bob McCall PA 5/16 Coastie Pickup Emerald Isle TBA Jim Watson 5/18 N.C. Potato Festival Elizabeth City Bob McCall PA 5/18 National Safe Boating Week Nationwide Thru 05/24 Jim Watson PE 5/19 Coastie Return Emerald Isle TBA Jim Watson 5/21 Flotilla Meeting Albemarle Hospital Jim Watson 5/29 Coastie Pickup Langley AFB TBA Jim Watson 6/1 Edenton Music Festival Edenton TBA Bob McCall PA 6/1 International Cup Regatta Elizabeth City Waterfront TBA Jim McKeever OP 6/2 International Cup Regatta Elizabeth City Waterfront TBA Jim McKeever OP 6/3 Coastie Return Langley AFB TBA Jim Watson 6/18 Flotilla Meeting Albemarle Hospital Jim Watson APRIL SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT MAY SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT JUNE SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

3 P a g e 3 R I V E R W A T C H C o a s t G u a r d A u x i l i a r y H i s t o r y Founded by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary was formed to supplement the Coast Guard and provide additional eyes and ears. The Auxiliary or least the idea of an Auxiliary began with a letter by Malcolm Stuart Boylan, Commodore of the Pacific Writers' Yacht Club in Los Angeles, California. On August 23, 1934, to Lt. Francis C. Pollard of the Coast Guard: This brings me to the suggestion that a Coast Guard Reserve would be an excellent thing to perpetuate these traditions, preserve its entity, and, more practically, to place at the disposal of Coast Guard officers, auxiliary flotillas of small craft for the frequent emergencies incident to your twenty-two prescribed and countless unexpected duties... Several years later in January 1939, Rear Adm. Thomas Molloy, USCG gave a speech in which he likened the climate of World War I. RADM Molloy stated that "Should a similar crisis arise in our national life again, your boats and your experience will be needed." The Coast Guard Reserve was later formed on 23 June 1939, and with our entrance into the Second World War, the Coast Guard needed two sets of skills from their pool of maritime friends, which include yachtsman, Reservists, and boaters. In February 1941, Congress de-established the Reserve as a volunteer civilian group, and re-established it as a military unit. They also, re-formed the civilian volunteer group into what was to be called the Auxiliary. The emphasis was on a civilian, non-military group. During World War II, many Auxiliarists joined the Temporary Reserve, a sub-set of the Reserve component, very similar to a Sheriff's Posse. Temporary Reservists were either paid or unpaid. Regardless of their remuneration status, when called upon and assigned, these Auxiliarists were then transformed into Coast Guard Reservists. And as a Reservist, became a member of the military for their tour of duty, which may have lasted only a few short hours. Throughout the War, the Reserve, and the Auxiliary were active in all aspects of the national security. From Search and Rescue of torpedoed vessels, to harbor patrols, from training to administrative duties, and they also served as drivers, messengers, and auto mechanics. Depending on where these men and women served, depended on the types of training they received and the types of duties they performed. During the last 64 years, Congress has modified the 1941 laws that govern the Auxiliary, they were last changed in 1996 (Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996). Congress redefined the Auxiliary: "The purpose of the Act is to allow the Auxiliary to assist the Coast Guard, as authorized by the Commandant, in performance of any Coast Guard function, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law."

4 P a g e 4 R I V E R W A T C H A i d s T o N a v i g a t i o n U.S. AIDS TO NAVIGATION SYSTEM On navigable waters and some waters marked by States LATERAL SYSTEM (As Seen Entering From Seaward) Lateral Aids to Navigation generally indicate which side of an aid to navigation a vessel should pass when channels are entered from seaward. In the absence of a route leading from seaward, the conventional direction of buoyage generally follows a clockwise direction around landmasses. The most important characteristic of an aid is the color. The 3R rule Red Right Returning is the essential rule of thumb for using the lateral system. This means that when entering one body of water from a larger body of water (i.e. returning to a harbor from a bay or sound); keep the red aids to starboard (right) side and green aids to port (left) side. In addition, each aid is numbered, and these numbers increase as entering from seaward. Preferred Channel Marks are found at junctions of navigable channels and often mark wrecks or obstructions. A vessel may normally pass this aid on either side, but the top color band indicates the preferred channel. If the top band of the aid is red, it is treated as a red mark and kept to starboard as the vessel passes it while returning from sea. Caution: It may not always be possible to pass on either side of preferred channel aids to navigation. The appropriate nautical chart should always be consulted.

5 P a g e 5 R I V E R W A T C H F l o t i l l a M e e t i n g M i n u t e s M a r c h Flotilla Meeting Minutes - 19 MAR 2013 Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, NC Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Guest Introductions The meeting was called to order at 1905 hours. Pledge of Allegiance and moment of remembrance The following members (11) and guests (4) were in attendance: A quorum was present. OFFICE NAME Present FC Commander Vacant VFC Vice Commander James Watson X IPFC Immediate Past Cmdr Allen Fredd X FSO-SR Secretary/Records Marie Allen X FSO-FN Finance Pat McKeever X FSO-CM Communications Dave Thomas FSO-CS Communications Services Jim McKeever X FSO-DV Diversity Vacant FSO-HR Human Resources James Watson X FSO-IS Information Systems Jim McKeever X FSO-MA Materials Ron Hopkins X FSO-MS Marine Safety Allen Fredd X FSO-MT Member Training Ron Hopkins X FSO-NS Navigation Systems Archer Farmer X FSO-OP Operations James Watson X FSO-PA Public Affairs Robert McCall, Jr. X FSO-PB Publications Tom McBride X FSO-PE Public Education Ron Hopkins X FSO-PV Marine Dealer Visitor Allen Fredd X FSO-VE Vessel Examiner James Watson X Members: Janet Farmer X Guests: Ted Chatham Bob Mueller Ann Mueller William (Mike) Barnes Minutes of the previous meeting Accepted - Yes _X No

6 P a g e 6 R I V E R W A T C H F l o t i l l a M e e t i n g M i n u t e s M a r c h Staff Officers' Reports Secretary/Records (SR) A. Fredd moved that the minutes of the 19 FEB13 meeting be approved, 2 nd by A. Farmer, motion carried. Finance (FN) Beginning Balance: $ 5, (both accounts) Receipts: $ (Rose's donation) Disbursements: $ (T. McBride Memorial Fund) Ending Balance: $ 5, (both accounts) Communications (CM) D. Thomas reported no activity. Communications Services (CS) J. McKeever currently working on WWW site linkage to Division 16 and District 5 Southern. Diversity (DV) Position vacant. No report available. Human Resources (HR) Janet Farmer's application is complete and member number assigned. Bob and Ann Mueller to return to March meeting. John Thomas to have photo for ID at March meeting. Information Systems (IS) 22% member report activity in Feb. Materials (MA) PPE available for new members working on OTW training. VE decals for 2013 available, several pieces of cold weather gear given out. Marine Safety (MS) Several commercial fishing vessel exams completed. Member Training (MT) 6 members attended Div. Workshop. 1 new mentor, B. McCall & A. Farmer near completion of crew qualifications. Navigation Systems (NS) No activity. Operations (OP) 1 additional facility nearly ready, fueling exception for OPFAC forwarded to Division. Public Affairs (PA) Plan to pick up Coastie 25 March for Elizabeth City Business Expo 26 March. Publications (PB) No activity. Public Education (PE) No new activity. Marine Dealer Visitor (PV) M. Allen completed PV course at D-Train. Vessel Examiner (VE) Plan VE at PRYC and handouts at Rotary Club late April. Sick Bay Nothing to report.

7 P a g e 7 R I V E R W A T C H F l o t i l l a M e e t i n g M i n u t e s M a r c h Flotilla Commander's Report Vacant. Flotilla Vice Commander's Report Nothing to report. Guest Comments / Announcements Trying to set up Coastie training for 27 or 28 APR at Tech Training Center. Old Business J. McKeever moved we make the Albemarle Hospital community room the permanent meeting place for the flotilla, 2 nd by R. Hopkins, motion carried. New Business A. Farmer moved we change the next meeting date to 17 APR 2013, 2 nd by T. McBride, all approved. R. Hopkins has a flagpole and base. J. McKeever will donate an American flag to leave in the community room. Division Report DCDR J. McKeever announced interim elections to be held at the 17 APR meeting to elect a FC and a VFC to finish the 2013 calendar year. Awards The VFC presented the Sustained Auxiliary Service Award for 3,000+ cumulative hours of outstanding service and support since 1 APR 2007 to J. McKeever. The VFC presented an award to Allen Fredd for 5 years of service. Janet Farmer and John Thomas were sworn in as new members. Upcoming Events 23-24MAR13 TCT & other training, S. Shores, NC (0800 start) 26MAR13 Business Expo, Aviation Day, White Ctr., ECSU, Eliz. City 3APR13 FSO meeting, The Villa Restaurant, Eliz. City 17APR13 Flotilla meeting, Albemarle Hospital 20APR13 Division meeting, Station Hatteras Inlet 27APR13 Children's festival, Maple Park, Currituck 4MAY13 Paddle for the Border, Dismal Swamp State Park, Rt. 17, Eliz. City Next Meeting 17 APR 2013, Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, NC, 1900 hours Adjourned A. Fredd moved we adjourn, 2 nd by J. McKeever, all approved. The meeting was adjourned at 1943 hours followed by boating safety training by Ted Chatham.

8 P a g e 8 R I V E R W A T C H FSO-CM DAVE THOMAS - no activity FSO Reports April, 2013 FSO-CS JIM MCKEEVER - CS continued effort at develop flotilla web site. FSO-DV - vacant FSO-HR JIM WATSON Working with 3 new members on completion of App. Potential new member contacted the flotilla by , plan follow-up. FSO IS JIM MCKEEVER only 6 members reported hrs. in Feb. Planning live training secession at May meeting. Janet Farmer now has access to AUXDATA and will work as assist FSO-IS. FSO-MA RON HOPKINS Order 40 ABS books for upcoming classes FSO-MS ALLEN FREDD 2 commercial fishing vessel exam completed. Environmental Protection (trash game) part of PA event in March. FSO-MT RON HOPKINS 7 members at Div.16 workshops, 3 member attending crew training with and 2 nearly completed Quals for crew. 3 attending AUXNav class on OBX. 3 members completed recent ATON verification class. Coastie training at ATTC on 28 April,1300 to FSO-NS - vacant FSO-OP JIM WATSON Meeting with ECBS Discussed support for Air Ops & 2 boat training with Act duty boat. Station will need help with power boat regatta on 1 June as well as 4 th of July fireworks and Coast Guard Academy Cadets. Discussed possible use of AUX Facilities for boardings with active duty personnel. FSO-PA BOB MCCALL - Booth at Expo with Coastie in attendance. Planning for booth and Coastie at Maple Children festival 27 April and Coastie training 28 April. Booth at Paddle for the Border on 4 May. Booth and Coastie at Merchant Mill Pond on 11 May. Public affairs booth at Potato festival on 18 May.?? Sammy the Sea Otter. Joint PA event with at Edenton Music Festival. FSO-PB TOM MCBRIDE Gather news items and photos to revive the newsletter. FSO-PE RON HOPKINS One state boating class completed. 3 ABS classed scheduled for the ECFD on 4/29, 4/30, & 5/1. ABS class at ECSU on 1 June. FSO-PV ALLEN FREDD 6 Program visits completed in Marie Allen only needs 2 mentored visits to complete her Quals FSO-VE JIM WATSON Arch Farmer needs 5 observed VSC to complete Quals, & should complete within 2 wks. Received 1 request for VSC via from national web site. Coordinating VSC s with PRYC 4 May.

9 P a g e 9 R I V E R W A T C H C r e d i t s Tom McBride Editor cgretire97@hotmail.com Jim Watson FC jwatson@inteliport.com Aids to Navigation reprinted from uscg.mil website History of the Auxiliary: reprinted from uscgaux.org website