Waves. Breaking Waves, Breaking News USCGA Flotilla Lake County Flotilla December 2012/Early January 2013

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1 Waves Breaking Waves, Breaking News USCGA Flotilla Lake County Flotilla December 2012/Early January 2013 State of the Union Address by John Hoppy Hopkins, Flotilla Commander New Year s Greetings to All! I have been asked by our newly formed newsletter committee (Jill Kiser) to put together a State of the Union type address to the membership. So after some thought, the words State of the Union most prominently entered my mind as I am fortunate to be leading such a great group of friends on a mission with a cause! We all have our varied reasons for joining and being an active part of this organization, but we also have a mutual desire to educate and protect those who chose to take advantage of some of our greatest natural resources, our Great Lakes and waterways, that we have come to love and protect along with those who use them. As a Flotilla, we have experienced some impressive things over the last 12 months! We have increased our membership from 21 to 36. We have grown from four crew members to eight crew members this year! We have increased from two coxswains to three coxswains! (Editor s note: These are not small accomplishments they are great achievements for these individuals!) We currently have eight additional members in training to become Crew and two current crew members going after coxswain this year! We have moved from a small conference room holding ten to the Gander Mountain facility that holds over 25, and are now looking for our next location. We have increased our productivity in the field in all areas including: vessel inspections, RBS visits, instructing, member training, public affairs and relations, and the most improved for the second year in a row human resources! This year s goal is to go over the 50-member mark! What comes to mind the words Fastest Growing Flotilla in our Division. I am excited to lead the charge for another record-breaking year in Let s all keep learning, growing, and changing, and we will see more exciting things happen this year! Let s keep making waves! How Did We (Flotilla 35-09) Do In 2012? by Jim Bell, FSO-IS We sponsored training at Meadwestvaco Training Center, which included the following: 1.) Boat Show Procedures 2.) Operation Policy Manual Review 3.) CPR 4.) First Aid 5.) Aux Info 6.) Bridge Verification

2 7.) Vessel Examiner Workshop 8.) Marine Dealer Visitor Program 9.) Aton Verification Workshop 10.) Coxswain SAR Training 11.) Resque ) 1-hour. TCT 13.) New Member Training 14.) Aids Verifier 15.) 8-hour TCT 16.) Charting 17.) Instructors Workshop 18.) Introduction to HR 19.) Introduction to Public Affairs 20.) Aids Verifier PQS 21.) Introduction to AuxChef 22.) GPS Sponsoring includes supplying classroom, opening and closing room, supplying meals (breakfast and lunch) and participation by members. We conducted Safe Boating Class for our new members. We conducted Boating class for Lakes of the Four Seasons residents. We also conducted three Children Safe Boating Classes. (Kids Classes have been stretched to include day care.) Several members participated in NATO support. Crew underway time on BelSAR (Our Facility) was 1, hours. Almost all members of our Flotilla had time on BelSAR. Hours to be recognized: Jim Bell Alex Dolezal Amy Matusik John Hopkins Nannette Colberg Kelly Flores Bob Higginson Hrs Hrs Hrs Hrs Hrs Hrs Hrs. As a result of these hours, we qualified John Hopkins as a Coxswain and Amy Matusik, Nannette Colberg, Kelly Flores as Crew. Special activities on the boat included: Training

3 Michigan City Boat Camp Michigan City Power Boat Races Gary Air Show Mackinaw Race Chicago Air Show Public Affairs Activities included: Chicago Boat Show Hammond Outdoor Show Yacht-a-Palooza Open House at Calumet Harbor Coast Guard Station Parade Lake of the Four Seasons 31 st Street Marina Grand Opening Christmas Ship Costco Table K-Mart Table Chili Cook-Off Station Calumet Parade We have nine Vessel Examiners that conducted 68 Vessel inspections. We have 10 Marine Dealer Visitors that did 154 Visits. We had one speech given to a group by our member. We had one Radio Broadcast given by a member. We have gone from seven active members to 24 active members. Our AuxChef cooked at McDonald House, Station Calumet, and everywhere else they would let him in the kitchen. Thank you all for your effort Time Participation! Our Flotilla is growing and active was a great year for us 2013 can be a lot better. Tips on Recruiting New Members by Amy Matusik, FSO-HR All Coast Guard Auxiliary members should be looking for potential new members. However, this does not mean you have to go out of your way to recruit them. More often than not, it is others that initiate the conversation. It often happens through normal conversation and I find that I am not always in uniform when it happens. I find that many people are interested in what I do with the Coast Guard. If this happens to you, it is a great opportunity to talk about the Coast Guard Auxiliary. You re not

4 embarrassed to be part of the Coast Guard are you? If anyone sounds like they are interested, make sure you offer them more information and get their contact information. If the individual shows interest in joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary, they will need a welcome packet. A welcome packet includes: two applications (both will need to be filled out), information regarding the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and a new member quiz and answer sheet. If you need a welcome packet or questions, you can contact FSO-HR Amy Matusik and/or Commander John Hopkins. And Jim Bell adds the following from the FSO-IS perspective: We have also grown by 16 members this year!! Eleven of which are in the system, and five are pending approval (Jim & Monica, Rick & Barb, & Jen), with another seven who have given commitment to join-- and their applications are in the works -- making our total Flotilla membership of 37 now, and looking to hit the mark in the first quarter of 2013!! Christmas Ship December 2012 Christmas trees which were brought from northern Michigan earlier this week for di CHICAGO - Members of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw unload some of the 1,300 Who was there? It looks like both John Hopkins and Kelly Flores were there! Who else was there?

5 Judging from this photo...it appears that John Hopkins enjoyed being AuxChef for a day! And Kelly Flores had a great time too! A full report at our next Flotilla meeting! Division 35 News In the December issue of Making Way for 35, it was announced that our own Jim Bell and John Hopkins now hold staff officer positions for our Division: SO-OP Jim Bell SO-R&S John Hopkins Congratulations, gentlemen! Make us proud!

6 UPCOMING EVENTS The Division Meeting was held on January 3 at 7:00pm at Calumet Harbor Coast Guard Station. All members are welcome as visitors. FC Hopkins and VFC Bell will give a report on this meeting at our Flotilla meeting. The next Division meeting is Thursday, February Chicago Boat and RV Show January 8-12 at McCormick Place. For details, see Jim Bell s dated January 1, 2013 regarding this event. Our next Flotilla meeting will be Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at Gander Mountain in Merrillville, IN. Top Recruiter for the month will receive a prize from FC John Hopkins. Training the Public several events are planned including: January 19 Kids Ice Safety Class from 9am to Noon and on January 21 ABS Class at Township (Noon to 6pm). Find out the details at our Flotilla meeting. Change of Watch Mark your calendar for the Division Change of Watch on Sunday, January 20, It will be held at Glenwood Oaks from 1330 to Cocktails at 1330 and dinner at The cost is $30.00 per person (and cash bar), was due to Bob Higginson before December 1 st. (No sales at the door.) Uniform of the Day is Service Dress Blue or Appropriate Civilian Attire (Men, Jacket and Tie). You should already have your money to Bob Higginson and RSVP to John Hopkins for this event. The Hammond Outdoor Show is Saturday and Sunday, January 26 and 27. This is a great time to educate the public about safe boating and solicit interested individuals to become part of the USCGA. Make plans to be there. You ll be able to sign up for different time slots soon! UPCOMING TRAINING January 2013 Crew Classes start. Look at the s that Jim Bell, VFC, has sent which detail the crew classes to be held. Watch for upcoming information on C-Schools at the Symposium in Dearborn, MI. This will be for the 9th District Eastern and Western. Contact the Editor: Jill Kiser, PB Officer, USCGA Lake County Flotilla (e: beaner225@hotmail.com) NOTE: Please DO NOT share this newsletter, content, or photos, with those who are not part of the USCGA. It should not be posted on public sites, as it is private information.