Rotate CHANGE OF WATCH. Editor: Barney Zaffron, Asst. Editor: Marieke Zaffron, Scott Migaldi. In this Issue:

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1 Flotilla Commander s MEETING 3RD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT SIGNATURE LFIGHT SERVICE O HARE IAP HOMEPAGE Quarter In this Issue: Change of Watch FSO-PB Message Rotate Member Profile Requests for article 2006 Year in Review Editor: Barney Zaffron, Asst. Editor: Marieke Zaffron, Scott Migaldi Ice Patrol CHANGE OF WATCH FSO-PB Message Member Profile Flotilla Commander s Message Flotilla Officers FC Robert Allen VFC Scott Migaldi FSO-AN Dale Polak FSO-CM Tom Ferguson FSO-CS Scott Migaldi FSO-FN Bob Brutvan FSO-IS Jim Fellers FSO-MA Bob Remedi FSO-MS Roger Hand FSO-MT Bob Allen FSO-MV Mike Resiler FSO-OP Mike Stack FSO-PA Jorge Gonzalez FSO-PB Barney Zafron FSO-PE Paul Burd FSO-PS Jim Fellers FSO-SR Jim McNamara FSO-VE Barry Axelrod SUNDAY JANUARY 7TH DIVISON 3 S CHANG- ING OF THE WATCH! This took place at the place at Port O Call at the great lakes Naval Training Base and was well attended by Flotilla members. We had a table and half of people and received many awards. Keynote Speaker was Capt. Bruce Jones, CO Sector Lake Michigan. He gave a stirring talk about his experiences as a helo pilot on some rescues and a little about his role with the hurricane Katrina rescues. He spoke well of Auxiliary Aviation and will be a great addition to the sector. This is the first issue of RO- TATE, the newsletter of flotilla 3-8 in The expectation is now to produce a newsletter three times this year with your help and support.. Obviously we will need every member of our flotilla to contribute! This issue is really a trial for the format. We would like your comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc. Since this is only our third issue and a picture is worth a thousand words I ve taken the liberty to capture on the following pages a photo essay of the previous year. FSO-FB Barney Zafron Tom Ferguson I joined the Marine Corps open contract in September of 1999, and after boot camp was assigned as a radio technician, fixing communications gear. Upon hitting the fleet, however, I started training to operate the gear I was supposed to be fixing, and landed a spot on the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit as an operator. I served as a Communications NCO on Operation Stabilize in East Timor, Operation Image Nautilus in Djibouti, and Southern Watch in Kuwait with that unit. On September 11th, 2001, we found ourselves the closest unit to the AOR and were the first forces to take ground in Afghanistan, setting the record for the longest amphibious assault in history. I later was assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary (Continued on page 6)

2 Rotate Page 2 RETROSPECT 2006 IN PHOTOS If a picture is worth a thousand words...here s 16,000 of them Christmas Tree Ship 2005 Auxiliary Chicago Boat Show Flotilla is one of the busiest, most diverse florillas in the whole of the 9th Western District 3-8 s first ABC Class Largest ABC Munson Marine River Patrol with 3-6 crew Chicago River Lighthouse Chicago Air Sea Show Aux PWC s in action

3 Page 3 Operation Pegasus Jim Fellers Cessna, Bob Allen s Piper Jim Owens, We ll miss ya! Debriefing at Waukegan Land, Sea, and Air Describes the geographic focus for Flotilla Just do it Fellowship, Operation Pegasus Smitty and Oscar Auxiliary Presentation Strictly Sail

4 Rotate Page 4 Final Words: This is a preview of our new quarterly news letter format, but it needs the commitment of the entire flotilla to produce future newsletters. Please contribute to its growth. Without your input there will only be blank pages. Ice Patrol by Roger Hand 2007 is now here. The Flotilla did great last year but now it is time to do it again! Phil Prossnitz, pilot, and Roger Hand, observer, were patrolling the western shore of Lake Michigan on the morning of March 15, It was a cold clear day, and we had been ops normal with no traffic for the 2 hours since we had departed Palwaukee Airport at North of Manitowoc, we were asked to divert to Green Bay by Sector Lake Michigan to observe and photograph the ice on the Bay to help the gold side plan their ice-breaking operations later that month. We turned west to the southern end of the Bay and observed there were irregular patches of ice from the south end of the Bay, up both east and west shores. The sun was due south, so we reasoned our best photos would be taken on east-to-west passes across the Bay starting at the southern end. We made several passes across the Bay at about 2000 ft AGL, working our way progressively north to a line Fish Creek -- Menominee. After about a dozen photos were taken, we reported mission complete. We headed to Manitowoc to refuel and then went back down the shoreline to Palwaukee where we landed and secured. I then annotated the photos on my home computer and sent copies to my gold-side distribution list. We later got a thanks from Sector Lake Michigan, saying that the photos were helpful in planning their ops.

5 Page 5 Flotilla Commander s Message An Amazing Year The Chicago Air Flotilla expanded in all directions during Our performance improved in land, sea and air. On land, our Publications Officer won a national award for a photo which has been used in numerous publications for the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Our public affairs program attended four major Chicago boat shows, several NASCAR race events and the EAA Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Thousands of boating safety flyers were distributed. Jerry Heitschmidt prepared a professional-looking flyer to promote our public education efforts. On land, our public education program presented 8 public education classes including 7 ABC classes and one Boating Fun class for children. Five new instructors joined our cadre of Auxiliary teachers. IT qualified members include Mike Reisler, Jerry Heitschmidt, Paul Nessman, Paul Burd, Bob Allen, Dale Polak, Barney Zaffron, Bernie Wiczer, Roger Hand, Jim Fellers and Barry Axelrod. On land, we taught over 125 boating safety students in Classes were taught in Romeoville, Joliet, Lockport, Morris, Fox Lake, Aurora, Glenview and Highland Park. Our PE revenue was over $3,000! Excellent financial records are kept by our FSO-FN Bob Brutvan. Also on land, our Marine Dealer Visitor program made over 100 stops at boating stores and other locations. At these places, USCG Auxiliary safety information was made available to the public via cardboard display racks and flyers. Member Jack Mejdrich made a notable contribution to the Recreational Boating Safety Visitor Program with many visits. Our member training program taught several important programs: survival training at Scott Migaldi's dive-tank pool, reviewed best radio practices by FSO-CM Mike Reisler, trained new observers in Auxiliary procedures and began a monthly seminar on Search and Rescue by SAR qualified, FSO-MS Roger Hand. FSO-MT Jim Fellers worked with new members to explain the Auxiliary. In recruitment, new members Thomas Ferguson, Tim Keifer and Bob Remedi were brought on board. All of our members are motivated to serve their country -FC Bob Allen On the sea, over 200 vessel examinations were completed. This incredible total leads (as of this writing) any flotilla in the division. Our vessel examiners include Barney Zaffron, Dale Polak, Barry Axelrod, Mike Reisler, Scott Migaldi, Jerry Heitschmidt, Bob Allen, Craig Munson, Jim Owens and Gerald Koll. Flotilla member Mike Stack maintained his coxswain currency and PWC currency. Roger Hand completed his surface crew training and competed in the prestigious ISAR competition with the 9th Western District team. Dale Polak and Barney Zaffron continue on the surface crew training. In the air, members continue to patrol for the US Coast Guard. Members who participated in Auxiliary aviation this year include; Phil Prossnitz, Jim Gavers, Barry Dainas, Ron Dziagwa, Jerry Heitschmidt, Jim Fellers, Jack Mejdrich, Jim Owens, Jim McNamara, Dale Polak, Barney Zaffron, Bob Brutvan, Paul Burd, Bob Allen, Scott Migaldi and Mike Reisler. Pilots who provided active facilities included Jim Gavers, Roger Hand, Barry Dainas, Bob Allen, Scott Migaldi and Jim Fellers. Members took part in Ice Patrols, Maritime Domain Awareness, Marine Environmental Protection, Search and Rescue Patrols and the Operation Pegasus training program. Continued on next page

6 Also in the air (or cyber-space?), our flotilla website was launched due to FSO-CS Scott Migaldi with support from Gregg Rosenberg, VFC Jim Owens and Barney Zaffron. Our FSO-IS Jerry Heitschmidt put in mammoth hours keeping up with the AuxData entries. Because of the difficulties in doing the IS work, our flotilla is asking that the National Auxiliary reconsider the way IS entries are done. We need more than one IS person in a flotilla. FSO-PE Jim Fellers processed new members, finger printed members and worked with existing members to implement the Coast Guard's new Personnel Security Questionnaire program. Jim Fellers received praise for his support of the Division as Staff Officer because he was instrumental in helping other flotillas comply with the new requirement. This effort took many hours and skill. FSO-PE Bernie Wiczer obtained our flotilla radio station. Member Thomas Ferguson completed the Aux-Com course. Also on the air, members of the Division 3 color guard were seen on television presenting colors at the Chicago Bulls games and at the Chicago State Street Labor Day Parade. Jim Fellers, Jim Owens and Bob Allen were active in the Division 3 color guard. FSO-MA Dale Polak ordered supplies to keep all of the programs functioning at a high level. Our diverse membership includes two World War II veterans, a Gulf War veteran and a member (Jeff Skladzien) who is just joining the Navy Seals. We have veterans from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. One of our members was with the German Air Force and another member presently resides in Hungary. One of our members is from the Illinois State Police and two work for municipal police departments. Many of our members are civilians who still work professionally. Some are retired. All of our members are motivated to serve their country. Our flotilla worked hard to support the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in Bravo Zulu! FC Bob Allen The Flotilla meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm at Signature Flight Services on O Hare IAP. Signature is located off of Bessie Coleman drive across from the long term parking lots at the airport. I-190 Take I-190 to O'Hare, exit Bessie Coleman Drive. This is the exit for Terminal 5 and rental car return. Make a left turn at the first light onto Bessie Coleman Drive. Go past two traffic lights and stay to your left. Turn left approximately 2/10 of a mile past the second traffic light. Signature will be ahead and on your right. (Continued from page 1) Unit, serving in Korea, Japan, and returning to Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines. I received my honorable discharge in 2001 and since have been drawing the GI Bill to go to college at UIC, where I am pursuing my bachelor's in philosophy. I look forward to serving the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and hope to augment an active duty Coast Guard station doing communications watchstanding. I have a lot of experience with radio and want to both utilize this experience as a civilian and share it with others. I would like to encourage others to take the AuxCom and hope to actually act as instructor on an AuxCom course this coming year.