H a. PFD Panda and Flotilla 11-7 Participate in the Clarksville Christmas Parade DECEMBER 2014

Transcription

1 District Eight Eastern Region H a Coast Guard Christmas Tree Honoring Our Heroes page 5 page 8 DECEMBER 2014 Year in Review - Statistically Speaking page 13 PFD Panda and Flotilla 11-7 Participate in the Clarksville Christmas Parade The USCG Auxiliary Crew for the 55th Annual Clarksville Christmas Parade: (From left to right) Front row - Linda Ebel, Diane Gilman, Ken Gilman, Fred Gilman and Cecil Stout Back row - Dennis Ealey, PFD Panda and Dale Leighton U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla participated in the 55th Annual Clarksville Christmas Parade, Clarksville, Tennessee on Saturday, December 6, The theme was to remind all boaters to Wear Your Life Jacket when on the water. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-7 was formed here in Clarksville, May 14, This was their first year in the Clarksville Christmas Parade. They were very happy to have their special guest star: PFD Panda waving from the boat and wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas. Before the parade started on it s route they visited with folks passing by the staging area and talked to them about a few of the Continued on page 2

2 PFD Panda waving his Merry Christmas to parade watchers at the 55th Annual Clarksville Christmas Parade: This was the first year Flotilla 11-7 participated in the event. many duties they do, which are: conducting safety patrols, assisting the Coast Guard with Homeland Security duties, teaching boating safety classes, conducting free vessel safety checks for the public boater and enforcing river closures in cases of emergency. The Flotilla also participates in many public affairs events like the Dickson County Fair, Rivers & Spires, and the Parks and Diane Gilman, FC-elect, and PFD Panda greeting parade watchers Recreation Sports Festival, just to name a few. Not only does PFD Panda attend all of these events to help spread the safe boating word, but our other special friend Coastie attends as well. Both kids and adults have fun with our special friends as they help all visitors understand how important it is to be safe on the water and learning proper boating safety. The members of Flotilla 11-7 are very proud to be part of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and work hard at their our goal To Educate and Save Lives. Story by Diane Gilman ADSO-PB, FC-elect

3 MESSAGE FROM The Commodore One of the many things we do as Auxiliarists is to document and report the volunteer hours we perform. Every year we complete our 7029, 7030, 7038 and 7039 forms just to name a few. This is necessary to get credit for the hours we volunteer as well as to show the Coast Guard just how valuable we are. There is also a second function we perform on a monthly basis to show National and the Coast Guard our true value and worth. These are the reports each District Commodore sends to National. After National reviews these reports they forward them to the Coast Guard for their review. These reports are in essence our Report Card for the District and give an analysis of our actual accomplishments and not just the total hours we perform each month. I can t emphasize enough the importance of these reports. We rely heavily on not only financial support from the Coast Guard, but also operational, training and equipment support. The information for these reports comes from the District Staff Officers through the District Chief of Staff and the Division Commanders through the District Captains. The type of information that is included in these reports is as follows: Any direct support of Coast Guard Detachments, Units or Sector All activities directed at Recreational Boating Safety All joint activities with partner agencies All public Auxiliary events that we are involved with Current progress relative to Auxiliary Business Plans, District Strategic Plans, Tactical Plans & Contingency Plans Accomplishments in Recruiting and Retention Continued on page 6 MESSAGE FROM The Chief of Staff As we wind down 2014 you would think that activity would slow somewhat, however this is not the case for most of us. We have Change of Watch events to attend, Staff to appoint, end of year paperwork, including getting those last ANSC 7029 s, 7030 s and etc. in for the year. This is also the time we start to set our calendars for the coming year and setting our visions and goals for the coming year. This is a time of transition for us all, from District, to the Flotillas, we are transitioning our Elected and Appointed Officers. With this comes the opportunity for new ideas, and the opportunity to fine-tune some of our older methods. As our World outside our organization changes, so our World inside our organization will as well. Keeping an open mind to trying new ideas outside the box is paramount to positive change. We are often hesitant to make changes and many times we hear That s the way we ve always done it ring out. Sometimes the way we ve always done it works, sometimes not so much. One of the hardest things I ve done since I ve been in the Auxiliary has been a change that I recently had to make and that was to find a replacement for myself as DSO-PB. Publications has always been one of my favorite areas and I always put my heart and soul into every newsletter ever produced from my first Flotilla Newsletter, Division Newsletters, and Heartland Guardian. However it is time to turn the Continued on page 4 3

4 DCOS Message Continued from page 3 keys to this office over to someone else and pass the torch. I am being replaced as Publisher of Heartland Guardian by Curtis Pratt of Division Eighteen. I know Curtis will take the helm and take this newsletter to a higher level. Curtis has picked a great staff to support him as Assistants and I feel comfortable with the future of this publication. While we transition to the coming year join with me in the excitement that a clean page holds for us all. No matter your position in this organization, you are important for the future success of the Auxiliary. We can start fresh in January in our offices, sure there may be some unfinished business that carries over, and this always happens. I will speak to everyone in our organization here and offer my personal Mantra if I may. Energy is contagious, so spread it among your shipmates. Start your new year with energy and it can only grow and growth is a good thing for us. Resourcefulness and knowing your resources can only be a plus for you. Knowing where to look for the answers to questions you may have, knowing who your best resources are can only enhance your experience in the Auxiliary. Visibility is key to enhancement. We should be visible not only to our flotilla membership, but visible to our customers, the Boating Public and the Coast Guard. Put a face to a name, and the Auxiliary face to what we do. Communication is a vital ingredient to any successful business, and surely by running the Auxiliary as a business we can be successful, but we have to communicate. Following the Chain of Leadership and Management and the Parallel Staffing Chain is important. Everyone should be on the same page, and the only way to be on the same page is to communicate with everyone involved. As we all spend time with our families, Sandy and I would personally like to extend to everyone in our Coast Guard and Auxiliary families the warmest and best wishes for the Holiday Season, from our home to yours. While we are enjoying our personal celebrations, please join with us in remembering those that are serving away from their families and friends during this time. Especially join us in remembering those that won t come home for the Holidays because they gave their all so that we can enjoy our freedom to celebrate. I am looking forward to the coming year and I hope you can share my excitement for the vast opportunities that lie ahead for us. Please let me know what I can do for you. Randy Ventress, DCOS 8 ER EDITORIAL STAFF Curt Pratt DSO - PB Division 18 Norm Arbes ADSO - PB Division 7 Geri McKee ADSO - PB Division 8 Bill Smith ADSO - PB Division 12 CONTRIBUTORS Diane Gilman - ADSO-PB Thom Spagnol - SO-PA DeAnne Robenburg - DSO-IS Gerlinde Higgenbotham - DDC-L Ray Skip Nunweiler - IPDCDR LTJG Richard Coleman - USCG 4

5 Coast Guard Tree Adorns House of Vice President Eighth District Families Helped Contribute Handcrafted Ornaments A Christmas tree in honor of the Coast Guard stands in the Vice President of the United State s residence, side-byside with trees celebrating the other military branches. Coast Guard families had the opportunity to join with Dr. Jill Biden at a reception at the residence celebrating military families. Last October military families were invited to send in handmade ornaments to decorate Christmas trees that represented their services. The Coast Guard tree had 50 ornaments from families across the country. The five trees now stand in an alcove right inside the front door of the residence. The sixth tree, in honor of the National Guard, is in Vice President Biden s office. Janet Cantrell, ombudsman-at-large and wife of the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, said the handmade ornaments reminded her of the best parts of Coast Guard life. Looking at the Coast Guard tree at the vice president s home gave me such a sense of pride proud of the beautiful ornaments made by our Coast Guard families and proud to be a part of this wonderful service. To have Vice President and Dr. Biden honor our Coast Guard in such a way is a sincere tribute, she said. Many sacrifices are made daily by our CG members and their families, not just during the holiday season, but year round, and the beautiful tree, fully decorated with handmade ornaments, brought these works to life. Standing in their home and gazing at the beautiful tree made me extremely proud and honored to be a part of our Coast Guard family. Four of the 50 ornaments on the Vice President s Coast Guard tree are from Eighth District ER (Eastern Region), Flotilla 7-2. They were contributed by Tanya Carter and her daughter Fiona. Matt Carter is the Division Seven Staff Officer for Finance and a member of Flotilla 7-2, Pittsburgh. A Close-up of Biden s tree in the picture to the right, shows Fiona s ornaments. Visible are : the blue anchor and the white, blue & orange star turned to the side in the upper left. On Display are The five trees that represent each of the military branches: Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. Children from families of all branches were encouraged to create ornaments for Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. Story by Norman Arbes and photos by Tanya Carter Contributions from Adrienne Anderson, Staff writer Belvoir Eagle, Fort Belvoir, VA 5

6 H artland GU ARDIAN Thank all of you for taking a moment to look at this month s Heartland Guardian. We rolled out a new look and feel for our newsletter this month, and we hope you enjoy reading it. Make no mistake, this newsletter still follows the primary tenet laid down by it progenitors, that it s By the members, for the members. The work done by Lynn Miles, Randy Ventress, their staffs and all the others who have contributed over the years, has set the bar extremely high with respect to having it be a commentary from the members. Our goal is to continue with that, and as a matter of fact, we ve worked hard to find ways where all our members could participate, without them having to be a PA or PB officer. We spent a lot of time on the design, from the logo and nameplate to the page style and masthead. While it s a departure to some degree, from what the Heartland Guardian has looked like, we ve tried very hard to make the changes meaningful. Each of the blue stylized waves on the front cover stand for one of the Auxiliary s cornerstones: Auxiliary Accent Blue = Member Services, Coast Guard Blue = Recreational Boating Safety, Coast Guard Seal Blue = Operations and Marine Safety, and Coast Guard Seal Light Blue = Fellowship. As a matter of fact all the colors used throughout come from the approved Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary color palate. A large amount of time was also devoted to the logo, and the use of a personal flotation device, the ultimate symbol of a marine guardian, was very popular. Here s a little inside scoop; if you look at the negative space between the life preserver and the beacon star above it, you ll see the shape of a heart. I hope you will find that pictures play an even more vital role in the newsletter. However, I believe the biggest changes will be in the stories themselves. We want this newsletter to not only serve as record of the good works we do as members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, but to be a help in recruiting new members to our cause. I firmly believe the motivation that drove all of us to join the Auxiliary was that we wanted to be part of something bigger than ourselves; that we wanted to give back to the nation that has given us so much. It is our hope that this new look and feel will reflect that spirit. We want the Guardian to be inspiring and educational, fun and heroic. Thanks to all of you for giving us so many great things to write about in the past, and we ll be right here chronicling all your future accomplishments, as well. Curtis Pratt DSO-PB, 8 ER COMMODORE S MESSAGE Continued from page 3 Program performance (Narrative, not AUXDATA information) Problems (known or potential) and suggested solutions Action items, future plans and milestones Assistance needed from the Coast Guard, NEXCOM, and National staff This list is not all inclusive but should give an idea of the type of information required. Again, I can t emphasize the importance of these reports to the District. It is our Report Card and is absolutely essential to our future. Although the reports come from the District Staff Officers and the Division Commanders it is every members responsibility to keep them informed of all your activities. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in this endeavor. Commodore Rick Schal 6

7 Holidays Around the District Division 1 Flotilla 7-3 Flotilla 18-7 Division 8 Flotilla 18-6 MSU Paducah Flotilla 7-2 Division 8 7

8 Thom Spagnol, a member of Flotilla 7-2, places a wreath on a tombstone at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, near Pittsburgh, PA. Thom came to honor his father, a World War II paratrooper. HONORING OUR HEROES A Member s Experience This is the season for giving. And, on Saturday December 13, I was privileged to represent the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and join over 2,000 other volunteers to honor our veterans at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies near Pittsburgh. Despite the near-freezing temperatures, we placed over 5,000 wreaths on the headstones of veterans and their families. The event was organized by Wreaths Across America, a group dedicated to honoring our veterans. There were over 900 cemeteries across the nation who participated in this program. Many other groups volunteered including various veterans groups, the Civil Air Patrol, the Knights of Columbus as well as individuals whose family members and friends are interned at the 292-acre site. As I placed wreaths upon the headstones, I read each name and noted dates and service branches that were carved in the stones, each one telling a different story. I felt proud dressed in my Auxiliary uniform to represent the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and hope to continue this tradition in the years to come. Story by Thom Spagnol, SO-PA We Need Your HELP!! Next Issue we re going to do a story on ways to make safe boating classes fun, effective and most importantly - filled with students. For all those PE Officers out there Send Us Your Best Hints for a Great Class. Send your hints to: HGsubmission@gmail.com by January 15 - THANKS! 8

9 Members Who Crossed the Bar in 2014 The Coast Guard Auxiliary has a diverse group of members. Jokes are sometimes made of the average age of a member. Let us never forget that we are all going to cross over one day. In 2014 we lost friends, shipmates, vessel examiners, crewman and coxswain, officers and staff, members and leaders. Let us always remember them best as proud United States Coast Guard Auxilarists. Let us remember those we lost in 2014: Fred Thruston - Flotilla 8-5 David Forest - Flotilla 6-8 Dr. John W. Thompson - Flotilla 11-5 Jack Dennis - Flotilla 8-7 David Frasemer - Flotilla 6-8 David L. Forest - Flotilla 6-8 Aubrey Smith - Flotilla 24-2 Jim Succurro - Flotilla 7-9 Maryann Keown - Flotilla 7-2 Clifford Schuett - Flotilla 8-11 Alphonsus Romero - Flotilla 8-11 Alan Wade - Flotilla 8-11 Carlson Paul Lewis - Flotilla 8-5 Charles R. (Russ) Zemp - Flotilla 12-7 John Crawford - Flotilla 4-4 Crossing the Bar Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. By: Alfred Lloyd Tennison These are the members whose names have been passed on to the District officer, if one of your members has crossed over the bar and are not listed, please pass that information on to the D-AD so they will be remembered in the next article. Story and Tribute by Geri McKee D-AD 9

10 MEET THE NEW GUARDIAN STAFF Geralyn (Geri) McKee joined the USCG Auxiliary in She currently works as a consultant at Staff Development Solutions as a Health Care Educator and Director of Business Development. Geri is a well-recognized speaker; she is frequently invited to speak at national, state and local conferences on many topics related to Long Term Care, Leadership and Dementia. Geri is a qualified Auxiliary Coxswain, CPR Instructor, Instructor, Team Coordination Trainer for the Active Duty and a Vessel Examiner. Currently Geri holds the offices of Commodore s Aide (D-AD), Division and Flotilla Publications Officer (SO-FSO-PB) and Flotilla Historian. When not working or volunteering she enjoys spending time with her husband, Gregg, and their children and grandchildren. She especially enjoys the time the family spends on their cabin cruiser on Kentucky Lake, where they boat for pleasure and Auxiliary Patrols. H W. Bill Smith has worked with, or as part of, the media for more than three decades as a writer, designer, performer or promoter of events and not-for-profit organizations. He is the Flotilla Commander - Elect of the Quad Cities Flotilla ( ). Bill serves as the Public Affairs Officer of his Flotilla and is a graduate of the Aux. 12 public affairs C school. Outside of the Auxiliary he is the marketing and public relations consultant to the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils and is that organization s social media and web developer. He is also an avid sailor and enjoys racing his 30 Catalina, Changes in Attitude. Bill lives in Powell Valley, Southwest Virginia, with his wife Nancy. Norman Arbes has been the backbone of the Heartland Guardian for years. Born in a small coal mining town south of Pittsburgh, PA in 1945, he has spent his life in beautiful western Pennsylvania. Norman attended Grove City College, a Christian liberal arts college about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, where his emphasis was on Business Administration and Accounting. Six months out of college Norman purchased his first retail business, opened three others, and remained in that industry for 37 years as owner and operator retiring in He joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-2 in He s held many offices at the Flotilla, Division and District levels, including Flotilla Commander, Division Commander and luckily for us, an ADSO-PB. As publications officer he publishes two award winning newsletters, Around the Point for Flotilla 7-2 and the OH- AL-MON Guardian for Division 7 in the Port of Pittsburgh. This year Norman earned the Hour Glass device for Sustained Auxiliary Service. Norman is married to Cheryl Rodriguez Arbes, has two step children, and resides in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Curtis Pratt comes to his new position with more than 25 years of professional communication and marketing experience. A graduate of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, Curtis has worked in the Newspaper, Hospital Public Relations and Business Communications fields. He is currently the Marketing Director for York Risk Services Group, the 3rd largest Third Party Administrator in the country. Curtis has served as both Division PA and PB officers for Division 18 out of Columbus, Ohio. He is an ardent Star Trek fan, (though he refuses to use the term Trekkie or Trekkor) and counts himself fortunate to finally meet William Shatner last year. He also keeps busy raising his two beautiful teenage daughters, Jillian and Samantha. 10

11 Changing Seasons Challenge Boaters Fluctuating Water Levels and Lower Temperatures Create New Hazards Changing seasons challenge boaters to adjust to a new boating environment. As fall gives way to winter, boaters should be aware of the fluctuations in water levels that annually occur on the waters of many rivers, lakes and reservoirs located in District 8 ER (Eastern Region), and beyond. Changes in weather, water and environmental conditions dictate increased awareness and preparation as life on the water adapts to winter conditions. The ability of boaters to prepare their vessels for cold weather use, and themselves for lower temperatures, will only enhance the experience of being on the water year-round. Many local lakes in District 8 ER are actually reservoirs connected to a massive power generation and flood control system of rivers, dams and locks that make up the Tennessee Valley Authority. Reservoirs such as South Holston, Watauga, Boone, Norris and Cherokee are linked by the Clinch, Holston, Watauga and other rivers in the far eastern edges of the district connect to the Tennessee River to form a complex system of waterways. The same is true of the Ohio River complex. Both of those main arteries eventually flow into the Mississippi River to create the diverse water environment the United States Coast Guard and its Auxiliary is charged with protecting. And, each changes with the seasons, power demands and rainfall. Water levels in the system are continually changing. Boaters who are not aware of the water level, shoreline and obstruction changes run the risk of running aground, or hitting floating debris that can cause boat or water craft damage. Add the increased danger of exposure to the elements and hypothermia to the equation and wintertime boating can be a challenge. In worse case scenarios, injury or death can occur. Potential tragedy or financial loss can usually be averted if boaters are adequately prepared and aware of the boating environment. The winter months are when reservoir levels are drawn down from the full pool conditions of summer to the reduced water levels of midwinter and spring. Water levels go up or down depending on the needs of the entire system and are not consistent from east to west. Even boaters who are frequently on the water may get caught in situations that can cause an accident if they are not aware of rapidly changing conditions. Those individuals who are occasional boaters must be especially aware of the fact that levels may have changed since the last time they were on the water. At full pool this small island is completely submerged and marked by the white buoy now lying on its shore. Sailboats are particularly vulnerable to hitting underwater obstructions. All boaters should be aware of changing water levels. Continued on page 12 11

12 CHANGING SEASONS Continued from page 11 Proper vessel and personal preparation, as well as increased situational awareness, are the keys to enjoyable boating during the winter months. Here are a number of things boaters should consider as the calendar advances toward the end of the year: Make sure that the boat or personal watercraft is seaworthy, that required safety equipment is on board and that all systems are functioning properly. There are fewer people on the water in the winter. Make sure that a working marine radio or cell phone is along for the ride and that someone back home knows of the trip, where you are going and what time you are expected back. Have the required number of USCG approved life jackets on board that are in good repair and accessible. Ensure that children under the age of 12 are wearing one at all times. Adults can set a good example by wearing one as well. Everyone must wear a personal flotation device in designated river areas below dams where water levels and currents can change rapidly. Know the expected weather and prepare for it. A sunny morning can turn into a blustery afternoon, particularly on mountain reservoirs where conditions can change rapidly. Hypothermia can occur at almost any temperature and immersion in water increases the danger. Getting wet, either from precipitation or submersion, can bring on hypothermia quickly. It should always be remembered that fishing on the water is also boating and presents increased dangers. Ask other boaters at the boat launch or marina where potential hazards, exposed rocks, floating trees and other obstructions have been observed and keep a sharp lookout at all times. Most lowwater obstructions are marked by buoys and it is always a good idea to give them plenty of leeway. Occasionally reefs, rocks and shoals are not marked and a good lookout is always a good idea. There are under-water extensions of visible shoreline features that often present a hazard as water levels drop. Slow down when nearing any potential hazard. Excessive speed is a major contributor to boating accidents. Running aground at almost any speed can cause damage to a boat or personal watercraft. Hitting a rock that is just below the surface at high speed can do much more damage, cause the boat to sink and may result in injury or, in some cases, death. High speed, alcohol and drug use, a lack of awareness and not knowing regulations are often contributing factors to boating accidents that can be avoided. Know the state boating regulations in the area and follow them. Common sense, operator training, knowledge of current conditions and proper safety equipment can ensure that boating in the winter months is a memorable experience in the best of ways. Knowing one s limitations, having an awareness of potential hazards and keeping the safety and comfort of all passengers in mind are all hallmarks of a smart skipper. The waters of District 8 ER offer a wealth of pleasurable boating opportunities in all seasons - enjoy them safely. Water Temperature (Fahrenheit) Time Before Exhaustion Expected Survival Time Before Unconsciousness Loss of Dexterity (no protective clothing) Under 32.5 Under 15 Minutes 45 Minutes Under 2 Minutes Minutes Minutes Under 3 Minutes Minutes 1-3 Hours Under 5 Minutes Hours 1-6 Hours Minutes Hours 2-4 Hours Minutes Hours 3 Hours before fatigue 1-2 Hours Story and Photo by H William Smith Additional Information provided by the USCG Marine Safety Unit Paducah, KY. 12

13 YEAR IN REVIEW - 8th DISTRICT ER TOTAL MEMBERS 1,168 Approved Pending Members 71 Basically Qualified Members 831 Initially Qualified Members 146 AUXOP Members 120 VESSEL EXAMINATIONS Number of Vessel Examiners 234 VSC Given 5,814 VSC Passed 4,744 VSC Passing Percentage 83.5% PUBLIC EDUCATION Instructors 191 Total Multi-Lesson Courses 31 PE Class Sessions 329 PE Class Hours 985 MARINE PARTNERS MDV Visitors 102 MDV Visits 3,960 ASSISTS # Assisted 54 Property Value $169,000 Crew 102 PWO 4 Coxswain 95 QE 19 Air Observers 6 Air Crew 4 Aircraft Cmdr. 6 Facilities 104 Air Facilities 5 Radio Facilities 62 Data Deep-dive Courtesy of DeAnne Rodenburg DSO-IS 13