Flotilla Commander Corner

Transcription

1 Vol. I, Issues five & six May & June 2006 Special points of interest: Next Flotilla Meeting will be 20 JUN 2006, at USCG Pier 36, in the Bear Room Next Division 2 board meeting will be 13 May HRS, USCG Pier 36, in the Bear Room. Inside this issue: Flotilla Commander s corner by Bill 1 Top District Brass attend Flotilla 23 meeting 2 Vice Flotilla Commander s Corner by Janet Seki 3 Special Message from new Commandant 3 Name that flag 3 SITREP #1 from Admiral Thad Allen 4 Flowers in the Carl English Gardens. 5 Flotilla 23 Hall of Fame 5 New ABC Class forming, AGAIN??? 6 Bill Gasperetti Flotilla Commander 23 Photo by FSO- PB 23 Greetings to all Flotilla 23 Members. I am hoping this message will elicit a response from you. I am hoping that after reading this message you will want to either send me an (bgasperetti@comcast.net) or give me a call ( ) to let give me your candid reaction to what I am about to say. We are now six months into my tenure as Flotilla Commander and Janet Seki s tenure as Vice Flotilla Commander. We assumed these responsibilities for Flotilla 23 with a membership roster of about 55 Auxiliarists and, currently, we have about 52 members. At the time of our appointments we were told that member attendance and participation in Flotilla 23 meetings and activities was very low. However, we Flotilla Commander Corner were also given the impression that if you build it they will come. Build it through more interesting Flotilla meetings. Build it through better member training. Build it by keeping the members better informed about events, activities, and opportunities to support the Coast Guard and the boating public. Build it through promulgating meeting agendas. Build it through appointing a strong and proactive Flotilla Staff. Build it through a Flotilla newsletter. Build it and you will get more member commitment and involvement in Flotilla 23 and the Auxiliary. We have been attempting to build it over the course of seven Flotilla meetings. This is a work in progress so we are continuing to try to build and improve it for our members. However, for those seven meetings, our average attendance is only about 10 members less than 20 percent of our roster!! We have tried to keep the amount of mundane Flotilla business to a minimum and, instead, the focus has been upon presentations that will inform and/or focus upon our membership. As to the latter, a couple months ago we celebrated the 40 years and 20 years of Auxiliary service by Kathy Ball and Millie Taifel, respectively. This occasion was significant enough to be attended by our District Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore Northern District, Division 2 Captain, Division 2 Vice Captain, and the Publisher of our District newsletter. Where were our members? Take Janet, me, and the two special members being honored out of the equation and we are down to maybe our usual 10! As to the former, we recognize that the first couple of meetings at the end of last year were primarily introductory. However, subsequently, we have had special presentations on Auxiliary Operations, Auxiliary on-line reporting, a very informative and interesting presentation by the Executive Officer of the High Endurance Coast Guard Cutter MELLON about its missions and deployments, and an excellent presentation about (Continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 (Above) Miyoko Auxiliary Facility owned by Will and Kim Roberts. Pictured are Andy King and Michael Brough, preparing the facility at the Seattle Police dock, preparing for Seattle Yacht Club s Opening Day of Yachting Season. (Below) Miyoko In all her glory, banners donned, flags and burgees flying, ready for patrol. Photos by Brunk (Continued from page 1) FEMA. Once again, these meetings averaged about 10 members. Where were our members? In addition to the foregoing, one very important matter we have tried to explore during our meetings is the way (or ways) our members want to support the Coast Guard and the boating public. Do we want to focus upon boater education, children s programs, direct support, on the water facilities and boat crews, special events such as the boat shows, etc.? Obviously, the less than 20 percent of our membership does not represent a majority, or even a quorum, for making this decision. I have been told by some of those attending the meetings that my soliloquies about commitment and member involvement are preaching to the choir. Yes, that is true. However, Flotilla Commander s Corner (Cont.) I have been hoping that the song the choir has sung to some of you who are not attending might be heard and responded to. I have also been told that Janet and I need to get on the phone and call each and every one of you individually to ascertain why you are not attending. That our call will make you feel wanted. I have to be bluntly honest with you on this. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do this when I am working cooperatively with other adults. There had to be a reason you joined the Auxiliary. What is that reason? What do you want to do as an Auxiliarist? As a member of Flotilla 23? If you simply like to send in a dues check each year that is fine just let us know and we will not bother you with other things. However, if your motivation and commitment goes beyond that then please let me know and please attend Flotilla meetings so that as a unit we can make a difference for the Coast Guard and/or the boating public. We recognize that you are busy with jobs, families, etc. etc. and that not everyone can make the same time commitment to the Auxiliary as some of our leadership. What commitment can you make? What do you want to do in the Auxiliary and this Flotilla? The Auxiliary performs some very important missions and services on behalf of the Coast Guard and those young men and women referred to as Coasties. How do you think Flotilla 23 and its members should be involved? At the beginning of this message I provided my address and cellular telephone number. If you write or call me I may not be able to respond to the message or take the call right away. However, I promise you that if you do write or call I will respond within 24 hours of receipt. Regards, Bill Top District Brass attend Flotilla 23 Meeting Top District 13 leaders attended Kathy Ball and Millie Taifel Sustained Service Award Ceremony. R-L Ted Schiesswohl RCO- N, Fred Bell DCO 130, Garrison Bromwell DCP 02, Bruce Miller VCO 130. In the background are Capt. Gordon Myers, Honoree Kathy Ball, and Bonnie Schiesswohl SO- PB 02. Photo by VCP 02.

3 Vice Flotilla Commander s Corner Page 3 For our May 16th meeting other agencies including and following a major dis- Ron Zuber, Flotilla 23 the Red Cross. State and aster anywhere in the member, as well as Op- local governments have United States. erations Program Specialist for Region X, gave an excellent power point presentation on the role of FEMA in disasters. Washington is in Region 10, along with Oregon, the primary responsibility for all disasters, but when a disaster is more than they can handle, the governor of a state can call in FEMA to provide assistance and funds. Ron said that our main concern in Western Washington is seismic activity. He emphasized having a 72 or 86 hour emergency kit in your home, car, and work. Marine Dealer Display at Sailboats at Shilshole. Our Flotilla leads the pack in MDV visits with over eighty as of this writing. Photo Wendell Brunk Idaho, and Alaska. FEMA's mission is to reduce the loss of life and property resulting from disasters. It is also charged with protecting our country's critical infrastructure from all hazards, as well as leading and supporting a comprehensive emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. FEMA has a Federal Regional Center in Bothell, Washington, which is the central point of contact for a wide range of emergency management activities. It used to be a Nike Missile site. The Bothell Mobile Emergency and Response Support Detachment is also located there. The team of experts running this fleet is trained and equipped to provide phone, radio, and other There are over 150 bridges in King County alone, and they might be weakened in an earthquake. It would be safer to stay put. Check out both and for comprehensive information emergency preparedness. Regards, Janet Seki, VFC Above Program Visitor with his 82nd visit of the year. This display is at the Ballard Locks. Below is our partner Robyn at Shilshole Bay Marina. Photos by SO-RBS 02 FEMA works with many communications during Special message from new Commandant A special message to our Coast Guard Auxiliary Members: As the finest allvolunteer organization in our Nation, I consider each of you an integral part of our Coast Guard. We simply could not meet the challenges we face or conduct the missions we do on a day-to-day basis without your selfless devotion to duty, as was so vividly demonstrated most recently in the Coast Guard s extraordinary response to the many hurricanes we responded to last year. I sent the following letter to our Coast Guard men and women upon assuming the duties of Commandant. My priorities and dedication outlined in the letter below apply equally to each of you as they do to our workforce. I pledge to you my relentless support for our Auxiliary and will rely upon your continued service to our Nation as we work together to remain Semper Paratus. -- Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant Name that Flag! If this were your burgee what office would you hold? Answer to last issue: Past Vice Division Captain

4 Page 4 SITREP # 1 from Admiral Thad Allen Commandant s SITREP # 1 May 25, 2006 To the Men and Women of the Coast Guard: I am deeply honored and humbled to serve you and the American people as the 23rd Coast Guard Commandant. I pledge you my passion, devotion, and energy to ensure you have the best possible tools, support, and leadership to carry out your missions, wherever you sit in our Service. Situational Assessment: Let me be frank and very clear: We operate in a strategic environment that has changed dramatically in the past five years and will continue to change. This requires continuous adaptation from the Coast Guard. I realize there has been extensive change in our Service in the past decade and the new Sector structure is still breaking in. However, we live in a world of dynamic threats and hazards and must adapt accordingly. We will not change for change s sake but purposefully, with strategic intent and always focused on our first priority and duty to the Nation: Mission Execution. Strategic Drivers: The Global War on Terrorism, Maritime Transportation Security Act, Homeland Security Act, National Strategy for Homeland Security, and the National Strategy for Maritime Security have mandated new areas of mission emphasis for us. Your extraordinarily successful operations in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 significantly elevated our visibility and the demand for our services across all levels of government. Our unique blend of capabilities, competencies and authorities applied across multiple missions are recognized and valued as never before. As a result, expectations for our performance and contributions in routine and crisis operations are greater than ever. Meeting new demands while sustaining the trust and confidence of the public we serve requires us to continually challenge ourselves and improve the way we do business. My Strategic Vision: We will focus our entire organization on improving and sustaining Mission Execution. We will do this by structuring our service as a three-pronged force: shore-based operations, maritime operations, and deployable operations. We ve taken bold steps forward by creating Sectors for shore-based operations. We ve taken equally bold steps by advancing the Deepwater acquisition for maritime presence, patrol, and response. And we ve created truly deployable forces. We must now expand our deployable force capabilities and support them with proper doctrine, logistics, training, and exercises. Across all of our forces, we will partner with other services and agencies to integrate our efforts. To further optimize the mission execution of this three-pronged force, we will assess our command and control structure. We will also reevaluate and realign our Mission Support system, including organizational structures, human resources, maintenance, logistics, financial management and information systems. Each of you, regardless of your pay grade, job or rating, or where you sit in our organization, is critical to mission success. You must have the tools and support you need to do your job. We will ensure Coast Guard men and women are the best trained and most versatile workforce in government, equipped with the most capable fleet of multi-mission ships, aircraft, boats and command and control systems available. We will remain aligned with our Department, sister services, and partner agencies. I have already assigned responsibility for a substantial list of specific initiatives to our Flag and SES corps. Information on these initiatives will follow shortly and I will keep you updated on their progress. We have an extraordinary legacy of excellence as America s Coast Guard. We will build on that legacy. We will rise to meet all the challenges confronting us. Let s turn to. Semper Paratus! Admiral Thad Allen

5 Page 5 Flowers from the Carl English Gardens, at the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard. Photos by VCP 2 Visit our Flotilla website at: www. a uscgaux.info Also see the Division 2 Website at: Admiral Thad Allen. Official photo from USCG website. FLOTILLA 23 HALL OF FAME AUX OP CG Meritorious Team Commendation Newly Qualified Kathy Ball Ted Greenlee No new No new Kathy Ball Andy King Coxswain Ted Greenlee Will Roberts Coast Guard Letter of Appreciation No new Tom Liebert

6 Page 6 New ABC Boating Class forming at Shilshole West Marine Flotilla 23 is now forming an America s Boating Course at the Shilshole Avenue store of West Marine. This class was started because our very active Program Visitor, yours truly, was making his rounds and stopped in. Store Manager, Bruce Miller, asked me what it would take to put on a safe boating class. Flotilla s 23 and 24 have both taught classes at this location in the past. So, we set a date, advertised it, and no one came. I was shocked. No one signed up even with Mandatory Education on the horizon. In real estate they say Location, Location, Location. Well heck there isn t a better location for a boating class than at a boating outfitter, right? Well my friends, we soon learned with boating classes, you have to be equally concerned with time and date for your class. Our original plan was to have our classes on Friday nights, so folks wouldn t have to get up early the next day, possibly stay late if the class ran over, etc. We also had not required pre-registration BAD IDEA. Sounded great in theory, but as I said before no one came. Plan B, after licking our wounds for just a brief moment we quickly rescheduled for Thursday night and mandated that folks would have to pre-pay. I checked back the next Tuesday and lo and behold, we had 3 people signed up and paid. Over the course of the last week I have spoke to five more people, whom I have explained the process for signing up. Time will tell, but it looks like we will finally have a viable class beginning June 1, 2006, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. We have split the 8 hour course into four two hour sessions. The people I have talked to are excited to be learning about boating, and how to accomplish their voyages safely. Flotilla 23 will rise to meet their quest for knowledge. Wendell Brunk Instructor Flotilla 23 Bridge and Staff Bill Gasperetti..FC Janet Seki..VFC Roman Taifel...IPFC Andy King....FSO-AN Craig Nuttal.....FSO-CS Kim Roberts.FSO-FN Ted Greenlee FSO-IS Tom Liebert.FSO-MS Tom Liebert.FSO-CM Frank McJunkins...FSO-MT Andy King.FSO-PE Ron Buckley.FSO-VE Craig Nuttal. FSO-SR Wendell Brunk.. FSO-PB L David Andrews.FSO-PA Editor s Corner The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is a member of the Department of Homeland Security. Lake Union Lookout (LUL) is an all volunteer newsletter published by Flotilla 23, Division 2, District 13 USCGAUX since All intellectual property rights are reserved. All usage permission requests should be sent to the Editor. EDITOR: Wendell Brunk, FSO-PB to: aux@captnwendell.com WEBMASTER: Dean Barnhart, FSO-CS