14-8. Eight Bells. Monthly Voice Of USCG Auxiliary Flotilla August 2014 Volume XL No. 08. Seventh Coast Guard District. Jacksonville, Florida

Transcription

1 14-8 Eight Bells August 2014 Volume XL No. 08 Seventh Coast Guard District Monthly Voice Of USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 14-8 Jacksonville, Florida

2 Table of Contents Page 2 of 19 Flotilla Commander PBurns@SafeBoatingJax.com Paul B. Burns Flotilla Commander... Paul Burns Flotilla Vice Commander... John Hadley Secretary of Records... Tom Edwards Finance... Bob Strong Operations... Whatley Law Marine Safety... Rusty Gardner Member Training... John Hadley Flotilla Vice Commander john.hadley83@yahoo.com John K. Hadley Program Visitation... David Fay Public Education... Bob Strong Navigational Services... Cris Vonderheide Vessel Examination... Whatley Law Communications Services... Paul Burns Diversity... Paul Tynda Publications Officer 148publications@gmail.com Chrystal Wickline Information Services... Marion Linda Human Resources... Becky Habermas Public Affairs... Vacant Publications... Chrystal Wickline Materials... Paul Thomas Historian... Carolyn Strong Our Award Winning Website

3 Table of Contents Page 3 of 19 Paul Burns, FC... 5 Flotilla Commander... 5 John Hadley, VFC... 7 Flotilla Vice Commander... 7 What Do We Offer?... 7 Paul Burns, FSO-CS... 8 Communications... 8 New Video Projector for the Flotilla... 8 Becky Habermas, FSO-HR... 9 Human Resources... 9 Bob Strong, FSO-FN Finance Flotilla 14-8 Dues Bob Strong, FSO-PE Public Education John Hadley, FSO-MT Member Training DTRAIN 2014 Schedule is Out Team Coordination Training 2014 Update Member Training Calendar Details Flotilla 14 8 Meetings August 5, September 2,

4 Table of Contents Page 4 of 19 October 7, Events & Activities August 9, August 21, August 21-24, ABS Course Dates Other Events & Dates Special Boating Dates Bob Strong s Continued Tribute to 50 years of service! Celebration of Bob Strong s 50 years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Bob Strong s Continued Tribute to 50 years of service! Celebration of Bob Strong s 50 years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary More Memories! Flotilla 14-8 Memories Training with the Coast Guard New Members, Welcome! United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Update Boating Dry... 18

5 Flotilla Commander Page 5 of 19 Paul Burns, FC Flotilla Commander Thanks to Becky Habermas, our FSO- HR, we are having an outstanding year for new recruitment. With six new applications submitted this year and more in the works. We have a lot of work to do in development and training of these new members. The security background checks are experiencing significantly long delays, so it s critical that we develop and implement a solid mentorship and new member- training program. Mentors are needed to help guide these new members through their first year with the Auxiliary. I need some volunteers. Please send me an if you are willing to help, so we can develop a program. One step I have taken is to utilize our training and instructors during our monthly boating safety class to do double duty in some new member workshops. This past month, I was able to conduct a brief class, with two new members who just got their member numbers. I would like us to get into the habit of offering some member training while we have use of the meeting space each month. Ideas and discussion would be welcome at our August meeting. Please put on your thinking caps and come with some input to this new program. Speaking of our August meeting, it will be held Tuesday, August 5 th, (the first Tuesday of the month) at 7:00 PM for Fellowship and the meeting beginning at 7:30 PM. I m bringing this up, because we had a pretty dismal showing at the July meeting. We almost had more guests than From left to right, clockwise: John Hadley, VFC; New Members Panjot Bitro, Christian McLaughlin, John Exum, Logan Small, Whatley Law, FSO- VE & FSO- OP, Becky Habermas, FSO- HR, Carolyn Strong, Historian, and Bob Strong, FSO- FN & FSO- PE ~ Paul Burns flotilla members. Our work and growth is significantly hampered if we don t have good attendance at our monthly meeting. What we were able to do with those members who thankfully attended the July meeting was have a round- table discussion of what it is like to be in the Coast Guard Auxiliary with the four new member candidates were in attendance, thanks to

6 Flotilla Commander Page 6 of 19 Becky. Our guests were, Logan Small, Christian McLaughlin, Panajet Bitro and John Exum. Each of us talked about our Auxiliary experience and what jobs we have held in the Auxiliary, and some of the unique experiences that we have had throughout the course of our careers. The new member candidates, as well shared what interests them in the Auxiliary. Congratulations to Logan Small, James Small, and Juan Steward who just received their member numbers. Hopefully their new member packages will be in my hands by the August meeting so we can swear them in and get their Auxiliary careers off and running. Our August fellowship dinner will be August 21 st at the Tapestry Café at Tinsletown. The restaurant is owned by the family of Panajet Bitro, who s working with Becky to submit his application for membership.

7 Flotilla Vice Commander Page 7 of 19 John Hadley, VFC Flotilla Vice Commander What Do We Offer? Three new members have gained their numbers, now they are focusing on what they want to do. I suppose many of us remember those days, when we all planned to do something great. Do you remember those times? There are so many things to start and so many of them are really big. I am currently working with a young applicant. His view of our Coast Guard world is tempered by his present government service. What does he have that many of us do not? As with every great project, groundwork and preparation must be done. This extends even to the process of applying. Then, of course, these eye- catching uniforms and missions need attention as well. For a variety of reasons, but mainly because our specialties require pretty deep knowledge, we must train, take classes, and exchange information, which takes time. Persistence is a virtue. Our senior leaders never stop working, being interested, sharing, and growing. This is what we truly offer growth. Becoming a US Coast Guard Auxiliarist is not for the faint of heart. As you serve your nation and build up your volunteer time, more and more opportunities arise. Many of these chances are not something we advertise! Ready for a great experience? JOIN US!

8 Logistics Page 8 of 19 Paul Burns, FSO-CS Communications New Video Projector for the Flotilla This past month it was necessary to purchase a new video projector for our About Boating Safely Classes, under circumstances that had a few of us shaking our heads. Sometimes fate works in the strangest ways. For possibly more than 10 years, we never had a problem with our flotilla s video projector, but realizing the importance of having a backup in case of failure, one way or another we always had a loaned projector on hand, should something go wrong. For the past couple of years, one of our flotilla members lent us an extra projector, which sat faithfully in waiting but was never needed. Then, after a change in her job, she needed the projector back and it was returned to her. Bob Strong voiced his concern that we had an upcoming class and wondered if we should purchase a backup projector. My comment was, we never needed a backup so far. Why make a hasty decision. Maybe we can discuss this at the next flotilla meeting. Five days later, we held our July About Boating Safely (ABS) class, and as bad karma would dictate, the first time ever, that we did not have a backup projector, our faithful projector failed to illuminate. Knowing that one day we would need it, we have had a backup bulb for the old projector. Low and behold the bulb was not even close to the correct one. We later found out that our projector is considered to be too old for anybody locally to stock a replacement bulb. An emergency meeting of our Public Education staff was called and was decided in order to keep our ABS class going, we should purchase a new projector right away, with funds from our Public Education account. By the beginning of Chapter 3 of the class, we had the new high definition projector up and running, which allowed us to keep our promise to complete the class that Saturday. All students graduated with impressive scores.

9 Logistics Page 9 of 19 Becky Habermas, FSO-HR Human Resources Our flotilla has been very lucky to recruit some very skilled and dedicated new members over the past several years. Although Human Resources has stayed continuously busy, it is not a One Man or One Person Job. It takes the time and dedication of all of us in the flotilla to help new members make the transition into the Auxiliary a smooth one. With the help of not only division referrals but also referrals from other sources, our flotilla has been able to recruit six new members so far in I also anticipate recruiting several more new members as the year progresses, so please keep those referrals coming. As a result, our July flotilla meeting was no exception. We had three potential new members to welcome, Christian McLaughlin, Panjot Bitron, and John Exum. Christian recently submitted his paperwork for membership and is awaiting his member number. He is currently an active duty member of the U.S. Navy where he works as an Aviation Electronics Mate. Christian is also a musician, a computer technician, and a video game enthusiast. Some of his previous volunteer experiences include being a pianist for his church, as well as being a member of the Journey Church Worship Team. Christian is also a member of the Rotary Club where he participated in a group called Seminars for Tomorrow s Leaders. He also lends his time to the Chamber of Commerce s Youth Leader Group. Christian s main interest in the Auxiliary is to get involved with the Aux Wings program and to eventually obtain a Pilot s License. He has already started taking the required ICS Courses and is anxious to get started with his Auxiliary career. Panjot Bitro is a Firefighter and EMT and is in the hiring process for Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department (JFRD). He also speaks several languages, is good with computers and very mechanically inclined. Panjot (Pan) is also a business owner, his family also owns The Tapestry Café restaurant in the Tinsel Town area. Pan also works as a Volunteer for JFRD and does ride- a- long time whenever he can. He s an avid boater and presently owns a 2001, 24ft Chaparral he has been working on for the past couple of months. Pan s interest in the Auxiliary is to become Boat Crew qualified and would like to eventually lend his boat as a facility for the Auxiliary. His other Auxiliary career interests include Marine Environmental Protection and Marine Safety. John Exum is a recent Florida resident, having moved to the Jacksonville area from North Carolina. His move was due to a corporate relocation with his job in the banking industry. John has extensive experience on the water and is also an accomplished sailor. His previously owned vessels include two sailboats and two motorboats. John is also an experienced scuba diver. John is no stranger to volunteer work as he has volunteered his time in the past delivering food for under privileged youth as well as donating his time to work for Habitat for Humanity. John says he plans

10 Logistics Page 10 of 19 on making another boat purchase in the near future which he may consider making a facility for our flotilla. He s definitely interested in becoming Boat Crew qualified and learning more about what the Auxiliary has to offer. Bob Strong, FSO-FN Finance Dues notices were mailed to all members who are not planning to retire or resign. A few members have still not paid their dues for Please do so in the next two weeks, as I will begin preparing disenrollment for failure to pay dues notices following the August flotilla meeting. Flotilla 14-8 Dues Were due June 30, 2014 to Bob Strong Disenrollment notices to go following the August 5 th flotilla meeting

11 Prevention Page 11 of 19 Bob Strong, FSO-PE Public Education Our fifth ABS course this year was held on July 12 th with 12 students in attendance. Paul Burns, John Hadley, and I taught the course. Our sixth ABS course be August 9 th at The Florida Tackle and Gun Club. If you have not attended one of our boating courses in a while, I invite you to visit and sit through all or part of the course. Paul Burns has added a lot of extra material, most of it automated. For example, now when we talk about how to approach a dock, we follow the discussion with a moving example of how it s done. In the Rules of the Road section we now show boats meeting, crossing, and overtaking along with the proper sound signals. Please let me know if you would like to attend. You will also receive credit for your time if you re willing to help with some of the many jobs required to put on a good course. John Hadley, FSO-MT Member Training Interested in attending the National Convention (NACON)? This event is being held in Orlando, Florida from Thursday, August 21 st to Sunday, August 24 th at the Rosen Center Hotel. Many classes and courses not being taught at DTRAIN will be held there. Two classes in particular for the ICS- focused flotilla members are: ICS 400 and Anti- Terrorism. This last class is, to my knowledge not being taught anywhere else. To access the National Convention site, please go to the Members page on Safeboatingjax.com then go to the District 7 tab. Under COMO Tyson s photo, please see the NACON 2014 (yellow) band and click on it to get the latest information. Please note the class schedule is ready however, the registration page may not be. This is an excellent opportunity for members to meet senior leaders, take courses and benefit from the exposure to ideas and best practices in other Districts, Divisions and Flotillas not to mention making new friends. DTRAIN 2014 Schedule is Out Darlene Hooley, DSO- AA for our District, the DTRAIN Coordinator, and her merry band of Assistant Coordinators have assembled the syllabus of training and events for DTRAIN at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Drive, Orlando, Florida The dates are

12 Logistics Page 12 of 19 Thursday, September 18 th to Sunday, September 21 st. This is an extremely good opportunity for anyone to complete training for his or her requirements. The training syllabus and schedule of events are complete. The registration forms for classes, dinners, and meetings are not yet ready, however. To keep up to date, please check our website by going to the Members page, and clicking on District 7 events. Under the Commodore s photo, look for DTRAIN 2014 to get to the main site. Team Coordination Training 2014 Update Please contact the Member Training Officer at dec23265n@gmail.com to make arrangements to get this training completed. If you are contemplating becoming a Boat Crew Member you must take the four- hour initial large course. This will not stop you from taking the 2014 update if you so desire. The longer initial course must be taken and repeated every fifth year. In- between years require completion of the TCT yearly refresher. Member Training Plans this year for Member Training include many more workshops than in the past three years. This will include CPR Refresher Training, as well the above classes. Where opportunity presents, I will be scheduling speakers, mainly to update member information and introduce new developments in skills we already have. Boat Crew candidates having completed their On The Water (OTW) time and exams, who desire to be examined for their qualification, need to inform the Flotilla Staff Officer of Operations (FSO- OPS) and the Flotilla Staff Officer Member Training (FSO- MT). We will then notify the Flotilla Commander and a date is set.

13 Mandarin News Page 13 of Calendar Details Flotilla 14-8 Meetings August 5, :00 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Fellowship Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club 7:30 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Regular Meeting Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club September 2, :00 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Fellowship Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club 7:30 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Regular Meeting Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club October 7, :00 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Fellowship Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club 7:30 p.m. Flotilla 14-8 Regular Meeting Location: Florida Tackle and Gun Club Events & Activities August 9, :30 a.m. ABS Course Florida Tackle & Gun Club August 21, :30 p.m. Flotilla Fellowship Dinner Tapestry Café [near Tinsletown] August 21-24, 2014 National Conference [NACON] Rosen Center Hotel, Orlando, FL ABS Course Dates September 13, October 11, and November 8. Other Events & Dates D- Train 2014: held at the Florida Hotel in Orlando, Florida on September 18-21, 2014; details forthcoming. Special Boating Dates For details on the events including times, links, and locations, you can visit Florida By Water. Kingfish Tournament July 21st - 26th Sea and Sky Spectacular (NAS JAX Airshow) October 25th- 26th Florida Georgia Weekend Jacksonville Boat Parade November 1st November 29th

14 Events Page 14 of 19 Bob Strong s Continued Tribute to 50 years of service! Celebration of Bob Strong s 50 years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Photos taken and submitted by Carolyn Strong, Historian "On Saturday, July 26th Bob Strong was honored by Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Auxiliary District 7, Division 14 and Flotilla He was presented gifts and Awards by Captain Thomas Allan, USCG Sector Jacksonville; David Fuller, DCAPT- N District 7; Bill Sekeres, DCDR 14 and Paul Burns, FC 14-8 and received congratulations from many members of Division 14. The division also honored him with a cake, which was enjoyed by all present. Here are only a few of the pictures taken of the occasion. We will have a Bob s Cake slide show of the event to enjoy at a future meeting." Our new recruit, Chris McLaughlin, USN talks with Captain Allan before the meeting begins Bob talks with Dave Cawton, 14-4 before the meeting

15 Events Page 15 of 19 Bob Strong s Continued Tribute to 50 years of service! Celebration of Bob Strong s 50 years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Photos taken and submitted by Carolyn Strong, Historian Bill Sekeres, DCDR 14 presents a framed Certificate of Membership for 50 Years of Service to Bob Captain Allan talked about Bob's service to the Auxiliary Bill Sekeres and CAPT Allan present a brass bell and plaque to Bob as a commemorative gift David Fuller, DCAPT- N presents a plaque to Bob on behalf of District 7

16 Events Page 16 of 19 More Memories! Photos taken and submitted by Carolyn Strong, Historian Paul Burns, FC 14-8 presents a plaque to Bob on behalf of our flotilla members Bob entertained us with his story of why he joined the USCGAUX and why he has stayed an active member for so many years Bob cuts his cake to share with all

17 Events Page 17 of 19 Flotilla 14-8 Memories Training with the Coast Guard Immediate Past Flotilla Commander, Whit Vick, (Center) retrieving a basket from a Coast Guard helicopter training while training with the active Coast Guard. ~ Photo by Whatley Law New Members, Welcome! Panjot Pan Bitro John Exum Christian McLaughlin ~ Photo by Carolyn Strong & Submitted by Becky Habermas ~ Photo by Carolyn Strong & Submitted by Becky Habermas ~ Photo by Carolyn Strong & Submitted by Becky Habermas

18 Mandarin News Page 18 of 19 United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Update Boating Dry By Contributing Writer Ralph Little, Flotilla 14-8 Not many boat operators navigate extremely inebriated or stoned. Unfortunately, many do make the decision to propel power and sail craft after having a few drinks or a drug and that can affect them, passengers, other boats, skiers and swimmers. Florida law states for Boating Under the Influence (BUI): It is a violation to operate a vessel while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. A vessel operator suspected of BUI must submit to sobriety tests and a physical or chemical test to determine blood- or breath- alcohol content (BAC). A vessel operator is presumed to be under the influence if their BAC level is at or above.08. Any person under 21 years of age having a BAC of.02 or higher and operates or is in actual physical control of a vessel is in violation. Tables will show you technically how much intake raises your BAC. What they don t figure are the conditions that increase BAC sun, wind, medications and fatigue. The Auxiliary doesn t enforce laws and is interested as a supporter of boating safety. That perspective and good old logic dictate that the best policy is for operators to not use or have recently used alcohol or illegal drugs. BUI has improved markedly since That year the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that at least 33 percent of all people killed in recreational boating accidents had a BAC of 0.10 percent or higher. That BAC was the general State definition of intoxication of motor vehicle drivers. In 2013, nine people died from boating accidents in Florida related to alcohol and drug use. That represents 15 percent of the state s annual boating fatalities. Many others were injured and property damaged. No doubt, many escaped arrest after causing havoc. The last weekend in June, law enforcement agencies participated in the nationwide Operation Dry Water to increase BUI enforcement and raise awareness. Officers always look for BUIs. If caught you may be fined and jailed, your boat may be seized, and you could lose your boating privileges. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs a boat operator s vision and reaction time and they are susceptible to injuries or falling overboard because of impaired coordination and balance. Check out the operation and BAC tables at: Experienced boat operators teach our About Boating Safely course at the Florida Tackle & Gun Club at 9010 San Jose Blvd. Call Bob at to reserve a place in the August 9 th class or check our website at

19 Eight Bells is published at no expense to the government. Cost of its publication is borne by the dues paying members of Flotilla 14-8 of the 7th District U.S. Coast Guard. PRIVACY ACT: The Privacy Act of 1974 protects names, addresses, telephone/fax numbers and addresses of Flotilla 14-8 members which may appear in this or other USCGAUX publications. As a matter of policy, information described above is not made available to the general public or outside groups without that member s expressed and/or written consent. When such information appears, its privacy shall be safeguarded and the information will be clearly labeled. Publication of this information by the general public and/or outside groups is prohibited by the Privacy Act. Visit our award winning website at