Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific Region at 7:00pm Meeting Minutes Present: Barry Metcalfe ( Unit 58 French Creek), Brian Cameron (Unit 60 Comox), Dan Savage (Manager of Training), David Rees-Thomas (Manager of SAR/OPS), Don Willson (Unit 50 Port McNeill), Henri Niet (Unit 59 Deep Bay), Melissa Gervais (Manager of Financial Development and PR), Peter Wilson (Unit 43 Port Alice), Warlow (Executive Officer) Absent: Jim Lee (Manager of Human Resources), Kevin Smith (Unit 52 Port Hardy), Neil Goldsmith (Manager of Boating Safety), Norman McEwen (Unit 54 Campbell River), Sheila Flynn (Unit 20 Salish Sea, Area Representative), Ian Arklie (Unit 39 Port Alberni), Henry Jack (Unit 42 Kyuquot), Richard Sanborn Sr. (Unit 51 Alert Bay), Bob McVie (Unit 53 Bamfield), Robert Wingham (Unit 55 Powell River), Chair: Warlow Minutes: Melissa Gervais # TOPIC Discussion Action 1. Call to Order called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 2. Adoption of Agenda 3. Adoption of Minutes 4. Business Arising from Minutes/ Call for New Business The agenda was adopted with the following additions: - Stu teleconferences - Barry - Gecko helmets - Don - Port McNeill - The minutes were adopted as presented. Henri update on gaming - 5. Area Business Teleconferences Stu asked if these teleconferences are useful? Is Wednesday the and Tanis Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 1 of 6
right night, should we ask each region as many units have their training on Wednesday evenings. Canvas the region and ask which night. to send an email to each area and choose the preferred evening for the teleconference. Brian yes they are useful but we would like updates from the Area Rep, perhaps she could also comment on the management team meetings and the concerns of the region. We are not getting enough information to the unit. Are there summaries available from the Management Team for the unit leaders? Can ask the Area Reps to send regular updates to all of the unit leaders in the area? Is there any way to post the minutes from all the area teleconferences on the website for Unit Leaders to view? Many of the challenges and questions are the same, could we share the information? Sheila Management Team and Area Reps Tanis and Scott? 6. Unit Business Gecko Helmets Barry said that John Palliser sent out a memo that they would be supplying gecko helmets but he did not get them. We are about to make a purchase and we don t know how many to purchase? The OIC should be asking CG if they are supplying them. Stu agreed that was the understanding and that David should follow up and find out what is happening. Co-crewed stations must wear approved (Gecko) helmets. Stu asked if anyone has read the auditor general s report. It is very interesting and points out that we have to become proactive. David Port McNeil Auxiliary Unit Don Willson reported that there is no longer an Auxiliary unit in Port McNeil. This is the result of a letter they received from Malcolm Dunderdale in 2005 stating that we were no longer able to respond as they did not have a current AVI. After repeated requests and failed attempts, they did not complete an AVI. The unit was still responding, JRCC would contact them directly. Then JRCC stopped calling. David asked if they were going out as o/o? They do not get a call. Bill McKay (whale watching operator) has a separate contract with JRCC. Bill is very supportive of the unit. asked who is doing the calls? Bill or CG? He did not know. Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 2 of 6
Dan asked are there many calls? He doesn t know. Spoke to Dick from Alert Bay but it seems very quiet. Dan asked what facilities and equipment do they have? They are owner operated, like Alert Bay. David said that Ocean Falls CG crew had refused to do AVI s as they are not qualified. Tyler was going to organize this with JP, David to follow up with Tyler. David and Tyler Port McNeil still has the 508 crew for the summer but there isn t much interest, the unit has drifted away. said there is no reason CG can t get there to perform an AVI or possibly send an auxiliary member. The 508 crew usually asks the auxiliary for help to do safety checks. asked David and Dan to arrange (maybe Mike Mitchell) to go up and do an AVI. David is going to talk to JP. David congratulated Don and said good work in reviving the unit. Bill McKay will always be there. There is a new breed of boaters in the area; Don s son would be very interested. David and Dan David said that Alert Bay is getting more active as well, looking at getting a dedicated response vessel. Update on gaming Henri said the he has a gaming application ready, what should he do with it? and Ursula are working of the logistics of submitting them this year. It looks like the applications will go through Victoria and not on-line. requested that he send it into him. will send a memo to all the units/societies outlining the filing dates and where to send them. Tinted Glass Henri reported that the tinted glass has been removed. replied that this was a directive from CG. There was a grounding (during a training run) and CG determined that anyone in a enclosed cabin vessel will have to take a navigation course. The SEN light course out of Camosun costs close to $500 per person and takes 4 full-time days. In the future this will be solved by our simulator project and our online program, NetSim. said that the SEN light course came Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 3 of 6
out of Memorial University and they want to incorporate our NetSim project. Dan said we have 5 people enrolled in the next SEN light course (2 Sooke, 3 Victoria). Watertight Windows and doors There was a rumour that CG was requesting waterproof windows and doors. Brian goes around 30 knots, normally 25. Don was just inspected by TC, most water taxis, new passenger vessel will have to be compliant (under 5 tons). The actual inspection form asks if it is an Auxiliary vessel. Watertight doors in the cabin, engine compartment, bulk head, adequate skuppers and pass a stability test. It really means that small water taxis are going to be out of business. At the boat show they were saying the same thing to charter/fishing companies. Stu reiterated that working with CG can only benefit us. The higher standards that are putting forth are directed towards FRV and not so much o/o at this time. The bottom line is that if we don t agree (yellow decal) then you are not going out. Stu said that we are putting together a Safety Manual as requested by CG. Stu has talked to JP about providing AVI s to all of our units while the CG vessels are in the area. Don asked is it worth talking to someone at TC ship safety? Brian nard (Senior Marine Inspector). said that TC works very closely with Titan Boats which provides most of the Auxiliary vessels. Stu said that maybe Dan should invite TC to the April 27 th meeting? Stu and Dan Port Alice Peter reported that they are recruiting again, they have 4 potential members and the office is sending up the forms. There is an interest in the PCOC and he found out today that they can give the courses. What are people charging? In Vancouver it is $20 50. David asked Peter about the headsets, they are a little bit complicated. We had one night when we couldn t get them to work, figured it out the next day in the light. They are not plug and play. Their little marina has a new breakwater ($11k). The boat is good. Still no boathouse, take it out in the spring and fall for a good bottom cleaning. Dan reminded Peter that new members should have a PCOC Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 4 of 6
number as soon as they start. Comox asked Brian how are the new engines? They are great. It has been very quiet. They have a lot of community support. Brian said that the windows are not out of the Deep Bay boat, he was at Carswell yesterday. It is a very nice boat. It was parked next to the new Pender Harbour boat and they look similar, they have the shock absorbing seats. Had a good talk about the jet boat, theirs is an inboard, not a pod on the back. Carswell was impressed with the configuration (19 foot). This weekend we have a PCCC blitz down at the parking lot with the display trailer, then we will follow it up with the Bobbie. There are three major Boating Safety events coming up in Cumberland, Comox and Courtenay. We have also done a couple classroom trainings. Also coming up is the Snow to Surf event. The unit has started working with the Comox Rec Centre; they run 2 dragon boats with about 6 teams. The unit put together two presentations, for about 60 people each, outlining what dragonboaters should carry on the boat. He said that it was a great success and very rewarding to see that they are now carrying dry bags with VHF radios and all of the rowers are now wearing whistles. Well done Brian! 7. Manager Business Training Rates Dan said that the training reimbursement budget is remaining the same. A2 rate is $53.85, it was $83.00. The incident rate remains the same. The CG contribution agreement expired last year and we are at the same dollar amount for this year. Certificates and the SMS Certs have to be filed with the office update your certs (first aid, PCOC). Our safety audit will include all of these certificates. You cannot be on a vessel without them. A couple of units still have a bunch of certs sitting in pending. Dan said that Leslie is working through it. Dan will check with Leslie. Dan and Leslie Manager of Stu Worthington has accepted the position of Manager of Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 5 of 6
Safety Safety. This was really initiated by CG to prepare for our safety audit. If you have any questions at all regarding safety policies and procedures, please contact Stu directly at safety@ccga-p.ca Or 604-328-4785 ARTE Coordinator Dan is working on bringing on a dedicated ARTE coordinator; they want to revitalize the ARTE team. Stay tuned. RHIOT Brian asked about RHIOT candidates. Dan is finalizing the letter and it will be going out in the next week or so. Dan John McLean Henri told that he does not have ownership papers from the John Mclean. will send them. There is interest from the community to buy it. 8 Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m. Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Page 6 of 6