U N I T E D S T A T E S C O A S T G U A R D A U X I L I A R Y : F L O T I L L A 0 5-0 4 1 S R 15 FEB 2010 Inside This Issue: From the Quarterdeck 2 Flotilla Photos 3 Welcome Aboard! 4 Flotilla Schedule 4 VFC Brian Brown presents Mike Raffel with a Meritorious Team Commendation for his participation in Fleet Week 2009. Congratulations Mike! Photo by Ed Stone AUXDATA STATISTICS RBS Leadership 99a 173 RBS Support 99e 232 TOTAL HOURS 405 The March 11th has been rescheduled to 04-MAR-2010 The meeting will be at 1930 at the South Minneford Yacht Club Uniform of the Day is Tropical Blue Long For Directions, contact VFC Brian Brown CGAUXBROWN@yahoo.com sm VISIT US ON THE WEB! WWW.USCGAUX0504.ORG
From the Quarterdeck! Richard Natole Flotilla Commander Greetings 05-04 members and friends; Winter is still holding its grip on the Northeast and I am sure we are all looking forward to warmer weather and the 2010 boating season. Even through these challenging winter conditions our Flotilla has been moving forward. Two new members have joined our Flotilla in February, Albert Ebanks and John Szeligowski, I would like to welcome them both. When you see them at our next meeting say hello and give them a warm welcome and a helping hand in getting acquainted with our Flotilla and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Remember how if felt when you were a new member and needed a mentor to help you get familiar with the Auxiliary. Become a Mentor! As far as activities, we have our PE classes scheduled for the 3 rd and 10 th of March, if you know anyone interested in taking a boating safety class let our FSO-PE officers Alan Lesser and Claude Sanz know so we can get them registered. Richard Helm is spearheading our Adopt a Cutter initiative that will benefit our Coast Guard men and women who are on the ground in Haiti helping the earth quake victims. We have allocated funds from our Flotilla treasury and through donations to purchase goods that we can package and send to them in the field. I would personally like to thank Richard Helm for spearheading this initiative and also to April Maron, Michael Figueroa, Jr. and Jane Dinodato for assisting Rich. Thanks Rich, April, Mike Jr and Jane, Bravo Zulu! Our FSO-OP (Operations Officer) Ralph Irizarry is preparing for the start of our Crew Classes for 2010 on 8 March 2010. Ralph has arranged for one of the Divisions QE officers to speak and outline exactly what will be expected from the crew and coxswain candidates during the program and on the day of the QE testing. All crew and coxswain candidates get ready for one of the best operational training seasons to begin. I suggest you start getting your uniforms and gear ready, and if you don t have it get it ordered so there are no delays or inconveniences at class or on the water. If you have any questions get in touch with Ralph and he will advise you. Our FSO-VE (Vessel Examiner Officer) Norm Harris and our FSO-MA (Materials Officer Joseph Hackett) have ordered our allotment of VE decals and materials for the kickoff our season during safe boating week in May. Our meeting date for March has been changed. Due to HYC schedules our meeting will take place on 4 March 2010 at the South Minneford Yacht Club in the trailer next to the security office, meeting time 1930 hours, uniform Tropical Blue Long. Thanks to Jeff Maron for setting this up for us! Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for your understanding and help during my absence. Especially our VFC Brian Brown, and IPFC Richard Helm who have been continuously in touch with me to keep things running smoothly. I know that the meeting locations and changes have been a challenge but after the April meeting everything should be back to normal. March will soon be upon us and I think March is a transitional month where we start to come out of hibernation to prepare for our summer programs, and missions. I know everyone of us has joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a reason; hopefully one of the reasons was to get involved with our programs, missions and initiatives. By getting involved, you are helping one of the best U.S. military branches whose men and women secure our maritime boarders and keep us safe. We owe our support to these men and women by allowing them to do their jobs while we have their backs at home. If you get involved with the Auxiliary they can concentrate on the more dangerous issues that could potentially plague our nation. With your support we will support the U.S. Coast Guard and have a very rewarding and productive year! I want to thank all members of Flotilla 05-04 for your support! BRAVO ZULU! Warmest Regards, Richard Natole 15 FEB 2010 2
Flotilla Photos - 04 FEB 2010, Photos by Ed Stone Brian Brown, VFC presents Norman Harris, FSO-VE with his Vessel Examiner Certificate. If you are interested in becoming a Vessel Examiner please contact Norm! Bravo Zulu Norm! Brian Brown presents Rich Helm, IPFC with his Instructor Certificate. To become an Instructor please contact Brian Brown. Bravo Zulu Rich! AP Member John Achenson, Michael Figueroa, and Jane Diodato look over the minutes from the previous meeting before voting to accept the minutes. (Back to front) Rich Helm, Mike Raffel, Alan Lesser, April Maron and Norman Harris take notes during the meeting. Brian Brown and John Achenson look on while the discussion regarding Adopt A Cutter takes place. 15 FEB 2010 3
2009/2010 Flotilla Schedule Welcome Aboard! At our last meeting on 04 FEB 2010, Ed Stone and Rich Helm, IPFC processed the enrollments of John Szeligowski Jr., and Albert Ebanks. Please, be sure to welcome them onboard when you see them at Auxiliary functions! March 4 2010* South Minneford 1930 March 19-21 2010 District Awards Conference Mystic Marriot CT April 15 2010* John Szeligowski, Jr. Albert Ebanks May 13 2010 June 10 2010 July 8 2010 August 12 2010 Annual BBQ TBA September 9 2010 October 14 2010 November 11 2010 Flotilla Elections *Note Change of Date HYC= Harlem Yacht Club 15 FEB 2010 4
05-04 BRIDGE FLOTILLA COMMANDER RICHARD NATOLE CM Rich Natole IS Richard Helm MT-S Brian A. Brown PE Alan Lesser PV Mike Raffel VICE FLOTILLA COMMANDER BRIAN A. BROWN FLOTILLA STAFF OFFICERS CS Brian A. Brown MA Joseph Hackett OP Ralph O. Irizarry PE Claude Sanz SR April Maron IMMEDIATE PAST FLOTILLA COMMANDER RICHARD HELM FN Albert Patten MT-O Ralph O. Irizarry PB Brian A. Brown PS Ed Stone VE Norm Harris FLOTILLA 05-04 PUBLICATION S STAFF Editor in Chief: Brian A. Brown Assoc. Editor: Ralph O. Irizarry Staff Writer: Richard A. Natole Photo Editor: Ed Stone Stepping Stones is published at no cost to the Government by: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 05-04 C/O Harlem Yacht Club 417 Hunter Avenue City Island, NY 10464 Black and White photo of Stepping Stones featured on the top of every page is courtesy of: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gcp/ history/ WEBLIGHTHOUSES/ steppingstones.jpg Copyright Notice All photos herein are the exclusive property of USCG Aux. Flotilla 05-04 and may not be used or reproduced without the express prior written authorization of USCG Aux. Flotilla 05-04. All Photographs are taken by Ed Stone unless otherwise indicated. Privacy Notice The information contained in this document is subject to the provisions of the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 and may only be used for official business of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Coast Guard Auxiliary USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 014-05-04, 2010