America's Volunteer
Lifesavers

            

Flotilla 86 Venice, FL             www.cgauxvenice.org           7th District

Judi Bidwick, Commander            Juan Hernandez PhD, Vice-Commander

Flotilla Commander's Message

From the Commander

I recently read about International Search and Rescue (ISAR) events taking place all over the country.  Each team is hoping to make the Nationals to represent the United States in Toronto for the final competition in September.  Our flotilla has several coxswains and a team interested in preparing for such events.  This kind of effort will take tremendous amounts of time and skill-development on the part of these members.  Some of the initial practice can be developed during Member Training sessions; however, much will need to take place on their own time. 

[[ ISAR is about effective team commu­nication, creative problem-solving, situ­ational awareness, and an ability to plan and react quickly and safely in the areas of marlinspike, navigation, operations, communications, first aid, and SAR.  ISAR, at any level, is great training and fellowship for any and all members involved in operations. It is never too early to organize a team and practice. The results can improve every patrol you undertake.]] 

In mid-March, Commander Crawley joined us for an Open House at the Moorings to mark the dedication of  our recently-completed Member Training area. He presented sixteen of our members the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Team Commendation for their concerted effort in renovating the garage and creating a more pleasant, viable training facility and radio watchstanding area.  Also in attendance were Commodore Allen Brown and Division 8 Captain Raymond Paysour.  Chief Warrant Officer Steve Hansen from the “Gold Side” also joined in the festivities.  Steve will take over Commander Crawley’s position until the new Commander arrives. 

There are several important pages in this newsletter that need your close scrutiny.  The District 7 Protocol is particularly important for those who write articles, send emails outside our flotilla, or create publications, posters, or other material.  It presents guidelines that need to be followed.  For future reference, this Protocol may be accessed on our website.

 The other important page is entitled General Information and covers a number of new policies that have come down through the Chain.

Please assist with the upcoming events that our flotilla is sponsoring to support the Shark’s Tooth Festival and National Safe Boating Week.  Our success depends on you.

We are planning a fellowship for our May meeting.  Details will follow soon.

 Judi Bidwick

Judi Bidwick, FC

Information

 

Important Notice Best Viewed With Windows Internet Explorer Flotilla Staff Officers                CM - Juan Hernandez                CS -  Denis Keyes                FN -  Janet Heijens                IS   - Harry Bruno                MA - Richard Markwitz                MS - Roman Gzyl                 MT -  Lou Magyar                OP - Jim Sleichert                PA - Al Bidwick                PB - Judi Bidwick                PE - Judi Bidwick                PS - John Kandes                PV - Jerry Mitchell                SR - Ruthanne Bruno                                       General Meeting:               First Tuesday - 1930                  Training Center               On The Water Training               Every Thursday - 0830                Marine Max, Venice

Vice Commander
Juan Hernandez Ph D

 

As we come to the end of the first quarter, it is worthwhile to reflect on what has been accomplished and what the goals are for the near future:

·       We officially opened the Nokomis facility.  Commander Crawley joined us on March 21, 2006 for this event and presented the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Team Commendation to all members that participated in this project.  We thank and congratulate all members who helped us renovate our training facility.

·       An average of 33 members attended our monthly Flotilla meetings in 2006; that is only about 45% of our total membership.   Join us in committing to increase participation by at least 5 members in 2007.

·       An additional computer and a projector will be added soon at the Nokomis facility to support training activities and presentations.

·       Our Flotilla Website will be updated over the next couple of months; please contact Henry Reynolds, FSO/CS with suggestions for your FSO page or any other item you feel should be included.

·       April is ATON/PATON/BRIDGE Month for Verifications/Discrepancies and Watching Properly.  Let’s contribute to the Aids to Navigation (AN) month by carefully checking ATONs in our patrol area, especially the PATONS in isolated areas that are damaged or missing.

·       Member Training (MT) is providing excellent support to all members and we can now accommodate the 20 - 25 weekly participants comfortably at the Nokomis facility.  Sessions start with a review of Navigation Rules, Seamanship principles and the Operations Exam and are followed by on-the-water training (OWT) exercises.  Specialty courses with OWT training, such as search and rescue (SAR) planning, are also being offered to our membership. 

·       Vessel Examiners (VEs) conducted marina vessel safety events at the Country Club Estates and at South Bay Yacht and Tennis Club marinas. This year the VEs are working with Marine Safety and Public Affairs to increase the number of activities that the flotilla will promote during these campaigns.

·       Boat Safety Program Visitor (PV) received approval from Wal-Mart and West Marine to set up display tables for Auxiliary services - Vessel Examinations, Marine Safety and Recruiting.

·       Marine Safety (MS) will join the 2007 Kellogg/Wal-Mart /Auxiliary “On the Box” National Promotion to “Wear a Life Jacket” at the Wal-Mart–Osprey store and pass out Land and Sea Help (LASH) whistles to all school age children.  Members are encouraged to assist in this worthwhile effort.

·       Operations continues to support safety patrols and other missions during this quarter, e.g., 8 safety patrols and 11 OWT missions were completed in March. 

·       Communications (CM) provides ongoing coverage for safety patrols and OWT activities.  Remember to make a complete report (heading, location, Operations Normal) to Venice Radio.

·       Our thanks to the Information Systems (IS), Materials (MA), Publications (PB)  and Public Affairs (PA) FSOs for their excellent support during this quarter.

 Juan Hernandez
VFC

 

Aids To Navigation
Ed Stebner, FSO-AN

Please be aware that April is ATON/PATON/BRIDGE month and we should be looking  for verifications and discrepancies..

Let's launch the ATON/PATON/BRIDGE INSPECTIONS April 1 and keep them rolling  through the month of April for necessary updating.

Keep an extra lookout for the PATONS in isolated areas that are damaged or missing.  Remember these are areas that we don’t patrol on a routine basis. Don’t overlook isolated areas.

Any Auxiliarist can report discrepancies to the Coast Guard on a 7054 for ATONS and bridges, but not PATONS. Only a certified aid-verifier can submit a verification report for

ATONS/PATONS/BRIDGES on a 7054.

PATON verifications/discrepancies are to be reported once a year in April.

Please coordinate these inspections with your FSO-OP for the above mentioned patrols.

You can log one discrepancy or ten Verifications/Watching Properly on your 7054 to report the aid condition.  Don’t forget to submit your 7030 to FSO-IS to get credit for a discrepancy reported showing mission 30, 31, and 32.

Remember only a certified aid-verifier can submit a verification report for ATONS/PATONS/BRIDGES on a 7054 and should submit a 7030 to their FSO-IS to receive credit for the report.

There will be a workshop at Flotilla 84, 1101 10th St, Sarasota, Fl 34243, on May 5 at 0900 hours. This is for all aid verifiers who would like an Aid-Verifier/Chart Updating Refresher Class, and for new aid-verifiers who would like to get qualified at this workshop.  This workshop will take between six and eight hours, so pack a lunch or they will be taking lunch orders for five dollars for a sub from a local store.

NOTE: Uniform will be Tropical Blues, long.

Ed Stebner
FSO-AN

 

 

Communications
Walt Jennings, FSO-CM

 
 

We have all seen the new radio room at the Moorings, and with anything new or changed there can be problems with the new set-up.  Everything is working properly, but if anyone is experiencing difficulties with any aspect of the new radio or the training room in general while you are on radio watch, please let me know. 

Radio watchstanders are reminded that we are now using the call sign, "Venice Radio," (with no "1").  I am still hearing the base station radio watchstanders as well as boats on patrol placing a "1" at the end of "Venice Radio."  If, as watchstander, you have a vessel using a "1" when calling or responding to you, please remind the vessel owner and radio operator on the boat of the current call sign in use.  This is best done when the vessel returns to the moorings.

Walt Jennings
FSO-CM

 

Communications Services
Henry Reynolds, FSO-CS

 

Juan Hernandez and I will begin a thorough review of the Flotilla's website. There are items on the site, due to security policy, that need to be removed. Also. outdated information and dead URL links will either be updated or repaired. It is anticipated that this review will be completed later this year. Access to the website will not be impaired during this review and update period.

Henry Reynolds
FSO-CS

 

 

Information Services
 Harry Bruno, FSO-IS

 

I recently attended Aux 10 "C" school gaining a wealth of information, not only on Auxdata but also on Auxinfo.  I cannot encourage our members enough to explore Auxinfo.  With the new access provided on the District 7 website (cgaux7.org) under "Auxinfo Reports" it is much easier to navigate the site and locate information; all without a password.   Try it--you'll like it!! 

In reference to coxswain serving as crew:  Coxswains no longer will need to be listed in "remarks" on the POMS 7030.  Coxswains serving as crew will automatically receive credit in auxdata without this notation. 

Another change to note is that the deadline for the required yearly one hour TCT course has been extended from May 31st to December 31, 2007.  

Just a note--I processed 129 Flotilla 86 reports last month.  1,595 member hours were reported on the 7029 forms alone.  Keep those reports coming. 

 Please remember to follow the Chain of Leadership when submitting facility information or any other information that needs to be sent to anyone outside the flotilla.  Not following the Chain can result in mistakes, misunderstandings, and criticisms of our flotilla for not following the proper routing through the proper people.

Harry Bruno,
FSO-IS/SO-IS
 

 

Materials
Ruth Bruno, FSO-MA

 

 

I will be ordering ribbon holders in the near future.  If anyone needs a holder for a particular number of ribbons please email me ASAP at harryb86@comcast.net. 

There have been some errors on the part of the company from whom we order sew-ons.  I apologize to anyone who has experienced delay in receiving these items.  The problems are being corrected.  If you need any sew ons please notify me.  Should you wish a magnetic plastic name tag, instead of the pin on type, they can be purchased at:  Suncoast Engraving, 121 Miami Avenue, West, Venice (on the island).

 Ruth Bruno
 FSO-MA

 

 

Marine Safety
Fred Shaneyfelt, FSO-MS

FROM THE EDGE OF THE WATER

March 10, Marine Safety attended an awareness-level class followed  by a class for Assistant Pollution Investigator (AUX ED PQS).  These classes were presented by: MST1 Heather Norman, USCG Sector St. Petersburg, Incident Management Branch. It was a long day but a lot of useful information was passed on and will be put to use.

Marine Safety is still waiting to hear from Boat US to see if our grant was approved for the trading card idea of Be a Boating Winner and Can your Litter.r.

The Marine Safety proposal to join with The 2007 Kellogg/Wal-Mart / Auxiliary “On the Box” National Promotional to Wear a Life Jacket received approval. MS will be involved at the Wal-Mart – Osprey store and pass out LASH- whistles to all school age children. Exact date has not been set yet. Any flotilla member interested in participating can email, call or see me in person. This will only happen once and will be no more then four (4) hours of your time.

A Marine Safety proposal was made and approved to update the home page of our Flotilla Website. To be added will be a teachers/kids area so they can down load coloring and safety materials.

When doing VE checks, make each boater (passenger) is aware of America Waterway Watch, our Boating classes, and our WEBSITE to obtain safe boating information.

Fred Shaneyfelt
FSO-MS 

Keeping MS on the move

 

Member Training
Bud Beeman, FSO-MT

 

MT is meeting each Tuesday morning at the Moorings. Only when the room was being remodeled did we cancel because of the weather.  This prevented us from meeting inside.

Each Tuesday we precede boat training with a brief Navigation Rules session, followed by a Seamanship session, and now we have added a session to review the new Operation Exam.  Each coxswain candidate must pass the exam, but the exam contains info every coxswain should be aware of.

After our class sessions, we move onto the boats for towing, anchoring, and docking , or SAR exercises. Several times we have had three boats to accommodate the 20 to 24 attendees.

In addition to the above activities each week we have scheduled a class on specific Member Training programs.  A Search and Rescue planning class took one complete Tuesday, followed the next week with the SAR exercise in the Gulf. The following week the SAR exercise was repeated for those attending who were unable to go the prior week. We tried to limit the numbers on boats to about five, to focus better on the mission, and reduce unnecessary chatter.

Each week there have been members making presentations in preparation for taking the instructor course.

J D Harrison and Garland Russ are coordinating the land tasks and the boat training.  Bob High is guiding the OPs Exam presentations, and Ed Stebner is working on the Operational Excellence program, along with Juan Hernandez.

The expanded and decorated room at Moorings has been quite useful. We look forward to the projector being installed so more presentations can be made.

 
Bud Beeman,
FSO-MT FL86

 

Operations
Jim Sleichert, FSO-OP

Public Affairs
Al Bidwick, FSO-PA

 

Several members met following the March monthly meeting to discuss and agree upon ways to capitalize on the partnership between Wal-Mart and Kellogs food.  Fred and Betty Shaneyfeld will contact Wal-Mart and arrange to set up and area where they can meet with patrons and distribute whistles and various kinds of literature.

I wrote press releases announcing our BS&S and GPS classes and submitted them to the various media.  I also posted information about the classes in libraries, marinas, etc.

Judi and I attended the monthly meeting of the Country Club Estates Boat Captains and spoke about the Auxiliary and gave a short class on boating safety/courtesy.

The Sharks Tooth festival is scheduled for April 20-22.  I’ll be looking for volunteers to staff the booth on the 21^st and 22^nd.  Please mark your calendars and plan to help out on those days

Al Bidwick
FSO-PA

 

Public Education
Ruth Bruno, FSO-PE

GPS CLASS BEGINS March 29th continuing through April 19.  You can register on March 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the training center. 

Our ACN class will be coming to an end in the next few weeks.  We are preparing for a March 24 joint meeting of Flotilla Commanders in Division 8, PE and PA officers at our flotilla to discuss new ideas to promote boating safety classes and other pertinent information. 

We have held three OWT public education classes for a total of 12 students.  These classes familiarize the student with the local area as well as providing information and demonstration of safe boating practices. The classes are very well received by those attending.

Ruth Bruno
FSO-PE

 

Personnel Services
Paul F. Corcoran, FSO-PS

 

There are two prospects for membership at the present time.  One came from one of our vessel examiners, the other from the Boating Skills and Seamanship class in the fall.

One is a retired US Navy navigator who could possibly teach navigation.Although he works fulltime, he is very interested in joining our flotilla.

Paul Corcoran
FSO-PS 

 

Recreation Boating Safety
John Kandes, FSO-RBS

 

I did six visits so far this month. In those six both Nokomis and Venice Walmarts have agreed to let us put up a booth for National Boating Safety Week. West Marine has agreed to advertise this week on their in front of the store.

John Kandes
FSO-RBS

 

Secretary and Records
Ruth Bruno, SR

Did you know we had an average of 33 members attending our monthly Flotilla meetings in 2006.   That is only about 45% of our total membership.   Wouldn't it be nice to increase that number for 2007?  Why not call an inactive member and invite them to attend with you?  Tell them how interesting our meetings are and what an enjoyable time we have.  Everyone will benefit with increased attendance

 Ruth Bruno
 FSO-SR

 

Vessel Examiner
Henry Reynolds, FSO-VE

 

The Vessel Examiners conducted two marina vessel safety events within the past months. The first was at Country Club Estates, the other at South Bay Yacht and TennisClub. Attending the Country Club Estates event on 22
February were Fred Shaneyfelt, Jim Sleichert, Patrick Wheeler and Henry Reynolds.
Those attending the South Bay event on 30-31 March were Juan Hernandez, Fred
Shanneyfelt, Jim Sleichert and Henry Reynolds.

The next major event for the Vessel Examiners will be National Safe Boating Week. The event is held every year just before the first holiday of the summer. This year the Vessel Examiners are working with Marine Safety and Public Affairs to increase the number of activities that the flotilla will promote during the campaign. More information about these activities will be in future newsletters. Remember we can always use help during this week. If you would like to volunteer your time please contact either Al Bidwick or Henry Reynolds.

 Remember-

                                “Be a safe boater – have a Vessel Safety Check”

Henry Reynolds
FSO-VE

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

The National Department of Training is working to replace the Advanced Coastal Navigation text and introduce a new AuxNav course. Work began a couple of months ago to replace Advanced Coastal Navigation text with a new text – The Weekend Navigator by Robert J. Sweet. The Weekend Navigator text has a greater focus on electronic navigation. They are now working to create Student Study Guides, Instructor Guides, additional information on “charting basics”, charting problems and on-line and paper-based test question databanks. The new text and course should be available in the late fall of 2007. http://auxtdept.org/

 The APC is an overview of the Auxiliary Manual for elected officers at the flotilla and division levels and provides a source of material for all members to define the administration of the Auxiliary. In an attempt to improve training for flotilla and division level use, the existing on-line exam has been replaced with an updated version. The revised APC on-line exam is now available on the Exam Gateway. Members should access this on-line exam via the current web pages and not attempt to re-use cached sites or favorites. Using cached sites or favorites will result in failure to access the updated exam.  http://www.auxtdept.org/Members.htm

If you have any desire to be considered for an elected office, you must take and pass the APC exam.        

 BOAT CREW TRAINING REVISIONS:

All tasks completed in the older guide may be transferred to the new guide by the mentor, FC, VFC, FSO-MT, or FSO-OP provided the tasks were performed less than 2 years ago. The original date and mentor’s name must be used.

The member must have 12 hours underway each year and attend a 1-hour TCT refresher provided by the National Operations Department. These tasks must be completed (and recorded in AUXDATA) by 31 Dec or the member will go into REYR.

For members due a check ride under the old program in 2007 or 2008, their QE check ride is due by 31 Dec 07. If due in 2009, due in 2008 and if due in 2010 or 2011, the check ride is due by 31 Dec 2009.

If a member missed tasks or hours in 2006, The missing hours (up to 8) are made up as a trainee. Missing tasks are not required.

For coxswains, crew time now counts as coxswain time.

If a member is coxswain qualified on both PWC and vessel, he needs to do 12 hours underway on each platform.

The 8-hour TCT course will suffice for taking the annual refresher in a given year.

The annual TCT refresher does not replace the 5^th year TCT course.

Only Coxswain and PWC Operators have to take the Ops Policy Test for initial qualification. 90% is passing. The test is available on-line at: http://cgexams.info/testing/  If the hard copy is used, it must be proctored.

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

3 April                  Vessel Examiners Workshop (1815 at Flotilla 86)

 

7 April:                 Girl Scout Benefit at ELK’s Lodge, Laurel Road

                             PA will set up from 9-11am

 

14 April:               Division Awards meeting (Flotilla 84) 0900

                             All flotilla members are invited to attend; officers

                             are expected to attend to support those who will

                             receive awards

 

20-21-22 April:   Sharks Tooth Festival

                             Help is needed to man the Fl 86 tent on

                             Saturday and Sunday; help set up Friday

 

28April:               Division picnic at Station Cortez

                            All members are invited to attend (free). 1100-1430

 

5 May:                 ATON Workshop and Training Session

                             Flotilla 84, 0900-1600

 

7 May:                 Fellowship Picnic/Meeting

 

19-25 May:         National Safe Boating Week, different events

                             to support the flotilla