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

With the start of the New Year, our flotilla has several areas of focus.  We have prepared the way for modifying the garage and storage area at the moorings.  This will be made into a classroom and training area for our members and for public education.  Hopefully, we will start on this project within the next two weeks.

With the loss of thousands of Auxilarists over the past three years, we need join forces with districts nationally to look at new methods of recruiting and retaining flotilla members.  Traditional recruiting methods don’t seem to be working, although we don’t want to give up on exposure to the Auxiliary via public boating courses, courtesy vessel checks, casual discovery on the internet, or recruitment by a friend.  The new volunteers are not only looking for something to do in their spare time but they desire a higher level of education and training for themselves—“what can the Auxiliary do for me.”  

It is becoming more important that we, as members and mentors, communicate with each other in timely ways, encourage each other to take part in flotilla functions, become involved in the planning process and help generate new ideas for making our flotilla a functional but fun place to belong.  Your ideas are welcomed.

Beginning 01 January 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft. Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model. See the National Department web site at  http://safetyseal.net/index3.asp  for more information.  Whether you are a vessel examiner, program visitor, instructor, or are involved with any other officer that sees the public, it is important that this information be shared.

I’d like to challenge flotilla members to get involved in one new area this year.  If you haven’t been an instructor, consider joining us as a classroom aide to see what a difference you can make.  Boat Safety Checks are one of the most important missions the flotilla has.  Consider becoming a VE to help our examiners reach more boaters.  If you can deliver materials to stores, libraries, marinas, think about becoming a Program Visitor to help us get the word out to the public.

Our fourth cornerstone is Fellowship—one of the most important elements of belonging to any group.  We need a Fellowship Chairperson and some members who will join the committee to assist us in planning simple but necessary times to get together for fun.  Al and I have chaired this effort for the past five years and with the added responsibilities we both have, we need to call on others to help out in this area.

 Judi Bidwick
Flotilla Commander

 

Judi Bidwick, FC

Information

 

Important Notice No Notices Flotilla Staff Officers  AN - Ed Stebner  AV - Al Bidwick  CM - Garlan Russ  CS - Henry Reynolds  FN - Janet Heijens  IS -   Harry Bruno  MA - Ruthanne Bruno  MS - Henry Reynolds  MT - John Harrison  OP - Jim Sleichert  PA - Al Bidwick  PB - Monique Ring  PE - Ruthanne Bruno  PS - Paul Corcoran  PV - John Kandes  SR - Ruthanne Bruno  VE - Denis Keyes General Meeting: First Tuesday - 1930 Training Center On The Water Training Every Tuesday - 0830 Moorings

Vice Commander
Juan Hernandez Ph D

 

I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and many blessings for the New Year. 

The start of the New Year is the right time to work together and set goals for the coming year.  To this effect, I want to ask each of the Flotilla Staff Officers (FSO) to outline goals for their area of responsibility and also contribute to identifying cross-functional goals for the Flotilla.  Judi and I plan to meet with the FSOs early in January to finalize this task.

The 2007 FSO staff is listed below:

Stebner, E.	FSO-AN
Jennings, W.	FSO-CM
Reynolds, H.	FSO-CS FSO-VE
Ozimek, S.	FSO-FN
Bruno, H.	FSO-IS
Bruno, R.	FSO-MA FSO-PE FSO-SR
Shaneyfelt, F.	FSO-MS
Beeman, C.	FSO-MT
Sleichert, J.	FSO-OP
Bidwick, A.	FSO-PA
Ring, M.	FSO-PB
Corcoran, P.	FSO-PS
Kanders, J.	FSO-PV

I am happy to report that we received approval for the Nokomis renovation project and will proceed to make the planned enhancements to the station early next year.  We thank the members that contributed to developing this project and those that will help implement it during the next couple of months.

 Finally, I want to share with you the revisions to the Boat Crew Training Program, in particular the new 3 year QE check ride.  I sent a copy of Commandant Instruction M16794.51 to all members in a recent message.  The major changes are listed below.

1. Remove Annual Currency Maintenance task requirements for Coxswains, Crew members and PWC operators.
2. Increased the minimum number of hours required for annual currency maintenance from 8 hours to 12 hours.
3. Reduced the five year currency maintenance requirements (check ride) cycle to a three year cycle.  The three year cycle begins in 2007.  Scheduling is as follows:
   1. Last check ride 2002 or 2003: Next check ride 2007 - complete New Tasks;
   2. Last check ride 2004: Next check ride 2008 - complete New Tasks;
   3. Last check ride 2005 or 2006: Next check ride 2009 - complete New Tasks.

Juan C. Hernandez, VFC

Materials
Ruth Bruno, FSO-MA

 

 

NOTE FROM FSO-MA Ruth Bruno:

The Uniform Distribution Center (UDC) is pleased to announce the opening of the online web store. Members can now order all uniform items the UDC offers 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

 

The web store can be accessed through the UDCs home page at http://www.uscg.mil/uniforms. >From this site, click on placing orders tab then click on USCG UDC web store tab in the online orders paragraph. First time web store users will need to complete a request form to gain access. The link to this form is located on the web store sign-on page. Once processed, an e-mail will be sent to the member with a user name and password. All regular forms of payment are accepted from individual active duty, reserve and auxiliary members. At this time, unit and exchange orders cannot be processed through the web. 

 Ruth Bruno
 FSO-MA

 

 

Marine Safety
Fred Shaneyfelt, FSO-MS

FROM THE EDGE OF THE WATER

Marine Safety is constantly making efforts to keep our members up to date on all the Coast Guard’s safety programs that directly affect us. All of us have heard of the Sea Partners program which was developed in 1994 to address the need to educate the public and raise awareness of the environmental deterioration of our seas and waterways.

Sea Partners is about EDUCATION. The primary target of this program is the young people, recreational boaters, other waterways users and anyone living near coastal areas.  This would include the entire Venice area.

At present we pass out Sea Partners literature at our dock sites when VE checks are being performed;  it is also given out when we visit schools.

If you would like to be a part of this program or America Waterway Watch Program (AWW) contact me. If you have ideas that may help out in this area, bend my ear. 

 A short (10 minute) introduction to America Waterway Watch (DVD) will be shown at one of our future flotilla meetings.

Fred Shaneyfelt
FSO-MA 

Operations Elect
Jim Sleichert, FSO-OP

FROM THE OPERATION DESK 

   From the operational side the patrol requests went very well.  Everyone was able to get a patrol date and the o.w.t. dates are filled up as of now.  Bud Beeman will decide if we need more boats for Tuesday’s members training.  I believe it will depend on the training mission and number of members that attend.

     Below are a few things that everyone should know and hopefully keep in a file somewhere on the the computer.uter.uter. This link is to the finance center to check on your patrol claims.
                   http://www.fincen.uscg.mil/cgi-bin/aux_retrieval.pl

     The following information was e-mailed by Judi, but I’m entering it in the newsletter, because I know most of u probably did not read it the first time.

      The new Boat Crew Manual will be available January 1, 2007.  The following are changes that are noted in the manual:

Brief Summary of Changes:

· Incorporation of a Qualification Examiner (QE) Guide to the Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual.

· Changed some initial qualification tasks from optional to required, removed some optional tasks, and changed some optional tasks to waiverable by DIRAUX.

· Changed the required number of underway time from 8 hours to 12 hours per year, which can be earned as either coxswain or crew. (That is, coxswains can serve as crew members to achieve the new 12 hour requirement!)

· Annual tasks currency maintenance tasks have been removed!

· Five year QE Check ride will be reduced to every three years. (Implementation plan pending approval.) But if you are due in 2007 or 2008, be looking for the new task list. You will probably be completing the revised check ride with a QE sometime in 2007.

· Check ride tasks are being revised and will be published when approved. There will be a few additional tasks in the new check ride taken from the qualification check ride tasks. Nothing you haven't done before, but you might not have done some for a while.

· One hour annual TCT review, designed by the Department of Operations, that can be conducted without a TCT facilitator at the local level.

    Remember what Harry said, 01A is the code of all on water patrols.  Check your equipment and if anything is old or expired, contact me and I will try to update you.                               

James Sleichert
FSO-OP

 

Public Affairs
Al Bidwick, FSO-PA

 

December was a rather slow month for Public Affairs.  Most of my time was spent publicizing the Boating Skills & Seamanship and Advanced Coastal Navigation classes and posting information about the classes in libraries and other places that provide bulletin boards for such things. 

The National Public Affairs Office has developed a game plan for the first three months of the new year which offers some concrete suggestions to improve a flotilla’s public affairs program.  Many of the suggestions are already incorporated into our plans, but others offer promising opportunities for the future.

Al Bidwick
FSO-PA

Vessel Examiner
Henry Reynolds, FSO-VE

 

Herb Hanson, DSO-VE, made some interesting points concerning the boating public’s attitude toward boating safety in his recent staff report published in the fall issue of the “Breeze”. Herb states that there are over 13 million registered boaters in the US, but less then 1 percent of these have been inspected by a VE.  He goes on to state that there is evidence to indicate that the number of people attending PE classes is on the decline.

These facts would suggest that the general public is not very interested in boating and waterway safety. The question then is how do we reach these people?

Last year, 2006, the Flotilla performed 444 VSCs. This means that our VEs had the opportunity to provide one-on-one boater safety education to 444 boaters. I hope we conveyed boater safety information in addition to the VSC to these individuals. For a moment think about the number 444. We not only helped these boaters have a safer boat, but we had a captive audience to educate the boater on numerous safety topics. This is many times the number of students attending our PE classes. Granted the PE classes are a more concentrated instruction with many more boating topics presented. The point to be gained is that if in fact Herb is correct in his statement about the decline in PE attendance, we as VEs can and should make the extra effort to pass on safety tips and information to our VSC public. If this saves one life or prevents one accident it is well worth the extra effort.                                              

VSC examinations are a cornerstone of the Auxiliary. The Auxiliary is the only member of the Coast Guard family that performs VSCs. This brings us to the subject of VSC personnel. Our flotilla currently has 14 VEs. We have not added a new VE to our roster for over a year. Granted being a VE is not the most glamorous task in the Auxiliary, but my way of thinking it is one of the most rewarding activities that we perform. Where else do you have the immediate satisfaction of knowing that by performing an activity you have helped an individual become a safer and more responsible boater?

We need more VEs in our Flotilla. There are ramps and weekend days that we do not cover because of insufficient labour. This is an ideal certification for our new members. It is fairly simple and quick to obtain. I need the Flotilla’s help in recruiting new VEs.  All of the needed material to become a VE can be found at the following web site, http://safetyseal.net/training.asp, or have the individual contact me. Let’s make a Flotilla New Years resolution: Increase the VE roaster by 2 before year-end.

                                                            Remember

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

Henry S Reynolds
FSO-VE

MINUTES-December 5, 2006
U.S.C.G. AUXILIARY, FLOTILLA 86

Commander Bidwick called the meeting to order at 1930 with 30 members present and guest, Dr. Jim Landers introduced. The Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation followed.

FC REPORT: Judi Bidwick:
* C.O.W. held at Marina Jack's was very successful with 6 boats staying two nights
   joined by a large group of members on Saturday. Ceremonies were held dockside
   followed by a dinner cruise.
* Christmas Boat Parade Picnic was the largest fellowship ever with 91 people in
  attendance.
* Plaques for Coxswain and AUXOP have been updated.
* Certification-Members were asked to notify Harry Bruno if they did not plan to
  update lapsed certifications. This will allow Auxdata to be cleared of long-standing
  REYR status.
* Speakers- The sound system is not operating. John Harrison will look into the
  matter.

VFC: Juan Hernandez reviewed the REYR and REWK policies. He pointed out the requirements to maintain individual currencies. Lou Magyar also pointed out that if those members who are direct operations do not have the ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 completed by 12/07 they will become REYR. Juan also reviewed the recent changes to the Boat Crew program. All the above information will be available on our website.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Accepted by motion

FINANCE REPORT: Accepted by motion

STAFF REPORTS:
AV Liaison: Al Bidwick reported that aviation is on hold at the flotilla level.
FSO-CS: Bill Cabana announced the Newsletter is online and thanked Henry
                  Reynolds for his help.
FSO-CM: Walter Jennings announced he would need crew for December 16.
FSO-OP: Jim Sleichert said the last OWT for 2006 will be Dec. 12th. There will not
                  be OWT January 2 but OWT will resume January 9th. Coxswains were
                  asked to use the Express System online or to call or email Jim by 15th of
                  the month to set up patrols.
FSO-PA: Al Bidwick asked for volunteers with fellowship.
FSO-PE: Judi Bidwick said all classes are now completed. There will be a group of
                 students going on the boat 12/11 for the new owt class. Registration will be
                 held 1/3 for ACN and 1/4 for BS&S. Plans are being made for a GPS class
                 as well as an ABC class in 2007.
FSO-PS: Paul Corcoran said he has one prospective member in training and two
                 more being contacted.
FSO-VE: A report from Henry Reynolds stated there were 445 VE completed with
                 240 passing.

 AWARDS:
    NAV RULES TEST: Bill Cabana (70) and Charles Dulany (90)
    AUXWEA TEST: Patrick Wheeler, John Harrison, Garland Russ, Janet Heijens
    AUX FINGERPRINT EXAM: Walter Jennings
    CREW CERTIFICATION: Janet Heijens
    FACILITY INSPECTION: John Dexter
    INSTALLATION OF NEW MEMBER: Richard Putnam was installed.
    CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION: Bill Cabana, Juan Hernandez, Lou
                                                                    Magyar
    APPOINTMENT OF FSOs: Staff officers for 2007 were presented with their
                                                 appointments.

OLD BUSINESS: Lou Magyar spoke about the renovations planned for the Moorings. The Coast Guard will pay for the materials and the flotilla will supply the labor. Specs have been forwarded to Commander Crawley for CG approval.
*Grants: Lou Magyar also stated that the Federal government has placed different criteria on the grant monies and how they can be used. Two Commissioners will speak to us at our meeting in January or February. Legislation is also being proposed for a mandatory State Boating Card.

NEW BUSINESS: Lou Magyar presented a motion that "the Flotilla purchase and install a new sound system, cost not to exceed $500. Harry Bruno seconded the motion. Discussion by members followed, after which a unanimous vote carried the motion. Judi Bidwick and Lou Magyar will investigate and purchase the speakers and arrange for installation.

John Susek announced that Robert High took 3rd place in his category at the Christmas Boat parade.

It was suggested that our next meeting be moved to January 9, 2007. All agreed. VFC Hernandez told staff officers he will hold a staff meeting one hour before each general meeting (6:30pm) and asked all staff to attend.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2040. Our next meeting will be held January 9, 2007 at 1930 at the Training Center. (Staff officers at 1830)

Respectfully submitted,
Ruthanne Bruno, FSO-SR