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

The Auxiliary is a volunteer organization and all the activities that are associated with our flotilla stem from one of the four cornerstones.  In order for us to be successful in Public Education, Public Affairs, Vessel Examinations, Operations, Member Training, and Fellowship, we need your support.

It's relatively easy to attend a class as a participant; it's not so easy to teach a class.  It's fairly easy to attend a craft show or parade; it's not as easy to give your time to man a booth.  It's easy to have someone inspect your boat; it's not so easy to become a vessel examiner and give inspections weekly or monthly.  It's easy to act as crew on a vessel; it's difficult to offer your boat, plan a meal, and organize a meaningful activity on a patrol.  It's an easy learning experience to sit and listen to a training presentation; it takes preparation and skill to deliver a worthwhile member training activity.  It's fun to attend a fellowship picnic but it takes work to plan and execute a function that includes most of our members in fellowship.

To have a strong flotilla, it takes many dedicated volunteers, not just one, three, or five members doing the work that ten, fifteen, or twenty could be doing to give a more concerted presence in the community or to provide a service to your flotilla and its activities.

We are very fortunate to have "great members" who volunteer for just about everything we do.  They offer to teach classes; they are available when we need work done; they don a uniform to greet the public; they volunteer their facilities; they stand radiowatch; they train others by being a mentor; they grade exams or assist in a class; they clean, cut grass or empty trash; they offer their services wherever and whenever needed and they do it graciously, many times without acknowledgement from their peers.

These members keep us afloat--they are the heart and lifeblood of our flotilla.  Without them we would not have accumulated nearly 20,000 hours in 2007 or nearly 16,000 already in 2008.

This is not meant to discredit, discourage, or criticize any member in our flotilla; it is, however, meant to challenge you to become more involved in the coming year--to choose an area where you feel you can give your time and effort--to expand your commitment by volunteering a little more time on a few more things that the flotilla does during the year.

We value all members but we want all members to value their commitment to the Auxiliary by giving a little more time in a few more areas in the coming year.  Make your membership count in hours and deeds. 

Judi Bidwick
Flotilla Commander

 

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

 

Fellow members,

We thank you for taking the time to respond to the Flotilla survey and provide useful feedback about your membership experiences and expectations – so far we have received 31 responses, which represents a 44% level of participation.  A summary of the results will be presented at the general meeting in November and will be used to develop our goals and plans for 2009.

The results of this survey show that all members want to enjoy a supportive environment where everyone can develop and contribute to the goals of the Flotilla in his/her own way. During our forthcoming tenure Jim and I will strive to provide such an environment -- but we cannot do it alone, we need  your commitment to:

·            Trust one another's judgment and values each other's expertise.

·            Model honesty and integrity as expected behaviors of others.

·            Maintain an environment where each member is free to express their opinion
        and raise questions and concerns.

·            Respect all people as being of equal value. Recognize the contributions of
        others -- congratulate them with specifics whenever possible.

·            Listen actively to one another, never interrupt, and be willing to graciously
        accept and adopt  other's ideas or suggestions.

·            Share information in a complete and timely manner.

·            Place priority on fulfillment of Flotilla goals and support others efforts to achieve
        them. Pitch in to help someone else when needed - even if it's not your job.

·            Strive for excellence through continuous improvement in all aspects of your
        work.

·            Take initiative in personal development, keeping skills current and competitive.

·            Ask for only what you need; promise only what you can deliver; write down and
        fulfill promises; advise others as far in advance as possible when
        circumstances prevent you from fulfilling commitments.

·            Be prepared to do your part and maintain a positive attitude even when faced
        with less than desirable situations.

·            Take care of all items that need to be taken care of to keep the Flotilla
        functioning.

·            Hold each other accountable for all of the above.

With your active support we can create an environment where all members enjoy participating in Flotilla activities and leave with a sense of joy, self-esteem, and achievement.

 

Juan C. Hernandez
Vice Flotilla Commander

 

Communications Services
Henry Reynolds, FSO-CS
 

Status
  1.Processed 122 Information Notices YTD
  2.Processed 54 Miscellaneous Notices YTD

Henry S Reynolds
FSO-CM

Information Services
 Harry Bruno, FSO-IS

 

For your information ICS courses taught by an Auxiliary instructor, as opposed to FEMA or other sources, such as the ICS 210 session or ICS 300 will be submitted by the Instructor through the Gateway to the Venice Detachment for entry into auxdata.  The gateway address is: D7Gateway@d7diraux.org.  ICS courses taught through FEMA, CG or other agencies your certificate should be submitted through your FSO-IS.

The AUXSCE (Auxiliary Search Coordination and Execution) course replaces the AUXSAR course and will continue to be entered in AUXDATA under the AUXSAR task as a requirement for the AUXOP device and as AUXSCE.  A new mission has been added and a new 7030 form will be released with the code 06c. Instructors must be particularly qualified to teach this course.  A student’s time (attendee) is reported on a 7029.  (Note:  the new AUXSCE is a two part exam – one written (available online as an open book, proctored) and the second part is a 25 hour class with one hour for exam and is taught by those certified as “train the trainers.”

The Annual Member letter will be sent out to each member after the year-end-run is made in January 2009.

Again, let me remind you to utilize AUXINFO to research your information.  It can be easily accessed through the quick access link:  http://cgaux7.org/auxinfo/ .

Harry Bruno

FSO-IS

 

Materials
Ruth Bruno, FSO-MA

The ANSC (Auxiliary National Supply Center) is available for you to look at:  http://www.cgauxa.org/pdf/DCAT-08.pdf .  Items you wish except for clothing should be ordered by request to your Materials Officer.  Please allow ample time for delivery. 

The Uniform Distribution Center publishes a guide which gives a great deal of information on sizes, etc. on uniforms.  The link is http://www.auxpdept.org/pdf/Uniform%20Procurement%20Guide%204-8-08.pdf .  The Distribution Center is offering a 4 for the price of 1 sale on ODUs.  Now is the time to take the opportunity to order an ODU.  The online site for the Uniform Distribution Center is http://www.uscg.mil/uniforms/ .  They are located in Woodbine, N.J. and their toll free number is 1-800-874-6841.

The 7^th District Store in Clearwater, is available online at http://cgaux7.org/d7store/default.htm .  Here is information regarding that store:

Web:		http://cgaux7.org/d7store
E-mail:		d7store@cgaux7.net
Telephone/FAX:		Voice: 727-535-2593 FAX: 727-535-2703
Address:		7th District Materials Center 15300 Fairchild Dr Clearwater, FL 33762
Store Hours:		1000 - 1800 Hours Eastern time Mondays and Thursdays only
e-Store Hours:		24 hours a day, seven days a week Shipping only on Mondays and Thursdays
Inquires:		We will make every effort to reply to your email inquires within 24 hours

Ruth Bruno,
FSO-PE

 

Marine Safety
Henry S Reynolds, FSO-MS

 

 

Help Keep America Safe              Promote  American Waterway Watch     VEs - Tell your Boaters     PEs – Tell your Students

 

 

Operations
Jim Sleichert, FSO-OP

Public Affairs
Al Bidwick, FSO-PA

 

Home Depot sponsored a Health and Safety Day on Saturday, October 11 and invited us to participate.  Patrick Wheeler and John Harrison were kind enough to trailer their vessels to the Depot and put them on display.  Jim Sleichert and Mike Marmion set up our booth prior to 1000 and held forth until the arrival of Juan Hernandez and Guenther Hennig at noon.  Judi and I came on the scene late, having attended the Division 8 Meeting in Sarasota.   By the time we arrived, Juan and Guenther had already eaten the free food that was provided us.  Fortunately there was still plenty left when Judi and I got there.  This year we had barbeque and pizza along with beverages.  Eddie Petroski from Home Depot went all-out to make this a bigger and better occasion.  While the last shift was on duty, a photo journalist from the Herald Tribune stopped by to interview us and take our picture, which appeared recently in the Venice Herald Tribune. Quite a few people visited our booth, giving us an opportunity to interest them in classes and vessel exams.

We had a lot of fun at the Sun Fiesta Parade on the following Saturday.  Unlike last year when we marched in the rain, this year was bright and sunny and even a little cooler than previous days.  As usual, we had a great turnout of members.  Harry Bruno and I walked ahead of our boats carrying a banner identifying our Flotilla.  We were followed by Patrick Wheeler riding atop his PWD, waving enthusiastically to the crowd and occasionally tooting a horn that he carries on his vessel.  John Dexter, who arrived from up north only a few days earlier, drove Patrick’s trailer.  Russ came next, pulling his boat which was staffed by Joe and Diana Floyd, Richard Putnam, Ruth Bruno, Charlotte Clouston, Juan Hernandez, and Mike Marmion.  Everyone aboard the boat wore life jackets and waved to the crowd, many of whom shouted, “Hurrah for the Coast Guard,” and clapped enthusiastically as we paraded past playing Semper Paratus.  Judi Bidwick rode with Russ, hopping in and out of his vehicle along the parade route to take photos.

I can’t say enough about the great members in our flotilla who repeatedly turn out to help with Public Affairs Missions whenever occasions arise.  Certain individuals are always there to assist me to promote the Auxiliary and our purposes, and help community members realize the contributions we make to keep our waterways safe.  I am so proud to work with you.

Al Bidwick,
FSO-PA        

Public Educationon
Ruth Bruno, FSO-PE

The PE department graduated 23 students from the BS&S class on October 13^th.  Registration for the new BS&S class took place on October 16 with 11 students registering.  The GPS class presently is in session with 9 students.  Our instructors and aides have been quite busy and we thank them for their time and assistance. 

Ruth Bruno
FSO-PE

 

Personnel Services
Paul F. Corcoran, FSO-PS

 

I am working with four applicants for membership  in our flotilla at the present time.  They've been invited to attend the next flotilla meeting in November.

Paul Corcorann
FSO-PS

Recreation Boating Safety
John Kandes, FSO-RBS

 

I made ten visits this month to post material at local vendors.

John Kandes,
FSO-PV