MINUTES September 16, 2008
U.S.C.G. AUXILIARY, FLOTILLA 86

Commander Judi Bidwick called the meeting to order at 1930 with 25 members present. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation followed.

FC Report, Judi Bidwick:
* Welcomed those who have been away.
* Announced Patrick Wheeler is back in good health. Guenther Hennig thanked
everyone for their thoughts and prayers for his wife, Marion.
* Newsletter for June/July online. August/September about to go online.
* Reminded members of the December ten day cruise. Still time to come along.
* Reminded everyone to sign up for the November 15th Change of Watch at Venice
Golf and CC.
* Invited all members to the C.G. Venice Detachment ribbon cutting on September 23
at their new location at 1200 Harbor Drive. Diraux West is now known as
C.G.Venice Detachment.
* The Monday BS&S class is being changed to Tuesday 9/24 due to the ribbon
cutting.
* In reference to the Moorings we have received a "Memorandum of Understanding"
which we will sign. The Coast Guard is checking it to be sure it is in order. One
problem is insurance coverage regarding civilians on the property. More information
will follow.
* WCIND 50/50 grant due at end of September. Flotilla offered to upgrade radios for
patrol boats.
* Stated that the new Annex looks wonderful and thanked all involved in completing
the work.
* District Conference in Jacksonville this weekend at which Juan will make a
presentation on DSC.

Juan Hernandez, VFC spoke regarding the new expanded tracking tools in Digital Selective Calling. He and Henry Reynolds will be making a full presentation in the near future to our members. Henry Reynolds spoke about the fact that the NAV portion of the tool is now on our website in the members section, "DSC-Navigation." Discussion followed.

In lieu of an in-service a visit to the newly completed annex was held.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: A motion was made and seconded to accept the August 5, 2008 Minutes as they appear in the Fore and Aft. Motions were made and all voted in favor.

FINANCE REPORT: Janet Heijens presented the Finance Report. Motion made, seconded and all voted in favor to approve, subject to audit.

STAFF REPORTS:
FSO-CS: Henry Reynolds discussed programming ICE (in case of emergency) into cell phones. He suggested everyone do so. He also stated VEs should suggest this during their inspections. Henry once again reminded everyone not to respond automatically back to an "information notice," but rather to respond back to the appropriate person writing the memo. In reference to REC support for St. Petersburg there is now an opening for another person to work in that area. The work includes verifying citizenship, checking documents and fingerprinting. It would require 4 hours every other week. Contact Henry if interested.

FSO-PE: First BS&S class of the season registered 27 students and is in session. GPS registers Oct 8.

FSO-MT: J.D.Harrison announced that member training is presently on hold until OWT. The first OWT session will be early October at which Juan Hernandez and Henry Reynolds will present the DSC system. There will be a First Aid class on October 2 -0900-1300 at the Training Center instructed by Art Sperling.
The AUXPAT class will begin September 29th 0900-1100 at the Training Center.

FSO-OP: Jim Sleichert stated it has been difficult to obtain vessels for patrols. He will need two vessels for the first OWT and hopes coxswains will assist.

FSO-PA: Al Bidwick said we will participate in the Sun Fiesta Parade on October 18. He needs people to volunteer to participate. We will have Russ' boat and Patrick's PWC. We will have to assemble on Venice Island at 0930. A meeting to brainstorm ideas for this event will be held Oct 2 after the First Aid class. Those who volunteered were Joe and Diana Floyd; Ruth and Harry Bruno; J.D. Harrison,
Juan Hernandez; and Al and Judi Bidwick.

MAINTENANCE: Jim Sleichert stated there will be a work crew on Thursday at 0730 to clean up the area and paint decals. Those who volunteered were: J.D. Harrison, Juan Hernandez, Al Bidwick, Mike Marmion, Jim Sleichert and Harry Bruno.

John Susek, Nominating Committee Chairperson read the Election announcement. The nominations are:
Juan Hernandez for Flotilla Commander and Jim Sleichert, Vice Flotilla Commander.

AWARDS:
VESSEL INSPECTIONS: Juan Hernandez; Patrick Wheeler
ADM PROCEDURES COURSE: Henry Reynolds
NAV RULES 95: Patrick Wheeler, Garland Russ
NATIONAL STAFF: Judi Bidwick
BOATING ADV. TRAILER-PA TRAIN: Joseph Floyd, Diana Floyd
TCT (5YR): Rick Odato, Fredda Smith-Hurst
COMMODORE CERT EXCELL: John Susek
MERIT.TEAM COMM, AUXNTC: Diana Floyd

Old Business: None at present

New Business: Juan Hernandez discussed the need for upgrading the radio and coaxial cables at the Moorings and also for setting up a backup at the training station. After discussion by the members a motion was made by Juan Hernandez that the "Flotilla grant authority for a committee to look into the project and be authorized to spend an appropriate amount not to exceed $1,000. It is understood that the committee will exercise due caution and work will be done at the Training Center and only will be done at the Moorings if we receive definitive word that we will continue to occupy the Moorings. Patrick Wheeler seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2040

Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Bruno, Secretary
USCG Auxiliary, Flotilla 86

October,2008

"DIRAUX West--Now Venice Detachment"
By: Al Bidwick SO-PA86
On Tuesday, September 23, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.C.G. Auxiliary and invited guests assembled at the Venice Flotilla 86 Training Center for a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Venice Detachment (VENDET), formerly known as DIRAUX West. The move was necessitated when the U.S. Coast Guard decided to vacate the former DIRAUX West location at The Moorings in Nokomis. The VENDET will occupy a section of the flotilla building and will share some common areas.
Approximately 50 persons attended the formal ceremony including Venice Police Chief Julie Williams and Mr. Clifford Merz from the University of South Florida, each of whom spoke about their partnership with the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary.
CWO Steven Hanson, USCG/Assistant Director of Auxiliary, who served as master-of-ceremonies, chronicled the history of DIRAUX West from its beginnings in 1988. That year a group of Auxiliary members began assisting the Seventh Coast Guard District Director of Auxiliary by maintaining the database for the boat crew program and correcting the Navigation Rules exams. This group eventually became known as the Auxiliary Testing and Training Center. In May of 1992, the group moved to an empty Loran station generator building just a few steps from the new location and assumed responsibility for processing all specialty and open book exams. In 1997 the name was changed from Auxiliary Testing and Training Center to DIRAUX West, to truly reflect that the operation was an extension of the Director of Auxiliary office. DIRAUX West opened its first website in 1998 and began to offer online testing.
By 1999, the word had spread to other Districts, which wanted the same services as those received by the Auxiliary in the Seventh District. To meet this demand, DIRAUX West opened another website and added a branch of its own, known as the National Auxiliary Testing Center.
The lack of adequate space at DIRAUX West necessitated a move to the Nokomis Moorings in August of 2000 where, for the next eight years, they rendered services not only to D7 but to the National membership as well.
Sixteen years later, DIRAUX West is back to the property where it all started, but with a different name. While they still process specialty exams, they’ve branched out into other areas including new member enrollments and ID card processing. They’ve also become innovators once more by helping create the DIRAUX AUTOMATION Program that automates the input and certification processes for programs by using minimal keystrokes.
In his concluding remarks, CWO Hanson praised the Auxiliary staff for its initiative, creativity and dedication that truly represents the highest traditions of the Coast Guard.
Following CWO Hanson’s introductory remarks, Commander David Allen USCGR, D7 Director of the Auxiliary, Commodore Allen Brown, D7 Commodore and LCDR Timothy Haws USCG, representing Sector St. Petersburg each spoke about the support rendered by the Auxiliary.
Commander Allen called on the Auxiliarists and in some cases their spouses who worked so diligently over the summer to come forward and be recognized. He read a citation describing the work they performed in renovating their new location and moving the offices from Nokomis. He then presented each person with the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Team Commendation.
Remarks were followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the new facility and refreshments including a cake cutting ceremony.

October,2008

AUXSC&E (Replaces AUXSAR)

For many years, the Auxiliary Search and Rescue (AUXSAR) specialty
course had outdated information and extraneous material (e.g. - search planning
elements) that was much more pertinent for active duty Coast Guard members (e.g. –
command center controllers) instead of Auxiliary operators. With this in mind, the
National Search and Rescue School at Training Center Yorktown re-designed the course and arranged to train an initial cadre of Auxiliary instructors in late FY07. The new course was re-designed and re-titled Auxiliary Search, Coordination, and Execution (AUXSC&E).

This is the first case in which an Auxiliary specialty course is meant to be delivered by
specially trained instructors who are specifically knowledgeable of the material, the
method of its instruction, and the operations that it supports. Accordingly, its deployment throughout Auxiliary applications will be closely monitored and assessed by the Auxiliary Division (CG-5421), the Auxiliary Department of Training, and the National SAR School in the course of the next few years.

The AUXSC&E course replaces the AUXSAR course. AUXSC&E is the
course title, but successful completion of the AUXSC&E course shall continue to be
entered in AUXDATA under the AUXSAR task as a requirement for the AUXOP device and as AUXSC&E Train-the-Trainer for instructors.

Only Auxiliarists who meet certain criteria (see paragraph 3 below) may serve as lead instructors and teach the AUXSC&E course (i.e. - serve as AUXSC&E Instructors). An AUXSC&E Instructor competency, distinct from the Auxiliary Instructor (IT) competency, is being designed for AUXDATA capture in 2008. This competency will be predicated on tasks that reflect the criteria in paragraph 3. Until that competency is established, Auxiliarists who meet the criteria shall be recognized as such with an AUXDATA entry in the following task: SCETT - SEARCH COORD & EXECUTION TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE.

The AUXSC&E course is designed to be taught at the flotilla level over a period of four (4) day-long training sessions, or the equivalent thereof. AUXSC&E requires the 13218 chart for proper instruction and practical exercises. All other material may be on CD.

In order to teach the AUXSC&E course, the lead Auxiliary instructor must meet the
following criteria (i.e. – have them reflected in AUXDATA as completed tasks for the
future AUXSC&E Instructor competency described in paragraph 2 above):
A. Successfully complete the AUXSC&E Train-the-Trainer course as delivered
     either by the National SAR School or by an Auxiliarist who has successfully
     completed the Train-the-Trainer program;

B. Successfully complete the AUXSC&E course (this is part of the Train-the-
     Trainer course);

C. Is current in their qualification as an Auxiliary instructor (IT); and,

D. Is current in their qualification as an Auxiliary coxswain, boat crew member,
     pilot (at any level), or air crew member. This criterion may be waived by the
     DIRAUX, in consultation with the DCO, but the member must have been current in
     the last five (5) years if they are to serve as the lead instructor. Assistant instructors
     do not have to meet this specific requirement.

Additionally any current member of the National SAR School may teach this course as requested or to meet the needs of the Auxiliary.

Successful completion of the AUXNAV course is strongly recommended for attending
this course. This is an intense course of study and practice in navigation, and a strong
background in navigation is necessary for successful completion. Anyone weak in the
area of navigation is strongly discouraged from taking this course.

In order to successfully complete the AUXSC&E course, a student must pass an
administered two-part end-of-course exam (written textual section and a charting
section). Being that the active duty Coast Guard SC&E exam is open book so shall the AUXSC&E exam be open book. It is important for students to know where the
information is located in the CG Addendum. Both parts shall be taken by each student individually, not as a group effort. A minimum grade of 80% on both parts of the exam must be achieved in order to pass. The written test will be allotted 60 minutes and the practical test (the charting portion) will be allotted 2.5 hours. An on-line version of the exam is under development.

Alternatively, a student may directly challenge the end-of-course exam. If the student
receives passing scores, then the student will receive credit for successful course
completion.

October,2008

New Personal Qualification Standard for Auxiliary Telecommunications
A new Personal Qualification Standard (PQS ) for Auxiliary Telecommunications has been developed and approved by the Auxiliary and CG-5421. This PQS is a task-oriented qualification guide, designed to provide the members with focused training and enhanced skills to deal with both internal and external radio communications. Successful completion of the PQS will qualify the candidate as a Telecommunications Operator (TCO).

Effective 1 August 2008, all new applicants for fixed land or land mobile radio facility certification and/or operation must be certified as a TCO. However, current AUXCOM-rated members will continue to be eligible for facility ownership and operation indefinitely, as long as their AUXCOM was earned prior to August 1, 2008. All radio communicators, AUXCOM or not, are encouraged to qualify as TCOs through completion of this PQS.

Pictures of the month.

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