America's Volunteer
Lifesavers

            

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

            James P. Sleichert, Commander                   Edward J. Stebner, Vice-Commander

Flotilla Commander's Message

From the Commander 

September is almost here and hopefully some of our members will start returning from the north. We  can still use whoever is here for radio watch and crew for safety patrols. 

The training center remodeling is also almost completed; we still have to place some of the awards on the walls. This will not be overpowering when you walk in the door. The members that did all the work in the training center and the back room where Venice Detachment used to be did a great job. I’d like to thank Richard Markwitz, Charley Weede, Harry Bruno, Myers Russell, who did all the construction work and Ruth Bruno who cleaned and organized the back room for staff officers. Naturally, I was there mostly getting in the way and helping wherever I could.  

There will be a few workshops that will be given in September.  First there is an Aids to Navigation work shop that will be held on the 11th of September at flotilla 84 in Sarasota.  I believe at this time there are six members signed up to go.  There is also a coxswain and crew class for the division being given on the 18th September at flotilla 84 and that will be some kind of review for coxswain and crew training.  Finally there is the District 7 Conference in Orlando Florida on the 23rd through the 26th of September. There are classes that are given on the 25th, which is a Saturday.  If you are interested, go to the District 7 website and get all the information on which class will be given and at what time.  If you spend the night the rate is $104.00 and must be booked by the 23rd of August. 

ABOUT OUR GRANT FOR 2011:  You may want to pass on the news about the grant and the fact that there’s no guarantee next year unless the economy does better.  We cannot count on any money from WCIND.  Sarasota County funded this year mostly out of reserves and will not do that again.  We will have to watch what we buy and tighten our belt until money once again becomes available. With the economy the way it is, I do not count on much from grant money.

I know that next year we will need some staff officers’ positions filled. I hope that we can get some members to volunteer and either be an assistant or actual staff officer.  I’m not sure at this time which positions will be open, but know that there will be empty spots to fill. We were unable to fill all positions this year, but I hope that with some of the newer members stepping up and helping we can staff all positions in the coming year.  Please help if you can and even if you work, you may take on a staff officer’s position that mostly can be done from home.

Two of our active members had to move north and this is a blow to our flotilla.  Charley and Valarie Weede  were  great assets to the flotilla and helped out whenever they could.  They really liked to go out on patrols and be on the water.  I could always count on Charley to give a hand when work had to be done.  We all wish them the best of luck and hopefully they will be able to move near the water.

Below is all the information on the Change of Watch.  I hope we have a great turnout and remember, this is a time to have fun with fellow members and enjoy the ceremony.  I ask everyone to try and make this celebration for the flotilla.  We kept the price down as much as possible without everyone eating hamburgers.  Yes, we do have real steak this year, not something that looks like steak.  It will not hurt to have a little beef, at least that what is the meat industry says.  Also for those chow hounds, the hors d’ouevres are unlimited.  The form follows my report.  Please send the bottom half with your check to Janet. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at this Change of Watch.

See you on the water or helping out on one of our missions.  

James P. Sleichert
Flotilla Commander

Change of Watch

Our "Change of Watch" is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 2010. This special occasion will be held at the Pelican Point Country Club. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. with hors d'ouevres and cash bar.

Dinner will be served at 6:45p.m with our Change of Watch and awards to follow.

DINNER: will include Butternut Squash Soup with warm rolls, butter. A Choice of: (please choose one when submitting reservation)

Roasted New York Strip with red wine demi-glaze, twice baked potato and Key West blend of vegetables

Grouper Almafitano-fillet of grouper in fresh basil and romano crust Served with South of the Border buerre blanc sauce with wild Rice and Key West vegetable blend.

Chicken Wellington-Breast of Chicken wrapped in puff pastry with Wild rice and Key West vegetable blend Dessert: Napoleon with Strawberries Dinner accompanied with coffee, tea or Iced Tea Total cost per person $27.00  

CUT OFF DATE FOR RESERVATIONS IS NOVEMBER 8TH, 2010 (RESERVE EARLY) Pelican Point Golf and Country Club is located at 499 Derbyshire Drive, Venice, FL Directions : from North of Venice: Rt 41 south to Center Road. Turn left on Center. Rd. Entrance approx 1 mile on left. From South of Venice: Route 41 North, to a right turn to Center Road, approx 1 mile to entrance on left.  

Please be sure to let me know if you can join us by returning the stub below before November 8th to Janet Heijens. . Be sure to indicate your menu choice. We look forward to seeing you. Jim Sleichert, Flotilla Commander 86

 ---------------CUT HERE AND RETURN-------------------------------

DINNER SELECTION (CHECK ONE): Please return this stub with your check by 11/8 to: Janet Heijens, FSO-FN at 525 So. Shore Drive, Osprey, FL 34229 .

Checks made to” U.S.C.G. Aux 86.

Be sure to indicate your meal choice.

 _______ ROASTED NEW YORK STRIP

________GROUPER ALMAFITANO

________CHICKEN WELLINGTON

YOUR NAME:_________________________ $27.00

GUEST NAME_________________________$27.00 Guest Meal

Guest Meal choice_______________

 James Sleichert
 

 

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
Edward Stebner
 

                             FROM THE VICE FLOTILLA COMMANDER DESK:

Communications
Juan Hernandez, FSO-CS

I am pleased to inform you that the Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOM) course is now available online through the Blackboard  platform.  Please contact me if you would like to take this course online. The AUXOP or Operational Auxiliarist Program is an advanced training program available to members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  Completion of one of these specialty courses entitles the member to wear the Specialty Training Ribbon. Each additional course completed  may be indicated by 3/16-inch bronze or silver stars to show completion of additional courses.

A member that has completed  the six advanced  specialty courses is entitled to wear the special AUXOP device on the uniform, discontinuing the wearing of the Specialty Training Ribbon.

The Auxiliary Communications Specialty (AUXCOM) course is one of the six advanced specialty courses. It focuses on radio communications for the Auxiliary and Coast Guard, providing broad knowledge of the fundamental principles underlying communications systems in use by both the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. You can achieve success as an AUXCOM Specialist by passing a closed book, proctored examination with a score of 75% or better.

Auxiliarists  owning or operating Fixed Land, Land Mobile, or DF Radio Facilities must complete the Auxiliary Telecommunications Operator Personal Qualification Standard (TCO PQS) training or must have completed the AUXCOM course prior to 1 August 2008.

Once you complete the AUXCOM online course you will be ready to take the required closed book, proctored examination.

If you have any questions about the course website or the AUXCOM course feel free to contact me at any time via e-mail or by phone. 

Juan C. Hernandez, FSO/CM
Mike Marmion, FSO/ACM

Navigation Systems
Ed Stebner, FSO-NS

I have been sending Roy Bellas monthly reports of flotilla activity, waiting on sending August report, until
I know if anybody has anything to report ; I need to know by theend of the month.

Remember any member can report a discrepancy but only qualified Aides Verifierscan verify Aids.  
Verifiers,  you need to think about updating charts for our AORsince it hasn’t been done in a while.

Thanks to the 7 Members to date qualified and not qualified who will be attendingthe Aid-Verifiers Workshop September the 11^th.

Ed Stebner
FSO-NS  

Personnel Services
John Kandes, FSO-PS

There is one new member to add on board: Ryan Dunn.  Progress is being made in submitting his paperwork and getting him vetted. 

John Kandes
FSO-PS

VESSEL EXAMINER
Patrick Wheeler, acting FSO-VE

 General Information

Flotilla 86 Training Schedule
August – December
0830 – 1200

26 August 2010 (boats) MM
QE Mission

02 September 2010 (boats) MM
Back to Basics
The preferred tow
The alternate tow

09 September 2010 TC
1 hour TCT Refresher
Charts 101 – How to read a chart & basic plotting.
Communications  

16 September 2010 (boats) MM
Towing (long and short)
Towing to the dock

23 September 2010 (boats) MM
Anchoring
Man overboard
Heaving line

30 September 2010 TC
First Aid
Emergency Medical Techniques 101
SAR Pattern Identification and Plotting 

07 October 2010 TC
Abandon Ship Procedures
Rescue Equipment
Survival equipment

14 October 2010 (boats) MM
Boat handling (backing and docking)
Executing SAR Patterns

21 October 2010 (boats) MM
Crew Efficiency Factors
Boat handling (approaching a tow)
Communications

28 October 2010 TC
Logs and GAR forms
Marlinspike Seamanship

04 November 2010 (boats) MM
Towing in the Gulf
Anchoring in the Gulf 

11 November 2010

Veterans’ Day No training

 18 November 2010 TC
NWS Weather reports
Standard navigational information
Crew Efficiency Factors

25 November 2010
Thanksgiving No training

02 December 2010 (boats) MM
SAR Exercise

09 December 2010 TC
DR planning

16 December 2010 (boats) MM
DR Christmas Cruise                                        

                   From the Coast Guard Compass (The Official Blog of the USCG)

Position?
Nature of distress?
Description of the vessel?
Number of people on board?
Are people wearing their life jackets?

These are the first five things a Coast Guard watchstander will ask when you make a distress call.

Watchstanders call this data, “the big 5,” as they are vital pieces of information needed during a search and rescue case.

A vessel’s position is the most crucial piece of information but sometimes the hardest to determine. Yesterday, ending a two year phase-in period, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore formally accepted Rescue 21, a new tool to help watchstanders determine a distressed mariner’s position.

Rescue 21 is already covering more than 35,000 miles of coastline in the United States and, as of yesterday, officially includes the coasts of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the upper Chesapeake Bay.

Rescue 21 put to the test

Recent search and rescue cases in the area exhibit how valuable Rescue 21’s advanced capabilities can be.

On July 25, watchstanders at Sector Baltimore put Rescue 21 to the test as they responsed to 37 distinct distress calls, resulting in more than 77 people assisted or rescued – all in only a two-hour period.

An unexpected powerful storm suddenly erupted in Chesapeake Bay on a calm summer day, producing wind gusts and volatile sea conditions and catching mariners off guard. Mayday calls began pouring in to the Sector Baltimore command center. Using information gained from Rescue 21, watchstanders were able to determine locations of the distressed mariners and launch Coast Guard assets from six different small boat stations to respond to the calls for help.

Chief Lawrence Beatty, an Operations Specialist at Sector Baltimore, was first introduced to Rescue 21 eight years ago as part of a test bed, when the technology initially launched. Beatty is very familiar with the benefits Rescue 21 provides command center watchstanders.

“Right off the bat, a watchstander has a visual display so you are not only hearing the transmission but you are also seeing which towers are picking it up and in which direction,” said Beatty. “The towers are strategically placed so multiple towers can pick up and triangulate to where that mariner is.”

In a sense, Rescue 21s direction-finding capabilities, as well as its increased range, allows command centers to better “hear” the call.

For a mariner in a dire situation, reaching for a handheld radio and calling “Mayday” over marine radio channel 16 may be their only chance for getting help. Even with just that single call over the radio, Rescue 21 can help watchstanders piece together the information they need, specifically a position, to send response resources to the mariner’s aid.

Radio or cell phone?

At a time when boaters have become over reliant on cell phones, Rescue 21 drives home the value of carrying a radio on your boat.

“Mariners who are reliant on their cell phones because they have a signal get that false sense of security,” said Beatty. “While we can get a rough area of where you are with your cell, we can find a more specific triangulated position with a marine radio.”

Incompatibility with Rescue 21 is not the only limitation of cell phone communications on the water. Inconsistent cellular coverage, limited battery life and no direct link to Coast Guard rescuers are a few others.

VHF channel 16, the International hailing and distress frequency, is the best and quickest way to reach emergency resources. Not only are Coast Guard rescuers listening to channel 16, but so are most other mariners. Instead of a one-to-one call on a cell phone, the VHF radio provides a one-to-many call… because sometimes the closest assistance is another boater nearby. Boaters and others who recreate on or near the water should always carry a VHF marine band radio and use channel 16 – no exceptions!

Rescue 21 will continue to be installed throughout the country greatly enhancing the Coast Guard’s mission execution and effectiveness. You can follow the progress of the program here.

Areas still not covered by Rescue 21:

L.A./Long Beach, Calif. (2010)
Great Lakes (2011)
Hawaii, Guam, San Juan, Puerto Rico (2012)
Western Rivers (2012)
Alaska (2017)

                                                     NEWS FROM NACON  

Commodore Donald L. Frasch, currently District Commodore of District Seven, has been elected Deputy National Commodore Operations and & Atlantic Area East.

Commodore Mark Simoni, currently Assistant National Commodore Operations Policy & Resources, has been elected Deputy National Commodore Operations Policy & Atlantic Area West.

 Commodore Marie M. Scholle, currently as District Commodore District Seventeen, has been elected Deputy National Commodore Force Readiness & Pacific Area.

    

         
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