Guard Auxiliary Reports 3.12

It was a really slow week and weekend for Flotilla 13. Only two of our members did anything newsworthy. Yvette Graham is back in the country after a two week vacation in Central America. I can’t tell you any details, except she had a good time.

Yvette spends the winters at her home in Lakeland (when she isn’t off on a tour somewhere.) The summers she comes to Shell Point to do two things. As far as I am concerned (as the Ops Officer) the number one reason is to be my Number One watchstander at the Shell Point Auxiliary Station. In order to do that she must be a house-sitter. At the moment she is looking for a house to sit. If anyone would like to talk to her, please call (386) 719-1030.

Flotilla 13’s member training officer, Jim McGill was guest speaker Monday night at the Apalachee Bay Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department’s meeting. A good percentage of the people there are, or have been, members of Flotilla 13 so they already knew about the Coast Guard Auxiliary. However, Jim always manages to include something new and interesting.

The others also enjoyed learning more about the other volunteer organization at Shell Point, Hopefully, some of them will be interested in becoming members of Auxiliary. If so, please, call Jim McGill at 926-4550 or Sherrie Alverson at 926-7812 or cell, 519-4573.

Also, Flotilla 13’s meeting is Saturday evening. Visitors are always welcome. Social Hour will be at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a wonderful buffet. One never knows what they will find as they go down the line, but when you get to the desert section, I promise you, if our honorary member, Helen B. is there, there will be a delicious cake, brownies or sometimes a pie. (I personally prefer her cakes. They melt in your mouth.)

A reminder for all coxswains, crew and radio personnel, the Coast Guard Incident Command System (ICS) 210 course is being presented on March 29. I know March 29 is a Sunday, but if the Director of Auxiliary is willing to drive over from New Orleans to teach this course, Auxiliarists involved in operations certainly should be willing to drive down from the Tallahassee area. Auxiliarists must successfully complete the ISC 210 by March 31. In our area the boating season “officially” opens April 1 and all operational Auxiliarists must be have the 210. Remember, no ICS 210 qualifications, no patrol orders.

And now Carolyn Treadon’s report on Flotilla 12 in St. Marks. Saturday morning was our monthly Flotilla meeting. We were pleased to welcome Mike Doyle and Bill Rose, transfers from Flotilla 15, to our meeting. As Members of Flotilla 12 now, they were greeted with warm welcomes. We are lucky to have both of them among our group! Several exciting things were discussed in the meeting including our upcoming March 21 Basic Navigation class and April 18 About Boating Safely. Room is still available in both classes, so anyone interested in attending should contact Larry Kolk at 877-0818.

Also coming up is the Annual Springtime Tallahassee. Traditionally, members of Flotilla 12 staff a booth throughout the day to pass out safe boating information and discuss our education classes. Last year we were joined by Chief McCray and Aaron Jundt from the local recruiting office. Thankfully, this year will be no different! As long as Mother Nature cooperates, it should be a good time.

Since we just recently had our division meeting in Fort Walton Beach, several members received awards for their hard work. In the absence of our Flotilla Commander David Guttman who was out of town for his daughter’s wedding, Tim Ashley had the privilege to pass out the recognitions. Bob Asztalos and Rob Purvis received their certificate for completing the Introduction to Initial Marine Safety; John Denmark received an annual service performance award for Examinations/Marine Dealer Visitations; Chuck Hickman received his Public Education Sustained Service Ribbon, his second sustained service award and a certificate for a total of 811.6 mission hours; Larry Kolk received his fourth Sustained Service Award, and a certificate for 822 total mission hours; Bill Rose received his five year Service Award; Carolyn Treadon received her fifth Sustained Service Award and Duane Treadon received a certificate for 812.3 total mission hours. In light of David’s absence, our past Flotilla Commander Duane Treadon presented Tim Ashley with his award for completing the Introduction to Initial Marine Safety and 1087.9 total mission hours.

As a special ceremony for all present, one of our newest members John Agens was presented with his Certificate of Membership and was sworn in.

This is one of the highlights for any Flotilla Commander and new member! Welcome aboard, John! Following the meeting, Tim Ashley, Rob Purvis, Carolyn Treadon and Duane Treadon went out for a three-hour tour of the St. Marks River and channel.

Rob is a new crew in training and Tim ran him through the ropes practicing setting the anchor, tossing the heaving line, retrieving a person overboard and standing watch. We have to watch out for Rob, he has quite a throwing arm! Other than the swarm of sand fleas that greeted us at the docks upon our return, it was a great afternoon on the water. One last reminder, the ICS 210 course is a requirement for all coxswains, crew and communications personnel. The key word is all. No matter what flotilla you are a member of, it is a requirement as of midnight March 31, 2009. Remember safe boating is no accident.