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The eagle has landed. That's right the eagle has landed on Coast Guard Island. A couple of weeks ago while I was parking my car at the island, a bald eagle flew from one of the trees. This was the first time I had seen a bald eagle on Lake Murray. This was a very awesome experience for me.
At our March meeting, some of our members had a copy of the Lake Murray Magazine. After looking at the magazine and reading the article, I feel like we owe a big "Thank you" to Sue Duffy and crew on the outstanding job they did in presenting the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3. They let the public know the dedication that 12-3 has had in the past and continues to have to the boaters on Lake Murray. Our hats are off to Sue Duffy and crew. Thanks for a job well done.
Mike McGee gave an outstanding presentation on the honor guard. If you are interested in becoming a member of the honor guard, please contact Mike.
Training is moving forward with a deadline of May 5th for QE's.
Steve Davis held a workshop on communications which was very informative. I would like to encourage our members to follow Steve's guidelines when using the radio. It was also good to have George Summer at this meeting.
The telephone has been installed on the island. The number is 732-6270. This phone will be for local calls only. George Crouch suggested that we purchase a phone card for making long distance calls to receive orders.
I have been notified by Bobbie Buscher that due to time restraints she will be unable to continue as FSO-FN. We need to thank Bobbie for the outstanding job she has done. If anyone is interested in taking over this job, please contact me.
Please check with George Crouch about your scheduled patrols that will begin in May.
The following message was received from ENS Walsh at Group Charleston:
The following links may be of interest for safe navigation.
1. Receive storm warning via pager message, pcs phone or e-mail: WIS TV Weather Warn
2. National Data Buoy Center Going to the coast? Click Here
3. Current area lake levels Click Here
4. National Weather Service local radar: www.nws.noaa.gov/er/cae/radar.htm
5. National Weather Service Columbia Office: www.nws.noaa.gov/er/cae/
We held a n AIM Board on April 8 at USCG Charleston. members of the board were Capt. DiNicola, Lt Carter, and Ltjg Healey of the Coast Guard, Bob Mathews and Bob and Ellen Kreiling of the Auxiliary. I presided, but did not vote.
I believe our candidate has a fairly good chance, but we won't know until Seventh district DSO-CC notifies us. The candidate has already been accepted by West Point's Summer camp ,which is in June, so our student may have a very busy Summer ! If we have heard by meeting time, I'll make an announcement.
Since moving to Greenville, I haven't had the opportunity to partake in any Flotilla activities. However, I am still managing the Flotilla 12-3 web site. If anyone would like to make any suggestions, contributions, etc., please let me know. (Editor�s note: Jim manages the official Auxiliary web site. Jim, thanks for a great job. The newsletter, calendar, and other local information is on my �unofficial� local members� site. JR)
There are new regulations regarding web sites that have come down from NACO. While they don't affect our site, I thought I'd share them anyway.
All Flotilla Sites must be evaluated/approved by the ADSO/CS. Allen Brown is the ADSO/CS for District 7. All Flotilla Finder Forms that wish to have their web site URL in the Flotilla Finder must also be approved by the ADSO/CS. Those with an e-mail address do not. The ADSO/CS is the only person authorized to submit either form with a URL to the national staff.
I have been spending 99.5% of my auxiliary time in my capacity as BC-IWA. I give the final stamp of approval for all USCGAUX web sites, in addition to updating the national web site http://www.uscgaux.org , and the flotilla finder database.
I'm still waiting for a high power antenna atop Paris Mountain so I can monitor Lake Murray.
Click the links below to view reports. Click "Back" button to return to newsletter.
Another month is here and I'm still looking for last month...where does time get to? Our crew class under the guidance of Don Davis is progressing very nicely with our second water training session completed. All members should try and come out and take part in our classroom discussions 'cause one forgets a lot of "stuff" overnight!
With the generous help of Joe Richbourg & Robert Burton, we now have the "new" crew/coxswain manual on CD-ROMs for home study; BUT; if one doesn't have access to a computer, it's no help...I wonder if anyone in National thought of this when they decided to change our manuals?
The article in the latest issue of "LAKE MURRAY" magazine about our flotilla is very good, and except for a few small errors, it's not a bad article. Gives us a good advertisement on the lake and I've had some nice comments from people who know that Bobby & I are in the "COAST GUARD' out there on the lake!
Now that the temperature is on the rise, so is the boat traffic on the lake. It's time to start thinking about the up coming boating season. I am hoping that by utilizing e-mail we can better coordinate patrols, coxswains, crew and watchstanders this year. With the cutbacks of DNR and the Marine Patrol, this could be a busy year for us. We know that we will not be able to respond to every call for assistance on the lake but hopefully good coordination will maximize our availability.
The SAR team will most likely be busy this summer and improved coordination and possibly weekly on call teams may help us provide enhance coverage during non-patrol times. We will also be working closely with DNR and the marine patrol this summer. Based on several recent incidents we may have two (2) types of SAR teams this year. One team would be for call outs where time is not as critical. This team could include members who would take 30 minutes or so to get to the lake. The other team would include those who could quickly be on or at the lake within 10 to 15 minutes to respond to more life threatening calls.
As part of our weekly patrol schedule, I will e-mail the scheduled patrols out to members. I will include the SAR team or teams on call for the week.
I attended last session of the boating class and addressed the students with input from some of the instructors present; Don Davis, Joe Richbourg, Kent McCoin, and Bill Turner.
We had one flotilla member and one prospective member taking this class. I also would like to thank Dale McCoin, Bobby Buscher, Adrienne Thompson, and especially FSO-MT Jim Smith for their outstanding work in producing this class.
I have responded to request for information from a Charles St. LaMont, Ted Sutton, and Edward Sutton. Mr. St. LaMont saw the article in the Lake Murray Magazine and contacted me. Ted Sutton and his son Edward attended a meeting in March to get a better understanding of what we do. Their visit was also prompted by the Lake Murray Magazine article. Mr. Ted Sutton had met a flotilla member, Ken Uschelbec, on a business flight not long ago and was told about the Auxiliary. Mr. St. LaMont and the Suttons have all been sent packets containing information on the Auxiliary and Flotilla 12-3.
I have recently received an application from Richard Lesnieski. Mr. Lesnieski is a retired New York State Police Officer and currently a Chief in the U. S. Naval Reserves. Mr Lesnieski is a resident of the Chapin area and has attended a couple of flotilla business meetings. I hope to get together with Mr. Lesnieski soon in order to give conclude all requirements to complete his application.
I would like to welcome new members: Mike McGee and Charles Burton. Those that don't know Mike, he had been a member but withdrew due to a heavy work schedule. Both he and Mr. Burton are students. When you see them, give them a hearty WELCOME ABOARD!
Thanks to all who have submitted reports for this month's issue of "On Course." I encourage all FSOs to submit their reports so our membership can stay informed. Many have been sending in reports every month, but a few have yet to report.
13 April 2001
USCG Auxiliary Wholesale Discounts
Below is a clarification relative to the use of the BoatU.S. Flotilla Wholesale Discount Card. Only the equipment required on a Facility, as listed on Form CG 2736, is available at a wholesale price. In addition all materials and training aids for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary classes are available at a wholesale price. Categories included are:
Flags
Navigation equipment including most electronics and charts
External lighting including flashlights and spot lights
Anchoring and docking equipment
Safety equipment
Pumps
Tools
Naturally, equipment for personal use and general maintenance of a boat is excluded from this offer. Some examples of exclusions include, but are not limited to:
Paint
Clothing and shoes
Dinghies and motors
Galley gear, Etc.
Your assistance in managing your account will help to insure the continuation of our wholesale purchasing privileges afforded us by BoatU.S. Further, if your Flotilla does not yet have an account all you need to do is to request a Boat America Wholesale Account application in writing on Flotilla letterhead. You will be sent an account application. Once it has been filled out and returned and your Flotilla is registered as a Wholesale account, two Flotilla officers are authorized to purchase qualified equipment for any facility in their Flotilla. Purchases may be made at any BoatU.S. Marine Center, or by calling orders into the Wholesale Division. You can either Fax or mail your application to: Boat America Wholesale Division, 884 South Picket St., Alexandria, VA 22304 or Fax to 703-461-2883. If you want to talk on the phone call 1-800-365-9283.
The National Safe Boating Council has announced that it will make $15,000 available for local RBS grants. Each project selected for funding will be eligible to receive a grant up to $1,000. Their application deadline is May 11, 2001 which doesn't give much time. Directors have received a copy of the announcement along with the grant application and guidelines. They have been asked to forward the information to their Flotilla Commanders. [Posted: 11 April 2001. Source: N-D]
Here are a few interesting, and perhaps even useful, boating related web sites:
Could this site be maintained by the same Tony Morris who manages the Members' Open Forum on the Auxiliary National Website?
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tmorris/boatnew.htm
The following cover everything from living on the water to living under water:
http://www.houseboatingworld.com/
http://www.boattest.com/main.asp
http://http://www.dtmag.com/
And finally, if you REALLY want to get noticed on the water, try one of these craft:
http://www.adventure-glass.com/index.html
April 7, we had our first VSCs of the year at Dreher Island State Park, and very successful thanks to Dale and Kent McCoin, Ken Uschelbec, Sharon Fleming, and Ron Tvorik. The weather was warm and sunny, and the boats were plentiful. We did over 20 VSCs with only 2 not passing due to minor discrepancies. Ron did a great job as on the scene P.R. man, and USCG AUX Recruiter. Sharon was a great help filling out forms and passing out literature. A good time was had by all.
April 21 is the date for VSCs at Palmetto Watercraft. There will be about 20 PWCs to do. I'll be out of town on this date. We'll need our VEs for this one. Contact me or Dale McCoin for information. This would be a good time to get some of your minimum of 5 VSCs done.
Just a reminder, the due date for Facility Inspections is fast approaching. Contact any one of our qualified VEs and set up a date to have your vessel inspected.
The following story is courtesy of Ron Tvorik. For those of you who don't already know, Ron is the State Fleet Safety Officer. When it comes to traffic safety, Ron "knows his stuff." Apparently, a couple of traffic safety officers in Great Britain didn't.
A report has revealed that two traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident whilst checking for speeding motorists on the A1 road between Oldhamstocks and Grantshouse.
Last May, they were using a hand-held radar device to trap unwary motorists on the Edinburgh to London trunk road. One of the unnamed officers used the device to check the speed of an approaching vehicle, and was surprised to find that his target had registered a speed in excess of 300 miles per hour. The $5000 machine then seized up and could not be re-set by the bemused PC's.
The radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado aircraft in the North Sea, which was taking part in a simulated low-flying exercise over the Borders and Southern Scotland.
Following a complaint by Sir William Sutherland, Chief Constable of the (Scottish) Lothian & Borders Police Force to the RAF liaison office, it was revealed that the officers had a lucky escape - the tactical computer on board the aircraft not only detected and jammed the "hostile" radar equipment, but had automatically armed a Sidewinder Air-to-Ground missile ready to neutralize the perceived threat.
Luckily the Dutch pilot was alerted to the missile status and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile launched.
The Police have so far declined to comment, although it is understood that officers will be advised to point their radar guns inland in the future.
Makes you think - don't it
Confidentiality Notice:
Telephone numbers and addresses of members are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. As a matter of policy, rosters of names, addresses and telephone numbers shall not be made available to the general public or any outside organization. Privacy of all rosters shall be safeguarded and the page clearly labeled. The publication of these rosters, addresses, and telephone numbers on any computer on-line service including the Internet is prohibited by the Privacy Act of 1974.
