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Flotilla Commander Kent McCoin [email protected]  Vice Flotilla Commander George S. Crouch III [email protected] Aids to Navigation C.Dale Owen [email protected] Career Counselor Carl Brown [email protected] Communications Steve Davis [email protected] |
Communication Services Lee Olson [email protected] Finance Lynn Williams [email protected] Information Services Donald H. Davis [email protected] Materials James Smith [email protected] Marine Safety Hans Miller [email protected] |
Member Training Gerald J. Ruschkofski [email protected] Marine Dealer Visitor Albert C. Morgan [email protected] Operations George S. Crouch III [email protected] Public Affairs Edward C. Jones [email protected] Publications Joe M. Richbourg [email protected] |
Public Education Ronald J. Tvorik [email protected] Personnel Services Aaron R. Small [email protected] Secretary/Records Jeanette Brown [email protected] Vessel Examinations James Fleming [email protected] Division Captain Ellen Kreiling [email protected] |
Things really seem to be moving fast since the Change of Watch Dinner/Installation December 15 - particularly without a monthly meeting for planning and coordination. Consequentially the On Course Newsletter - which is always nicely done and vital - takes on even more significance this month!
Before I jump right into business however, I would like to again say thanks for your confidence in electing me as your FC for the next year and I hope all of you and your families had a joyous Christmas and NewYear�s season! I will try to do my part to maintain the high standards which have traditionally been a part of Lake Murray Flotilla 12-3, so we can celebrate equally as hard at the end of this year.
I must also thank each of the flotilla staff officers for accepting their positions and in advance for the leadership, coordination and direction they will provide over the next year. My recent �new FC� training in Orlando confirms my opinion that we have an excellent leadership pool and I�m excited to be on the same team. It is fairly balanced between experience and freshness. I know you will give them your support and continue to express your ideas and concerns.
The Annual Columbia Boat Show is upon us! It is open to the public starting 4PM Thursday January 24th and closes 5PM Sunday January 27th. Other start and close times are 10AM and 9PM. Set up and take down, of course, are before and after the public viewing hours.
Your assistance is essential for several reasons. As always, we need to tell our story about boating safety, recruit/sell enrollment in the BS &S class starting February 12, and sell/recruit for the flotilla. However I suspect that answering questions about the Coast Guard itself will take on added importance following their new role in national defense. George Crouch is coordinating the boat show �work schedule� by phone and e-mail. Please respond to George as soon as you can. Many of our members also serve on the Division 12 staff and need to attend the Division Staff Meeting and Change of Watch the same weekend in Myrtle Beach. If possible, these members can work shifts on Thursday, Friday morning, or sometime Sunday based on their travel itinerary and those members in town can concentrate on Friday, Saturday and early Sunday. Personal and �travel� assistance will also be needed for set up/take down for those who can volunteer here. Again, contact George C.
The next meeting will be January 28 at Flotilla Island. As of my writing, Commander James E. Tunstall, CO, Coast Guard Group Charleston plans to attend. I�m sure he will have interesting remarks for us and we will all look forward to his first visit. I also plan to install each of the flotilla staff officers who can attend. Planning for the year�s first BS & S class is well underway, but the meeting will give us an opportunity to tie up any loose ends.
As quickly as I can I will be contacting each of you ASAP to fill out a new Member Audit Form called Operation PATRIOT READINESS. This "inventory" for the CG requires your certification/signature as to your personal training qualifications, availability and status of vessels and radios as applicable. I have not received all the information on this, however I understand a January completion date is desired.
For the third year in a row, the Charleston Sea School has been granted use of our classroom facilities the last week in February to instruct their 6PAC Captains License Course, so we will have to make alternate meeting arrangements. Watch for details, but expect to meet at the Rusty Anchor Restaurant at Lighthouse Marina as in the past.
While activities are slower on the water don�t forget to go over your facility in preparation for the annual facility inspection. I believe George Crouch and Jim Fleming are planning these inspections for March. It is also a good time to get a head start on a course material for new qualifications or requalifications you may desire.
Communications are flowing! Keep up the good work!
I hope everyone had a great Holiday Season. We had 3 SAR calls over the Holidays, but non-were life threatening. Everyone should be mindful of the colder water and air temps when on the water. 2001 was an outstanding year for our members and 2002 looks to be another exciting year for Flotilla 12-3. If each member could commit to 1 patrol or 1 radiowatch each month we would have every weekend this summer covered.
The Boat Show is here and we need workers, please let me know if you can help. The dates are January 24-27, 2002.
Several changes in the way we do business will occur this year. Group Charleston will begin entering our SAR's into their system, member numbers and ID's are going to change and I feel sure as things settle down from September 11 we will see more changes. Please try to attend our Flotilla meeting on January 28, 2002, as we will review some of the changes in filling out SAR forms.
First: let me say I'm sorry for not having my column in last month's newsletter. We had so much trouble we had to put in new software to be able to read our e-mail and get on the internet , so I've been somewhat out of touch.
To the best of my knowledge, I have visited all of the high schools in the midlands at least once since being appointed FSO-CC, and I have started on my second round . I had a new experience last week: I got a nice thank -you note from the ROTC instructor at C.A. Johnson H.S. via e-mail. This has been an interesting job, and something new is always happening.
Officially, my job started out telling students about AIM ,the one-week Summer camp for prospective Coast Guard Academy students. Since only a small percentage of students are qualified for the academy , we receive training in recruiting for regular enlistments in the Coast Guard. Now that we are in a war , talking to students has a new urgency. It would be great if we could wrap up this war before the young folks I'm talking to now have to get involved. Pray for peace.
Click the link below to view report. Click "Back" button to return to newsletter.
Well, this is a new start and job for me, so everyone needs to let me know by phone (345-9827) or e-mail([email protected]) what supplies you might like. I'll bring my "milk carton" to the monthly meetings with envelopes, stamps, stationary, rapid-drafts and some forms.
I'm sending in requests both to Palm Coast, Fl and ANSC in IL. for more items for the boat show and hand-outs by our VE's. This year, the first batch of new "yellow" VE stickers are being ordered by our FC, so they should be in soon.
Checking our present items, we have the following items for anyone who can either purchase or receive free
1) past officers device....$3.00@ have two new ones for sale
2) FSO coat insignia...$5.50@ have two sets
3) SO collar insignia...$5.50@have two sets plus 3 used/free
4) FSO shoulder boards...donated(save $18.00) free
5) VFC shoulder boards...donated(save$19.00) free
6) auto/boat window stick-on round decals...$1.25@ have three
7) work blue collar insignia...donated 3 items(free)
8) "Dress Blue" jacket FSO boards...donated(save $25.00) but who has the winter dress blues?
9) one pair/tropical blue pants...36"x30" plus a 3" hem to let out..free
The cost of shipping items from Palm Coast, FL is $5.80 which will have to be shared by all who order, so I'll try and combine orders. It might be a good idea for all the flotillas to have a central "donation pot" for dress items no longer needed which can be used to pass good stuff on at a modest cost/no cost except mailing to other members.
The six most important words: �I admit I made a mistake�...
The five most important words: �You did a good job�....
The four most important words: �What is your opinion?
The three most important words: �If you please�
The two most important words: �Thank you�
The one most important words: �We�
The least important word: "I"
Remember to send in your reports and articles. The deadline is the 10th of each month, with on-line publication on or about the 15th. We're missing most of the reports this month. I know everyone is just coming off a busy holiday season, and we have several new FSOs, but with only 6 out of 17 reporting, we're only at 35%. I know we can can do better.
The 2002 calendar has been updated, and is on the member's website and can be accessed by clicking on the link below,
In addition to the current issue of our newsletter, at the member's web site you can still access the past 26 issues, just in case you would like to see what we have done in the past couple of years. Click the "Back Issues" link to bring up the list.
Our next Basic Boating Safety and Seamanship class will begin on February 12th and conclude on March 19, 2002. As in the past, classes will be conducted at the Seven Oaks Recreation Center on Leisure Lane (across from the Honeywell Plant). Classes begin at 19:00 and end at 21:00 hours. Cost for the course remains the same at $35.00.
Instructors are reminded to mark their calendars for the lessons they will be teaching. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend any or all of the classes, especially the Final Exam Awards session on march 19th.
We are planning on doing Facility Inspections in March. As of right now, the only thing different is we have to send a copy of the vessel registration, or documentation papers along with the Facility Inspection, and offer for use form (#7003 CG-2736 ) Make sure you make a copy of your registration or documentation form, and bring it with you when we do the Facility Inspection! The authorization, and co-owner forms also must be included. I'll have the co-owner forms available at our FEBRUARY meeting for those who need them.
For more information, or a detailed list of what is required for the Facility, go to the USCG National Forms Site, and look at the form #7003 CG-2736. All the info is on the front, and back of the form. If you have any questions, call or e-mail me.
Officers on the old sailing ships were usually disliked, but the Boatswain mate, (pronounced Bosun ) was feared by the crew. He would remind them if they got into any trouble "there would be the devil to pay ". The devil was neither the Skipper nor the Bosun. It was the last out board plank next to the keel. When it's seam had to be caulked, or" payed" as it was called, some unfortunate " Swab "guilty of any misdemeanor was elected to do the job.
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.