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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] |
Incredable that another month has flown by! But then considering all that has happen, I�m not surprised.
Since I was away for the last flotilla meeting and again some this week, I owe considerable thanks to George Crouch for keeping everything moving operationally: weekday and weekend patrols, oversight for our night readiness exercise and cookout, operational contingency planning issues from Division, and island maintenance issues from grass cutting to well water and ice maker issues. George has done a fine job personally and with assistance from many of you as always. Again special thanks to Jim and Sharon Fleming for all their efforts in organizing and conducting VSCs - particularly with the assistance of Ron Tvorik - and to Bobby Buscher (and George again) for getting our radios requalified as �operational.� I also know there have been many patrols conducted during the last month, but without knowing all the participants I will offer a broad �thanks� to all of you - including those planning for and participating in the 6/15 exercise
Although we have a meeting on the 24 of June when we can make final plans, keep in mind the big 4th of July period coming up! Saturday evening on 6/29 will be the fireworks display at Spence Island with all it�s towing opportunities when we need maximum crew and facilities participation - including watchstanders! Since the 4th falls on Thursday, I expect plenty of boating activity Thursday through Sunday July 7th.
Again, that�s it for now. I look forward to seeing you at the Island and on the water!
Please don't forget our Night Exercise and Picnic on June 15, 2002. Food will be served at around 1900 with the Night Exercises beginning at around 2100.
As we are in full swing of summer the need for patrols and radio watch on Saturday and Sunday is great. As we move into Hurricane Season and with the threat of terrorism increasing around the 4th of July please make sure you vessel is fully fueled, equipped and ready to go. For those of you with trailers make sure they are ready in the event we are called to assist along the coast. Our best help is to stay alert and be prepared to assist wherever needed.
Please try to do your part by helping to spread the workload around a little. Thanks!
Where does the Coast Guard get their leaders? From the enlisted ranks, for one source, where a promising petty officer can be sent to Officer�s Candidate School, or the academy (if he or she is young enough). By direct commission, for another, if they are college graduates with critically needed skills (doctor, nurse, lawyer, environmental engineer, etc.)
Graduates of the Coast Guard Academy receive commissions, of course, as well as promising graduates of the Naval Academy, Merchant Marine Academy and the state maritime academies.
Where can we find these young people? They are out there somewhere, and it's the job of the Coast Guard recruiters and Auxiliary CC's to find them and sign them up. This can be a very frustrating assignment, but an interesting one.
Several members do not understand the Annual Currency maintenance (ACM) requirements, therefor; I will explain it again.
a. Each year every person in the Operations program MUST complete an ACM and send it to me. The member must completed 8 hours on patrol at the highest level achieved. Coxswain must have 8 hours as Coxswain and Crewmembers must have 8 hours as Crew. The PWC operators must have this same level of achievement. The hours on patrol as a PWC operator DO NOT COUNT. The towing exercises must also be completed.
b. Each member must complete the same exercises, except, the 5th year must be witnessed by a QE. We have several members that need this 5 year re-qual.
c. Dale Owen sent me a request for himself and two other members that the ACM be sent to Diraux West. This I couldn�t do. Dale�s was okay, but Bill Turner and Mark Williams, DO NOT have the hours on patrol that they need. Both members have 8 hours as CREW but none for Coxswain, therefore, neither one has completed their ACM. Both still need 8 hours as Coxswain. I am attaching two reports that show where every member stands on this subject.
Click on the underlined link to view the report. Click "Back" button to return to newsletter.
List of members who have to Re-qual this year:
The new postage rates will be effect on the 30th of this month, so members be aware that you'll need a few pennies more.
First-Class Mail:
first ounce:....37 cents
additional ounce:.....23 cents
postcard:.....23 cents
And don't forget that the "large" 9" x 12" brown manila envelope requires a surcharge 'cause it's oversize and we must pay 11 cents more, plus regular postage.
On the return address space, remember you never put your name...just the flotilla office that you hold and if you don't hold an office, you just put FC-12-03, your street address, and your city/town/zip code.
Congratulations to Bobby Buscher for passing the AUXPAT course. Looks like Smitty and Bobby are focusing on AUXOP courses this year. Is there anyone else interested? At the beginning of the year I mentioned a group class in AUXSAR. So far we have 3 interested students; Smitty, Bobby, and Bill Turner; and 1 instructor, Kent Mccoin. What about some of the rest of you? AUXSAR is a very good course to expand one's knowledge and understanding of Boat Crew tactics such as towing. This class goes into more detail, like the regular Coast Guard Coxswain Course, than was taught in the Boat Crew Program.
I've heard a number of good comments about the Weather Class taught at our last BS&S Class. Kent and I have discussed having the National Weather Service come to one of our meetings to give another presentation on weather, perhaps this year's hurricane season. I'm trying to get Ron Jones to come to the June or July meeting.
In the Boat Crew Program we have a seminar for requalifications on 6/15 starting around 2:00 PM at the Island. So far I have 2 members expressing interest in Boat Crew, R. Lesnieski and J. Mendenhall, and 3 members interested in Coxswain, C. Armstrong, G. Mendenhall, and M. Mikutaitis. Those of you needing books please contact me by phone or by email, [email protected] I now have some training manuals
Minutes of the May 20, 2002 Flotilla 12-3 regular meeting:
The meeting was called to order at 1900 by VFC George Crouch, who presided in the absence of FC Kent McCoin, who was out of town.
Guests included Neil Paul, USCG Station Charleston Liaison and Morgan Parker, prospective member.
The following awards were presented by VFC Crouch:
Ron Tvorik, 1st Sustained Auxiliary Service Award
Al Morgan, MDV Program Award
New members were sworn in: Joyce Long, Jim Long, and John Tillinghas
VFC Crouch reminded the membership of the award to be presented to the Flotilla 12-3 by the Dutch Fork Optimist Club on May, 21, 2002. (Editor�s note: Ollie Moye wrote an excellent article about this presentation for the Lake Murray News and the Irmo News in the June 6th edition.) VFC Crouch also reminded that May is the Auxiliary�s month to cut the grass at Flotilla Island.
VFC Crouch also covered the following points:
Memorial Day weekend is coming up; expect a busy time on the lake, and we need boats on the water and radio watchstanders. We especially need help on Sunday PM.
The night training exercise and family cookout is scheduled for June 15th, with food served at 7:00 PM and the training to begin about dark. DNR and Marine patrol are also invited. Lee Olson is coordinating the food.
POMS is still being upgraded.
Remember to re-certify radio facilities; download and fill in the paperwork before calling Steve Davis to check them.
We were also reminded of the continuing need for operational assistance to USCG and the need to continue checking the exclusion zones at the water intakes and around the dam.
In response to a question by Ron Tvorik, there was a discussion of the requirement for all passengers on a towed boat to wear a life jacket, and ways to deal with people who are reluctant to comply with this requirement.
Ron also said the FC and VFC are previewing the ABC Course, and issued an invitation for additional PE Instructors.
Jerry Ruschkofski reminded members of their 5 year re-quals coming up, and is scheduling a training session, hopefully to be conducted on June 15th.
The meeting was adjourned at 2030.
Minutes by Joe Richbourg, FSO-PB.
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts on the whistle. You should:
A. sound two blasts and change course to the left
B. sound only fog signals until the other vessel is sighted
C. sound whistle signals only if you change course
D. not sound any whistle signals until the other vessel is sighted
The first correct response will qualify for a prize at the June meeting, courtesy of Ed Jones.
VSCs went well at Putnams Landing on June 01, with only two out of 12 VSCs not passing
No VSCs are scheduled for June 15, due to the Cookout, and Night Ops.
We re-scheduled VSCs at Yacht Cove Condo's for June 22,1000 to 1400 hours, after getting rained out on May 18. Call if you would like to help out!
Al Morgan and I have enrolled the following Lake Murray boat, and PWC rental agents in the USCG's Rental VSC program:
Light House Marina
Anchors Away Pontoon Boat Rentals
Lexington Personal Watercraft Inc.
We have a meeting coming up with Lake Murray Marina to sign the agreement, and do VSCs on their rental boats.
For those of you not familiar with the Rental VSC Program, it's an agreement between the Rental Agent, and the USCG-AUX that the Rental Agent will maintain his rental vessels to the VSC standards, will discuss operator safety, equipment, environmental, and state requirements as they apply, with each rental operator. They will agree to be part of the Marine Dealer Program, having educational material, and Safe Boating Class schedules available for their customers. The USCG-AUX will agree to do VSCs on their rental vessels, and keep them supplied with the latest USCG Safety material
May 18-24, North American Safe Boating Campaign, click for web site
June 15th, Night Exercise and social
July 27th, Division Meeting, Mt. Pleasant
September 10th, Fall BS&S Class begins (6 weeks through October 15th.)
October 26th, Division Meeting, Mt. Pleasant
December 16th, Flotilla 12-3 Change of Watch dinner meeting
January 25th, 2003, Division 12 Change of Watch, hosted by Flotilla 12-3
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.