|
At our May meeting we had the pleasure of swearing in our newest member, Richard Lesnieski. We look forward to working with Richard in the future. I also had the pleasure of giving Adrienne Thompson her award for all the hard work she has put into our boating classes. Adrienne is not an instructor, but she makes some of the best cookies and brownies in the world.
Night exercise and cookout will be Saturday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. We will cook hot dogs and hamburgers. The flotilla will supply the meat, rolls, and fixings. Members need to bring drinks, covered dish, and dessert. At this time we are still making plans for the night exercise. We need all coxswains and crew at the island no later than 6:00 p.m. This training will come in good for the 4th of July fireworks (The date will be Saturday, June 30th, editor's note.)
If you plan to work with us during the 4th of July, you need to attend our June meeting. We will go over the operations plan for that weekend. This year the fireworks will be held at one location. There will be numerous boats around Spence Island for this event.
We still need a financial officer. Please contact me if you are interested.
As a reminder, annual dues are due in July and August.
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/
Our AIM candidate was not selected for AIM. He did get an alternate slot, but several people would have to get sick ahead of him for him to get to go.
Sometimes it takes a week or more for the person you are trying to call to get back to you, then you have to agree on a date that suits you both. ROTC people are usually good to work with, but guidance councilors vary quite a bit. Some are interested in opportunities for their students, while some only seem to want to do as little as possible. Next year, I will once again be visiting as many schools as possble. If you hear of a good prospect, let me know. I might not be going to their school otherwise.
We are experiencing a lag in filing SAR and AUX-26 reports. Several members have had SAR's but have not sent me the SAR reports. I have asked, but to no avail. We as members of the Auxiliary have taken a pledge to abide by the governing body of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This means to file the paperwork for the work you have done. The Coast Guard's yearly budget is influenced by the hours we do and the work we do to help the Coast Guard. The District, Division, Group, and the Flotillas are effected by what you do, and report. This will be the last message of this kind. If you don't want to do the paperwork, and do what is right, I will not bother you again. I will be happy to give a workshop on what and how to file reports. It's up to you and the leadership of this Flotilla if you want me too.
Click the links below to view reports. Click "Back" button to return to newsletter.
Vessel Facilities Inspected, 2001
Activity Mission Report June, 2001
June 16, 2001 is our night training exercise. All SAR Team members need to participate. The lake is a difference world at night. If you do not regularly get on the water at night, this is your opportunity.
I need a to know the number of coxswains and vessels that plan to participate in the night exercise. We will have several different scenarios for group and individual vessels. To plan I need to know how many vessels.
1900 - Cookout (families invited)
2100 - Night exercise begins
Everyone, please try plan to attend!
The new Patrol Order system (POMS) is scheduled to be implemented for Flotilla 12-3 on Friday June 15, 2001.
Radio watchstanders will be sent a list of temporary order numbers that they can assign if you have not received regular orders before you begin your patrol.
The new temporary order numbers will be 12-3- LM (for Lake Murray) 01 (watchstanders number) followed by a 3 digit number. Example: for George Summer LM08001 will be his first number. The new Coast Guard Patrol Order numbers will only be a long set of numbers.
Important items we need to know for the new system: Is the coxswain and the owner of the vessel the same; crew on board and date of the patrol. Patrol Orders can not be issued without proper crew, coxswain and inspected/approved vessel on board. Without proper crew and certified vessel you are just a good Samarian on the water.
Call me if you have any questions.
Keep those articles and reports coming. Any member can send me an article for the newsletter, not just the staff officers.
Vessel 3162 is still in Charleston, and will be there for a little bit longer. It seems to like that saltwater. It's going to be hard to get it back to Lake Murray, but I guess I will eventually have to bring it back, at least for a while. So far, we have done 2 patrols there and my wife and I have been doing a lot of coastal exploring. We have covered the harbor and ICW from Edisto Island to Dewees Island as well as the Ashley, Cooper, Wando and Stono Rivers. We took one offshore trip from Charleston out through the jetties down the coast and back in through the North Edisto Inlet by Seabrook Island, returning up the Stono River; great trip!
On May 26, we did VSCs at Yacht Cove. Thanks to Ken Uschelbec, Sharon Fleming, and Ron Tvorik, we completed 27 VSCs. We could have used more VEs there. We had boaters waiting for us. The weather was beautiful with calm water, and they were anxious to get underway. On June 2nd, we did VSCs at Lexington Watercraft Rentals in White Rock. Our thanks to Jerry Verdino for the use of his facility, announcing Free Vessel Safety Checks on his road side sign, and the sweet rolls he provided for us! We had help from Al Morgan, Sharon Fleming, and Ron Tvorik. Ollie Moye was there to help with VSCs, take some pictures, and do some interviews. The turn out was some what less then we had planned. The weather was great and the jet skiers were on the water. Maybe we should put more effort into doing VSCs for PWCs at the launch ramps.
Congratulations to Ron Tvorik for PASSING the VE exam on line. He has been doing a great job of helping with VSC's; now he will be doing them. Good work Ron !
FM: COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO: ALCOAST
COMDTNOTE 16790
Subject: Sixty-Second Anniversary of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
1. June 23, 2001 marks the sixty-second anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This past year the Auxiliary and its 34,000 members has again superbly supported Coast Guard missions. Like all other elements of Team Coast Guard, they have been partners in our ongoing challenge of transformation to meet the evolving needs of the boating and maritime community. In a continuing effort to prevent accidents, injury and death to boaters, personal water craft operators, kayakers and canoers, the Auxiliary has updated their public education courses, revamped their vessel safety check program, and obtained additional Coastie robotic boats to educate our youth at schools, boat shows, and other events. The Auxiliary signed an agreement with the U.S. Power Squadron allowing their members to conduct voluntary vessel safety checks and issue the Auxiliary decal upon a successful examination. Also, Auxiliary State Liaison Officers worked hard supporting changes to state laws, making boating safer on state waters. Additionally, members of the Auxiliary's International Affairs Department established information sharing partnerships with other world maritime safety volunteer organizations. In all of these areas, the Auxiliary leadership has charted a course that has increased the value the auxiliary brings to America.
2. Last year,with an eye towards prevention and response, Auxiliarists saved 311 lives, assisted 3,733 others, conducted 108,981 vessel safety checks, and 1,727 commercial fishing vessel safety exams. Auxiliarists spent over 10,000 hours in the air,over 140,000 hours on the water, over 73,000 hours in the classroom, and almost 270,000 hours in support of other missions. Included in these statistics are the over 400 Auxiliary vessels operating out of eight major city areas in support of Opsail 2000. This year, through their close interaction with the public, Auxiliarists are educating boaters on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
3. Auxiliarists continue to provide exceptional public service as they augment Coast Guard units ashore and afloat, providing critical administrative and operational support. On June 23, 2001, I encourage all Coast Guard units to recognize and celebrate with their local Auxiliary flotillas the Auxiliary's sixty-second birthday to thank these most dedicated members for all they do.
4. Internet release authorized.
5. Adm J.M. Loy, Commandant, sends.
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.
