There will be NO regular meeting in December. The Christmas party will be on Sunday, December 19 at 1730 and will take the place of our regular meeting.

Mike Case has been elected Flotilla Commander and Howard Hickey has been elected Vice Flotilla Commander.

Place: Original Oyster House (Downstairs-Non Smoking and Handicap Accessible)

Battleship Parkway

Date: Dec. 19th (Sunday)

Time: 5:30P Social

6:30P Dinner

Food: Order from Menu (Ticket will include gratuity)

George Davis and Deborah Shaw were sworn in as new members during the October meeting.

Bob Burton

As you all know, QE's must have the 8 hours TCT course prior to evaluating a candidate. Also all Coxswain and Crew will have to have

The TCT course in the future. Division 3 has scheduled training in January, one course in MS and one course in AL. The Al course will be held at Faulkner State Comm College in Fairhope, AL on January 22, 2000 (SATURDAY) from 0800 till 1600. The MS course will be held at the education center on Keesler Air Force Base, actual date will posted by Wayne Beatty. I would like to see all QE's attend one of these meetings.

Some have already had the course, but I think may need a refresher (I know I do). The new QE's must have one of these courses to be qualified.

This training is open to all coxswain and crew within Division 3 and all active duty member of the call out stations. Hopefully the active duty QE's will attend so we can all be talking about the same thing while evaluating. It will be a good time to get this valuable training and upcoming required item. Please let Wayne Beatty know of your intentions to attend the MS meeting and me for the AL meeting. FC's please make sure your members (especially the coxswain) know of this training.

FOR ALL DSO-OP's: A new set of Navrules Exams were sent out to the directors offices by G-OCX-2. There are three exams for initial qualification and three for requalification. The following is a quote from G-OCX-2 message concerning these new exams:

"They are effective upon receipt. As stated in the cover letter, all previous exams, paper and electronic, will be superceded by these exams. There is one change - both the closed book initial exam and the open book renewal exam are 30 question tests, and both require a minimum passing score of 90%. All other previous rules and regs remain in effect, i.e. don't change the way you've been doing business, with respect to this exam anyway. "

The Coast Guard Spouses Club of Mobile is selling cookbooks. There are over two hundred pages of recipes. They cover everything from breakfast food to late night desserts. The cost is $7.00. Checks should be made out to C.G.S.C. Contact Mark DeVoe to order these great stocking stuffers.

Quite often when we are out on the water for a day of fun and leisure we take our portable radio along for entertainment. Music, sports casts, or news programs can add to the enjoyment of cruising along or just drifting with the current. For convenience the portable radio is often propped up on the binnacle or the instrument dash board. The pleasure derived from the portable radio in such a location is also accompanied with an added risk. The radios speaker has a very strong magnet, and this magnet can induce a very large deviation in the boat’ s magnetic compass. The closer the portable radio is to the compass the greater the magnetic influence will be.

As long as the weather is good and the visibility is clear, the influence of the portable radio on the magnetic compass will be of little consequence. However, the weather over our waters can change for the worse in a very short time. Thunder storms followed with heavy rain and very poor visibility are quite common especially in the summer months. When small boats are caught out on the water by one of these storms, they usually set a course for their home port or the nearest sheltered area.

Unless they are equipped with RADAR, a GPS Plotter, or some other electronic navigation equipment, they have to rely on their magnetic compass to guide them to a safe haven. If a portable radio has induced a large deviation in the magnetic compass, their ability to find that safe haven is greatly reduced . Two such occurrences have come to this writer’ s attention, and no doubt there are several more. In both these cases the visibility was greatly reduced and the boat’ s operator had to rely on the magnetic compass to steer a course to a safe harbor. A portable radio had caused a large deviation in the magnetic compass on each of these

boats. However, good luck prevailed with both of these boats. Although they were way off their intended courses, the operators were able realize there was a problem before the boats came to grief. The operators learned a valuable lesson about the need to be careful about placing items like portable radios too close to the magnetic compass on their boats.

Art Murray , BC-ONB

Gateway Computers is offering members of the Auxiliary a 2% discount off the base price of computers available from their web site. This offer includes a flat $50 shipping charge. The discount is the same as is offered to federal government employees. Orders may be placed by calling 1-800-846-2036 extension 55044. Be sure to mention that you are a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. More information can also be obtained by E-mail at [email protected].

(NOTE: This is from an email. The ALL CAPS style was in the email)

1. IN FEB 99, I ISSUED THE FIRST STROKE-OF-THE-PEN MSG TO QUICKLY IMPLEMENT AND HIGHLIGHT NEEDED CHANGES TO THE AUXILIARY PROGRAM. THIS SECOND MSG IMPLEMENTS ADDITIONAL CHANGES BASED ON QAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND MBR INPUT. THESE CHANGES ARE THE RESULT OF FEEDBACK FROM MBRS, DIRECTORS OF AUXILIARY (DIRAUX) AND AUX LEADERS, AND WERE CAREFULLY REVIEWED BY MY STAFF, THE NEXCOM, AND THE NATIONAL BOARD. EACH CHANGE DETAILS THE PAGE OR SECTION OF THE AUX MANUAL (AUXMAN), AUX OPS POLICY MANUAL (AUXOPS), OR OTHER MANUAL, IT EFFECTS.

A. AUX SUN HAT: AUXMAN CH 10.D.4, THE AUXILIARY SUN HAT IS ADARK BLUE, WIDE-BRIMMED COTTON HAT, WITH THE WORDS "U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY" EMBROIDERED ON THE FRONT. THE SUN HAT MAY BE WORN IN LIEU OF THE BASEBALL CAP OR BLUE WORKING UTILITY CAP WHEN WEARING UNDRESS-BLUE SUMMER BRAVO, WORKING BLUE, THE JUMPSUIT, OR HOT WEATHER BOAT CREW OUTFIT, WHEN ON PATROL OR ON VE MISSIONS (INCLUDES CMES, PWC SAFETY CHECKS, AND EXAMINATIONS OF UPV'S/CFV'S). THE CORRECT METHOD OF WEARING THE HAT IS WITH THE BRIM DOWN FOR MAXIMUM SUN PROTECTION. NO INSIGNIA MAY BE WORN ON THE HAT. THE AUXCEN CARRIES THE ONLY HAT AUTHORIZED. SEE COMDT LTR 16790 OF 10 JUN 99 FOR MORE DETAILS.

B. VE SHIRT: AUXMAN CH 10.A, A POLO-GOLF STYLE SHIRT IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR DURING A TEST PERIOD OF 19 MAR 99 - 31 DEC 00. THIS OPTIONAL UNIFORM SHIRT MAY BE WORN AS PART OF THE UNDRESS BLUE-SUMMER BRAVO, WORKING BLUE, AND HOT WEATHER BOAT CREW OUTFIT IN LIEU OF THE SHIRT DESCRIBED IN THE AUXMAN WHEN CONDUCTING CME'S AND PWC SAFETY CHECKS. THE SHIRT IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON PATROL OR FOR OTHER AUX ACTIVITIES. NO INSIGNIA, NAMETAGS, OR BREAST DEVICES SHALL BE WORN W/THE SHIRT. HEADGEAR (WHEN WEARING THE GOLF SHIRT) SHALL NOT DISPLAY OFFICE INSIGNIA, EMBROIDERED OAK LEAVES OR ACORNS ON THE CAP VISOR OR SUN HAT. THE AUXCEN CARRIES THE ONLY SHIRT AUTHORIZED. SEE CHIDIRAUX LTR 1020 OF 13 JUL 99 FOR MORE DETAILS. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT COMDT (G-M) HAS AUTHORIZED AN ALTERNATE UNIFORM FOR CFVS PERSONNEL. AUXILIARY CFVS PERSONNEL MAY WEAR THE ALTERNATE UNIFORM IAW COMDT MSG R 272344Z APR 99.

C. MERITORIOUS TEAM COMMENDATION (MTC) RIBBON AWARDING AUTHORITY: AUXMAN CH 11.C.4.A, LCDR'S (O-4'S) OR HIGHER SERVING AS A DIRAUX ARE AUTHORIZED TO AWARD THE MTC RIBBON FOR TEAMS CONSISTING OF AUXILIARISTS ONLY. FOR TEAMS WHICH CONSIST OF AUX AND ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE OR CIVILIAN CG EMPLOYEES, THE AWARD MUST BE PROCESSED VIA THE RESPECTIVE CG ADMINISTRATIVE OR OPERATIONAL UNIT AWARDS BOARD.

D. WEARING RIBBONS: AUXMAN CH 10.F.5.A, WHEN WEARING RIBBONS, AUXILIARISTS MAY WEAR EITHER ALL RIBBONS AUTHORIZED OR THEIR SENIOR THREE RIBBONS.

E. ABSENTEE VOTING: AUXMAN CH 4.B.8, ABSENTEE VOTING MAYBE ALLOWED BY THE DIRAUX, UPON FAVORABLE ENDORSEMENT BY THE DCO, IN SITUATIONS WHERE FLOTILLA MBRS RESIDE TOO FAR AWAY TO TRVL TO FLOTILLA MTGS. FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, TRVL MORE THAN 50 MI IS CONSIDERED "TOO FAR". IDEALLY, ABSENTEE VOTING SHALL BE DONE VIA TELECOMMUTING, I.E. THE ABSENTEE VOTERS VIEWING THE MTG AND VOTING VIA THE INTERNET IF AVAILABLE. IF NOT, DIRAUX MAY AUTHORIZE TELEPHONIC VOTING, E-MAIL VOTING SENT TO THE DIRAUX-DIRECTED E-MAIL ADDRESS AND/OR SEALED, MAILED IN VOTES. THIS MAY BE USEFUL FOR, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, FLOTILLA DETACHMENTS. IN NO CASE WILL THE DIRAUX AUTHORIZE ABSENTEE VOTING BY PROXY WHERE THE ABSENT VOTER (S) AUTHORIZE ANOTHER MBR (S) TO CAST THEIR VOTE (S). IF ABSENTEE VOTING IS AUTHORIZED BY DIRAUX & DCO, IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT FLOTILLA STANDING RULES BE CHANGED/AMENDED TO ALLOW IT.

F. DEPT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A) NAME CHANGE: AUXMAN CH 5.I, THE NAME OF THE DEPT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A) IS CHANGED TO DEPT OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A). THE DEPT'S LETTER DESIGNATION REMAINS (A).

G. AUX BLUE BLAZER: AUXMAN CH 10.E.2, THE BLUE BLAZER MAY BE SINGLE BREASTED, TWO OR THREE BUTTON, W/CIVILIAN OR AUXILIARY BUTTONS, AND W/POCKETS (ANY KIND). THE OUTFIT IS ORNAMENTED WITH AN AUXILIARY PATCH. THE OFFICIAL BLAZER PATCH IS THAT OF THE AUX LOGO W/STARS AROUND IT.

H. CG PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER CRSE: AUXMAN CH 5.I AND CH 8.E; AUXILIARISTS ASSIGNED PA DUTIES IN SUPPORT OF ACTIVE DUTY CMDS, OR ASSIGNED TO THE AUX DEPT OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A) MAY APPLY TO ATTEND THE 5 DAY CG PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER COURSE (AFIS-COPAC) HELD AT FT MEADE, MD. COURSE INFORMATION, SCHEDULES, AND PREREQUISITE INFO IS POSTED ON TQC'S WEBSITE (WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/TQC). AUXILIARISTS FILLING A PA ROLE AT CG UNITS NEED THAT CMD'S ENDORSEMENT ON THEIR SHORT TERM TRAINING REQUEST (STTR); AUXILIARISTS ASSIGNED TO THE AUX DEPT OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEED DIRAUX ENDORSEMENT ON THE STTR. IAW ALDIST 215/99 COMPLETED STTR'S ARE TO BE SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR FAX TO TQC, VIA THEIR DIRAUX.

I. FLOTILLA & DIVISION ELECTIONS: AUXMAN CH 4, APPENDIX 4-A, WITH DCO & DIRAUX APPROVAL, FLOTILLAS AND DIVISIONS MAY HOLD ELECTIONS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE DATE OF THE DISTRICT ELECTION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE IS TO ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DIVISIONS/FLOTILLAS WHO DO NOT HAVE MBRS DESIGNATED TO RUN FOR DISTRICT (OR DIVISION FOR FLOTILLA ELECTIONS) LEVEL OFFICE TO HOLD THEIR ELECTIONS EARLY EACH YEAR AND BETTER ENABLE THEM TO MEET END OF YEAR COMMITMENTS.

J. RADIO FACILITY OPERATING POLICY CHANGES: AUXOPS, CH 2.A.4, 2.A.5, AND CH 9.B.1.H, AND AUXMAN CH 5.K.12: APPROPRIATE ORDERS AND CONTINGENCY ("POCKET") ORDERS MAY BE ISSUED TO OPERATORS OF FIXED LAND AND LAND MOBILE RADIO AND RADIO DIRECTION FINDING FACILITIES. DELETE THE TWO "NOTES" IN CH 9.B.1.H. THESE NOTES NO LONGER APPLY, SINCE APPROPRIATE ORDERS MAY BE ISSUED TO RADIO FACILITIES, INCLUDING LAND MOBILE FACILITIES, BY AUX UNIT CMDRS.

K. QUALIFICATION EXAMINERS (QE'S): THE POLICY IN REF C, PARA 3.C.1, IS CHANGED TO ALLOW QE'S TO SIGN-OFF QUALIFICATION TASKS OF MBRS OF THEIR OWN FLOTILLAS.

L. AUXILIARY AWARDS QAT: PER THE RECENT QAT, PLEASE NOTE THE FOL CHANGES TO THE AUXMAN, CH 11. FIRST, THE PRECEDENCE IN WEAR OF THE OPERATIONS PROGRAM RIBBON, THE EXAMINER PROGRAM RIBBON, AND THE INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM RIBBON, SHALL BE IN THE ORDER FIRST EARNED. THE AUXMAN'S PRECEDENCE OF AWARDS ON P. 11-19 WILL HAVE AN ASTERISK PLACED NEXT TO EACH AWARD LISTED TO DENOTE THESE THREE AS EQUIVALENT AWARDS. ALL THREE RIBBONS WILL REMAIN IN PRECEDENCE IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE AUX SPECIALTY RIBBON. SECOND, THE "LEGEND" ON P. 11-23 WILL HAVE THE WORDS "W/O PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE" DELETED FROM THE LAST SENTENCE. AUXILIARISTS WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE MAY EARN AND WEAR ALL AUXILIARY AWARDS.

M. HONORARY COMMODORES: CHANGE AUXMAN CHAPTERS3 AND 11, RELATING TO HONORARY COMMODORES, TO READ "IN CERTAIN LIMITED AND SELECTED CASES, NON-AUXILIARISTS MAY BE AWARDED THE TITLE OF HONORARY COMMODORE. THIS DISTINCTION IS INTENDED FOR PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PROVIDED NOTABLE SERVICE OR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE OF EXCEPTIONAL VALUE TO THE AUXILIARY AND ITS PROGRAMS. THE HONOREE MUST HAVE PROVEN THEIR VALUE AND COMMITMENT TO THE AUXILIARY ON AN INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, OR DISTRICT LEVEL. WHILE ONLY THE COMMANDANT CAN AWARD THIS HONORARY TITLE, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCH ACTION MAY BE MADE BY THE NATIONAL COMMODORE WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OR A DISTRICT COMMODORE AFTER OBTAINING THE CONCURRENCE OF THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARD. RECOMMENDATIONS OF A DISTRICT COMMODORE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL COMMODORE FOR ENDORSEMENT BY THE NATIONAL BOARD AND FORWARDING TO THE COMMANDANT. IF APPROVED AN APPROPRIATE PLAQUE, SIGNED BY THE COMMANDANT, OR DESIGNATED DISTRICT COMMANDER WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE RECIPIENT OF THIS HONOR, BY THE COMMANDANT, DISTRICT COMMANDER, OR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE."

N. ELECTION ELIGIBILITY: TO CLARIFY ANY CONFUSION CREATED BY AUXMAN CHAPTER 4.E.9. (CERTIFICATION) AND APPENDIX 4-A (ELECTION ELIGIBILITY), IT IS OUR INTENT THAT PERSONS MUST BE ACTIVE (QUALIFIED) IN A PROGRAM (I.E. VE, OPS) IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR THAT OFFICE; BUT ONCE ELECTED, AND ASSUMING THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT POSITION, MBR'S DO NOT NEED TO MAINTAIN THE QUALIFICATION (S) TO TAKE OR HOLD THAT OFFICE.

O. STANDING RULES: AMEND AUXMAN CH 4.J.7, TO READ; AFTER DSO-LP REVIEW/APPROVAL, DISTRICT/DIVISION STANDING RULES (SR'S) ARE SENT TO THE DCO FOR REVIEW/APPROVAL. AFTER DCO APPROVES, DISTRICT/DIVISION SR'S ARE SENT TO THE DIRAUX WHO REVIEWS/APPROVES FOR THE CG. AFTER DIRAUX APPROVES, THE DISTRICT/DIVISION SR'S (2 COPIES) ARE SENT TO DC-L FOR REVIEW. AFTER APPROVAL, DC-L FORWARDS THE DISTRICT/DIVISION SR'S TO THE NACO WHO APPROVES FOR THE AUXILIARY. NACO THEN RETURNS THE DISTRICT/DIVISION SR'S TO THE DCO AND SENDS A COPY TO DC-L.

2. THE ABOVE CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. DIRAUX SHALL COORDINATE DISTRICT IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS AS NEEDED. A COMDT NOTICE WILL BE PUBLISHED TO INCORPORATE CHANGES INTO THE RESPECTIVE AUXILIARY PUBLICATIONS.

3. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

4. MARK S. KERN, CHIDIRAUX, SENDS.

1. AMEND PARA O, REGARDING STANDING RULES, AUXMAN CH 4.J.7, TO READ:

AFTER DSO-LP REVIEW/APPROVAL, DISTRICT STANDING RULES (SR'S) ARE SENT TO THE DCO FOR REVIEW/APPROVAL. AFTER DCO APPROVES, DISTRICT SR'S ARE SENT TO THE DIRAUX WHO REVIEWS/APPROVES FOR THE CG. AFTER DIRAUX APPROVES, THE DISTRICT SR'S (2 COPIES) ARE SENT TO DC-L FOR REVIEW. AFTER APPROVAL, DC-L FORWARDS THE DISTRICT SR'S TO THE NACO WHO APPROVES FOR THE AUXILIARY. NACO THEN RETURNS THE DISTRICT SR'S TO THE DCO AND SENDS A COPY TO DC-L.

2. FOR CLARIFICATION, DIVISION STANDING RULES GO TO THE DIRAUX FOR APPROVAL AFTER BEING REVIEWED BY THE DSO-LP AND ARE THEN APPROVED BY DCO. FLOTILLA STANDING RULES GO TO DCO FOR APPROVAL AFTER BEING SIGNED BY THE DCP AND REVIEWED BY THE DSO-LP.

3. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

4. MARK S. KERN, CHIDIRAUX, SENDS.