Volume LVI Number 2 Summer 2009

Special Pre-Conference Edition

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
7th District
http://www.cgaux7.org/
Cover Photo: Mr. Wayne Carter, Assistant Di-
rector of Constituent Services Office of Miami-
Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, RADM
Steve Branham, District Commander,7th District,
Dan Marino and U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna
Ros-Lehtinen, Florida 18
th
District display the
National Safe Boating Week Proclamation on
May 12, 2009 at Miami Beach, Fla. Bill Hanlon,
SO-PA 3, who coordinated much of this years
events is visible just behind the Congress-
woman. Photo by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA, D7

MIAMI: Judy Sanchez, Flotilla Vice Commander, 6-11, trains for her coxswain certification at the helm of the flotilla-owned operational facility
Bravo Zulu during a night mission on the waters of Biscayne Bay on August 7, 2009.
Photo: Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E, D7



Below:
D7s Dynamic Duo: From planning the numerous Public Service Announcements made by football legend Dan Marino, to engaging the Miami
Dolphins Cheerleaders and the Goodyear blimp Spirit of Innovation --and, did we add persuading the Florida Department of Transportation to
flash boating safety messages along Floridas inter-
state highways during National Safe Boating Week--
the Public Affairs team consisting of Bill Hanlon,
SO-PA 3 and Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E made
the 2009 NSBW one for the record books. We can
only wait to see what they are planning for the 2010
NSBW campaign year!

Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L , D7
Division Commanders 2009
Division 1.. .Osvaldo Manuel Catinchi
Division 2...... Bruce Lindsey
Division 3.... J. P. Feighery, Jr.
Division 4.......... Frederick Hill
Division 5.. Daniel Jacquish
Division 6.....Eduardo L. Burbank
Division 7......Peter Lore
Division 8...........Ted Kermode
Division 9...... John Tyson
Division 10........ William Capitan
Division 11.... Gregory Gamache
Division 12.. Robert Weskerna
Division 13.... Russell (Dewey) Jackson
Division 14....... Jesse Stevens
Division 15 . Rosemary Boennighausen
Division 16.........Duane Minton
Division 17....Nevin Lantry
BREEZE is the official and educational tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District and is intended as a publication to keep the member-
ship apprised of the activities of the Auxiliary. All articles and photographs submitted must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and
the Auxiliary and may not be returned.
Personal information of members is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any
computer or online service including the Internet is prohibited by the Act.
Comments are encouraged and may be sent to the above named Publication Officer. Articles in the BREEZE may be reprinted provided credit is
given and a copy is sent to the above Editor and Publications Officer.
Do not send changes of address to the BREEZE. You can obtain a change of member information report (7028) from your Materials
Officer and submit it through channels.
Editor & Publications Officer
Dorothy Joan Riley
dottieriley1@verizon.net

The D7 PB Team (ADSO-PB Staff Officers):
James E. Dennen, Content Editor
Gary Barth, ADSO-E
Jan Sprague-Williams, ADSO-N
Paulette Parent, ADSO-W
T. J. Kerbs, Pre-Press & Printing
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
District Commander:
RADM Steve Branham, USCG
Director of Auxiliary District 7:
CDR Jennifer Ketchum
Acting Operations Training Officers:
Jeffrey A. Bronsing, USCGAUX, Surface
Eugene Kahn, USCGAUX, Air
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Logistics
James E. Dennen, Directorate Chief
Email: dennen@bellsouth.net
Prevention
Cathie Welty, Directorate Chief
Email: haimar@terranova.net
Response
Richard Leys, Directorate Chief
Email: rjleys@bellsouth.net

Is the official publication of the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
7th District
Volume LVI Number 2 Summer 2009
District Commodore
COMO Donald L. Frasch
Email: d7dco@aol.com
District Chief of Staff
Walter Jaskiewicz
Email: captwrj@aol.com
Immediate Past
District Commodore
COMO Allen Brown
Email: abrown5217@aol.com
District Captain - North (DCAPT-N)
Reginald Hollar
Email: snoopy@sccc.tv
District Captain - East (DCAPT-E)
Diana Figueroa
Email: dcapt.east@gmail.com
District Captain - West (DCAPT-W)
Raymond Paysour
Email: captainraymond@msn.com
Page 2





The D7 Fall Conference is fast approaching. One look at the sched-
ule should make it apparent that a great deal of planning went into
offering relevant training for our members. This will undoubtedly be
one of the most productive and memorable training conferences
ever, so be sure to register as soon as possible.
Of note is a joint four-hour Public Affairs-Publications presentation.
While we expect our PA and PB officers to attend, this training is
open to everyone and we hope to see our elected and staff officers
at both flotilla and division levels in attendance. PA is everybodys
business! Anyone who interacts with the public, be it through a
Public Education Program, a Vessel Safety Check, or staffing a
table at a boat show or other event should be aware of the dos and
don'ts of interacting with the public. The afternoon is broken into
four 50 minute presentations:
Introduction: Learn how to conduct TV and radio interviews,
learn about the D7 PA protocol, Release of Information and
how to get published in various Auxiliary publications.
News and Feature Writing: How to write for Auxiliary and
civilian publications; how to write a good lead line and title; the
importance of the inverted pyramid style and more!
Auxiliary Photography: How to take and send high-resolution
images; how to write photo captions, VIRIN numbers and basic
photo editing.
Auxiliary Newsletters: Current and future PA/PB Officers will
learn the fundamentals of getting your Flotilla/Division newslet-
ter up and running and to take an existing publication to the
next level. Learn about newsletter templates, editing and how
to create an eye-catching newsletter that begs to be read by
your members. The D7 2009 Newsletter Contest entries will be
reviewed and critiqued. Learn key tips that will help make your
production life easier.
I hope this summary will motivate you to spend an afternoon with
some outstanding and interesting speakers.
Remember: PA is Everybodys Business!

See you there!
Dorothy Joan Riley,
DSO-PB D7
Bridge A Word From the Editor:
District Commodore ....................................................3
District Chief of Staff....................................................4
Immediate Past District Commodore ...........5
Director of Auxiliary D7 ........6
District Captain West ...............................................7
District Captain North ..............................................8
District Captain East ..............................................10

Departments

Logistics, DDC-L... .........12
Prevention, DDC-P.............14
Response, DDC-R ............16

Articles
District Conference Announcement..18
D7 Materials Store ..19
NSBW Kick-Off Event.....20
USCGAUX 70th Anniversary.22
AUXAIR Pilot Certification.23
An Egret, a Leatherback Turtle and a Sooty
Shearwater24
Teams That Work Together26
Flotilla Chartering at Lake Marion.... 28
A Visit to Sector St. Petersburg ....29
New USCG Pipe Band Major ....30
Nina Buxton: A Picture of Commitment ...31
D7 ToyMakers..... 32
MOU Benefits.. 33
Auxiliary Member Honors Guardian..34
Marine Science Educator of the Year...35
ICS-210 Deadline Extended...36
Rescuing Manatees.38
AUX Supports USCG R&D Center.......40
D7 Fall Conference Schedule....42
Volume LVI Number 1 Spring 2009
Page 3





From the Bridge
Our Fall Election Conference is coming up on September 10
th
through the 13
th
at the
Hilton Bay Front Hotel in St. Petersburg. The Coast Guard will be holding their Com-
manding Officers Conference at the same time. What a great chance to meet the
brass!!!
The theme for this years Conference is simply, JUST DO IT ! This theme conveys
the basic reason the Coast Guard is so successful with Mission Execution. If you
think about the training process the Coast Guard uses, Train--TestCertify
Recertify, you will understand what Im getting at. Because they are so very well
trained, Guardians instinctively know what to do when faced with an incident or situa-
tion. Whether they are rescuing people from a boat in stormy weather, intercepting a
human smuggler, finding people adrift at sea, or plucking hurricane survivors from
rooftops, they know their mission very well. Everyone in the leadership chain, from
the Commandant to the boat coxswain, knows that their people are highly trained.
They create an environment that says, You know what to do; dont ask permission; just do it. And
they do!
We need to think and act the same way. Take personal responsibility for being completely trained,
tested and certified. Keep your skills sharp by practicing. Then, when faced with a situation you are
trained to handle, JUST DO IT.
Additionally, this Conference is being planned and run as an ICS Event. Nearly all of us are re-
quired to complete various levels of Incident Command System (ICS) training, but we dont get many
chances to use that training. Without the practice, we forget the skills learned, so our Conference
itself will be a training event to help keep our ICS skills sharp. I think you will find it a rewarding ex-
perience.
I invite you all to attend, learn, practice, meet the Coast Guard and your fellow Auxiliarists and then
go back to your Flotillas and JUST DO IT.
Thanks & Regards,
Don
Commodore Donald Frasch
Take personal
responsibility for
being completely
trained, tested and
certified. Keep your
skills sharp by
practicing. Then,
when faced with a
situation you are
trained to handle,
JUST DO IT.
The Just Do It motto at work made
this years National Safe Boating Week
an event to be remembered!
(Story on page 20)

From left: RADM Steve Branham,
USCG District Commander, 7th Dis-
trict, U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna Ros
-Lehtinen, Florida 18th District, football
legend Dan Marino, CAPT Robert
Grant, USCG, Deputy Chief of Staff
D7, CAPT James Fitton, USCG, Com-
mander, Sector Miami and COMO
Donald Frasch, USCGAUX, D7.

Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L, D7



Page 4

The Volunteers 70
th
Year

Across our great country, we recently honored another Independence Day Celebration.
Since our colonial days, volunteers have quickly responded to the call to arms to gain our
independence and to secure our freedom.
Today, the call for help rings out, and volunteers respond 24/7. Did you know that 72% of
our Nations Firefighters are volunteers? I could go on and on naming countless volunteer
organizations that serve our country proudly. However, a more interesting pursuit is to
learn who volunteers for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Ellsworth A. Weinberg, a 30 year Aux-
iliary volunteer, answered this question in his book, The Volunteers: The Story of the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary published in 1986. If you have not had the opportunity to read this
short book, I recommend you do so. After you have read it, I am sure you will double-check your uni-
form for correctness every time you wear it.
In the same spirit of volunteerism, I share a few words written over 30 years ago by a person I never
met but consider a mentor. His words provide me the inspiration to continue my service to the Auxil-
iary. Thousands of members of the past have contributed so greatly to our organization; these men
and women have delivered talents unsurpassed and, yes, even their lives.
The duties, responsibilities and challenges before me may, at times, seem to set a course for dark
skies and restless seas, but should I have any doubts or hesitations, I grasp this worthy book called
The Volunteers and open my ears to the words spoken in remembrance of all the efforts and sacri-
fices of those members from the past. They call out to me to stay on course.
Let all of us continue to be members of value to this great organization. We do not stand alone to
meet what lies before us; we do it together. Our 70 Year history of service is our guiding light--our in-
spiration. We must steadfastly contribute our service so that the spirit and traditions of the Coast
Guard Auxiliary remain strong during our watch; so those who follow us will speak of what we have
accomplished as we speak of our past brothers and sisters.
To each and every member, Thank you for all that you contribute.
Semper Paratus

From the Bridge
Walter Jaskiewicz, District Chief of Staff
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.: On June 20,
2009, USCG Station Ft. Lauderdale hosted
the 70th USCG Auxiliary Anniversary cele-
bration. At the end of the day, an MH-65C
helicopter conducted hoist and rescue swim-
mer deployment training with a USCG Auxil-
iary Division 3 facility. The facility coxswain
was Liz Clark, FC 37, with crew Pat
Feighery, DCDR 3, and Scott Cleary, Flotilla
37. The MH-65C helicopter is flown by CDR
Don Taylor, Operations Officer at Air Station
Miami. His copilot is LT Aaron Hofius. The
flight mechanic is Aviation Maintenance
Technician 2nd Class Billy Wilbur and the
rescue swimmer is Aviation Survival Techni-
cian 2nd Class Brian Fitzpatrick.

Photos by Jerry Edelman, FL 36
Thousands of
members of the past
have contributed so
greatly to our
organization; these
men and women have
delivered talents
unsurpassed and, yes,
even their lives.


Page 5
Allen Brown, Immediate Past District Commodore
When we last met on these pages, I emphasized the importance of a training/
education time at each flotilla or division meeting--a short session of about twenty to
thirty minutes aimed at enhancing our professionalism as Auxiliarists. Currently, some
workshop sessions are mandated. Additional subjects are limited only by the vision of
the leadership.
Together let us take another step forward. People in any organization have a ten-
dency to get involved or not get involved. In most volunteer organizations, this ten-
dency stems from their initial introduction to the organization. Members usually choose
one of three roles: (1) stay and stagnate, (2) flee and vanish, or (3) commit and
develop. Our goal as leaders is always to point the member toward the third.
This membership vision of committed and continually developing individuals requires,
at a most pragmatic level, committed and continually developing mentors. As Auxiliarists, we need
to look at our own professional development and seek ways to pass our good experiences on to
others, while at the same time learning from the bad. The U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, one of
our great sea-service journals, published an excellent article on the subject, How to Make Mentor-
ing Work. Former Army Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger noted in a letter in the Comment
& Discussion section of the June issue of this journal that, Mentoring is about taking and giving
advice and wise counsel, about taking the time to share ideas and experience with others. It pro-
vides beacons and checkpoints, provoking and stimulating thoughts and ideas, visions and goals,
as well as (heading) adjustments, all in an effort to steer and guide. Each of us as citizens,
(Auxiliarists), and leaders has a responsibility to serve as a guidepostdirectly or through example
for those around us.
Well stated, Sergeant Major! This is indeed a beacon to maintain in our relationships with all with
whom we come in contact. Mentoring is so much more than just one person signing all entries in a
boat crew task book; many should be involved in this sharing of experiences.
Quite a challenge for a great D-7 Team! Perhaps a good place to start would be with a unit session
on mentoring.
Semper Paratus.

TAMPA Fla.: On March 28, 2009, at
the Division 7 Annual Awards Ban-
quet held at the Colonnade Restau-
rant in Tampa, Raymond Paysour,
District Captain West, COMO Allen
Brown, Immediate Past District
Commodore, D7, and Peter Lore,
Division 7 Commander presented
the Auxiliary Achievement Medal to
Kathi Kruczek from FL 79. Kathi
received this distinguished award
for her role as a Mentor. She is
committed to the Division 7s Crew
Training- Member Training program
and has Mentored as many as six
new crew members and one new
coxswain.

Photo by Dottie Riley, DSO-PB D7


Page 6

Director of Auxiliary, Seventh District
Commander Jennifer Ketchum
Commander Jennifer Ketchum, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, reported as the Director of
Auxiliary for the Seventh Coast Guard District June 1, 2009. A native of Honolulu, Ha-
waii, she grew up in Miami, Florida before enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1982. After
Boatswains Mate A school she served at Station Miami until receiving an appoint-
ment to the US Coast Guard Academy and graduating from there in 1987 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Government.
She served at sea on the USCGC Sagebrush and USCGC Confidence and ashore at
Coast Guard Headquarters, entering the Reserves in 1992. Reserve tours included:
Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak, AK; LANTAREA International Operations Branch;
and as an instructor at Marine Inspection and Investigation School in Yorktown, VA.
CDR Ketchum is a licensed mariner and served five years as a Third Officer and Second Officer
aboard M/V Caribbean Mercy and M/V Anastasis, two hospital ships of the international aid organi-
zation Mercy Ships which worked primarily in Central American nations of Guatemala, El Salvador,
and Nicaragua and the West African nations of Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, and the Gambia. In
2002, she returned to active duty in the Coast Guard serving as Coast Guard Liaison and member
of the Maritime Administration faculty at the World Maritime University, Malm, Sweden; as a gradu-
ate student at the University of Oxford, UK; and as Chief of the Waterways Management Branch in
the Seventh Coast Guard District Prevention Division.
CDR Ketchum has a Masters Degree in Social Science/International Relations from Syracuse Uni-
versitys Maxwell School; a Masters Degree in Maritime Education and Training from World Mari-
time University, Malm, Sweden; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford,
UK where she researched how professional mariners learn and use the Convention on the Interna-
tional Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). In 2009, CDR Ketchum was a part-
time faculty member at the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sci-
ence, Marine Affairs and Policy Division.
CDR Ketchum is the recipient of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and two Coast Guard
Achievement Medals. She is married to CDR Clement Ketchum, USNR and they have two sons,
Benjamin and William.



Page 7
District Captain West
Our National Safe Boating Week was one of the most successful that I have experienced
with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The planning, coordination and execution on the flotilla level
was excellent. We saw participation from Sector St Petersburg, Clearwater Air Station and
all of the small boat Stations. It was truly an interaction between the Gold and Silver sides to
promote Recreational Boating Safety. Our Public Affairs people did a good job of arranging
newspaper and television coverage.
The West completed the realignment of flotillas to coincide with our Coast Guard Station
Areas of Responsibility on April 6, 2009, when Flotilla 73 was re-chartered as Flotilla 11-3.
This gives Station Sand Key additional docking and building facilities when operating in the southern
end of their AOR. Earlier this year Flotilla 89 was moved to Division 9 and re-chartered as Flotilla 99
in support of Station Fort Myers Beach. Flotilla 89 had been located at the Southern end of Division
8, but performed most of their operations in Division 9.
On May 22, members of District 7, West Coast, participated in the retirement ceremony for Peter
Louzao, BOSN4 and AUXLO, Sector St Petersburg, held at Station Fort Myers Beach. The five Divi-
sions in the West Coast of District 7 presented him a shadow box with all of his ribbons, medals, and
accumulated ranks in the Coast Guard. Division 9 hosted a luncheon afterwards expressing their
appreciation for his support while serving as the prior Commanding Officer of Station Fort Myers
Beach.
The USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) completed testing and evaluation of three
airborne radar systems in the Gulf of Mexico off Clearwater on May 27, 2009. During the three
weeks of testing, which was frequently interrupted by inclement weather, Divisions 11 and 15 pro-
vided 48 boat sorties to populate the test area with typical SAR targets. This helped determine the
sweep width of the three radar systems being tested on Coast Guard C-130 aircraft. The testing re-
quired that 12 boats report to specified locations each day, maintain those locations for five hours
and continuously record their locations on a Global Positioning System (GPS) data recorder. This
data is being compared to the detection data recorded in the test aircraft to establish sweep width
standards for use in the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System program utilized by Coast
Guard search planners in Rescue Coordination Centers and command centers throughout the Coast
Guard. Divisions 11 and 15 used 30 Auxiliary boat facilities and 78 coxswains and crew in support of
these tests. The Research Data Center estimates that Auxiliary support for these tests saved the
Coast Guard at least $125,000.00. This is an excellent example of how the Coast Guard Auxiliary
supports the Coast Guard.
The West Coast, District 7, looks forward to hosting the Seventh District Coast Guard Auxiliary Fall
Training & Business Conference from September 1013, 2009. Plans are in progress to make this
an exciting time for all attending. Bring your spouses to this Conference as events are planned for
their participation. Members are encouraged to attend with day trips to St. Petersburg, as many flotil-
las are located well within driving distance.
Raymond Paysour, DCAPT-W


Page 8

Modernization, according to Webster, is to make or become modern. This has become
a way of life in Auxiliary District 7 North. Considering the challenges that lie ahead, to not
change would spell disaster down the road. District 7 North has made the commitment to
modernize.
District 7 North has grown in size and now has six divisions. Most of these divisions cover
large geographical areas and uniquely different working environments.
One major change was the formation of the new Division 17, accomplished by taking the
very large Division 4 and spinning off the new Division 17. As a result, we reduced overlap-
ping areas of coverage and better defined areas of responsibility. Division 4 now concentrates on
supporting CG Station Ponce, while the new Division 17 focuses its efforts on Station Canaveral.
Division 14 has been on a recruiting mission. After losing one flotilla to Division 4 during the reor-
ganization of Divisions 4 and 17, it is well underway to rebuilding its membership through the forma-
tion of a new detachment at Green Cove Springs. The detachment is rapidly growing and will, no
doubt, become a flotilla in the near future. This detachment fills the gap between Jacksonville and
Palatka on the St. Johns River, an area with dense boating traffic and a true need for Auxiliary pres-
ence.
Other divisions in the north have actively created new flotillas and detachments. At least one flotilla
and four detachments were added this year. The newest Flotilla is 12-1, located at Lake Marion,
S.C. Flotilla 12-10 has formed a detachment at Socastee, S.C., located just south of Myrtle Beach,
which will support CG Station Georgetown.
Division 2 in central Georgia has formed two new detachments. They are the Lake Chatuge and the
Oconee/Sinclair Detachments which serve on inland lakes and rivers. A dedication to duty and a will
to modernize has made this growth possible.
Division 2 is responsible for most of inland Georgia, tasked with educating and re-educating boaters.
After several years of extremely low lake levels which resulted in reduced boating activity, the lakes
are near full pool. They are offering accelerated Public Education Classes, Vessel Safety Checks,
and Public Affairs activities. Division 2 maintains superior working relationships with multiple agen-
cies, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, Sher-
iffs Departments and Environmental Management
Systems. With nearly all of their members com-
pleting ICS 210, they are truly Semper Paratus.
Division 10 has their reorganization program in
place with well-qualified directors to manage and
measure the results. This program will be a huge
benefit to the Division Vice Commander (DVCDR)
as help with the Response, Prevention, and Logis-
tics programs will be readily available. The nar-
rower span of control for each director will give
new life to the Division Staff Officers. Division 10
continues to provide excellent support to Air Sta-
tion Savannah, helicopter operations and surface
facility support to the small boat stations.
Division 12 was tasked by Sector Charleston to
District Captain North
Reginald Hollar, DCAPT-N
Other divisions in the
north have actively
created new flotillas
and detachments.
At least one flotilla and
four detachments
were added this year.


Page 9
support the Tall Ships Festival which arrived in Charleston during June. Many of the flotillas in Di-
vision 12 were involved in securing safety zones in the Charleston Harbor during this event. For
four days, safety zones were maintained in 100 degree weather and occasional thunderstorms.
Division 12 members also served as guides on the USCG Barque Eagle during its four-day stay in
Charleston. From Edisto Beach to the North Carolina line, across the state to Lake Murray and
Marion, flotillas in Division 12 provide support to Sector Charleston and CG Station Georgetown.
Bob Funk, ASC, Sector Jacksonville, and Ron Goldenberg, ASC, Sector Charleston, continue to
develop and monitor training operations for Auxiliary personnel at the active duty Sector units.
Their dedication to duty and hard work has built a close-knit bond between the Auxiliary and the
Regulars.
Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) continues to support the Coast Guard with a large number of scheduled pa-
trols. Recently, two flights participated in a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) coordinated by
Air Station Savannah and Station Ft. Pierce. Thirty-five Auxiliarists participated and AUXAIR com-
pleted four SAR patterns before bad weather set in. New survival packages were recently demon-
strated that include a life jacket (PFD), survival materials pouch, 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon
(PLB) and raft. This will be tethered to the crew person.
Left: The Barque Eagle at Charleston
Harbor.

This page: The Baggywrinkle on the
Eagle. Baggywrinkle is a soft covering for
cables (or any other obstructions) to re-
duce sail chafe and is made from short
pieces of yarn cut from old lines that have
been taken out of service. The Eagle has
over six miles of running rigging.

Photos by Reggie Hollar


Page 10

From May 25-31, 2009, Flotilla 12 participated at Nauti Expo, Plaza Las Amricas. The
estimated daily number of visitors to this event was about 40,000! The Auxiliary does
most of the Public Affairs programs for Sector San Juan.
Our National Safe Boating Week 2009 was widely covered by the media in Puerto Rico
thanks to Vicente Vlez, SO-PA 1, Orvil Miller, FSO-PA 12, and PA Ricardo Castrodad,
USCG. I participated in a one hour radio Program (WOSO 1030 AM)) that promoted
Boating Safety and the Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) programs through-
out Puerto Rico and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Flotilla 12 goes on air
weekly with three different radio programs. They are Mar, Tierra y Aire (WCMA 96.5
FM), On Board with Flotilla 12 (WOSO 1030 AM) and En vivo with Angel Oliv-
eras (WAPA 680 AM). On Memorial Day, May 25, 2009, the Auxiliary was invited to
participate in all the activities scheduled for that day.
Sector Miami (SECMIA) garnered the national spotlight by hosting the 2009 NSBW Public Affairs
event attended by RADM Steve Branham, USCG, Commander Seventh District, U.S. Congress-
woman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and retired Miami Dolphins Quarterback Dan Marino. Vessel Safety
Checks (VSC), Boating Safety programs and RBS public affairs events were conducted simultane-
ously throughout the Sector.
During the month of June, events included a conference between Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser-
vation Commission officials and RADM Branham regarding a Memorandum of Agreement. Also in
June, the South Florida Coast Guard Association sponsored the Auxiliary 70
th
Anniversary celebra-
tion at Station Ft. Lauderdale.
Despite the heat and the temporary absence of members due to summer vacations, every Division
within the eastern area of responsibility has remained quite active and performed a wide array of
missions in support of the USCG.
Division 1
Auxiliary facilities from different flotillas worked on several Boating events, including the Interna-
tional Sail Regatta, the Offshore Speed Boat Race and the annual Puerto Rico (PR) Kayak Race.
All of these events are celebrated on the eastern part of the Island. Other events are planned
throughout the summer and early fall months.
The PR Kayak Race between Fajardo, Icacos and Palominos Islands was held on June 7, 2009.
This 13 nautical mile race is held in a very busy area with six marinas and hundreds of boaters. In
addition to providing vessels to help establish a safety zone, Flotilla 12 used their mobile Auxiliary
Radio Station to assist in maintaining communications between the participating Auxiliary vessels
and in advising the public about the event. That same day, Divisions 1 and 16 conducted a Radio
Net drill to test all radio facilities in preparation for the hurricane season.
Division 3
In addition to the incredible Public Affairs events, the Division has been deeply involved in member
training. Their training accomplishments include, but are not limited to, providing 193 CPR classes
in support of SECMIA by the end of June 2009. Most of the Instructors are from Divisions 3, 5 and
6.
Division personnel crewed and provided an operational facility for a Helo demonstration as part of
the 70
th
Anniversary of the USCG Auxiliary and USCG Reserve on June 20
th
held at Station Ft.
Lauderdale. RADM Branham and Sector Miami Commander, CAPT Jim Fitton, attended the event.
Division 5
USCG Station Ft. Pierce Commander, BOSN Kagarise, worked in conjunction with the Auxiliary
units in his AOR to develop and implement a search and rescue (SAR) exercise involving numerous
Auxiliary Facilities and Aircraft. This was a real-world exercise involving flares, signaling mirrors,
search patterns and communications. It was a valuable drill allowing our surface and air assets to
work together performing actual search patterns. The training will go a long way in adding both ex-
District Captain East
Diana Figueroa, DCAPT-E


Page 11
perience and confidence for our crews. We are hoping to duplicate this at Station Lake Worth and
again at Station Ft. Pierce.
Division 6
Members of Division 6 assisted in coordinating the Memorandum of Agreement between the USCG,
FWC and the Auxiliary. The Division currently awaits instructions/guidelines on the implementation
of this MOA from the Auxiliary Chain of Leadership.
Division members staffed a booth at the Miami Boat Show from June 4-7, 2009. Over 100 contacts
were collected for boating programs. Members also assisted with beach clean-up in South Beach.
Five Auxiliarists supported Station Miami Beach in a two-hour Causeway Clean-Up. Station Miami
Beach adopted the MacArthur Causeway.
Jim Shea and Bruce Farkas, members of Flotilla 6-10, conducted a Boating Safety Class for the
Broward County SWAT Team. Later in the month, Division members lead by Jim Shea assisted
Station Miami Beach with a High Value Asset escort demonstration for Homeland Security person-
nel. Other direct support of the USCG missions include assisting Station Miami Beach in a demon-
stration for Immigration Judges in Miami and a mock boarding demonstration for the Advanced Pol-
icy Seminar for English Speaking Caribbean Nations. The use of Auxiliary vessels for mock board-
ing in these exercises presents a considerable savings to the USCG.
Division 13
Station Key West Commander Morgan Dudley presented The Coast Guard Letter of Commenda-
tion to Ed Pratt for his initiative in organizing and implementing a Station Augmentation team for
Station Key West. Ed Pratt led a team of Auxiliarists from Flotilla 13-1 who provided water and
power to the finger piers, painted the pilings, built shipping boxes for the propellers, built steps to
the docks, installed an air conditioner in the coxswain ready room, laid tile in the office building and
helped organize the mechanics tool boxes.
Division members are participating in Operation Dry Water. This is a joint effort between the Coast
Guard and the FWC to limit alcohol consumption on the water. Division 13 crews have been flying
the flag and delivering posters to marinas in the divisions AOR.
The Vandenberg arrived in Key West and was sunk on May 28, 2009, as an artificial reef. The flotil-
las in the lower keys provided random patrols for crowd control. More information on artificial reefs
can be found at http://www.bigshipwrecks.com/.
Division 16
NSBW week started with a kick-off event on St. Thomas on May 16, 2009, at the Coast Guard
Station. The Cutter Reef Shark was available for tours and several agencies set up information
booths. Additionally, members of the Auxiliary introduced Coastie to an appreciative group of chil-
dren. Coastie also made appearances throughout the week at Yacht Haven Grand and the Tutu
Park Mall.
On St. Croix, members of the Auxiliary accompanied the Department of Planning and Natural Re-
sources in visiting five schools in five days and made safety presentations to over 1,100 students.
On Memorial Day, a large event was held on the Fredericksted Pier featuring the Reef Shark and a
Helicopter from Air Station Borinquen. More than 2,500 people enjoyed the festivities. Over the
course of the day, 100 life jackets were given away to children. The new flotilla on St. John partici-
pated in this event for the first time. Throughout the week, an information table was set up in the
main square in Cruz Bay and many island children were instructed about the importance of wearing
life jackets while on boats.
On June 14, 2009, the St. Croix Flotilla covered a kayak regatta with over ninety participants.
Photo of sail regatta by D. Riley


Page 12

Logistics Directorate
James Dennen, DDC-L D7, ASC Sector Key West
Active-duty Guardians and Auxiliarists from Sector Key West took a very active role in
the recent Lobster Mini-Season. Bruce Wright, Coast Guard District Seven recreational
boating safety specialist, brought the Boating Advisory Trailer--Public Awareness Kit
(BAT-PAK) to the Keys to spread the word about boating safety and the importance of
wearing life jackets. He was supported in different locations by Auxiliarists from Division
13.
The Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual permits Auxiliary Assets to be used as boarding
platforms for specific missions where a low degree of criminal activity is expected. This
allows a four-man crew of a Coast Guard asset to be split in two, providing boarding
teams onboard two Auxiliary vessels. Auxiliarists do not perform any law enforcement activity; they
simply deliver a Coast Guard boarding team. During such operations, Auxiliarists fly the Coast
Guard Ensign and act as a Coast Guard vessel.
In preparation for the Lobster Mini-Season, Jeff Bronsing, DSO-OP, Conrad Sankpill, FSO-OP, Flo-
tilla 13-8, Dewey Jackson, DCDR 13, Al Zelinsky, Flotilla 13-8, and I attended two days of fisheries
training presented by personnel from the Coast Guard's Southeast Regional Fisheries Training Cen-
ter in Charleston, SC. Bronsing and I transported boarding teams including BM2 Juliano and BM3
Snyder aboard my operational facility Nite Owl on day one and BM2 Spriggs and SA Mumper on
day two. The teams boarded approximately 40 boats. COMO Peter Fernandez aboard OPFAC Lore-
lei Too with Sankpill and Zelinsky carried boarding officers BM2 Spriggs and SA Mumper on day
one and MK2 Jason White and BM3 David Jay on day two. They boarded approximately 20 boats
over the two day period in a less active area. The operation was a complete success as mentioned
in the all hands letter from CAPT DeQuattro. Our interaction with the public was busy and enjoyable.
Wed like to thank CW02 Chris Acklin, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Station Islamorada, for
making this happen and look forward to participating in this type of operation in the future.
Logistics:

Communication
Services

Information
Services

Public Affairs

Publications

Personnel Ser-
vices

Materials


Page 13

FM: COMCOGARD Sector Key West FL
TO: COGARD STA Key West FL
COGARD STA Marathon FL
COGARD STA Islamorada FL
COGARD AIRSTA Clearwater FL

SUBJ: 2009 MINI SEASON BRAVO ZULU

1. I wish to pass along my sincere appreciation for an outstanding
job to Station Key West, Station Marathon, Station Islamorada,
Coast Guard Auxiliary forces and the flight crew of 6019 from A/S
Clearwater. In close coordination with our Law Enforcement part-
ner agencies, a total of 303 Coast Guard boardings were con-
ducted and over 4356 lobsters were measured in this two day time
period. As a result, seventy-seven (77) 4100 safety violations were
issued, three vessel voyages were terminated, and 67 undersized
lobster were identified.

2. Additionally, all units were instrumental in quick responses to
six SAR cases during this tremendous surge in boating activity
throughout the Florida Keys; upholding SAR readiness with rapid
response by sea and by air.

3. Bravo Zulu for outstanding planning, coordination, and mission
execution during the 2009 mini season.

CAPT P. Dequattro, Commander, Sector Key West

Opposite page: James Dennen and Jeff Bronsing aboard the ves-
sel Night Owl with BM2 George Spriggs and SN Jason Mumper.

Top: BM3 Marshal Snyder measures a lobster.

Mid page: BM2 George Spriggs holds up safety flares found on a
vessel. SN Jason Mumper can be seen behind the boater.

Left: SN Jason Mumper, aboard the vessel Nite Owl, completing a
4100 boarding form. Seventy-seven safety violations were issued
over the course of two days by Sector Key West assets.

(Top photos by James Dennen, DDC-L, ASC Key West - photo on
left by BM1 Andrew Babione, Ops Officer, Station Islamorada)


Page 14

All Prevention programs touch upon Public Education in one way or another. When
we present Marine Safety Program topics, we are educating the public. When we per-
form Vessel Safety Checks, pass or fail, we educate the public about vessel safety,
and of course, when we offer Recreational Boating Safety Programs within our flotil-
las, we have no difficulty identifying this function as Public Education.
In this great article by Coast Guard Auxiliarist Burnette Sheffield from Flotilla 12-3 in
Lake Murray, S.C., we are reminded that by educating one child, we can influence an
entire family, and by teaching 450 pupils, we can possibly impact an entire commu-
nity. Children do not hesitate to tell their parents what they learned at school about
wearing life jackets or how to stay safe on the water. This is what we are all about- preventing acci-
dents before they happen.
The Newberry Elementary School Experience
Kim Morris, school nurse at Newberry Elementary School in South Carolina, wanted all her pupils to
gain basic water safety information before they left for the summer break. She was concerned be-
cause many of her pupils go fishing with their families in nearby lakes and rivers and take family
vacations along South Carolinas many wonderful beaches. Yet few children enroll in swimming in-
struction, and many parents are non-swimmers. Morris found enthusiastic support from Coast
Guard Auxiliarist Burnette Sheffield, Flotilla 12-3, Lake Murray, S.C. The two women set up an effi-
cient, entertaining schedule to include each child. Sheffield took a day away from her regular school
near the Lake Murray dam to work with all four hundred fifty Newberry Elementary pupils.
South Carolina got off to a rough start in 2009, with several drownings well before summer set in. In
the US, there are about four thousand drownings per year, averaging about ten a day, with signifi-
Prevention:

Marine Safety

Member Training

Public Education

Program Visitor

State Liaison

Vessel Examina-
tions
Cathie Welty, DDC-P D7
Prevention Directorate











Burnette Scheffield from FL
12-3 in Lake Murray, S.C.
helps one of the pupils of
Newberry Elementary
School in Newberry, S.C.
adjust a life jacket.


Page 15
cantly more during hot
weather. For every fatality,
there are six to ten near-
drowning accidents se-
vere enough to cause per-
manent neurological dam-
age. Proper use of life
jackets could prevent
many of these tragedies.
Statistics may impress
parents enough for them
to insist that their children
wear life jackets, but
youngsters need a more
engaging format.
At Newberry Elementary
in May, the water safety
assemblies started early.
As each grade level filed
into the historic audito-
rium, Sheffield initiated a
question-answer trivia quiz
about water and water
activities. She launched
the program by telling them--singing with the younger children--Water is WONDERFUL, as long as
we learn to be safe! From water for drinking and washing to water for staying cool, particularly in
scorching summers, pupils explored the benefits of water. After some practice breathing and breath-
holding, each group sent about eight volunteers to the spotlight.
Then we had a life jacket fashion show, with many types, and gave each wearer a thumbs-up or
thumbs-down for correct size, Sheffield said, having made sure that some were preposterously
wrong. I always tell children that some day they may need help in the water. If they have on a prop-
erly-fitting life jacket, people can find them to help them. I tell them that Im a good swimmer, really
quite a good swimmer, but I cant swim if Im too tired or cold or unconscious. I say, If I bonk my
head as I fall in the water, I might not be able to swim. My husband loves me, and he wants to help
me, but he cant help me if he cant find me! I remind them that lake water is not clear, and it is often
much too deep to dive to the bottom. I hope that putting life jacket use in the context of getting help,
especially when swimming in natural bodies of water, can impress on the children the biggest bene-
fit of life jackets.
Repeating the theme Water is WONDERFUL as long as we learn to be safe, Sheffield segued into
the Americas Waterway Watch program and ways that all citizens, even children, can help the
Coast Guard keep our waters safe and clean. Youll go lots of places, and you may see things that
Coast Guard people wont be near. Tell a grown-up if you see a problem. You can tell your parents
or teachers or your wonderful school nurse, Mrs. Morris!
As each session concluded, Sheffield showed samples and then gave teachers bags with Coast
Guard childrens publications to distribute back in the classrooms. After all six assembles concluded,
Morris and Sheffield took a deep breath and reflected on the sessions. Morris said, I had never
known about the resources the Coast Guard Auxiliary could offer. Im so appreciative for this help in
keeping my pupils safe!
Pupils at Newberry Elementary School put on a life jacket fashion show for their
classmates. Burnette Scheffield spent an entire day at the school and presented Recreational
Boating Safety information to 450 pupils attending the school.
Photographs provided by Burnette Scheffield.

I always tell children
that some day they
may need help in the
water.I hope that
putting life jacket use
in the context of
getting help,
especially when
swimming in natural
bodies of water, can
impress on the
children the biggest
benefit of life jackets.


Page 16

The Response Directorate consists of Aviation, Communications, Navigation Services and
Operations. Don Zinner, DSO-AV; Joe Colee Jr., DSO-CM; Rocky Reinhold, DSO-NS and
Jeff Bronsing, DSO-OP, provided input.
Aviation:
The District 7 Aviation leadership team goals include providing USCG Aviation with effec-
tive resources to enhance Team Coast Guard operations, maximizing communications,
standardizing Auxiliary Air operations and developing a safety culture within the aviation
community.
A new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual has been approved by the D7 Aux Air lead-
ership and the Air Board with representatives from the four air stations. It is a very comprehensive
document defining the common and fundamental rules for Aux Air operations and other useful
information to have in the cockpit. Once issued, it will replace all the existing D7 aviation direc-
tives for flight. We will develop the administrative directives as soon as the Standard Operating
Procedures manual is finalized and completely vetted by 1) the Management Team 2) the Air
Board and 3) the Air Stations Commanding Officers.
A major challenge now faces our operations that involve international travel and clearing US Cus-
toms. Customs has enacted a new reporting procedure for civil aviation. As we are US Govern-
ment facilities while under orders, the Customs officials are having a difficult time understanding
our missions. CDR Denby, D7 Aviation Resource Officer, is working with each Air Stations Ops
Officers and meeting with Customs and Border Protection to resolve the issue.
Communications:
District 7 is well ahead of our goal to qualify members as Telecommunications Operators through
the Personal Qualification Standards (PQS). Digital Selective Calling (DSC) classes are being
held in all areas of the District. Successful radio nets have been conducted throughout the district,
including a digital radio transmission with California and a High Frequency net with stations along
the east coast.
Navigation Services:
Aid Verifier classes are being taught throughout the district. Check out the DSO-NS website
to find out how to request one in your area. Division 1 in Puerto Rico has been working
closely with Sector San Juans Aids to Navigation (ATON) department. Division 14 is work-
ing with the Aids to Navigation Team in Sector Jacksonville both on the water and in the
office. LCDR Tony Powell, Officer in Charge, the ATON/PATON (Private Aids to Navigation)
Program and the Waterways Branch of D7, requests two or more members to assist with
the backlog of PATON work at D7 Headquarters in Miami. Volunteer members will access
CG Workstations to do all the data entry and administrative work once the aids are checked.
Operations:
Air Station Miami is being assisted by Divisions 3, 6 and 13 in HELO training operations.
Flotillas from Division 5 that support Station Ft. Pierce worked together with Station person-
nel on a Search and Rescue exercise. The exercise was deemed a success for learning
best practices. Division 11 recently completed a Radar Research and Development (R&D)
Richard Leys, DDC-R D7
Response Directorate
Response:

Navigation Services

Operations

Qualification
Examiners

Aviation

Communications


Page 17
project with Air Station Clearwater. They are also providing search and rescue (SAR) standby boats
two days a week for Station Sand Key. This frees the Station to provide facility maintenance and
training. Division 15 is supporting Station Yankeetown with the Red Tide Research Project. Division
10 is assisting the Marine Safety Unit in Savannah with patrols in Savannah Harbor and Port. Divi-
sion 12 assisted Sector Charleston when the Tall Ships visited the area. Division 14 held a joint
training session with Station Mayport.
As you can see, the Response Department plays a major role in Team Coast Guard.

On July 12, 2009, while assigned to an air patrol from Sector San Juan, a CG Aux Air crew spotted a small
Yola type vessel just southwest of Mona Island making its way through three foot seas toward Puerto Rico.
The crew consisted of Doug Hansen, Aircraft Commander, Sandra Jastremski, Air Observer, and Mary Rodri-
guez, Air Observer trainee.
They made a 500-foot low pass over the vessel, took photos with their video camera and enlarged one of the
images. The enlarged image revealed several persons on board a 24-foot vessel. This information was passed
on to Sector San Juan, which sent the CGC Key Largo to investigate. The Auxiliary Air crew maintained watch
overhead until the CGC Key Largo arrived on scene. Once more, Auxiliary Air assisted the Coast Guard in suc-
cessfully achieving one of its missions.
Photos and text provided by Doug Hansen, Aircraft Commander
AUXAIR Coordinator, CGAS Borinquen, P.R.
2009 District 7 FALL CONFERENCE (DCON)
September 10 - 13, 2009

Hilton Bayfront Hotel
333 First Street South
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701-4342
Phone: 727-894-5000

ROOM RATE: $104.00 per night

COMO Frasch and his team have planned a very informa-
tive conference with many training opportunities for Dis-
trict 7 Auxiliarist. We will present ICS 210, CPR, RBS,
Operations, PS, Joint PA-PB workshop, table-top presen-
tations, computer classes and more! The complete sched-
ule is posted on the District 7 website where you can also
find conference registration forms and other information
about this annual training event. The tentative schedule is
also published in the Breeze. Be sure to see turn to pages 42-43.

In addition to training and instruction, several fellowship events are scheduled. Meet
members from other sectors and divisions.
Come for the training! Come for the fun!

Thursday night:
Commodores Open House at Sector St. Petersburg. The Sector will have a cookout
for us at their beautiful clubhouse and deck overlooking the water.
(Uniform: Casual civilian attire)

Friday Night:
RADM Branham and several of our USCG Sector Commanders will be attending
the Friday Banquet.
(Uniform: Dinner Dress or appropriate civilian attire is suggested.)
Choice for Fridays dinner is: Chicken, Steak or Fish

Saturday Night:
Western Theme Fun Night with live entertainment featuring song and dance music. As
always, we will have contests and several prizes to give away!
The cost for the both banquets is $38.00 per person.


Page 19


CLEARWATER Fla.: Even the name is new and
improved. What we all knew as the D7 Store
has moved, grown and improved and is now
known as the D7 Material Center.
In June 2008, the Center moved to its new loca-
tion, a very visible and identifiable two story red
brick building called the Annex by Station person-
nel, just outside the gates to the USCG Air Sta-
tion-Clearwater. An extremely dedicated group of
Auxiliarist volunteers spent hundreds of hours
during the first 30 days converting an open-bay
room into the professional facility that it is now.
They put up drywall, painted walls, moved boxes,
laid carpet, assembled desks and shelves, and
connected the seemingly miles of computer con-
nections. Commodore Frasch was one of those
tireless volunteers - but hanging drywall is defi-
nitely not one of his favorite pastimes now. The
loss of time during the move to its new location and
the website being down for maintenance caused
many in the Auxiliary to think the Center had closed.
The D7 Material Center is new and it is improved and is
far from closed.
Tom Brickey, District 7 Materials Center manager and his
all-Auxiliary volunteer staff is making the Center even
more customer-friendly with new ideas, such as having
walk-in hours from 1000 to 1600 on Mondays, Thursdays
and Saturdays. Since the Center is in a secure area, call
the store at (727) 535-2593 or Tom on his cell phone at
(727) 492-3679 and he or one of the staff will come out to
the gate and escort you to the Center. The centers new
address is 15300 Fairchild Dr, Clearwater Florida 33762.
The D7 Material Center website is literally available to
you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using your com-
puters Internet browser, go to CGAUX7.org and select
D7 Material Center on the top row. If you need assis-
tance call the Center (727) 535-2593.
The staff members are all Auxiliarists from Division 7 and
Division 11. The size of the staff may need to be in-
creased due to the increasing volume of orders, the qual-
ity of the products, the varied selection of items, the
growing trust in their inventory and the quality of the per-
sonal services they provide.
Do you have a question about uniforms? Call the Center.
In doubt about the order of your ribbons? Call the Center.
If they do not know the answer, they will either get it and
call you back or they will give you the reference or contact
to resolve it. If you have any suggestionscall the Cen-
ter. If you have an idea for a product that the Auxiliary
could useyep, call the Center. Give us suggestions,
says Brickey, and well do our best to help.
The Center has over 800 different items for purchase and
John Curtis, Division 11, Inventory Manager, is constantly
reviewing the prices of the items as well as ensuring the
products conform to Auxiliary regulations. A previous staff
member once stated that they had everything from A to Z.
When pressed for an example he replied, with an elfish
grin, Everything from Aviation patches to Zippers.
Brickey states that the Center formerly sold items only
worn from the waist up, however, they are planning to
stock pants, shorts and skirts in the near future.
The staff honestly enjoys bringing the D7 Material Center
to the District conferences and to the National Confer-
ences whenever they are held in the D7 area of responsi-
bility. Their devotion to duty doesnt stop there, nor does it
stop at four oclock on the three days that the center is
open since several staff members serve on days off or
are doing work from home.
Bravo Zulu to the dedicated members of the D7 Material
Center and every one of the volunteers who have worked
so hard to make it the success that it is today.
D7 Material Center is New and Improved.
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA D7
Bernice Brickey and Brian Dillard restock shelves at the new and im-
proved D7 Material Center located by Clearwater Air Station..
Page 20





MIAMI BEACH, Fla.: The 2009 National Safe Boating
Week (NSBW) Campaign in the Seventh Coast Guard
District kicked-off on May 12, 2009 with the help of some
massive star power and a little boost from Washington
D.C. Dan Marino, the former Quarterback of the Miami
Dolphins football club who has remained a national me-
dia persona since his playing days, continued building his
relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by serv-
ing as the featured speaker for the 2009 NSBW media
kick-off event.
Joining Marino at the event were U.S. Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, RADM Steve Branham, Command-
ing Officer USCG D7, COMO Donald Frasch, USCG
AUX DCO-7, representatives from the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Commission (FWC), Miami-Dade County, local
partner agencies, as well as Guardians and Auxiliarists
from around D7. Also present to cover the event were
reporters and photojournalists from several local media
outlets.
The participants met in the Gator Den, a private room
located off the Mess Deck at USCG Integrated Support
Command, Miami for a coffee reception starting at 9 a.m.
Marino and RADM Branham were able to meet and dis-
cuss a variety of issues including Recreational Boating
Safety (RBS). As the crowd surged beyond capacity,
Marino graciously posed for photos with many attendees
before the dignitaries retired to a second private room to
take group photos and receive an event briefing from LT
Matt Moorlag, District Public Affairs Officer.
After the briefing, the featured guests were joined by Mi-
ami Dolphins cheerleaders and then led to the pier where
the CGC Dolphin was moored, complete with sideboys at
the gangway. Following protocol, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen was
piped aboard first, followed by RADM Branham, whose
flag was hoisted at the main. Marino, COMO Frasch, and
the remaining distinguished guests then followed. After a
tour of the Dolphin led by her Commanding Officer, LTJG
Peter Lang, the group posed for photos with her crew.
When the photos were finished, the group disembarked
the vessel in the same order of precedence and the
Taking the Field
D7 Scores Big With 2009 NSBW Kick-Off Event
Story by Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-E, Photos by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA
Page 21






RADMs flag was lowered. They then proceeded back to
the pier for the news briefing where the audience was
gathered with the D7 Boating Awareness Trailer Public
Advisory Kit (BAT-PAK) on display.
After the remaining media arrived and completed their set
-up, LT Moorlag, serving as Master of Ceremonies, intro-
duced the keynote speakers and began the media portion
of the event. First to speak was RADM Branham, who
discussed the need for increased RBS and the role the
Coast Guard plays in keeping our waters safe. Next Mar-
ino discussed RBS and four key steps boat operators
should follow:
Taking an approved boating safety class.
Getting a FREE Vessel Safety Check.
Filing a Float Plan before leaving the dock.
Always wearing your Life Jacket while underway.

After Marino, COMO Frasch discussed the role of the
Auxiliary in NSBW and provided a summary of the events
the organization would be offering. This was followed by
remarks from Congresswoman
Ileanna Ros-Lehtinen, Florida
18
th
District, the FWC, and Miami-
Dade County along with NSBW
Proclamations.
To close the event, gifts were
presented to Marino and the Con-
gresswoman, including a custom-
made oar presented to Marino by
RADM Branham and COMO
Frasch. The oar thanked Marino
for his support and dedication in
promoting RBS on behalf of the
U.S. Coast Guard and USCG Aux-
iliary.
This was one of the most memo-
rable NSBW events we have ever
had in D7, said COMO Frasch.
Our Public Affairs team, working
closely with their Gold Side coun-
terparts, performed exceptionally
in the execution of their missions.
Marino had previously demon-
strated his dedication to Team
Coast Guard by taping a series of
Public Service Announcements
(PSAs) promoting Recreational
Boating Safety. The PSAs were
filmed at Miami High School under the direction of Dr.
Joe Underwood, Lead Educator for Media Arts, and
member of Flotilla 31. Both audio and video versions of
these PSAs were made available to Team Coast Guard
units throughout the Nation.
Bill Hanlon, Staff Officer-Public Affairs, Division 3 spear-
headed this effort and served as the primary liaison with
Marino during the project. Due to Hanlons efforts, these
PSAs were shown to over 1 million movie patrons at Mu-
vico Theaters in Florida, California, and Illinois, as well as
countless others via alternate distribution channels during
Summer 2009.
It was both an honor and a privilege working with Dan
Marino on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, said
Hanlon. People are bound to listen when they hear Dan
Marino talking to them about Recreational Boating
Safety. His assistance will undoubtedly help us save
many lives.




Photo facing page: COMO Donald Frasch, D7 and RADM Steve Branham, USCG Dis-
trict Commander, 7th District, present Dan Marino a custom made oar as a small token
of our appreciation for his dedication in promoting RBS on behalf of the U.S. Coast
Guard and USCG Auxiliary. To Marinos left is U.S. Congresswoman Ileanna Ros-
Lehtinen, Florida 18
th
District

Below: Mr. Wayne Carter, Assistant Director of Constituent Services Office of Miami-
Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, tours the CGC Dolphin with members of the Miami
Dolphin cheerleading squad.

Page 22






FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.: Division 3 presented a Team
Coast Guard Celebration of the 70th Anniversary for the
US Coast Guard Auxiliary on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at
CG Station Ft. Lauderdale. The barbeque/picnic, spon-
sored by the South Florida Coast Guard Association, was
attended by over 200 members of Team Coast Guard
family and friends for an evening of fellowship and com-
memoration of the 70 years of dedicated service from
civilian volunteers in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
After enjoying the delicious picnic fare, guests were ush-
ered to the waterfront by Piper Steve Rogers, Flotilla 36,
to participate in the official Commemorative Ceremony.
Master of Ceremony, CAPT Rick
Kenin, Commanding Officer, Air Sta-
tion Miami, welcomed the special
guests in attendance and presented
an entertaining and informative his-
tory of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
from 1939 to the present. The pro-
gram included an Invocation from
CDR Bernard Pecaro, a District 7
Chaplain, along with a special proc-
lamation by The Honorable C. K.
McElyea, Vice Mayor of the City of
Dania Beach proclaiming June 23,
2009 as Coast Guard Auxiliary
Day. Closing remarks from Walter
Jaskiewicz, Chief of Staff, District 7
Coast Guard Auxiliary and RADM
Steve Branham, USCG District 7
Commander acknowledged the Coast Guard Auxiliarys
dedicated service to the Nation.
A specially adapted cake cutting ceremony by Dr. Bill
Tejeiro, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, Sector Miami was
performed by representatives from Team Coast Guard to
round out the 70
th
Birthday celebration.
At the close of the ceremony all eyes went skyward to
watch a Helo/Search and Rescue Demonstration pro-
vided by Air Station Miami and Auxiliarists from Division 3
demonstrating the partnership of our active duty and
Auxiliary forces.
Team Coast Guard Hosts 70
th
Anniversary Party
By Gwendolyn Leys
Left: Walter Jaskiewicz, DCOS 7, RADM
Steve Branham, USCG District Commander,
Bill Tejeiro, ASC, Sector Miami and Gwen
Leys cutting the cake at the 70th Anniversary
Celebration held at Ft. Lauderdale on June 20,
2009.

Below: An HH-65C helicopter conducts hoist
and rescue swimmer deployment training with
a CG Auxiliary Division 3 facility. The facility
coxswain is Liz Clark, FC 37, with crew Pat
Feighery, DCDR 3, and Scott Cleary, Flotilla
37. The HH-65C helicopter is flown by CDR
Don Taylor, Operations Officer at Air Station
Miami. His copilot is LT Aaron Hofius. The
flight mechanic is Aviation Maintenance Tech-
nician 2nd Class Billy Wilbur and the rescue
swimmer is Aviation Survival Technician 2nd
Class Brian Fitzpatrick.

Photos by Jerry Edelman, FL 36
Page 23






are Instrument Rated Pilots, a milestone already achieved
by Wagner. To remain certified, Wagner will have to com-
plete the two search patterns every three years with a
flight examiner. Following the successful check flight,
Renuart returned to his home base where the three de-
briefed the mission. Then Roderick and Wagner returned
home via a coastal patrol route.
Several new goals are planned. Wagner is not far from
achieving the 1,000 hours Pilot In Command (PIC)
needed to advance from First Pilot to Aircraft Com-
mander. He would also like to upgrade the planes avion-
ics to add a third GPS radio. Currently it has two, one in-
stalled and one portable. The third GPS would be an in-
stalled unit. He is also considering an upgrade to a glass
(computer display) panel. This would add an additional
layer of safety over the reliance on a vacuum pump for
the altitude indicator and directional gyro. Lastly, Wagner
has advised that Mike Thompson, his partner in the plane,
is now considering becoming a member of the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary. Congratulations to T.J. Wagner on
achieving his First Pilot certification!
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla: U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliarist T.J.
Wagner completed certification
as First Pilot on Saturday, June
13, 2009, during a mission com-
pleted just before a storm cell
brought hail to the St. Augustine
Airport. In fact, the 1979 Piper
Archer II that he co-owns just
made it into the hanger before
hail dropped on the airport.
Before departing at 8:30 a.m.,
Wagner completed his pre-flight
briefing with John Roderick who
served as a crewperson, while
also managing the certification
testing process as instructor
pilot. Roderick heads up Flight
St. Augustine Air Operations for
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
out of the St. Augustine Airport
and is certified as an Aircraft
Commander and instructor pi-
lot.
Piper N8098M received several upgrades to prepare her
for service as a U.S Coast Guard Operational Facility: a
marine band radio and accompanying external antenna,
four-person life raft on board, a Personal Emergency Po-
sition Indicating Radio Beacon (PPIRB) and an observa-
tion manual. Each of the crew members wears an official
flight suit and life jacket. Piper N8098M also takes on a
new identity when on official U.S. Coast Guard missions:
Coast Guard AUXAIR 98 Mike.
The AUXAIR flight departed St. Augustine for the Spruce
Creek Airport to rendezvous with Mike Renuart, the des-
ignated AUXAIR Flight Examiner (FE) for Wagner's check
flight. Renuart reviewed all examination requirements
with expected airmanship performance criteria. Next, the
three Auxiliary Airmen departed Spruce Creek for the air-
space designated for Search and Rescue (SAR) patterns.
During the flight, Wagner performed two Search and Res-
cue (SAR) patterns known as the sector search and
creeping line search. He executed the patterns in an ex-
cellent manner and then demonstrated his Instrument
Pilot skills. The latter demonstration was added, not for
First Pilot certification, but because Wagner is very close
to achieving Aircraft Commander. Aircraft Commanders
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist Completes First Pilot Certification
Photo and story by Joe McCoy, FSO-PA, FL 14-7
John Roderick and T.J. Wagner conduct the pre-flight briefing.
Page 24





An Egret, a Leatherback Turtle, a Sooty Shearwater, and a
Pelican: What does the Auxiliary have to do with them?
Photos and story submitted by Karen Miller, SO-PB Division 11
CLEARWATER, Fla.: Through the first six months of
2009, members of Division 11 participated in 50 Search
and Rescue (SAR) cases, but none of the training they
normally employ prepared them for three recent, interest-
ing situations.
The first one began in Clearwater on a Saturday after-
noon in May. The crew of Auxiliary facility Broad on the
Bow was traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway on a
multi-mission safety and training patrol. Right in the mid-
dle of channel was a beautiful white egret. That, how-
ever, was the problem. Egrets are wading birds, and this
egret was not faring too well as a swimming bird. One of
the crewmembers netted the egret and brought it on
board. After holding it upside down to remove any water
in its esophagus, the crew wrapped it in a towel. This
helped dry the bird and kept it warm.
Considering their next steps the Auxiliarists contacted
USCG Station Sand Key for the number of Suncoast
Seabird Sanctuary, a local bird rescue organization.
They were connected with authorized volunteer rescuer,
Larry OBrien, who is also a member of Flotilla 11-10,
Dunedin, Fla. Larry rushed to the Coast Guard Station to
pick up the distressed egret. Three days later, he advised
the crew that the rehabilitated egret was freed in the
same area where it was originally rescued.
A few weeks later, Memorial Day Weekend, a Good Sa-
maritan in the Gulf of Mexico came across a large Leath-
erback Turtle tangled in a crab trap float in obvious dis-
tress. They called USCG Station Sand Key about their
find. The Station contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife
Commission (FWC) Turtle Specialist, Rhonda Bailey, a
former member of Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, Fla.
Rhonda Bailey requested the Coast Guard free the turtle,
since Leatherbacks do not do well in captivity. Station
Karen Miller holds the beak
of the wounded pelican to
pose for this photo with the
rescued bird.
Page 25






Sand Key dis-
patched Auxiliary
Facility Guardian
from 11-10, Dune-
din, to the reported
position of the tur-
tle. After a struggle
with the frightened
turtle, the Auxiliary
crew untangled its
flipper and the tur-
tle swam safely
away. The Auxiliary
and Coast Guard
recei ved many
thanks from FWC
for the inter-agency
cooperation.
Another week later
and Broad on the
Bow was on patrol
again, and right in
the middle of the
Intracoastal Water-
way is what appears to be a seagull that isnt flying off as
the boat goes by. Something is wrong, so, the boat turns
back and the crew nets the bird. After wrapping the bird in
a towel to dry it and calm it down (one crewmember sus-
tained superficial scratches where the bird tried to bite
her), they again called Larry OBrien. He met the crew in
Dunedin at the municipal marina docks and brought the
bird down to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. Later that
day Larry let the crew know that the bird they rescued
wasnt a seagull; it was a Sooty Shearwater. Now, Sooty
Shearwaters seldom land and are almost never found in
the Gulf of Mexico.
Fast forward a week and Broad on the Bow is again pa-
trolling the Intracoastal Waterway and discovers a swim-
ming pelican with a broken wing. Out comes the net and
the big bird is scooped aboard. After wrapping it in a
towel to keep it calm, they called Larry OBrien who came
rushing down and met them at Coast Guard Station Sand
Key. Larry picked up the pelican and it is now recuperat-
ing at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.
Because of the all the recent bird rescues, Suncoast Sea-
bird Sanctuary has permanently placed a carrier at Sta-
tion Sand Key to keep any further bird finds safe until
they can be picked up and transported to the Sanctuary.
It has become apparent from these four situations that
Division 11 may need to add bird and turtle rescuing to its
training program.
The crew of Guardian are seen working to untangle the endangered Leatherback turtle from the crab trap.
The turtle swam away unharmed after being freed.

Just what is a Sooty Shearwater?

Its Latin name is Puffinus griseus and it is a medium-large shear-
water in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is predominantly
brown, between 15.5 to 20 inches long and with a 36.5 to 46.5 inch
wingspread. They breed in the islands of the South Pacific and
South Atlantic and have incredible circular migration routes cover-
ing as much as 9,000 miles (longer on the Pacific side).
The bird rescued by the crew of Broad on Bow was likely returning
from its March to May nesting season in the South Atlantic.

Photograph: One-time permission to reprint granted by wildlife
photographer Harold Stiver, Ontario, Canada.
Page 26





LAKE CHATUGE, Ga.: Lets play word association:
What is the first word that comes to mind when you read
the word shoreline? Did you think beach or, perhaps,
ocean? Most people offer a similar response, but a re-
cent example may enhance that association for you.
According to the United States Geological Survey
(USGS), the United States has an ocean shoreline of
90,000 miles, all of which come under Coast Guard juris-
diction. However, the state of Minnesota, with no ocean
coastline, has 90,000 miles of shorelines along its many
lakes and streams.
Our inland lakes and waterways support an industry of
recreational boating that thrives far from any body of salt-
water, and it would be easy to imagine that recreational
boating has touched every body of water in the U.S. With
Minnesota as an example, consider the resources
needed to keep boating safe on these numerous smaller
bodies of water. Publicly funded groups such as local
police, Natural Resources police, fire departments, and
even the Coast Guard have an ever-increasing burden of
responsibility for this role in public safety. All too often,
the burden is so great that some waterways go without
sufficient coverage. This can result in serious problems.
Some places are in more of a pinch than others. Towns
County, a rural area of Northeast Georgia, is a case in
point. According to Towns County Fire and Rescue Chief,
Mitch Floyd, his three-man county paid department has
virtually zero resources to support the nearly 200 miles
of freshwater shoreline in his county. His counterparts in
the area, including police and Department of Natural Re-
sources (DNR) officers, need to cover an area of five to
six counties, and their modest resources in these rural
areas are stretched to the absolute limit.
The practical solution to this shortage of resources is the
Coast Guard Auxiliary. With our extensive operational
training in safety and search and rescue, the force multi-
plying assets of the Auxiliary can be a best-case solution
for under-funded public departments charged with boat-
ing public safety missions. Such is the case in Towns
County with a newly established Coast Guard Auxiliary
flotilla on Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee, Georgia.
In a recent case of outstanding multi-departmental coop-
eration, members of the Auxiliary, Towns County Sheriffs
Department, Towns County Fire and Rescue, Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), American Red
Cross, and Towns County Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) participated in a water-based search and rescue
evolution. The two-day event took place June 6-7, 2009.
Participating Auxiliarists were from three different Flotil-
las: Mark Moore and Bruce Lindsey from FL 29 in Lake
Lanier, Leslie Moore from FL 15-2 in Yankeetown, Fla.,
Teams that Work Together . . . Work Together.
Photos and story submitted by Mike Moore, ADSO-PA-W





While searching the wa-
ters of Lake Chatuge near
the Towns County Beach
in Northeast Georgia with
Department of Natural
Resources Officers, the
crew of the Miss Dolly spot
and recover an "Oscar"
type victim. The emer-
gency response exercise
involved personnel from
Towns County Georgia;
Fire and Rescue, Sheriff's
Office, Emergency Medi-
cal Service, Georgia De-
partment of Natural Re-
sources, USCG Auxiliary,
and the American Red
Cross .
Page 27






and Darrell Scott and Jim Maloney from FL 13-8, Upper
Keys, Fla.
In a realistic, task-based drill, the Auxiliary joined the
Georgia DNR to search for a possible drowning victim
reported missing while swimming in Lake Chatuge. After
a thorough search, the Auxiliary facility located an uncon-
scious person floating in the lake. In the simulation, EMS
personnel were alerted, and cardiopulmonary resuscita-
tion (CPR) was administered during transport to a pre-
planned pick-up point. At the shore transfer point, the
victim was handed off to the EMS and transported to the
hospital, while Auxiliary members provided information
needed for the subsequent accident investigation.
Drills and evolutions like the one played out in Georgia
are vital to the growth and continued success of inland
water flotillas. First and foremost, actual drills and practi-
cal learning keep operational crews life saving skills
sharp. Classroom learning is only part of operational
prowess. Skills like situational awareness, team coordina-
tion, area familiarity, first aid and first response, and best
practices (after action briefing) are learned more suc-
cessful when they are practiced. When practice repre-
sents real life situations, results are even better!
As an added benefit of participation in joint department
drills and evolutions, volunteer Auxiliarist are vetted by
those paid departments often charged by law to control
and respond to public safety issues. In the Lake Chatuge
drill, the extensive capabilities of an Auxiliary Operational
Facility and crew were demonstrated. The Auxiliarys per-
formance during the Lake Chatuge exercise was very
professional, commented Bill Kendall, Towns County
Commissioner. He further commented that having a team
of local volunteer water rescuers is definitely an asset to
public safety.
Lets try that word association game again. When you
hear the word Auxiliary, you can now think, among
other things, A proud force multiplier that can reach out
and take up the slack wherever in District 7 the recrea-
tional boating public plays.
Georgia's Towns County EMS medics prepare to receive the simulated near-drowning victim from the crew of the beached Auxiliary
facility, Miss Dolly. After giving CPR during the 10-minute trip across Lake Chatuge to the nearest shore point, the Auxiliary crew
handed off a viable "patient" to the EMS personnel while Georgia Department of Natural Resources Officers supported the transport
and transfer.
Page 28





SUMMERTON, S.C.: The Chartering Cere-
mony of Division 12s newest flotilla took
place on July 18, 2009 on the shores of Lake
Marion at the Big Water Resort in Summer-
ton, South Carolina.
Members of the United States Coast Guard
and Auxiliary attended the ceremony along
with County Council Chairmen from Orange-
burg and Clarendon counties. Local dignitar-
ies and members of the media were also pre-
sent.
The ceremony began with an impressive
presentation of colors by the Color Guard of
Flotilla 12-10. Members of the Color Guard
include Reggie Hollar, District Captain - North
(DCAPT-N), Vito Giardina, Vice Commander,
Division 12 and members John Chalk and
Karin Hollar. Following the National An-
them, Flag Salute and Invocation, Robert
Weskerna, Division Commander (DCDR-
12) welcomed participants and guests.
The Chartering Ceremony was led by CDR
Jennifer Ketchum, USCG, Director of Auxiliary
D7, who was assisted by RADM R. S. Bran-
ham, USCG, District Commander in adminis-
tering the members pledge. Both officers gave
inspiring remarks to all in attendance.
Flotilla 12-1s elected and appointed officers
were administered their pledge by CAPT Mi-
chael McAllister, USCG Sector Charleston and
COMO Donald Frasch District 7.
Reggie Hollar, DCAPT-N, CAPT McAllister and COMO
Frasch offered congratulations and support to the new
members.
The formal charter was then presented to Perry Moses,
Flotilla Commander, 12-10 by RADM Branham and
COMO Frasch. The new flotilla was joined in this proud
moment by representatives of all of the other flotillas in
Division 12. Flotilla 12-1 becomes the seventh flotilla in
this division.
Flotilla 12-1 represents a group of very hard working,
dedicated individuals whose accomplishments and per-
severance were re-
warded on this day.
As the United States
Coast Guard Auxil-
iary marks its seven-
tieth anniversary, we
are proud to wel-
come Flotilla 12-1 as
a member of Team
Coast Guard.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Comes to Lake Marion
Christine Siwirski SO-PA 12, FSO-PA 12-10
RADM R.S. Branham, USCG District Commander, COMO Donald Frasch,
USCGAUX District 7, and CDR Jennifer Ketchum, USCG Director of Auxiliary,
D7, stand together after the Chartering Ceremony of the new Flotilla 12-1 in
Summerton, S.C.

Center Page: Reggie Holler, DCAPT-N welcomes the new
flotilla.
Bottom: RADM Branham presents the Charter to Perry Moses,
the first elected Flotilla Commander, 12-10.

Photos by David A. Hastings, ADSO-CS District 7
Page 29






ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.: Six members of Manatee Flo-
tilla 83 acted as "silver side" ambassadors when they vis-
ited Air Station Clearwater and Sector St. Petersburg on
March 14,

2009. Upon arrival at Air Station Clearwater,
Don Hoge Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, Sector St. Peters-
burg, showed them a PowerPoint presentation about the
Air Station. They then toured the base, getting an up-
close look at the HH-60 Helicopters and the C-130 Trans-
port Planes. They topped the morning off by enjoying a
wonderful lunch at the Air Stations award-winning galley.
Next, their caravan headed 15 miles south to Sector St.
Petersburg where Petty Officer Duke, Officer of the Day,
welcomed them. The highlight of this visit was a tour of
the newest Coast Guard vessel, CGC Alligator. The cutter
was commissioned just five days earlier, but parking at
Sector St. Petersburg is limited and consequently many
Auxiliarists did not attend the ceremony. It was a therefore
a privilege to receive a private tour. FA Jerry Jones, who
has been in the Coast Guard for only five months, greeted
them as they boarded the Alligator. He was very pleased
to serve on the cutter as his first assignment. They trav-
ersed the vessel from the bridge to engine room. The en-
gines still had the smell of fresh paint and discovering
the faux alligator skin piston covers surprised them all.
The amount of room for crew quarters and galley was
surprising. The Alligator has a crew of 11 and is able
to cruise for three to four days without putting into port
for supplies. Most of the deck space is configured to
accommodate a small inflatable that can be directly
launched and brought aboard again from the stern
without lifts. This feature makes the cutter particularly
suited for Search and Rescue as well as recovery mis-
sions. The visitors were thoroughly impressed by this
newest Coast Guard asset. Upon going ashore, they
were honored to be greeted by Captain Close, Com-
manding Officer, Sector St. Petersburg, who was just
returning from a retirement ceremony that he attended
earlier that day. The Auxiliarists left Sector thanking Petty
Officer Duke who had made them feel a part of the whole
operation.
Of course, no visit to Sector would be complete without
making the short hop to the Southside pier where the
Coast Guard Exchange is located. Some of the members
outfitted themselves with uniform items and other Coast
Guard Auxiliary supplies. Their drive home was full of
excited talk about the day's events and the privileges af-
forded them as members of Team Coast Guard.

A Visit to Sector St. Petersburg
By Dave Robinson, FSO-PB FL 83
Above: Paulette Parent, SO-PB 8 tries out the captains chair
aboard the Alligator. Note its name sake adorning the console.

Below: A look inside the Alligator. The crew berths are as spa-
cious as those found on modern cruise ships, the galley abso-
lutely gleams with polished stainless steel and the alligator skin
accents add an almost whimsical touch to this cutter. (Who said
shipbuilders dont have a sense of humor?)

Photos submitted by Paulette Parent
Page 30





LAKE LANIER, Ga.: Congratulations to Flotilla 29 mem-
ber M. L. Loudermilk on his appointment as Pipe Major of
the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band. On May 20, 2009, the
bands Board of Directors announced that they had
unanimously selected M.L. Loudermilk to be the leader of
their national organization.
The Pipe Major is the primary musical au-
thority for the band and exercises responsi-
bility for its operation and activity. The Pipe
Major selects the bands musical repertoire
--the music played at appearances and
auditions. The Pipe Major also approves all
musicians who wish to perform with the
Band and all performances by band mem-
bers.
The U. S. Coast Guard Pipe Band currently
has over 90 members, including: active
duty, reserve and retired members of the
U. S. Coast Guard, active members of the
Auxiliary and honorably discharged war-
time Coast Guard Veterans. The band per-
forms annually at the U.S. Coast Guard
Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, and
plays at many national and regional events.
Detachments and solo performers play at
hundreds of Coast Guard changes of com-
mand, dinners, retirement ceremonies, me-
morial services and funerals, as well as public perform-
ances promoting the Coast Guard.
More information about the band can be found on their
website at: http://www.uscgpipeband.org/.

Flotilla 29 Member Named as New Pipe Major for
U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band.
Submitted by Mike Sheaffer, FSO-PB 29
Photo of M.L. Loudermilk courtesy of the USCG Pipe Band
NEW YORK CITY: When member
Dorothy Joan Riley from FL 79 in
Tampa is not working on the Breeze or
the Intercom, Division 7s newsletter,
you can likely find her at her easel
doing what she loves best.

Dottie is a member of the Coast Guard
Fine Art Program. Her second painting
to be accepted into the program is
called Night Launch and depicts an
Auxiliary vessel from Division 4 main-
taining a safety zone under the flight
path of a shuttle launch at NASA. She
is shown here accepting a Public Ser-
vice Award presented by Rear Admiral
Charles Michael, USCG, Director of
Public Affairs, and Nancy Little, Presi-
dent of the Salmagundi Art Club at the
2009 Acceptance Ceremony on June
23, 2009 in New York City.

Photo by PA3 Barbara L. Patton,
USCG 1st District, NY
Page 31






PALM COAST, Fla.: Member Nina
Buxton from flotilla 14-3 in Palm
Coast, Fla. is not just an artist; she
is a world-renowned artist. Com-
bine her commitment to the United
States Coast Guard and the Auxil-
iary, a love of the sea and her in-
credible artistic talents and the re-
sult is almost certainly a contribu-
tion to the Coast Guard Fine Art
Program.
Nina was born in Khartoum, Sudan,
of French parents, and raised in
Egypt where she studied art under
Professor Carlo Minotti and Tahia
Halim. She then moved to Paris to
continue her studies at the Univer-
sity of Paris Academic de Grand
Chaumiere, and Academie Julien.
Nina has a tremendous back-
ground in all phases of art. Most
notable are her works in oils on
canvas. She has lectured and dem-
onstrated on television, for Art
Clubs and Universities.
Her paintings are part of collections
in the private homes of Senator Pat Murray, Wash.; the
late Governor Lawton Chiles, Fla.; Senator Bell, Fla.; as
well as diplomatic offices, state buildings, the Smith-
sonian in Washington D.C. and other public buildings
such as Sun Bank of Fla.; Florida National Bank, IBM,
Gerber, Coca-Cola, University of Florida, Shands Hospi-
tal, the Museum of Florida Art in Deland, Fla. and other
collections both within the U.S. and abroad.
Ninas murals and paintings can also be seen at the
Showboat, Hacienda, and the Silver Slipper in Las Vegas
Nev., the inter-island resorts at the Kona Inn, Kailua Kona
and Naniloa in Hilo, Hawaii.
Nina joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 14-3 in
Palm Coast, Fla. and has been an active member since
2001.
Nina is an official artist for the U.S. Coast Guard. Her
painting CGC Mustang, was accepted into the Coast
Guard Fine Art collection at a presentation ceremony held
in New York City in June 2008.
Besides her work as an artist she is widely known for her
willingness to volunteer. Nina volunteered her services
during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She has spent
countless hours in this humanitarian effort working with
Katrina victims in New Orleans and Houston. Her work
with FEMA continues wherever she is needed.
From the Valdosta Daily Times, by Dean Poling, Val-
dosta, Ga.:
With a palette knife, artist Nina D. Buxton shapes the
seas and ships that sail them. Buxtons ships are mas-
sive plows of form that cut through her painted waters as
surely as her palette knife slices through her canvas oils.
.There are many striking features to Buxtons ships but
the most outstanding dichotomy of her work is her loose
painterly style and the intricate detail with which she rigs
her Coast Guard vessels. Such detail is usually reserved
for more illustrative and realistic rendering, but she cap-
tures these intricacies while maintaining a loose nigh im-
pressionistic approach.
Nina Buxton: A Picture of Commitment
Photo and story submitted by Hugh Avery, VFC 14-3
Page 32





Auxiliarists are all about water, right? Not nec-
essarily. We all have other interests.
Take five members of Division 11 D7 for ex-
ample: they like to play with wood. Parks Hon-
eywell, Don Hoge and Tom Loughlin, all of
Flotilla 11-10, and Edna and Ernie Schwabe of
Flotilla 11-7 are members of a group called
The ToyMakers. They work their magic in the
ToyShop, a 32 square foot building behind
Loughlins home.
The ToyMakers started in 1982 with one man
and, through the years, has grown to 29 men
and women. During that period of time, The
ToyMakers made and gave away over
240,000 toys to children in emotional or physi-
cal distress. As a nurse once told them, the toy
doesnt just bring a smile to the child. It also
brings smiles to the family and medical staff caring for the
child. That is an awful lot of smiles that this group has
helped to make!
The toys are all wood--no metal, and they are brightly
painted in happy colors. The ToyMakers deliver them
every three months (about 1,900 toys each time) to such
Tampa Bay, Fla., agencies as Shriners Hospital, All Chil-
drens Hospital and its local clinics, a local domestic vio-
lence shelter, St. Josephs Hospital (pediatric cancer
clinic), Pasco County EMS, as well as local fire and police
departments. They also deliver to Ronald McDonald
Houses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando and Gaines-
ville. Toys have been sent to Afghanistan and Iraq, to the
Gulf Coast after Katrina, to the Caribbean, to Mexico, to
orphanages in South Africa and to local counties after
last years hurricanes.
The group has received many stories about how their
simple toys made a difference in a familys life. Nearly a
year ago, a small boy was found at the bottom of a pool
in Pasco County, Fla. He was resuscitated and, in a
coma, airlifted to All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg.
A doctor advised the family that the little boy might never
come out of the coma. If he did, he might never talk, walk
or do anything. The little boy stirred. He opened his eyes.
That answered the coma question. He saw one of the
toys and reached out for it. That answered a couple of
other medical questions. Then he ran it back and forth
over his stomach saying, Zoom--Zoom--Zoom. The doc-
tor said that tens of thousands of dollars in medical pro-
cedures could not have done what that toy did.
The ToyMakers are actively promoting a program to get
more groups started across the United States. As of Sep-
tember 15, 2008, they have sent out informational how
to do it packages to seven groups in Canada and 122
groups here in the United States. They have also re-
ceived several calls from fellow Auxiliarists asking for
information to start a group. The ToyMakers invite every-
one to visit their web-site at www.thetoymakers.org and
pass the word.
Auxiliarists put smiles on the faces of relieved boaters all
the time. The ToyMakers just do the smile thing a little
differently.
Are Auxiliarists All About Water?
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA
Ernie Schwabe from FL 11-7 (left) and Parks Honeywell from FL 11-10
assembling toys.
Tom Loughlin at the drill press.
Page 33







Fla. Boaters identification card. In late May, the FWC
contacted the Division regarding this MOU. They de-
cided that an FWC officer would attend one of the Amer-
icas Boating Safety (ABS) programs as a pilot.
On June 20, Captain J.A. Cirrincione, Reserve Coordina-
tor for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commis-
sion spoke on the state specific laws at the Bass Pro
Shop in Dania Beach, Fla. during an ABS program spon-
sored by Flotilla 38, Plantation Fla. As a result, the FWC
is coordinating with Division 3 to have a FWC officer pre-
sent at each ABS program taught within the division.
Another win-win outcome for both the Auxiliary and the
FWC is that the FWC is allowing the Division to use their
space at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA)
to hold their ABS programs. The IGFA is adjacent to the
Bass Pro Shop. This new venue will provide enhanced
space for our courses.
Point of contact for this MOU is Bruce Wright, Recrea-
tional Boating Safety Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard
District.
DANIA, Fla.: On May 13, 2009, the Coast Guard Seventh
District entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) that defines the relationship between
both parties regarding the conduct of boating safety pro-
grams and law enforcement. The Coast Guard is refer-
enced in Section C -Public Education and Training and
Section F -Coast Guard Auxiliary.
In summary, Section C states that the Coast Guard will
furnish to the FWC information concerning time and place
of public education courses and recreational boating
safety outreach programs sponsored by the Coast Guard
Auxiliary. Both parties will cooperate in developing public
boating education and awareness programs within the
state. The Coast Guard Auxiliary will ensure that the stan-
dards for inclusion of state-specific information are met,
and will forward course completion data to FWC. The
FWC will assist the Coast Guard Auxiliary in meeting
state specific information and testing requirements.
Division Three is currently instructing the laws which
cover the ten state specific questions on the test. and
forwarding all information to the FWC for issuance of the
MOU Benefits Partners and Boating Public
Photo and story submitted by Ronald Albert, SO-PE 3
Ronald Albert, Larry LaClair and Brian Emond, Instructors from Flotilla 38, Plantation, Fla. stand next to Captain J.A. Cirrincione,
Reserve Coordinator for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. On the right side of the poster are Larry Smith, the
Store Manager for the Bass Pro Shop in Dania Beach, Fla., and Diana Rodriguez the promotions manager, along with Dan Hess,
Instructor, and Bob Hackney, Instructor Aide for 38.
Page 34





HARTWELL, Ga.: It was a pleasure to do the legwork
and an honor to recognize Seaman Third Class Winford
Williams at a ceremony held at the Seneca (S.C.) Health
& Rehabilitation Center on Memorial Day this year. He
was presented with personal letters from Admiral Thad
Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and MCPO
Charles Bowen, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast
Guard.
I happened upon Seaman Williams while engaging in one
of my favorite pastimes as a retiree. In addition to my
USCG Auxiliary duties, I am also a volunteer for the
Armys Freedom Team Salute program. This is an out-
reach program established by the Army to honor Army
veterans. Wearing that hat, I approached the activity
director of a local nursing home to see if I could arrange
for commendations for any Army veterans at the home.
There happened to be six veterans residing at the home
and I was able to arrange a Certificate of Appreciation
and a Letter of Thanks signed by the Army Chief of Staff
and the Secretary of the Army for each man. There was
only one other military service veteran at the home, Sea-
man Williams from the USCG, and not wanting him to
feel slighted, I took it upon myself to find a way to recog-
nize him as well. I wrote to the US Coast Guard Public
Affairs Office. They promptly contacted me, asked for
some specific details about Seaman Williams experi-
ence, and came through with two personal letters, one
signed by the Commandant and the other by the Master
Chief Petty Officer.
Seaman Williams is a World War II veteran
(1941-1945) who manned the 20 mm gun on
a Landing Ship Tank (LST). He served in the
Pacific and participated in the Battles of Iwo
Jima, Okinawa, and in the Philippines. Wil-
liams made five beach landings under fire and
shot thousands of rounds during his combat
experiences. He explained that his gun had a
rate of fire of 70 rounds every 10 seconds.
When I asked him how he happened to be-
come a gunner he smiled and replied: They
just told me that I was going to be a gunner.
Seaman Williams is 84 years old and the only
survivor of a Texas family of seven brothers
and two sisters. He and three of his brothers
served in WW II at the same time, Williams in
the USCG and his brothers in the Army. After
the war he worked as an insurance adjustor
and eventually owned his own insurance
agency as well as a gas station in Hooks, Texas, which is
located near Texarkana.
Family present at the ceremony were his only son,
Johnny, Johnnys wife, Karol, and Johnnys mother-in-
law, Kathryn Jordan. Seaman Williams and his family
were pleased with his recognition on Memorial Day.
Again, it was a pleasure and an honor for me to take part
in recognizing these mens outstanding service to their
country, particularly my first Guardian.
Auxiliary Member Honors a Guardian.
Photos and story submitted by Jim Rudy FSO-PA, FL 25
Auxiliarist Jim Rudy presents Veteran Winford Williams (Seaman Third Class)
with the Certificate of Appreciation and letters from Thad Allen, Commandant
of the Coast Guard and MCPO Charles Bowen, Master Chief Petty Officer,
USCG.
Seaman Third Class Winford Williams
Page 35






Florida Marine
Science Educa-
tors Association
held their Annual
Conference at
Mote Marine
Labor at or i es ,
Sarasota, Flor-
ida from May 15-
17, 2009. Sci-
ence educators,
r e s e a r c h e r s ,
scientists and
marine science
educators from
all over Florida
attended includ-
ing Dr. Eugenie
Clark ("The Shark Lady") who founded Mote. Also among
the attendees was Toni Borman, a member of Sarasota
Flotilla 84, USCG Auxiliary. At the annual banquet the
attendees gathered to present the prestigious "John
Beakley Marine Science Educator of the Year" Award.
As the accolades and accomplishments of the 2009
award recipient were related to the group, Toni wondered
whom they were referring to since she knew just about
everyone present. Who was this person who had accom-
plished so much during the year? Toni sat momentarily in
shock when the presenter announced the recipient: "Toni
Borman".
Afterwards, Toni remarked: "Here I am sitting in the pres-
ence of all these great people, research scientists who
are working on a cure for cancer, Dr. Clark who founded
Mote Marine and educators from all over Florida and they
were standing and applauding me. It was a very hum-
bling experience and, uncharacteristically at a loss for
words, all I could say was 'Thank You'!"
Who is the Auxiliarist receiving such a special honor?
Although many of us work together doing the varied tasks
involved in being a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary,
sometimes we know very little about the person beside
us.
Antoinette "Toni" Borman is a graduate of the University
of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Spe-
cial Education. She married Milton C. Borman, Jr., a
Colonel in the US Army, and lived a 'military' life teaching
in schools on military bases all over the world. The cou-
ple planned to retire in Sarasota, Fla. because of their
love of the water. They liked the programs, especially
those involving children at Mote Marine Laboratories and
planned to volunteer there.
Sadly, Toni's husband passed away without realizing
their dream, but she decided to carry on and relocate to
Sarasota. She became a volunteer at Mote and trained to
care for sick dolphins at Mote's hospital. She then went to
Pelican Mans Bird Sanctuary and became the Director of
Education and Director of Volunteers working hand-in-
hand with Mote. With the closing of Pelican Man, Toni
returned to Mote and its extensive education program.
She loved teaching and being with youngsters. She stud-
ied through Mote at University of South Florida and also
participated in Mote's various educational programs in-
cluding environmental programs, shark and squid dis-
secting, dolphin safety and sea turtle awareness. Toni is
also involved in the "World Strides" program, an educa-
tional program that includes people from all over the
world who come to Mote to participate. She is a member
of Florida Marine Science Educators Assoc. (FMSEA),
National Teachers of Science Assoc. (NTSA) and Florida
Assoc. of Science Teachers (FAST).
Toni writes her own educational programs. She has
adapted Auxiliary boat safety, the clean marina program
and monofilament programs into presentations for chil-
dren as the "Daisy Dolphin" program. She presents her
programs in public and private schools and during after
school activities. Unlike Toni's friend Peter Sullivan who
often accompanies her to various programs costumed as
"Officer Snook", Toni presents a more formal image by
wearing her Auxiliary boat crew uniform and life vest. It is
members like Toni Borman whose efforts reflect so well
on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Bravo Zulu!



The Florida Marine Science Educators Association
Recognizes Toni Borman For her dedicated efforts in
Promoting and providing outstanding Marine Science
Education
John Beakley Marine Science Educator of the year
2009
Toni Borman Named Marine Science Educator of the Year
Photos and story submitted by Paulette Parent, ADSO-PB-W
Page 36





The deadline for completion of ICS-210 was extended to
April 1, 2010. Per the ALAUX 002/07 bulletin, this course
or the full ICS-300 course is required for Auxiliary Single
Unit Resource Leaders (SURLs) such as coxswains,
PWC operators, pilots (Aircraft Commander, First Pilot
and Co-Pilot), members in the Trident Program or any
other team/task force leader determined by a Coast
Guard unit Commander to have a need. ICS-210 (or ICS-
300 as an equivalent) will be required to qualify for these
pos i t i ons . x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
[Posted: Mar 26, 2009. Source: Tom Nunes, Deputy
Chief, Public Affairs Department]
Additionally, all QEs were notified by DIRAUX that all
coxswain and pilots who pass their qualifications before
Apr 1, 2010, will be certified in AUXDATA but must com-
plete ICS 210 by the new deadline or be placed in REYR
(Certification lapsed because of failure to complete re-
quired currency maintenance after the deadline).
While the classes may have required some travel and
schedule reorganizing by the members, they were, none-
theless made available. It is estimated that we have ac-
complished over 95% of the required training in D7.
While we have an extension for all current coxswain/
pilots/Trident members, it is highly recommended that
they get the ICS 210 completion soon and not wait until
later.
WHY ICS-210
Many do not understand the importance of ICS 210,
Initial Incident Commander, and what it means to the
U.S. Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. Simply stated it is
important as another element in the Auxiliary force multi-
plier for the U.S. Coast Guard.
ICS 210 enables a coxswain/pilot/Trident Auxiliarist who
comes upon a serious incident to assume the on-scene
initial incident command. Using a Form 201 CG as
taught in the ICS 210 classes, the initial on scene com-
ICS-210 Deadline Extended
By: Tom Hayden, DSO-MS D7 and USCG ICS Lead Instructor
Tom Hayden and Stu Stewart, USCG D7 Miami ICS instructor present ICS-210 to active duty members of Sector Jacksonville,
USCG, earlier this year. The classroom was provided by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Photos provided by Tom Hayden, DSO-MS D7
Page 37






mander will make a record of the incident with a map/
chart and describe the current situation, list initial re-
sponse objectives, current actions, and planned actions,
make a simple organization chart of all involved in the
incident response, and list what resources are working
the incident.
The ICS 210 class teaches the Auxiliarist how to com-
plete an ICS 201 form.
Again, the purpose of the ICS 201 form is to document
what the initial incident commander has done and prepare
for transfer of command to the best-qualified arriving on-
scene U.S. Coast Guard officer.
INITIAL ON SCENE COMMANDER
The initial response activities are to: (1) gain situational
awareness, (2) assume command, (3) determine objec-
tives and take initial response action, (4) organize and
track resources responding, (5) delegate response action,
and (6) evaluate actions and potential activities. More and
more often, a Coast Guard Auxiliary operational facility
will come upon a serious incident and should be pre-
pared to gain situational awareness, take initial incident
command, and be prepared to transfer command to the
U.S. Coast Guard officer responding to the incident.
COMO Don Frasch, District 7 Commodore, in a message
to all D7 Auxiliarist, stated that our ability to understand
the roles and responsibilities presented in ICS-210 are
critical to our ability to function interactively with U.S.
Coast Guard units and other agencies during an incident.
ICS TRAINING
ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System,
introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and pro-
vides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This
course describes the history, features and principles, and
organizational structure of the ICS. It also explains the
relationship between ICS and the National Incident Man-
agement System (NIMS). ICS 200 and ICS 700 give
more details on how an Incident Command Post will func-
tion. For further information and on-line training go to
www.training.fema.gov/EMICourses/.
For more information on U.S. Coast Guard ICS informa-
tion and training go to www.homeport.uscg.mil and click
on Library (top bar). Then click on ICS (side bar).
Each Division Commander has appointed an ICS Point of
Contact for all Divisions. This individual and/or the Flotilla
Staff Officer- Member Training (FSO-MT) and Division
Staff Officer- Member Training (SO-MT) can help.
ICS 210 will be offered at the Fall District Conference
in St Petersburg on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at
1 p.m.
Please contact Mary Kennedy to register for that class at
maryk19@bellsouth.net.

Walter Jaskiewicz, Chief of
Staff, and Allen Brown, Imme-
diate Past District Commodore,
are both ICS Instructors.
Achieving 95% of the required
training within D7 can be attrib-
uted to the number of
quality instructors available
within our District.
Page 38





BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.: Mating. The manatees were
mating. Well, it did not look like it to me or to the anxious
boater who approached us. We tied up to the dock in the
Ocean Ridge Natural Area after crew training on the In-
tracoastal Waterway. The boater thought two manatees
were holding up the head of a third, injured manatee
while pushing it into shallow water. To me it looked like
two manatees were roughing up the third one. In any
event, it did not look good.
I probably sounded anxious when I called the Manatee
Hotline (1-800-404-FWCC). The person I spoke with
asked several questions about the manatees location
and behavior. As I watched the manatees for answers to
his questions, it began to look like the injured manatee
was trying to get away from the other two. Then, I saw
another smaller manatee.
The voice on the phone suggested that I was watching
two males trying to mate with an unwilling female and
that she was trying to protect her calf. It turns out the
man on the phone was right! We went back to training.
The person on the phone that day was John Cassady.
He and one other person manage the Florida Fish and
Wildlife (FWC) Manatee Protection and Rescue Program
for all of South Florida. My call was one of approximately
four hundred the team receives each year from people
witnessing manatees in distress. Actually, fewer than ten
percent require rescue by the team. This event prompted
me and several other Auxiliarists to attend a workshop
offered by the FWC, Marine Mammal Protection and
Rescue Basics.
On June 24, 2009 I meet John Cassady and Pamela
Sweeney. They were conducting the workshop at Boyn-
ton Beachs Intracoastal Park. The workshop dealt with
the management of sick, injured and dead marine mam-
mals. Twenty-three law enforcement agencies including
the US Coast Guard were present. Four members of the
Coast Guard Auxiliary also participated. The workshop
included classroom lectures and on the water training.
In the classroom participants learned about
provisions of the Marine Mammal Protec-
tion Act, the Endangered Species Act and
the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. Under
these acts, only trained personnel are au-
Rescuing Manatees: Not Without Serious Training!
By Otto Spielbichler SO-MS Division 5










John Cassady (center in brown hat) from the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Manatee Protection
and Rescue Program oversees workshop par-
ticipants retrieving the net and bringing the
mock manatee aboard at a workshop held on
June 24, 2009 at Boynton Beachs Intracoastal
Park. The workshop was attended by Florida
Law Enforcement officers, USCG, and Auxil-
iarists who learned how to identify and handle
injured marine mammals. Otto Spielbichler (left)
raises his camera to photograph the mock res-
cue while Jerry Dolson, also from Division 5,
watches from the right. Each of the four groups
trained that day practiced the netting procedure
while the others watched.

Photo: Bill Ingram, Palm Beach Post Staff Pho-
tographer. Reprint permission granted.

Page 39






thorized to handle marine mammals. Workshop partici-
pants learned about the numbers and causes of injuries
or entanglements to marine mammals. They also learned
how to determine the type and extent of injuries and what
to include when reporting an injury or death. Immediate
care of injured or stranded animals, crowd control and
dealing with the media were other topics included in the
classroom training.
The afternoon portion of the workshop included an on-
the-water mock training rescue of an injured manatee.
This was accomplished using a boat modified for the
task. The outboard motor that powers the boat is located
in the center of the boat and there is no transom. When
the injured animal was located, in this case a
plastic barrel filled with water, the boat acceler-
ated and circled the animal while a long net was
paid out. The animal was brought on board by
retrieving the net.
Workshop participants learned that it is a physi-
cally demanding task but worth the effort. Most animals
recover from their injuries and are returned to the wild.
Those with permanent injuries are cared for in special
facilities.
Is it worth the time and effort for Auxiliarists to participate
in workshops of this type? A few days after the workshop
one of the Auxiliarists, a resident of a condominium along
the Intracoastal Waterway, noticed some residents gath-
ered on their dock. When she arrived the residents told
her that there were about fifteen manatees in the water
fighting. Fighting? Well no, the Auxiliarists observed, they
were mating.
Top left: Once the injured animal is located the participants pay out the net as the boat accelerates and
surrounds the animal with the net.
Top right: The net used to capture injured, sick or dead marine animals has floats along the top and weights along the bottom side.
The net is used to bring the animal over the transom of a vessel designed with its engine in the center to protect it
from further injuries.
Photos by Otto Spielbichler.



John Cassady, FWC explains to the participants
how the net would be paid out and then retrieved
once the manatee is captured. Marine LE members
(rear vessel), Otto Spielbichler (left) and Jerry Dol-
son (back to camera) listen carefully to his
instructions.
Photo by Stu Landau, FSO-PS, FL 54.
Page 40





U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary Divisions 11 and 15
in District 7 assisted the USCGs Research and Develop-
ment Center (R&D) in conducting search performance
field tests off the West Coast of Florida during May 2009.
The tests simulated search and rescue (SAR) flight pat-
terns when looking for typical search objects, such as life
rafts and small craft.
Test participants included three different types of US
Coast Guard search and rescue aircraft from as far away
as Elizabeth City, New Jersey. Each aircraft has a differ-
ent type of search radar with different capabilities that, to
this point, had not yet been fully tested. The R&D Center
staff designed the tests so that search planners could
learn more about the capabilities of each system to im-
prove the probability of success in future searches.
The R&D test team set up ranges for the search objects
containing pre-positioned small boats and life rafts with
only the test team and USCG Auxiliary boat operators
knowing the locations of the search objects. Sensor-
equipped aircraft performed parallel (ladder) searches,
while R&D data collectors onboard the aircraft logged
detection times, along with various environmental and
human parameters.
Information gathered by this experiment, including search
object position logs, radar screen shots, aircraft position
logs and environmental records will be used to recon-
struct each search. From that reconstruction, analysts
can determine--for a range of search conditions--the
probability that an aircraft crewmember
can detect each type of search object as
the aircraft flies by at a specified lateral
range (closest point of approach) on any
given pass.
To ensure accuracy and confidence in
these performance measurements, test
aircraft must fly over known search ob-
jects hundreds of times; in short, the
more searches, the better the results.
The R&D Centers team estimated a
need for at least eight boats to serve as
search objects each day. The USCG
Auxiliary exceeded expectations, provid-
ing 12 boats daily. Moreover, 30 different
boats were used over the course of the
entire testing period, staffed by 78 Auxil-
iary members.
Mike Hicks, Project Manager for the R&D Center, stated,
This search performance data is critical to the success of
USCG search planning because the information will be
entered directly into the Search and Rescue Optimal
Planning System (SAROPS). SAROPS, a computer pro-
gram used by SAR controllers to simulate possible
search scenarios, provides information that helps them to
optimize the allocation of scarce resources to locate mari-
ners in distress. SAROPS is used in every Sector and
District Command Center throughout the USCG. The
work of the USCG Auxiliary will greatly increase the value
of this critical search planning tool by providing SAR
planners with the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of
the USCGs newest airborne radar systems during an
actual search. Ultimately, these efforts will optimize the
employment of these radar systems.
The first of the two-week test periods went very well with
12 Auxiliary operational vessels positioned at precisely
prescribed locations and anchored from 10 a.m. to about
3 p.m. each of the test days. The test region covered the
area from just north of St. Petersburg, Fla., northward to
Homosassa, Fla., a distance of approximately 80 miles.
The width of the test area varied as did the specific as-
signment of the Auxiliary boats. The sizes of the boats
used as search objects ranged from 18 to 30 feet, some
with cabins and some with center consoles. Each boat
had an onboard global positioning system (GPS) tracking
unit to record its exact location throughout the day.
When the second week began with what amounted to
D7 Auxiliary Earns the USCG R&D Center Respect
Photos and story submitted by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA
The Sentinel heads out to its assigned position.
Page 41






gale-force winds, conditions took a turn for the worse.
Seas were running over five feet with winds far exceeding
the 20-miles-per-hour limit imposed by the R&D test plan.
Heavy thunderstorms and lightning made operations im-
practical, and testing was put on hold as Auxiliary mem-
bers waited for the weather to improve. Don Hoge, Flotilla
11-10, Dunedin, Fla., Auxiliary point of contact for the test
exercise, explained, It is as much work to plan for a day
that is cancelled as it is for one that goes as scheduled.
The Flotilla and Division Operations Officers throughout
both Divisions were pushed to the limit with one change
after another due to forces beyond their control. Several
days, the crews were onboard and ready to get underway
when the calls came to stand
down due to weather uncertainty.
Jerry Osburn, newly appointed
Division 11 Operations Officer,
commented with a smile and a
good natured laugh that this was
a good baptism by fire.
Because of the crazy weather, the
R&D Team called on the Auxiliary
to continue their support into the
third week, and Divisions 11 and
15 unhesitatingly agreed. It was
the great desire of these two Dis-
trict 7 Divisions to help and sup-
port Team Coast Guard, and their
dedication showed. By Wednes-
day, the weather had improved to
the point that it was safe to go
back out. In fact, conditions were
perfect for the R&D Team to get
the additional data that they wanted and needed
to provide useful results to USCG mission plan-
ners.
Mike Hicks stated that it would take several weeks
to analyze the information from the aircraft GPS/
radar instruments and the GPS units on each of
the Auxiliary boats, but he is confident that the
results will positively help in future USCG search
and rescue missions by ensuring that the newest
sensors are used in the most effective way possi-
ble to improve the chance of successfully locating
boaters in trouble on the water. At the exit briefing,
Hicks acknowledged the contribution of the Auxil-
iary: The USCG Research and Development
Center could not possibly have done this without
the enthusiastic help of the Auxiliary.
To which we respond, Semper Paratus.
Opposite page: The Sentinel, owned and operated by Tom
Loughlin, DSO-PA D7 and member of FL 11-10 and his crew
head out to take their assigned position.

This page top left: Sea Bear owned by Lou Davis,
FL 11-9 heads home framed by a golden sunset.

Below: Raven, Owned and operated by Greg Gamache, DCDR
11 participated in this exercise along with facilities from Division
15.
Seventh District Coast Guard Auxiliary
Fall Training & Business Conference
JUST DO IT
September 10-13, 2009
This conference will be an ICS structured event. The event Command Post located in the Hallway will display updated conference
information. Be sure to register and check out the Command Post display charts.

Saturday, September 12, 2009 (Uniform: Tropical Blue; Fun Night-Western Wear or Casual Attire)

0730-1300 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hallway *Command Post
0800-1530 Material Center Harborview
0800-0850 AWW/Mumbai St. Pete 1
0800-0950 PS Presentation St. Pete 2
0800-0850 OPS Update St. Pete 3
0800-1150 QEs Meeting (QEs only) HTC 4
Thursday, September 10, 2009 (Uniform: Civilian Casual)
0900-1200 EXCOM Meeting Suite 1510
0900-1200 ASC Meeting (closed) Board Room
1300-1630 Registration/DIRAUX Desk Hallway (*Command Post)
1300-1630 Material Center Harborview
1330-1430 ICS Command Staff Mtg. Bayboro *List at Command Post
1400-1600 TABLE TOPS Hallway
1600-1700 Meet the Candidates HTC
1730-2030 Commodores Reception Sector St. Pete Windjammer Club
Friday, September 11, 2009 (Uniform: Tropical Blue; Banquet: Dinner Dress White Jacket, Dinner
Dress Blue or Appropriate Civilian Attire.)

0800-1300 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hallway (*Command Post)
0800-0850 DIRAUX Q&A Petersburg Ball Room
0900-1245 Material Center Harborview
0900-0950 DCDR (closed meeting) HTC 3
0900-1200 Spouses Social TBA
0900-1100 TABLE TOPS Hallway
0900-0950 First Timers Welcome Petersburg Ball Room
1000- DCDR & EXCOM Mtg. (Closed) HTC 3
0950-1000 Coffee Break Petersburg Hall Way
1000-1050 Directorate Meetings R-Suite 1510; P-Skyway; L-Boardroom
1000-1200 WEST Divisions Host Room Bayboro
1145-1300 Lunch Buffet or menu Hotel Restaurant
1315-1630 Opening Ceremonies/
District Board Meeting Petersburg Ball Room
1630-1700 Registration/DIRAUX Desks Hall Way
1700-1745 Jewish Services HTC 1
1800-1900 Commodores Reception (Cash Bar ) Grand Bay Function Area
1900 Commodores Banquet Grand Bay North Ball Room
Page 42
Page 43










Commodore's Open House - Will be held Thursday night at Sector St. Petersburg Club House
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Menu will be hamburgers, hot dogs, & Italian sausage with all the
condiments, tea & lemonade.
Everyone is welcome to this FREE event!
Sat., Sept. 12, cont.,
0900-0950 State Liaison Presentation St. Pete 1
0900-0950 IS Staff - ADSO/SO/FSOs St. Pete 2
0900-0950 DIRAUX Admin Procedures HTC 3
0900-1600 WEST Division Host Room Bayboro
0950-1000 Coffee Break
1000-1150 SC&E & C-Schools Updates St. Pete 1
1000-1150 CS Presentation St. Pete 2
1000-1050 ATONS St. Pete 3
1000-1050 Leadership in D-7 HTC 3
1100-1130 PDCPA Meeting Grand Bay N Ball Room
1145-1245 PDCPA Luncheon Grand Bay N Ball Room
(CAPT Tim Close, USCG Speaker) Everyone Welcome!
1145-1300 LUNCH - buffet or menu Restaurant
1300-1600 ICS-210 (pre-register) Demen
1300-1450 PE, PV, & VE Updates St. Pete 1
1300-1650 PA/PB Presentation St. Pete 2
1300-1350 Surface Safety St. Pete 3
1300-1350 TCT Refresher HTC 3
1300-1700 Aviation Meeting HTC 4
1400-1450 OPSEC Brief St. Pete 3
1400-1450 Sexual Harassment HTC 3
1500-1650 QE Program Update St. Pete 3
1650-1730 Roman Catholic Mass HTC 1
1800-1900 Fun Night Reception (Cash Bar) GRAND BAY N Hallway
1900 Fun Night -Western GRAND BAY N Ballroom
Sunday, September 13, 2009 (Uniform: Civilian Casual)

0730-0800 General Protestant Service HTC 1
0730-1130 Travel Order Processing* Demobe Hallway *Command Post
0800-1200 Air and FE Board Meeting St. Pete 3
0800-0900 OPSEC Brief St. Pete 1
0830-1030 MS Office 101/Computer Class Williams
0830-0930 AWW/Mumbai Demen
0830-1130 CPR (pre-register) St. Pete 2
1000-1100 Operations Update St. Pete 1
1100-1200 Safety Program Update St. Pete 1
1030-1130 Conference Review Mtg. *Debrief Demen
District Staff Officers

Prevention Directorate
Henry T. Hayden ..ICS Coordinator/DSO-MS
Richard Metzler..DSO-MT
James R. MerittDSO-PV
Ruth Ann WhiteDSO-PE
William S. Griswold..DSO-SL
Herbert C. Hanson......DSO-VE

Response Directorate
Rodney Rocky Reinhold..DSO-NS
Donald A. Zinner.....DSO-AV
Joseph Colee, Jr. ..DSO-CM
Jeffrey A. Bronsing ....DSO-OP
Lee A. Bertmann......DFSO
Kevin McConn..DSSO

Logistics Directorate
Nestor Tacoronte........DSO-CS
Susan Z. Hastings .......DSO-IS
Thomas A. Loughlin ...DSO-PA
Dorothy J. Riley. ..DSO-PB
Angela Pomaro ...... DSO-PS
Terry Barth .....DSO-MA
Karen Miller ..... ADSO-L
Nestor Tacoronte .. Webmaster

Lillian G. GaNun ....DSO-SR
William F. Everill ..DSO-LP
Antoinette Borman.....D-LL
William Malone ......DSO-FN
Gwendolyn S. Leys ....PPDCPA
Karen L. Miller ...Grants
Doreen M. Kordek .....Historian
Thomas Brickey ... District Material Cen-
ter
Past District 7 Commodores


2007-08....Allen Brown
2005-06....Peter Fernandez
2003-04 ....... Jay Dahlgren
2001-02............ Mary Larsen
1999-00.... Helmut Hertle
1997-98... E.W. Edgerton
1995-96.... George E. Jeandheur
1993-94....... Joseph E. Norman
1991-92.. Walter W. Bock
1989-90.... Guy R. Markley, Jr.
1987-88. Rene E. Dubois
1985-86.... Robert B. Waggoner
1983-84. John C. King, Jr.
1981-82. William J. Callerame
1979-80 Bolling Douglas
1977-78.... James Titus
1975-76.... Newton Baker
1973-74.. Lawrence G. Danneman
1971-72... Dr. Elbert C. Prince
1969-70... George B.M. Loden
1967-68...... Ernest A. Baldine
1965-66....... Roland Birnn
1963-64.... Miguel A. Colorado
1961-62...... E. E. Vanderveer
1959-60 Richard L. Smith
1957-58... Herbert L. Lutz
1956. A. Harlow Merryday
1954-55.... Stanley W. Hand
1952-53... N.J.M. McLean
1951-52... Fred T. Youngs, Jr.
1950.... Guersey Curran, Jr.
1948-49... Charley E. Sanford
1946-47.. W. N. Mansfield
1939-45... No DCOs yet, DCPs governed
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators
Ronald Goldenberg . ASC Sector Charleston
Donald C. Hoge .... ASC Sector St. Petersburg
Robert Funk ... ASC Sector Jacksonville
James E. Dennen .. ASC Sector Key West
Osvaldo M. Catinchi... ASC Sector San Juan
William V. Tejeiro.. ASC Sector Miami
District Administrative Assistants & Aide
Carolyn R. Hooley...................................D-AD
Ronald Goldenberg.................................D-AA
Rosalyn A. Lucash..................................D-AA
COMO Mary Larson..........................Advocate
Antoinette Borman..........................Lay Leader
COMO Peter Fernandez....................Planning
HOMESTEAD, Fla.-May 8, 2009:
Division 6 in the Miami/Dade region
adds a new flotilla to its ranks with
the addition of Flotilla 61 in Home-
stead, Florida. Donald Grimsley, the
newly sworn in Flotilla Commander
accepts the flotillas charter from
RADM Steve Branham, District Com-
mander, 7th District and COMO Don
Frasch, USCGAUX D7.
Photo by James Dennen, DDC-L, D7
TAMPA, Fla.-May 9, 2009: Two Auxiliary vessels are diverted
from a routine training mission to assist in a real emergency when
a privately owned 33-foot cabin cruiser caught fire at a popular
recreational area known as Picnic Island in Tampa Bay. Kathleen
Heide with crewmembers Bruce Thornton and Paul Moen on the
All Booked Up from FL 79 in Tampa, Fla. and Coxswain Walter
Wagner with crew members Joanne Wheeler and Sid Maillet on
the Gulf Lady from FL 75, Ruskin, Fla., assisted in maintaining a
safety zone around the vessel while emergency vessels from
MacDill Air Force Marine Security, Tampa Fire Rescue,
USCG Sector St. Petersburg, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and
Hillsborough County Fire-Rescue rushed in to assist the
victims, several of whom sustained life-threatening injuries.
At least one victim was transported by emergency helicopter
to a local area hospital.
Photographs by Joanne Wheeler, FL 75 Ruskin, FL
Back cover photo:
Al Crothers, FC 12-6, and Neal
Cormany, a member of FL 12-6, in Mt.
Pleasant, S.C. stand behind the helm of
the Barque Eagle during the Sunday
morning Auxiliary tour on June 28, 2009
during the Tall Ship Festival
in Charleston Harbor.
Photo by Charlie McCarty, PDCP 12-6.
CHARLESTON, S.C.: From bow to stern,
the Barque Eagle evokes a sense of
pride. Every details is examined, cher-
ished and photographed as in this image
captured by Charlie McCarty, PDCP 12,
when the Eagle entered Charleston Har-
bor for the Tall Ship festival in June 2009.
Homeland Security
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
DSO-PB D7
1630 Wakefield Drive
Brandon, FL 33511-2325
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300

PRSRT STD
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U.S. COAST GUARD
PERMIT NO. G-157