U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 10-08

NOT SO NEW "NEWS"

2006 Best of Web Awards Announced At NACON! The best examples of our websites are honored annually with the Best Of Web competition and awards. This year's contest was especially spirited with the BOW Awards presented at NACON 2005 in Dallas, TX.

Winning websites for 2006:
Flotilla 01-04 of District 11 Southern
Division 2 of District 9 Western
District 13

Runner-up websites for 2006 are:
Flotilla 04-05 of District 9 Eastern
Division 7 of District 13
District 7

Admiral Thad W. Allen became the 23^rd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard in a Change of Command Ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC on May 25, 2006. Admiral Allen had some special remarks for the Auxiliary:

“A special message to our Coast Guard Auxiliary Members: As the finest all-volunteer organization in our Nation, I consider each of you an integral part of our Coast Guard. We simply could not meet the challenges we face or conduct the missions we do on a day-to-day basis without your selfless devotion to duty, as was so vividly demonstrated most recently in the Coast Guard's extraordinary response to the many hurricanes we responded to last year.”

For the full text of Admiral Allen's remarks click to: http://www.cgaux.info/g_pcx/publications/misc/AllenAuxMsg1.pdf For further coverage of the Coast Guard's Change of Command, please refer to the following links (all will open in a new window):

(Date: 25 May 2006, Source: Chief Director of Auxiliary, DSO-CS)
(Date: 26 May 2006, added Presidential speech and Unit Citation)

Congratulations to Larry West, FC of 10-20 who has been selected as one of two New Auxiliarists Of the Year!

First District Commander RADM Pekoske announced the selections for New Auxiliarist Of the Year from District one as D1NR NAUXOY, Kevin Cady, of Flotilla 2-01, (Casco Bay, ME) and the D1SR NAUXOY, Larry West, of Flotilla 10-20, (Caldwell, NJ).”

Auxiliarist Larry West is currently the Flotilla Commander for 10-20. His efforts have increased Coast Guard visibility and security at Caldwell Airport where his flotilla operates, and he has developed positive relationships with the airfield civilian partners. He has served as Vice Flotilla Commander 10-20 and Communication Services (CS) officer where he established and operates the flotilla website. On the District level he has served as the CS officer and Aviation Special Projects officer. In short time Mr. West earned numerous qualifications including AUXOP, Air Crew and Instructor. He flies regularly as an Air Observer and is currently working on his private pilot's license to further his Auxiliary qualifications. One of Mr. West's most significant contributions is his recognition of the need to develop tomorrow's leaders and his dedication to mentoring new Auxiliarists.

See the full text of Admiral Pekoske's message, ALLCOGARDONE 014/06. (Date: 26 May 2006, Source: DIRAUX

National Safe Boating Week Digital Photo Album Contest Announced
Do you enjoy taking pictures? Here’s an opportunity for you to "tell the story" and help show what your flotilla or division has done during National Safe Boating Week (NSBW). The National Department of Public Affairs invites flotillas and divisions to submit entries for its NSBW Digital Photo Album Contest. Winners from each region will be announced at NACON and posted on SITREP’s coverage of NACON. Complete details can be found on the PA Department's Call for Entries Notice (PDF: 200 KB / 1 page).
[Posted: 18 MAY 2006. Source: Ed Sweeney, DC-Ad]

Vessel Safety Check Mega Weeks
Vessel Safety Check Mega Weeks is scheduled for May 20 through July 9, 2006. The intent of this event is to focus attention on the Vessel Safety Check Program through the participation of the Auxiliary, US Power Squadrons, and various partnering organizations including marine retailers, marinas and yacht clubs. For more information please visit the National Department of Vessel Examination. [Posted: 08 MAY 2006. Source: Peter Urgola, DC-V]

PSI Update - Action Required - Effective immediately, Members who had been previously required to submit DO packages because they were in the boat crew or other operations programs are now only required to submit the OS package. Please read the recent ALCOAST message from Commander Young: HERE

2005 Workshops and REYR Status - the Chief Director has issued a statement regarding REYR status for members who missed taking the 2005 mandatory workshops. Please click on the link below to access the ALAUX message.
2005 WORKSHOPS AND REYR STATUS -005/06
(Date: 04 February 2006, Source: CHDIRAUX)

Guidance on Sending Correspondence At the recent N-Train sessions in St. Louis, information was shared regarding the proper ways to send correspondence via or through the Chain of Leadership and Management. The linked document here is valuable reading Guidance on Sending Correspondence VIA/THRU the Chain of Leadership and Management (Date: 08 February 2006, Source: DCO)

OUR FLOTILLA WEBSITE HAS "MIGRATED" to its new home on the new USCGAUX Server!
BE SURE TO BOOKMARK OUR NEW ADDRESS!
http://www.a0141008.uscgaux.info/

New On Line Testing Results System - The Chief Director issued a notice on December 28, 2005, changing the way members are notified of their success or failure when taking an on line exam. Replacing the e-mail system will be a web-based system, which the member will see within seconds of the exam being processed. Members will also be able to see their scores online by using the web page: http://cgexams.info/testing/checkmypassingscore.asp. No e-mail messages will be sent after 27-December, 2005. For the full details, please see this PDF copy of the memo from the Chief Director. (Date: 28 Dec 2005, Source: CHDIRAUX)
USCG cutter

Flotilla 10-08 extends its congratulations and best wishes
to
Ericka and Ray Paradiso
on the birth of their daughter.

Our Auxiliarists honor our dear departed shipmate,Wendy Korteweg at her memorial service on January 6, 2006

Donations in Wendy's memory can be made to the Coast Guard Foundation.

Coast Guard Foundation
394 Taugwonk Road
Stonington, CT 06378

Our Flotilla mourns the loss of our member and good friend George Moritz, who "crossed over the bar" on January 15, 2006

God saw you were getting tired
And a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you
And whispered, "Come to Me.'
With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.

Donations may be made in George's memory to the American Cancer Society:

American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 22718
Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718

District Store - Members are reminded that the District Store is up and running. Orders can be placed online through the District web site, faxed in at 518-597-9777 or mailed to DSO-MA, PO Box 272, Crown Point, NY 12928.
(Date: 20 Jan 2006, Source: DSO-MA)

CONGRATULATIONS TO HELEN GLASS WHO
ACHIEVED COXSWAIN

Bravo Zulu to Ed Quinn who received the Meritorious Unit Team Award at our Division Change of Watch for going beyond the call with the USCG Boy Scout Jamboree Task Force. Here is Ed receiving the award from our OTO Mark Ferreria

RBS Device Approval and Award Criteria -- The NEXCOM has approved the criterion, recently developed by an RBS Directorate committee, for members to earn a new device. Called the Recreational Boating Safety Device (RBS) Device, it is intended to recognize members who extraordinarily support the Auxiliary's programs and activities within, or related to, the traditional RBS missions and programs. The requirements for award of this device are found by clicking on the following hyperlink: www.auxBdept.org/RBS-DEVICE.pdf. It is hoped that the earning of this new device will be a source of pride to our members who choose to devote their resources and efforts toward recreational boating safety.
[Source: DC-B, 26 October 2005. ]

Auxiliary Operations Polo Shirt is now an authorized an alternative to the Coast Guard Working Blue Uniform Shirt and the Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) Shirt, including cases when worn as a hot weather outfit.

No logo, patches, insignia, nametapes, nor nametags of any type may be worn on the polo shirt. The shirt must have embroidery of USCG AUXILIARY embroidered in white on the left front side, and the Auxiliarist's LAST NAME embroidered in white on the right front side.

The polo shirts may be ordered from AUXCEN at a cost of $32.50 each + shipping (this price includes embroidery). Click here for a special order form. Then you may mail it along with your check, money order or VISA/MasterCard information completed to:
                Coast Guard Auxiliary Center
                9449 Watson Industrial Park
                St. Louis, MO 63126
                or
if using a VISA/MasterCard as payment, you may fax the form to
AUXCEN at (314) 962-6804.

The polo shirt is a very welcome addition to our uniform repertoire, and is much cooler than the ODU "jacket" or the Working Blue Shirt.

[Source: CHDIRAUX, 19 July 2005]

HURRICANE KATRINA INFO -- NACO Letter
The following websites have been established to provide information on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts:

A. For hurricane KATRINA search and rescue - In order to assist the United States Coast Guard in hurricane KATRINA search and rescue efforts, submit a missing/stranded person request at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/

B. For hurricane KATRINA media - For news about hurricane KATRINA visit: http://www.uscgstormwatch.com/

C. The hurricane KATRINA official government website for public information on finding loved ones, what to do if you are a victim, how to help victims, or disaster cleanup and agency resources. Visit:
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml

Devastation... Continuing coverage of the Coast Guard activity in the disaster area is now available on SITREP, the Auxiliary's National e-magazine.
[Source: Mel Borofsky, DVC-AP, 02 September 2005]