Memorial Day Weekend at the American Air Power Museum

 

DCAPT David G. Porter, Sector NY/S
1st Southern Region

DIVISION 12's 2013 FLOTILLA of the YEAR

1.     Division 12’s Flotilla of the Year to be recognized for outstanding achievement and advancement of Auxiliary programs and personnel for 2013 is Flotilla 12-07 which was under the direction and leadership Albin J. Cofone, FC and Ronald J. Kaplan, VFC.

 

2.     Throughout the calendar year of 2012, 12-07 accomplished the following: they grew their membership by seven accounting for half of the total growth of the Division, supplied four members to operate and manage the District’s Aviation Program, participated in the Coast Guard Academy’s AIM program, doubled the amount of vessel examiners and quadrupled the amount of Program Visitors thus tripling their VE and PV activity over that done in 2011. They trained and retrained three members in various programs thus removing them from REYR status and appointed four new first time staff officers all of which have taken and passed the Administrative Procedures Course thus preparing them and the Flotilla with available candidates for the continuity of future elected leadership. The Flotilla also adopted and implemented a Web Blog to keep the membership and general public informed of goings on within the Auxiliary. The web blog has been viewed by persons across the United States and around the world by more than 2500 people since its inception last summer. This has proven to be a public relations boost as it has help them recruit outside of the National Leads program and save the Flotilla an estimated $1500.00 annually in postage and supplies to do a mailing of a news letter. Additionally, 12-07 has had six members become active in four operational programs and the membership became directly involved in community outreach at home and abroad thus spreading the existence and benevolence of the United States Coast Guard and her Auxiliary through their sponsorship and support of a medical relief mission to Arusha, Tanzania, Africa in March of 2012 where four nurses from LIJ/North Shore delivered Medical Supplies and Humanitarian Aid as well as worked in a local hospital and orphanage. Also, members of 12-07 also ran a fund raiser amongst its membership in support of a local children’s group of cancer survivors on Long Island. Lastly, 12-7 has supported the District Aviation program by adopting, promoting and sponsoring training for its members and the more than 220 members participating in the District Aviation program thereby ensuring an educated and well prepared Air Crews to be at the ready. All these accomplishments along with the 225 hours of patrol time which was an increase over that done in 2011, 79 hours in the classroom and 16 hours at PA events for career days etc., and 5200 hours of cumulative hours of service makes Flotilla 12-07 Division 12’s Flotilla of the YEAR.

 

David G. Porter
DCAPT Sector NY-S, 1SR
US Coast Guard Auxiliary

 

DIVISION 12 NEW AUXILIARIST of the YEAR - 2013

1. New Member, ALLISON E. ROCKFELD, of Flotilla 12-07 is NEW AUXILIARIST OF THE YEAR from Division 12

Since enrolling on 31 JAN 2012, Allison has taken and passed her Boating       Safety Course, ICS 100, 200, 210, 700 and 800.  She has taken all of her qualifying workshops and tests including but not limited to Pilot Test A, obtained her BQ Status and Direct Operational Waiver and begun her qualification process to obtain her Air Observer rating. Additionally she has become a mentor in her Flotilla and has assisted the Flotilla Commander and his Vice Commander as well as the Flotilla Staff Officer – Member Training in shepherding fellow members through the qualification process for Observer, VE and PV. In doing so, five new members have been able to prepare for, take and pass the same qualifying exams and begin their Air Ops training and two for Program Visitor. A. ROCKFELD has also successfully completed training as a FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN, VESSEL EXAMINER, MARINE DEALER VISITOR and is a qualification away from having earned her MARINE SAFETY TRAINING Ribbon to begin work on her TRIDENT qualifications as well as INSTRUCTOR and  has taken and passed the OPS POLICY EXAM, APC COURSE, IMSEP and GOODMATE COURSE. She has availed herself to Flotilla 12-07 in the role as Flotilla Staff Officer – Vessel Examiner and Secretary Records and has contributed to the Flotilla’s and Division’s goal of increasing the VE and PV activity and personnel for 2012. She has accomplished all of this within six months of becoming a member.

    

2.      It is for these reasons that ALLISON E. ROCKFELD is awarded - New Auxiliarist of the Year for Division 12.

L-R Joe Heslin DCDR 12, Allison Rockfeld FSO-VE and Ronald Kaplan FC 12-07

 

David G. Porter
DCAPT Sector NY-S, 1SR
US Coast Guard Auxiliary

 

April 11 Meeting

Training at this meeting will be Vessel Safety Check – Vessel Examiners and 10 Reasons YOU should become a VE Presented by Allison Rockfeld VE

Holiday Message

 

 

Fellow Flotilla Members,

 

I would like to wish you and your family's a very Happy Passover and Easter Holiday. 

                         

 

 

 

Ronald Kaplan

 

FC - ADSO-AVT
AuxAir 12-07 1SR

Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

(631) 499-1008 office

(516) 848-1934 cell

 

rkaplan@wenmarconstruction.com

 

 

 

 

Avoiding Collisions with Kayaks

by Bruce White DVC-BL

In the past few years, there have been several tragic examples of small boats, notably kayaks, which were run down by larger, fast-moving boats. A group of prominent engineers recently presented the paper, “Visibility Factors in Small Boat Collisions,” at the 2012 International Marine Forensics Symposium sponsored by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. This paper offers some good suggestions on how to avoid being run over in smaller boats–kayaks–and, conversely, how to avoid running over small boats.

The suggestions on how to avoid being run over were based on a series of tests on the water using volunteers in kayaks and powerboats. Researchers found that kayaks aren’t likely to be spotted by a powerboat until they’re a quarter-mile away, which can quickly lead to an “extremis condition.” The sooner a small boat is spotted, the better.

Seventy-five percent of the powerboat operators first reported seeing “paddle flash” when they saw the boat. A white or light colored paddle blade was much easier to see than a dark blade. The remaining 25 percent saw the luminous jersey that was being worn by the volunteers.

Among the recommendations to kayakers–
1) Carry an audible signaling device.
2) Wear fluorescent life vests or shirts.
3) Use paddles with white or light colored blades.
4) Avoid kayaking in areas with high boat traffic.
5) Use flags that can be mounted on kayaks.

Conversely, for owners of larger boats: wear sunglasses; keep a proper lookout; and, be especially alert in areas where you are likely to encounter smaller craft.

Source: “Seaworthy, the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance and Damage Avoidance Report,” July 2012, p. 4.

Seven Tips for Swimming Boaters

There have been many tragic drownings last summer, and the Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety has these seven DO NOT tips for boaters who want to swim:

DO NOT . . .

. . . permit anyone in the water until the engine is turned off and the key is out of the ignition.

. . . permit swimming until there is at least one life jacket or throwable flotation aid (tied to the boat) in the water, and every child is wearing a life jacket.

. . . swim at marinas. Electric current leaking from poorly maintained boat electrical and shore power systems can stun you and cause you to drown.

. . . dive in water headfirst unless you know exactly how deep the water is. Ease yourself down a boarding ladder to confirm the water depth.

. . . swim alone.

. . . swim under a boat’s swim platform or near any boat with the engine running. You could die from a propeller strike or from carbon monoxide poisoning.

. . . swim in a navigation channel where you could be struck by a vessel or in an area with strong river or tidal currents, which can swiftly carry you away from the boat.

For more information on boating safety programs from the Boat U.S. Foundation, such as the free Kid’s Life Jacket Loaner Program, go to their web site.

Source: Boat U.S. Foundation for Safety and Clean Water