Report - USCGAUX
Transcription
Report - USCGAUX
Date: May 19, 2015 From: Jerry Edelen, DSO-Public Affairs Thru: Bill Stolz, DCAPT To: Commodore Rich Thomas Subject: May, 2015 District Public Affairs Report HIGHLIGHTS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. National Safe Boating Week is here! Entries are solicited for the National Public Affairs Photography Contest. Strictly Sail Event is held. Tom Sarnicola has an article published in the Richmond Standard newspaper! National Command Messages are listed. Monterey County Board of Supervisors issues National Safe Boating Week Proclamation. 7. Volunteers are sought for the National Public Affairs Speaker’s Bureau. 8. District supports Annual Stan Team Inspection. 9. 5th Division supports the Great Russian River Race. 10. District Honor Guard creates Douglas Munro Award and Website! 11. 5th Division supports the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival. 12. Antler’s Optrex is a huge success! 13. Coast Guard is toasted at the 2015 Submariner Birthday Ball. DETAILS: 1. All Flotillas and Divisions should be well on their way towards insuring this year’s National Safe Boating Week will be a roaring success! The week encompasses the entire period of May 16-22 and there will be national media attention during this week. This is the perfect time to get our Recreational Boating Safety Message out. Every Flotilla should have set up special Public Affairs Activities and strived to obtain the maximum publicity from your events. Please keep your Chain of Leadership informed of your activities. Diana Serchia has volunteered to be the District NSBW Coordinator this year as she did so ably last year. One very easy event to schedule would be to ask the City Council and/ or Board of Supervisors in your area to issue a Proclamation proclaiming NSBW and listing your Flotilla/ Division’s many accomplishments. You might also list the accomplishments of any active duty Coast Guard unit you work with in your area. Of course, you should write up the proposed Proclamation to make it easier on the political body. If you need an example, please e-mail me and I’ll send you an example. When submitting your proposed proclamation, ask to have it presented during the City Council/ Board of Supervisor’s monthly meeting. Many of these meetings are televised and your unit will get even more exposure! 2. 2015 National Public Affairs Photography Contest This contest recognizes Coast Guard Auxiliary Photographers who have successfully captured interesting and compelling images of Auxiliary members and assets in action across specified program categories. Last year, District 11 North Personnel won in several categories. If you’ve taken an interesting picture covering an Auxiliary activity in this past year, please enter it. The picture will be published in Navigator Magazine and you and our District will receive some excellent publicity! Each Coast Guard Auxiliary member may submit up to two photographs per category. (ONLY one category per email please) Each submission must: 1. Indicate the category to which is it being submitted in the CAPTION and EMAIL SUBJECT LINE - Example: “2015 Photo Awards Contest - Fellowship” 2. Contain a proper photo caption and credit information/name of photographer as per the Coast Guard PA Stylebook: http://www.auxpa.org/downloads/Stylebook.pdf 3. Photos must have been taken between 1 June 2014 and 31 May 2015. If identifiable minors are present in the photo, a signed proper model release form must also accompany the submission (form #7020: http://wow.uscgaux.info/ Uploads_wowII/092/ANSC_7020_photo_release.pdf). All entries must be in digital .jpg format of at least 5 megapixels and follow all standards as outlined in the USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs Policy Guide and USCG Policy on Photography. Only red eye removal, lighting enhancements, and cropping are permitted. Photos may be color or black and white. Any photograph with improper uniforms, procedures or other infractions of policy will be excluded. This year, all photos and accompanying material must be submitted electronically to Joseph Giannattasio BC-ASP: joetasio@verizon.net no later than 31 May 2015. NO EXCEPTIONS. No hard copies will be accepted. Eight categories for photo submissions are: Public Affairs Event - Auxiliarists spreading the Auxiliary message to external and internal audiences Fellowship - Auxiliarists having fun in a social setting – alcohol and smoking not visible Marine Safety - Auxiliarists engaged in proctoring marine license exams, assisting in inspecting containers, vessels, engaged in beach cleanup and or other environmental activities Member Services - Auxiliarists recruiting and/or providing information or services for members such as training, finger printing, photo taking and mentoring Operations - Auxiliarists operating boats, aircraft, radios, etc Public Education - Auxiliarists providing recreational boating safety instruction or courses in weather, GPS Vessel Safety Checks - Conducting recreational boating safety checks, Discussing proper boat equipment Team Coast Guard - Auxiliarists, reservists and Active Duty working together on missions, training, PA events or fourth cornerstone events Last year our District won several categories. Let’s try to win them all this year!! 3. The Strictly Sail Event was held at from April 9th-12th in Oakland. This internationally acclaimed sailboat show is the largest and oldest in-water sailboat show on the West Coast. 6-10 Flotilla Commander Mike Badano and 6th Division SO-PA Tammera Badano helped to support a District 11N by assisting at the Strictly Sail Pacific public affairs booth at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. The District’s Strictly Sail Booth An Event Staff Member at the event brought his PFD’s in to find out what kind of PFDs they were, to have them inspected and to find out if they were serviceable. 4. Tom Saricola, Immediate Past Division 5 Commander, had an excellent article about Auxiliary Patrolling published in the Richmond Standard Newspaper. The article may be viewed at: http://richmondstandard.com/2015/04/u-s-coast-guard-auxiliary-to-help-richmondpolice-patrol-san-pablo-bay/ 5. The National Public Affairs Directorate has approved a series of Command Messages that may be included in all District, Division, and Flotilla Publications. These messages highlight important concepts that should be repeatedly emphasized to insure they are followed: Stand up for cultural differences. Address injustice, inequity, disrespect and exclusion. Take the Civil Rights Awareness Course. Understand the definition of civil rights. Take the Civil Rights Awareness Course. Develop a strong team environment of acceptance and trust. Take the Civil Rights Awareness Course. Be aware and knowledgeable about your organization’s diversity program. Take the Civil Rights Awareness Course. Embrace the provisions of the Coast Guard’s Diversity, Anti-Discrimination, and Equal Opportunity Policy Statements. Take the Civil Rights Awareness Course. Return all gifts that violate US Coast Guard policies. Take the Coast Guard Ethics Course. The ethical thing to do is the right thing to do even when nobody is watching. Take the Coast Guard Ethics Course. The only gift you need is the gift of ethical reasoning. Take the Coast Guard Ethics Course. Good ethics start at home! It is about doing the right thing. Take the Coast Guard Ethics Course. If it doesn’t sound right, most likely it’s not. Take the Coast Guard Ethics Course. Protect yourself from unwanted infection; wash your hands often. Take the Influenza Training Course. Remember to cover with your arm and not your hand. Take the Influenza Training Course. Get a flu shot, do not delay another day. Take the Influenza Training Course. Prevention is the best medicine! Get a flu shot. Take the Influenza Training Course. Promote healthy living. If you are ill, go home. Take the Influenza Training Course. Build resilience – Prevent Suicide. Take the Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Course. Help shipmates to handle stress and know their limits. Take the Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Course. Stay emotionally healthy to cope with day to day challenges. Take the Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Course. Never underestimate the power of understanding and support. Take the Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Course. Feeling depressed? Contact your physician or mental health Professional for guidance. Take the Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Course. What is your business, is not for others. Take the DHS/Protecting Personal Information Course. Be aware of how to handle sensitive data. Take the DHS/Protecting Personal Information Course. Prevent compromising sensitive information. Take the DHS/Protecting Personal Information Course. Safeguard DHS and personal identifiable data. Take the DHS/Protecting Personal Information Course. Prevent misuse of personally identifiable information from all sources. Take the DHS/Protecting Personal Information Course. Securing the homeland is securing your work space. Take the Security Fundamentals Course. Security is a continuous process. It does not stop at the end of the work day. Take the Security Fundamentals Course. Determine how much risk is acceptable and the consequences. Take the Security Fundamentals Course. Control your conversations in public while using unsecured communications. Take the Security Fundamentals Course. Protect operationally sensitive information. Take the Security Fundamentals Course. Become a guardian against sexual assault. Take the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Course. Recognize the difference between acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Take the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Course. Maintain a work environment free from unlawful discrimination, reprisal and harassment. Take the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Course. Create command climates and work environments that promote inclusion, equity and respect. Take the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Course. Prevent and respond to sexual assault. Take the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Course. Recognize, prevent and respond to sexual assault. Take the Sexual Harassment Prevention Course. Minimize the risk of becoming a sexual harassment offender or victim. Take the Sexual Harassment Prevention Course. Be informed about sexual harassment prevention techniques. Take the Sexual Harassment Prevention Course. Understand sexual harassment is a threat to our work place and well-being. Take the Sexual Harassment Prevention Course. Learn about your roles and responsibilities in recognizing, preventing and responding to sexual harassment. Take the Sexual Harassment Prevention Course. 6. On May 12th, BM2 Travis Green, from Coast Guard Station Monterey, Tamara Badano, 6th Division SO-PA, Mike Badano, Flotilla Commander of Flotilla 6-10 and your humble correspondent appeared before the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to accept a Proclamation for National Safe Boating Week. The Proclamation 7. The National Public Affairs Directorate is trying to reinvigorate the Speaker’s Bureau Program across all of the Districts. The purpose of the program is to identify Auxiliary volunteers who would speak to different groups about the benefits of joining the Auxiliary and about Auxiliary-related matters. If you are interested in volunteering to join the program, please let me know. There is no obligation to speak to any group or on any topic that you don’t feel comfortable with. 8. Tamara Badano, Division 6 SO-PA reports: When working on the Silver Charm supporting Air Station SF you know you will get wet. Below are pictures of Wally Smith and Chris Meyer on the Silver Charm with Linda Vetter supporting Air Station San Francisco. The annual “STAN Team” inspection has been on going with the helicopter crews and rescue swimmers. They are doing their annual “QE Check rides”. The Silver Charm has been out almost every day catching rescue baskets, litters, pumps, and rescue swimmers. Air STA SF has stated they value working with the Aux because we make them look good because we know what we’re doing. Wally Smith, Chief of Staff and Chris Meyer 9. Wil Sumner, 5th Division Commander reports: On Sunday, May 3rd, the 2015 Great Russian River Race was conducted at Memorial Beach in Healdsburg. The 5th Division set up a PA Booth at the Race. There were four CG Auxiliarists participating- James Matthies, Pat O’Rielly, John Guaragalia, and Wil Sumner. We ended up examining over 30 kayaks and canoes. Approximately 500 people attended this event. A lot of safe boating literature was distributed and a great time was had by all: Russian River Race Booth “It got much more crowded when the Kayakers arrived!” 10. Our District Honor Guard created an award and a website to support the award: To be given to those whose "selfless service, sacrifice and commitment to duty" with the District 11 Northern Region Honor Guard makes them worthy to receive an award named for a man who paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in serving our country and supporting and defending his fellow shipmates and Americans. Our District Honor Guard Website: http://cghg.weebly.com/douglas-munro-award.html The Award was presented to Commander Williamson at a special Honor Guard Function at District Honor Guard Captain, Tracy Schultz’s home. Commander J. Andrew Williamson, the first Douglas Munro Award Recipient 11. Will Sumner, 5th Division Commander, reports on the Bodega Bay Fisherman Festival, Build a Boat Race. 4/11/15: In Action at the Festival: Crew, Peter Van-Rijn and Gail Giacomini. Coxswain, Wil Sumner Here are some photos of Flotilla 55 at the Bodega Bay Fish Fest booth https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4e5h7mqdu80kqoh/AACzOeu4FyQTJN3pzuWlXz1a?dl=0 Bodega Bay Booth: At the booth are Pat Orielly, James Matthies and Jeff Tuttle 12. Tamara Badano, SO-PA, 6th Division reports: From April 29th through May 3, the 33rd Annual Antlers Shasta Lake OPTREX was conducted. An Operational Training Exercise (OPTREX) is an opportunity for boat crew and coxswain candidates to receive classroom and on-the-water training. Qualification Examiners are available for candidates ready to take their final oral and practical examinations. Training and sign offs were begun on Thursday and completed by Saturday. The weather was warm and there was plenty of water for the 7 different facilities. It was a glorious period of sunshine, hard work and great fellowship. Commodore Gail Ramsey wrote the following message to all that took part: All, Another success. All passed, no injuries, no mishaps and all Facilities ran well. Thank you to the candidates for your hard work preparing for the event. Thank you to all the members of Flotilla 39 that worked so hard (dawn to dark) including those that have leaned into Div 8. This event is far reaching and was shown by having members from ten Flotillas as far away as Monterey, the San Francisco area, Sacramento, Utah and District 13. I do not know of another recent event that has had so many members from so many corners of D11N and D13. Hopefully the news will spread of the calm waters, beautiful setting and the hearty welcome from Flotilla 39. Thank you 39 for the constant welcome you give the QEs. Marvelous to feel so welcome. STATS: 2 Initial Coxswain (one from Grants Pass, Oregon) 2 Initial Crew from Division 6 9 Requal Cox 8 Requal Crew Photos from Antler’s Optrex (Photos by Tamara “T” Badano, 6th Div SO-PA T h e S c e n e o f G r e a t F e l l o wship after the hard work! (photo by Doug Manifold) 13. On April 25th, your humble correspondent attended the 115th Submarine Birthday Ball at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. While there, I was asked to provide the Evening’s Toast to the U.S. Coast Guard. The toasts were provided, in order, to the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and then to our fallen and missing comrades. It was an honor to be selected to provide the toast and elicited many questions from the 250+ assembled guests as to this “ground pounder’s” relationship with the Coast Guard. 14. BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS (as outlined at N-Train) Compiled by Victoria Jacobs, National PA Directorate, BC-ASX MORLEY L. MASON, DSO-PA 8CR • IN THE COMMUNITY o We get a better sign up for Classes and Recruiting by having a booth at any local activity such as the "Mullet Festival" (free) or Safety Fairs at companies (especially at shipyards and refineries in this District). We have time to talk to people and often see people we know. o We accompany any vessel exam efforts, or other public flotilla activities, where people can pick up literature or we can talk about boating safety. o We use attention grabbers on our PA booths. We have been setting up boards in front of our booths with recent pictures of our members doing interesting activities in local areas. Local scenery with local people seems to slow down or stop people long enough for us to start talking to them. o We are in uniform, but we put up a large banner that says "Civilian Volunteers Needed." We get many responses and we have the chance to explain who we are and how we help the community. COME JOIN US! o Use a lot of coloring books. Have a person stand 10-12 yards before the booth walking toward the booth talking to the people. If they have young children with them (many do), ask if you can give the child a coloring book and a sticker. By now you are in front of the booth with displays, literature and sign-up sheets. People in the booth can offer information and handouts looking for interested people to talk to. o ENJOY YOURSELF, HAVE FUN WITH THE PEOPLE. Speak in quick short sentences about why you feel GOOD about being a volunteer. • RADIO o Look for radio towers in your surrounding area. Listen to them long enough to determine whether they are talk oriented. Find the station location. Wear your uniform and pay them a visit (or more). If you explain what the Auxiliary is and our concern for boating safety and local affairs you may be asked to drop in if they have local talk shows on certain days. I had a weekly slot with other people Thursday afternoons for three years. I discussed whatever the topic was for the day with others, and always managed to mention boating safety or what our flotilla was doing in and for the local area. • ADOPT A MARINA o If you live near a marina set up a schedule with the owners. Do vessel exams and provide materials. On scheduled days set up a tent cover booth with materials. Offer Vessel Safety Checks for those waiting to launch or for larger permanent docked boats. Make current state and federal law information available along with materials for small boaters. MICHAEL HUDEC, DS0-PA, D8WR • D8WR has a public Google Calendar which houses the meeting dates for flotillas and divisions, along with some of the larger public affairs events. This opens up the option for flotillas from a different AOR or division to participate in some of the larger PA events. • We use an online sign-up webpage on the District site for District run PA events. This simple Web-form has spots for member information and shifts they wish to volunteer for. The form auto-sends itself to a dedicated Gmail account. That account is handed off to the next DSO or ADSO that schedules our District Public Affairs event participation. This helps with transition, especially since most of the boat show preparation is being done across Christmas and early January (when officer positions are also being changed.) JERRY EDELEN, DSO-PA, D11NR • Conduct Public Affairs Training at all D-Trains and Past Commander’s Association Conferences. Include in the training, PA Apprentice Training. • Ask Mayors, Boards of Supervisors, etc., for Nat’l Safe Boating Week Proclamations. • Publish monthly District Public Affairs Reports, ask all PA Officers for input and district the report as widely as possible. • Participate actively in all District Staff Meetings and District Go-To-Meetings. • Encourage the use of trained “Coastie” and Mascots at PA and PAVE events. • Encourage District personnel to become PA Apprentice/ PA Specialist qualified by maintaining a spreadsheet of PA Officers, their contact information and their progress toward the goals. Keep in contact with the officers and offer encouragement/ assistance. • Stay out of internal personnel issues involving PA Officers in the District Divisions and Flotillas. Refer difficulties to the Chain of Leadership. • Enjoy your job, or find another job in the Auxiliary to contribute through. DAVE ESPARZA, DSO-PA, D11SR • Every PA event has its importance no matter how small or large. I believe that PA is the life blood of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Here in Arizona, one PA event usually leads to another and another by networking. Keep in constant contact with your area contacts, TV, newspaper, radio etc., - they don't want to hear from you once a year, they want to hear from you all the time. I have a local newspaper that I write a monthly article for, we have several radio stations running PSAs and I do guest appearances on one of the local radio shows Sundays from 0700-0900. These things do not happen without going the extra mile and keeping in contact and having a quality message for the public. • We also work closely with the Coast Guard recruiting office in Phoenix. We have an honor guard available for Coast Guard funerals at the Arizona National Cemetery where we are on call and have been trained by the recruiting office in proper procedures. We do the flag ceremony, we play taps and we present the flag to the next of kin. The recruiting office and the families are very thankful for our volunteerism. I guess this would be thinking out of the box for PA. We are invited to events through the radio show. We are invited to events through the recruiting office. The recruiting office is invited to our events. This is a win-win situation all year long. We get invited back to these events year after year. • Other Divisions also have honor guard groups and have helped out at funerals at national cemeteries in their area and “performed” at small local events and large sporting events. D.M. BERGDAHL, DSO-PA D13 • One of my Best Practices is utilizing the local colleges. Digital Technology and other graphic art/computer programs (and other areas of the colleges) are always looking for projects for students. I have had students create flyers, videos and even podcasts. In addition, the professor will often allow you to come in and give a plug for the Auxiliary. It is a great way to get the word out to our younger generations as well as getting quality products for PA!!! DREW HERMAN, DSO-PA, D17 • D17 has had some success with fancy knot classes for the public, such as how to make an ocean plait door mat for Christmas. • Here's a local radio segment on a session the week of 16 March: http://www.kmxt.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6424&Itemid=2 • A Children's poster contest has proved very successful in Kodiak and is now in its fourth year. A local marine dealer donates prizes and we award certificates at school board meetings. • A weekly five-minute radio segment "Deck Watch" was a joint Auxiliary and active Duty production and ran for about five years on public radio stations throughout the state. I can serve as resource for pitching, format and production for those who are interested in doing the same thing. • Always send releases to your active duty public affairs counterparts. 15. Remaining Public Affairs Activities during this time period not covered in this District Public Affairs Report are covered in the Division Commander Reports. Respectfully reported, Jerry Edelen, DSO-PA jeryedel@ix.netcom.com District 11 Northern Region United States Coast Guard Auxiliary