Our flotilla
remains very active as we begin the second quarter of 2012. Our speaking
engagements continue at a very brisk pace.
We have made presentations at nine different associations, clubs and
agencies. We’re reaching out to hundreds
of people every month; talking about the Coast Guard Auxiliary, its missions
and the importance of boating safety.
Our goal was to make no less than one presentation each month. So far
we’re averaging more than two presentations per month. In May we’re scheduled for four engagements
and two National Safe Boating Week pubic affairs events. Much of the credit goes to Jim Mayer, our
presentation booking agent, and Neil Arnal our “front man” who provides answers
to questions and informational materials to our audiences.
As a result of
our vigorous speaking schedule, we are well ahead of our new member
projections. We’ve sworn in eight new
members since the first of January, 53% of our annual goal of fifteen new
members. We’ll be swearing in a ninth
new member at the general membership meeting later this month.
We have
performed exceptionally well in the recreational boating area. We’ve taught more Public Education students
in the first four months of the year (95 students), than we taught for all of
2011 (91 students). This places us at
80% of our annual goal of 119 students.
Vessel safety
checks and program visitations are also doing well. VSCs are at 46% of last year for the first
four months of the year. If we can
maintain this rate of inspections we could hit more than 600 VSCs for the year.
Program
visitation is now at 67% of our goal of 250 visits for the year. Not only has PV already exceeded last year’s
total of 143, but we could reach 400 or more before year’s end. Mike Dobrovic holds the current record for
the year at 58 visits.
The credit
goes to all of our members who have volunteered the many hours of their time,
and the leadership of our staff officers and aides.
I am also
pleased to report a couple of other new initiatives. We have entered into an agreement with Fish
Tale Marina’s Grady White Dealer in Fort Myers Beach to conduct regularly
scheduled Vessel Safety Checks and Public Education classes for their customers
and to partner in future activities to promote safe boating.
We’ll be
co-hosting a kick-off event for National Safe Boating Week at FishTale on
Saturday, May 19th. At this
point the event will include the arrival of a 33’ Response Boat from Station
Fort Myers Beach, VSCs at dockside, and conducting our patrol radio watch from
our Communications Trailer at dockside. Other safe boating demonstrations will
entertain the boating public. We’re
working with local media to cover the event.
So please volunteer your time to support our National Safe Boating Week
promotions.
We have many
reasons to be proud of our flotilla’s accomplishments for the first quarter of
2012. As we begin our planning for the
Fall/Winter season, stay focused on our missions, priorities and goals, and
above all enjoy the summer. As always, we are Semper Paratus.
