Saturday, February 23, 2013

Minutes of General Membership Meeting February 20, 2013


U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Flotilla 96
13531 Vanderbilt Drive
Naples, Florida 34110

General Membership Meeting February 20, 2013.
Attending:  45 members and four visitors and guests.

Called to order at 7:00 by Flotilla Commander Jim Mayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of silence observed.

COMO John Tyson said leadership training will come to the local area March 2.  Also urged           members to update their profile for sector on form 7828.  Said POMS will not be ready anytime soon, maybe by September.

Division 7 Commander Larry Urbanek stressed importance of participating in Marine Safety program.  Asked coxswains and boat owners to monitor fuel consumption.  Announced Division meeting March 9 with reps from TSA, canine corps, and Lee County Sheriff.

Speaker Donna Young of Delnor Wiggins State Park talked about the history of the park, its facilities, activities and goals.  She is anxious to promote boating safety at their boat ramp and welcomes our participation.

Petty Officer Miller said he has met with ops officer Michael DiPierro to discuss plans and operations at Station FMB.  This is busy time there with Sector coming to evaluate all their activities, many personnel there looking for new duty stations, and plans for change of watch with Kerner’s retirement August 2.  Thanked us for plans to participate in COW.  Station expects new 29-foot response boat soon.  Repeated calls for proper uniform for all occasions.  Said he will be here until 2016.

Tom Hart sworn in as staff officer for Human Resources by Mayer and FVC Laughlin.

New members Charlie Rinehart and Danny Lee sworn in.

Awards presented to Joseph Dejesus and Allen Thompson for years of service.  To Michael Dobrovic, John Gaston and Larry Urbanek for sustained service.  To Ross Tisci and Stephen Gates for VE certification.  Certificate of appreciation to Gaston, Jerome Lipps and Brad Snow for work at Naples Boat Show.

Break for audience participation in exercise to promote proper uniform, with neighbors checking each other’s attire for infractions.  Laughlin suggested various sites, documents and lists available to answer questions on uniforms.  Handouts given to those who asked.

Staff Reports:

Mike Clukey, Public Education:  Paddlesports had 17 attendees, another planned for April 6.  ABS had seven.  Seven or eight expected for Local Waters next Saturday.  More ABS in April.

Paul Thompson, Information Services:  Working with Zarela on lists, helping on website and developing Facebook page.  Correcting outdated information.  Plans to upgrade radio room computer to handle Information Services.

Len Nuzzo, Vessel Examinations:  More than 200 VEs already this year.  Experience shows boating public needs our help.  More examiners needed for 2nd and 4th Saturdays.  Brad Snow ready for cert.  Plans for boat show at Bonita Bay on March 2, a good time to perform VEs.  Need more volunteers.

Michael DiPierro, Operations:  Meeting next Wednesday at 7:00, but coxswains and boat owners at 6:30.  Preliminary planning for joint exercises with flotilla 91 and 93, and cross training with Station FMB.

George Stancil, Marine Safety:  MS is now called “Prevention Department.”  Jeff Doyle, recent transfer from another flotilla with training in marine safety, has now joined us.  Will have all new staff at MS office in Fort Myers.  Will offer 8-hour class to train initial pollution investigators (IPI).  Also need commercial fishing vessel examiners.

Jim Mayer, subbing for Dave Shuster on Member Training:  Classes for crew training completed and on-the-water training now under way.  New TCO class has eight or nine members.  Abbreviated class on sexual harassment will be held at March meeting.

As flotilla commander, Mayer prompted enthusiastic approval from the audience for the new Hatchcover newsletter.  He then summarized speaking engagements and talked about participation in Dog Walk in Bonita Bay with pet safety materials.  Channel 98 interviewed Mayer, DiPierro, McCaffrey, and their dogs.

Mayer received approval from members for house cleaning plan to do it ourselves, four volunteers each month.

No further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:30

Respecfully submitted,

Emily Harris,
Secretary/Records