U. S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
UNITED STATES COAST
GUARD AUXILIARY
Flotilla 96
13531 Vanderbilt
Drive
Naples, Florida
34110
General Meeting April 17,
2013
Attending: 42 members, 14 guests including four speakers
Meeting called to order at
7:00 p.m.
Pledge of allegiance and
moment of silence observed.
Flotilla Commander Jim Mayer gave a brief overview of the agenda and introduced
guests.
Minutes of the previous
meeting approved.
Dave Shuster, Division Vice Commander, reported that new POMS system has been adopted.
Speaker Donna Hornsby, Transportation
Security Inspector, described
TSA’s passenger screening program and the prominent role that local CG
Auxiliary members have played in it, asking for more volunteers. Al Lazzaro recounted his recent and
rewarding experience as a volunteer at RSW in Fort Myers.
Speaker Jason Cody, ME2, USCG, told the meeting about his role in law-enforcement
at Station FMB and warned boat owners about thefts.
BM2 Mitch Miller, our CG liaison officer, said the new 29-foot chase
vessels are ready to be deployed and invited our members who visit the station
to ask for a briefing.
Speaker Jared Rackley, Project Manager
for Orion Marine, spoke about
the dredging project in Wiggins Pass, where they have moved 60,000 cubic yards
of sand so far and have 30,000 left to go.
Depth will be approximately 12 ½ feet in outbound channel and 7 ½ feet
inside.
Flotilla Commander Mayer and Vice
Commander Laughlin swore in
three new staff officers: Peter Holsten, Finance; Jeff Doyle, Marine
Safety; Paul Thompson, Information Systems. Thompson also received his long-delayed ID
card.
Certificates of Appreciation
went to Mel Milstein and Bob Morrison.
Special recognition to Carol
DiCostanzo for passing the online VE qualification exam; to Peter
Wallace for passing the TCO qualification, and to Brandon Gosselin for
installing anti-slip tape on the docks.
Certified VE certificates
went to Stephen Gates and Peter Wallace.
The Auxiliary Service Award
for contribution to VSC/RBSVP went to Paul Thompson and Mike
Dobrovic.
National Safe Boating Week will be observed May 18 to 24th. Bonita Springs Fire Department will offer a
fire safety demonstration for boaters.
Staff Officer Reports:
Tom Hart, Human Resources: We still
have 99 members with five in the works and two more prospects.
Jeff Doyle, Marine Safety: Urged
members to participate in the EPA’s Clean Marina Program and Sea Partners for
Kids.
Michael DiPierro, Operations: Training in
progress for QE on April 24. Operations
meeting postponed to Wednesday, May 1.
Dave Shuster, Member Training: Will meet
soon with new members to make individual training plans. Instructor’s class in the works. Division will offer ATON verification class,
probably here. TCO in the fall. Kayak program in the future.
Len Nuzzo, Vessel Examinations: Examiners
will be at Lovers Key on Saturday, Mullet Creek Marina April 20. VE count year-to-date is 295.
Ed Walters, Communications: Set up and
used radio from trailer in a recent power outage at the flotilla building. Radio net scheduled in April. Peter Wallace passed TCO and now qualified
for duty.
Peter Holsten, Finance: “We are
solvent.”
Mike Clukey, Public Education: Local Waters
Knowledge will be April 27 from 9 to 11.
All new members urged to attend.
Paddlesports America scheduled for June 1. Next ABS not until October. Task force on PE attendance is putting up
posters and placing ads in local papers.
Richard Laughlin, FVC: Hurricane
prep exercise next month.
Jim Mayer, FC: Save
Saturday, June 8, for flotilla’s 40th anniversary celebration Help wanted by Public Affairs, Program
Visitation, Vessel Safety Checks, Human Resources administration. Shuster and team will clean our building this
month.
New Business: Mayer asked
for motion to change the signature card for Flotilla 96 bank account at Bank of
America from Allen Thompson and Jim Mayer to Peter Holsten, FSO-FN, Richard Laughlin,
VFC, and Jim Mayer, FC. Moved, seconded
and passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30.
Speaker Pat McCaran, SO-MS Division 9, commended George Stancil for his
service to Marine Safety and spoke briefly about the prevention and
environmental aspects of the MS program.
These include the Clean Marina, Waterway Watch, Sea Partners and Good
Mate programs. Handouts describing these
programs were made available.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily C. Harris
FSO-Secretary/Records
