Minutes General Membership Meeting Jan.16, 2013

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Flotilla 96

13531 Vanderbilt Drive

Naples, Florida 34110

General Meeting, January 16, 2013

Forty-three members and three guests attending.

Meeting called to order at 7:05 by Flotilla Commander Jim Mayer.

Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence observed.

Minutes of previous meeting approved.

Introduction of guests Brendan Goslin and Mike Devlin, President of Paradise Coast Paddler’s Club.  Also USCG liaison Petty Officer Miller.

COMO John Tyson announced a District leadership training road show coming in March.  He said budgets are tight and cuts are made.  As acting Information services officer for the flotilla, he urged all to turn in their activity hours, including 7029.

Division 9 Commander Larry Urbanek also emphasized importance of reporting 7029 hours, including travel time.  He urged members to wear uniform correctly as explained in Chapter 10.  Volunteers for Marine Safety are a priority and an opportunity to serve. Stressed importance of working with the gold side (active duty Coast Guard).

Petty Officer Miller echoed the need to work together and the importance of proper uniforms.  He cautioned coxswains and crew about wearing jewelry on patrols where it can cause serious injury while line handling and performing other duties.

FC Mayer introduced speaker Mike Devlin, who said the Paradise Coast Paddlers Club at Isles of Capri emphasizes safety and education, with free lessons for all.  Devlin was adamant about wearing a lifejacket on the water.  Kerplunk Day in April is to teach how to get in, forward stroke, get back in if in the water, roll 360 degrees, and other safety activities.  Flotilla 96 will participate with vessel inspections and other safety info.  Contact ParadiseClubPaddlers.com.

Aaron Thomas, a new member with 10,000 hours on the water, spoke about the scheduled class for kayakers on February 2 at the flotilla building.  An excellent course, he said, with much to learn about safety and fun for paddlers.  A $12 donation is requested.

FC Mayer announced:

·      8-hour TCT class changed to Saturday, Feb. 9, at Station FMB

·      Send photos for newsletter to Zarela by 5^th of the month

·      Speaking engagements include Naples Preserve, Wiggins Pass Condo Association, Fishtale Marina, Barefoot Beach Club, Rotary Club, and others.

·      Invitation to ride  on USCG Cutter Marlin, date to be announced.

·      Excess ODUs available.  Email to follow.

Awards went to Allen Thompson, Aux Commandant’s Letter of Commendation,  and COMO John Tyson, Past Division Captain’s/Commandant’s Assoc.

Brant Connelly sworn in as new member, Len Nuzzo sworn in as FSO/VE.

Dave Shuster distributed certificates of appreciation to staff members of 2012.

Ten membership anniversaries in January, including 14 years for Mike Clukey.

Naples Boat Show 24^th to 27^th, with volunteers needed.

Tom Hart reported several new and prospective members for the flotilla.

Mike DiPierro (Operations) announced a busy schedule.  FMB wants to have our patrol schedule by the 20^th of the month for the following month’s patrols.  Ops meeting next Wednesday 24^th, coxswains report at 6:00 before the regular 7:00 meeting.

Len Nuzzo (VE) said we are off to a successful season with over 100 vessel examinations performed so far this year.

Dave Shuster (Member training)  said crew class is under way now and next one to begin April 29.  It takes ten to twelve weeks to certification.  March will see advanced AUXOP course.  An instructors course will be in June, with Aids to Navigation in June or July.  First aid and CPR to be held in late February or March.

Paul Thompson (Information Services) said he has developed a procedure for members to fill out the 7029 form.  Email him for further info.

Richard Laughlin (Human Resources)  called for members who need new ID cards to contact him.

Laughlin also said new audio-visual aids should be installed by next meeting, and a new flotilla website is under construction by Paul Thompson and Brant Connelly.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25.

Respectfully submitted,

Emily C. Harris

Secretary/Records

Flotilla 96 Patrol Performs Rescue

Coxwain Al Lazzaro

On a calm and sunny Saturday, November 3, the CG Auxiliary vessel, Angie-O, with Coxswain Al Lazzaro and crewman Greg Guederian aboard, passed the Alpha marker at Wiggins Pass on a routine safety patrol.  A moment later, looking ahead, Lazzaro witnessed a man being ejected from a small skiff and struggling in the water. Suddenly, all his years of training were put to the test.

Lazzaro tells how the event happened and then escalated.  “I was at the helm of my facility slightly to the West of the Alpha marker at Wiggins Pass. A small skiff with a person standing, using a tiller to steer, was moving from the South, heading North at a moderate rate of speed. As he passed in front of my vessel, I noticed the skiff jerk sharply to one side and the driver eject out of the boat into the water. The person in the water waved his arm at me and I noticed the skiff was still moving in tight circles with the throttle on. I immediately told Greg that there was a PIW and prepare for a starboard pickup.”

Radio watchstander Emily Harris logged a call from Lazzaro at 1050 saying he was picking up a man overboard “not from my vessel” and they would have to stop the other boat from running in tight circles.  By 1055 Harris heard that our second patrol boat, Annabelle, with Coxswain John Gaston and crewmen Matt Chester and Richard Traverse, had reached the scene and assumed responsibility for communications with Wiggins Pass.  Gaston called Station Fort Myers Beach by landline to report the incident and started a timeline of events. By then Angie-O had already picked up the man in the water, who was not wearing a life jacket. Here’s how Lazzaro describes the actual rescue:

Happy ending:  The rescued boater returns ashore wearing
a life jacket as Angie-O and the Coast Guard talk it over.

With the most important job done, it was time to tame the runaway skiff.  Unmanned and with a full fuel tank, it was corkscrewing toward the beach where it could endanger others.  As Annabelle stood by, Lazzaro and Guederian decided to try fouling the propeller. They dropped a towline in the water and circled the boat, catching the prop on their second attempt.  With assistance from SeaTow, whose captain had declined to try it on his own, they brought the skiff alongside and killed the motor.

After clearing the prop and finding the boat undamaged, its recently rescued owner decided to return ashore on his own.  He was detained briefly by the arrival of a 33-foot Coast Guard rapid response boat.   The Coast Guard crew interviewed him and he was released. 

By 1130, the flotilla’s two safety patrols were practicing stern tow evolutions in the Gulf and reporting “ops normal” to their watchstander.  Only Angie-O’s shredded towline attests to what might have been a tragic ending had not the Coast Guard Auxiliary been on the job.

Editor’s Note:  The identity of the rescued party has been withheld pending his consent and approval from the Coast Guard.