"Underway” with the District Commodore

“Underway” with the District Commodore,

 

Our recent District 13 Fall Conference, held in Gig Harbor, Washington, 28-30 September, was a huge success thanks to everyone who attended. As we all know, meetings don’t just happen. There are months of preparation where details are formulated until the day of the event. This conference wouldn’t have been possible without Conference Coordinator, Jan Jenne, who has served in this capacity for 14 years. Locating a venue, negotiating prices, choosing meals, scheduling training and arranging adequate room space, etc., is not an easy task. Thank you, Jan, for the time and energy you spent towards the success of this conference!

 

Sincere conference coordination appreciation also go to the following members:

Dan Kienle – District 13 Conference Website

Doug Kroll - Invocations

Color Guard – Tammy King, Michael Sealfon, Ken Willard & Jeff Hunter

Daren Lewis & Dean Wimer – “Crossing the Bar” ceremony

Maggie Albert & Penny Milczewski – Finance Workshop

Deb Cordone – Social Media Workshop and Photographer

Neil Christenson – Recorded and transcribed minutes from EXCOM & Board

     Meetings at this conference and over the past two years.

David Larkin -- Awards

John Warner – District Flags

 

AWARDS PRESENTED:

Association for Rescue at Sea National Chairman’s Award: Kathleen Goodwin, Coxswain (Flotilla 84); Steve Beckerman, Crew (Flotilla 82); Jan Jenne, AUX Radio Station, Sunland Estates (Flotilla 84) for providing medical assistance to a severely injured swimmer on September 3, 2017, at Quilomene Creek, Washington, demonstrating superb vigilance, skill, determination, and teamwork.

Auxiliary Commendation Medal: John Stuhr (Flotilla 73) for superior performance of duty and achievement while serving as the lead member of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District Director of Auxiliary office support team.

Auxiliary Achievement Medal: Bradley Hooper (Flotilla 52) for his leadership and outstanding achievement while serving as Flotilla 52’s Commander and as a Communications Watchstander at the Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River in Florence, Oregon.

Auxiliary Achievement Medal: Kristy Cates (Flotilla 52) for superior and sustained performance in leadership and extraordinary expertise in boat operations and navigation while serving as Flotilla 52’s Staff Officer-Operations.

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation: Tony Ford (Flotilla 18) for outstanding performance on the Auxiliary Financial Educator Program Team.

Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation: Patrick Kuntz (Flotilla 10-02) for his performance off duty on May 26, 2018, responding to the call for volunteer assistance during flood waters in Montana and the Yellowstone River working with civilians and other responders in efficiently offloading 50,000 sandbags.

Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation: Donna Cox (Flotilla 53) for superior performance of duty as Branch Chief, Diversity for Pacific Area, being instrumental in promoting the National Commodore’s Strategic goals for diversity and inspiring members and leaders to successfully complete the application for the Three-Star Excellence in Diversity Award.

Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation: Cheryl Lundine (Flotilla 66) for superior performance of duty as Branch Assistant, National Staff Organization charts, using steadfast efforts, technical skill, and meticulous attention to detail.

2018 National Photography Award Team Coast Guard Category: First Place to Deborah Ann Cordone, Flotilla 52, Photographer.

2017 USCG Visitation Program: First Place in the nation to Flotilla 53, Depoe Bay, Oregon, for overall performance and excellence.

Flotilla Meritorious Achievement Medal: Flotilla 52 for making the most significant contributions to the Auxiliary Programs during 2017.

2017 National “Century Club Awards”: In recognition of completing One Hundred Vessel Examinations and/or Program Visits during 2017 in support of the USCG Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety Program:

Division 1: Peter Border, David Church, Anne Cox, Hoyt Hatfield & David Tribolet

Division 2: Mark Taeschner

Division 3: Ronald Holtcamp

Division 4: Leo Leonard, Marilyn Leonard

Division 5: Paula Boeckman, James Carroll, Deborah Cordone, Lawrence Cox, James Fryckman, Norm Hoffman, Brad Hooper, Wil Lampa, Mary Lee, Cheryl Lundine, Brady McNulty, Thomas Murphy, Tiney Singler, John Welch, Robert Wheatley

Division 6: John Costic, Dennis Forest, Charles Kroll, Timothy Kroll

Division 7: Matt Epstein, Richard Williams

Division 8: Kathleen Goodwin

Diversity Management Three-Star Award of Excellence: For creating a positive environment, valuing all members, and promoting individual success:

Flotilla 44, Flotilla 53, Flotilla 56 & Flotilla 73.

 

Certificates of Recognition: For outstanding cooperation and assistance in furthering the purposes and principles of the USCG and USCG Auxiliary:

Kent Brown – Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, USCG Sector Puget Sound

Robert Allert – Assistant Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, USCG Sector Puget Sound

Robert Allert – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Seattle

Luther Herrick – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Bellingham

John Lester -- Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Cape Disappointment

Robert Hickman -- Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Tillamook Bay

Terry Filson -- Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Aids to Navigation Team Kennewick

David Larkin – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Port Angeles

David Larkin – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Sector Field Office Port Angeles

George Tinker – Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, USCG Sector North Bend

Ron Hilburger – Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, USCG Sector Columbia River

Richard Williams – Assistant Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, USCG Sector Columbia River

Richard Williams – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Marine Safety Unit Portland

Richard Williams – Auxiliary Unit Coordinator, USCG Station Portland

Past Division Commanders’ Mileage Award: Division 5 earned this award as they had the highest cumulative mileage for the most members attending the conference not on orders.

 

Congratulations to all members!

 

ELECTIONS: Best wishes to our newly elected District 13 officers for 2019-2020: Richard Williams, District Commodore, and Tiney Singler, District Chief of Staff.

Newly elected District Captains for 2019 are Jonathan Wells, District Captain-East; Curt Lundine, District Captain-South; and Joe Treece, who is serving his second year as District Captain-North.

 

USCG AUXILIARY FOOD SERVICES CLASSES: The following upcoming Food Services classes will be offered at MSU Portland:

• Four-Day Class: October 11-13, 0500-1500; October 14, 0800-1500.
• Two-Weekend Class (4 Days):

    October 13 (0500-1500); October 14 (0800-1500).

    November 17 (0500-1500); November 18 (0800-1500).

 

If you are interested in attending these classes, please contact Dennis Wood (503-580-8144) or Robert Megel (503-403-9630)

 

C-SCHOOLS: It has been brought to our attention that the Coast Guard has cancelled 50% of C-Schools for 2019 due to budget cuts. This will have a huge impact on getting members trained for leadership and staff officer positions. We may have to resort to more in-house training by our own experienced and recognized “experts” to aid divisions and flotillas. There will only be three AUX-10 Information Systems (AUXDATA/AUXINFO) training classes offered in 2019 (St. Louis, MO, in January; Reno, NV, in March; and Orlando, FL, in August). You can view the fiscal year 2019 C-School calendar online at:

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=aux00.

 

YEAR-END DISENROLLMENTS AND RETIREMENTS: By now, all District 13 flotillas should have sent collection statements to their members for the 2019 Auxiliary membership dues. While most members respond to the call, there are always a few inactive members who fail to respond to the requests, requiring the Flotilla Commander to recommend their disenrollment for non-payment of dues. If a member decides to retire, discontinue membership, or fails to respond to the notice for payment of dues, an ANSC-7035 (09-18) with a recommendation for retirement or disenrollment must be emailed to DSO-HR Deanna Green or ADSO-HR Deborah Kienle no later than 15 November to ensure time for review and forwarding to DIRAUX for processing by 1 December. The recommendation must include a statement as to the disposition of the member’s ID card (preferably “received and destroyed”) and status of any issued PPE. If the submission is for a non-responding member, be sure to include a note documenting the effort made to contact the member, such as a letter sent to the member’s residence of record.

Note: Submissions later than 15 November may not be processed before the end of the year, resulting in a flotilla having to use their own funds to pay the dues of members who are no longer active.

 

 

ANNUAL BACKGROUND CHECKS: In the near future, the Coast Guard will be conducting annual basic background checks on all active Auxiliarists. The new procedure will apply to all current members and will be conducted in groups on a monthly basis by the DIRAUX Office.

 

Until next month, take good care of yourselves and each other. I want to thank you for your hard work and commitment to the District 13 USCG Auxiliary. You are an incredible group of volunteers and I am honored to serve alongside each and every one of you!

 

Very Respectfully,

 

Kathy Goodwin, DCO