New Page 1

It seems that every year about this time I think the winter will NEVER end. The snow is piling up, the ice is getting thicker, and it keeps getting colder each day!

I just returned from Selfridge ANGB where I attended a presentation of the course “Search Coordination and Execution” given by the Coast Guard and sponsored by the National Search and Rescue School. The class was intensive, informative, fun, nerve racking at times for an old guy like me, but well worth the time and effort.

If you are Coxswain qualified and never have had the opportunity to attend, I highly recommend that you do so. We were also informed that this class will closely resemble the ‘new’ AUXSAR program coming out soon.

Commanders: Now is time to be getting your members ready for spring, Classroom training, equipment inspections, etc.

I want to start by thanking all the Division Staff Officers (SO) for their hard work

One of our goals is to improve communication. There is always room for improvement in our communication skills. We will strive to improve communication between the Division and the Flotillas.

As the Flotilla Staff Officers (FSO) may have noticed, they will be contacted by the SO’s to obtain pertinent information about events/actions/happenings in their flotilla. If any FSO has any questions or concerns, they should feel free to contact the SO or me at any time.

One of the items that the Division will be focusing on is updating our Standing Rules. All FC’s and SO’s received copies of it and will be discussing it at the next Division meeting.

Again, I want to let everyone know that they can feel free to contact me with any complaints, ideas or suggestions that they have.

March 27-30, 2008	Spring Conference	Marriott Inn, Centerpointe Pontiac
May 10, 2008	Division Meeting	BJ's Gaylord
May 16-17 or May 30-31	Division Boat Days	Higgins Lake, MI
May 26, 2008	Memorial Day
July 4, 2088	Independence Day
July 4, 2008	NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center Re-opening	Alpena, MI
July 25- August 3, 2008	Coast Guard Festival	Grand Haven, Michigan
August 16, 2008	Hessel Boat Show	Hessel
August 16-17, 2008	Top-Of Michigan Boat Races	Indian River and Lake Mullett (Cheboygan)
September 1, 2008	Mackinac Bridge Walk	Mackinaw City, St Ignace
September 19-21, 2008	Fall Conference	Doubletree Hotel, Bay City
October 11, 2008	Division Meeting ( Elections)	BJ's , Gaylord
December 6, 2008	Division Change of Watch	Village Inn, St. Ignace

Several Members of Flotilla 16-01 attended TCT training on 17 January in Alpena. We have distributed assignments for the new FSO’s. We discussed the Division Boat Days and feel that further discussion is needed.

Commander Little of the Mackinaw requested help from 16-01 to house a new crew member coming into Cheboygan. This was necessary because base housing would not be available for about a month.
The Coast Guard had an unfurnished apartment but the flotilla was able to help with the furnishings.

At our 22 January meeting we viewed the Operational Security Video this was presented by the crew of the Mackinaw. The DVD on Vessel Safety was also presented at our training workshop,

We have decided that we would like to offer to Co-Host Division Boat School with 16-08(Straits Flotilla). We are proposing that this be scheduled for May 16-17 0r May 30-31

Aviation – The Airborne members have completed 3 missions and have had 3 others cancelled due to weather

Computer Services Web pages are updated. We have received a lot of recent pictures

Member Training - 2 members attended TCT training on 19 January and one more on 8 February. Don

We have 5 members in a self study program for Nav Rules. Group session will resume when the snowbirds return.

We are holding a training session on Auxdata, Online forms and use of the E-directory at the Houghton Lake Library which has on-line capability and overhead projection of the internet.

One of our members is working with the local Public Safety Department to get some of our members Homeland Security CERT training

We have had one member pass the Air Observer exam, another pass the Program Visitor exam, two more passed the VE exam and two certified teachers are requesting Instructor Status.

Public Affairs – We were in the Christmas in the Village Parade, We were in the Tip Up Town Parade

10 members braving 7 degree temperatures. We have had 4 articles in the local newspapers on our Change of Watch and on our participation in Operation Blue Light Memorial Night. One of our members gave the invocation at this event. We are also scheduled to speak to the Houghton Lake Merchants Association meeting in May and the Kiwanis Club in May

We were also in Classic Cardboard sled race at the Roscommon Winter fest. We took first place in Speed and second place in overall design.

Public Education – We will be holding a Michigan Boater Safety Class at Roscommon High School in

Other items We will be holding a Garage sale for Marine and other items on Memorial Day Weekend.

Agnes cautioned the members not to use the flotilla roster to disseminate any political

At the request of John Socha our members have reviewed the Mainstream on-line and are

Recommending that the District continue to publish a paper copy and but that

Flotilla 16-04 held its first meeting of the year on 16 January. Among the items discussed was the question of having boat crew school in Alpena this year. We were not able to come to a decision because we had some concerns about being able to carry our the various elements to make for an successful sessions

We have requested Coastie to appear at the NOAA Maritime Festival on Thunder Bay River and for the 4^th of July Parade. Last year we had a large number of visitors (10 thousand) at the Maritime Festival visiting the various exhibits at the NOAA building. We are hoping that the little guy is ready to get “underway” this year.

On 17 January Alpena hosted TCT training. The instructor this year was the BMC form Station Port Huron. The Class was very informative for all that attended.

Our IT instructors are planning to teach the DNR PWC course to some of our Junior High students so that they can get credit and receive that DNR card to operate a PWC. One of our members is state certified this will enable members to get Public Appearance credit and the students will receive the training that the local Sheriff’s department is not budgeted to present.

The Flotilla will have a public appearance at the NOAA facility, Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for their re-opening. This is a one day event. The building has been undergoing a lot of display changes for the upcoming season. There will be public tours of the building and then a presentation on the early shipping on the Great Lakes by the NOAS historian. Members of the Flotilla will then speak on present day electronic navigation equipment and be able to pass out information on our in-depth Safe Boating Classes. We will be sending out invitations to the Auxiliary as soon as we have more information. We also hope that NOAA will have a booth at the Detroit Boat Show and be able to advertise the event.

Although this is the slow time of the year for the flotilla we are actively working on off the water boat crew training. We are also recruiting new members our FSO-PS has two persons interested in joining our flotilla

Our plans for the upcoming quarter are to continue training our Boat Crew to be ready to get on the water this spring when it is safe. We will also be visiting the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary to tour their training facility and attend one of their meetings.

We will be going to the annual spring show at Lake Superior State University. We also plan to have the local media contact the FC or the VFC for recruiting information.

The Publication officer is developing an e-mail list to be to send out publications and minutes to the members.

Our Program Visitors have been getting material to the Partners and other places of interest.

CWO H. Vance Caskey, OTO invited us to attend their all hands training at the Station on the 23^rd of January

Since the last Division meeting we have conducted monthly business meetings in November and January. Dewey Lopes and Bob Jones were elected Flotilla Commander and Vice Commander. We had our Change of Watch in December with CDR Larry Hewett, Vice Commander USCG Sector Sault. CDR Hewlett also conducted the swearing in of the elected and appointed officers, assisted by IPDCO Bob Den Boer.

We are planning an Instructor workshop for March. One hour TCT refresher is scheduled for May or June. We also hope to complete as Crew training and certification as possible for two members prior to the start of the boating season.

Water levels permitting, we expect to have two facilities available in late May and another available in July and August.

Our next business meeting will be in March. We have cancelled our February meeting because both our FC and VFC will be away.

2008 brings a renewed effort to surpass our increased numbers for 2007. Last year we accomplished the goal of beginning PE which we haven’t done for years. This year I have some new ideas that I’d like our flotilla to participate in to increase our membership numbers. We lost three members at the end of last year bringing our membership number to 28. Of course we have inactive members that I’d like to see return this year.

I’d like to extend my congratulations to Charlie Richards for being awarded the “Recreational Boating Safety Program Specialist” this past October and to Richard “Doc” Borth for completing the AUX-26 course for Digital Photography this past October.

On January 11^th, I gave a presentation at the University of South Florida to our Senior Continuing Education members about my experience this past June when I took the AUX-4 class dealing with Websites and PowerPoint presentations. I hope the flotilla can do more of this type of PA this summer to various groups which will help promote new members.

Our schedule is pretty much set for the coming year with operations always in the fore front of our activity, and PE will continue to be a priority this year as plans are in the works to pick up from where we left off last year.

Several of our flotilla members attended the TCT class February 8^th at Coast Guard Station St. Ignace which will take care of any additional TCT requirements for the rest of the year. This was obviously a great opportunity to get this training out of the way early in the year before the summer activity begins along with busy social schedules.

16-08 VFC George Oddy is working on his coxswain training and hopes to have that completed this summer. He also plans to have his cruiser inspected to become a facility for our flotilla.

Plans are being made for our flotilla to co-sponsor boat training days, probably at Higgins Lake in May or the first Saturday of June. We’re also looking at another location further north later in the summer. However nothing is written in stone at this time.

This disclosure of personal information contained in this directory is subject to the provisions contained in the Privacy Act of 1974. The subject Act with certain exceptions prohibits the disclosure distribution, dissemination or copying of any material containing the home address, home telephone number, spouses name and / social security numbers except for Official Business. Violations may result in disciplinary action by the Coast Guard and/or civilian criminal sanctions

Flotilla 16-04 had one request for Aid Verification from Sector Detroit in late 2007, which was handled by the Dean Caress and the Dora Jasinski. It was a light at Stoneport. According to Dean the confusion over the verification forms of lack thereof has been taken care of. Usually there are anywhere from 40-60 ATON verifications in any given season. We are looking foreword to a busy season.

Flotilla 16-07 reports that they have nothing to report at this time. , normally they receive 1 to 2 requests for ATON verifications in a given year. They are also trying to do Co-op charting of the St. Mary’s River. They have a problem getting sufficient crew persons to conduct ATON verification missions.

Flotilla 16-06 is currently working with CWO Kevin Robinson of Sector Sault, to get information on the ATON’s that need to be verified in the Division 16 AOR for both Sector Sault and Sector Detroit

The Division Web Site has been re-designed and updated. The Web sites for Flotillass16-03, 16-07 and

16-01 has also been updated. Billy Mueller has updated 16-08’s site and will be making monthly updates to the site.

16-06 recently received their password and is designing their web pages at this time.

16-04 has designed their site and is looking for operations pictures to update the site.

Please make sure that you continue to add pictures of your operational activities, public affairs and public education activities on your web site. This is a great public education and recruitment tools but the information and pictures should be current and changed frequently.

All missions that I have received have been entered into the system. Members should be submitting their missions through the FSO/IS although I do accept missions that are sent to me on line. AS always, missions should be completed and sent to me no later that 60 days from the date of the mission

Editor’s note: Recently at Division meeting CWO Vance Caskey, OTO, noted that the Coast Guard was very interested in monitoring our activities relative to the Waterway Watch program. At the meeting it was decided that in any activity that we perform we should focus some time and attention to the Waterway Watch/Border Control program. For example when you are at a Public Affairs Safety Booth; in a Boating Safety Class, talk about the program; when you are conducting Vessel Examinations; passing out literature. Or when you are on Patrol, make sure that you pay attention to Waterway Watch issues.

In order for the Coast Guard to know how many hours we spend in these activities, please put the number of hours you spend in Waterway Watch activities in the remarks section of every mission or activity report and Nancy will keep separate account of these hours. She will report them to CWO Caskey.

16-01- Materials ordered from Auxiliary National Supply Center (ANSC) arrive in a timely fashion and we get what we order if they are in stock. Materials that have been ordered from training should come in time for the meetings.

16-03 – We are planning a Boating Skills and Seamanship class in Houghton Lake this spring. We have a small supply of books on hand but not enough to hold a large class. We are looking for some 12^th edition books and work books. We are wondering if any other flotillas have any of these books.

There hasn’t been too much activity in the area of Marine Safety and Environmental Protection at this time of year. Flotilla 16-03 has been putting ice safety pamphlets in the PV racks in their area.

Flotilla 16-06 has a member on the Bi-National Public Advisory Council which deals with pollution issues in the St. Mary’s River. The Flotilla is planning to give an MS course to the Boy Scouts in the spring.

I encourage all flotillas to get involved in the Marine Safety and Environmental Protections. It can easily be integrated into activities you already do with minimal effort.

Many of you are probably doing some of this and not knowing it. Please have your FSO-MS contact me by e-mail or phone and I will be glad to explain what they should do.

At the last Division meeting your flotilla commander was given the following items

· Copy if the Department of Operations Web Page (Go to the Auxiliary operations home page- then to members section-then to Departments- then to “O” department and from there you can go many different operations pages.

Some of you may have heard that the current style of type III PFD is going to be replaced. The Coast Guard says that the new PFD which will withstand a water impact of 50 mph is expected in 2009.

Please go to the Personnel Services web site www.auxdept.org/membership.htm . At this web site you will find the PSI Tool Box which has everything from the Security Check process, P.S.I. Forms, P.S.I. talking points and more. The membership toolbox has Recruiting Posters and many more Recruitment and retention materials and ideas.

The duties of the Flotilla Staff Officer – Personnel Services can be found at

Flotilla 16-01 has two former members who are considering returning. Flotilla 16-06 has disenrolled 2 inactive members. They have 1 transfer, 1 pending, and 1new prospective member. We gave out 3 awards in January including 1 new Recreational Boating Safety Award. We trying to retain our members by member training and keeping all members including new members involved all the flotilla activities.

My suggestion for all in the FSO-PS position would be to start with the 2 web sites that are provided above. Read the FSO-Ps duties first so you know what your duties are and use the tools provided in the AUX P Department web site to help you do your job. Also work closely with your Flotilla Commander, myself and the DSO-PR. I look forward to working with all of you for the next year,

Also when the paperwork is submitted for a new member the 7001-Membership Enrollment Form are to be sent to the District Personnel Staff Officer, Mark Villeneuve. He will make sure that all the paperwork is completed corrected and forward it one; this procedure should cause fewer delays in processing the paperwork for new members.

The Tri-Lakes will be out around the first of March I will be using the Division reports unless I receive other information from you.

All members are encouraged to send me their opinions of the Mainstream on line my e-mail address is chuckandag@charter.net.

Flotilla 16-03 SO-PE Warren Schoeppacch, reports that they have two members that will soon be instructors and they are in the midst of arranging classes to be given at their schools. I might add that Wayne Schoeppach is a comparatively new member himself and that this report was one of two that I received from Florida.

16-04 – FSO-PE Warren Kindt, reports that they are planning a joint presentation with NOAA and the Association of Lifelong Learners on April 26 at 1300-1445. It will be am overview on navigations difficulties and errors in the past that resulted in shipwreck and of modern tools for navigation. It sounds like a very interesting program which should attract many adult students for our USCGAUX Boating Safety classes. They are also planning to present the DNR’s Boating Safety classes to Junior High students in the Alpena Schools that can result in a certificate to operate a personal water craft.

Flotilla 16-08 Flotilla Commander Billy Mueller and personnel from the USCG Station in Florida presented two classes on “Inky the Whale” which is about keeping our environment clean and free of litter. He reported that it went over very well and he is looking forward to doing more of this type of class this summer

Flotilla 16-07 is now setting up boating classes in co-ordination with the new boat building school in Cedarville to teach boating safety course to some of the students from LSSU. We are also planning to again give the DNR course for PWC certification to Cedarville and Detour Schools.

Last year Division 16 performed 926 program visits .We are the leaders in the District in Program Visits. In 2007 there were 9 program visitors that qualified for the new R B S DEVICE. Of the 9 members that qualified 7 were members of Division 16. I would like to thank everyone that did all the hard work, and extend to them hearty congratulations for a job well done.

MEMBER TRAINING There is a very good power point presentation for the 2008 program visitor’s workshop. This is a very good workshop for all Auxiliary members, not just program visitors. This is not a mandatory workshop, but I hope that all the flotillas will present it to their members. I have a copy here for each Flotilla Commander to take home for their member training officer, or FSO-PV.

NEW MATERIALS There is new VESSEL SAFETY CHECK AND AWW/MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS MATERIALS ORDER FORM. New posters laminated for outdoor use, focused to specific geographical and industrial sectors, are now available from The National Distribution Center. ASNC 3026c1. Have your FSDO-MA order them for you.

FLOTILLA NEWS Flotilla 16-03 reported that they have started their 2008 season catering to the snowmobilers. We have been distributing information on ICE SAFETY – HYPOTHERMIA and, SNOWMOBLE REGULATIONS.

Flotilla 16-03 was in the Roscommon Christmas in the Village Parade with a float. 8 members braved single digit temperatures to be in the Tip UP Town Parade with PFD Panda. They had members attend the Blue Night Memorial Candle Ceremony. One of their members (David Hansen) was a featured speaker at this event.

There was a nice article on their change of Watch in the Local newspapers. Representatives of this flotilla will be speaking at the Houghton Lake Merchants association in May and will be giving a presentation at the Houghton Lake Kiwanis Club on May 7. They will also have a booth at the AuSable River Festival on July 19.

They made a cardboard sled that looked like a Coast Guard Boat in the Cardboard Sled Race in Roscommon It took first prize for speed and second prize for Design. They were also featured in local newspapers for this accomplishment.

Flotilla 16-04 reports that things are quiet now but boat shows and education classes will start up late February and March.

Before you send any articles to be published in your local newspaper, find our how they would like the article sent (hard copy, e-mail, fax etc). You should also try to make contact with a key person at the publication before sending an article to them. If you have made a contact at the newspaper or other media you are more likely to get the articles published


Division 16- http://a09116.uscgaux.info/index.htm Flotilla16-01- *http://a0911601.uscgaux.info* Flotilla 16-03 - *http://a0911603.uscgaux.inf* Flotilla 16-04 - *http://a0911604.uscgaux.info* Flotilla 16-06 - *http://a0911606.uscgaux.info* Flotilla 16-07 - *http://a0911607.uscgaux.inf* Flotilla 16-08 - *http://a0911608.uscgaux.info* Flotilla 16-09 - *http://a0911609.uscgaux.info*

	16-01
	Dora Jasinski- Sustained Service Award- 5^th William Fink-SAR Specialist
	16-03
	William Kumpula-Vessel exam David Hansen- Air Observer Exam Frank Homola-Operations Policy Tammy Mitchell-10 year Service Award Richard Mitchell-10 year Service Award Debra McReynolds-Vessel Examiner Debra McReynolds-Instructor Debra McReynolds-Program Visitor Exam Debra McReynolds-Operations Policy
	16-04
	David Goodburne-35 year Service Award Lynne Velat-Program Visitor Jonathan Sober-Goodmate Program
	16-06
	Howard Cox-APC Tammy Castle-Instructor Exam
	16-08
	LaVonne Bauer-APC

*2008 BRIDGE*