FLOTILLA 04 76 LIFELINE NEWSLETTER October 2015 Volume #10 Greetings Shipmates and welcome Fall! Crisp weather offers many indoor activities to commence and our education programs are fully underway. Our 13 week Boating Skills & Seamanship (power) started September 14 th, Sailing Skills & Seamanship (sail) 16 weeks began on September 17 th & About Boating Safety runs from September 12 th to November 14 th, 2015. All to get folks ready for the 2016 Boating season. Contact Ralph Onesti, FSO PE for details. The classes are a great way to provide education & training to any and all new prospective Auxiliarists that maybe interested in joining our ranks! As always, your support keeps 04 76 on the Move! Thanks Semper Paratus Citizen service is the very American idea that we meet our challenges not as isolated individuals but as members of a true community, with all of us working together. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service former President Bill Clinton Charles J Miller, II FSO PB AFSO PA Editor Charles A. Stiteler AFSO PB
L2 Auxiliary Leadership Link The digest of US Coast Guard Auxiliary activity 01 October Edition To: All Auxiliarists cc: NEXCOM MONITORING AUXILIARY MANDATED TRAINING Monthly Reports Now On Line All members are required to complete ten training topics by the end of 2016, or within one year of enrollment, depending on base enrollment date. These are the mandated training sessions discussed in ALAUX 010/15 from the Chief Director this past June (http://wow.uscgaux.info/uploads_wowii/095-45/chdiraux 03_June_2015.pdf). Further details are available at: http://tdept.cgaux.org/mt/revised_website_mandated_training_reh_ 10April2015.pdf Tracking of completion of these courses has been difficult for some members, and the Performance Measurement Directorate is pleased to announce a new method for monitoring the progress of Auxiliary Mandated Training in each district. A monthly report, in Excel format, is now available at the website of the Performance Management Directorate, http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=m-dept. These reports can
be reached with the "Mandated Training" menu pick. Upon entry of login credentials, they are accessible by all members. In each district s workbook there are two sheets: one lists personnel in the district alphabetically; the other lists members by flotilla. Note that these reports will not list members who have not had any recorded Coast Guard training of any type since enrollment. These reports will be prepared subsequently on a monthly basis, with the next ones posted on or about 01 November 2015. As this is a monthly report, please be aware that recently-completed courses may not appear. This report is an interim solution, pending the adoption of Mandated Training as an Auxiliary skill code in AUXDATA, which is being worked on now. Questions and comments may be addressed to the Director, Performance Measurement, through your chain of leadership. What is CURRENTS? CURRENTS is a live document published regularly electronically with links to valuable information for every member, including links to current documents. For ongoing comments and updates to the Auxiliary Manual and many other issues, see CURRENTS. Go to it by clicking: http://currents.cgaux.org/.
Save save save!!!!!!! They ask you to save the whales, or save the otters, or save the trees all we re asking is to save the date. So save all of those things then come tell us about it on January 30 th 2016!!! What date the 4 76 Change of Watch date! January 30, 2016. Save it in your calendar now it will be here before you can say, Save the beaches! Remember last year s, great yes?! NOTHING! wait till you see this year s! The Change of Watch will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia. We managed to keep the ticket price low low low and we have free parking. We are now in the process of selecting that all important keynote speaker remember last year great yes?!...nothing again! This will be a blast and will save some time for us to celebrate what it is we do. Ticket (boarding pass) sales will go on as soon as the keynote speaker is saved there s that word again. Thanks, and save some time to be with us to have some fun! Tim Nelson COW Coordinator
WELCOME ABOARD OUR NEWEST MEMBERS TO 04 76! Welcome Eric Steiner. Welcome to Joe Argentiero & Joe Huber.
THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO WHO ARE WE? WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY! SEMPER PARATUS ALWAYS READY Courtesy: USCGAUX & YouTube Born Ready
NEW U.S. COAST GUARD SAFE BOATING APPLICATION FOR SMART PHONES & TABLETS AVAILABLE ON 16MAY15 AS THE NATION'S RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY COORDINATOR, THE COAST GUARD WORKS TO MINIMIZE LOSS OF LIFE, PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARM. THE COAST GUARD BOATING SAFETY PROGRAM INVOLVES PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, REGULATION OF BOAT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, APPROVAL OF BOATING SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND VESSEL SAFETY CHECKS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. THE NEW COAST GUARD MOBILE APP SUPPORTS THESE MISSIONS BY PROVIDING THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND INFORMATION MOST COMMONLY REQUESTED BY BOATERS. THE BOATING SAFETY MOBILE APP WAS NOT DESIGNED TO REPLACE A BOATER'S MARINE VHF RADIO, WHICH THE COAST GUARD STRONGLY RECOMMENDS ALL BOATERS HAVE ABOARD THEIR VESSELS. THE APP WAS MAINLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BOATING SAFETY RESOURCES FOR MOBILE DEVICE USERS. INFORMATION ON THE COAST GUARD SAFE BOATING APP IS AVAILABLE AT http://www.uscg.mil/mobile THE APP IS AVAILABLE ON THE APPLE AND GOOGLE PLAY ONLINE STORES.
Boating Accidents and Fatalities Increase The US Coast Guard Report of Boating Accidents in 2014 is out, and the numbers are not good. This is the first time in many years that the number of accidents and fatalities have gone up. Below is a summary of that report In 2014, the Coast Guard counted 4,064 accidents that involved 610 deaths, 2,678 injuries and approximately $39 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. The fatality rate was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. This rate represents a 10.6% increase from last year s fatality rate of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Compared to 2013, the number of accidents increased 0.05%, the number of deaths increased 8.9%, and the number of injuries increased 2.2%. Where cause of death was known, 78% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims, 84% were not wearing a life jacket. Where instruction was known, 77% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction. Only 12% percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received a nationally-approved boating safety education certificate. Eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 21% of deaths. Twelve children under age thirteen lost their lives while boating in 2014. Seven children or approximately 58% died from drowning. Four children or 57% of those who drowned were wearing a life jacket; two were not (though required to by state law). Where data was known, the most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (17%), and cabin motorboats (15%). Where data was known, the vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (47%), canoes (13%), and kayaks (10%). The 11,804,002 recreational vessels registered by the states in 2014 represent a 1.7% decrease from last year when 12,013,496 recreational vessels were registered. Submitted by: Glenn M.Oldak - FC
UPCOMING FLOTILLA ELECTIONS: As you know, Flotilla Officer Elections are coming up Tuesday, November 24th for Flotilla Commander and Vice Flotilla Commander. If you have not participated in meetings recently, we strongly encourage you to begin by placing your vote. In order ensure our Flotilla continues to progress forward, you need to show that you care. We need your support of our many missions and programs and you play a vital role in this effort. Remember, when we all contribute, we all win! Together, we can achieve the impossible. Charles J Miller, II FSO PB AFSO PA Editor