THE PORTHOLEUnited States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 33-03 8WR Newsletter • Vol. XI • Number 10 • October 2006

Photo taken by Frank Reiss

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Flotilla 33-03 Officers

James F. Sitzman ......................................FCFrank T. Reiss, Jr. .................................. FVCJean Goble ............................................ IPFCDoug Eubanks..........................................CMDoug Eubanks...........................................CSCatherine M. Taylor .................................FNFrank T. Reiss, Jr. ...................................... ISKarl Rasmussen. ..................................... MARonald L. Longnecker .............................MSJean Goble ...............................................MTPauline Longnecker ..................................OPJames F. Sitzman ......................................PAJill C. Reiss ...............................................PBJean Goble ................................................ PEPauline G. Longnecker ............................. PSFrank T. Reiss, Jr. .....................................PVTom Egelston............................................SRJim Sanford.............................................. VEArlene Sanford............ Social Correspondent

Table of Contents

Dates To Remember...................................................2Honor Flotilla Streamer Progress...............................2From The Flotilla Commander...................................3From The Vice Flotilla Commander ..........................3Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation.........4What Does the Manual Say? ......................................4Christmas Party ..........................................................4Member Training .......................................................5Public Affairs .............................................................5Election Dinner ..........................................................5Program Visitor..........................................................6Information Systems ..................................................6Fall Conference ..........................................................6Fall Conference ..........................................................7Fall Conference ..........................................................8

Send articles for the Porthole to:Jill C. Reiss at 8111 Vernon Avenue

Omaha, NE 68134Fax: 571-5422

Email: jreiss@comcorent.comDeadline

Midnight 4th Tuesday of the Month

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE—PRIVACY ACT OF 1974:The disclosure of the personal information contained in this publication is subject to the provisions contained in the Privacy Act of 1974. The subject Act, with certain exceptions, prohibits the disclosure, distribution, dissemi-nation or copying of any material containing the home address, home tele-phone number, spouses’ names and social security numbers, except for official business. Violations may result in disciplinary action by the Coast Guard and/or civilian criminal sanctions.

Published 1st Tuesday of the month by and for members of Flotilla 33-03

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 8th Western Rivers Region. Opinions

expressed herein are not necessarily those of the U.S. Coast Guard or U.S.

Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Jill C. Reiss—Editor

Dates To Remember

October 7, Election Dinner, Johnny’sOctober 17, Flotilla meetingOctober 14, 28, First Aid/CPRDecember 2, Christmas Party

Commodore’s Honor Flotilla Streamer Progress

Meetings With Minutes Reported.............................7/12FC/FVC Division Meeting Attendance ......................1/6Annual Officer Report by 12/15 .................................0/110 VSCs Per Member .........................................134/250

Drawl, Ronald J ...............................................30Goble, Jean ........................................................5Goble, Richard S................................................5Longnecker, Pauline G. .....................................5Longnecker, Ronald L. ......................................0Reiss, Frank T....................................................8Sanford, Jim ....................................................67Sitzman, James F. ............................................14Taylor, Catherine M. .........................................0Taylor, Craig A..................................................0

10 Hours Operations Per Member ......................589/250BS&S or S&S Courses Taught...................................0/1Member Training Hours .........................................27/20

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From the Flotilla Commander

From the Flotilla Vice Commander

This flotilla has been very busy this summer. Our VE officer reports 129 inspections given plus 6 facility in-spections. Our PV officer reports 57 visitations at 21 different locations. All but two members have completed their necessary ICS requirements. The last scheduled NSB class was September 25 and 27. There is a BS&S class scheduled to start in October. Our MT officer has had two presentations this summer, the last one was on the History of the Coast Guard; it was a very good program. The PS officer has signed up three new members and has several more (five) that show interest in joining.

The Election Dinner is scheduled for October 7 at Johnny’s Café. At this time I have 19 members that have sent their reservations in. The deadline was September 30 for reservations.

We had five members that attended the Fall Conference. Last, but not least, the October meeting is flotilla elections. We will be electing our new leaders for the coming year.

James Sitzman, FC

Fall Conference District Election results are in and congratulations are due to our own Ron Longnecker as he has been elected RCO-W (Rear Commodore West). Full election results can be found on the district web site. Besides elections, Fall Conference played host to the District Board meeting where lots of information was passed along from both the Gold and the Silver side. There was, of course, plenty of training sessions, and lots of fellowship. If you missed the Fall Conference perhaps a trip to the Rockies in the spring is more your speed. Spring Conference 2006 will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Doubletree Hotel of-fers spectacular views of the Rockies, and Friday Fun Night at the Flying W will prove a good time for all.

Division elections will be held October 7th at the Division Election Dinner. If you plan to attend I hope that you have already made your reservations with the FC. Flotilla elections will be held at our regular October meeting, which will be Tuesday, October 17, 19:30 at VFW #2503. Hope to see you all there. Besides the elections, I expect that those who attended Fall Conference will have much to share. I know I will.

With the passing of Fall Conference it can only mean that the water will soon be dropping and the end to an-other boating season will arrive. That leaves one maybe two weeks of patrols and VSCs. Although we are well short of our VSC goal, I am very pleased that we have exceeded last year’s count. Sometimes it is not the goal that is important, but how you get there. Public Education and Public Affairs events will continue through the winter months; what better time to spread the word of VSCs. Fill your Rolodex with contacts for the spring VSCs.

As always I want to thank each and every one of you for all that you do for the Auxiliary and the boating public.

Frank Reiss, FVC

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Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation

Only those Auxiliarists who were members during the entire period from Mar 1989 to Oct 1989 are authorized to wear the CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation. The award consists of a ribbon only; there is no miniature medal.

WHAT DOES THE MANUAL SAY?

FSO-PSPersonnel

A Flotilla Staff Officer of Personnel will exercise staff responsibility and supervision over all matters pertain-ing to the Flotilla's member resources program and keep the Flotilla informed of all developments in this AOR. This officer will maintain close liaison with the Division Staff Officer of Personnel (SO-PS) in order to imple-ment the members resources program uniformly throughout the Division, District, and Nationally. He or she will develop, plan and implement programs and activities to promote the growth of the Auxiliary by obtaining new members and providing new members with information. The FSO-PS should consider developing bio-graphical files of all members in the Flotilla and maintain any appropriate records, training, merits, offices held, etc. on each member. Likewise, the officer will develop and implement programs and activities designed to retain members who may be drifting into inactivity by failing to attend meetings, who fall below their certi-fication quotas in OP, VE or PE, or are not participating in other Flotilla activities and programs. This officer will attempt to meet with each member and brief the FC on the outcome prior to any disenrollment action of any member. In cooperation with the FSO-PE, FSO-VE and the FSO-PA, he or she will make an effort to pro-mote membership in the Auxiliary by public speaking, providing handouts and literature, and following up on all leads of prospective members. Working in cooperation and conjunction with the FSO-MT, the officer will encourage and guide the new member through the new member process, assist them ordering uniforms, materi-als, etc. and prepare them for any training in areas of interest to the new Auxiliarist. The FSO-PS will take an active role in the planning and execution of seminars, workshops, forums, and panel discussions. The officer should maintain contact with retired Auxiliary members and be certain the receive newsletters and are invited to functions and fellowship activities, will report monthly to the VFC and will provide a report at Flotilla meet-ings on all AORs. The goal of adding one new prospective member each month is recommended and name and addresses of these individuals should be provided to the FSO-SR to keep the prospects up-to-date.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

December 2, 2006Austin’s Steakhouse

12020 Anne St 6:30 Social

7 p.m. DinnerDetails to be provided later

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FSO-MTMember Training

“Heartsaver CPR, First Aid and AED” classOctober 14, 2006 or

October 28, 20069 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eppley Fire Station5111 Boeing Court

http://www.eppleyfire.com/2004overhead.html

The entire class will be taught in one day. There are two dates to choose from. Textbooks will be loaned to the students and the only cost to our members will be $1.00 per student for their card. If a member wants to pur-chase their own book, it will cost $13.95. The maximum class size is 18 students. These classes will be taught by Eppley Fire Department instructors. Family members are welcome to attend. Please contact Jean Goble at 397-2916 or e-mail njgoble@tconl.com to register for the class of your choice. I need to let Eppley Fire De-partment know the number of students for each class at least one week in advance of the class.

Jean Goble, FSO-MT

DIVISION 8WR-332006 ELECTION DINNER

October 7, 2006Johnny's Café4702 S 27 St.

Omaha, Nebraska 6-7 p.m. Cash Bar

7 p.m. Dinner

Uniform of the Day: Tropical Blue Long or appropriate civilian attire

FSO-PAPublic Affairs

Flotilla 03 reports no activity last month, but I have two dates coming up: Mutual of Omaha on October 18 and 19. Some of the members from Mutual have stepped forward and have offered to manage the booth for me. Last year Larry Wieczorek also helped out and his offer was accepted again this year. The Boy Scouts program at Boys Town is scheduled for November 4. I will try to use the half boat this year, if I can get it into the building. That is a Saturday and if anyone is free and willing tohelp out, I would be very appreciative.

James Sitzman, FSO-PA

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FSO-PVProgram Visitor

Our Program Visitors have conducted 61 visits to 21 locations to date. I would like to thank each of the Program Visitors for a job well done and ask that you remember to inquire if you can hang a VSC poster at each location. Remember each Program Partner enables us to put recreational boating safety literature into the boating public’s hands. It also increases our exposure to boat owners; potentially increasing the number of classroom attendees for boating classes and VSC participants. Remember, education is the best way to prevent boating injury or fatalities, and whether it is in the classroom or one-on-one education during a VSC, it makes all the difference.

Frank Reiss, FSO-PV

FSO-IS

Information Systems

As the operational year comes to a close please remember that the job isn’t done until the paperwork is com-plete. Don’t let all the hard work and good things you do go unrewarded because of a piece of paper.

Coxswains, it is your job to complete the 7030 mission form for all persons on your vessel during a patrol, don’t let a crew member down by not doing the paperwork. Remember to use 70B as the mission code, in-clude any travel/prep time on your 7029, and be sure to indicate any change in mission and time. I have re-ceived a number of forms with SAR indicated, but no 24 or 25 mission codes. Incomplete or incorrect paper-work results in input delays.

If you have any questions on completion of forms, routing of forms, or general questions about your training record, etc, please feel free to contact me. Email is the best, but for those who do not have email you can phone me at home, 573-6915.

Frank Reiss, FSO-IS

Justin Reiss with Coastie CJ

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