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Staff OfficersIPFC Bob Hills

FSO-CM Brian Fitzpatrick

FSO-CS George Berger (Temp)

FSO-FN Denny Kahler

FSO-HR Jeff Bronsing & Bob Hills

FSO-IS Betty Bullock

FSO-MA Dave Gross

FSO-MS Doug Moore

FSO-MT Bob Hoffman

FSO-NS Dewey Jackson

FSO-OP Conrad Sankpill

FSO-PA Janet Wood

FSO-PB George Berger

FSO-PE Patricia Fincannon

FSO-PV Jim Marcotte

FSO-SR Janet Wood

FSO-VE Joe Penar &

Denise Hudson

Commander’s CornerThe past three months have been very active for our flotilla. In April, Joe Penar, our alternate FSO-VE encouraged all new members to become VE’s. By the next meeting he had four new Vessel Examiners and more to follow. Joe has now gone north for the summer but Jim Marcotte will fill his position while he is away. Joe and his wife, Bobbie hosted a social at the Kawama

Vice Commander’s CornerWow !!! where does time go ?????? it's already time for our third qtr newsletter and seems like we just started the year .... Many thanks to everyone for pitching in and helping ... Great QE sessions thanks to Bob Hoffman, Dewey, Jeff Peters and Conrad ..... Great Operations thanks to Conrad and folks.(including the Gallaghers from 13-02 for helping out on our Memorial Day Weekend Patrols ........ Great PE/PV thanks to snowbird Joe Penar and

Continued on page 8 Continued on page 9

District 7 Division 13 Flotilla 08 Upper Keys Official Publication Jul 5, 2011 Quarter III

FC Claude Bullock http://a0701308.uscgaux.info/ VFC Denny Kahler cbullockaux@aol.com 888-470-5566 dennisjkahler@aol.com

Upper Keys Breeze

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Recent EventsDivision 13 QE SessionWritten by George Berger FSO-PB

After many weeks of planning, preparation and training, the long awaited on-the-water QE certification and re-certification session was finally conducted on 23 April 2011 in Blackwater Sound. An earlier scheduled, 9 April session, was cancelled because of a pending Government shutdown due to budgetary problems that prevented QE’s from getting orders to perform the qualification

exams. However, the dock work for qualification was done on the 9th. Everyone passed the dock work. Extensive training missions were scheduled and supervised by our very active member training officer, Bob Hoffman. Several 13-08 member facilities and coxswains participated in the training exercises several times a week to prepare everyone for the tests. Key West Flotilla 13-01 and Islamorada Flotilla 13-08 participated. Five Coxswains and six Crew where certified and re-certified. They are:

Coxswains Crew

H George Berger 13-08 (Re-qual) James Abraham 13-08 (Re-qual)

Melvianne Cady 13-01 (Initial Qual) Edward Brockman 13-01 (Initial Qual)

Phillip Goodman 13-01 (Initial Qual) Claude Bullock 13-08 (Re-qual)

Conrad Sankpill 13-08 (Re-qual) Betty Bullock 13-08 (Re-qual)

Donald Weston 13-01 (Initial Qual) Dorothy Galligan 13-01 (Initial Qual)

Edward Miller 13-08 (Initial Qual)

Three vessels participated in the QE session. They were:

1. Bob Hoffman’s Vessel Chase-N-Fish2. Dewey Jackson’s Vessel No Name3. Conrad Sankpill’s Vessel Master Plan

Dennis Kahler and Bob Hoffman served as supplemental crew. The Qualification Examiners were Felix Garcia from Miami and newly certified Qualification Examiner Dewey Jackson from Key Largo.

Chase-N-Fish Crew: Claude, George, Betty and Bob

Crew prepares for stern tow; Felix signs off certification papers with Jim, Dewey and Conrad standing by.

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The qualification exercises included:

1. Pre-underway Check and Brief2. Stern Towing3. Side Towing4. Search Patterns5. MOB Drill6. Anchoring7. Mooring the vessel

All the exercises with the three vessels and 11 candidates were done within five hours. I believe that is a record. Thank You Bob Hoffman for you diligent training efforts. After the exercises we all enjoyed a cookout at Dennis’s Home that was organized by Jeff and Sharon Peters. Bravo Zulu to All!

Organizational Changes in the USCG Auxiliary’s International Affairs Directorate

John Cooper has been appointed as the new Director of the International Affairs Directorate of the USCG Auxiliary. Mr. Cooper will report to Commodore Ev Tucker, ANACO of International Affairs and succeeds John VanOsdol who has retired after five years as Director.

John has a long history of involvement in International Affairs. Prior to retirement, he was an International Banker with twenty years of living and working overseas. He has been involved in the Auxiliary’s Interpreter Corps as a Spanish interpreter and a Language Qualification Examiner for almost ten years. For the past five years he has been the Division Chief-Caribbean as well as serving as the Deputy Director of International Affairs under VanOsdol. Cooper resides in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.

With the expanding direction from the USCG to assist in the establishment of volunteer organizations in other nations as ‘force multipliers,’ the Auxiliary is well-positioned in both the Caribbean Basin and the Asia/Pacific Theater to assist the USCG in this mission.

Simultaneously, the following appointments have been confirmed, which modify previously-held positions in order to align them with the structure and priorities of the USCG:

• Chris Jasparro, DIR-IAd – Deputy Director and a professor at the US Naval War College, residing in Bristol, RI;• Félix López, DVC-IA-SEA – Division Chief for South East Asia, residing in Cerritos, CA;• J. Brian McArdle, DVC-IA-C – Division Chief for the Caribbean Basin and Rim, residing in Kilmarnock, VA;• Matt Smith, DVC-IA-NEA – Division Chief for North East Asia, residing in Seoul, Korea;• Al Verdi, DVC-IA-O – Division Chief for Oceania and Principal Point of Contact for PACAREA, PACOM and

D11, residing in Los Angeles, CA.

Crew handles lines for side tow, left picture; Felix (in center, right picture) critiques crew performance

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The following Branch Chiefs for the Caribbean Division have recently joined the Directorate, as well:

• Arthur Von Pieschel, BC-IA-CR – Branch Chief for Caribbean Rim Nations, residing in Montgomery Village, MD.• Wagner Nolasco, BC-IA-CI – Branch Chief for Caribbean Island Nations, residing inOrlando, FL;

Our International Affairs team is ready to assist in all USCG Auxiliary activities in the international arena, and is the only Auxiliary organization authorized to work with countries outside the US and their official and volunteer SAR organizations.

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Staff ReportsStaff Reports, articles of accomplishments and future plans from our Flotilla Staff Officers follow:

Operations - Conrad Sankpill

Flotilla 070 13 08 has a long and proud tradition of being a partner with Station Islamorada and Air Station Miami on the water. Your OP staff and leadership are very grateful for the support the flotilla provides. The demands for qualified Boat Crews and Coxswains continue to increase and recently I have had to turn down requests from the Air Station and Station Islamorada for assistance because we did not have facilities or crews available. From October to May this doesn't happen, as a matter of fact, we ask for additional assignments to keep our enthusiastic Coxswains productive. In the Summer months many of our operations staff are away from the Keys and it falls to a few to hold up our commitments. To this end I am appealing to those members who are year round residents to consider becoming active in Operations. We recently qualified two Boat Crew for our flotilla and assisted in the

training of four other Crew personnel and three Coxswains from other flotillas. We have the expertise and experience in training and great support from MT staff and Division leadership to get you ready to perform at a high level of competence in an Operations role. We welcome of course all of you members who are not here in in the balmy summer months to come train with us as well. We will begin another round of Boat Crew and Coxswain training soon. Watch your e-mails for announcements of training sessions in July and August and a big push for a Qualification Exam after Labor Day.

Public Education - Patricia Fincannon

The USCG Auxiliary Boaters Safety and Seamanship session was held at Coconuts Restaurant, Key Largo, Florida on May 7th and 8th. There was a great mix of attendees. Thanks you for all that attended and contributed to a successful session. The lowest exam grade was 92%. Bravo!! Please take time to visit our venue contributors, Coconuts Restaurant and lounge donated the room and liquid refreshments daily. The staff was on time and very attentive to our needs.

Our next session was to be on June 11, 2011 a GPS and Navigation session at St. James the Fisherman Church. Do to lack of response we had to cancel. I have tentatively set up a GPS and NAV session for Saturday, July 16th at the St. James the Fisherman Church. This will follow the next weekender BS&S session at Founders Park July 9th, and 10th.

Please get the word out for all our PE sessions. We need the information posted in all marinas, marine retail stores and local food stores. Of course you can also put the flyer up in you local condo bulletin board or news letter.

Qualification Examiner Felix Garcia briefs Coxswain Conrad Sankpill

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Publications - George BergerThis is our third quarterly newsletter for calendar year 2011 and my second year as FSO-PB. The Flotilla Newsletter is a very important communication tool for our flotilla. Our website is another excellent communication tool for our flotilla. Visit http://a0701308.uscgaux.info/ and get familiar with the site. It has a lot of good information. The Newsletter highlights coming events, important issues, and includes feature articles from time to time. Commander’s and Vice Commander’s corners are included for messages from our elected officers. All members and staff are encouraged to submit articles for publishing. Both Community and Auxiliary events should be considered when writing your articles. Your input is critical to help me publish a good useful newsletter. Thanx for your help.

Information Systems - Betty Bullock

My job is as good as the reports you give me. If all i’s are dotted and t’s crossed my job is simple. The 7029 form is for all the time that is not reported on another form such as 7030. The travel and preparation for a boat mission is on the 7029 and the mission itself is on a 7030. If you report fuel cost for travel you cannot list mileage. It is an either/or thing.

One other note. I visited Cathie Welty in Cincinnati and am happy to report she is doing well. She said that she misses all her friends in Key Largo.

Back row left to right USCG Instructor James Marcotte, Lewis Perry, Donna Perry, Tom Raffanello, Cresencio delPino III, Cresencia delPino, CresencioII, FC Claude Bullock, Front row: FSO-PE Patricia Fincannon, Stephen Normington, Auxiliarist Bernard Ginsberg, Harry Normington, and Shannon Normington.

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RBS Program Visitor - Jim Marcotte

Ready for the big day? We have a booth at West Marine in Key Largo that will be manned all day tomorrow and a VE station at the Caribbean Club where we hope to inspect many boats. Yeee-Haw. Go Aux Dudes.

The booth at West Marine was manned by:

• Patricia Fincannon• Nancy Joe• Sue Heim• Patti Gross• Claude Bullock• Betty Bullock

The booth was manned from 0900 to 1500. One person signed up for a vessel exam.

The booth at the Caribbean Club was manned by:

• Jim Marcotte• Marlene DeTienne• Dave Gross• Gene Johnson• Patti Gross• Claude Bullock• Betty Bullock• Pat Fincannon

The booth was attended from 0800-1545. Jim inspected two boats. David inspected three boats. Claude inspected two kayaks. Marlene got her five boats under supervision

Postpartum

Thank you to everyone who gave up a big chunk of their holiday weekend. Overall the efforts were a success.David was very effective due to his aggressive use of his panache and aplomb. (feel free to use this Patty)The manager at West Marine was very accommodating as was the owner of the Caribbean Club. We have an open invitation to set-up at the Caribbean Club anytime.

Points for improvement

Next time we need the tent set up. Also, next time I will bring cold fluids (a mass quantity of same).The morning at the launch point was not effective as boaters are rushed to launch and are not amenable to an inspection. When they return and are waiting at the dock they are much more approachable.

Future possibilities

I would like to see us do this throughout the Summer and also set up at Founders Park and some other launch sites. Possible point for discussion at next meeting.

Pat and Nancy at West Marine

Jim and Marlene at Caribbean Club

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Club just before he left. Live entertainment was provided and everyone had a good time.

Also this spring Bob Hoffman and Conrad Sankpill and Dewey Jackson did an outstanding job of getting members from the entire division trained and ready for a QE Session. All who attended the QE session passed with flying colors.

On May 14t,h we participated in the Dolphin Rodeo Fishing Tournament hosted by USCG Base Islamorada. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship with the regular Coasties and Auxiliarists at the awards banquet. BM2 Frank Alvarango was introduced as the new AuxLo for our flotilla replacing BM2 George Spriggs who is moving to Staten Island, NY.

At our May Membership meeting we presented BM2 George Spriggs with a decorative paddle for his dedicated service to our flotilla. The paddle was created by Bob Hills and was presented to George by Bob Hoffman.

We kicked off safe boating week with a booth at Outdoor World, handing out literature for safe boating, offering vessel exams, and promoting our boating safety course. We also gave away life jackets that were donated by Sea Tow.

Plans are underway to provide vessel exams at the Caribbean Club on the Fourth of July weekend. Also, we will have a booth at West Marine offering information on boating safety, vessel exams, and boating safety courses.

At our June membership meeting, DEA Special Agent Joe Kilmer was our guest speaker. He gave some of the history of drugs on the Keys and said that the flow of illegal drugs is lessened by our assistance as extra eyes for the authorities. At the same meeting, Dewey Jackson was presented the Meritorious Service Award by the Station Commander, Mr. Acklin. This was given because of service provided by Dewey, Conrad Sankpill, Jeff Peters, and Bob Hoffman for Offshore races in Key West. Others receiving special awards were Jim Dennen who received the Meritorious Service Award for the years of 2008-2010 for the district publications. Jim Marcotte was presented a Superior Performance Award and his wife, Marlene DeTienne was given the Flotilla Meritorious Award for their service in their previous flotilla in Pensacola.

I plan to be out of town for August and September. During my absence Dennis Kahler will be in charge. Please continue to copy me with your e-mails so I can be up to date on activities.

Wish you a happy summer,

Semper Paratus

Claude Bullock, FC

David supervising Marlene as she does her 5th boat

Launch ramp dual launches and retrievals were common throughout the day

Marlene inspecting a boat under David's supervision

Commander’s Corner - Continued from Page 1

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Jim Marcotte .... thanks Jeff Peters for being a Great COOK ... you da man !!! .. hope Missouri is going (went?) well ....... Thanks for our newest retiree ..... Ms. Pat Fincannon for Great BS&S sessions ...... Hope the Cruise went well .......... Great Meeting Minutes thanks to Janet and Pat ...... A Great kickoff to National Safe Boating Week thanks to Jim Marcotte and our new Materials Officer Dave Gross. Congrats to Jim Marcotte and Marlene for the outstanding awards you received from your previous Flotilla 17, and thanks for jumping into Flotilla 13-08 with both feet running as fast as they'll go ...... Thanks Betty for keeping us on board with AuxData, and thanks Jeff B for getting our Awards awarded in a professional manner ........ Thanks to all our speakers ..... Chip Kasper, NWS, Me (thought u'd forget???), and DEA Special Agent Joe Kilmer for Great presentations, and Thanks Bernie Ginsberg for what you're going to share with us ..... Ahh, Suspense ???? anyone listening ???? . Congrats to Dewey for becoming a QE and all the work you do for the Auxiliary. Congratulations to John Cooper for his appointment a Director of International Affairs Directorate (Que Pasa ???) we know you'll keep us informed ..... Thanks Jim Dennen for always having a camera around and the recognition you've brought to the Auxilliary through your great Publications. Thanks George B for pulling this newsletter together and hounding us to get material to you. Thanks All, Hope the meetings have kept you informed and entertained ..... if not, please let me know... Fair winds to George, thanks for your support as our AuxLo, (remember us in October (no it won't take 'til January) and welcome aboard Frank, you've landed with both feet solid ... Thank you ..... and finally, thank you Mr. Acklin for giving us your full support. And as an aside as your Financial Officer ...... invoices will (hopefully) be sent out a little earlier this year to give folks a little more time to send in your 2012 dues .... and PLEASE let me know if there are issues you need to work around ..... we like you, we want to keep you, and we’ll work with you IF you simple let me know your intentions ........ as of June All Members are paid up and current ............. And above all, a very Special Thanks to all the Regular Coasties we augment and support ... THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ...... and please let us know what additional we need to do for you ...... Remember auxiliarists ..... it's not about us ...... it's about them !!!!!!!!!!!!!! DennyVFC-13-08

Vice Commander’s Corner - Continued from Page 1

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Calendar of EventsEvent Day Time Location

Blessing of Fleet Jan 1, 2012 900 Whale Harbor Bridge

Staff/Member Meeting Second Tues 1800-2100 U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada

Two Boat Training Every Thurs 1000-1600 U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada

Air Ops Weekly Variable To be announced - Call 888-470-5566

BS&S Weekender Jan 22 & 23 0800 - 1700 St James Episcopal Church, Islamorada

Caribee Open House Jan 25 & 26 0830 - 1700 Islamorada, Fl, MM87

BS&S Weekender Feb 12 & 13 0800 - 1700 Silver Shores Club House

Nautical Flea Market Feb 26 & 27 0830 - 1700 Space #199 at Founders Park, Islamorada

St Patrick Day Mar 17, 2011 All Day Pick Your Place to Celebrate

GPS&Nav for Mariners Mar 19, 2011 0830 - 1700 Harborage Club House

GPS&Nav for Mariners Apr 9, 2011 0830 - 1700 St James Episcopal Church, Islamorada

BS&S Weekender May 7 & 8 0830 - 1700 Coconut Restaurant, Key Largo

Dolphin Rodeo May 8, 2011 0800 - 1700 USCG Station Islamorada

Safe Boating Week May 22-28 All Week Various events including radio interviews

GPS&Nav for Mariners Jul 16, 2011 0830 - 1700 St James Episcopal Church, Islamorada

BS&S Weekender Jul 9 & 10 0830 - 1700 Founders Park, Islamorada

Lobster Mini Season Jul 28 & 29 Weekend Florida Keys

BS&S Weekender Aug 20 & 21 0800 - 1700 Zane Grey (WWS) Islamorada

BS&S Weekender Sept 24 & 25 0800 - 1700 Boy Scout Sea Base, Lower Matecombe

GPS&Nav for Mariners Oct 8, 2011 0830 - 1700 St James Episcopal Church, Islamorada

Division 13 COW Dec 2, 2011 1800-2100 Key Colony Inn, Marathon

Flotilla 13-08 COW Dec 9, 2011 1800-2100 Pilot House, Key Largo

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Rescue 21

Saving Lives in the 21st Century

The U.S. Coast Guard is modernizing its outdated national distress communications system. The new system, called Rescue 21, will be the nation’s primary maritime emergency system for the more than 78 million boaters and 13 million vessels that navigate coastal and intercoastal waters.

The system will greatly improve the Coast Guard’s ability to detect mayday calls from boaters, pinpoint the location of the source of the call, and coordinate rescue operations throughout the U.S. coastline and interior waterways.

What’s New?Rescue 21 is replacing a wide range of aging, obsolete VHF-FM radio communications equipment:

• Workstations/consoles at about 270 Coast Guard facilities • All remote transceiver sites, as well as the network connecting them to the

facilities above • Approximately 3,000 portable radios • Direction finding capability greatly improved to +/- 2 degrees • Communications coverage gaps in existing system greatly reduced

How It Works …

Feature Articles

Rescue 21 is “standing the watch,” providing coverage of 36,985 miles of U.S. coastline

See link http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/project.asp for more information

• A call for help is sent

• Direction finding (DF) equipment from one or more high sites computes the direction from which the signal originated, or line of bearing (LOB)

• Distress audio and the LOB are sent to the closest Ground Center(s)

• Appropriate resources are dispatched to respond immediately — even across regional boundaries

Compiled by George Berger FSO-PB

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Free Chartplotter And GPS Navigation Software

By Shirley and Jim Abraham | Last updated Jan 21, 2011, 8:48 pm

Recently a Coast Guard Auxiliary friend told me about a free chartplotter and GPS navigational software program for use as an underway or planning application.

This program is” OpenCPN” which was developed by active sailors from their sea experiences. Connecting your GPS you can track your course on the charts while underway. Some of the features of this application are:

• Quilted Raster(RNC) and Vector(ENC, cm93) digital chart display• Industry standard GPS receiver interfacing, with “moving map” on- screen vessel tracking.• AIS receiver interfacing with configurable target safety monitoring• Integrated Route, Track, and Waypoint database, with industry standard Import/Export capabilities• Tide and Current prediction, with on-screen overlay of predicted data.• Broad International Language support

The first step is to download and install the software from – “ http://opencpn.org/download“. This site provides all the information for downloading, using the application, user manuals, user forum, and adding additional application software.Next you need to download the maps from the NOAA website – “http://www.charts.noaa.gov/RNCs/RNCs.shtml“. Follow the installation instructions in Open CPN. If you have a GPS you can also connect it to get your current position when you are underway on your boat.

Since I recently downloaded this application, and am also learning its’ capabilities, I did a search to see if any user reviews were available to access its capabilities. I found this site- “http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencpn/“, which gave a rating of 95% out of 150 users.

This program has additional applications that you can add for the following capabilities:

• Celestial Navigation• Chart Work• Magnetic Declination• NMEA Instruments• Tides

Hope you find this program useful and best of all it is “FREE”.Happy Navigating and may you have “Fair Winds and Following Seas”!

Jim Abraham inspects lines for side tow during recent QE session

Addressee Name

1234 Main Street

Anytown, State 54321

USCG AuxiliaryUSCG Station Islamorada183 Palermo DrPO Box 1009, Islamorada FL 33036