State of Delaware Proclaims National Safe Boating Week

 Rehoboth Beach, Delaware  --  To promote safe boating throughout the state, Delaware Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long recently signed a Proclamation in recognition of National Safe Boating Week.

The Proclamation recognizes National Safe Boating Week in Delaware and urges all Delawareans and visitors to practice safe boating habits by always wearing life jackets while on our waterways.

Rob Steiner from West Marine presented the Proclamation to representatives from Flotilla 12-09.

According to Mr. Steiner, "West Marine is an advocate of National Safe Boating Week across our nation and we strongly encourage boaters, kayakers, and everyone who takes to our local waters to be safe.  Our partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is one of many ways West Marine shows its support of our boating community by encouraging our customers to enjoy their time on the water, always wear life jackets, and to safely return home."

Greg Barth and Dave Kressler, representing USCG Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-09 received the Proclamation from Mr. Steiner.  Mr. Barth noted, "On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, I would like to thank Governor Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long, and West Marine for their willingness to recognize National Safe Boating Week.  More boaters are on the water than ever before and Flotilla 12-09 is actively engaged in boating safety by offering voluntary vessel safety checks, conducting safe boating classes, and doing what we can to ensure everyone who ventures out on the water will return home...safe and sound."

Governor Carney's Proclamation is presented by representatives of West Marine to members of Flotilla 12-09.  Pictured (L-R):  Harry Berridge, Scott Yount, Rob Steiner, Greg Barth, and Dave Kressler.

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       City of Lewes, DE Proclaims National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week has been proclaimed in Lewes, Delaware.  The proclamation was made in the Lewes City Council room on Monday, April 8th, 2024 by Mayor Andrew Williams before the city council and four members of USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 12-09 based at the Indian River Inlet Coast Guard station. 

Mayor Williams, after reading the proclamation, stressed how important the USCG Auxiliary is to provide an all-volunteer service to the local communities and how important it is for the boating public to be educated on operating a boat safely, to boat sober, and to always wear a life vest when boating.

Flotilla Commander Mike Moran presented Mayor Williams with a USCG Auxiliary challenge coin, and thanked the Mayor and city council for their participation in National Safe Boating Week, 2024.

National Safe Boating Week is May, 18-25, 2024. It has been a national observance by the USCG Auxiliary since 1957.

Pictured above (l-r) are Vice Flotilla Commander George Heesh, Flotilla Commander Mike Moran, Mayor Williams, Immediate Past Flotilla Commander Mike Maguire, and Flotilla Staff Officer for Information Services Mike Golden.

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 Some of Flotilla 12-09's activities in support of National Safe Boating Week, 2024:

Community Relations table established at West Marine, Rehoboth Beach, DE on May 21.  The table was manned by Mike Golden and Greg Barth...

Mike Golden on patrol, 5-19-24.  Other participants on this patrol were Jim Stelene as coxswain and Mike Maguire as additional crew...

Sailing vessel A.J. Meerwald encountered on patrol, 5-19-24...

Greg Barth mans the table during a Community Relations visit to Short's Marine, Long Neck, DE on Sunday, May 19th.

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Vessel Safety Check season has started!

On May 18th, members of Flotilla 12-09 participated in a Vessel Safety Check event at Pot-Nets Bayside.  Many more events are scheduled throughout the summer in support of the boating public.  Please visit the Vessel Safety Check tab on the left to see when we'll be in your area, or to schedule a one-on-one Vessel Safety Check with one of our Vessel Examiners.

New member and VE (Vessel Examiner) trainee Dave Kressler (left) receives Vessel Safety Check instruction from veteran VE Mike Maguire.  Dave went on to perform, under the guidance of VE Ron Latini, the five safety checks needed to qualify as a VE!  Bravo Zulu, Dave!