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September - Jordan Lake Navigation Systems Patrol

On September 2nd, the annual Navigation Systems patrol was held on Jordan Lake on Tom Cox's (Fl. 9-12) boat.  In addition to Tom, as coxswain, the crew consisted of Boat Crew, Joe Lambeth (9-9); Aids Verifier (AV), Steve Gartrell (9-8); and AV trainee, Alberto Lorenzo (9-9).  

 Pre-Patrol Brief

They inspected Jordan's 15 mile markers (12 on the main lake and 3 up the Haw River) and verified their positions and condition. Most were on station and watching properly, but several had reportable, though relatively minor, discrepancies. At the request of NC Wildlife, which owns most of the buoys on the lake, they verified the positions of 4 No-Wake buoys near the Farrington Point bridge.   And finally, they inspected the clearance gauges on the two Main lake bridges, both of which continued to have reportable discrepancies (missing numbers).

 Moving In

The AVs will report the condition of the buoys to NC Wildlife.

 On to verify the next buoy

 

‘The Crossing’

by Saralyn G. Toussaint, USCG Auxiliarist, Flotilla 9-8

At 0430 my obnoxious alarm went off and I happily tore myself from my warm bed more enthusiastically than to be expected on a Saturday.  This day for me was different than any other I had before.  Instead of donning typical civilian clothes I proudly adjusted my Hot-weather ODU uniform and felt such honor to be wearing the letters "USCG".  After daily chores, a hearty breakfast and an extra cup of coffee, I headed out for an approximate 1.5 hour trip through quiet back country roads to my destination of Littleton NC, where I'd be meeting my fellow Auxiliary members that morning at a local marina. 
 

I arrived early and reviewed required knowledge needed to patrol aboard a CG AUX facility with one of my Operations mentors, Jeff Conley. This was going to be my first patrol with the Auxiliary and it was hard for me to contain my excitement!  Once all members of the safety team showed up (including a USCG unit and some Wildlife Officers) we gathered and received a briefing from event organizers and discussed some ‘Emergency Action Plan' details. 

The Mission was to provide essential safety presence and emergency response capabilities on the water while nearly 400 swimmers, ranging in age from 5 years to over 60, participated in a swimming event that consisted of about 200 yards through a popular boating channel of Lake Gaston.  I had the pleasure of joining Scott and Sherry Spillman aboard their vessel with Jeff Conley, thus learning from the years of experience and a wealth of knowledge they represented collectively.  Our vessels position was to remain at the back of the procession of swimmers and PWC operators ensuring everyone completed the event safely and without issues. 

 

Having a background in Life Guarding I was already on high alert as swimmers began entering the water at the beginning of the course.  I assisted in being a lookout for any persons needing assistance and for calling out potential navigational obstructions in the water to the Coxswain.   The entire time I was on the water I was soaking in every detail and bit of knowledge that I could.  I was able to practice my knots, tying the vessel off, situational awareness and using the correct terminology as boat-crew, among other tasks. 

                           

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 9 members at “The Crossing” 11 August 2018.  Photographer unknown.

After the last swimmer was safely back on land we were treated to a terrific lunch sponsored by the event organizers.  We finished by taking a group picture – all in our sweaty shirts and fatigued, sun-struck faces yet all smiling – united in the one common mission we had all worked together to complete.  
                               

November: AUX Surprise for Jane Forbes, DAR

by Sankey Blanton, Flotilla 09-08 FSO-PA

 

Everybody likes well-deserved appreciation and recognition. In April 2017 the Piedmont Auxiliary University Program was notified that a Silver Medal was ready to be presented to Ms. Jamie Marie Ramos at the next meeting. My first questions were WHAT and WHO. To my surprise it was a medal awarded to the Outstanding Cadet of each Unit by the Daughters of the American Revolution ( https://www.dar.org/ ), who would be represented by Ms. Jean Lusted and Ms. Jane Forbes. I was requested to put on a uniform and show up with a camera – since I am FSO-PA.

 

Taking photos and making a short news item seemed to be the end of the matter, until the Division Training event in May which was, also to my surprise, attended by the District Commodore and Sector Captain. Sometime during the day, the conversation turned to the DAR and Silver Medal. The Commodore mused that it would be nice to give Jane Forbes, who had previously been on 5SR District staff, some tangible appreciation – maybe a certificate or something.

 

Reading the Citation at Davie Poplar DAR Meeting 18 OCT; photograph by Ms. Bren Eskridge.

 

Show time 1050 on 18OCT: I arrived to pick Jamie up at UNC, only to find her frantically searching her dorm room for the medal she had seen only days before. That’s why I arrived 10 minutes early for the 3 mile drive down the hill to the country club. Medal found, plenty of time, arrive CHCC, walk down stars to outside entrance of Rosemary Room, sneak in back door behind members, called up almost immediately for the presentation – timing is everything.

 

While Jamie displayed the framed certificate, I read the citation: United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Certificate of Appreciation [presented to Ms.] Jane Forbes for outstanding cooperation and assistance in furthering the purposes and principles of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Auxiliary University Program [dated:] 01 October 2017 [signed:] David R. Adams District Commodore Fifth District, Southern Region.

 

 

Ms. ‘Larry’ Hines, AUP Jamie Ramos, Ms. Jane Forbes and Sankey Blanton 18OCT2017 Certificate Presentation; photograph by Bren Eskridge, Davie Poplar Chapter NSDAR.

 

There were other parts of ‘the program’ presented by two UNC graduate students of the History Department on little-known facts of the American Revolution. Pictures were authorized after the official end of the program (like Member Training after adjournment), and we joined Jane and her friend ‘Larry’ Hines for a buffet lunch. During the lunch, Larry and I discussed how to start our campaign to get the DAR Medal approved for Auxiliarists (who seem to be very into ribbons of strange design and accomplishment levels). Meanwhile, Jamie was engaged in a conversation with another DAR member about Puerto Rico, which I will let her describe if she hasn’t forgotten it completely.

 

Around 1400 we begged to be excused since I had a medical appointment that afternoon, and Jamie needed a few last-minute preparations for a field trip she was leading to the Outer Banks now that Fall Break was (since noon) officially begun. When I finally got home I found the following email from Jane: “WOW! WHAT A SURPRISE TODAY THE PRESENTATION WAS!” Regent Jean Lusted summed it all up in her email: “It was such a special event for Jane, and so glad we all executed it perfectly from the secret* to the photos. Having Jamie present the framed certificate was especially nice and will be remembered by Jane, I'm sure. It was obvious Jane was overwhelmed, and for such a deserving person, I am so glad to have been a part of this event. We all like a surprise, and when they turn out as well as today, it gives us all a pat on the back.”

 

*Another DAR member came over after the photo event and declared that the biggest surprise was that so many of the members knew about the presentation beforehand and it was still kept secret from Jane Forbes!

 

*** END ***

 

NOTE to SELF: I know my left leg is an inch longer than my right and I have a crooked back, but I must remember to stand straighter, like I was trained at the Naval Academy 50 years ago. I’m supposed to take pictures, not be in them.

 

2July: It All Adds Up

by Sankey Blanton, Flotilla 09-08 FSO-PA

  

Genet Hutcheson has probably held every Flotilla Staff Officer position as well as being elected as Vice Flotilla Commander and Flotilla Commander in the last 43 years.  She officially started in the Auxiliary on 27 MAY 1975.  Since that time, she has been a hard-working mom with a paying job, the keeper of two houses and about 4 boats as well as Stan (who started in November of 1973) and, for all practical purposes, Flotilla 98.
All this work – as recorded by Forms 7029 and 7030 – adds up, and a proper Certificate (suitable for framing) from the Commandant of the Coast Guard was received and presented at the June Flotilla meeting.  Genet was awarded the Coast Guard Sustained Auxiliary Service Award for the fifth time.                                 
Genet Hutcheson’s 5th Award – 3750 hours.  Photograph by Kevin Combs, Flotilla 98.

 

This fifth award is “For Over 3750 Cumulative Hours of Outstanding Service and Support to the United States Coast Guard since 27 May 1975.”  Genet is now entitled to wear 4 bronze Stars on her service Ribbon. Doing the math
(the VFC is a certifiable math geek), that averages to over 87 recorded hours a year, or slightly more than 7 hours a month.  If you are keeping your 7029 correctly, that should equal the Flotilla meeting (with prep and travel) and a couple of USCGAux activities each month.  Any Flotilla Staff Officer can easily meet this.

 

The challenge is out!

Hopefully, everyone is keeping some sort of track of their time and effort on at least a 7029 Form.  If you aren’t it is never too late to start (but not more than 60 days, time late). Get with Liz Barbone or Randy or
Sankey and start on your first 750 hours today.