September Flotilla Meeting Highlights

Post by Jonathan James

A few photo highlights of the flotilla meeting.
There was a table full of awards and qualifications to be presented.





Thanks to Peggy Stevens for the great photos.

Some highlights for those not present:

a. Dues are due at months end, please save the commander some stress and get your dues in.

b. This years Change of Watch will be on the Portland Spirit. More info in the meeting minutes.

c. Commander Poulson talked about what it means to step up and take a staff position. He also had staff members or members in special projects highlight their job duties to show the members present what it takes to keep the local auxiliary operating.

d. We all had our taste buds in an uproar from the wonderful food that the fellowship team put together. It was fantastic.

e. Our flotilla will be hosting the next division meeting. This is the first Wednesday of October which is the 5th. DIVISION MEETINGS ARE NO LONGER HELD THE FIRST MONDAY....

Operational Excellence Award

Shipmates,
Head on over to the Flotilla73 site and read FC Brian Rollins' excellent post on the Operational Excellence Award.

Brian has challenged his members to pursue this opportunity to demonstrate operational excellence. If you participate in surface operations please consider building a team to pursue this award.

Commandant’s Auxiliary Letter of Commendation: Peter T. Kirschner

At the Division meeting on Monday our shipmate from FL73, Peter T. Kirschner, was awarded the Commandant’s Auxiliary Letter of Commendation. Peter tirelessly provided support to hundreds of Auxiliarists individually, the Auxiliary as a whole, and our Active Duty commands and partners. Without this kind of work we simply could not operate. We would have no qualifications, no awards, no way of contacting our members, no ability to accept facilities for use or cut orders.

Personally I'm honored to have Peter as a friend and mentor. Peter personifies Respect, Honor and Devotion to Duty.

Bravo Zulu Peter!

17 September 2009

From: Commandant

To: Peter T. Kirschner, USCG Auxiliary

Subj: AUXILIARY LETTER OF COMMENDATION

I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while assigned as District Staff Officer Information Systems, Thirteenth Coast Guard District from January 1999 to January 2009. This time period was one of exceptional significance to the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary as the country responded to the post September 11th tragedy with its significant increase in volunteerism. With so many new members, the Auxiliary recognized that it needed to transition from its basic Auxiliary Management Information System (AUXMIS) to more sophisticated packages for member tracking and reporting called Auxiliary Data and Auxiliary Info. These new programs accommodate both the sharp increase in membership volume but offered an affiliated upgrade in capability tracking. During this period of technological and philosophical change you demonstrated savvy professionalism and competence in quickly mastering and implementing these new data and member management systems. In this enhanced role, you provided accurate record keeping of member’s performance and qualifications as needed. Further, you trained hundreds of other Auxiliarists on the new systems while still providing services for several Auxiliary Directors, multiple Commodores and thousands of Auxiliarists over the years. While you were the regional Information Systems Officer, you simultaneously held another position on the Auxiliary National Staff thereby ensuring that the Thirteenth District’s technological needs were on the forefront of the nationwide technological evolution. Your reputation, skill, patience and your enthusiastic “can-do” attitude helped insure the accuracy, relevance and importance of Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel records. These records, typically the only measure to account for the Auxiliary’s Herculean efforts, today identify, account and segment nearly $100 million in annual professional volunteer hours.

You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty. By your meritorious service you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

You are hereby authorized to wear the Commandant’s Auxiliary Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

M. A. BILLEAUDEAUX

Commander, U. S. Coast Guard

DIRAUX, Thirteenth Coast Guard District

Guardian of the Week: 76's Earl Markham - 57 Years of Service

The new USCG service blog, The Coast Guard Compass, features a Guardian every week. The fourth Guardian recognized, and the first Auxiliarist, is FL76's own Earl Markham. On Saturday Earl will have completed his 57th year of service as an Auxiliarist. Including his almost four years of Naval service in WWII Earl has over 60 years of proud uniformed service to the Nation.

While the length Earl's service is impressive what really sets Earl apart is the grace and friendliness with which he performs that service. Earl always has a kind smile for his shipmates, a kind word and, when required, an effective and positive critique. Earl continues to serve actively as a Coxswain, a Qualification Examiner and an Instructor in addition to coordinating the Flotilla's public affairs program.

Earl has been a friend and mentor to me. He is the person who I seek to emulate as a Guardian, a citizen and a person.

Bravo Zulu COMO Markham

(Photo: Earl Markham with Tim Young - teaching life jacket wear in May 2009)

Congratulations to Ed Burns: Auxiliary Commendation Medal

Presentation of the Auxiliary Commendation Medal to Ed Burns by Captain (Select) Proctor, Deputy Commander, Sector Portland.

Division 7 Change of Watch

There is no Division meeting this month as we had our Division Change of Watch. Photos of the event can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usefulguy/sets/72157612134840212/ ...and the movie version which may be a bit more fun: 

At the meeting we received a number of individual awards for 76 members and a Flotilla award for membership growth and retention. 

• Ed B. was recognized for his 10th Sustained Auxiliary Service Award - 7,500 hours - and receives the coveted bronze hourglass for his award
  
• Gary N. and I were each recognized for our second Sustained Auxiliary Service Awards - proving that we both don't report our hours as well as we should.
  
• Tony T. received an Operational Excellence certificate and commanders coin from Captain Meyer for his work at Station Portland. Tony's efforts were specifically detailed by the Captain in his remarks.
  
• Ed B. received an Operational Excellence certificate and commanders coin from Captain Meyer for his work at Sector Portland.
  
• Murrianna T. received an Operational Excellence certificate and commanders coin from Captain Meyer for her work at Station Portland.
  
• John P. was recognized for the largest contribution to membership growth in Division 7

Bravo Zulu to everyone!

USCG Meritorious Team Commendation for Rose Festival 2008

Congratulations to the 16 members of Flotilla 76  and all of our shipmates, Active Duty, Reserve and Auxiliary, who earned the Meritorious Team Commendation for their participation in the Portland Rose Festival 2008 Fleet Week.

The Auxiliary put in almost 2,300 hours on the water, in the air, and in the command center this year.  The Fleet Week events are, by far, our largest, most complex activity. Once again our performance has been recognized as exemplary.