Photography: Getting close

An early lesson of being a yearbook photographer in high school was the need to get close to our subjects. I spent far too many hours trying to salvage a close crop from a photo I'd taken from too far away. In the days of B&W film photography there was only so much latitude if you wanted the whole book to have the same look photo to photo. This weekend I had the opportunity to do some photography while underway for the Flotilla 73 Crew/Coxswain academy and tried to focus on the close shot. 

There is one big advantage we have when framing these shots... we have our organization name emblazoned across the back of our life jackets, exposure coveralls, and SAR vests. This means boring backs become a great part of the shot.

Surface Operations Qualified? Maintaining qualifications in a time of uncertainty

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
As you likely know we will not have the Navy for Rose Festival and therefore no Naval Vessel Protection Zone (learn more about NVPZs). We will still have a Safety Zone for the Dragon Boats. In addition we are facing reduced operational funding for the fiscal year.

I know some members rely on the high operations tempo of Rose Festival to complete the annual 12 hours of surface operational time required to maintain crew and coxswain qualifications. In light of the Fleet Week change and other uncertainty I encourage you to think about how you will get your on-the-water time for 2013. Plan ahead and don't get caught short.

All that said, everything I hear says there is still a commitment to Auxiliary surface operations. We are an important component of the operational community. The challenges we are seeing are the same ones being faced by all our Coast Guard shipmates. All units are seeing changes in tempo and funding.

Please take the National Member Survey

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
Have an opinion? It is time to express that opinion in the latest version of the member survey. Please
take a few minutes to complete the survey.

It is time to voice your opinion directly to the national leadership.Every few years we take the pulse of our membership to gain some insight into how our organization can be more effective for our members. Your participation in the 2013 Member Survey is important. Your answers to the survey will allow the leadership to discover what you most enjoy about being an Auxiliarist and what might be done to make your experience even better.

National Member Survey