Welcome to Division 08 California North Coast
District 11northern Region

"SAR DOGS"

 

Bruce Rogerson and Harold Hauck
Division Commander and Division Vice Commander

 

Greetings from the Helm

I would like to extend New Year greetings and best wishes to all of our Division 8 Auxiliarists as we start another year in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary - Americas Maritime Guardians.

The helm has been passed on from DCDR Rich Thomas who has guided the division for the last two years. I thank Rich for all his time and dedication to the Auxiliary and wish him every success in his new role as a District Captain with 11 NR.

I am honored by the confidence placed in me by our members and somewhat awed by the responsibilities of my position as I begin serving my term as Division Commander for our great group of people here on the north coast of California.

At our Division Change of Watch in December, Commander David Chareonsuphiphat, Director of Auxiliary for our District, reviewed his recent Paper in Proceedings the journal of the United States Coast Guard. In this he identified using a standard business measurement of performance, the Return on Investment, to illustrate the not insignificant benefits to the mission of the US Coast Guard provided by the 30,000 plus members of the Auxiliary.

Based on the volunteer hours donated by members (4. 5 million annually), value of property and lives saved, he calculated that over the years 2006 to 2009 the annual return on investment made by the Coast Guard in the Auxiliary ( between $17 to $18 million dollars annually) ranged from 1208% in 2008 to 988% in 2009. He concluded that the total return on the funding of the Auxiliary annually is equivalent to 2,186 full time Coast Guard employees. These are impressive numbers to which our small Division and its four constituent flotillas certainly contribute.

Our 100 plus members provide direct and important support to our local Coast Guard missions.

Flotilla 8-11 in Crescent City continues to provide crew for the Coast Guard inshore rescue craft based at Crescent City, 24 hours for four days per week on call. In the last year they have met additional challenges on replacement of the their original prototype 25-foot Safe Boat with a standard type RBS boat necessitating extensive retraining and qualifications for the Coxswain and Crew. Congratulations to FC Becky Barlow and her team for a job well done.

Flotilla 86 in Eureka has made important strides towards fulfilling its missions in Humboldt Bay, in no small part thanks to the leadership and encouragement of Thom and Helen O'Connor over the past three years. Linda Hoffman has taken the helm for the flotilla as Flotilla Commander and I look forward to working with Linda and her staff over the next year as they expand there missions and support for Station Humboldt Bay and Air Station Humboldt Bay.

My own Flotilla 87 has many missions to accomplish under the new leadership of FC Chris Jewell and VFC Glenn Funk. The last year has seen a strengthening of the boat crew program with new Coxswain, new crew and regular support for Station Noyo River's need for an AUXFAC to train with to maintain their crew readiness. 2010 also saw a upsurge in in the number of Vessel Safety Exams completed thanks largely to several new examiners in the flotilla. They even beat out Flotilla 88 for the most VSEs for the year with a total of 322. Members are also providing radio watch standers for the station, and administrative support. The flotilla continues its long standing maintenance and interpretive role at the Point Cabrillo and Point Arena Lighthouses.

Flotilla 88 Clear Lake continues to serve boating safety on this important inland waterway with regular vessel safety inspections, boat patrols and boating education classes. The flotilla again coordinated a successful life jacket give away program for young boaters in the area. Flotilla 88 continues to provide important community support to the men and women of Station Noyo River, this last year hosting three meals for the station crew on St. Patricks Day, Coast Guard Day in August, and Thanksgiving in partnership with F87. Congratulations to FC Dane hayward and his crew for all their good work.

Over the Bar

During the year we said farewell to two of our members. Tom Dolan with Flotilla 87 passed on in September after a long and active life at age 85. Tom had been with the flotilla since 1999 and was a regular member of the lighthouse maintenance team at Point Cabrillo.

Flotilla 88 suffered a tragic loss when member Zino Mezoui was killed in an accident in September. Zino ran his restaurant and hotel business at Soda Bay on Clear Lake and regularly hosted Auxiliary meetings and events. Zino will be sorely missed by our members.

Goals for the Year

I look forward to working with you all in the new year and in solving the many challenges we face in these difficult economic times. These include finding funding for the divisional events and activities over the year; recruiting more members to replace these we have lost; ensuring that we retain new members after we invest so much time and effort in getting them on board; broadening the Auxiliary missions in support of our local Coast Guard Stations in our AOR and encouraging members to take at least one of the many training opportunities available to us during the year to enhance members individual standing in the Auxiliary. This is extremely important in ensuring we have qualified candidates for leadership positions in the future.

Thank you

Sempar Paratus

Bruce Rogerson
Division Commander