Welcome to Division7.org

Shipmates,
Welcome to Division7.org!

As part of our ongoing evolution of our public and member communications we are launching a new blog. Over the next few months this will evolve into the primary web presence for the Division.

"Volunteer Lifesavers" is being phased out as part of the Auxiliary Identity in favor of "Volunteer Guardians". This means our volunteerlifesavers.org domain needs to be retired. In a few weeks the old domain will be set to forward here.

Classes

Flotilla 7-12 is offering a Boating Skills & Seamanship class starting Monday, January 18, 2010 at 7:30 Monday and Thursday for 7 1/2 weeks.

The Weekend Navigator will start January 26 and run 12 weeks.

Flotilla 76 has a Boating Skills & Seamanship class scheduled for 13 weeks starting January 14, 2010 at the Portland Water Pollution Lab at 7:00.

Flotilla 78 teaches an 8-hour About Boating Safely class every month through October 2010  at Wholesale Sports off Fourth Plain in Orchards area of Vancouver, 9am - 5:30pm Testing for both OR and WA cards.

Dates:

• JAN 23 
• FEB 27 
• MAR 27 
• APR 24 
• MAY 22 
• JUN 26 
• JUL 24 
• AUG 28 
• SEP 25 
• OCT 23

Contact: 360-256-2991 or 503-799-5250.  Cost is $10 for these one day courses.

Spring 2010 classes are being scheduled. Please check back for updates.

Join

Future Shipmate,
Thank you for your interest in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary is an outstanding opportunity to serve your community and the nation, build your skills, and make friends with others with similar interests.

As you consider membership we recommend the following course:

A. Determine if you meet the basic membership requirements:
- Are you a U.S. Citizen?
- Are you 17 or older?
- Are you willing to undergo a background check?

 B. Contact our Division Personnel Services Officer - Gay Sipes gaysipes@juno.com and request membership information.

C. Gay will provide information on your nearest Flotilla and adjacent Flotillas. She will also have the Personnel Services Officer of the nearest Flotilla contact you.

D. Visit the Flotilla and consider visiting a few, you may join the Flotilla of your choice. Good fit with the Flotilla you join is a key factor in your success as an Auxiliarist. Discuss your interests with the members of each Flotilla you visit. The members will provide a variety of guidance.

E. Proceed with the membership enrollment process with the Flotilla you decide to join.

A few items to consider:

• We pay membership dues each year to support the operation of the Auxiliary organization.
• We are a uniformed service and you will be expected to purchase a uniform.
• The required background check can take some time to complete. You may participate in most missions while this background check is being conducted. There are some limitations. Some missions, including all air operations, require a more extensive background check.
• There is no fixed time commitment as a member. It is highly recommended that you plan to participate in monthly Flotilla meetings. We have members who participate only a few hours a month and members who contribute thousands of hours per year. Most qualifications require at least some mission performance to maintain the qualification.