Memorial Day

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
As we prepare to observe the sacrifice of those Americans who gave their lives in service to our country on Monday I know many of you will be honoring them by your own service this weekend. Whatever your plans, in uniform or getting a bit of well deserved refresh time with your families, I ask that you keep the fallen in your thoughts.

To that end I suggest two readings, the first from our Commandant, Admiral Papp - ALCOAST 270/11

http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/270-11_alcoast.txt

The second is by one of my favorite authors, Admiral James Stavridis (Commander, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe). Admiral Stavridis gave a speech at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum upon receiving the Intrepid Freedom Award. In the speech he reflected upon the sacrifice of our fallen through their own words and those of their families. It is the most powerful statement about Memorial Day I have ever read.

http://useucom.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/the-words-they-leave-to-us/

Whatever your plans for the weekend be safe out there and look to the safety of your shipmates,
Daren

Greetings from the Southern Area Training Conference

Donna Cox DSO-PA

Shipmates,
Brad, Matt E., Dick A. , Hall G., JoAnn Mc. and I are attending the Greater Southern Area Training Conference in Eugene Oregon. It is always great to see and participate in training with our shipmates from the Southern Area and the rest of D13.

Hope to see you at the GSATC next year!

Be safe out there and look to the safety of your shipmates,

Daren

Examples of the activities of the day:

DSO-PA Donna Cox conducts Public Affairs Training

National Safe Boating Week Kickoff Events

Shipmates,
We have two events for the kickoff to National Safe Boating Week in Portland. As you may be aware this is a busy weekend as we also have QE sessions. We are looking for at least four watch standers for each event. Both events are family friendly if you'd like to bring along loved ones or friends to see what we do. This is a great pair of events to get us started for NSBW 2011.

Per our standard recent practice please send an email to me if you would like to sign up: veryuseful@gmail.com

Here is the current watch bill for 21MAY2011 (if it does not appear follow this link)



Event details

MSU Portland/Station Portland/USCG Bluebell Open House
Our local units will be conducting an Open House with a variety of demonstrations. We will have a booth on Boating Safety, cold water and Auxiliary activities.

Ready, Set, Inflate! Wear It at the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp (formerly called the 42nd Street Boat Ramp)
We will have a PA booth and the cold water demo.

The Oregon State Marine Board is hosting a "Ready, Set, Inflate! Wear It" event at the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp (formerly called the 42nd Street Boat Ramp) on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to create awareness about the importance of wearing a life jacket. The public is invited to attend and encouraged to bring their own life jackets -inflatable or traditional Type I, II, III or V styles, and participate in "the most people wearing life jackets at the same time," world-record attempt. The official count-down begins at noon when people will be asked to deploy their inflatable life jackets or don a traditional life jacket. An official tally and photo will be taken for submission to the National Safe Boating Council.
The event will highlight members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Multnomah County River Patrol, Portland Fire and Rescue and other boating safety advocates who will provide activities and boat tours. Participants will have a chance to enter/exit an unstable boat, learn how to rescue someone in distress, and try on a variety of different life jackets.

AUXAIR Swim & Egress Training Video

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
On Saturday I attended the annual D13 AUXAIR swim. This is just another example of the incredibly varied training provided to us as Auxiliarists -- experience you are unlikely to find anywhere else. The AUXAIR team has been very open to having other members who are not part of the program participate in this training. I highly recommend you keep an eye out for future opportunities to participate.

Here is a brief video overview of the training narrated by our own Gary Nepple.



If you want more detail and some of the training discussion you can watch this longer version.