So you want to help America; The Coast Guard Auxiliary is more than just boats…; Four years later
In December 2001 I wrote: "A few short months ago, life for America changed forever. Just as it did some 60 years ago, Americans were shaken from compliancy by acts so horrific, they belie simple explanations. Even back then, the USCG Auxiliary (then called the Reserve) was playing a major role in recreational boating safety and search and rescue. " Today I write: "Well, a few short months ago, life for many Americans changed forever. Just as it did four years ago, Americans were shaken from their compliancy by acts of nature so horrific, they belie simple explanations. Just as the Coast Guard Auxiliary played a role in the response to September 11th, where my original article anchored, so it is true that Auxiliarists played a role in the Search, Rescue and Recovery efforts of those who were the victims of both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita."
Posted on 2005-12-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

These days Maritime Security is everyone’s’ businesses
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) are terms you may see more and more in the press, at your marina, or in your boating magazines and newspapers. When you think of security, you think of being safe from crime, safe from financial ruin. Well, in MDA, we take this several steps forward, in that you are safe in your boating environment, where maritime assets are safe from intrusion and our maritime environment and economy stays safe. afety is the key word here. The United States Coast Guard wants the recreational boating public to be safe. This is why the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary push Vessel Safety Checks (VSC), boating education, wearing of PFD’s.
Posted on 2005-12-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Boat runs over diver, killing him Boaters and Divers need to understand each other
A man diving off the beach Saturday evening was struck by a motorboat in an apparent accident. According to the Coast Guards Office for Boating Safety www.uscgboating.org, at least 53 vessels were involved in some type of accident with either a swimmer or diver in 2003. The Coast Guard reported 10 fatalities, with another 14 fatalities which were not part of the report due to reporting criteria.
Posted on 2005-11-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Letters to the Teacher; How one Auxiliarist is making a difference to our youngsters!
Every year for the past several years, around the end of May, Jean Gieger does something rather unique. What Jean does, in this quiet little town, on which nestles the Atlantic Ocean, in a place that has more boats per square mile than any other place in the United States is giving what she hopes will never be used. A lessoned learned
Posted on 2005-10-31
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Was there any benefit from the Hurricanes?
As the Search and Rescue phase of the hurricane dwindles, and the Recovery phase fully ramps up, it behooves us to take a look back at these last five weeks and try to make an assessment of the cost, and any benefit that we in the Auxiliary have endured. As with any disaster, either man-made or natural, the costs are great. Not only is there the easy to quantify cost, which is one of the first things one hears on the nightly news, but the other costs, and yes benefits, which a disaster brings to a community. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a community. It is a community within a community, within a community. It is a community of like-minded individuals throughout the United States who share a global mission.
Posted on 2005-10-14
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Bigger on the water, not only means bigger, but danger as well! The law of Gross Tonnage
In a news release issued by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in August of this year, the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary wanted to educate boaters, specifically recreational boaters about the dangers of playing in traffic. The law, which is more common sense then explicitly written in the code, goes like this: The heavier vessel always has the right-of-way. Radar, and VHF Radio, as well as your ability to see something, is all based on "line-of-sight". If it is not in your field of vision, you won't be able to see it.
Posted on 2005-10-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Ode to the Fisherman
In 2003, the Coast Guard lists fishing as the activity with the second highest accident rate. In 2003, 543 people who were fishing on boats were in accidents, and unfortunately 187 died. Think about it, 34% of those fishing, who were also boating, died due to the accidents they were involved with.
Posted on 2005-09-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Float Plans may be the key to your survival
When you think of the Coast Guard what comes to mind? To many, they would answer the orange and blue racing stripe; others talk about how the Coast Guard does maritime search and rescue. For our recreational boaters, we have developed a simple 5 minute form that can literally save your life!
Posted on 2005-08-31
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Trailering: It's a skill that needs to be practiced
Ever spend some time at the boat ramp? It can evoke all the emotions of the theatre. Pathos, humor, drama, action, and a whole lot of the "Worlds funniest video's" thrown in for good measure. Why do many people make the boat ramp a day's entertainment, at rock bottom prices? Because many boaters just don't practice, don't plan, and don't expect the unexpected.
Posted on 2005-08-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

How to increases the chances that your boat will survive; This season's Hurricanes
"The season" is almost upon us. No, we're not talking Christmas, where our children on Christmas morning make the room where you keep your Tree look like a hurricane hit it - we're talking the real deal. That's right, Hurricanes. Last year, Florida was hit by four major Hurricanes within as many weeks (the first, Charley began 8 August; the last Jeanne struck 13 September). Property damage was estimated at $44 billon. Unfortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) hurricane forecast for 2005 indicates there is a 70 percent chance of an above normal hurricane season. The outlook calls for 12-15 tropical storms, with 7-9 becoming hurricanes, and 3-5 of these becoming major hurricanes. Included in last year's horrendous damage number were numerous boats. BOATU.S. reported in just one single marina, the Ft. Piece City Marina, some 69 boats were sunk or destroyed after Hurricane Frances. Could damage like this have been prevented? And if the answer is yes, then how can you protect you're boat.
Posted on 2005-07-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

When in comes to boating safety equipment your life jacket (PFD) is just the start Additional equipment can help save your life
Federal, State and Local laws require that every vessel should have a Personnel Flotation Device (PFD) or life jacket for each person on board a vessel. These laws go on to say that these PFD's must be readily accessible, in case they are needed in an emergency.
Posted on 2005-07-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

I hear the siren, and see a light â€" what is it? Oh my, I've just been pulled over â€" what do I do?
You're driving along on the highway and you see those familiar blue lights (or where I live red or red and white). Your heart sinks, as you realize the patrol car is following you. You hear the officer over his PA speaker telling you to pull over. Yup, you was snagged - for speeding. Well, we're now on the water, zipping along, jumping wakes or speeding in a 5mph zone and all of a sudden…. Guess what?! You hear a siren and see those familiar blue lights (blue is the only color that signifies an emergency vessel on the water). What do you do?
Posted on 2005-06-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Look up at the sky…. Is it a plane, is it a helicopter or is it a….? Visual Distress Signal?
In many of our coastal communities, lights in the sky after dusk are a rare sight. In other areas of the country, they are common place. But streaking lights always make people look twice. Should you see an Aerial Flare in the night sky what you should do, asks most boating safety students during the lesson on VDS. Here's a story of recognizing a call for help, persistence and nautical knowledge which saved the day.
Posted on 2005-06-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Some quick thinking saves two But boater education would have prevented the situation
Boating at this time of the year in the waters around New York is a delight. And what makes it so delightful is the fact that there are very few boats on the water. Some of the reason for the lack of boaters on the water is the temperatures. The water temp is in the 50's and air is still cold, with the nighttime temperatures running in the upper 50's. The Coast Guard's You're In Command campaign urges all boaters to take a boating course, get a free Vessel Safety Check, don't drink and boat, and lastly and certainly not least - Boat Smart from the Start, and always wear your PFD. Remember you're in command â€" so boat responsibly!
Posted on 2005-05-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Are you a Paddle boater? Do you want to help your fellow boaters?
Paddlesporters are the fastest and largest group of boaters today. For those of you who are hard core participations, you know what the term means. For those who are not, they are Kayakers, Canoe enthusiasts and the Rafters, plus all the other type of self-propelled watercraft. That's why many of us have joined recreational boating safety organizations such as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; to assist the Coast Guard in their Recreational Boating Safety mission. This year, the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary's focus has fully moved to getting the message out to all our brethren on the water, specifically the Paddlesports. We have joined forces with the American Canoe Association and others to develop specific courses just for the Paddlesports.
Posted on 2005-05-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Hunters, Anglers, Scuba Divers and more Non-traditional boaters â€" who don't even know it
Every year, in some part of this country, you'll read a newspaper headline about a hunter, or angler or scuba diver that has gotten into trouble while participating in their sport on or around water. The duck hunter who went to the marsh in search of game; The fisherman who takes the rowboat into the middle of the lake, and the scuba diver who pops up in the middle of the channel, only to get hit by a passing boat.
Posted on 2005-05-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Did you see that private plane?
All across our coastal states, along our navigable waterways and large lakes you'll see the familiar blue and white racing stripe of the Coast Guard Auxiliary on recreational boats on patrol, helping to keep our recreational and commercial boaters safe. In our marina's and ports, or on our coastal roads you'll find us in cars looking for the unusual, the out of place event, the specter of strange, performing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrols. But did you see that private plane making long sweeps across the sky? Did you notice that in an area that doesn't get a lot of private planes, you always get one or two a day, at different times, and different planes? Is something sinister afoot?
Posted on 2005-04-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

The Government wants to give you something for FREE* *for real, with no catch!
Here’s one of the best kept Free Give-a-ways from the Federal Government, and its FREE – FREE – FREE! This is not one of those gimmicks with hidden costs. You won’t get a bill in the mail or a ticket after you get there. It’s not a law enforcement sting operation. It is truly FREE * FREE * FREE! What's for FREE? A Vessel Safety Check (VSC) from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and/or one of its partners.
Posted on 2005-04-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Rip Tides – They will get you every time!
You ever hear that old saying, the one that's a close second to "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"? Yeah, you know it; it's the one that your grandparents used when they told you scary nighttime stories... It was the line the adult leader used when telling stories around the campfire.... Yeah, now you remember, "What you don't know; could kill you"... Rip Tides fall into that category. And I bet you don't know as much as you should. In fact it's one of the least understood and most dangerous naturally occurring events known to man.
Posted on 2005-03-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

What a piece of work is a man!
Keeping the eye on the ball A leader above all else, needs to be firmly entrenched in many worlds. Just as Marley brought Scrooge to Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, so must our volunteer leaders be aware of past, present and future.
Posted on 2005-03-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Vigilance is needed by all Canoe Club Saves 3
I received an e-mail a while ago from Larry Schutte, the President of the Washington Canoe Club (WCC). In that e-mail, he sent me the full clipping of the story about the three Canoeists who almost died, when they rented a canoe, and then decided to get tanked. Why did the WCC need to save these three canoeists? Because we in the recreational boating chain were not vigilant enough.
Posted on 2005-02-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A Blizzard has me thinking about Boating
A few days ago, the weather forecasters started threatening that a Blizzard was coming. Actually it started out as some snow, then a lot of snow, then heavy snow then the blizzard word was used. I picked it up, just in time for a heavy dumping of snow (actually it had already started) and was happier than a clam at the ease in which I did my snow removal. A snow blower is essentially a small two-stroke internal combustion engine. Larger snow blowers use four-stroke internal combustion engines (ICE). Small outboard engines are two-stroke ICE’s, and larger outboards are four-stroke. In-board engines (whether connected to an I/O or strictly an inboard propeller, are four-stroke engines.
Posted on 2005-02-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Retention and Motivation; The circular bonds of Volunteerism
Across this great land, there are literally hundreds of thousands of different types of volunteer programs working to better our life. From the animal rescue shelters to the hospital ‘candy stripers’, from our beloved volunteer fireman and medics to the tour guides at hundreds of historic landmarks, it is the devotion to the cause that inspired our volunteers to stand-up and join in the first place. But that, while not an easy feat for any volunteer organization, is still the easy part. It’s very easy to sell a program, a concept and mission to new and eager people. It’s an entirely different situation to keep these same people motivated.
Posted on 2005-01-21
Written by: Wayne Spivak

What’s the right type of Boating Education?
What is the right type of boating education? I’ve been asked this question many times over the years. This is one of those questions that is hard to answer. If you were to poll boating educators, they’d be split into three camps. You’d have the Traditionalists, the Electronics and the Hybrids. The Traditionalists are those educators who feel that the right boating education, especially as it relates to navigation, is taught with charts, dividers, and parallel rules. The Electronics believe that those tools are obsolete, and give them a combined Chart Plotter, RADAR and GPS, and they will navigate to the ends of the earth. The Hybrids take a longer view, some would say, and believe in a little of this and a little of that makes for the safer, more knowledgeable navigator.
Posted on 2005-01-03
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Retired – Now what do I do to keep active?
We’re a nation of volunteers. From the first settlers, to those who sought out better lives by following Horace Greeley’s words, 'Go West young man', this nation has been founded on the principles of volunteerism. -- So how to you get active when you’re retired? You find an activity or hobby that you enjoy and seek out the opportunities that are in your area, related to that activity. One organization that you may find attractive is the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Posted on 2004-12-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

CQ CQ CQ Any Station Any Station Any Station The Auxiliary is looking for Amateur Radio Operators
To an individual involved in Amateur Radio, also known as Ham Radio, the letters CQ sent via voice or Morse Code is a request by the sender to talk to anyone listening on the frequency. Simply, the sending party is looking for a pleasant conversation. Conversations is what Ham Radio is all about, whether its with someone down the block, across town or on the other side of the world. Well, the USCG Auxiliary is calling, and we’re looking for a dialogue with those citizens who are or want to be Ham Radio Operators. Like every other emergency based service, the Coast Guard operates every day, in good weather and in bad. We, in the USCG Auxiliary operate whether there is power to operate the normal modes of communication, such as phones, or whether the weather is bad, and the normal means of communications are out of service.
Posted on 2004-11-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Only you can help - Advertising themes tied to programs that make a difference
In 1944, the Forest Service initiated a new advertising campaign, aimed at the public to help them stem the ever increasing tide of forest fires. Based on a small bear cub that was saved by smoke jumpers (firefighters) during one particular fire; the Smokey the Bear campaign was born. -- The Coast Guard has created the Waterway Watch program. This program, which uses the same basic concept as the Neighborhood Watch program, is geared toward our neighbors who live on and near, or who work on or near our waterways. -- We as a nation have more coastal borders than land borders, and will never have enough law enforcement personnel to protect every last mile. But, we have millions of neighbors who live and work near these coastal communities, and navigable bays and rivers who know what is normal and what is not.
Posted on 2004-11-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

America’s Volunteer Military The Coast Guards Volunteer Force: Service to the nation at bargain basement prices
For the last sixty-six years, one of this nation’s best kept defense secret has been the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary is the uniformed, non-military, volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. In the next few years, as the Coast Guard grows, in both manpower and assets (due to several large scale projects to replace its existing Deepwater fleet, as well as Communications net), the need for the Auxiliary will grow as well.
Posted on 2004-10-12
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Why do communities have Speed Limits on the Water? (Another in the series on Speed)
I was out this weekend sailing with a buddy. He has a Hunter 33, the wind in the bay was about 10 to 15 knots, gusting to about 18. The sky had a few Cumulus, that looked like they had the propensity to become Cumulonimbus later in the afternoon. -- As we transited one particular shallow and narrow passage, I noted the 5 mph speed limit posted by our Town. Speed limits are posted by local governments and states in areas where they feel for safety or environmental reasons, boaters should go slow. In this particular passage, both these reasons held true.
Posted on 2004-10-03
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Youd be surprised by the numbers The Coast Guard Auxiliary involvement in SAR
Thats right, in many areas of this country, the only interaction boaters (both recreational and commercial) will have with the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary is the volunteer uniformed civilian component of the United States Coast Guard. These 39,000 men and women donated so far in excess of 730,000 hours in 2004. This is an average of 18 hours of volunteer work per person.-- In 2003, over 4 million hours were donated, which is about 110 hours for each Auxiliarist. 5,500 hours were spent running the secondary Auxiliary Net (radio), an additional 114,000 hours were invested in actively prosecuting (or on standby) SAR cases, and another 693,000 hours were spent on a variety of activities, such as Ice Patrols, Aids to Navigation, Marine Patrols and Environmental Protection.
Posted on 2004-09-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A Restless Spirit saves the Pentecost - Americas Volunteer Lifesavers assist in saving the day
The 15 th of April was just another average, run of the mill day. But for some American’s, each day brings new adventures and new opportunities. These Americans choose to volunteer their time to help both their community and their sport, as members of America’s Volunteer Lifesavers – the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. It was a clear warm day in sunny Florida, just like any other day, except on this day, an Emergency call will challenge several members of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Palm Beach Police Department’s Marine Bureau.
Posted on 2004-08-29
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) – Built for Rescue
Almost every major Navy and Coast Guard has them in their inventory. No, their not named, and they aren’t usually found in Jane’s Fighting Ships either. But, they are an important part of many major sea services. What type of vessel are they? They are Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, commonly referred to as RHIB’s or RIB’s.
Posted on 2004-08-12
Written by: Wayne Spivak

The Role of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Homeland Security; A unique test of Leadership and Management
Of the five armed services that have served and protected this great country for the past 219 years, the oldest and most unique is the United States Coast Guard. Founded by Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790, the predecessor of the Coast Guard began what was and is a long multi-mission tradition of service to this nation. -- What is unique about this group of men and women is their diversity. What is and has been their strength has also been their weakness. They are not military. They are not paid. They are the civilian volunteer uniformed members of the COAST GUARD. -- It is here, given our "New Normalcy", our new Department of Homeland Security, and the paradigm change in the way this country now operates that the challenge of utilizing 40,000 trained men and women becomes a "unique test of leadership and management".
Posted on 2004-07-31
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Can't Hear You - Keep shouting
Have you ever tried shouting across a small lake? Easy, isn't it? How about when you've been waterskiing, and try to get the attention of the tow boat? Found it impossible, didn't you??? Sound does and does not carry over water well. On calm lakes, bays, creeks, or in restricted visibility, sound carries exceptionally well.
Posted on 2004-07-16
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Whether you're going offshore or not, an EPIRB is not a bad idea Released July, 1 2004
PORTSMOUTH, VA - The three people rescued from the 35-foot sailing vessel Dulcinea 85 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C. - The crew of the Sailing Vessel Dulcinea was lucky. They were lucky because they choose to carry onboard their vessel a non-mandated, somewhat expensive piece of safety equipment. - They were lucky because they triggered this non-mandated, but essential piece of safety equipment, and were rescued in short-order.
Posted on 2004-07-04
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Volunteerism: It is a state of mind; It is not an inherent excuse? Limited Release July 15, 2004
I have been a member of several volunteer organizations over the years. From the Boy Scouts to the Internet Society, from the Coast Guard Auxiliary to the United States Power and Sail Squadrons, each of these volunteer organizations, stressed one chief underlying principle: service to a the community (nation/world). -- Service to the community; Service to ones self; and Service to mankind. These are lofty goals for these organizations. And with each goal, the organization requires resources. To reach these goals, multitudes of people, rich in diversity are needed. But these organizations could not possibly afford to reimburse each individual. So they sought volunteers. With each volunteer, their involvement requires them to either invest time and/or money.
Posted on 2004-07-04
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A Cadre of Exceptional Individuals - The Naval Sea Cadet Corps Officer Corps
Why do people volunteer? Why do men and women, who either are or who have spent a lifetime working, and many times serving their country, want to volunteer? -- The simple answer is a sense of accomplishment! It is the ability to influence the world around them, to some its called making a difference for others its continuing to make a difference. These are some of the reasons why people join the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) as an Adult Leader.
Posted on 2004-07-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Success is always a relative term; But it is R-E-A-L for these Naval Sea Cadets
Success, like life, has its ups and downs. Sometimes what we believe to be a down time, isnt as bad as we think it is, because in our own perspective, our reality changes. But in anyones reality, the young men and women Cadets of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) are experiencing success. -- This success is then transformed into future successes as they age, and leave the program for college, career, family and ultimately citizens of this great land.
Posted on 2004-06-09
Written by: Wayne Spivak

All Coast Guards face the same problem, when it comes to getting the message out! Limited Release - Written for the International SAR Community - May 2004
All Coast Guards, be they paid professional, volunteer, auxiliary, or any other organizational structure face the same problems. In the area of recreational boating safety, the chief problem is getting the word out to our respective constituency. -- Safe boating is at the heart of every Coast Guard. Sure, most Coast Guards are multi-mission, with duties ranging from environmental protection to homeland security, but safe boating is central to the existence of every Coast Guard.
Posted on 2004-06-09
Written by: Wayne Spivak

False Alarms - are no joke
Each year the Coast Guard and their Auxiliary spend countless hours and dollars chasing ghosts. No, we're not competing with the "Ghost Busters", we're risking your life and ours chasing false distress messages. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco estimates that 36% of all responses were attributable to false alarms. -- And just because you're a minor (under the age of 18 years) doesn't get you or your parents off the hook! -- Not all false distress messages are intentional. In January 2003, a rash of false maydays was heard around the Alameda area. -- For what ever reason, false distress calls cost time, money and put many lives in peril. To learn more about how to use your radio, and how to mitigate potential problems while boating, why not take a boating course?
Posted on 2004-05-24
Written by: Wayne Spivak

The Coast Guard wants you to know. - The Sooner you call us, the safer you'll be.
Anytime mariners feel they may be in a dangerous situation, we highly recommend they immediately contact the Coast Guard to make us aware of the problem regardless of how severe it may appear, said Cmdr. Mike Kendall, 17th Coast Guard District Chief of Search and Rescue. -- Speed of response is of the essence, when it comes to any type of rescue. Examples can be drawn from fire services and emergency medical services world-wide, that the sooner they are notified, the faster they can respond. How many times have we read reports of fires that spread with unbelievable speed, just before the fire department arrived, only to find that the call to the fire department was delayed.
Posted on 2004-05-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

The Coast Guard can't STRESS this enough: WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET!!!!
Each year, needless lives are lost to boaters of all types of vessels, simply because they chose not to wear their life jacket! There appears to be a highest risk boating group, with approximately 74% of all fatalities attributed to not wearing Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's - more commonly referred to as a life jacket). This high-risk group are the participants in Paddlesports, include kayakers, canoeists, and rafters.
Posted on 2004-04-18
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Good Boating Habits Are Universal
I just took a short vacation to sunny, warm Acapulco . I quickly adapted to the 125 degree difference between NYC and Acapulco. -- While in Mexico , I picked up a local newspaper. Lo and behold, on page one was an article on how the recent increase in boating accidents had reached the attention of the Captain of the Port. Unfortunately, both time and a lack of language skills did not permit me to fully explore the article, yet the fact remains that boating accidents happen wherever people boat.
Posted on 2004-04-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Kids and Boating: -- An opportunity to instill Recreational Boating Safety values that will last a lifetime
It is often said that a young mind is an impressionable one. There is great truth to this saying, as countless academic studies have proven that a young mind is like a sponge; it will just keep soaking up knowledge. -- While its important for these young minds to soak up knowledge about the 3R's (reading, writing and arithmetic), for those who enjoy the water, or whose parents enjoy the water, there is no better time than to instill recreational boating safety values into those little adorable sponges.
Posted on 2004-03-24
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Rescue at Sea; Near Death, Helicopter saves 2; Coast Guard picks up 4, 1 Dead Ripped from today's Headlines
Headlines ripped from the nation's press. We've all seen them, read the stories, and marveled at both the bravery and the stupidity of those involved. Why stupidity? We can certainly understand bravery, of the Coast Guard crews who operate their boats and aircraft, seeking to save those who either by their own fault, or who are faultless, find themselves in trouble on the water. But stupidity?
Posted on 2004-03-09
Written by: Wayne Spivak

There are no small jobs, just small minds
Every organization has a hierarchy to assist it in reaching the goals stated in their mission statement. Management, supervisors, managers, department heads, team leaders, workers, aides, assistants, there are some of the scores of titles used by people who work in the organization. -- Leadership is about bringing a vision to fruition. Teamwork, lead by both this vision, its leader and management, can bring a vision to life. For on any team, no one person is more important than another and no job is less important than another.
Posted on 2004-02-23
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Speed: Kills on Land, Kills on the Water
The Bay City News recently reported " One man was killed and his two fellow passengers were injured in a boating accident near Sausalito this afternoon..." -- The cause of this accident as it was reported by the Coast Guard that the boat "was traveling at an unknown high... when it 'struck a submerged object of some kind' and one man was thrown overboard."
Posted on 2004-03-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Paddlesporter's are boaters - They shouldn't be considered fringe boaters, by the Recreational Boating Marketplace or by Themselves
The Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) (www.propaddle.com) defines their sport as people who raft, canoe or kayak. The American Canoe Association (ACA) (www.acanet.org) lists eleven (11) different "paths" that a Paddlesporter can participate in and enjoy. - Whether you look at this sport in a macro sense, or on a micro level, people are purchasing, renting, borrowing and using all different types of paddlesport equipment and enjoying the sport.
Posted on 2004-02-13
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Leadership isn't just about giving orders
Leadership, whether your in charge of a section (for you Army lingo-types, a squad), a ship, a mid-sized company, or even the Red Cross; Leadership is about communicating. -- In previous essays I've focused on the need of the leader to convey a vision, communicate the goals and thereby cement an organizational relationship. In this essay, we're going to focus on one of these values. We're going to focus on the value of celebrity, the value of praise and recognition for a job well-done. A leader must exercise these values in order to implore his or her followers onward, from task to milestone and milestone to goal.
Posted on 2004-02-03
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Boat Shows are a great place to learn
Most shows have other interested boating groups attend (sometimes for free or a reduced rate), many of them are non-profit or volunteer, using the same venue as an outreach to their market, boaters. From environmental groups to boating education, search and rescue to law enforcement, each has something to offer to recreational boater.
Posted on 2004-01-23
Written by: Wayne Spivak

The importance of communication in an Emergency
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, through its Recreational Boating Safety mission urges all members of the Boating community do become familiar with not only the operations of their individual VHF/SSB radios, but what steps and information is needed when contacting the Coast Guard in an emergency. "Time is non-renewable", as stated in a speech recently given by VADM Thomas Barrett, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Posted on 2004-01-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Public Persona - A key to Leadership
Leadership is about communication. In the previous articles in this series, we've talked about the need for a Leader to promote a vision, share this vision, and inspire others to achieve the vision. We've talked about how our paradigm of communication has changed in the last ten years, as e-mail and the Internet have changed the landscape of communicating.
Posted on 2004-01-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Don't forget about your vessel's safety plan!
You're just about to set sail for the ocean blue, your favorite fishing hole, that islet beach or just a jaunt around the bay. Have you crossed your all your "t's" and dotted or the "I's"? - In the last article in this two part series we touched on owner responsibility, offshore operations, fuel management and nautical charts. We again urged you to increase your nautical knowledge by taking appropriate boating courses. In this article, we're going to expand on the items that should be part of your boating check list.
Posted on 2003-12-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A Tale of Two Auxiliaries
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of time...", said Charles Dickens in The Tale of Two Cities. some 150 years later, with the application of some sound leaership, the Auxiliary too, could see the "best of times".
Posted on 2003-12-09
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Do you feel your children are adrift? - The Naval Sea Cadet program may be the answer!
Do your children seem to be lost, and without direction? Are they have trouble focusing; in school, and at home? Do they have too much free time and energy, without a meaningful place and rewarding place to funnel their energy? -- While most of our communities provide many excellent programs for young adults, many programs are limited. Some are only for males, while others for females. Few are truly co-ed. However, one program you should look into is the Naval Sea Cadet program.
Posted on 2003-11-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Communication -- It ain\\'t like it used to be!
When I went to college, in the mid 70's, I came with my Smith-Corona electric typewriter. For many of our readers, they've just asked themselves what's an electric typewriter, and who was Smith-Corona? -- Today, as I type this article on my state-of-the-art computer, I give pause to contemplate the change in communication, from not only the physical world, but the visceral world. Communication hasn't changed, but the world around us has, thus changing communication!
Posted on 2003-11-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Communication; Part II - Inter-personal communication increases performance
If you were to examine the Coast Guard's Leadership Competencies list, a single, sometimes invisible thread, connects each item within each group. This thread then connects each group of competencies to another. This invisible thread, winds its way thru the weave and the warp, held together by a frame, that we call the Coast Guard. -- What is the philosophical thread? It is the most basic and simple building block of a society, yet it can be the most difficult to master. It is called communication. Communication is the ability to impart ideas, values, mores, and concepts to an individual or a group. Communication, and the ability to convey one's vision, is at the heart of leadership.
Posted on 2003-11-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Towing a vessel - its more involved then you think!
If only people understood the physics involved in docking a boat, and that speed or rather the lack of it, is a crucial factor in easy docking, we wouldn't laugh as much. But this article is not about docking; maybe another article will cover the techniques needed for an easy docking maneuver. This article is about towing. And just as speed impacts on docking, there are several other forces at work when you tow. Towing is a very dangerous business!
Posted on 2003-11-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Boating with the Pooch - Some safety items to think about
In the last ten years, I think my wife and I have gone out on our boat only a handful of times without our dog. That's a lot of hours on the water, with our beloved pooch. -- Over the years, we've hit some bumpy seas, some very very hot and humid weather, and some ideal weather. We've gone swimming in bays, coves and chop. We've been lucky, but we also plan rather well. -- Here are some tips that will make your day on the water safe and enjoyable for all the participants
Posted on 2003-10-19
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Don\\'t forget about these boating items, they\\'re part of your vessel\\'s safety plan - (part 1 of a 2 part series)
For those who manage people or other assets, program computers, or even plan a dinner party, if you learn the acronym KISS and live by it, you'll find life is a lot easier. - But obtaining the nirvana of KISS is not easy, because it's so simple! And because it is just so plain simple, many of us overlook the obvious. So whether you're planning the merger of multiple government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security just did, or jotting down the driving instructions to your house, you always realize you missed something small and obvious. - Some items you should not overlook, when it comes to your boat, its crew and their safety are often missed, because they are just so plainly obvious - but are they?
Posted on 2003-10-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Coast Guard Academy needs you to help fill the class of 2008!
The AIM Program and Auxiliary Career Counselor's help achieve this goal. - This year, over six thousand men and women applied for an appointment at the Coast Guard Academy. Only one in fourteen will receive an appointment, and approximately 75% of those appointed will enroll as a United States Coast Guard Cadets. - Now if your mathematically impaired, don't worry, I'll spell it out. Of the 6,028 applications, the Academy made 429 appointments. 305 accepted. One would think the Academy is flush with candidates, since they received so many applications.
Posted on 2003-09-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Good Mate: Fast Facts about Sewage Pollution
Well summer is here and the weather is hot in many parts of the country. This is the "prime time" for most boaters to enjoy waterskiing, snorkeling, or just plain cruising and taking an occasional dip to cool off. -- Sounds perfect, right? But there is one sure thing that can spoil this idyllic scenario - a close encounter with human sewage! This article continues the series on how to be a "Good Mate" and help make sure that boating as a sport remains good clean fun.
Posted on 2003-08-25
Written by: Ed Sweeny

You and Your Bilge - can you have a stable marriage?
For those of us who are currently married, we know that marriage is the world's most difficult compromise. For those of us who are divorced, we know that marriage was the world's most difficult compromise. For those of us who boat, we also know that our bilge, while extremely important to our vessel is also a compromise, between safety, and environmental protection. -- What exactly is a bilge? According to Chapman's 56th Edition, "The term Bilge is also applied to the lower interior areas of the hull of a vessel. Here water that leaks in, or is blown aboard as spray, collects as Bilge Water, to be later pumped overboard by a bilge pump."
Posted on 2003-08-10
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted: -- Health Care Professionals
Do you have health care skills? Did you ever want to blend your career and vocation with your altruistic nature? -- If so, the United States Coast Guard, though their volunteer component, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary wants you! -- Today the term Health Care Professional has more meaning than just physician or dentist. The term includes a whole plethora of highly trained and education men and women, from the entire spectrum of the health field.
Posted on 2003-08-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Why my line and rode are so important!
An often overlooked and unappreciated team member on your boat can be the very reason you may survive a mishap at sea. The term "at sea" is somewhat misleading, because it can be used to describe your vessel in a small lake or a Great Lake, a tributary, a river, a bay or the ocean. -- Why are your anchor line and rode so important? Well, as we nautical types know, ropes are called lines on your vessel. The rode is the line that's connected to your anchor, and your anchor, well, it's your anchor. But that didn't answer the question, did it?
Posted on 2003-07-23
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Coast Guard Auxiliary Discusses How to Be A Good Mate: - Fast Facts about Vessel Maintenance Pollution
Spring is here, and a sailor's thoughts turn to boating. It is that time of the year when tens of thousands of power boaters and sail enthusiasts alike are preparing their vessel for the upcoming boating season. -- Whether you store your vessel on the water or in your backyard, this series of articles will help you be a Good Mate and keep the marine environment clean and green.
Posted on 2003-07-23
Written by: Ed Sweeny

Of all the electronics you can purchase for your boat - There's one that's NOT a toy!
Boats are to Men as Tools are to Men - Boats are to Men as Electronics are to Boats and Men are to Toys as Boats are to Electronics and Men! - The one electronic tool (notice the change in description from toy) that changes your legal standing (from a liability standpoint), when installed is RADAR. Radar, as most of us know, stands for RAdio Detection And Ranging; it used radio waves to identify the shape and approximate distance of objects from your vessel's position.
Posted on 2003-07-08
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Always wanted to fly, but can't afford it - The Coast Guard Auxiliary can get you in the Air!
From the early days of my childhood, I'd watch on TV shows like Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers (the original series; in re-runs - I'm not that old!). I'd also watch shows like the Thunderbirds and Fireball XL5 (those marionettes of the future) or war movies like 12 O'Clock High or Wings of Eagles. Then, I join the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. I knew the Coast Guard (and the Auxiliary) did boating (that wasn't rocket science), and I also knew the Coast Guard had an air wing, since Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn was just a hop, skip and a jump from where I grew up. But it never really clicked that the Auxiliary had an air wing, and that I could participate.
Posted on 2003-06-20
Written by: Wayne Spivak

"Boating Season" "Sailing Season" --Let's make sure its a safe one
On and on, up and back, those crazy cartoon characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck would yell at poor Elmer Fudd, trying to both confuse him and save their own hides. Ultimately, poor old Elmer would end up shooting both of them, after being shot himself. A very dangerous game, but fortunately it's only a cartoon. -- But it's really the boating season again and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is busy patrolling your local waters in support of the Coast Guard's recreational boating safety mission. We want your boating season to be not only fun but safe as well.
Posted on 2003-06-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Fleet Week - 2003 -- USCG and USCG Auxiliary helps make a safe and successful event
Out of the fog a gray image begins to emerge and take form, first the bow, then the forecastle and slowly the bridge and foremast. Along the rail standing shoulder to shoulder are men and women in dress whites. -- The men o'war slowly steam up the Narrows, heading towards their berthing. -- All the while, small smart boats zip up and down the Narrows, the Hudson and the East River. Some of these are small zodiac type boats in international orange; others show the orange and blue racing stripe which signifies their affiliation, while still other boats are recreational boats, also flying a similar distinctive orange and blue burgee. -- These boats belong to the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Posted on 2003-06-06
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Don't forget your First Aid Kit and Course!
Two years after I bought the twenty footer, I realized that my boat was missing something. I couldn't believe I could overlook this vital aspect of my boat's equipment, as well as both my safety as well as my guests. And what makes this oversight even more embarrassing, is that I should know better. In another life (when I was in my early twenties) I was a NYC medic. After leaving the New York City Emergency Medical Service, I kept my qualifications up for over a decade. What did I forget? Simply a first aid kit for the boat!
Posted on 2003-06-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Alcohol and BWI - Why we must get "BADD"
RE-RELEASED: "Alcohol involvement in reported accidents accounted for 31 percent of all boating fatalities (page 31) -- up five (5) percent from 1999. A Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.", according to the USCG 2000 Boating Statistics. We, as a sport, need to get as 'madd' as drivers have, and become 'badd'er than they are in order to promote safe boating, without alcohol.
Posted on 2003-05-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

All it takes is a spark and BOOM!
Every year, near every major recreational boating center, a shattering event will make the local and sometimes regional news. It's not the type of event that the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary find satisfying, rewarding or invited. In some respects, the only "good" which will come from this event is the inevitable object lesson. And as object lessons go, we'd rather not have this type of event from which to pull the example.
Posted on 2003-05-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Why your VHF radio is Sooooo Important!; And why knowing how to use it, is more important!
On 11 May 1993, two vessels that were in the same general area (the waters off Fan Island, Porcher Peninsula, British Columbia.) transmitted MAYDAY messages at about the same time. The message, as received, read: "MAYDAY MAYDAY ... going down." The other message read: "MAYDAY MAYDAY we're going down." All recreational boats should carry a VHF marine radio on board. While currently not a federal regulation, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, during their Vessel Safety Check (VSC) recommends this piece of safety equipment. More importantly, all members of the crew needs to know how to use this important piece of safety equipment!
Posted on 2003-05-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A New Definition for CHAOS
The dictionary defines the word CHAOS as "A condition or place of great disorder or confusion." Chaos is then the antithesis of order. And boating on the south shore of Long Island, NY is anything but order. Lets see why a so-called calm day on the water quickly turns into a nightmare of chaotic activity, as individual boats and boaters go about the waterways, without as much as wisp of understanding of what the Rules of the Road are all about.
Posted on 2003-04-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

2002 JOC HALEY AND CDR SIMPSON PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS RESULTS
HE JOC ALEX HALEY AND CDR JIM SIMPSON PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS RECOGNIZE UNIT SUCCESSES IN RAISING SERVICE VISIBILITY. THE JOC ALEX HALEY AWARD HONORS INDIVIDUALS WHO DEPICT THE COAST GUARDS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS, WHILE THE CDR JIM SIMPSON AWARD RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN A UNITS OVERALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM.... FOR AUTHOR - ALL OTHERS ... MR. WAYNE SPIVAK SECOND PLACE
Posted on 2003-03-19
Written by: ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

A Tidy Vessel is a Safe Vessel
When I was younger, I remember saying "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." I guess it was our cultures way of teaching us that neat and clean were a healthy way to live. Then I remember my third-grade teacher sending me to the desk in the back of the room for being a slob. Oh well, so much for "being next to Godliness." However, that old adage as many old sayings do has some truth to them. And no better place to share the validity of the adage is on your boat. A sloppy boat is just a disaster waiting to happen.
Posted on 2003-03-16
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Yes! Believe it or not, our waterways do have rules of the road!
Could you imagine, given the sheer number of cars on the road today, if we didn't have traffic laws? Cars would zoom hither and yarn, with absolutely no rhyme or reason. Speed, it would be the autobahn on your residential side streets! In 2000, the Coast Guard shows 12,782,143 registered boats, which resulted in 7,740 accidents and 701 deaths as a result of those accidents. If you do some non-scientific statistical analysis, 3% of the registered vehicles were in accidents. In any event, one of the reasons why there were 7,740 accidents on the water was that people did not follow the Rules of the Road.
Posted on 2003-03-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Not just another PFD story
"Just an old fashioned love song playing on the radio" from the song "Old Fashioned Love Song" sounds just like every story you read about Personal Flotation Devices, also known as PFD's and Life Jackets. "You'll swear you've heard it before as it slowly rambles on and on", how you should wear your PFD. So, this story will catch an edge, and won't be "Just an old fashioned love song" but will hopefully be "Coming down in three part harmony." And those three parts are Why and When, When and Where, and lastly Who, Why, When and Where.
Posted on 2003-03-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Homeland security and the maritime nation
When Lief Ericson, the Norse explorer first stepped ashore in Newfoundland, he began what was to become a long standing tradition of that maritime nation. Defending this tradition became a national interest, during the pioneer years of this nation, as British and privateer fought for control of the sea lanes. Both parties understood the need to control access of the sea lanes, as well as access to protected harbor
Posted on 2003-01-21
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Old Flares breed a dilemma
The off-season is here, and you're begging to get back into the boating season. While chomping at the proverbial bit, you begin to sort through your boat equipment. You find your pyrotechnic safety items. We're talking about are your flares, your meteor The Coast Guard will be moving (currently slated for March 1) , pardon the pun; lock, stock and barrel from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security. All current missions assigned to the Coast Guard will remain with the Coast Guard. From search and rescue to environmental protection, stewardship of the oceans and your orange smokes. But what do we do about the second generation (older than 6 years) of retired flares? The question you need to ask yourself is; "Do I think they will ignite?" If you don't feel confident with keeping these second generation retired flares, then you will need to dispose of them, safely and legally.
Posted on 2003-01-16
Written by: Wayne Spivak

What do I do with my old fire extinguishers?
It invariably happens. In fact it's almost common-place. One would be amazed at how much this has become such a common occurrence. It happens every time I teach a safe boating course. It happened just the other day, by e-mail. It is that e-mail that has prompted this article. What happens? I'm asked "What do I do with my old fire extinguishers?"
Posted on 2003-01-06
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Think Boating Safety There is no time like the present
Think Boating Safety! There is no time like the present to examine last year, and plan for next. Maybe you just sold your boat, or are in the process. What type of boat and boating are you now looking forward to? How does this impact on the safety of you and your passengers? Are you in need of more boating education? Do you have enough experience (piloting) in the class of boat that you are purchasing?
Posted on 2002-12-08
Written by: Wayne Spivak

With the holidays around the corner - why not give the best gift to your nautical loved one A Nautical Education
Trying to determine that ultimate gift for your seafaring loved one? We in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary have the perfect answer. Give them the gift of safety! Encourage them to take one of our many boating educational courses.
Posted on 2002-11-30
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Bad Judgment causes Death of Fisherman How can these types of accidents be mitigated; EDUCATION
On October 12th, 2002, a 24 foot center console boat with two fishermen left their dock at the Westwind Marina in Seaford, not far from the Jones Beach Inlet, in Nassau County, Long Island, New York. Be acquainted with the capabilities of your boat, and know when the seas are safe, and when they are not. Unfortunately, many times, as it was this 12th day of October, lessons are learned from the school of hard knocks, and sometimes those knocks are fatal.
Posted on 2002-11-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Suddenly in Command
The Coast Guard used to put out a small booklet called "Suddenly in Command". Unfortunately, I do not think it is still available! Iread it some time a couple of years ago, and did not think much more about it until, one day, I was diving in Florida. While driving, I had my hand-held VHF radio on, and heard a woman asking for help. She kept the transmit button depressed while she kept repeating "Help me! My husband has had a heart attack and I don't know how to run the boat. Help me!" She never let up on the mike button so I couldn't respond to get her location. Unfortunately, her husband didn't make it.
Posted on 2002-11-01
Written by: Ray McAllister

Water Fowl Hunter's - Guess what, you should know more about boating!
Ahoy Hunter! Do you a hunt water fowl or hunt in and around lakes, streams, rivers, or ponds? Do you use a jon boat, rowboat, duck-boat or a blind near your favorite haunt? If you do, you should seriously think about getting more education, specifically boating education! Most of us think accidents never happen to us, but denial won't help, if you or someone in your party is involved in an accident.. In the year 2000, the Coast Guard reported that 23 vessels were involved in accidents, while the occupants were hunting. Ten (10) fatalities resulted from those 23 accidents. That's about 1/10th of 1% of all fatalities reported that year, not much of a risk, but its 43% of all boating accidents related to hunting. Now that's a major risk!
Posted on 2002-10-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted -Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Specialists
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted - Commercial Vessel Examiners
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted - Vessel Examiners
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted -Career Counselors
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted -Watchstander
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted - Marine Safety
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted -Marine Dealer Visitors
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted -Aviators (Pilots, Air Crew, and Air Observers)
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted -Aids to Navigation (ATON) Verifier
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted - Material Procurement Specialists
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Ed Sweeney

Help Wanted - Journalists
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted -Instructors
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted - Information Specialists
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-09-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Help Wanted - Boat Crew
Positions Open in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary for and by Auxiliarists
Posted on 2002-03-06
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Change of Command at Jones Beach Motor Lifeboat Station; A Lesson in Leadership
For the past several months, the Coast Guard has been performing a rite dj passage that is steeped in tradition and ceremony. Generations of Coasties have performed this same ceremony as a way to keep the continuity of leadership intact. The rite dj passage is the Change of Command. Whether this occasion is marking the change of command for the commandant or for an officer in charge, continuity of leadership and command must be maintained. Sometimes, the leadership values exhibited by the outgoing officer provide an exceptional example of not only the core values of the Coast Guard, but the values that all leaders should demonstrate
Posted on 2002-09-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Swept 80 miles out to sea in a Kayak -- Could this happen to you?
In July 2002, John Stockton, went out for a short row on his kayak. Twenty-four hours later, a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter, C-130 airplane and a Navy P-3 Orion airplane, Mr. Stockton was plucked out of the water. The Coast Guard and Navy search more than 12,000 nautical miles of ocean, more than twice the size of the big island of Hawaii. Incidentally, that's where Mr. Stockton went kayaking. In this case, both the Coast Guard and Navy can chalk up a successful Search and Rescue (SAR). Not every SAR case is successfully prosecuted, and boaters, all boaters should understand the dangers, as well as the good times involved in what is essentially a very safe sort. Extreme example, well truth is stranger than fiction, and problems like these happen everyday. Lets examine Mr. Stockton's case and see where he went wrong and what he could have done to minimize his situation, the danger he put himself in, as well as the danger to the rescue crews who went out to search for him.
Posted on 2002-08-31
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Why Sailor's need more education than Power boaters - or do they?
Let's face the facts. To pilot a power boat, all you need to do is put it in gear and steer. But to properly pilot a sail boat, it takes a far greater amount of skill, training and education. Navigation, weather, sail trim, currents and their set and drift, are all elements that make sailing what it is, a great great historical and traditional pastime. But, as previously mentioned, it takes education.
Posted on 2002-08-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

It would have made a Great Video!
Last summer, my wife and I met up with two other boats at Zachs Bay, a cove by Jones Beach on the South Shore of Long Island, NY. While the friends were conversing, a twenty-seven foot cabin cruiser motored to a position about 10 feet West of us. The actions of the Skipper of that Twenty-seven footer have given all of us hours of chuckles, humorous stories and a great safety and education lesson. The Skipper of this vessel broke almost every lesson we teach in Boating when it comes to anchoring.
Posted on 2002-08-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Coast Guard Auxiliary joins the fight against Aquatic Nuisance Species
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) has quickly become a top priority of marine biologists in the United States. These creatures which have invaded our lands have caused widespread and tremendous amounts of damage. The United States Coast Guard has been tasked with fighting the encroachment caused by these creatures. As such, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, has also taken up the fight. What exactly are Aquatic Nuisance Species? What does the Coast Guard and Auxiliary do to fight this menace? How can you help? These and other questions will be answered in this article.
Posted on 2002-07-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Alcohol and BWI - Why we must get "BADD"
"Alcohol involvement in reported accidents accounted for 31 percent of all boating fatalities (page 31) -- up five (5) percent from 1999. A Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.", according to the USCG 2000 Boating Statistics. We, as a sport, need to get as 'madd' as drivers have, and become 'badd'er than they are in order to promote safe boating, without alcohol.
Posted on 2002-07-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

PWC's - A little safety will go a long way
Personal Water Craft; three words that elicit such a wide range of emotions to those of us who participate in Recreational Boating, and Recreational Boating Safety. Just three little words, and an even short acronym - PWC, one would have never suspected! Ask at any public boat ramp or marina what people think of PWC's and you'll hear everything from "greatest invention since the outboard motor" to "they should be shot on sight". Obviously, we don't want to encourage people to violence, but we also need to put PWC's, there use, and misuse in the proper perspective.
Posted on 2002-06-15
Written by: Wayne Spivak

A Typical Day in the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Ever wondered what an average day was like for the Coast Guard Auxiliary? On any average day, somewhere in the United States, an Auxiliarist will help educate 929 people on issues surrounding Recreational Boating Safety and Marine Environmental Protection. Likewise, America's Volunteer Lifesavers will save $729,000 worth of property while assisting 56 People in Trouble on Water. Another 615 Vessel Safety Checks will be performed as well as over 150 support missions for the United States Coast Guard. And most important of all, one or two recreational boaters, whose death was certain - somewhere on the waters of the US - had his or her life saved by a Coast Guard Auxiliarist! And to top it all off, they, enjoyed what they were doing! They like volunteers all over the nation reaped the rewards that only come when you unselfishly give to others so they can better themselves.
Posted on 2002-06-03
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Aviators - the Coast Guard Auxiliary Needs You!
Sailors (power and sail) and their younger brethren, Aviators, share many common attributes. Terminology, navigation, reliance on weather and weather forecasting, all makes the boater and the aviator part of the same circle of adventurers. The United States Coast Guard has long been involved with aviation. Back in 1915, the Coast Guard used a Curtis flying boat as the test bed of whether aviation was practical for search and rescue. Today it's obvious that those first tests developed (after some trials and tribulations) into one of the major components of the Search and Rescue mission of the Coast Guard. The Aviation Branch of the United States Coast Guard is not just for pilots! Anyone Auxiliary member can join the Aviation Branch. While, the Coast Guard Auxiliary does not train pilots, it does train Observers and Air Crew.
Posted on 2002-05-27
Written by: Wayne Spivak

All it takes is an Article - And now there is a Brownie Troop that understands boating safety
In February 2002, an article appeared in the Long Island Boating World on why I became a member of the Auxiliary, and why you (the reader) may want to consider helping not only your fellow boaters and the Coast Guard, but the country. That one small article has spawned many a Public Affairs success.I received many phone calls from readers of Long Island Boating World inquiring about the Auxiliary, the Coast Guard, and public education courses. One such inquiry, which came in early April, was from Bob and Grace Zick of Baldwin, New York
Posted on 2002-05-27
Written by: Wayne Spivak

You, Your Marina, the Coast Guard And the Coast Guard Auxiliary A vital link in Recreational Boating Safety
Have you ever noticed as you walked into your Marina, a small decal on the front door that says "Cooperating Marine Dealer" with a USCG Auxiliary Emblem? We would hope you do. We, the Coast Guard Auxiliary want you to look for this decal and ask your Marina if they are a member of this program. Why and why would you care? Because boating businesses who become cooperating members of the Marine Dealer Visitor program mean they have a commitment to Recreational Boating Safety. This commitment means that they are committed to your safety. Your family's safety, and the boating publics' at-large safety.
Posted on 2002-05-17
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Our Most Precious Resource And we fail to protect them!
We think long and hard about them. We worry about them. We nurture them and plan our lives around them. Then why don't we protect them? We're talking about our children, our society, or for that matter any society's most precious resource. We're also talking about boating. We're talking about safety and we're talking about logic, and laws, and most importantly, just plain 'ol horse sense! In 2000, the United States Coast Guard reported that twenty-eight (28) children under the age of 12 died in boating accidents (out of 701 reported deaths or 4%). That same year, seventy-two (72) youngsters, aged 13 - 19 died in boating accidents (or 9.7% of the total deaths).
Posted on 2002-05-09
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Attention Kayakers - Did you know you are a real boat?
In 1996, an estimated 40,000 kayaks were sold. In the year 2000, the United States Coast Guard Office for Boating Safety reported 104 deaths from canoeing and /or kayaking, 93 from drowning. Of all boating fatalities, from all types of boats, 84% of those who died never took a boating course. In 1999, 84 people died in canoeing/kayaking accidents, all but 4 died from drowning. 90% of all boating fatalities were incurred by those who did not have a boating safety course. An educated boater, and as a kayaker or canoeist, you are a boater, is a safer boater. Safety - Did you know that the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary provides Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) for all type of waterborne vessels! From power boats to jet skis, rowboats to kayaks, from inflatable boats to pontoon planes, the Auxiliary will check your boat to make sure you have the required safety equipment aboard. That means 65 people may have survived their kayaking accident if they were wearing a PFD. The USCG Auxiliary is concerned with all Recreational Boating Safety issues, and believe it or not, kayak's and canoe's are real boats too!
Posted on 2002-05-01
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Kids Love Boating and Coastie just loves Kids! -Invite a real life Coast Guard Cutter to your next event!
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has been promoting safe boating since 1939. Commissioned at the USCG Cutter Coastie (WAUX), Coastie is the first of what we hope is a long line of Low Endurance Coast Guard Cutters. Why is because we're dedicated to teaching youngster's boating safety. Coastie is fun! Coastie IS FUN!!!!! Children just love the way Coastie moves and talks to them.
Posted on 2002-03-30
Written by: Wayne Spivak

Summer is just around the Corner - And a USCG Auxiliary Boating Course may just be the ticket
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, with its 34,000 members, provides the boating public with fair number of boating courses.
Posted on 2002-03-06
Written by: Wayne Spivak

This year, why not be safe! --Get a Free Vessel Safety Check
What better way to know that your vessel has all the appropriate safety gear, then with a Vessel Safety Check (VSC). Whether you're a PWC user or a sailor, power boater or kayaker, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary provides free Vessel Safety Checks for all noncommercial boaters (there are also programs for un-inspected passenger vessels and commercial fishing vessels). What is a Vessel Safety Check (VSC)? - A Vessel Safety Check is a courtesy examination of your boat (Vessel) to verify the presence and condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal regulations.
Posted on 2002-02-14
Written by: Wayne Spivak

So you want to help America -- The Coast Guard Auxiliary is more than just boats
In few short weeks ago, life for America changed for ever. Just as it did some 60 years ago, Americans were shaken from compliancy by acts so horrific, they belie simple explanations. Even back then, the USCG Auxiliary (then called the Reserve) was playing a major role in recreational boating safety and search and rescue.
Posted on 2001-12-06
Written by: Wayne Spivak