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Meeting Minutes 4 SEPTEMBER 2008 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 6-1 Meeting called to order by FC Scott Hopkins Attendance: Dick Downing Jim Duch R.E. van Patten Chris Dix Bill Kessler Bob Liput Tim Welch Scott Hopkins Loren Gannon Terrell Brace Bob Liput
Introduction of New Members and Guests None
Award Presentation Gene Knight Coxwain Device
Acceptance of August Minutes: Gene Knight made a motion to accept the September minutes R.E. vanPatten seconded the motion; unanimously approved
Finance: Bill Kessler
The Beginning balance
for the period was $2510.08 and the ending balance was $3085.08 which is an
increase of $575. This resulted from an income of $325 for dues and $250
donation from Van Patten to the boat fund. The Social account increased to
$1785.80. The Education account was unchanged at $954.54. The boat account
change from $94.74 to $344.74. Staff Reports: Public Education: Dave Friedman Two issues for our flotilla, and probably the others as well, are:
This is not a reflection on past efforts; it just seems to be the same problem with every unit all over the country. So, to address this I have had conversations with Scott and Loren Gannon and here is an outline of some suggestions and where we may start. · For this fall we have discussed two general ideas. o Let’s offer a one-day GPS course and use the local retail outlets to help us promote it. People are starting to buy GPS units as gifts and we can ask the retailers to help promote this by saying here is an opportunity to learn more about how you can use the unit you are getting. We can charge a minimal fee for the benefit of the flotilla and provide the public with a needed service. o Since we have a problem recruiting students in general, we are going to investigate obtaining data bases from at least two general sources. The first is the state to see if we can get a list of registered boaters in the counties that we serve and then do a mailer, either by using the Auxiliaries franking privileges or e-mail, whichever the state information yields. We can also approach all of the retailers, and we have identified 4 in the area, the new 77 on Wilmington Pike, Skipper’s in Vandalia, Gander Mountain and the boat dealer off of I-75 just north of town before the airport turn-off. We can ask them for their mailing lists (understanding that they may not give it to us) and try to cooperate with them to help them drum up some business and to help educate their customers. We can present this in a positive light, not the negative one that I have heard about in the past. Since this potentially involves people that other flotillas might serve, this can be on a division level and we distribute the list of potential students according to the areas in which the live and the flotillas that serve those areas. Maybe this has been tried before, but it can’t hurt to try again. We have a whole new set of circumstances both locally and nationally with our economy and perhaps this can help everyone. · The basic idea here is to send out a survey to see what the needs are of local boaters. We can try and guide them to a BS&S course, the advanced navigation courses and membership. These lists can be updated each year with a potential of new candidates each year. We just need to market this very carefully. I am drafting a message that will be reviewed by Loren Gannon and Scott that can be sent to the media as well. We are trying to position this in a very brief and positive way so that people can see a direct benefit. · We are planning to have a regular BS&S course in February. I will clear the classroom with Fairmont High School, but we should start to promote that course now by talking to all of our boating friends and spreading the word. As simple a statement as, “Did you know that on the successful completion of a certified course like ours can benefit you financially with your insurance company?” · I have very briefly looked at the new Navigation course Table of Contents and it is different from what we have done in the past. They are heavy into electronic navigation. That’s great, but I think we have a limited audience here. That’s not to say we can’t offer it if there is a demand. We are going to have to re-train ourselves as well on this and I will take a very hard look at the contents and get copies for a number of our members who are Nav instructors. · That’s all I have for now. Any other suggestions are more than welcome. Finance: Bill Kessler It was decided that we would give those who are behind in their dues one more notice. We have a lot of money in the social fund. We must decide to do something with it. Member Training: Loren Gannon None Vessel Examination: Tim Welch None Personnel Services: Vic Bilek None
The SAREX on
September 6 for the most part was well managed. A search location was assigned
to each boat. The Coxswain was required to plan a dead reckoning course
computing the time to arrival. Once there he was told the type of search pattern
to use and what to look for. Our boat crew did the planning but we failed to
execute since the boat overheated as soon as we launched. Information Systems: Loren Schafer None Public Affairs: Loren Gannon None Materials: Dick Downing Supplies are being ordered for the flotilla Communications: Robert van Patten: · No further personal work or funds will be devoted to the development of NVIS antenna technology for AUX use. An 80 meter unit has been erected on a mast about 12 feet above ground and parts are on hand for a 40 meter unit should it ever be needed. For the time being the increasing use in Div. 6 of 25 watt transmitters, better antennas, and a land mobile shoreside station is doing a satisfactory job for the most part. NVIS technology will probably develop in the environment of a widespread failure of communications as it has in the amateur radio emergency services and in the extensive use as tactical radio by the military. · CM will proceed with the process of signing on with the AUX HF network stations and will modify equipment suitable for this purpose. When complete this will provide a 100 watt HF single sideband or Morse station with a 5KW standby generator. · No further action on the acquisition of a “portable” generator will be taken. After consultation with Mr. Duch and with the recent experience of regional power outages the main power supply for 611 Mobile will be in the form of a deep discharge cycle Marine service battery. One 55 ampere hour capacity unit will be sufficient for operations far in excess of one day demand, would be compact, and relatively easy to handle and move. · Operational personnel contemplating the use of a generator for powering up solid state electronics must be aware that unless the generator is described as being safe to use with such equipment the “hash” on the output of generators without clean power may cause damage to electronic equipment. · All but one (Lakengren) of the Emergency Response Guides for the Division 6 AOR venues have been transferred to disks which have been provided to FCs and Division. IPFC: Loren Gannon None Academy Admissions Partner Program (AAPP): Bob Liput There will be three Congressional programs this Fall. Dick Downing and Bruce Perri took part in college fairs at Marietta College and Tupin High School in Cincinnati. Old Business: At the last meeting I reported that the boat was running very well. However on the following Saturday at the SAREX the boat overheated as soon as we started it so we were unable to participate in the exercise. Gene Tim and I spent the whole month looking for the cause. Just yesterday we had it running without heating up but we must put it on the lake to determine if the fault is cured. We believe that the Exhaust flapper or flappers were partially blocked and the exhaust pressure buildup caused reduced coolant flow. We think this blockage came from the time that the boat was in the water at Grand Lake. Gene Knight and Tim Welch are to be commended for the effort and hard work they performed. There are other problems with the boat. The hydraulic surge brake, and the rod that operates the cylinder are bent. Dick Downing made a motion to spend the money necessary to fix or replace these parts. Jim Duch seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. According to Loren Schaefer there may be room in an aircraft hanger to store the boat. There will be four sessions for the crew academy. Fatigue, GPS, NAV Rules and ATONS will be on the agenda. NEW BUSINESS: The Division Dinner will be at The Treasure Island Supper Club in Moraine on October 25 It is important that we have good attendance. There was a discussion of the raffle and how much money we should spend for prizes. A motion was made by Bill Kessler to spend $150.00 for prizes. Jim Duch seconded the motion. There was unanimous approval. Chris Dix volunteered a stay in the Live Inn Suites in Sharonville. Jim Duch offered Dayton Bombers tickets as prizes. We are working on a plan to assist new members. Motion to adjourn. Gene Knight made the motion; R.E. van Patten 2nd; Unanimously Approved Training Session: Forms and Data presented by Dick Downing
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