U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray, South Carolina

www.uscgaux-lakemurray.com

Flotilla Island, Johnson Marina Road, Chapin, SC

Newsletter Publication of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray, SC March 2016

7th COAST GUARD DISTRICT COMMANDER Rear Admiral Scott Buschman DIRECTORY OF AUXILIARY DISTRICT 7 Commander William E. Seward DISTRICT SEVEN Commodore Robert Weskerna Chief of Staff Judith Hudson U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR CHARLESTON Commander CAPT Gary Tomasulo U.S. COAST GUARD STATION CHARLESTON Senior Chief BMCS Justin Longval Executive Petty Officer BMC Tim Abrams AUXILIARY LIAISON Sector Charleston LT Jeffrey Prebeck Station Charleston BM1 Travis Rogers AREA SECTOR COORDINATOR ASC COMO Henry Pratt DIVISION 12 Commander Allen James Vice Commander Joe Livingston

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray, South Carolina

Flotilla Island, 2390 Johnson Marina Road, Chapin, SC

N 34° 06’ 23.7” W 081° 18’ 54.1”

Photo by Michael Mikutaitis

FLOTILLA 12-3 LAKE MURRAY

Flotilla Commander

Festus Burchfield

Vice Commander

Scott Iverson

LAKE MURRAY MARINER Newsletter Staff

Editor Barbara Burchfield with C. Russell Jernigan, John Mezynski & Calvin Bowen LAKE MURRAY MARINER is the official

newsletter of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 12-3 and is intended as a publication to

keep the membership apprised of the activities

of the Auxiliary. All articles and photographs

submitted must be consistent with the policies

of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and may

not be returned.

Personal information of members is protected

by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these

rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on

any computer or online service including the

Internet is prohibited by the Act.

.

2016 STAFF OFFICERS

Communications

Calvin Bowen

Communication Services Barbara Burchfield

Diversity Stephen Pstrak

Finance

Barbara Burchfield

Human Resources Festus Burchfield

Information Systems Michael Mikutaitis

Marine Safety Eric Starmer

Materials Michael Mikutaitis

Member Training Allen Crothers

Operations Festus Burchfield

Public Affairs Bill Lindsay

Publications

Barbara Burchfield

Public Education Scott Iverson

Program Visitors-RBS Robert Falsetti

Secretary/Records

Lucy Wingard

Vessel Examinations John Mezynski

Special Projects Russ Jernigan

Bill Lindsay Ken Uschelbec

On the cover: Flotilla 12-3 members Kenny Uschelbec and Robert Falsetti talk with folks about boating safety at the Columbia Boat Show on Friday, Feb. 13, as they hand out safety infor-mation. Photo by John Mezynski, FSO-VE.

INFORMED ENGAGED VALUED

February was one of those months that makes me wonder when the “slow season” is anymore. I miss those days. Flotilla 12-3 was well rep-

resented with 8 uniformed members at the Co-lumbia Boat Show on Feb. 12-14. Thank you all for your participation and fellowship at the event and to Lake Murray Association for shar-ing their booth with us. The long awaited Boat Crew Class started on Feb. 20 and will continue with weekly ses-sions, depending on the other flotilla activities already scheduled. We hope to qualify 3 to 4 new boat crew this year. An Auxiliarist account-ant friend said her estimate of the cost to train and qualify a new crew member was in the neighborhood of about $3,000.00. This in-cludes the estimated cost of instructors, boat time, materials and equipment. That doesn’t surprise me, given the resources and time in-volved. I attended a national Public Education webinar on Feb. 18 that introduced two new online courses to be rolled out in March: Basic Boat Handling (BBH) and Modern Marine Navigation (MMN). We’ll pass along information as details are released and perhaps work them into our member training programs. In preparation for our Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) activities, my truck has been of-fered and accepted by the Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) as an Operational Facility in order to tow the new “BAT-PAK Lite” RBS trailer. We at-tended an RBS training session on Feb. 25 at Coast Guard Station Charleston to qualify for the RBS trailer use and towing. The annual required Operational Facility Vessel Examination was completed Feb. 27 for “Voyager”. Voyager is qualifying for service and on-water training .

Festus Burchfield, Flotilla Commander

The VE Workshop was held Feb. 27, perfectly timed to prepare our Vessel Examiners for the annual Ft. Jackson VSC day on March 8. The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is March 18-20 and once again we ask your support to staff our flotilla booth. Our first About Boating Safely course will be March 26 on the south side of the lake at Hollow Creek Community Center. Another event that is just around the corner is the Ft. Jackson Safety Stand-Down April 19. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and fun while hosting a safety booth on base. The Great Portage Race 2016 teleconfer-ences have begun already in order to shore up logistics and resources for the July 30th event. Coast Guard Station Charleston sent a list of 2016 on-water Charleston events that will need to be supported by Auxiliary vessels. As we are able, Flotilla 12-3 will participate so watch your email for opportunities and details. As a cautionary note during the endless “political season”, please review the Auxiliary Manual Chapter 10 concerning uniform policy.

Excerpt:

Wearing of the Auxiliary uniform without prop-er authority is a violation of law. Prohibited oc-casions for wear include: a. In places of dubious reputation where the

uniform might be discredited or disgraced.

b. When engaged in political activities.

c. During paid employment or sports.

d. Aboard an Auxiliary vessel or aircraft facility unless the facility is on an authorized patrol.

e. Entry to or while present in a foreign coun-try or territory unless specifically authorized by an appropriate Coast Guard authority.

That will get us to August, plus I’m out of ideas for the moment. I would like your feedback and com-ments. More details for each of months program will follow. Go ahead and get started on fulfilling your 5 VSC. I started mine at the boatyard Satur-day morning. Please send me your VSC numbers prior to the end of each month and don’t forget to report them into AuxData. Take pictures of your VSC and remember the proper uniform and no sunglasses in the pho-tos. Please also get the names of those in the pho-tos and let them know them may be used for pub-lication In order to remain certified, you must complete (5) five VSC (passing or failing) each calendar year. You will also need to complete AUXMT in order to qualify, re-certify, and avoid REYR sta-tus. This must be completed by Dec. 31, 2016. Vessel Examination Workshops We held the 2014 and 2016 Vessel Examination Workshops on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Lexington Main Library from 9:00am - 12:00pm. Instructors Al Crothers and Festus Burchfield, delivered an interesting and informative work-shop that helped us brush up on our skills and knowledge. MARCH 8 VSC Day Ft. Jackson Access to Fort Jackson is restricted so please con-tact me to participate and I’ll relay details to every-one in an email. ODU is the required uniform for us on the base.

Vessel Examinations________ _____________ John Mezynski, FSO-VE Division 12 Staff Officer-Vessel Examinations asked for my goals as FSO-VE this year. These are my thoughts for our flotilla VSC program goals in 2016: 1. FEBRUARY Fulfilment February. Simply put, go ahead and get your 5 VSC out of the way in the month Feb-ruary. This will allow us to concentrate on train-ing new VE’s and or recertifying VE’s who were-n’t able to get 5 VSC last year. 2. MARCH I’m calling this Marine Safety March Madness and I would like to have a group effort. I will be pulling together locations for VSC on a weekly basis. We will pool resources from friends in the industry and try to hit as many storage/marinas/gas stations with marine gas/tackle shops and other boating facilities as possible in March. 3. APRIL April and the AUX VE Ants. We will spread out individually to tackle VSC and public awareness. I will get lists of new boat deliveries from the dealers that just sold boats during the boat show. Most of these boats deliver in April. 4. MAY May 21-27 is National Safe Boating Week. Big push during this month to get boaters their VSC. 5. JUNE Just do it June. Don’t overlook a VSC from your local USCG Auxiliary members with boats. 6. JULY Proud to be an American USCG AUX VSC decal holder.

Bing photo file.

Navigation Systems_______________________ Roger Deaton, FSO-NS The U.S. Coast Guard published guidance that al-lows mariners to use electronic charts and publi-cations instead of paper charts, maps and publi-cations. The Coast Guard published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular, NVIC 01-16, on Feb. 5 to pro-vide uniform guidance on what is now considered equivalent to chart and publication carriage re-quirements. Combining the suite of electronic charts from the U.S. hydrographic authorities and the Electronic Charting System standards published this past summer by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, the Coast Guard believes offi-cial electronic charts provide mariners with a substitute for the traditional official paper charts. This technology will also allow mariners to take advantage of information and data to enhance situational awareness during voyage planning and while underway. “After consultation with our Navigation Safety Advisory Committee, the Coast Guard will allow mariners to use official electronic charts instead of paper charts, if they choose to do so. With real-time voyage planning and monitoring infor-mation at their fingertips, mariners will no longer have the burden of maintaining a full portfolio of paper charts,” said Capt. Scott J. Smith, the chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Navigation Sys-tems. The new guidance applies to vessels subject to U.S. chart, or map, and publication carriage re-quirements codified in Titles 33 and 46 CFR and provides a voluntary alternative means to comply with those requirements. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/pdf/2016/NVIC_01-16_electronic_charts_and_publications.pdf

Public Education___________________________ Scott Iverson, FSO-PE We have certified Instructors and one Trainee scheduled to present About Boating Safely (ABS) course on Saturday, March 26 at the Hollow Creek Community Center, 2701 Priceville Rd., Gilbert 29054. This location is one the south side of Lake Mur-ray, an area that has been called “under-served” when it comes to boating safety classes. Tell your friends and family about it. Registration for our two ABS courses can be made by contacting me at viking-waters7@gmail.com or online at SC DNR’s boat-er education website: Saturday , March 26 https://www.register-ed.com/events/register/74918

Saturday, May 21 https://www.register-ed.com/events/register/74919

Thanks to everyone who is advertising the course. Our PVs and members are distributing posters. Modern Marine Navigation

National PE Department issued an announcement of new online courses coming soon. More details to follow after the program launches in March. “The Coast Guard Auxiliary, in partnership with the Boat US Foundation, has developed this online, self-study course, called Modern Marine Navigation, which will make it possible for boaters to learn, us-ing their own computers or tablets, in the comfort of their own homes. This is the only navigation course offered anywhere that has been completely vetted by the US Coast Guard Navigation Center. It will be the gold stand-ard of navigation courses. ”

Marine Safety ______________________________ Eric Starmer, FSO-MS

The Winter 2015-16 issue of the Proceedings is now available online. The U.S. Coast Guard publishes the magazine quarterly, with each edition featuring a specific theme. Recent themes have included: Na-tional Maritime Center; International Ice Patrol; Environmental Crimes;

Search and Rescue; and Homeland Security. The Winter 2015-16 edition focuses on improving maritime safety.

Communications__________________________ Calvin Bowen, FSO-CM I am studying the Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOM) course and putting together an old fashion phone tree for flotilla members. There will be an upcoming HUREX (Hurricane Exercise) message district wide. All members will be called on their home phone, cell phone and contacted by e-mail. The phone ID number will appear as all eights, or as ones and zeros. Once the you've acknowledged the message, it means that the USCG is able to get in touch with us. When: Monday, April 18, 2016 midnight to Saturday, April 23, 2016 noon. Check your contact information now by going to www.auxofficer.cgaux.org and sign in with your AUX ID number and password. Enter your name or AUXID number in the Search box, then click on your name. All your information can be seen and edited here.

Communication Services________________ Barbara Burchfield, FSO-CS Updated information includes notices for ABS courses on the flotilla website front page and the “What’s New” page. FSO-CS reported 2016 goals for the website: Maintain current information on website Promote boating safety by including safety

videos Promote Auxiliary membership, activities

and community service Increase use of protected documents in the

Member Zone Promote flotilla interest with newsletters

available to public & prospective members Protect and record flotilla history for the fu-

ture www.uscgaux-lakemurray.com

Public Affairs________________________________ Bill Lindsay, FSO-PA I met with Risa Barnes , Chapin Chamber of Com-merce, concerning weekly newsletter applications and Flotilla 12-3 announcements. Also met with Karen Owens, Assistant to Chapin Mayor, regard-ing our flotilla events and distributed ABS class materials to their office. Barbara Burchfield has contributed enormously with input of material to Chapin Chamber of Com-merce and local media news releases to advertise the ABS course in March.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray

Boating Safety Class - Saturday, March 26

8:30am – 4:00pm in the Gilbert area

Contact Scott Iverson (910) 818-1558

vikingwaters7@gmail.com

Visit us online at

www.uscgaux-lakemurray.com

Member Training__________________________ Allen Crothers, FSO-MT

Member training last month included 2 VE Workshops on Feb. 27 PV Workshop on Feb. 29 Boat Crew training on Feb. 20 and Feb. 28

John Mezynski completed the Introductory to Auxiliary Public Affairs (AUX-20) course. John is working on earning the Public Affairs Specialist qualification. Kenny Uschelbec completed the require-ments to be requalified as Vessel Examiner this month. Ken Plesser completed Telecommunications (TCO) qualifications in January. Scott Moore delivered training at the Feb. 29 flotilla meeting, one of the requirements to be-come an Instructor. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary C-School AUX-04 in Charleston on March 17-20 was offered to mem-bers. The course is intended to provide intro-duction in the use of current media systems in electronic presentation and web site design.

MT HOURS - 99D on form 7029

PA TRAINING = 10G on form 7030

Not sure about what code to use? Ask Mike, FSO-IS

Information Systems____________________ Michael Mikutaitis, FSO-IS

send your reports to suedsois7@gmail

and michaelcae@yahoo.com

Operations_______________________________ Festus Burchfield, FSO-OP A detailed inventory of our personal protective equipment (PPE) was reported to USCG Sector Charleston in February for surface operations. Boat crew training classes started Feb. 20 with expectations to increase our program with 3-4 new crewmembers this year. In the first session we covered the required Per-sonal Qualification Standard (PQS) paperwork, the Qualification Examination (QE) process, uni-form policy & standards, Auxiliary Boat Crew Seamanship Manual Chapter 7, Marlinspike and part of Chapter 8, Boat Characteristics. In addition to the Seamanship Manual, we used the Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship (BS&S) Chapters 1 and 11 PowerPoints. With your member ID and password, you can down-load a free copy of BS&S at the Auxiliary Public Education website. Choose “multi-lesson cours-es”, then “BS&S”. Handouts included standard line handling com-mands, Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) infor-mation and Boat Crew qualifications. At each crew class we’ll practice the five basic knots required for crew certification: bowline, becket bend/sheet bend, square/reef knot, clove hitch and half hitch. Helpful online tools: http://www.animatedknots.com/ http://www.iwillknot.com/ In the second session on Feb. 28 we recapped the first class and covered first aid, survival and safety equipment, visual distress signals, pyro-technics and fires. Boat Crew and Trainees will need to actually read and study the Boat Crew Seamanship Man-ual to complete their training. We have flexible schedules for members who are working fulltime or otherwise not able to make some classes. Do the best you can to attend and we’ll help you to progress along.

Member Training________________________ Al Crothers, FSO-MT 2016 is the year you MUST complete the AUXMT

(mandated courses) in order to maintain your quali-

fications and participate in Auxiliary programs.

The videos/.pdf files/self-certification forms located

on the National Training Directorate Mandated

Training web page are the best ways to proceed

with completion of the AUXMT courses.

Those files can be found using this web link: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=T-DEPT&category=mandated-training Note: IS 100.b and IS 700.a are also AUXMT taken 1 time only on the FEMA website here:

http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx

Please discontinue the use of the AUXLMS portal for these courses, if you are still working on them. The portal has proven to be very unstable and will be removed in the near future. Also, watch for announcements where some of these courses might become available at a Flotil-la meeting. I am available to help if you are hav-ing issues with taking or completing the courses.

Course Code Course Name Frequency

502379 Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide Every 5 years

810030 Security Fundamentals Every 5 years

810015 Privacy at DHS / Protecting Personal Information Every 5 years

810000 Sexual Harassment Prevention Every 5 years

810045 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Every 5 years

502319 Civil Rights Awareness Every 5 years

502306 Ethics 1 / Personal Gifts 1 time only

502290 Influenza Training 1 time only

AUXOP program, advanced leadership courses

(like C-School, AUXLAMS, AMLOC, Flotilla

Leadership, ICS, and many others) are other oppor-

tunities for member training hours. Training op-portunities are listed on the links below: National site: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=t-dept District site: http://uscga-district-7.org/ Compendium: http://tdept.cgaux.org/documents/NATION-AL_MEMBER_TRAINING_COMPENDIUM.pdf

Please remember to record your training hours

(training and prep time) in the 99D column of the

7029 form when they are not captured on a work-

shop form. Or let the IS officer know that they are

training hours when they help you submit your

monthly hours.

Click here to see What’s New in Training

Columbia Boat Show February 12-14

Photo top, from left: Lake Murray Association Board member Roy Parker and President Dave Landis pose alongside LT. Garry Rozier, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Barbara and Festus Burch-field, Flotilla 12-3.

Photo below, from left: Festus Burchfield FC, Al Crothers FSO-MT and Scott Iverson VFC took turns handing out boating safety pamphlets.

Thank you to members who represented Flotilla 12-3 at the Columbia Boat Show:

Scott Iverson

Bob Falsetti

Kenny Uschelbec

John Mezynski

Al Crothers

Stephen Pstrak

Barbara Burchfield

Festus Burchfield

Photo below left: John Mezynski looks sharp and ready for business, while Festus Burchfield FC, who has been known to photo-bomb, looks like he’s up to something with a mischievous smile towards Al Crothers FSO-MT.

Vessel Examiners should be aware of the capa-bilities and approvals of the SIRIUS SOS C-1001 electronic distress signal. This light is accepta-ble as a nighttime visual distress signal. SIRIUS has included a daytime distress flag in the packaging so that it can market the package as a solution for a combined day/night signal, and as a replacement for flares. As long as the SIRIUS Signal Model SOS C-1001 is carried in conjunction with an acceptable daytime distress signal, this satisfies the day-time/nighttime signaling requirement. All electronic visual distress signals (VDS), in order to be acceptable, must be legibly and in-delibly marked with the statement: “Night Visu-al Distress Signal for Boats Complies with U.S. Coast Guard Requirements in 46 CFR § 161.013. For Emergency Use Only”, and must also be marked with the manufacturer’s name, replace-ment battery type and lamp size. If an electric light is designed for use with dry cell batteries the label must advise the consum-er on the battery replacement schedule, which under normal conditions would maintain per-formance requirements of 46 CFR § 161.013. When conducting a vessel safety check, all Aux-iliary Vessel Examiners are to check/verify this piece of safety equipment in accordance with the VSC Manual, COMDINST M16796.8A. Any further questions or concerns regarding this equipment should be routed appropriately via the Auxiliary’s chain of leadership and manage-ment. SIDE NOTE: SIRIUS Signal Model SOS C-1001 is an approved replacement for flares as a nighttime VDS when conducting vessel exami-nations on Auxiliary Operational Facilities.

The SIRIUS Signal Model SOS C-1001 floats in the water and sends a lighted Morse code SOS signal when activates. This article is informational only and not a prod-uct endorsement by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxilia-ry . Photos by Barbara Burchfield.

Update for Vessel Examiners SIRIUS SIGNAL LIGHT

20 January 2016

Source: BoatUS Foundation

Weather Station installed at Flotilla Island

Next time you’re wondering what the wind speed, humidity, temperature, barometric pressure or rainfall for the day, check out RCwinds.com. The new tower at Flotilla Island adds another weather station to the Richland County Weath-er Information Network Data System. The website says it is a reliable network of professional grade, automated weather monitoring stations located throughout Richland County to serve the diverse needs of our local communities. This critical information is used to enhance emergency plan-ning response, mitigation and recovery from incidents and disasters. In addition, this data helps improve local fore-casts, refine severe weather warnings, aid emergency re-sponse efforts, enhance agricultural productivity, assist local utility providers, and support business and industry. Source: RCwinds.com

TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY

WIND SPEED

BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

TODAY’S RAINFALL

http://thelakemurraynews.net/coast-guard-auxiliary-installs-2016-leadership/

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/military/article55262125.html

News Release January 18, 2016

Coast Guard Auxiliary installs 2016 Leadership

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray installed 2016 leadership at a Change of Watch

formal ceremony with U.S. Coast Guard leaders, members and guests on November 30, 2015.

Capt. Gary Tomasulo, Commander at Coast Guard Sector Charleston, and Justin Longval, Chief Boat-

swain's Senior Chief (BMCS), Coast Guard Station Charleston, conducted the swearing in oath of of-

fice for the 2016 flotilla leadership at the ceremony. Lake Murray Coast Guard Auxiliary 2016 elected

leadership positions are Festus Burchfield, Flotilla Commander, and Scott Iverson, Vice Commander.

Burchfield, a retired commercial airline pilot, led the flotilla as Commander in 2014 and 2015. Iverson

is Battalion Chief for the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fire / Emergency Management and lives

in Elgin, South Carolina with his family.

In support of Auxiliary flotilla leadership, staff officer appointments are Calvin Bowen, Communica-

tions; Barbara Burchfield, Communication Services (website), Finance and Publications; Stephen

Pstrak, Diversity; Festus Burchfield, Human Resource and Operations; Michael Mikutaitis, Information

Systems and Materials; Eric Starmer, Marine Safety; Allen Crothers, Member Training; Roger Deaton,

Navigation Systems, Billy Lindsay, Public Affairs; Scott Iverson, Public Education; Robert Falsetti,

Recreational Boating Safety Program Visitation; Lucy Wingard, Secretary and John Mezynski, Vessel

Examiners. Appointments for Special Projects are Kenny Uschelbec, Russ Jernigan and Billy Lindsay.

Capt. Tomasulo and BMCS Longval presented Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement Medal to Festus

Burchfield and Barbara Burchfield. The citation recognizes their superior performance of duty from

October 2009 through June 2015 while serving as State Liaison Officers for South Carolina.

Long time Auxiliary member Gerald Ruschkofski was presented a congressional letter and certificate

by Butch Wallace, District Director from the office of South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, to honor his 35

years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The change-of-watch ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by military tradition. It is a formal

custom that is designed to transfer command responsibility. The Auxiliary is the volunteer, non-

military component of the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, tasked with many of

the same operational missions as the Coast Guard. Learn more about Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray at

www.uscgaux-lakemurray.com.