U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Sierra Division 11

Date: June 17, 2009
Division: Sierra Division 11
DCDR Name: Diana Kincade

HIGHLIGHTS

1.VSC Days
2.Public Education Activities
3.Public Affairs Activities
4.New Website and Publication for Flotilla 11-05
5.Operational Activities
6.Watch Stander Update
7.VSC Days with City Agencies
8.Continued Training with CG Station Lake Tahoe
9.New Coast Guard Liaison – BM2 Graham Potter

DETAILS

1.VSC Days
a.On Saturday, May 23, Flotilla 11-01 hosted a VSC Day at the Meeks Bay Marina and Obexer’s Marina in conjunction with the West Shore Association’s Opening Day festivities. 40 vessel exams were conducted. 2 new VEs were qualified and 1 re-qualified.
b.On Saturday June 13, Flotilla 11-01 hosted VSC Days at Tahoe City Marina and the Lake Forest Boat Ramp. Although it was a rainy day, a new VE was qualified and 1 re-qualified.
2.Public Education Activities
a.Flotillas 11-03 and 11-05 conducted a joint ABS Class on June 6. There were 15 attendees. Flotilla 11-03 is training a new instructor.
b.Flotilla 11-04 conducted a GPS for Mariners Class on June 6. Over 18 students and Auxiliary members attended the class.
c.Flotilla 11-01 will be conducting an ABS class in Incline Village on June 27.
3.Public Affairs Activities
a.Brian Williams FSO PA 11-04 has set up a weekend television spot for the Auxiliary on Tahoe Channel RSNTV (CHNL12 on South Shore). We are giving a brief every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning at 0930. The brief consists of a weather forecast consisting of wind and wave predictions for 1400 and announcements for boating safety on the Lake Tahoe and public education class schedules.
b.Flotilla 11-04 shared a booth with a local kayak concession at an Arts and Craft Fair held at Zephyr Cove, NV on June 6.
c.On June 13, Flotilla 11-03 manned their “Little Toot” information booth at the Kids Free Fishing Day hosted by the Sparks Rotary. Over 1000 children attended this Sparks Marina event. Reno Auxiliary members discussed boating safety issues with parents and children and handed out whistles and activity books.
d.Flotilla 11-01 will be manning a booth at the annual Concours D’Elegance Wooden Boat Show, Carnelian Bay, CA on June 19-21.
e.Flotilla 11-01 will be participating in 2 July 4th celebration parades. One on July 2 for Red, White and Tahoe Blue in Incline Village, NV and the other in Truckee, CA on July 4th. The Truckee parade had over 24,000 attendees last year.
4.Flotilla 11-05 has introduced a new website http://www.carsonauxiliary.org/ and new newsletters this month. We now have 2 revised websites and 2 new flotilla newsletters this year.
5.Operational Activities
a.Flotilla 11-01 provided a safety zone patrol for the Mike Brown’s Seaplane Splash-In Memorial Day event. 8 seaplanes flew into the west shore of Lake Tahoe for an air show and barbeque. Flotilla 11-01 provided full communications for the event coordinating the Auxiliary and County marine units and air units.
b.Flotilla 11-01 provided safety zone patrols (including a PWC from 11-03) for the North Tahoe Rowing Regatta held at Kings Beach, CA on June 13. Over 50 rowing sculls participated in the event.
c.We have a QE day planned for June 29. Qualification participates include 2 new coxswains, a new boat crew, a coxswain 3-year qualification and a PWC 3-year qualification. Flotilla 11-03 is planning a QE day for a new coxswain and several new boat crew.
d.The remainder of June and early July will keep us busy with several regatta events including the Southern Cross Sailboat Race, 5 fireworks patrols and several paddleboard and kayak events.

AGENCY INTERACTIONS

1.Four watch standing candidates are now conducting their 5 three hour watches and will be taking their boards. Once this is complete we will be training 4 more watch standers.
2.On Saturday June 27, Flotilla 11-01 will be hosting VSC Days at Donner Lake and Ski Beach Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. The annual VSC Day at Donner Lake is a joint effort between the Auxiliary and the Truckee Sherriff’s Department. The VSC Day at Ski Beach is at the request of the Incline Village General Improvement District.
3.Various flotillas continue to train with Station Lake Tahoe on a weekly basis.
4.June 15 Dee Dee Kincade DCDR and Jack Leth SO-OP presented our old ALO BM2 Adam Season with a signed copy of a picture of one of the Station’s SAFE boats. BM2 Season is leaving for a new assignment on a buoy tender out of Homer, Alaska. We're going to miss really Adam. His replacement is BM2 Graham Potter.

UPCOMING EVENTS, DATES AND LOCATIONS

1.Jun 19-21 – Concours D’Elegance Wooden Boat Show, Carnelian Bay, CA
2.June 20 – Southern Cross Sailboat Race Regatta Patrol, South Lake Tahoe, CA
3.June 27 – VSC Day Flotilla 11-01 – Ski Beach, Incline Village, NV
4.June 27 – VSC Day Flotilla 11-01 – Donner Lake, Truckee, CA
5.June 27 - ABC Class Flotilla 11-01 – Incline Village, NV
6.Jun 29 - QE Day, South Lake Tahoe, CA
7.July 2 - Red, White and Tahoe Blue Parade, Incline Village, NV
8.July 3 - Kings Beach Fireworks Display Patrol, Kings Beach, CA
9.July 4 - Truckee Parade, Truckee, CA
10.July 4 - Tahoe City Fireworks Display Patrol, Tahoe City, CA
11.July 4 - Incline Village Fireworks Display Patrol, Incline Village, NV
12.July 4 - South Lake Tahoe Fireworks Display Patrol, South Lake Tahoe, CA
13.July 5 - Homewood Fireworks Display Patrol, Homewood, CA