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RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY NEWS FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
RBS
May, 2021
Job One
National Safe Boating Week
Special Edition
1 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
RBS Job One
NSBW Special Edition
Publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
NATIONAL CHAIN OF LEADERSHIP
Recreational Boating Safety Directorates AND MANAGEMENT
COMO Alex Malewski, National Commodore
INSIDE (NACO)
COMO Gus Formato, Vice National Commodore
3 50 Years of the Federal Boat Safety Act (VNACO)
5 Emergency Beacons Save Lives
COMO Gary Barth
7 Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day Deputy National Commodore (DNACO-RBS)
10 Boating Safety Facts
COMO Robert M Lauer
Assistant National Commodore for
Recreational boating activity soared during the 2020 boating season. So did on-
Recreational Boating Safety (ANACO-RB)
water accidents.
(Pre-COVID photo courtesy of US Coast Guard Boating Safety Division)
RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY
RBS Job One is the flagship publication for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary DIRECTORATES
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Directorates; RBS Outreach (B), Public Recreational Boating Safety Outreach
Education (E) and Vessel Examination and Partner Visitation (V). Its purpose Christopher Wilson, Director (DIR-B)
is to inform all members of the Auxiliary of current developments affecting Nan Ellen Fuller, Deputy Director
their job performance in conducting the core mission assigned by the Coast
Guard and to share best practices. RBS Job One is published several times a Public Education
year. Send submissions to sydneyhay@mindspring.com. Dave Fuller, Director (DIR-E)
Distribution: All Coast Guard Auxiliarists with email addresses in AUXDA- Robert Brandenstein, Deputy Director
TA II, COMDT (CG-BSX) staff, CGAuxA executive director, and U.S. Power
Squadrons, via direct email. Vessel Exam and RBS Visitation
Disclaimer: The appearance of any product or service advertisement on a Jim Cortes, Director (DIR-V)
site which hosts a publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or Paul Saba, Deputy Director
on a site to which any link is directed does not constitute, and shall not be
construed as, an endorsement of that product or service by the United STAFF
States Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary. COMO Robert T. Shafer, Division Chief,
Confidentiality Notice: PRIVACY ACT of 1974: The disclosure of the per- Communication Services (DVC-BR)
sonal information contained in this publication is subject to the provisions
contained in the Privacy Act of 1974. The subject Act, with certain excep- Sydney Hay, Branch Chief,
tions, prohibits the disclosure, distribution, dissemination or copying of any Editorial Services (BC-BRE)
material containing the home addresses, home telephone number, spouses’
names, and social security numbers, except for official business. Violations
Donald G. Lindberg, Assistant Branch Chief,
may result in disciplinary action.
Editorial Copy Editor (BA-BREP)
Copyright © 2021 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. All rights re-
served.
2 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
2021 Marks the 50th
Anniversary of The
Federal Boat Safety Act
Campaign Launched to
Commemorate the Pivotal Event
By Sydney Hay, BC-BRE
A ugust 10, 2021 marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of
the signing of the Federal Boat Safety Act. President
in recreational boating accidents and fatalities. In ad-
dition, the Act motivated national and local organiza-
tions to make boating safety a focus of their efforts,
Richard Nixon signed the act mandating a coopera- giving organizations common guidelines and a foun-
tive Federal-State effort to improve the recreational dation for boating safety standards according to The
boating safety in the United States. It also set up the National Safe Boating Council. In the years immedi-
National Recreational Boating Safety Program and ately following its enactment (1972 to 1975), the rec-
gave authority to the U.S. Coast Guard to establish reational boating fatality rate was 12 percent lower
mandatory boat manufacturing and safety standards. than the rate in 1971. Today, recreational boating ac-
The Federal Boat Safety Act led to a major reduction CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Vessel Safety Examiners Ken Weeks and Joe Giangrosso of the Eighth
Coastal District prepare to offer VSCs to professional anglers at a
Bassmaster Elite Series event in Bainbridge, GA.
(Photo by Charles Truthan)
The National Safe Boating Council is launching a campaign to draw attention to the 50-year track record of success of
the Federal Boat Safety Act. (Photo courtesy of The National Safe Boating Council)
3 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
cidents are significantly lower still.
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), whose
mission is to create a safe boating experience for all
recreational boaters, is launching a campaign in part-
nership with the U.S. Coast Guard to recognize and
celebrate the remarkable impact of the Act.
“Over the last 50 years, the Federal Boat Safety Act of
1971 has helped to continue the industry and cultural
focus on boating safety,” said Captain Scott Johnson,
Chief of the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and
Boating Safety. “This commemorative celebration is a
reminder to the entire boating safety community, in-
cluding all levels of government, non-profit organiza-
tions, and the boating industry, about the importance
“The Act
challenged the
marine industry to
focus on safety.”
of our continuing efforts to partner together to create a
safe experience for all boaters.”
“The innovation in the marine industry over the last
50 years is incredible – bringing a safe boating experi-
ence for a diverse and growing number of boaters to-
day,” said Robert Newsome, senior vice president of
operations for the National Marine Manufacturers As-
sociation. “It’s not enough to just talk about a safe
boating experience, the fact is that many manufactur-
ers have far exceeded industry standards; there’s a (Images courtesy of the National Safe Boating Council.)
higher level of safety out there because of the Act.”
Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Associ-
ation, added, “The Act challenged the marine industry Christopher Wilson, Director of Recreational Boating
to focus on safety, and it has, with significant ad- Safety Outreach on the Auxiliary National Staff,
vancements in standards and technology – from joy- summed it up this way, “The Federal Boat Safety Act
stick docking to bluetooth-enabled, engine cut-off de- of 1971 gave the Coast Guard the authority to estab-
vices. It continues to innovate to create a quality boat- lish mandatory boat manufacturing and safety stand-
ing experience.” ards that have significantly reduced recreational boat-
“The boating industry is continually innovating to cre- ing accidents and injuries over the last 50 years.”
ate a safe boating experience for all boaters,” said Peg The campaign will kick off during the 2021 Interna-
Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boat- tional Boating and Water Safety Summit to be held
ing Council. “The FBSA of 1971 paved the way for from May 17-19, 2021. Ω
leaps and bounds forward in the recreational boating
industry.”
4 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
Emergency Beacons Save Lives
What Boaters Should Know About Distress Signals
By Sydney Hay, BC-BRE
An Emergency Beacon greatly increases a distressed boater’s chance of rescue.
(Photo credit: ACR Electronics, Inc and reprinted with permission of the National Safe Boating Council)
C arrying an Emergency Beacon with you when you
are on the water can save your life. An Emergen-
cy Beacon, such as a hand-held Personal Locator Bea-
tions and is registered to the vessel while a PLB is
smaller and lighter to make carrying easier and is reg-
istered to the person. If your beacon is activated, either
con (PLB) or an Emergency Position Indicating Radio by you or automatically by it hitting the water (if so
Beacon (EPIRB), can be used in an emergency to noti- designed), the registration information will give re-
fy rescue authorities that you are in trouble and can sponders what they need to know to help them better
assist them in finding you more quickly. assist you. In the event of an accidental activation, the
registration info will enable Search and Rescue coor-
PLBs and EPIRBs operate in substantially the same dinators to contact you prior to dispatching rescue per-
way, by transmitting a coded message on the 406 sonnel unnecessarily.
MHz distress frequency.
EPIRBs should be mounted to the vessel in an area
In the U.S., your beacon must be registered. An
EPIRB is specifically designed for maritime applica- CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
5 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
without overhead obstructions or placed in a “ditch The Station Key West crew took the vessel in tow and
bag,” a floating container containing emergency transferred the tow over to commercial salvage, who
equipment. PLBs are small enough to attach to a life brought the disabled vessel to Fleming Key with no
jacket. And while attaching that PLB, don’t forget to reported injuries.
affix a sound-producing device such as a loud whistle
to that jacket. "This case is a perfect example of proper boater prepa-
ration, inter-agency partners and the boating public
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- coming together to save lives," said Petty Officer 3rd
tion (NOAA) operates the Search and Rescue Satellite Class Tom Gargiulo, a Station Key West engineer.
Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system to detect and lo-
cate distress signals from mariners, aviators, and recre- All Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crew members are is-
ational enthusiasts almost anywhere in the world at sued a PLB that they must have attached to their PFDs
any time and in almost any condition using satellites when on patrol. Recreational boaters would do well to
that relay distress signals from emergency beacons to a equip themselves and their boats with such a device. It
network of ground stations and ultimately to the U.S. could save their lives. Ω
Mission Control Center (USMCC.) The USMCC noti-
fies the appropriate search and rescue authorities as to
who is in distress and where they are located. In calen- The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules list the fol-
dar year 2020, NOAA reported that 217 people in 83 lowing distress signals that, when used or exhibited
incidents were rescued at sea by this system. As the together or separately, indicate distress and need
NOAA website says “… SARSAT takes the ‘search’ of assistance:
out of search and rescue!”
• a gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals
The Coast Guard recently reported rescuing two peo-
of about a minute;
ple aboard a disabled sailing vessel approximately 60
miles northwest of Marathon, Florida. Coast Guard • a continuous sounding with any fog-signaling
Seventh District watch standers received a PLB alert at apparatus;
approximately 2:30 am. Coast Guard Air Station Mi- • rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one
ami launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew who at a time at short intervals;
located the disabled 50-foot sailing vessel, White • a signal made by radiotelegraphy or by any oth-
Pearl, and requested a nearby good Samaritan aboard er signaling method consisting of the group . . .–
the sailing vessel, Mystic, to monitor the situation until – –. . . (SOS) in the Morse Code;
a Station Key West small boat crew arrived on scene.
• a signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the
spoken word “Mayday”;
• the International Code Signal of distress indicat-
ed by N.C.;
• a signal consisting of a square flag having above
or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball;
• flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar bar-
rel, oil barrel, etc.);
• a rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing
a red light;
• a smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke;
• slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms
outstretched to each side;
• the radiotelegraph alarm signal;
• the radiotelephone alarm signal;
• signals transmitted by emergency position-
indicating radio beacons;
• approved signals transmitted by radiocommuni-
A handheld marine radio and a whistle are two important cation systems, including survival craft radar
safety items for boaters. transponders.
(Photo courtesy of the National Safe Boating Council)
6 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
Top and Right: Photos courtesy of the Na-
tional Safe Boating Council
Above: Portland Maine City Councilman,
Spencer Thibodeau gets into the spirit of
National Safe Boating Week.
(Photo courtesy of The West End News)
7 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
Top Left, Center Left and Below:
(Photos courtesy of National Safe
Boating Campaign)
Center and Top Right:
(Photos courtesy of Division 11SR)
8 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY FACTS All figures are from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Safety Statistics, the latest official record of reported recreational boating accidents. Full report available: http://uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php Key Facts Drowning was reported as the cause of death in 79 percent of all boating fatalities. Approximately 86 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. In 2019, the Coast Guard counted 4,168 accidents that involved 613 deaths, 2,559 injuries and approximately $55 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. The fatality rate was 5.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. This rate represents a 1.9 percent decrease from the 2018 fatality rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Only 20 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Where the prima- ry cause was known, alcohol was listed as the leading factor in 23 percent of deaths. Where data was known, the most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (45 percent), personal watercraft (19 percent) and cabin motorboats (16 per- cent). Data Snapshot Fatalities: 613 Drownings: 484 Injuries (requiring medical treatment beyond first aid): 2,559 Boating accidents: 4,168 Property damage: $55,000,000 Number of registered recreational boats in the U.S.: 11,878,542 safeboatingcampaign.com | Resource Kit (Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard Boating Safety Division) 9 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY TIPS
• Wear a life Jacket.
No matter what activity you have planned on the water, always remember to wear a life jacket
when you are on the water. Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on
a stowed life jacket.
• Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved, appropriate for your water activity and
fits properly.
A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems.
• Know state boating laws.
Rules and laws can differ from state to state and violations can result in ticketing, fines or jail time.
• Take a boating safety course.
Learn valuable tips that can help save your life in unexpected situations by taking a NASBLA (National
Association of Boating Law Administrators) approved boating safety course. Many courses are online, and
will save you money on your boat insurance.
• Make sure your boat is prepared.
There are many items that need to be checked and rechecked on any boat. Schedule a Vessel Safety
Check with your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons before you hit the water. Every
Vessel Safety Check is conducted 100 percent free of charge.
• Be sure to know your boat’s capacity.
If you have too much on your boat, the boat may become unstable and capsize.
• Check the weather, including the water temperature.
Know the latest marine weather forecast prior to going out, and keep a regular check for changing
conditions.
• Dress properly.
Always dress for the weather, wearing layers if cooler weather, and bring an extra set of clothes in
case you get wet.
• Always file a float plan.
File a float plan with someone you trust that includes details about the trip, boat, persons, towing or
trailer vehicle, communication equipment and emergency contacts.
• Always follow navigation rules.
Know the “Rules of the Road” such as operator’s responsibility, maintaining a proper lookout, safe
speed, crossing, meeting head-on and overtaking situations. Know what’s going on around you at all
times, and always travel at safe speeds for the environment. Find out more at boatoncourse.com.
• Don’t drink while you boat.
Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was listed as a leading factor in boating-related deaths. Find out
more at operationdrywater.org.
• Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Gasoline-powered engines on boats, including onboard generators, produce carbon monoxide (CO), a color-
less and odorless gas that can poison or kill someone who breathes too much of it. Be sure to install and
maintain a working CO detector, never block exhaust outlets, and always dock, beach or anchor at least 20 feet
away from the nearest boat that is running a generator or engine.
• Keep in touch.
Communication devices can be the most important piece of emergency equipment on board a vessel, especially in
case of emergency. Be sure to have at least two communication devices that work when on indicating radio
beacons (EPIRB), VHF radios and (PLB). Cell phones are not reliable in an emergency situation.
safeboatingcampaign.com | Resource Kit
10 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special EditionRBS: Always an Opportunity
By Richard Young, Ph.D, DVC- RBS Outreach Districts Liaison
E ducating the boating public on safe operation has
been a central Auxiliary mission ever since our found-
ing in 1939. There are multiple opportunities and these
can take several forms. Where one opportunity offers
itself, there are certainly others to be had. Moreover,
all can make for nearly perfect public affairs stories.
Consider the following:
• Several years ago a new boater requested a courte-
sy vessel exam through the website. When the ex-
aminer arrived to do the examination and with the
friendly exchange that followed the examiner
learned that the boater knew nothing about the
need to ventilate the bilge. Before parting compa-
ny the examiner had enrolled the boater in an up-
coming public education course, but the boater
was so impressed that the auxiliarist was invited
back in subsequent years to do VEs.
• An examination blitz was being held at a local
state boat ramp. Boaters could get a VE while
waiting for ramp time and were assured that they
would not lose their place in line. Fearful that his
boat might not pass, one boater was hesitant.
When an auxiliarist informed him of the 200 foot
no wake zone on that particular lake, the boater • Early in the season an auxiliarist gave a ride to a
became much more receptive, the auxiliarist got to friend to a marina. While waiting for his friend to
do the VE and the boater was appreciative of the finish with the service manager, the auxiliarist no-
advice that kept him from potentially getting a ci- ticed a nearby boat with a two-year old VE sticker.
tation. As a vessel examiner he asked about doing VEs
and now is a regular at the marina even to the ex-
• A marina had received program visits for several tent of being on call for any marina customers who
years, but when a different auxiliarist engaged the need a VE.
owner in conversation one thing led to another
with the result being that the flotilla was asked toWhat is the common theme running through these sce-
run a vessel examination blitz a month later. narios? Boaters in need of education! That can come
as a public education course, a vessel examination, or
• Through casual conversation one flotilla com- even the casual conversation. Clearly, one element can
lead to one or more others. The conclusion is that eve-
mander was able to attract a marina’s newly-
ryone has a public affairs role to play. Our public af-
employed dockmaster as a flotilla member. As it
turned out she knew little about the Auxiliary and fairs officers are often busy engaging the media, but
has subsequently requested VEs on her entire rent- every other auxiliarist without exception can find
al fleet consisting of dozens of boats that include themselves having a role to play. It is often said that
everything from kayaks and canoes to pontoon word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertis-
ing, hence one-on-one contact by the individual auxil-
boats and runabouts. The marina in turn has be-
iarist can be an effective force for promoting boating
come a potential place for recruiting new mem-
safety even one boater at a time. We should never
bers.
overlook the opportunity to make a difference. Ω
11 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special EditionPaddling Resources for Auxiliary
Members and the Public Increase Safety
By Robin Pope, DVC-BP
Kayaking is increasing in popularity resulting in more deaths surprisingly in relatively calm water.
(Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard Boating Safety Division)
T he Coast Guard Auxiliary is well known for
deaths does not mean we should ignore the craft in
second and third place. Between 2010 and 2019,
providing high quality instruction for motorized craft boaters in canoes and kayaks were involved with
operators. Focus on motorized craft makes sense be- about 20% of all recreational boating deaths. Canoe-
cause those are the craft most involved in accidents. ing fatalities, and canoeing participation, are going
Between 2010 and 2019, 65% of all boating deaths down. Kayaking, on the other hand, has shown a
occurred to operators and occupants of motorized steady increase in participation and associated deaths
craft. Nearly 50% of all boating deaths were associat- over the last decade; in 2019, kayaks were associated
ed with open cockpit motorboats. When nearly half of with 14% of all recreational boating deaths. Although
boating deaths are associated with a single type of many think of kayaking as an extreme sport, data col-
boat, it’s obvious where educators should focus their lected both by USCG’s Office of Boating Safety and
efforts. by American Whitewater show that nearly all pad-
dling deaths occur on relatively calm water.
However, focus on the #1 contributor to boating CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
12 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special EditionIn 2018, it’s estimated that there were about 84.5 mil- lion boaters in the US. Of these, about 22.9 million – 27% of the total boating population – were paddlers, and about 18 million paddled a kayak at some point during the year. Paddlers make up more than a quarter of all recreational boaters and kayakers make up as much as one fifth of all recreational boaters. Reaching out to this large boating population will help reduce their risks. That’s clearly within the Auxiliary’s mis- sion, but many Auxiliary members state they feel un- comfortable speaking about paddling because they know little about the sport. Ideally, to become comfortable with paddling, Auxilia- Canoeing deaths and canoeing participation are declining. ry members would take a hands-on paddling class and (Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard Boating Safety Div.) gain personal experience. However, that’s not always an option. Some Auxiliary members may not want to get in a kayak. Others may not have access to instruc- tion. That does not, however, mean they can’t learn about paddling basics. A number of on-line paddling edu- cational resources are available that teach this information. The Paddlecraft Safety Division has reviewed many of them, and recommends the following for any Auxiliary member who wants to learn more about pad- dling. Overall paddling statistics can be found in the 2019 Special Report on Paddlesports and Safety. A video presentation of the report can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnHl1PHct24. The report de- scribes paddling demographics and participation. A general introduction to paddling, Smartstart for Paddlers, is found at https://vimeo.com/7725540. This short video gives a quick overview of paddlesports and is a good starting point for Auxiliarists looking for general information. More detailed information specific to kayaking can be found in a series of 8 short (five minutes or less) videos found at https://paddling.com/learn/paddle-safety. Paddlers operating around boat ramps and crowded waterways are at higher risk of collision. Their low profile makes paddlecraft more difficult to see, and paddlers benefit from understanding that motorized craft can’t simply stop on a dime. Information about etiquette at boat ramps is available at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qaPexUoDdgk and information about paddling in multi-user waterways is at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO4VGkoyoK4 . Cold water is a significant hazard for paddlers. Paddlers are exposed to wind, waves and spray throughout their trip, and, due to their narrow beam, canoes and kayaks are relatively easy to capsize. Extensive infor- mation about cold water hazards is available at http://www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/pages/home.html and http://beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/. These websites provide expert guidance created by world-renowned researchers in cold water survival. A vid- eo summarizing the websites, narrated by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8nH3i7Fv5IU. This information is valuable for all boaters. Finally, for Auxiliary members interested in a longer presentation, Performance Video (https:// performancevideo.com/), operated by International Whitewater Hall of Fame member Kent Ford, allows free downloads and streaming of their videos. Most of their videos address intermediate to expert paddlers but they have a few aimed at new boaters. A good option for new paddlers is: https://performancevideo.com/all-about- kayaking/. These video presentations are not a substitute for hands-on instruction and mentored paddling op- portunities. They will, however, provide Auxiliary members (and members of the public) core safety infor- mation. This information will help ensure Auxiliary members have accurate information, and will help them be much more comfortable when interacting with paddlers. Ω 13 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
Training Instructors:
One Dozen at a Time
By Karen Miller, DVC-EID
(Photo by Karen Miller)
W hen COVID-19 hit us in 2020 and everything
was shutdown, Public Education classes were essen-
tion on February 1, 2020. This course came with lots
of updated material; a paradigm change from memori-
zation of material to explanations and practical appli-
tially the first missions to come back online (pun in- cations; and sections on using modern media. There
tended). The Public Education Directorate worked was also a complete slide deck with extensive instruc-
with the National Association of State Boating Law tor notes.
Administrators (NASBLA) and the individual states
and obtained a waiver and approval to conduct About Now, how could we connect the flotillas that needed
Boating Safely and Boating Skills and Seamanship instructors with the new ID2020? During the summer
classes (and, later, when Boat America came out) on a we sent out an email to each flotilla across the country
videoconferencing platform via-a-vis our authorized offering to teach ID2020 to their members via the
stand and deliver format. This opened up opportuni- Zoom platform. However, to keep the class size and
ties for flotillas to return to their Public Education duration to reasonable limits, we made a total of 12
missions and bring in revenue. slots available to be offered over four nights from
1900 to 2130. The response was overwhelming. With-
These opportunities also revealed a specific shortcom- in days we received 100 requests.
ing. Many flotillas either didn’t have enough instruc-
tors or some of their existing instructors were reluc- In August 2020 we taught the ID2020 class to the 12
tant to teach in other than a classroom environment. selected members. The primary instructors were
That meant the Public Education Directorate had to Leslie Long and Manny Sosa, members of the Clear-
get creative to help them out. water Flotilla in Florida, assisted by several members
of the staff of the Public Education Directorate. The
Coincidently, we had just released the new Instructor class was highly successful with kudos and thanks
Development Course (ID2020) for full implementa- CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
14 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Editionfrom the students. Most of them are now instructors helping their flotillas conduct classes. We also encour- aged the District Staff Officers-Public Education and their District Chiefs of Staff to emulate this class offer- ing and conduct classes in their districts. Fast forward to February of 2021. We were still hearing that flotillas needed help training instructors and get- ting instructors comfortable with the virtual environment. So, we put a call out to the responders from 2020 who did not get selected to take our second offering in March. Again, the class would be limited to 12 mem- bers and conducted via Zoom over four intense nights. We received over 25 responses this time and made the difficult decisions on who could attend and who would have to be put on hold again. ID2020 was conducted with the same instructors and support staff in March of 2021. Again, the students were enthusiastic with their praise and will be completing their training at the local flotilla level for final cer- tification. The students ranged from numerous districts and we are again encouraging the DSOs-PEs and DCOSs to take over the helm and offer the classes in their districts. To help the districts and members in all levels of the organization, the Public Education Directorate has placed numerous resources on their website. Please explore http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=E- DEPT&category=pe-resources for all that’s available for the ID2020 course; spend time at http:// wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=E-DEPT&category=virtual-pe-classes for everything you could need to hold virtual classes; and the Public Education Directorate Blog at https://cgauxboatingclasses.org for lots of up-to-date information on all aspects of Public Education. Ω Even the pets get into the act for National Safe Boating Week. Auxiliarists Stacey and Bruce Wright’s cat, Wampuss, became an official US Coast Guard mascot to promote life jackets. (Photo courtesy of Stacey Wright) 15 www.cgaux.org ● NSBW Special Edition
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