Post by Jonathan James, FSO-PB/PA The photo of the week demonstrates how important our Aids to Navigation program is. Without us to conduct our bridge verifications, these lights may not be operational or inappropriately lit. If you are interested in assisting in Aids verifications, please contact our FSO-NS for details.
Vancouver, WA. Lights on the Interstate Bridge show the way for commercial and recreational vessels navigating the Columbia River which is the boarder between Oregon and Washington. The Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts Private Aids and Bridge verifications for the Coast Guard to assure the information listed in the light list as well as NOAA charts are correct. Photo by Auxilirist Jonathan James.
Post by: FSO-PB Jonathan James Sorry, I haven't posted a photo in the last couple weeks. I'm going to start kicking this fender back up the hill with another fantastic photo from Paul Ploeger in AUXAIR piloted by FC Rick Williams.
Portland, OR - AUXAIR conducts an overflight of the Oregon City Falls. AUXAIR conducts overflights of the Sector Columbia River AOR to augment Air Station Astoria aircraft. AUXAIR can be used for SAR cases as well as port security, pollution reporting, etc. Photo by Auxilirist Paul Ploeger
Shipmates, for those of you who could not make the Division Change of Watch, here are a few photo highlights of the ceremonies. In attendance was our Coast Guard 13th District Commander, Rear Adm. Keith Taylor who gave a very inspirational speech. Other speakers in attendance were, Chief of Staff Dean Wimer and MSU Portland Executive Officer, CDR. Micheal Zamperini.
76 came home with a couple awards from the division level and will be presented at the next flotilla Change of Watch this Sunday.
B.Z. to DCAPT Daren Lewis for an outstanding and memorable COW and congratulations to DCDR Brad Schults and VCDR George Sipes on your election to the division bridge.
On behalf of FC John Poulson, FC elect Rick Williams and myself, have a safe and very Merry Christmas. And for our shipmates standing the watch tomorrow. Thanks you for your service.
Here is a Photo Gift from me.
Even senior officers can have a sense of humor as demonstrated in the photo by District Captain Daren Lewis at the flotilla holiday party. Photo by: FSO-PB Jonathan James
FC John Poulson, thank you sir for your outstanding dedication and hard work to this flotilla and your shipmates. You pulled us through some confused seas the last couple of years and the flotilla is stronger then ever and thriving because of your leadership.
Last Wednesday was your last meeting as Flotilla Commander and probably the quickest of all the meetings in which you were the Chair. Was this you, ready to give up the Gavel, or was it because you had something planned for after the meeting? Well of course you had something planned for after the meeting, it was a fun and non-violent gift exchange and party to allow us all to have some great fellowship and food. And what better way to go out than with a party.
Some quick highlights from the meeting before you get to see some pictures.
* If you plan on participating in the crew and coxswain academy this year, please contact John Poulson and Kevin Thiel FSO-OP 2012 with your intentions. They will work with you to see that your squared away for the academy.
* Congrats to Lynn Easton. Your a Grandaddy to another Granddaughter . Another lucky one to spoil.
* DIRAUX notes are being sent once a month highlighting activities in DIRAUX's office. This is a great source of information from DIRAUX and the staff that helps keep the auxiliary running.
* Uniform of the day at the boat show will be Tropical Blue. Please see that your uniform is squared away when attending the boat show.
* The UDC has an excess of the untucked ODU which means you may now purchase more then 1 set of the ODU from the UDC.
*Commanders remarks were short due to the Change of Watch where FC Poulson will grace us with his last Commanders Comments before passing the Gavel to FC elect Rick Williams.
*If you have not sent your check in for the Change of Watch, please do so as soon as you can. Its going to be a memorable COW.
Stay tuned for more on the meeting in the December meeting minutes.
Christmas Ships on the Columbia River escorted by OPFAC 267 Coxswained my Lynn Easton.
Photo by FSO-PB Jonathan James Portland, OR- Christmas Ship Breezy sails by AUX 267 on the Columbia River at the Interstate Bridge. Coast Guard and local law enforcement provide support to the Christmas Ship fleet by marking obstructions, Aids to Navigation as well as providing SAR assistance if needed.
Photo By FSO-PB Jonathan James
Portland, OR- Christmas Ship Rock Steady performs a maneuver
called a Cart Wheel by executing a 360 degree turn in unison with all the other vessels in the Christmas Ship fleet.
Photo by FSO-PB Jonathan James Portland, OR- Christmas Ship Branch Office
sails the Columbia River along Hayden Bay.
Photo by FSO-PB Jonathan James Portland, OR- Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell participates in the Christmas Ship parade as the center piece of the evening. This is the second year that the Cutter Bluebell has participated in Christmas Ships. The Cutter Bluebell is charged with maintaining Aids to Navigation along 500 river miles and she is charged with maintaining more than 420 Aids to Navigation.
Photo by FSO-PB Jonathan James Portland, OR- Christmas Ship Meant To Be sails into Hayden Bay for the final maneuver of the night. You will find many a Christmas ship with a play on words like CO HO HO HO.
For more information of the Christmas Ships and the schedule of parades, please visit their website at http://www.christmasships.org/
This week's photo was submitted by Paul Ploeger from AIXAIR piloted by Aircraft Commander Rick Williams on Saturday, November 12, 2011.
Portland, OR- AUXAIR conducts an overflight of an overturned vessel on the Multnomah Channel. AUXAIR provided support to the Coast Guard RB-S from Coast Guard Station Portland, which including a check for possible people in the water as well as a check for pollution that my be leaking from the overturned vessel. AUXAIR conducts muliti mission flights to augment AIRSTA Astoria aircraft on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Happy Holidays shipmates. I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with family and friends this past week. With Thanksgiving behind us brings our next big operation, Christmas Ships.
I just want to remind all our members underway for these parades to remember risk management, situational awareness and watch out for the safety of their fellow shipmates while underway.
CoastGuard Cutter Bluebell underway for ChristmasShips.USCGC Bluebell participates in the Willamette Fleet of Portland Christmas Ships AUX Daren Lewis, USCG. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Today is a day to honor our veterans of our armed forces and thank them for their service. Some of us did that this last weekend in the Veteran's Day Parade held at the Historic Reserve at the Vancouver Barracks.
Coast Guard Color Guard Leads the Guardian Group.
Photo by: Jonathan James
Truck Towing 25430 from Station Portland.
Photo by: Sandy Carpenter
Auxiliary Boat 181173 Flying the Auxiliary Flag.
photo by: Jonathan James
Here is what the correct answer to the Photo of the Week was.
I asked to have you guys respond via email to my question of what was wrong with the picture. It had something to do with the uniform and many of you hit to the pen in her pocket. This was not it. The pen was in her pocket correctly and did not violate any uniform policy.
In this photo I highlighted what was different about her uniform.
SN Hanna had a rip in her sleeve and had to sew the rip. For most, the only way to tell this difference was to hold your uniform up to the monitor and compare the picture.
Congrats to Todd Mains who was to closest member to pointing out the difference. He received some nice hangers to keep his uniforms from wrinkling or falling off the hanger and a three drawer container to store all his auxiliary uniform items when not on his uniform.
If you have any photos with an out of place something, please send it to me. I would like to start doing one of these a month and recognizing the member at the monthly flotilla meeting with something that has to do with the photo.
Stay Tuned for the November Flotilla Meeting Highlights Coming this Weekend.
