Auxilarist Frank Reiss conducts a Vessel Safety Check for a boater
Auxilarists Norma Newton (left) and Wendy Faganel (right)conduct a stern tow during a patrol
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by John Halbrook)
Flotilla 4 has a lot of members who are relatively new to the Auxiliary. They bring with them a variety of business, public safety and volunteer coordination back grounds. As many of us have learned about the Auxiliary, we have become very surprised at how such an organized and coordinated program had been so disconnected.
When many of us joined the flotilla, boating safety classes were considered separate from, and in no way related to vessel safety checks, which were not related to marine dealer visits or safety patrols. Reading the manual, and going through the training you would have thought that no one had ever pulled these unique programs together. Certainly other flotillas and divisions across the country have done similar, but since no one in our area had approached these programs as a coordinated effort we will pass along the concept of the “multi mission”.
Multi missions are a Flotilla 4 concept that has helped us to optimize our time, energy and experience to ensure that we are doing the most good for our boating safety community. This plan allows each discipline to feed the others.
Prior to the start of our operational day, our Program Visitors will visit marine dealers in the area to make sure that they have boating safety materials available for the weekend. We converse with our boating safety partners about upcoming classes and at what ramps we intend to do Vessel Safety Checks at that day. That way when customers come in, the boating partner can chat up our upcoming classes and safety checks.
The Vessel Examiner is in many cases the public’s first encounter with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In our relatively land-locked area, most of our recreational boating takes place on federal reservoirs or inland rivers. These waterways have limited access points. During busy periods, specifically holidays and weekends, our Vessel Examiners set up displays and actively offer Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs) at ramps and marinas. While conducting VSCs a few things take place.
First, we record the boaters contact information. If interested, we put the boat owner on our e-mail list for notification of future VSCs and upcoming boating safety classes. This gives us a focused marketing avenue for boater safety and education programs. As an additional incentive we are able to offer those that register with us, in a drawing for an access pass to the federal reservoirs for the following year.
Second, if the boater does not have all of the equipment to pass the VSC, we offer them information on retailers who have agreed to give discounts to customers who show that they are purchasing equipment to make their vessel compliant. This encourages the boater to correct those deficiencies and be a safer vessel on the water.
With active VSC at the boat ramps our patrol presence on the water conducts a standard safety patrol. What’s nice about the integration between VE’s and boat crews is the chance for multiple Auxiliarists to spend time getting VSCs done and patrol hours under their belt. A well coordinated afternoon can help maximize efficiency.
Finally, we have communications. Setting up a temporary Auxiliary communications station allows all of these elements to work together. The Vessel Examiners can provide eyes on the water for the patrol, and the patrol can let the VE’s know which ramps are active.
When all three components work together, the general public hears us on the marine radio, they see us on the water, and they interact with us on the shore. If all three of these encounters are positive we can build an excellent program for the Auxiliary.
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