Tomlinson Completes Course in California

Auxiliarist Ralph Tomlinson recently completed the Coast Guard Instructor Development Course at TRACON Petaluma.

Mr. Tomlinson was a member of the class which consisted of 4 Auxiliarists, 13 active duty Coast Guard members and one Coast Guard civilian employee. This was the premier course for instructors in the Coast Guard. Attendees are expected to become instructors for active duty, reserve, and civilian Coast Guard member training.

“I am looking forward to continue teaching ICS 210, 300, and 400 courses,” said Mr. Tomlinson “I will also be involved in the Team Coordination Training courses this spring.”

After completing the other requirements, Tomlinson will be able to become a Team Coordination Training facilitators, the first in Flotilla 4.




Auxilarist Ralph Tomlinson
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Suzanne Tomlinson)

Flotilla Members Named to National Staff Positions

Flotilla 4 member, Suzanne Tomlinson has been appointed as the National Branch Chief of Boating Safety Communications (BC-BSC). This position is part of the Recreational Boating Safety Affairs Department. Mrs. Tomlinson is a teacher in the Humboldt Community School District and has been part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since 2008.

“I am pleased with the confidence that the National Staff has shown in appointing me to this position,” said Mrs. Tomlinson. “It will take some time to completely learn the ins and outs of this job and I am eager to get started.”

The RBS Affairs Department, under the program guidance of the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety and the direction of the Auxiliary Directorate of Recreational Boating Safety, provides assistance to Coast Guard units, Auxiliary National Departments and Auxiliary District organizations in their efforts to promote and support recreational boating safety programs. RBS Affairs provides both informational and fiscal resource services to the Auxiliary membership. In addition, the RBS Affairs provides liaison with State Boating Law Administrators and other recreational boating safety organizations, i.e., State, Federal and the public sector.

Flotilla 4 member, Rob Green has been appointed as the Graphics Branch Chief of the National Staff. “This position will definitely enhance my capability to coordinate and execute Coast Guard Auxiliary design projects,” said Mr. Green.

Rob is a former Coast Guard officer and a lifelong artist. After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1998 he spent six years on active duty as Operations Officer of USCGC SEDGE (WLB-402) in Homer, Alaska; as Admin Staff for the Assistant Commandant for Operations (G-O) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC; and finally as Executive Officer of USCGC HICKORY (WLB-212) in Homer, Alaska.

November Edition of Above Board

The new edition of Above Board is available at http://www.flotilla4.org/Newsletter/AboveBoardNovember2009.pdf

This month's newsletter has articles about the ham radio special event, the loss of CG 1705, our flotilla election, the upcoming Inland SAR Planning Course and the Iowa DNR Boater Education Course instructors. Thank you to all of our contributors who made this month's edition possible. The submission deadline for Above Board is the first Friday of each month. Photos, narratives and information is always appreciated.

Flotilla 4 Elects New Leaders

After the election Norma Newton (left), Travis Daniels (center) and Trevor Henderson (right) talked with members of Flotilla 4.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)


During the October flotilla business meeting, elections for the 2010 leadership were held. Flotilla Commander Travis Daniels had held two terms as commander and was ready to pass the torch to new leadership. Norma Newton and Trevor Henderson were elected to be the flotilla commander and vice flotilla commander for 2010.

Norma Newton is currently the flotilla’s public education officer and has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for almost two years. She works for the USDA/ National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames as a Biological Laboratory Technician. Her husband of 26 years, Roland, is also in the Auxiliary. She has two grown children and one grandchild. She is AUXOP, boat crew member, PWC operator, vessel examiner and instructor qualified. Norma has also been awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device.

Trevor Henderson is currently the flotilla’s communications services officer and has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for almost two years. He works for West Corporation in Omaha as a Technical Supervisor. He is a qualified vessel examiner and RBS program visitor. His achievements include the Auxiliary Achievement Award with Operational Distinguishing Device, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device and AUXCOM. Trevor lives in Omaha with his wife of 16, Janine, and their daughter Ashleigh.

Ham Radio Special Event Station K0G Logs 294 Contacts

Today eight members of Flotilla 4 participated in a ham radio special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This station was located near Rippey, IA and is designed to accommodate events like this. The station operated primarily on two frequencies and, despite poor band quality, logged 294 contacts from 47 states and seven countries.

The station contacted 13 other special event stations during the course of the event. Operators talked to stations in six Canadian provinces, Argentina, England, Ireland, Spain and Brazil. The purpose of the annual event was to spread awareness about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and what it does for the community.

Photos of the event can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4/sets/72157622606769498/



Auxilarist Roland Newton (left) makes contact with a station while John Halbrook (right) wraps up his contact at the ham radio special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)



Auxilarist Gene Kellogg wraps up his contact at the ham radio special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

Flotilla 4 Hits the Air to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

On Saturday, October 17th, members of Flotilla 4 in Des Moines will join other Coast Guard Auxilarists to hit the airwaves to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We will be one of over 60 other special event stations on the air. Our callsign will be K0G. We will operate from 1400 - 2100 Zulu (9:00 am to 4:00 pm Central).

Our assigned frequencies are:
• 7.240 Mhz
• 14.345 Mhz
• 21.405 Mhz
• 28.405 Mhz

The purpose of the event is to spread awareness about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and what it does for the community. We will be updating our Flickr photostream, Twitter account and our blog throughout the day on Saturday with updates.

Here are some photos from our special event station last year. To view the whole set go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4/sets/72157608201481830/

Flotilla 4 on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/flotilla4

Flotilla 4 on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4



Roland Newton explains what he is doing to Jeff Towle during the Coast Guard Ham Radio Day in 2008.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo By Doug Jansen)


John Halbrook waits for contacts after calling CQ during the Coast Guard Auxiliary Ham Radio Day in 2008.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo By Doug Jansen)

October Edition of Above Board Newsletter

The new edition of Above Board is available at http://www.flotilla4.org/Newsletter/AboveBoardOctober2009.pdf

This month's newsletter has articles about the Fall Conference, Coast Guard Auxiliary Reorganization, our public education activities, three new members and the upcoming ham radio event. Thank you to all of our contributors who made this month's edition possible. The submission deadline for Above Board is the first Friday of each month. Photos, narratives and information is always appreciated.