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WE’RE THE ONE

US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, District 7– FLOTILLA 12-1 LAKE MARION

MEETINGS: 3RD MONDAY OF MONTH AT BIG WATER RESORT, SUMMERTON, 7:00 PM

NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Information contained in this newsletter is for official US Coast Guard & Coast Guard Auxiliary

use only under the Privacy Act of 1974. The Auxiliary is guided by the current equal opportunity

policies of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. No person shall be subject to discrimination in

the Auxiliary or its programs because of race,color,religion,sex,age,national origin or disability.

Editor: Sue Carty FSO-PB, 803-478-7022, suesatwood@ftc-i.net

FEBRUARY 2010 Volume 1 Issue 6

SOARING EAGLE AWARD PRESENTED TO FLOTILLA 12-1 LAKE MARION

at Annual Division 12 Meeting and Change of Watch on January 8-10

Bob Weskerna DCDR-12 presenting award to Perry Moses III FC 12-1

See page 4 for more details on this award and other Flotilla 12-1 awards

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A Note from the Flotilla Commander Perry Moses, III FC mail to: pmosesiii@sc.rr.com

Thanks to the supreme good work of all of Flotilla 12-1, we were honored as the flotilla in Division 12 that best exemplifies all of the areas of activity within the Coast Guard Auxiliary by being awarded the Soaring Eagle Award at the January 2010 Change of Watch. I want to especially thank Steve and Tammy Rodvansky for their hard work in completing the lion’s share of the VSC attributed to our flotilla. We have an ambitious plan to continue to promote boating safety on Lake Marion with a number of boating safety courses scheduled and plans to have several VE blitz dur-ing the spring. I hope that each of our 14 VE’s will plan on doing at least 20 VSC this year. In addition, we will be participating in the Striped Bass Festival in April and promoting safe boating during National Safe Boating Week in May. On top of this, we will be conducting boat crew training and coxswain training with the goal of having at least three more members qualified as boat crew and two more as coxswain. I think everyone is ready for warm weather and the ability to get out on the water and to start meeting the boating public at launch ramps and marinas to do VSC. Please take this time to review your current certifications and look at other areas that might be of interest and pursue these areas of certification. As a new flotilla, we have come a long way and are now ready to really have an impact on boating safety on Lake Marion. Keep up the good work and I look forward to a banner year for 2010.

A Note from Vice Commander Tammy L. Rodvansky VFC

mailto:tammylr@ftc-i.net

Greetings All: We had a good attendance at the Division Change of Watch in Myrtle Beach. Bravo Zulu for our Flotilla winning the Soaring Eagle award. This is a great achievement for our first year!! Congratulations to Steve Rodvansky for his achievement in Vessel Safety Exams. Top in the Division, he also received the auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Device Award. This award recognizes extraordinary effort of Auxiliarists who consistently provide strong support to RBS programs. Its eligibility criteria require significant RBS program ac-tivity over a minimum period of two years. The award is a compilation of 120 points per year for two consecutive years (for a total of 240). We also had five members awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation for their participation in the Army Paratrooper Jump. Congratulations to Perry, Larry, Lee, Joe Livingston, and Joe Newman. We have made some truly amazing accomplishments in 2009. We have a very large boat-ing public on Lake Marion and there is still so much we can do to make it a safer boating year in 2010. May we continue on course in 2010 and maintain that We’re the ONE.

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FUTURE EVENTS: March- Date pending for ABS Course at F.E. DuBose Center, Manning

April 1 and April 17– VE blitzes, places to be decided

April 24- Striped Bass Festival, Downtown Manning, participate in parade and PA Booth

April 25- Striped Bass Festival Poker Run- Op’s, VE, PA

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Flotilla 12-1 - receiving the Soaring Eagle Award at the Division 12 COW

Perry Moses III, Larry Odom, Joe Livingston, Joe Newman and Lee Rudd for receiving the

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation for participating in the Army Paratrooper Jump

at Lake Murray last September. Presented at Division 12 COW.

Steve Rodvansky - receiving the RBS award at the Division 12 COW

Ron Cunningham - receiving an Appreciation Award Plaque for outstanding and professional

service from his previous Flotilla in Pittsburgh. See the Division 12 COW article

2010 Flotilla Staff Officers - sworn in at our January Flotilla meeting

Tammy Rodvansky- sworn in as Division 12 SO-FN at Division 12 COW

OTHER FLOTILLA NEWS: Projectors - John Owen donated 2 projectors to the Flotilla. One will be ready for use and the

other needs some repairs.

First Aide course - will be given by a Coast Guard instructor which is set to be held at

Flotilla Island on Lake Murray with Flotilla 12-3. Eight members of our Flotilla have shown an

interest. If you have not already indicated your interest, please contact our FC as soon as

possible.

January 2010

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 Division 12

COW

9 Division 12

COW

10 11 12 13 14 15 Marshall’s

Marine 2010

16 Marshall’s

Marine 2010

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Watch-

standing

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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February 2010

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Ground Hog

Day

3 4 5 6

7 8 9 PA Event

Sumter Lion’s

Club

10 11 12 13

14

Valentine’s

Day

15 Flotilla

Meeting 7PM

16 PE Event

Swamp Fox

Boat Club

17

St Patrick’s

Day

18 19 20

21 22 23 24

Flag Day

25 26 27

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OTHER FLOTILLA NEWS (continued):

Watchstander class was held at the home of Joe and Ellen Newman on January 23 for those

interested in becoming a radio watch stander. Joe Newman conducted the class. If you have

an interest in becoming a radio watch stander and were not able to attend, please contact

Joe at jenewman2001@ yahoo.com. A special thank you to Ellen Newman for the homemade

refreshments she made!

Don’t forget - now is the time to work on new certifications during the cold months, whether it be

for PV, VE, instructor, radio watch stander, crew or coxswain. Also, our qualified QE from

the Coast Guard, Chief Andrews, if being transferred from Station Charleston this summer

and, at this time, there is no replacement. We need to try and get our qualifications completed

before that time.

DIVISION 12 CHANGE OF WATCH JANUARY 8-10, 2010 AT MYRTLE BEACH

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR OUR NEW FLOTILLA 12-1! WE HAVE

WORKED HARD TO EARN RESPECT AS THE NEWEST FLOTILLA BY SHOWING

WHAT WE CAN DO, OUR DEDICATION TO THE COAST GUARD AND OUR

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE BOATING SAFETY ON LAKE MARION.

ALL OUR HARD WORK WAS REWARDED AT THE DIVISON 12 CHANGE OF

WATCH BY THE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION FLOTILLA 12-1 RECEIVED. THE

FOLLOWING SHOWS IT ALL. WITH EVERYONE’S HELP, WE CAN DO THE

SAME IN 2010. CONGRATULATIONS!

1. SOARING EAGLE AWARD

Recognizes the Flotilla within Division 12 that best exemplifies strong participation in

all aspects of the Auxiliary mission. This is the fourth year this award has been given

with the prior three years to Flotilla 12-6 (East Cooper). We are the first inland Flotilla

to be so recognized.

2. DIVISION CATEGORIES AND WHERE FLOTILLA 12-1 PLACED IN EACH

During the Saturday afternoon Division meeting, Bob Weskerna DCDR announced

different categories and the top 5 Flotillas in each category. By his count, our Division

is 5th out of 17 very active Divisions. We can be very proud of our placements!

A. Flotilla with most accumulated hours– Lake Marion 4th, Georgetown 1st

B. Flotilla with most activity (total hours/# members)- Lake Marion 1st

C. Flotilla with most VSC activity– Lake Marion 1st

D. Division 12 Auxiliarist with most VSC count– Steve Rodvansky

E. Flotilla with most RBSPV visits– Lake Marion 3rd, East Cooper 1st

F. Flotilla with most PA missions in 10B category– Lake Marion 4th, Lake Murray 1st

G. Flotilla with most MT missions– Lake Marion 3rd, Georgetown 1st

3. STEVE RODVANSKY - RBS AWARD (Recreational Boating Safety Device Award)

Steve was one of 3 Division 12 Auxiliarists to receive this award. This is the on shore

award that is similar to coxswain in the boat crew section to recognize Steve excelling

in teaching the public safe boating through VE’s, public education and public affairs.

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4. RONALD CUNNINGHAM APPRECIATION AWARD

Ronald Cunningham Appreciation Award - January 2010

On January 9, 2010, I had the pleasure of attending the annual U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Change of Watch ceremony of Division 12 in the Seventh District at the Beach Colony Re-

sort in Myrtle Beach, SC. The main purpose of my visit was to present an Appreciation

Award plaque to Ronald Cunningham of Flotilla 12-1. In April 2009, Ron Cunningham and

his wife, Jackie moved to South Carolina. After getting settled in their new home, Ron

transferred his auxiliary membership from Division 7 (8er) in Pittsburgh, PA to Division 12

– Seventh District. Ron served as SO-VE for 13 years while in Division 7. Unfortunately,

their move to South Carolina became effective before we could properly recognize Ron for

his outstanding and professional service in Division 7. During our hosting of the Fall Con-

ference 2008 in Pittsburgh, PA, Ron provided relentless support throughout the entire con-

ference. Our appreciation for his service warranted more than just mailing the plaque to

him. However, after numerous emails, phone calls, and coordination through the Division

Commander (12), Robert Weskerna, I purchased my air travel tickets and made my reserva-

tions at Myrtle Beach to present the award in person to Ron at their Change of Watch.

Upon my arrival at the Myrtle Beach Airport, I was greeted by Ron and Jackie and trans-

ported to the resort. The Change of Watch on Saturday was preceded by the Commander’s

Call and Division Meeting held on Friday. The weekend activities closely resembled those

of a District Conference. Although the temperatures were in the 20’s, the warm hospitality

that I received from Division 12 was outstanding beyond words. I was very impressed with

the motivation and camaraderie shared between the auxiliary members and the active duty

and reservists. During my visit and discussions with several of their members, I became re-

enchanted with the mission and capabilities of the USCG Auxiliary. One member reiterated

that he joined the auxiliary to support the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard, and that if he

wanted to join a “boating club”, he would have joined the Power Squadron! I wish to thank

DCDR Robert Weskerna, FC-12-1 Perry Moses, and all the members of Division 12 for al-

lowing me to share their fellowship. But most of all, I want to thank Ron Cunningham for

his professional and dedicated service to Division 7(8er).

Anthony F. Buyny

IPDCDR Division 7 (8er)

USCG Academy Admissions Partner

(see photo on page 6)

5. COAST GUARD MERITORIOUS TEAM COMMENDATION

Presented to Perry Moses III, Larry Odom, Joe Livingston, Joe Newman and

Lee Rudd for participating in the Army Paratrooper Jump at Lake Murray.

Perry Moses III and Larry Odom were at the Saturday night COW dinner to receive

the Commendations for themselves and on behalf of Joe Livingston, Joe Newman and

Lee Rudd who were not able to attend. The Commendations were officially presented at

the January Flotilla 12-1 meeting by Perry Moses III FC to the other members.

(see photo on page 6)

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Ron Cunningham

Appreciation Award

Anthony Buyny on left

Ron Cunningtham on right

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation

Larry Odom - 4th from left, Perry Moses III - at end on right side

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Swearing in of Division 12 Staff Officers- Tammy Rodvansky SO-FN pictured 5th from left

Flotilla 12-1 members who attended– Perry & Bonnie Moses, Tammy and Steve

Rodvansky, Larry and Alice Odom, Ron and Jackie Cunningham, Sep and Betty Harvin

and Don and Sue Carty.

MARSHALL’S MARINE BOAT SHOW JANUARY 15 AND 16, 2010 AT LAKE CITY

Flotilla 12-1 participated in the annual boat show at Marshall’s Marine. Included in our PA

booth was our display board, literature on safe boating and life jackets along with

information on the US Coast Guard and the Auxiliary, stickers for the children, and dummy

EPIRBS. Greg Williams brought his TV and had a training file running during the day.

Flotilla participants who donated their time to help with the show:

Friday– Don Kerl, Greg Williams, Lee Rudd, Ron Cunningham, Sep Harvin,

Don and Sue Carty

Saturday– Perry Moses III, Larry Odom, John Owen, Ron Cunningham, Joe and Ellen

Newman, Lee Rudd and Don Carty

- Also at the boat show on Saturday was Vito Giardina DVCDR from

Flotilla 12-10 Georgetown with several other Flotilla members.

(see photos on page 8 and page 12)

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From left– Don Kerl, Ron Cunningham, Sue Carty,

Sep Harvin, Greg Williams

Lee Rudd

FLOTILLA 12-1 CHANGE OF WATCH DINNER DECEMBER 7, 2009 AT CAPTAINS QUARTERS, SANTEE

Our December Flotilla meeting/dinner was held at the Captains Quarters in Santee. A short

meeting was held. FC Perry Moses gave a short review of the year’s activities, announced

John Owen had donated two projectors to the Flotilla, which were desperately needed, and

discussed upcoming events. Perry also named the 2010 Flotilla staff officers and their

office. The swearing in of the officers was performed at the January Flotilla meeting. The

best part of the evening, of course, was the dinner when we had a chance to enjoy a good

meal and to mingle with our fellow members and their spouses.

Pictured from left to right:

Bonnie Moses, Perry Moses III,

John Owen, Denise Owen,

Carol Livingston

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PICTURES FROM FLOTILLA 12-1 CHANGE OF WATCH

From left– Ellen and Joe Newman, From left– Mary Jane Phillips, Ron Cunningham,

Larry and Alice Odom Dick Phillips, Jackie Cunningham

From left– Betty Harvin, Sep Harvin, Jr,

Rich and Pam Kinkade Carol and Joe Livingston

Sue and Don Carty From left– Don and Pat Kerl, Steve and Tammy Rodvansky

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CoMmunications– Don Kerl

FiNancial– Sep Harvin, Jr Balance remains the same. No deposits or withdrawals.

Information Systems– Don Carty During the winter months is a great time to study and complete Auxiliary courses. Some members have already completed courses for certification in VE, MDV,IT and ICS courses. If working for a certification let the appropriate FSO and your FC know for ICS courses please give or send a copy to me or the SO-IS so it may be entered into AUXDATA. Bravo Zulu to those members that have submitted forms for this year there have been no major problems, and a great effort for your patience and versatility with the new version of the 7029 Member Activity form, many thanks to VFC Tammy Rodvansky for the 7029 sheet in Excel format this a good tool to use simply fill in the blanks and send or give to me. Thank you for your time and effort in the USCGAUX . Don Carty 1154195 FSO-IS 070-12-1 Home: 803-478-7022 E-Mail: boat4bass@ftc-i.net

MAterials– Gregg Williams - Began record keeping for USCGA Safety Equipment in possession of

Flotilla 12-01 Crew Member *

- Contacted Crew Members needing to submit Inventory sheet

- Perry Moses FC has wax sticks for jacket zippers if you need one

- If you have an inflatable life jacket, check monthly if working properly

* IMPORTANT: “INVENTORY OF USCG AUX SAFETY EQUIPMENT– PERSONAL AND

FLOTILLA ISSUED” form must be completed yearly by any Flotilla member for any

of their own personal equipment or any equipment on loan from the Coast Guard,

including the equipment we received from the Coast Guard last October. If you have not

completed the form or need one, please contact Greg. This must be done ASAP.

Marine Safety– Joe Moore

Member Training– Tammy Rodvansky A training session was held for the revised 7029 form, Member Activity Form, at the

January Flotilla meeting and emailed the new 7029 in Excel format by attachment to all

members.

If you need any assistance, please contact Tammy.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE WORK TOWARDS TURNING IN YOUR FORM ON A

MONTHLY BASIS.

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OPerations– Joe Livingston Ahoy, Mates! Hope you are all off to a good start in 2010!

We’ve come a long way since we received our charter in April of last year. Since then your OPS

Group has logged many hours on the water performing both training and safety patrols. We look for-

ward to making 2010 the year that we increase the number of patrols that we do and really begin to

have significant presence on the water on Lake Marion. To do so we will have to have more boat

crew, coxswains, and radio watch standers. Several flotilla members are already working toward cer-

tification in these ratings, and we hope others will also. Looking forward from this point we will

work toward:

1. training and qualifying a minimum of 3 more boat crew

2. training and qualifying a minimum of 3 more coxswain

3. certifying at least one additional OP FAC

4. certifying 2 additional radio watch standers

5. conducting a minimum of 2 safety patrols per month throughout the year with increased

patrols during the summer boating season

6. conduct readiness training patrols bi-monthly

We will work toward meeting or exceeding these goals during the next several months. Thanks to all

who have worked so hard to get us to were we are and thanks to all who have volunteered and are

training to become certified in these areas.

Remember that safe cold weather boating requires planning ahead and thinking safety while on the water.

Wear layered clothing with a waterproof or water resistant outer garment – getting wet in cold weather can be

deadly. Cover your head and neck – much of your body heat escapes from these areas. Take along hot coffee

or hot chocolate and snacks to help keep you warm and give you extra energy. Keep a weather eye out for

changing conditions that could cause rain, increasing winds, rough seas, or other unsafe conditions. Make sure

that your boat is ship shape and don’t exceed its capabilities. And, as always, wear your life jacket !

Public Affairs– Richard Phillips

PuBlications– Sue Carty Our Flotilla newsletter was started in August 2009 after our official Chartering Ceremony in July.

As with all we have done as a brand new Flotilla with all our accomplishments and time we have all spent

during what each of us does best, I also feel our newsletter reflects what we are all about. Thanks to all of you

with submitting your reports and articles, we had a great start.

What makes it even better, is that our Flotilla website is online and the newsletters are there for all to see

what we have done.

To keep at the level we have accomplished, please keep on submitting those reports, articles and photos.

It’s also IMPORTANT that if a staff officer gives a verbal report at a Flotilla meeting, please email me

the information you gave. I can’t write down everything everyone has said or that some information maybe

incorrect. By a staff officer emailing to me, he/she will include what is important to pass on to our members.

ARTICLES ARE DUE THE MONDAY AFTER OUR MEETING. If you need a little more time, please

let me know so I am aware you will be submitting an article or report.

Again, thank you all for your past contributions and keep them coming in 2010!

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Public Education– Larry Odom

PA and PE events have been or will be scheduled at least through the end of May and

most likely, especially PA events, through through summer and fall. For PE, the two

safe boating courses we are considering are “Suddenly you are in Command” and the

ABS course.

Personnel Services– John Owen

Program Visitor– Lee Rudd

SecRetary– Richard Kinkade

Vessel Examiner– Ron Cunningham

VE blitzes have been scheduled for April and May including at least May 22, to kick off

Safe Boating Week and during the Swamp Fox Poker Run on May 29. More will be

scheduled during the summer months.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS FROM BOAT SHOW

Auxiliarists from left-

Ron Cunningham

Ellen Newman

Vito Giardina

Perry Moses III

Lee Rudd,

Larry Odom

Joe Newman

From left-

Lee Rudd

Ron Cunningham

Perry Moses III

John Owen

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***** DIVISION 12 - 2010 IN PHOTOS *****

Ron Forman VFC 12-6 East Cooper will be making a 2010 photo collection of

Division 12.

All Flotillas in Division 12 are asked to submit pictures from activities that

occur within their Flotilla they feel capture the purpose, duty and fellowship of

the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to be added to this collection.

Ron has asked for a volunteer in each Flotilla to collect the photos and forward

them to him. The volunteer for Flotilla 12-1 will be Sue Carty. Please email

your photos to her and she will forward them to Ron Forman. Any questions,

please contact Sue.

This can be a great way to show off Division 12 to other Auxiliarists and bring

back memories for years to come!

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2010 FLOTILLA FC, VFC, AND STAFF OFFICERS ROSTER

FC – Perry Moses, III pmosesiii@sc.rr.com

VFC – Tammy Rodvansky tammylr@ftc-i.net

FSO-CM – Donald Kerl dpkerl@aol.com

FSO-CS – Vacant

FSO-FN- Septimus Harvin pop2542@aol.com

FSO-IS- Don Carty boat4bass@ftc-i.net

FSO-MA-Gregory Williams gwilliams10@sc.rr.com

FSO-MS- Joe Moore Sailor-Joe-1955@Hotmail.Com

FSO-MT- Tammy Rodvansky tammylr@ftc-i.net

FSO-NS- Vacant

FSO-OP-Joe Livingston jlivingston@super-sod.com

FSO-PA- Richard Phillips rphill291022@gmail.com

FSO-PB- Sue Carty suesatwood@ftc-i.net

FSO-PE– Larry Odom larrycoastguardaux@live.com

FSO-PS– John Owen j2owen@bop.gov

FSO-PV– Lee Rudd muskrat@ftc-i.net

FSO-SR- Richard Kinkade richkinkade@aol.com

FSO-VE– Ron Cunningham ron44uscga@gmail.com