Public news

If you boat in the NYC area, you need a "license," meaning a certificate from an approved boating safety course. One of the courses that meets that standard is the USCG Auxiliary's "America's Boating Course," and you can take this condensed class this month if you act now. Here's the key information:

Total time commitment: 2 days, 8 hours

Location: Offered at the USCG Building, 2 South Street (Directly next to Staten Island Ferry at eastern end of Battery Park). Enter through parking lot. Class will be held on second deck in the wardroom (second floor conference room in lubber-speak).

Dates and Times: July 16 and 17 from 6PM-9:45PM

Cost: $50 for non-USCG. Discounts are available for USCG and affiliated organizations.

Please confirm registration by contacting the lead instructor, John Gallagher. To do that, click the "Contact" link above, and choose "July Boating Course" from the subject menu.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages.

Almost a year ago, the Coast Guard publicly pondered pulling the plug on its high-frequency (HF) weather broadcasts. They called for comments, and the boating public answered loudly. From those comments, the Coast Guard prepared a business case analysis report, which you can download here. For those who don't want to wade through the whole report, the bottom line is:

The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to be out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available through these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of accuracy, timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF broadcasts.

The Coast Guard still has to scrap many of its HF services because of budget constraints, but they'll keep the weather forecasts on the air. In fact, they're now planning to upgrade the weather broadcast stations so they can keep sending out their lifesaving bulletins into the forseeable future.

All members, elected and appointed officers, friends, and guests are invited to the Division Change of Watch Luncheon on January 20th, 1300 hrs. Elected and appointed officers at both Division and Flotilla level will take their Oaths of Office at this time. Any new members present will be sworn in as well, with the Pledge for New Members.

Uniform Of The Day is Service Dress Blue Bravo, or civilian business attire.

Place: City Island Lido Restaurant
101 City Island Avenue
City Island, Bronx, NY 10464

Parking: Available

Price: $45

Payments: Please send checks made out to "USCGAUX Division 5" to Mr. Russ Fayer, SO-FN, 172 Robert Drive, New Rochelle, NY 10804, or online with PayPal, sending to e-mail address boatingsafety@division5nyc.org.

Look forward to seeing you there!

MENU (many of us have eaten here, and the food is excellent!):

Spumante Toast

Appetizer: Fried Calamari, Mozzarella Caprese with Fresh Tomato and Prosciutto di Para

Pasta: Penne alla Vodka

Salad: Garden Fresh Green Salid alla Lido

Entree selections: Perfectly Aged and Tender New York Steak; Chicken Sorrentino (Scalloppine topped with Eggplant, Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella); Fresh Broiled Filet of Salmon in a Wine Dill Sauce

* all entrees served with potatoes and seasonal vegetables*

Desert: Mini Pastries
Fresh Colombia Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino

Beverages: Imported White and Red Wine on each Table, Beer, and Soda

Starting 8 January, and continuing for 12 consecutive Tuesdays from 7pm-10pm, Flotilla 5-10 will be teaching Coastal Navigation. This is an excellent course to take after your introductory Boating Skills and Seamanship class, if you want a solid grounding in the art and science of navigation.The course will be taught at the USCG Battery Park building, next door to the Staten Island Ferry terminal and convenient to all of the city's major transit systems. To register for this or other Flotilla 5-10 classes, simply visit SmartTix and follow the onscreen instructions. Coastal Navigation, incidentally, is free for Coast Guard Auxiliarists.

For details on our upcoming safe boating course at the New York Boat Show, please check out the new press release. Passing this course fulfills the minimum legal requirements for boat operator training in the tri-state area. The $35 course fee includes free admission to the boat show.

After months of promises, the SO-CS has finally gotten a new version of the Web site launched. It should be easier to navigate than the old version, and easier for officers to update. If you encounter any problems or want to leave general feedback, please use the "Contact" link above, and direct site-related notes to the SO-CS.