Member services

Mark Dunmire, SO-MT, has posted a new list of upcoming member training opportunities. In case it didn't reach your inbox already, here's what's up:

BOATING SKILLS AND SEAMANSHIP: The in-depth boating safety course, offered by Flotilla 5-02. Meets requirements for BQ status, a prerequisite for all Auxiliary qualifications.. Wednesdays, starting 12 MAR, 7 pm. First Lutheran Church, 3075 Baisley Ave, Bronx. For further information, call 718-490-4256 or email flotilla52@msn.com

BOAT CREW TRAINING: Shoreside crew training begins THU 13 MAR at USCG Battery Park Bldg, 7pm. First night covers introduction to the mentoring process and tasks BCM 01-01 thru 02-04. Policy, Crew Efficiency, Fatigue, some First Aid. Sponsored by Flotilla 5-10. Continues for eight weeks on Thursdays covering all shoreside tasks and leads to on-the-water training. Advance registration a must. Register at www.flotilla510.org or for questions contact turrinaux510@yahoo.com.

AMERICA'S BOATING COURSE: This eight-hour boating safety course meets requirements for BQ status, a prerequisite for all Auxiliary qualifications. For a course offered by Flotilla 5-03, on 19 MAR, contact Tony Reardon, VFC 5-03 at 718-728-7889. For the session on 05 APR, register at www.flotilla510.org. or send questions to Richard Turrin, FC 5-10, at turrinaux510@yahoo.com. For more offerings, see http://www.cgaux1sr.org/uploads/education/pecourses.pdf

AUXPAT SPECIALTY COURSE: Auxiliary Patrols is one of six advanced training courses leading to the AUXOP designation and device. Course runs 01 MAY thru 05 JUN , 7:30, USCG Battery Park Bldg. Sponsored by Flotilla 5-10. Register at www.flotilla510.org or for questions contact turrinaux510@yahoo.com.

VESSEL EXAMINER (VE) PREP COURSE: Learn how to save lives as a Vessel Examiner! Vessel Examiners educate boaters one-to-one, while providing free vessel safety checks. WEDS, 06 and 19 APR, 7pm - 9pm at Perkins Eastman Architects, 115 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan (near Union Square). Boating safety course required prior to certification, highly recommended prior to prep course. Sponsored by Division 5. Advance registration required. Contact Helen Cohen, SO-VE helen.cohen@verizon.net

TEAM COORDINATION TRAINING: The District online TCT schedule is a great resource at http://www.cgaux1sr.org/PDFs/standing/D1_TCT_Sked.pdf . This list is maintained by CWO Zambrana, OTO/DIRAUX, and is updated regularly. A course in Manhattan has also been requested.

INSTRUCTORS: Currency alert! Instructors must complete the annual IT workshop, with participation entered in AUXDATA no later than 30 JUN 2008. A workshop will be announced after the District Conference.

Mark Dunmire, SO-MT, has put a new Division 5 Member Training calendar online here. This is an experimental product, but it offers several ways for members to synchronize their calendars and keep abreast of upcoming training opportunities. Users of calendar software that complies with the icalendar standard, for example, can "subscribe" to the new calendar and have it update automatically in their desktop, palmtop, and even phone-based date books. Even if you don't use an electronic organizer, you can keep up to date simply by checking the Web page periodically.

Anyone who tries the new calendar should send feedback to Mark.

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.

The air is getting cooler, the nights are getting longer, and the leaves are falling from the trees. It's that wonderful time of year when ... it's time to pay up. Yes, that's right, your flotilla needs for you to pay your dues, because they have to send their flotilla dues to the Division (which in turn has to send its dues to the District, and so on up to the National level). Members blowing off dues payments are the chief cause of financial problems for flotillas, so don't put that burden on your shipmates.

For detailed payment information, contact your FC or FSO-FN. Some flotillas now accept payments electronically, but all will be happy to take cash or checks at the next regular meeting.