Coast Guard Auxiliary 2016 National Convention

NACON 2016 PA REPORT: Roger Bazeley FVC, FSO-PA F17 D11N, August 24-28

NACON 2016 in Phoenix -- This year’s convention was held at the beautiful Arizona Grand Resort and

Spa, and had a lot going on – from informative workshops to some great networking opportunities,

along with a chance to get a behind-the-scenes view of the Auxiliary National organization at work.

Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix Exterior View toward Scottsdale, Interior Lobby Grill Phoenix Mural

Activities beyond classes and leadership meetings included networking with International CG Auxiliaries

from Australia, Dominican Republic and the Philippines as well as National Auxiliary leadership working

in the areas of International Affairs outreach and interpreters corps. There was an impressive collective

of active Coast Guard Admirals from USCG Commandant Admiral Zukunft and his dedicated incredible

staff of Aides and support staff including our own dedicated national leadership from Public Affairs to

Operations/RBS. The opportunity to witness the election and appointments of the new 2016-2018

“National Bridge” (Auxiliary National Leadership) at the Opening Day Ceremony was impressive, to all.

NACON Opening Presentation of Colors, Lou DiLeo-Auxiliary Musician, N.Y. Band Singing Nat. Anthem

Remembrance Bell Ringing for Auxiliary Leadership, NACON Leadership – Pledge of Allegiance

There were other opportunities of meeting and mixing with Auxiliary Leadership at the International

Luncheon, the Friday night buffet Connor Stone dinner with a “Patriotic Theme”, and Saturday night’s

Commodores Banquet. Our District Eleven North was well represented by many of our top Auxiliary

leadership including Pacific Area Deputy National Commodore Rod Collins, Pacific Area National

Commodore Rich Thomas, Deputy Chief of Staff Wally Smith D11N, Capt. Mary Kirkwood D11N, and

many others including active Pacific Command, District Coast Guard, and DIRAUX.

COMO Al Verdi BC-ACM, Aux. Janszen, COMO Blanchette - Hickey, Rich Mihalcik , COMO Dale Fajardo

The NACON events included Auxiliary Musician Qualification Auditions and playing 3rd Trumpet with the

impressive USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band which performed over 20 pieces at Friday night’s Fellowship

Dinner. The 20 plus Arizona Band Auxiliary Musicians included several other professional music

educators and musicians from the New York Auxiliary Band, which also performs as a USCGAUX

Marching Band in parades and at various civic/USCG events. During the Fellowship Dinner program the

USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band Played two sets and between the sets a smaller Jazz Ensemble Group

played a set of Jazz and Swing music. The AUX-MU1 QE auditions resulted in adjudicating four Arizona

and one D11NR musicians to AUX-MU ratings including Auxiliarist Jennifer Goode who was adjudicated

to MU1 and QE to support PAC Area for further adjudications to expand the Auxiliary Musician Program.

The USCG Auxiliary 11SR-10-03 Arizona Band is the second of three Auxiliary Band Flotillas to be formed

with New York being the first and a new Los Angeles Band Flotilla 114-12-76 from Marina Del Rey being

the third. The USCGAUX Arizona Band started in January 2015 and operates year around rehearsing

weekly on Tuesday evenings at The American Legion Post 2 at 2125 South Industrial Park Ave., Tempe

Arizona. The musicians in the Auxiliary Bands come from many different professions and careers and

enjoy performing music for their communities as well as serving their country by supporting USCG and

USCG Auxiliary. All of the Bands primary function is to support the U.S. Coast Guard and the Auxiliary as

required and needed. The USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band performs for local and National Parades, Marine

Festivals, Dedications, and ceremonial Events for both Coast Guard and Auxiliary functions. They have

played concerts for Veterans at the VA Hospital and Nursing Home Residents in Phoenix.

USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band at NACON-Patriotic Program, Brass Ensemble at Banquet Reception

Recently, the Arizona Band had the honor of performing at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on

Memorial Day 2016, as well as for NACON 2016, the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Association

Convention. The Arizona Band’s leadership consists of Flotilla Commander Leon Artac, Vice Flotilla

Commander Ben Palmer, Director/Conductor Ben Palmer, and FSO Publications Pam Wolfe.

Other flotilla staff officers besides Auxiliary Qualified Musicians are needed for performing other public

affairs, finance, operations/scheduling, education, Web/IT and HR functions that are necessary to

operate these incredible Auxiliary Band Flotillas as they develop, and for new possible future emerging

local area Auxiliary Band Flotillas and AUX-MU qualified musicians and small developing ensembles.

The Program Manager of the Auxiliary Musician Program (AUX-MU) is Commodore Al Verdi who holds

the national staff position of BC-ACM (Branch Chief Auxiliary Musician Program) has also formed the

Auxiliary Los Angeles Band Flotilla 114-12-76 for D11SR. COMO Verdi BC-ACM introduced me to the

emerging Auxiliary Musician and Band program to further the development of an AUX-MU program for

D11N. Lou DiLeo an AUX-MU1 and QE sang with his impressive voice at the Fellowship Dinner and the

Opening Day Ceremony. Lou DiLeo is not only a professional trumpet player and educator, but a

qualified Aux Music Examiner, along with Lee Dash an AUX-MU1 QE, and Keith Schmidt an AUX-MU1

and QE from the New York Auxiliary Band. Lou DiLeo and a small select group performed additionally as

a Brass Ensemble of five for the reception before the formal National Commodore’s Banquet.

Benediction Opening Ceremony – [Photos Roger Bazeley PA] - National Commodore Rod Collins

The experience of attending NACON and having the privilege and honor to sit in with the fantastic USCG

Auxiliary Arizona Band, music auditions, and take a one hour work shop from the incredibly experienced

2015-2016 Public Affairs National Commodore Harold Jacobs on the NEW PA program going forward, as

well as, meeting the International and National Auxiliary Leadership was very meaningful in deciding on

my own future’s strategic volunteer goals and leadership path as a USCG Auxiliary Member.

Additional NACON Photos: Roger Bazeley FSO- PA D11N

At NACON it was easy to be overwhelmed by the quality of leadership and dedication from both the

USCG Command leadership and the Auxiliary National Commodores leadership and an honor to

participate and continue to develop and learn in every interaction, support function that supports the

United States Coast Guard and all those that serve our missions as a part of “Team Coast Guard”. Joining

with the USCG Arizona Band in the patriotic Medley of music in playing the “Service Sets” and coming to

Semper Paratus which was played with such enthusiastic vigor that all attendees were moved with a

tearful pride of respect to participate and serve as “Team Coast Guard”. Bravo Zulu! Semper Pratus!

Respectfully Submitted,

Roger Bazeley, FSO-PA, FVC F17 D11N