NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 1
NORTHWIND Volume: 18 Edition: 4 Date: October 2012
DISTRICT ELEVEN NORTH
Photo by: Fred Sellstrom
Auxiliary Facility "Sea Horse", Coxswain DNACO(e) Angelo Perata,
at the start of the Parade of Ships
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 2
Contents Page
2012 EDITION DEADLINES
Jan 01 * Apr 01 * Jul 01 * Oct 01
Please submit all articles in
Microsoft Word to:
Wesley Craig, DSO-PB
NORTHWIND
The official publication of the
United States Coast Guard Auxil-
iary, District 11North.
Vol. 18 Issue 1 October 2012
Editor: Wesley Craig, DSO-PB 11N
Contributing Editors:
Victor Beelik ADSO-PB 11N
Design and Production:
Wesley Craig, DSO-PB 11N
Proofreaders:
Victor Beelik, ADSO-PB 11N
Chris Jewell
Jen Wuest Garcia
Kenna Craig, D-AA
Webmaster:
Jimmin Chang, DSO-CS
Web: d11nuscgaux.info/
Northwind/index.html
NORTHWIND
Commander (dpa-n)
USCG Coast Guard Island
Building 50-2
Alameda, California 94501-5100
Editor:
Wesley Craig, DSO-PB 11N
All uncaptioned photos are in
public domain.
Childrens photos have paren-
tal/guardian releases on file.
Telephone numbers and addresses of members are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. As a matter of policy, rosters of names, addresses
and telephone numbers shall not be made available to the general public or any outside organization. Privacy of all rosters shall be safe-
guarded and the page clearly labeled. The publication of these rosters addresses and telephone numbers on any computer on-line service
including the internet is prohibited by the 1974 Privacy Act.
Editing and Disclaimer:
The NORTHWIND reserves the right to proof read and edit-copy all articles submitted. It takes
no responsibility and accepts no liability for damages caused by errors left in the document.
It cannot accept responsibility for the validity of web sites that link from this publication. It also
cannot accept responsibility for any content submitted by any author.
Articles published in the NORTHWIND must be consistent with the stated policies of the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Page 3-4 DCO(e) Rod Collins
Page 5 Congratulations to all
Page 6-8 San Francisco Fleet Week 2012
Page 9-11 Fleet week 2012 Auxiliary Communications
Page 12 The Fleet is in Town
Page 13-15 USCG Auxiliary Welcomes San Francisco’s
Fleet Week Ships and America’s Cup
Contenders
Page 16 Bill Correll, DCDR 10 reports that:
Page 17 CG “Two Boat” Training
Page 18 AUXLAMS class at Shanty Creek
Page 19 Wally Smith, DCAPT(e) reports that:
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 3
DCO(e) Rod Collins, 11NR
I want to convey to all members of District Eleven Northern that I am honored to have been elected to be your next District Commodore. As I have said before, I be-lieve that D11N is the best District in the Auxiliary. We have a great pool of members with such varied backgrounds that there seems to be no task that we cannot take on
and successfully accomplish.
As I look to next year, one item that is a certainty is that the Coast Guard will be facing some financial challenges and naturally that will filter down to us. We are not sure of the effect on us at this time, but it is a good bet that we will have fewer funds available to us than last year. In situations like this we all know that the most common area to cut back is travel expenses. This will affect us primarily in the areas of meet-ings and training where members or instructors need to travel for a session. The Dis-trict leadership has been anticipating this situation for a few years and has been imple-menting programs to address this situation. One of the programs is to use the internet for meetings and collaboration activities. Not to say that this is better than face-to-face, but it is much more desirable than just written communications. In anticipation of cut-backs in funding and the desire to offer our membership the ability to stay connected, the District leadership initiated a program to use the internet for selected District Board meetings a few years ago. That has now become the norm for the approximately six EXCOM & Board meetings a year. As with any technology solution, it has taken some time to smooth out this process, but it is now a norm that we will continue. Next year all of our internet Board meetings will include the District staff. The District has a hand-ful of Divisions that have also embraced this technology and are having selected meet-ings and member training sessions via the internet. With the implementation of this program we have been able to maintain our District Board meetings at a reduced cost to DIRAUX. Additionally, we hope that all members can benefit from this tool, espe-cially in the area of training. Recently a remark was made by a member of the National
Board that “D11N is way ahead of National in this area”.
Where do we want to go with this capability from here? There are many areas where this technology can be applied, but a couple that the District are currently ad-
dressing is:
D11N is assembling a team to assist Divisions and Instructors to come up to
speed with this technology.
District meetings viewable by all members via the internet.
Member training courses being offered to members via the internet. National is
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 4
currently looking at certifying courses such as ICS 210 and TCT to be offered in this
manner.
The use of this technology will go a long way to assist our leadership to stay connected with our membership. Additionally, this tool will provide a major benefit to those members that are in areas where training is limited or it is difficult to get enough students to justify a class. In many ways we are breaking new ground for the Auxil-
iary, but you can be assured that if any District can do it and do it right, D11N can!
I will keep you apprised of our progress in this area and look for a great 2013 with a
fabulous district.
Please join me in welcoming your new EXCOM:
District Chief of Staff - Richard Thomas
District Captain for Prevention - Simone Adair
District Captain for Response - Wally Smith
District Captain for Support - William Correll
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 5
DNACO (e) ANGELO PERATA
District Commodore Angelo A. Perata of Elev-
enth District -Northern Region, was elected to
serve as the Deputy National Commodore- Pa-
cific area.
The commodore-elect will serve a two-year
term beginning November 1, 2012. The elec-
tion was held at the Coast Guard AuxiliaryNa-
tional Conference (NACON) in San Antonio,
August 2012.
(Angelo Perata is a member of Flotilla 11-01)
DISTRICT 11N ELECTION RESULTS for 2013
DCPT(e) Wally Smith
DCPT(e) Bill Correl
DCPT(e) Simone Adair
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
DCO(e) Rod Collins COS(e) Rich Thomas
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 6
San Francisco
Fleet Week 2012
This year’s annual San Francisco
Fleet Week was an even bigger
event than usual, with the addition
of 6 days of America’s Cup World
Series races combined with the
traditional 4 days of SF Bay air
shows, Parade of Ships, and other events. Nineteen different Auxiliary boats, with
over a hundred different Auxiliary coxswain and boat crew members, performed more
than 60 long-day patrols to assist the CG in maintaining safety boxes for the 6 days of
on-the-water events Tuesday-Sunday, 2-7 October. Many more members provided
communications, ship tours, and other shore-side assistance that extended through
Monday, Columbus Day.
The “perfect storm” of activities that week provided for a lot of opportunities and enter-
tainment. The weather actually cooperated quite well most days, and the spectators
came out in the hundreds of thousands (some reports said over 2 million). The CG
brought in units from Honolulu, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and many other stations
from around SF Bay, the Delta, and the northern California coastline. The CG cutter
Sherman (378’ WHEC) was in the parade of ships and open for tours at Pier 80, along
with ships from the US and Canadian navies.
The America’s Cup World Series races involved very high
speed (yes, they can go two times the speed of the wind!) 45’
catamarans from China, France, Italy, Korea, New Zealand,
Sweden, UK and USA (Oracle team, the defending Americas
Cup champion). There was live streaming internet coverage of
all races, and even international
TV coverage of some. These boats have been travel-
ing around the world in the World Series event, leading
up to the actual America’s Cup races next year in SF
Bay (with the larger 72’ versions of these wing-sailed
catamarans). Overall, the CG was on international dis-
play along with our beautiful SF Bay maritime environ-
ment.
Photo by: Rick Pisio
By: Linda Vetter
Photos by: Terry Blanchard
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 7
The Fleet Week Air Show is always a big spectator event, with quite a variety of air-
craft, including many very loud jets. The US Navy Blue Angels are always a huge at-
traction, but many also enjoy the Patriots, the generations of fighters including a Mus-
tang, CF-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, F-22, Osprey, various aerobatic bi-planes,
large United passenger liners, and even a CG
MH-65 SAR demo. As shown in some of the
accompanying photos, the “tarp boats” (two
Auxiliary vessels tasked to don large yellow
tarps and sit inside the otherwise empty 2 miles
of Air Show safety box to provide sight-lines for
the performers) can get some up close time
with some of the pilots.
Due to the extended on-scene times this year,
CG and Aux boats were actually assigned shift duties some days to keep our total un-
derway time, including time to transit to/from the safety box area, down to “only” 8
hours a day. For example, Saturday started with the Parade of Ships (1100-1215) re-
quiring assets on scene by 1030, an Air Show from 1215–1600, then ACSW races
from 1600-1830 (then the SAR cases start as all the spectators try to de-anchor and
race home).
With an event this large and this complex, and the active duty CG already heavily
tasked, many ancillary duties were once again handled ably by the Auxiliary. For ex-
ample, AuxFac Melody (Bob Coackley) got the “air support” duties with their daily
transport of the FAA reps monitoring the Air
Show to/from Alameda across the bay to Mu-
nicipal Pier, plus transporting the Canadian
Royal Air Force flight team (after they per-
formed early in the program and then were
police escorted from the airport back to the
city front on Sunday) around the box to
watch the rest of the air show from the water.
Other transport of CG reps (Sector person-
nel, CG investigative officers, DIRAUX, DIR-
AUX OTO, etc.) were handled by Antoinette (Paul Zahra), Maverick (David Naumann),
Sea Horse (Angelo Perata), Shady Lady (Tommy Holtzman), Silver Charm (Linda Vet-
ter), and others. Ranger 303 (Bob Golden) participated in some demos with CG as-
sets for the media the first day as well. Others filled in as needed regularly.
The combined Fleet Week and America’s Cup World Series events required a lot of
dedicated effort by the extended CG team. The event ran smoothly and, most impor-
tantly, safely. Many, many Team Coast Guard units and personnel were involved to
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 8
successfully make that happen. Coordinating most for Sector SF was ENS Mark Lea-
hey, who is also the Auxiliary Liaison officer for Sector and well-known to many Auxil-
iarists. Linda Vetter, as SF Bay Auxiliary Patrol Area Coordinator, marshaled the Aux-
iliary on-the-water assets. Thanks to everyone who participated for your help, flexibil-
ity, and long hours!
Bravo Zulu!
Photos by: Terry Blanchard
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 9
The Fleet Week Auxiliary communication’s team mis-
sion on the Municipal Pier was three-fold.
First, a member of our team, Kevin Sellstrom, serves
the Air Show Boss and FAA personnel as the liaison
with our operation, and as a communications link to
the center point and On Scene Commander aboard
the cutter SOCKEYE in case of lost communications
or any sort of incident. In the case of lost communi-
cations with any of the aircraft, the AUX liaison is re-
quired to immediately request the center point vessel
to fire a smoke flare – the agreed upon signal to air
crews to abort their mission and return to the airport.
As well, they provide real-time coordination with the
on-water assets as the show evolves and changes.
Second, members of the team, including Fred Sellstrom, Carol Paz, Larry Draper, and
Bonnie Sellstrom serve the Coast Guard and other government agency boat crews on
scene, as well as the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center by provid-
ing on-scene communications, coordination, and safety oversight for our 25-40 Coast
Guard and Auxiliary boats, and over 20 other government agency boats serving on the
Fleet Week air show “box” Thursday through Sunday. On any given day, the Commu-
nications team members on the pier and
PATCOM Jeff Price, aboard the cutter
SOCKEYE are on scene by 0730 hours
to assume the guard of Auxiliary vessels
underway to their assigned positions on
the “box”. Overall, there are 45 to 70
boats and crews on-scene to assure the
“box” is sterile and that appropriate res-
cue assets are instantly available to the
public and the air show participants if
needed. Constant communication is si-
multaneously maintained with each boat
crew as well as PATCOM on separate
Forefront is Bonnie Sellstrom, proof-
reading logs, with Kevin in the back-
ground in conversation with PATCOM.
By: Fred Sellstrom
Photo by: Rick Pisio, 12-91
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 10
channels while also maintaining the re-
quired guard on VHF channel 16. Be-
cause of the massive increase in service
vessels for this event, our presence and
communications watches for those boats
assures their safety as they transit to and
from the “box” each day, while relieving
the Command Center personnel of the
added traffic and allowing them to per-
form their regular marine safety and se-
curity tasks (which are also increased due
to the Fleet Week events and spectators).
Our Muni Pier team as well as PATCOM is able to secure when the last Auxiliary ves-
sel has safely reached its berth, sometimes as late as 1930 hours.
Last, team members and PATCOM serve as a contingency communications asset in
the case of an incident at the air show or among the spectators, with the capability to
coordinate any response that may be needed should the On Scene Commander re-
quire assistance or be unable to respond for any reason. For this reason the commu-
nications team monitors, and is capable of communicating on VHF marine frequen-
cies, aircraft frequencies, and via other secure means to keep each participant in the
event informed of any change or possible emergency.
Because the team serves multiple roles here on the pier, they answer directly to sev-
eral individuals from the Coast
Guard leadership. Ensign Mark Lea-
hey is the Coast Guardsman super-
vising the Coast Guard’s Fleet Week
operation this year. OSCS Doug
Samp is the Sector San Francisco
Early morning on Muni Pier.
Early air show confab between Kevin, FAA per-sonnel, a Navy Blue Angels rep and a National Parks Ranger discussing the show program
This shot, although it may look insignificant contains some important people associated with the air show. From left to right is Aux member, and Air Show / FAA liaison Kevin Sell-strom, one of our Muni Pier comms team. Next is the Blue Angel show coordinater; next is Donna Flynn, the Air Show Boss (with headphones), remaining are FAA personnel, with Roger Zimmerman, FAA supervisor in the forefront on his cell.
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 11
Command Center Supervisor for whom the communications team serves as the eyes,
ears, and on-scene communications hub. This year the communications team logged
over 200 man hours on-scene and created over 70 pages of electronic communication
logs for the CG and AUX communications alone.
The District’s Ceremonial Honor Guard has been hard at work training and performing
at several events this year. We are on the lookout for more members interested in
participating and opportunities to present and honor the Coast Guard and Auxiliary.
Contact Jim Duffley, ADSO-PA, if you are interested.
As of August 26, 2012 Division 10 is second in PAC Area and third in the Nation for RBS Program Visitation. Phil Grove VCDR 10 is the sixth overall highest
member for Program Visits in the Nation.
As of September 2, 2012 Division 10 is second in PAC Area and third in the Nation for Vessel Safety Checks. Mike Lauro SO-VE 10 is third overall highest
member for Vessel Safety Checks in the Nation.
WASHINGTON - Congratulations to the following Coast Guard Auxiliary units and
members who received first-place awards at the 2012 national conference in San Antonio for their submissions to the 2012 National Public Affairs, Publica-
tions, Photography, and Video Contests:
PUBLIC AFFAIRS - 1st Place Flotilla
Jerry B. Edelen, FSO-PA D11NR, Flotilla 64
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 12
The Fleet
Is In Town One aspect of Fleet
Week in San Francisco
is that an estimated
10,000+ sea service
personnel (CG, Navy,
Marines) come to town
on various vessels in the
Parade of Ships and in
support capacities. On
patrol on Thursday, 4 October 2012, Auxiliary Vessel Silver Charm (Linda Vetter/Terry
Blanchard) tracked down Coast Guard RBS 25613, an MSST unit from Honolulu here
to help manage safety and security for the event. Aboard was MK3 Adrian Lopez-
Smith, the grandson of one of our crew members that day, Wally Smith, DCAPT(e),
from Santa Cruz!
MK3 Lopez-Smith joined the CG 3 ½ years ago, and recently successfully completed
EMT school at TRACEN Petaluma. His MSST unit, stationed at Sand Island (Pearl
Harbor), Honolulu, Hawaii, was just one of many CG units from outside the bay area
brought in to assist with this big, week-long event. Some of the Hawaii team found
SF Bay a little colder than Honolulu, but Adrian, a native of the area who used to go
fishing for salmon and rock cod with Wally in Santa Cruz, hopefully felt quite at home.
Wally and Jane Smith are both active Auxiliarists in the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz,
California area, where Wally is currently the Division Commander of Division 6 and
recently elected a District Captain for next year. Adrian is their daughter’s oldest son.
As Wally stated, “What could be better as a CG Auxiliarist than to get to serve on the
same operational mission as my active duty grandson!” All of us on board Silver
Charm considered it an honor and quite a highlight of the week to participate in this
little “Team Coast Guard” reunion on the water.
Submitted by: Linda Vetter
Photo by: Terry Blanchard
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 13
Photos on next page
USCG Auxiliary Volunteers Welcome
San Francisco’s 2012 Fleet Week Ships,
Crew and America’s Cup Race contend-
ers – on the Same Week-End!
Gail Giacomini, SO-PA D11N-01
SAN FRANCISCO, CA –. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary deployed an average of 17 facili-
ties on the city’s bay to help provide safe perimeters for Fleet Week’s ships arriving at Piers 30
-32 and 80, October 3rd – 8th, and provided over fifty shore side volunteers to aid public touring
of nine visiting modern U.S. and Canadian military vessels.
Sonia Foster, the Auxiliary’s Point of Contact, with the assistance of key leads, daily leads and
shifts of over fifty Auxiliary volunteers provided shore side assistance for the military meet and
greet at the piers, and to the public touring the visiting ships: the USS Makin Island, a LHD 8
amphibious assault carrier, docked at Pier 32; the USS Spruance, and USS Preble, both guided
missile destroyers - the USCG Cutter Sherman; and lastly, Canada’s HMCS Brandon, HMCS
Edmonton, and HMCS Algonquin –these latter six ships docked at Pier 80. The historic aircraft
carrier, Hornet, and troop transport ship, Jeremiah O’Brian, docked in Alameda and at Pier 45
in San Francisco, were also open for tours.
Sue Fry and Angelo Perata, Auxiliary coxswains, provided a yellow tarp “target” for aircraft
doing acrobatic maneuvers over their Auxiliary facilities during the Fleet Week air shows on
October 5th, 6th and 7th. In a spectacular display, the US Navy “Blue Angel” fighter jets flew in
formation over the USS Makin Island on their farewell sweep over San Francisco Bay and the
city’s waterfront.
We had many positive responses and inquiries about the Auxiliary from the public waiting pa-
tiently in line to tour ships, and lining the Bay’s shore to observe the Parade of Ships, the Air
show and the America’s Cup boats at anchor next to Pier 30-32, as well as being willing sub-
jects of USCG Sector San Francisco’s assigned Fleet Week Auxiliarist photographer.
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 14
Sonia Foster, Auxiliary POC, taking trans-
portation brochures to Pier 80 for distribu-
tion to the public.
Jim Blackburn giving out transportation bro-
chure information (to Pier 80) to public waiting
to see USS Makin Island at Pier 30-32.
Chester Bartalini at security gate saluting military
visitors to USS Makin Island, docked at Pier 30-32
Al Coddington F-14 giving public infor-
mation at HMSC Algonquin, Pier 80
More photos on next page
Photos by:
Gail Giacomini, SO-PA D11N-01
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 15
Navy Blue Angels fly in formation over the USS Makin, picked at Pier 30-32 in SF.
America's Cup contender "Artemis off Pier 30-32 with
chase boat and USCG Station vessel accompanying
Navy crew handling lines of USS Makin Island
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 16
William ‘Bill’ Correll, DCDR 10 Reports that:
The Division 10 OPTREX on
August 11/12th at Lake Don
Pedro was a great success. Eve-
ryone had fun, even with tem-
peratures on Saturday in the
range of 108 and on Sunday
104. Four of the six candidates
were successful and became
crew/coxswain qualified/re-
certified. During the two days
several training evolutions oc-
curred and on Saturday both
boats were able to work with
Auxiliary aircraft assets from
the Sacramento Auxiliary Squadron. Division 3 and Division 10 had personnel and facilities
participating during the OPTREX. DCMC Charles 'Rob' Bushey D11 was also present to give
encouragement and safety advice, along with his direct participation during each of the four
training evolutions.
On August 18th and 19th the District 11NR Delta Blitz was held in three of the Stockton (Flotilla 10-3 AOR) marinas, several members of this Divi-sion, and Division 3, and 8 at-tended. Thanks for the help of Division 10 Vessel Examiners; Carrie Van De Boom 10-3, John Paval, 10-3, Bill Correll 10-3, and Phil Grove 10-5 the final VSC station of the 2012 Delta Blitz held at Buckley
Cove over the weekend was 174 VSC’s performed. In addition, West Marine was on hand to help the boater with safety equipment and along with representatives from Cal
Boating to help promote boating safety.
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 17
On Thursday July 19, US Coast Guard Auxilirary
Vessel “Camie Marie”, under the command of coxswain
Bill Stolz and USCG vessel 25578 under the command of
Coxswain BM3 Andrew
Kennedy, rendezvoused
at Zephyr Cove for the
purpose of training CG
personnel in towing a
“disabled” vessel. Camie
Marie acted as the disabled vessel. Sierra Divi-
sion Auxiliary vessels have been busy training
with CG Station Tahoe all year. Some of the ex-
ercises are performed on “moonless” nights.
Getting ready for a “Long-Tow”
Article and Photos by:
Vic Beelik, ADSO-PB
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 18
AUXLAMS class at
Shanty Creek in Bel-
laire, MI
Submitted by: Sherwin Harris
Sherwin Harris, D11N Flotilla 12-
01 attended the AUXLAMS B
class held 7 - 9 September at the
Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire,
MI. The course is based on the
Leadership Competencies, which
lay the foundation for all leader-
ship skills necessary to successful
leadership in the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. This was a facilitated and interactive
course dealing with self-awareness, motivation, strategic leadership, team building,
ethics, conflict management and performance problem solving. AUXLAMS is the foun-
dation course of the Auxiliary Leadership Continuum and the required course for Flo-
tilla Commanders to attend AMLOC (AUX-05A).
The highlight of the class was a surprise hour session with RDML Michael N. Parks, Ninth District Commander. RDML Parks provided his leadership insights and related them to the AUXLAMS class. After his discussion, he opened the floor up for ques-tions from the students. His heartfelt personal account of the great value he places upon the Auxiliary was a revelation to the class, going way beyond the “force multiplier” effect we usually think of, and emphasizing as well, the positive morale impact we Aux-iliarists make upon the regulars. It makes each of us realize how important our contri-
bution regardless of its nature, no effort being too small.
This course has the potential to provide a common language for Leadership in our or-
ganization. Open to all members, it can transform the way we do business, empower-
ing us to interrelate with each other with greater effectiveness and satisfaction.
More information can be found regarding the Coast Guard Auxiliary Leadership and
Management School at: https://sites.google.com/a/cgauxnet.us/universities/news/
archive/auxlams12
The Instructor, pictured on the left is Michael Brzezicki, Phd, course
developer, former USCG regular, and a brilliant presenter.
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 19
Wally Smith, DCAPT(e) reports that:
The Division 6 OPTREX was held September 22-23 in Santa Cruz. Thirteen members
either initially qualified or re-qualified as crew or coxswain. Our new OTO, CWO2 Matt
James, participated and noted that it was his first time on the Pacific Ocean!
Post Check Ride de-brief with candidates along with
OTO Matt James and QE-IT Paul Vervoniotis
The new OTO looks right at home in
Santa Cruz! Welcome aboard Mr. James!
NORTHWIND October 2012 Page 20
NORTHWIND DISTRICT ELEVEN NORTH
Photo by: Fred Sellstrom
