quote:

Originally posted by geejaydee:

quote:

And the "bad apples" (for lack of a better term) are only a small number of the whole.

I seem to recall an old adage about that. . . something to do with "spoiling" and "bunch."

...gjd

Yep. Certainly can, and sometimes--unfotunately--does.

But uusally those "bad apples" are eventually weeded out, and the general public does not encounter them as often as they encounter the "good apples."

The PSI does a great job of weeding out "bad apples".

I don't agree. The PSI may actually attract them. Passing it (not that great a feat) gives them the opportunity to claim they have some kind of "Secret" Clearance, even though this is not accurate.

We shouldn't be encouraging them!!!



...gjd

quote:

Originally posted by dittysmitty:
The PSI does a great job of weeding out "bad apples".

The PSI does nothing about a pi$$ poor attitude and the wannabe desires to do wrong

quote:

The PSI does nothing about a pi$$ poor attitude and the wannabe desires to do wrong

That all depends on who is processing and evaluating the forms. You can run but you can't hide from the GOB network.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dittysmitty,

I think that the labeling of someone a "wannabee" is both a negative and self hateful act given the nature of our involvement with the USCG.

I mean, look, everyone here probably owns at least some uniform items of the USCG Auxiliary. Does that make us all wannabees? Does volunteering to do patrols make us wannabees? How about all the training we go through to meet the needs of our parent organization - the USCG?

It is becuase of this self hating and loathing that we have a tough time recruiting people into our organization.

We obviously are taken seriously enough that we have to got through the whole PSI process - that must cost the government money!

So I would have to state that we are not WANNABEES, the nutbags wanting to have deck mounted guns and torpedo tubes on their 16' Bayliner being the MAJOR exception and NOT the rule. These people always find their way out the door eveentually.

No. The major problem that I have is that when we get talented and capable people we then proceed to school them in that "we really aren't as good as the regular Coast Guard" and " you really are not IN the Coast Guard - it's much more like a yacht club." Yacht Club. Great! Take all the energized people that have volunteered after 9/11 and break their spirit. Eventually they get frustrated and go away. Is that what we want?

Look at the latest numbers in membership. See a trend?

So my advice, should some of the more hateful and self loathing amongst this group still feel the need to disabuse the new members of the fact that they are part of the Coast Guard and doing something important, is to keep your negativity to yourself!

If the Coast Guard didn't want us then they wouldn't have us helping them on missions - whatever those missions are.

I for one am proud that they have allowed me to be part of the Coast Guard. And yes, I do consider myself part of the Coast Guard.

All you bitter losers out there - go start your own yacht club and rip into a guy because their boat is not as clean or as nice as yours! Then go drink yourself into a stupor and pass out in the bathroom of Lost Isle - maybe it will help kill the pain deep inside your soul!

Yeahh!...Get some!

Excellent Reply 16889342, I have been reading posts here for a number of months and have never replied, due to the negativity here by certain, old bullies. It is sad to see so many energized new members come here and simply log in and say hi, then get shot down for something they post or didnt fully understand. They are made to feel incompetent and stupid, all due to the poison that is spead here. I would never tell new flotilla members to come to this site. After there first visit, they would resign. Certain members (use the term losely)seem to be doing the Auxililary a dis-service. Just because people have a certain pride and perform their best when doing a service to an organization, does not make them a wannabe, it makes them an asset. I believe that I bring years of professional service to the Aux, using my talents as a photographer, does that make me a wannabee Coast Guard photographer, or a highly talented Aux photographer, that uses his years of experience, for the betterment of an organization? I am sure I will get flamed for my post. I am fine with it, it is what members of this website are defending everyday of their service to this country, it is Freedom of speech. Unfortunately, it does defend the almost cancerous type of speech, that can ruin a fine and honorable organiztion. Hopefully, people are intelligent enough to see through the negative, bitter, mal-intent of the poster, and keep a positive attitude, to continue the mission of saving lives.

Those who are griping about the "wanna-be" title must see themselves as one or they wouldn't care.

Sorry for any hint of negativity.
This is an internet forum, not a recruiting film.
Members who want to carp and cavil have that right. If you disagree, don't characterize it as treason or sedition, jump in and start swinging.
Whether a poster has 1 or 12000 posts doesn't lend any validity to what they are saying, ad authoritarium arguments don't mean much unless they are based on fact.
BZ

quote:

Originally posted by 16889342:
I think that the labeling of someone a "wannabee" is both a negative and self hateful act given the nature of our involvement with the USCG.

Whenever you hear someone say "wannabe", correct them and say it's more like "wannahelp".

Don

quote:

Originally posted by 16889342:
I think that the labeling of someone a "wannabee" is both a negative and self hateful act given the nature of our involvement with the USCG.

I mean, look, everyone here probably owns at least some uniform items of the USCG Auxiliary. Does that make us all wannabees? Does volunteering to do patrols make us wannabees? How about all the training we go through to meet the needs of our parent organization - the USCG?

It is becuase of this self hating and loathing that we have a tough time recruiting people into our organization.

We obviously are taken seriously enough that we have to got through the whole PSI process - that must cost the government money!

So I would have to state that we are not WANNABEES, the nutbags wanting to have deck mounted guns and torpedo tubes on their 16' Bayliner being the MAJOR exception and NOT the rule. These people always find their way out the door eveentually.

No. The major problem that I have is that when we get talented and capable people we then proceed to school them in that "we really aren't as good as the regular Coast Guard" and " you really are not IN the Coast Guard - it's much more like a yacht club." Yacht Club. Great! Take all the energized people that have volunteered after 9/11 and break their spirit. Eventually they get frustrated and go away. Is that what we want?

Look at the latest numbers in membership. See a trend?

If the Coast Guard didn't want us then they wouldn't have us helping them on missions - whatever those missions are.

I for one am proud that they have allowed me to be part of the Coast Guard. And yes, I do consider myself part of the Coast Guard.

All you bitter losers out there - go start your own yacht club

And the leader of the pack, who always is bringing up the nutbags and rogue coxswains as if they number in the thousands, does so because he was browbeaten by one a long time ago. Time to let it go, dude.

There's a fine line between "not being reckless" and just cruising around on the taxpayer's dime.

--
William Baldwin, Jr
MBA HCM program Univ of Phoenix
Ground below Zero, City of New Orleans, La
on the web: www.coastguardauxiliaryslidell8cr.us

Remember This....A few of the regular posters here have been thrown out of the Auxiliary. Would you really support an organization that "threw you out"? If the company that you worked for fired you would you run around and tell everyonehow great the company that fired you is. There are thousands of good, productive Auxiliarists out there that are happy with the organization and doing great things for it. Less than .0001% are on this forum whining about how they were mistreated.

As it says in the recently posted U.S. Coast Guard Posture Statement, the Auxiliary is "the Nation's premier volunteer organization." Let's all drink to that.
The above document (76 pages) is a very interesting overview that complements the FY 2009 budget report (500 pages!), both of which are available at the Commandant's Corner web site.

U.S. Coast Guard Posture Statement, the Auxiliary is "the Nation's premier volunteer organization."

Nice statement by the Commandant but it is unproveable and unsupported. For laughs and giggles, google "premier volunteer organization" and see how many organizations pop up with that claim. Restrict it to "nation's" and you will get at least one more hit.

And for the nation's "premier volunteer organization" it gets only 4 mentions in the touted report - 3 of which are all related to the "premier" claim and 1 is a box entry with the membership number. There isn't anything in the report to substantiate the claim. It is marketing/morale hype - nothing more and nothing less.

The Auxiliary is mentioned more times in the Report of the DHS Small Vessel Security Summit posted to the What's New Page.

quote:

Establish Funding Streams. There was broad agreement among all stakeholder groups that adequate funding and resources for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), USCG Auxiliary, state, local, tribal, and territorial boating law enforcement authorities, and emergency response elements are critical to ensure the security and safety of the nation’s ports, waterways and coastal areas.

The Aux has been slowly going broke for years. A sad state for the nation's supposed premier volunteer organization. I guess the premier organization cannot manage its finances.

quote:

Mr. Schwartz stressed that it is exceedingly important that waterways users “buy in” to any security measures implemented by the government. To accomplish this he recommended that the Coast Guard Captains of the Port (COTP) serve as the connection between the USCG and the commercial and recreational small vessel operators. They should be given responsibility for funding to develop grassroots programs that include members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, non-emergency assistance towing fleet, marina operators, the general boating public and the commercial sector. He also suggested that the America’s Waterway Watch (AWW) adopt the “Lock Up. Look Out.” approach implemented by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). This program encourages private pilots to secure their aircraft to prevent possible thefts, which could help impede terrorists. He also called for creating a nationwide Coast Guard-alerting Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)52 that would simultaneously enhance the use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)53 thus providing a routine way for boaters to contact the Coast Guard about suspicious activities.

quote:

Ms. Squires urged authorities to build on existing programs before implementing new initiatives. This includes adequate funding for the USCG, USCG Auxiliary, state boating enforcement personnel, and the America’s Waterway Watch program. To buttress these programs the NMMA supports the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) “Partners on the Water” proposal to enhance the current homeland security program with a new Federal-state partnership and $60 million in grants for maritime security and emergency response.

From Table 4:

quote:

Provide adequate funding for the USCG, USCG Auxiliary, state boating enforcement personnel, and the AWW program.

quote:

A reoccurring theme among stakeholders at the Summit was that constant turnover of USCG personnel seriously impedes relationship building with the small boat community. To partially remedy this claim, several stakeholders recommended that the Coast Guard Captains of the Port (COTPs) serve as the link between the USCG and the commercial and ecreational vessel operators. Stakeholders also suggested that the COTP be given responsibility to develop grassroots programs that include members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Powerboat Squadrons, the non-emergency assistance towing fleet, marina operators, the general boating public and the commercial sector. Some attendees strongly recommended that the USCG should require that each COTP have a written understanding with all maritime law enforcement agencies in their area that identifies their various roles and responsibilities. In addition, stakeholders want DHS to consider creating an Advisory Group with members of the small vessel community.

quote:

There was broad agreement at the Summit among all stakeholder groups that adequate funding and resources for the U.S. Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, state, local, tribal, and territorial boating law enforcement authorities, as well as emergency response elements is critical to ensuring the security and safety of the nation’s ports, waterways, and coastal areas.

The quotes above are listed in their order of appearance in the report. And if you know anything about the AWW program and the older RBSVP program - those statements are another indictment of Auxiliary failure to deliver on the AWW and RBSVP programs. It has long been the Auxiliary's mission from the CG to reach out to all those stakeholders at the summitt who complain they have been left out of the loop.

Well,

If we are not doing the job that we are being asked to do then how do we improve on it?

Is it lack of funding, lack of involvement or both?

I still do a lot of VSC's and program visits - I think I am contributing - I am sure others are as well.

Any suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by 16889342:
Well,

If we are not doing the job that we are being asked to do then how do we improve on it?

Is it lack of funding, lack of involvement or both?

I still do a lot of VSC's and program visits - I think I am contributing - I am sure others are as well.

Any suggestions?

Suggestion? I have one. Dump the PSI!

I would like to do more patrols but Sector does not have availible "Gumby" pants.

Ancora, have you tried asking the AD at the station level for Gumby suits. They often have them as well as life vests, float coats and other goodies like CPR breathers, fire extinguishers, line, first aid stuff which are surplus and can be reassigned to the Auxiliary for duty use.

quote:

Originally posted by 16889342:
Well,

If we are not doing the job that we are being asked to do then how do we improve on it?

Is it lack of funding, lack of involvement or both?

I still do a lot of VSC's and program visits - I think I am contributing - I am sure others are as well.

Any suggestions?

I don't see the addition of the USPS and state agencies as a condemnation of the Auxiliary in the cited documents. Stakeholders are stakeholders no matter who they are. If you're concerned about your individual performance you might remember where our Division ended up in national rankings last year.