t opside V olume 79 , I s s u e 4 P a ge 3
From the Desk of the Commodore
The Day the Live DTRAINs Return
I don ’ t know when it will be safe to ‘ get underway ’ with face-to-face district conferences . But we will do it again , because we have to .
By COMO Joe Giannattasio
Where were you planning to be on the August 20th weekend this year ? An extended family gathering ? Or maybe at a flotilla or division picnic with a bunch of your fellow Shipmates ? Better yet , attending a major or minor league baseball game in a stadium of like-minded fans enjoying America ’ s National Pastime .
I know exactly where I was supposed to be : Coast Guard Auxiliary National Convention ( NACON ) in Orlando FL ., with our Chief of Staff and roughly 400 of the Auxiliary ’ s district and national leaders , Coast Guard and International guests and dignitaries , elected and appointed members for training sessions , and a whole bunch of interested members who look forward to attending the week-long event of training events , meetings , presentations , speakers , ceremonies , fellowship and fun .
Commodore Joseph Giannattasio District Commodore
U . S . Coast Guard Auxiliary 5th District-Northern Region
Well , things have changed .
Unfortunately , the coronavirus pandemic has reduced today ’ s in-person Auxiliary conferences and gatherings to unflattering little windows that look like doorbell security footage and sound like a vintage vacuum-tube radio ’ s distorted transmissions , such low magnitude and compressed . It ’ s enough to make A . M . radio seem hi-fidelic . Don ’ t get me wrong , I can deal with the monotony and limited cuisine of social distancing ( my Spanish Seafood Paella is on point !), and I know that those of us who aren ’ t school teachers or don ’ t have to work in hospitals are the lucky ones , but still , I ’ m yearning for a crowded , energetic , Smurf-blue , eclectic , live Auxiliary gathering , ASAP . The kind that makes your face smile , your body stand up straighter , and your soul stir with pride .
Continued on the next page …