District Chief of Staff ’ s Message
All is not gloom and doom , and crystal balls aside , the Coast Guard Auxiliary , and especially District 1 South ( who always leads the way ), has a bright , busy and productive future ahead .
Shipmates :
We have weathered the strongest part of the storm which was the pandemic of this past year , and during the resultant stand-down , we reengaged many members and found new ways of doing business . We would love to say full steam ahead in all that we do , but we need to be patient and work with what we currently are allowed to do until further guidance is issued . Commodore Stone has emphasized time and again that his primary goal is to be sure that we all remain safe , so each of us needs to follow the current guidelines and not take unnecessary or unauthorized risks .
The relevance of the Auxiliary in our core mission of RBS took on new meaning during the stand-down . Deaths , injuries and loss of property soared . So if you should ever have a weak moment and think we do not make a difference , think again , then think twice and then repeat . The boating safety course , the program visit , the vessel exam , that little golden nugget of wisdom you pass on may mean the difference in averting a tragedy . One may never know the life he or she saves , but they are out there and they are alive . So when someone asks you what you do , the first words that should come to mind and be uttered are , “ I Save Lives .” We are taught to drill down to the “ Why ”, so that simple statement says it all . When that someone inquisitively follows up by asking you what you mean , that is your opening to let loose and tell them about the greatest volunteer organization on earth .
Each of us is a cog , part of the bigger machine . If a cog breaks or fails to work up to standards then the whole machine suffers . Your role in the Auxiliary is important and vital as a cog to the overall health and viability of the organization . I am so very proud to be part of the Auxiliary , and especially proud of all the hard work that I see from our members on a daily basis .
Quoting National Commodore Malewski in the 2020- 2026 Strategic Plan : “ The Auxiliary has consistently proven its resourcefulness , organizational resiliency and demonstrable capacity to handle significant challenges .” The Executive Summary of the Strategic Plan states : “ Answering the call to duty in the performance of is missions , the Auxiliary incorporates the guiding principles of the Commandant ’ s Direction : Ready , Relevant and Responsive .” Great words for each of us to remember .
Michael West
Michael West District Chief of Staff First Southern District
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