t opside V olume 115, I s s u e 1
Division 7
P a ge 12
The members of Division 07 are extremely active when it comes to Marine Safety. Monthly reports received from all flotillas are used to alert other members of any potential threats to navigation or to the environment. This important information is also shared with local boating and fishing clubs. Some of the recent items reported include the finding of an unknown surface contamination in the back bay waters of Ship Bottom, NJ during the 2017 boating season and a threat to navigation resulting from a large log found floating in the Barnegat Bay during a routine training patrol. Educating our Division members is, and has always been a priority for our Division said SO-MS Mike Brenner, Vice Flotilla Commander, Flotilla 79. VFC Brenner received his Aux-MEES qualification this year, as well as His Marine Safety Training Specialist qualification and has taken the lead in preparing additional division members to qualify for the Marine Safety training ribbon.
At the recent spring, 2017 D-Train held in Reading, PA, several Division-7 members prepared a Marine Safety Display to further educate fellow Auxiliarists of the importance of this mission.
In April, 2017, Flotilla 79 spearheaded a Division wide clean up at the Crabby Road Dock and beach, in South Toms River, New Jersey. More than twenty members from Division 7 braved a cold and rainy day to collect over 50 lbs. of trash from the beach and dock area, helping to improve the local environment of Ocean County, N. J. But the motivation and can-do attitude of division 7 members does not stop there. Members of Division 7 were also on hand at the Waretown, N. J. Founders Day, where they handed out marine safety coloring books to children and informed the public of the need for keeping our waterways clean. VFC Brenner saw another opportunity to spread the word and further train members of his division by hosting a Marine Safety seminar in October, 2017. His seminar was made available to all Division 7 Auxiliarists as well as the general public and was well attended. His presentation included an informative power point presentation, as well as an interactive display, educating his audience of the type of debris that can be found in our local waterways and the impact that it has on our ecosystem.
Several Members of Division 07 attended the spring D-Train and set up a Marine Safety Display
Crabby Road Beach clean-up, S. Toms River, NJ over 50 lbs. of trash was collected.