Some of our Auxiliary partners recently posted an interesting article that all of you should read....
If You See Something, Say Something…
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
River hoax gives idea to Coast Guard
Published: 5/14/07 Section: Page:B1
By:Andrew Sirocchi
Tri-City Herald staff writer
It was April 14 when the U.S. Coast Guard in Portland received a distress call claiming three people were on a 30-foot boat that was taking on water near McNary Dam. In moments, six rescue boats from various regional agencies were sent to search a 25-mile stretch of the Columbia River, scouring the water and shoreline from McNary Dam to Sacajawea State Park. A MedStar helicopter took the air and tried to spot the boaters from above.
Three hours later, the search was called off and officials confirmed what they already believed — the call was a hoax. “We get about a half-dozen of those per year,” said Senior Chief Jim Madsen, officer in charge of the Kennewick Coast Guard station on Clover Island in Kennewick. “Enough to get us frustrated.”
At $1,550 per hour each time the Coast Guard launches its 23-foot rescue boat, frustration is understandable.
But now, Madsen hopes to call on volunteers who live along the Columbia River to help the Coast Guard and other agencies reduce their responses to hoaxes. If successful, the Citizens Action Network program could help district officials in Portland make better decisions about when to dispatch rescue teams and in turn, save money as well as lives.
“It’s not just the direct cost,” said John Umbarger, spokesman for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. “What happens at night, when a (navigation) aide is out and a tug goes down the river and hits a bridge? There’s the cost to infrastructure.”
The program relies on volunteers who live along the shoreline to keep a watchful eye on the waters. When a potential disaster occurs — whether a flashing light stops flashing or a vessel runs aground — the Coast Guard will call up a computerized map listing the volunteers who live in the area and officials will telephone them to determine if a problem really exists.
The information the volunteers provide gives officials who have to decide whether to send out a rescue operation more information to use in their decision-making.
For Madsen’s team — which includes nine Coast Guard members and 20 auxiliary volunteers who cover 550 miles of river stretching from The Dalles, Ore., to Richland on the Columbia and from the confluence of the Snake River to Lewiston, Idaho — the more eyes on the water the better. The team is responsible for territory stretching across four states, including Lake Roosevelt, the Spokane
River Arm and Fort Peck Lake in Montana.
“Anybody who has a river view and is willing to participate is a good resource,” Madsen said. Those who choose to join the network shouldn’t expect anything more than a pat on the back as reward.
The network operates without a budget and has no money to compensate volunteers.
“It’s like volunteering for dive and rescue,” Umbarger said. “Saving a life — that’s the reward you get.”
In 2006, the program received the Award of Excellence by the Department of Homeland Security and based on past successes, the Coast Guard plans on taking the network national. In the Seattle area, where the program got its start in 1999 under the name Eyes on the Sound, the network has attracted more than 260 volunteers.
Local Coast Guard officials don’t expect any trouble getting Mid-Columbians to volunteer either. The program is open to anyone who has access to a telephone and a marine view from their home. Umbarger said the local district could have a network up and running within two months. Mark Blotz, general manager of the Clover Island Inn, said he only just heard of the program but his interest has been
piqued.
“I really want the hotel to be a part of that and we will be filling out the application,” Blotz said.
By:Andrew Sirocchi
Tri-City Herald staff writer
It was April 14 when the U.S. Coast Guard in Portland received a distress call claiming three people were on a 30-foot boat that was taking on water near McNary Dam. In moments, six rescue boats from various regional agencies were sent to search a 25-mile stretch of the Columbia River, scouring the water and shoreline from McNary Dam to Sacajawea State Park. A MedStar helicopter took the air and tried to spot the boaters from above.
Three hours later, the search was called off and officials confirmed what they already believed — the call was a hoax. “We get about a half-dozen of those per year,” said Senior Chief Jim Madsen, officer in charge of the Kennewick Coast Guard station on Clover Island in Kennewick. “Enough to get us frustrated.”
At $1,550 per hour each time the Coast Guard launches its 23-foot rescue boat, frustration is understandable.
But now, Madsen hopes to call on volunteers who live along the Columbia River to help the Coast Guard and other agencies reduce their responses to hoaxes. If successful, the Citizens Action Network program could help district officials in Portland make better decisions about when to dispatch rescue teams and in turn, save money as well as lives.
“It’s not just the direct cost,” said John Umbarger, spokesman for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. “What happens at night, when a (navigation) aide is out and a tug goes down the river and hits a bridge? There’s the cost to infrastructure.”
The program relies on volunteers who live along the shoreline to keep a watchful eye on the waters. When a potential disaster occurs — whether a flashing light stops flashing or a vessel runs aground — the Coast Guard will call up a computerized map listing the volunteers who live in the area and officials will telephone them to determine if a problem really exists.
The information the volunteers provide gives officials who have to decide whether to send out a rescue operation more information to use in their decision-making.
For Madsen’s team — which includes nine Coast Guard members and 20 auxiliary volunteers who cover 550 miles of river stretching from The Dalles, Ore., to Richland on the Columbia and from the confluence of the Snake River to Lewiston, Idaho — the more eyes on the water the better. The team is responsible for territory stretching across four states, including Lake Roosevelt, the Spokane
River Arm and Fort Peck Lake in Montana.
“Anybody who has a river view and is willing to participate is a good resource,” Madsen said. Those who choose to join the network shouldn’t expect anything more than a pat on the back as reward.
The network operates without a budget and has no money to compensate volunteers.
“It’s like volunteering for dive and rescue,” Umbarger said. “Saving a life — that’s the reward you get.”
In 2006, the program received the Award of Excellence by the Department of Homeland Security and based on past successes, the Coast Guard plans on taking the network national. In the Seattle area, where the program got its start in 1999 under the name Eyes on the Sound, the network has attracted more than 260 volunteers.
Local Coast Guard officials don’t expect any trouble getting Mid-Columbians to volunteer either. The program is open to anyone who has access to a telephone and a marine view from their home. Umbarger said the local district could have a network up and running within two months. Mark Blotz, general manager of the Clover Island Inn, said he only just heard of the program but his interest has been
piqued.
“I really want the hotel to be a part of that and we will be filling out the application,” Blotz said.
Northwest Watch helps Coast Guard save lives
By: JO2 Ryan Hill
Staff Writer
Friday, May 6, 2005
With more than 3,000 miles of shoreline in the state of Washington, keeping track of boating safety and water hazards can be a daunting task.
The Coast Guard has initiated a program called Northwest Watch to make tracking these large masses of water a more efficient undertaking.
Northwest Watch is a program involving Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary members and civilian volunteers that live along these masses of water, including the Puget Sound. Participants of the program have their home addresses represented on a map of the Puget Sound in the Coast Guards computer system. When the Coast Guard gets a call about any trouble in the water they check their computer and see if they have any volunteers in that area.
If they do, they call the volunteers and ask them to check on the situation. If the call ends up being a false alarm, the Coast Guard saves money and manpower by not deploying to the area. If the call is a real situation, the Coast Guard is able to dispatch their resources to the situation in a more efficient matter.
“With the navigational work, storms and weather we can’t be everywhere at once,” said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Adam Eggers. “Northwest Watch helps us prioritize while still maintaining a level of readiness with our units. It can really help avoid incidents and accidents.”
With the Northwest Watch program currently running in the states of Washington and Oregon, the Coast Guard estimates a monthly savings of approximately $5,000. Increasing the amount of volunteers in the program will lead to more estimated savings. There are currently 124 members of Northwest Watch with approximately fifty of them joining up in the past two months.
“We would love to have a heavy saturation of volunteers in areas of recreation, beaches, commercial fishing areas, tanker traffic areas and river bars,” said Eggers. “People living along the waterways have a vested interest in what goes on. Nobody wants an oil spill on their beach and nobody wants to hear a neighbor died in a boating accident. It’s very easy to help. We call them on most situations unless they see something first. For the everyday person, it gives them an opportunity to have a large impact on saving somebody’s life.”
The success of Northwest Watch has led the Coast Guard to actively promote the program in an effort to gain more volunteers. They are currently working on plans to pitch it to area boating clubs and other organizations involving activities on the Puget Sound.
“It’s our job to educate the public,” said Eggers. “We as a government agency have a responsibility to spend our money wisely. The National Response Plan has called for an implementation of citizen involvement. We want all the volunteers we can get because there is no such thing as too much information. It’s a win-win situation. The Coast Guard gets the information they need to do their jobs and the volunteers get to be involved in something positive.”
The Coast Guard is currently looking for any volunteers who can help in the Northwest Watch program. They are specifically looking for people who live in residences overlooking shoreline and navigated waterways.
Staff Writer
Friday, May 6, 2005
With more than 3,000 miles of shoreline in the state of Washington, keeping track of boating safety and water hazards can be a daunting task.
The Coast Guard has initiated a program called Northwest Watch to make tracking these large masses of water a more efficient undertaking.
Northwest Watch is a program involving Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary members and civilian volunteers that live along these masses of water, including the Puget Sound. Participants of the program have their home addresses represented on a map of the Puget Sound in the Coast Guards computer system. When the Coast Guard gets a call about any trouble in the water they check their computer and see if they have any volunteers in that area.
If they do, they call the volunteers and ask them to check on the situation. If the call ends up being a false alarm, the Coast Guard saves money and manpower by not deploying to the area. If the call is a real situation, the Coast Guard is able to dispatch their resources to the situation in a more efficient matter.
“With the navigational work, storms and weather we can’t be everywhere at once,” said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Adam Eggers. “Northwest Watch helps us prioritize while still maintaining a level of readiness with our units. It can really help avoid incidents and accidents.”
With the Northwest Watch program currently running in the states of Washington and Oregon, the Coast Guard estimates a monthly savings of approximately $5,000. Increasing the amount of volunteers in the program will lead to more estimated savings. There are currently 124 members of Northwest Watch with approximately fifty of them joining up in the past two months.
“We would love to have a heavy saturation of volunteers in areas of recreation, beaches, commercial fishing areas, tanker traffic areas and river bars,” said Eggers. “People living along the waterways have a vested interest in what goes on. Nobody wants an oil spill on their beach and nobody wants to hear a neighbor died in a boating accident. It’s very easy to help. We call them on most situations unless they see something first. For the everyday person, it gives them an opportunity to have a large impact on saving somebody’s life.”
The success of Northwest Watch has led the Coast Guard to actively promote the program in an effort to gain more volunteers. They are currently working on plans to pitch it to area boating clubs and other organizations involving activities on the Puget Sound.
“It’s our job to educate the public,” said Eggers. “We as a government agency have a responsibility to spend our money wisely. The National Response Plan has called for an implementation of citizen involvement. We want all the volunteers we can get because there is no such thing as too much information. It’s a win-win situation. The Coast Guard gets the information they need to do their jobs and the volunteers get to be involved in something positive.”
The Coast Guard is currently looking for any volunteers who can help in the Northwest Watch program. They are specifically looking for people who live in residences overlooking shoreline and navigated waterways.
Civilian coastal watchers sought
Jul 27 2005
By RHONA SCHWARTZ Staff Writer
Residents on the coast could help Coast Guard with on-site reports of spills, accidents. Peeled eyes are wanted to patrol Washington’s 3,000 miles of shoreline.
To help keep the waterways safe, the Coast Guard is calling for civilian volunteers to join its Northwest Watch program and provide information in times of emergency.
“We can’t be everywhere at once,” said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Adam T. Eggers, who handles program management in addition to his regular duties. That’s why residents who live on – or have a view of – water are asked to register for the program and offer eyewitness accounts of what they see from their home when someone from the Coast Guard’s command center calls about a reported incident.
The call could be about a reported oil spill, a boating accident or sudden dense fog.
The six-month-old program is designed for people who care about the waters and what happens to them, Eggers said. Besides a view, all volunteers need are a telephone and a willingness to pick it up in the event the Coast Guard calls.
Northwest Watch was two years in the making. It sprouted from the Seattle area Coast Guard district’s Eyes on the Sound program.
“We made it a lot easier to use and a lot quicker to use with new technology,” Eggers said.
Eggers’ command district uses specially designed computer-tracking GPS maps and volunteer forms that relay a description of each volunteer’s view.
Eggers gets a GPS number from that and plugs it into his computer. Now the location is marked with a little square.
Say someone in a boat thinks he sees an oil slick by Bainbridge Island and calls it in. A Coast Guard vessel can’t get there in two minutes, but Eggers can check his computer to see if a volunteer lives at the spot. He clicks on the icon that brings up a name and the command center calls that person and asks, ‘What do you see from your house?’” Even if the report turns out to be a false alarm, the Coast Guard saves time and taxpayers’ money by not sending a boat or helicopter in response.
If the report is founded, resources are dispatched, Eggers said.
Eggers is putting together a training manual to help volunteers understand what they’re looking for and learn Coast Guard terminology, such as “slick” and “sheen.”
Included is a laminated page with blanks for points of information that the command center absolutely has to know from volunteers. Volunteers can take it on their deck and mark such points of information as color of boat and number of people aboard.
“We need people to say, ‘I see 10 percent coverage’ and know what it is,” Eggers said. “The manual will include pictures.”
Already the program has saved lives. According to Eggers, a transient stole a couple of yachts and didn’t know a young girl was in one.
“He changed the name of the vessel with a knife. We were working with the sheriff’s department. Somebody heard a scream from the beach. We called seven or eight of our volunteers and said if you see a boat of this description call us back. Someone did, he called in and we ended up catching the guy,” he said.
“If you don’t see anything, for us that’s still something. It can help us cut down our search area. On the south side of Puget Sound, a plane went down. Someone saw it, and we knew within a very condensed area where to look.”
Eggers regrets not having the program running when the Dalco Passage oil spill occurred last October.
“We almost had it ready,” he said. “It would’ve been so helpful.”
The only way to spot an oil slick is to get above it.
“If I have people living on a bluff above the beach, it’s a lot better then being on the water and trying to see it. They can tell how long it is if we can’t get overhead ourselves,” he said.
Volunteers cover a spectrum of personalities, including many retired Navy and Coast Guard personnel. In Olympia, an entire cul-de-sac is on board.
Eggers has signed up a former Washington state senator, boating association members, Coast Guard auxiliary and a half-dozen people from People for Puget Sound, including a top director.
“I can’t think of a better group to test out the merits of the program,” Eggers said.
A 95-year-old man called to say he likes sitting on his deck watching the water and could he become a volunteer? Absolutely, Eggers said.
As Eggers told one volunteer, “If in five years you save three people with one call, it’s worth it.” Northwest Watch has 124 volunteers in Washington and Oregon and saves the Coast Guard an estimated $5,000 a day. Correction – a (Month)
The more volunteers it has, the more money it will save. Eggers would like to see more volunteers in commercial fishing and tanker traffic areas and along beaches and river bars.
“The Coast Guard commandant is very excited about the program and told me to get a huge following and take it national,” Eggers said.
“The beautiful thing about the program is we thought we needed something and we made it happen. We are only limited by our imaginations.”
There’s a certain kind of attitude and way of life that goes with living on the water and Bainbridge Island is no exception.
“(People there) don’t want to buy a salmon and wring (oil) out first or find out the family next door had passed in a boating accident,” Eggers said.
“It’s such a small commitment to be able to do so much.”
By RHONA SCHWARTZ Staff Writer
Residents on the coast could help Coast Guard with on-site reports of spills, accidents. Peeled eyes are wanted to patrol Washington’s 3,000 miles of shoreline.
To help keep the waterways safe, the Coast Guard is calling for civilian volunteers to join its Northwest Watch program and provide information in times of emergency.
“We can’t be everywhere at once,” said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Adam T. Eggers, who handles program management in addition to his regular duties. That’s why residents who live on – or have a view of – water are asked to register for the program and offer eyewitness accounts of what they see from their home when someone from the Coast Guard’s command center calls about a reported incident.
The call could be about a reported oil spill, a boating accident or sudden dense fog.
The six-month-old program is designed for people who care about the waters and what happens to them, Eggers said. Besides a view, all volunteers need are a telephone and a willingness to pick it up in the event the Coast Guard calls.
Northwest Watch was two years in the making. It sprouted from the Seattle area Coast Guard district’s Eyes on the Sound program.
“We made it a lot easier to use and a lot quicker to use with new technology,” Eggers said.
Eggers’ command district uses specially designed computer-tracking GPS maps and volunteer forms that relay a description of each volunteer’s view.
Eggers gets a GPS number from that and plugs it into his computer. Now the location is marked with a little square.
Say someone in a boat thinks he sees an oil slick by Bainbridge Island and calls it in. A Coast Guard vessel can’t get there in two minutes, but Eggers can check his computer to see if a volunteer lives at the spot. He clicks on the icon that brings up a name and the command center calls that person and asks, ‘What do you see from your house?’” Even if the report turns out to be a false alarm, the Coast Guard saves time and taxpayers’ money by not sending a boat or helicopter in response.
If the report is founded, resources are dispatched, Eggers said.
Eggers is putting together a training manual to help volunteers understand what they’re looking for and learn Coast Guard terminology, such as “slick” and “sheen.”
Included is a laminated page with blanks for points of information that the command center absolutely has to know from volunteers. Volunteers can take it on their deck and mark such points of information as color of boat and number of people aboard.
“We need people to say, ‘I see 10 percent coverage’ and know what it is,” Eggers said. “The manual will include pictures.”
Already the program has saved lives. According to Eggers, a transient stole a couple of yachts and didn’t know a young girl was in one.
“He changed the name of the vessel with a knife. We were working with the sheriff’s department. Somebody heard a scream from the beach. We called seven or eight of our volunteers and said if you see a boat of this description call us back. Someone did, he called in and we ended up catching the guy,” he said.
“If you don’t see anything, for us that’s still something. It can help us cut down our search area. On the south side of Puget Sound, a plane went down. Someone saw it, and we knew within a very condensed area where to look.”
Eggers regrets not having the program running when the Dalco Passage oil spill occurred last October.
“We almost had it ready,” he said. “It would’ve been so helpful.”
The only way to spot an oil slick is to get above it.
“If I have people living on a bluff above the beach, it’s a lot better then being on the water and trying to see it. They can tell how long it is if we can’t get overhead ourselves,” he said.
Volunteers cover a spectrum of personalities, including many retired Navy and Coast Guard personnel. In Olympia, an entire cul-de-sac is on board.
Eggers has signed up a former Washington state senator, boating association members, Coast Guard auxiliary and a half-dozen people from People for Puget Sound, including a top director.
“I can’t think of a better group to test out the merits of the program,” Eggers said.
A 95-year-old man called to say he likes sitting on his deck watching the water and could he become a volunteer? Absolutely, Eggers said.
As Eggers told one volunteer, “If in five years you save three people with one call, it’s worth it.” Northwest Watch has 124 volunteers in Washington and Oregon and saves the Coast Guard an estimated $5,000 a day. Correction – a (Month)
The more volunteers it has, the more money it will save. Eggers would like to see more volunteers in commercial fishing and tanker traffic areas and along beaches and river bars.
“The Coast Guard commandant is very excited about the program and told me to get a huge following and take it national,” Eggers said.
“The beautiful thing about the program is we thought we needed something and we made it happen. We are only limited by our imaginations.”
There’s a certain kind of attitude and way of life that goes with living on the water and Bainbridge Island is no exception.
“(People there) don’t want to buy a salmon and wring (oil) out first or find out the family next door had passed in a boating accident,” Eggers said.
“It’s such a small commitment to be able to do so much.”
KOIN 6 - Guarding the Coast
Become a Citizen's Action Network member and help the U.S. Coast Guard save lives and property, prevent oil spills, and protect wildlife, all from the comfort of home.
The Northwest has an extensive amount of waterways and communities to protect. The U.S. Coast Guard needs dependable and proactive volunteers to aid in keeping our waters safe and clean.
This program allows residents living near waterways to become associated with the Coast Guard and help conduct its missions.
The Coast Guard will call on Citizen's Action Network members to help investigate cases such as rescue missions and pollution incidents, which puts volunteers right in the heart of the action.
The only requirements for participating are having access to a phone and a marine view from your home.
The Northwest has an extensive amount of waterways and communities to protect. The U.S. Coast Guard needs dependable and proactive volunteers to aid in keeping our waters safe and clean.
This program allows residents living near waterways to become associated with the Coast Guard and help conduct its missions.
The Coast Guard will call on Citizen's Action Network members to help investigate cases such as rescue missions and pollution incidents, which puts volunteers right in the heart of the action.
The only requirements for participating are having access to a phone and a marine view from your home.
King 5 News - Citizen's Action Network
This news cast depicts the use of maritime citizen's to help secure homeland security and the Coast Guard. All citizen's with a water view are invited to join the network.
News Release - Vandalism costs taxpayers $117,000
News Release - Vandalism costs taxpayers $117,000 | |
 In this image released by the Coast Guard, an aid to navigation located on the Columbia River near Boardman, Ore., shows evidence of vandalism. Numerous lights and other aids are damaged every year costing taxpayers an estimated $117,000 since 2005. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Aids to Navigation Team Kennewick, Wash.)  In this image released by the Coast Guard, an aid to navigation located on the Columbia River near Boardman, Ore., shows evidence of vandalism. Numerous lights and other aids are damaged every year costing taxpayers an estimated $117,000 since 2005. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Aids to Navigation Team Kennewick, Wash.) SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is asking for the public's help to put a stop to the vandalism of Aids to Navigation (ATON) throughout Washington and Oregon. "We've had problems with people shooting at the aids and using their vehicles to inflict damage to the land-based aids," said Timothy Westcott, an Aids to Navigation manager for the Coast Guard. "People don't realize vandalizing an ATON is like vandalizing a stop sign. If you remove a stop sign, people could be injured. Damaging an ATON can have the same effect possibly resulting in serious injuries, loss of life or catastrophic damage to the environment." |
Maritime Search and Rescue Background Program Objectives and Goals
| SAR background statistics/information: | ||||||||||
| · 95% of all Coast Guard SAR occurs less than 20 nautical miles offshore. | ||||||||||
| · Approximately 90% of cases involve assist/rescue only. | ||||||||||
| · 8% of cases involve minor searches (less than 24 hours). | ||||||||||
| · 2% of cases involve major searches (greater than 24 hours). | ||||||||||
| · Those 10% of cases involving searches (minor and major) cost the Coast Guard more than $50 million annually. | ||||||||||
| It is advantageous to reduce the time spent searching in order to: | ||||||||||
| · Save more lives | ||||||||||
| · Save Coast Guard resources | ||||||||||
| · Place fewer Coast Guard personnel at risk | ||||||||||
| The school provides search planners with the skills and practice they need to become SAR detectives and information distillers. | ||||||||||
| They must aggressively pursue leads and obtain all information available to successfully prosecute cases. | ||||||||||
| SAR program objectives are: | ||||||||||
| 1. Minimize loss of life, personnel injury, property loss and damage to the maritime environment. | ||||||||||
| 2. Minimize search duration and crew risk during SAR missions. | ||||||||||
| 3. Maintain a world leadership position in maritime SAR. | ||||||||||
| SAR program goals are (after Coast Guard notification): | ||||||||||
| 1. Save at least 93% of those people at risk of death on the waters over which the Coast Guard has SAR responsibility. | ||||||||||
| 2. Prevent the loss of at least 85% of the property at risk on the waters over which the Coast Guard has SAR responsibility. | ||||||||||
How to start a “Citizen’s Action Network” Program in your arear
Starting a program at the USCG Group level in 1999 / 2000 without an allocated budget was a big challenge that we had to overcome if the program was to receive support from the public, the Citizen’s living on our shorelines.
Since the USCG 13th District Group Seattle Website contained one page with a picture of a USCG vessel, and a telephone number for the “Eyes on The Sound” program, and at the time had no real structure, and no-one was assigned to manage the program full time, we decided the best way to promote the program was through the USCG 13th District Auxiliary’s website.
We envisioned that the Auxiliary website would be the best and most economical way to start promoting the program without a budget.
Our promotion / marketing of the program targeted Island and Waterfront Community Websites, large event websites like Seattle Seafair, Media websites like the Seattle Insider Magazine at the KIRO TV (CBS Affiliate) Website which also added a USCG SAR Slide Show, other Television News Websites, Port Websites in Washington State and in Oregon, Yacht Club Websites, Public Websites including Access Washington State and the Governor of Washington State Environmental website, and at the Americas Waterway Watch (AWW) and the National Response Center (NRC) Websites. Other websites include Private Business websites, Police and Fire Department Websites.
Examples some of the over sixty (60) website links –
(1) Seattle Seafair – Get Involved with the Coast Guard! - If you are interested in becoming involved with the U.S. Coast Guard year-round, the new "Citizen's Action Network" (CAN) program might be for you! This program focuses on saving lives by joining local volunteer residents who live on waterfronts or have views of the water from their homes. For more information, visit the Citizens' Action Network website.
http://www.seafair.com/events/fleetweek/
(2) KIRO TV – Seattle Insider Magazine - Become a Citizen’s Action Network member and help the U.S. Coast Guard save lives and property, prevent oil spills, and protect wildlife, all from the comfort of home.
http://www.kirotv.com/boating/4047563/detail.html
(3) Herron Island – Join the Citizen's Action Network and help the U.S. Coast Guard save lives, prevent oil spills and protect wildlife, all from the comfort of your own home. Check out the Citizen's Guidebook and print an application.
http://www.herronisland.org/home/home.html
(4) Camano Island Fire and Rescue 525 E. North Camano Dr. Camano Island, WA 98282 - The Citizen's Action Network program within the U.S. Coast Guard is a wonderful volunteer opportunity - providing your home has a view of our waterways. From the comfort of home, members help the USCG save lives and property, prevent oil spills, and protect wildlife. Become a Citizen's Action Network member to help the U.S. Coast Guard protect your community. Your participation could also be very helpful to Camano Island Fire & Rescue's responses to marine rescues!
http://www.camanofire.com/page.asp
(5) National Response Center – http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/links.html
(6) America’s Waterway Watch - Related to AWW, Northwest Watch is a Coast Guard/Coast Guard Auxiliary public involvement program also addressing maritime safety and security concerns in the Pacific Northwest -- through the use of formally organized citizen volunteers living around navigable waterways) -
http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/channelView.do?channelId=-18383&channelPage=%2Fep%2Fchannel%2Fdefault.jsp&pageTypeId=13489
The News documents contained in our Documents file contain many Newspaper, Magazine and Television News Stories.
This was the next method of getting the information on our program out to the Public, and this method greatly benefited and accelerated the expansion of the USCG “Citizen’s Action Network” to the six hundred (600) plus waterfront members we have today in Washington State, Oregon State, and in British Columbia, Canada.
The USCG “Citizen’s Action Network” program is very proud to include the Canadian members who work directly with the RCMP in Canada who created their own program called the Canadian Citizen’s Action Network.
Another great media source we worked with was Washington State Public Television. (TVW)
TVW created a ten (10) minute segment in June 2006, and ran the CAN segment four (4) to five (5) times a week, for over a year to approximately 1.3 Million cable viewers throughout Washington State.
The TVW segment was shown at various times of the day and night which allowed many more TVW viewers to watch the CAN broadcast at times they were available to watch the TVW Station programs.
Reaching out to the Public, Government and Private sectors through Public Speaking opportunities was another rewarding way we worked to gain more members.
Another outreach approach in our marketing of CAN we approached organizations and set up Speaking engagements before groups such at the Power Squadron, the USCG Auxiliary, the Marine Law Enforcement Officers Boating Safety organization, the Washington State Recreational Boaters Association, and Environmental organizations, and Waterfront Community Clubs which has resulted in new friendships, supporters and membership growth, and Maritime Domain awareness.
The success of the CAN program wouldn’t have been so successful if it hadn’t have been implemented into the C2PC electronic mapping system, which lists all waterfront members at their Latitude / Longitude and includes all of the members contact information.
This implementation of the C2PC overlays would never have occurred in such an organized and scheduled manner if it hadn’t been for Mr. Bruce Miller, USCG Auxiliary 2007 District Commodore, and District 13 USCG IT / Webmaster.
The development of the first USCG Auxiliary D-13 Eyes on the Sound program, and later the Northwest Watch program Website’s success was also the result of Bruce Miller’s dedication to supporting the vision of Commander Andre Billeaudeaux, which has resulted in the creation of a very important and needed program to work with the USCG Coast Guard, and serve as a reliable asset for our Government, and a patriotic way Citizens can be a part of their Government.
Since the USCG 13th District Group Seattle Website contained one page with a picture of a USCG vessel, and a telephone number for the “Eyes on The Sound” program, and at the time had no real structure, and no-one was assigned to manage the program full time, we decided the best way to promote the program was through the USCG 13th District Auxiliary’s website.
We envisioned that the Auxiliary website would be the best and most economical way to start promoting the program without a budget.
Our promotion / marketing of the program targeted Island and Waterfront Community Websites, large event websites like Seattle Seafair, Media websites like the Seattle Insider Magazine at the KIRO TV (CBS Affiliate) Website which also added a USCG SAR Slide Show, other Television News Websites, Port Websites in Washington State and in Oregon, Yacht Club Websites, Public Websites including Access Washington State and the Governor of Washington State Environmental website, and at the Americas Waterway Watch (AWW) and the National Response Center (NRC) Websites. Other websites include Private Business websites, Police and Fire Department Websites.
Examples some of the over sixty (60) website links –
(1) Seattle Seafair – Get Involved with the Coast Guard! - If you are interested in becoming involved with the U.S. Coast Guard year-round, the new "Citizen's Action Network" (CAN) program might be for you! This program focuses on saving lives by joining local volunteer residents who live on waterfronts or have views of the water from their homes. For more information, visit the Citizens' Action Network website.
http://www.seafair.com/events/fleetweek/
(2) KIRO TV – Seattle Insider Magazine - Become a Citizen’s Action Network member and help the U.S. Coast Guard save lives and property, prevent oil spills, and protect wildlife, all from the comfort of home.
http://www.kirotv.com/boating/4047563/detail.html
(3) Herron Island – Join the Citizen's Action Network and help the U.S. Coast Guard save lives, prevent oil spills and protect wildlife, all from the comfort of your own home. Check out the Citizen's Guidebook and print an application.
http://www.herronisland.org/home/home.html
(4) Camano Island Fire and Rescue 525 E. North Camano Dr. Camano Island, WA 98282 - The Citizen's Action Network program within the U.S. Coast Guard is a wonderful volunteer opportunity - providing your home has a view of our waterways. From the comfort of home, members help the USCG save lives and property, prevent oil spills, and protect wildlife. Become a Citizen's Action Network member to help the U.S. Coast Guard protect your community. Your participation could also be very helpful to Camano Island Fire & Rescue's responses to marine rescues!
http://www.camanofire.com/page.asp
(5) National Response Center – http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/links.html
(6) America’s Waterway Watch - Related to AWW, Northwest Watch is a Coast Guard/Coast Guard Auxiliary public involvement program also addressing maritime safety and security concerns in the Pacific Northwest -- through the use of formally organized citizen volunteers living around navigable waterways) -
http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/channelView.do?channelId=-18383&channelPage=%2Fep%2Fchannel%2Fdefault.jsp&pageTypeId=13489
The News documents contained in our Documents file contain many Newspaper, Magazine and Television News Stories.
This was the next method of getting the information on our program out to the Public, and this method greatly benefited and accelerated the expansion of the USCG “Citizen’s Action Network” to the six hundred (600) plus waterfront members we have today in Washington State, Oregon State, and in British Columbia, Canada.
The USCG “Citizen’s Action Network” program is very proud to include the Canadian members who work directly with the RCMP in Canada who created their own program called the Canadian Citizen’s Action Network.
Another great media source we worked with was Washington State Public Television. (TVW)
TVW created a ten (10) minute segment in June 2006, and ran the CAN segment four (4) to five (5) times a week, for over a year to approximately 1.3 Million cable viewers throughout Washington State.
The TVW segment was shown at various times of the day and night which allowed many more TVW viewers to watch the CAN broadcast at times they were available to watch the TVW Station programs.
Reaching out to the Public, Government and Private sectors through Public Speaking opportunities was another rewarding way we worked to gain more members.
Another outreach approach in our marketing of CAN we approached organizations and set up Speaking engagements before groups such at the Power Squadron, the USCG Auxiliary, the Marine Law Enforcement Officers Boating Safety organization, the Washington State Recreational Boaters Association, and Environmental organizations, and Waterfront Community Clubs which has resulted in new friendships, supporters and membership growth, and Maritime Domain awareness.
The success of the CAN program wouldn’t have been so successful if it hadn’t have been implemented into the C2PC electronic mapping system, which lists all waterfront members at their Latitude / Longitude and includes all of the members contact information.
This implementation of the C2PC overlays would never have occurred in such an organized and scheduled manner if it hadn’t been for Mr. Bruce Miller, USCG Auxiliary 2007 District Commodore, and District 13 USCG IT / Webmaster.
The development of the first USCG Auxiliary D-13 Eyes on the Sound program, and later the Northwest Watch program Website’s success was also the result of Bruce Miller’s dedication to supporting the vision of Commander Andre Billeaudeaux, which has resulted in the creation of a very important and needed program to work with the USCG Coast Guard, and serve as a reliable asset for our Government, and a patriotic way Citizens can be a part of their Government.
Commandant Thad Allen - America's Waterway Watch
Commandant Thad Allen introduces America's Waterways Watch program and answers the question "What should I do?"
America's Waterways Watch Program
This short video explains America's Waterway Watch program and how to call and report if you see suspicious activity.
CG Commandant Thad Allen talks about CAN
The Commandant highlights the USCG D-13 “Citizen’s Action Network” program three (3) times in his speech.
From the 2009 USCG Auxiliary National Conference in Chicago, IL.
US Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen speaks about USCG Auxiliary's role in Modernization from USCG Auxiliary on Vimeo.
From the 2009 USCG Auxiliary National Conference in Chicago, IL.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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