[1SR-L] Memorial Day Message -005/07

[Announcement List for First Southern District]

TO:  	ALAUXDIST1SR
FM:  	CDR E.D. Young
SUBJ:	Memorial Day Message -005/07


1. As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, let me extend a personal thank
you to each of you who serve.  It is only through each of your individual
contributions that we achieve such remarkable success!  Last year the
members of D1SR Auxiliary saved 14 lives, assisted 464 people in distress
and saved over three million dallars in property value.  You completed over
2700 hours of public appearences and over 5500 hours of public education.
You completed over 8600 vessel exams and 232 commercial fishing vessel
exams.  Together you volunteered over 320,000 hours of service to this
country.  I am proud to serve with you and amazed at your dedication to the
team and our core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.

2.  Some administrative points I would like to pass regarding PSI
processing:  The DIRAUX office hears and definitely understands the
frustration with the slow down in PSI processing over the past 6 months.
Unfortunately there was an unavoidable shift in work priorities at the end
of 2006 at the Security Center where all PSIs get processed.  Due to Coast
Guard mission requirements, SECCEN was tasked with other work that required
them to cut their manning to Auxiliary PSI processing.  Fortunately manning
has recently been restored and we should see more applications being
completed.  

If you submitted a PSI package from November of 2006 until now I ask for
your continued patience as we work through this.  Continuous requests to
check on the status of these applications only slow the people actually
processing them.  If you submitted your completed paperwork over 6 months
ago and have not heard anything regarding your status, please forward a
request to DIRAUX through your chain of leadership and we will focus on
resolving these cases.  

I request all other personnel refrain from asking for a status check until
the 6 month mark.  I fully understand the desire of these new members to
participate and I ask all of our membership to try to keep these folks
engaged so that they will still be there when the PSI is finally processed.

3. OPS: Vessel Facility Inspection and Offer for Use Form ANSC 7003 (rev
4-07) is now in effect.  All previous editions of this form will no longer
be accepted as of 1 June 2007.

With the changes in the Boat Crew program there will be much higher demands
on our QE's in terms of scheduling checkrides.  There will be no QE of
opportunity checkrides this year, please work with your leaders to plan
ahead and schedule your checkrides, our QEs will be very busy.  Crew
trainees are reminded they need to do a minimum of 16 hours within the last
2 years during at least 3 u/w sessions before they can request a checkride.
Use the Crewmember Trainee Underway Mission Record, Form1SR-7 which is on
the D1SR website to document this.

4. Certification: Certification/recertification in qual areas is NOT
AUTOMATIC. The FC/FSO-MT needs to notify the appropriate qual team member
that a member has met the requirements for initial certification, or qual
recertification.  Remember to request your qualification if you meet the
standards prescribed.  Remember that all IQ to BQ status upgrade
requirements must meet the criteria set forth in Chap 8 of the AUXMAN.  Only
certain courses meet the requirement and State issued boating safety
certificates do not.

5.  I am proud of your service. Each of you should stand tall and be
recognized for your service to the Country this Memorial Day weekend.
Semper Paratus!

6.	The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists in the First
Southern abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc. 

7.	Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized. 

8.	DIRAUX 1SR sends