Page 8 - 2020 Yachting in Chicago

Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2020
By Thomas Mullally, Commodore, U S Coast Guard Auxiliary 9th Western Region

I want to share with the Chicago yachting and boating community
how the Coast Guard Auxiliary has today’s youth involved, the
Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Diversity Mission and how COVID-19 has
affected the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
more about the variety of activities in
which the Auxiliary is engaged through
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA SEA COVID-19 has restricted much of the in- our website (http://cgaux9wr.com), or by
SCOUTS AND U.S. COAST GUARD person activities, relying on virtual training contacting a local flotilla and completing a
AUXILIARY PARTNERSHIP and online meetings. We maintain contact membership application.
via telephone and e-mail to help nurture
Late last year, the Coast Guard Auxiliary this important endeavor. BSA and USCG The more Diversity in our membership,
signed a Memo of Understanding in AUX are excited about this program as our the more outreach the Auxiliary has to the
partnering with Boy Scouts Sea Cadet youth are our future. variety of communities around us. Often,
Youth Program. After a Standard Operating people feel more comfortable approaching
Procedure was issued and appointments were COAST GUARD AUXILIARY someone who can relate to their culture,
made, the new initiatives were under way. DIVERSITY beliefs or disciplines than approaching
someone who doesn’t understand the
Both organizations are devoted to boating, Our Mission in Diversity is to Recruit, Train nuance of their culture and background.
safety skills, and seamanship. The and Retain. COVID-19 has hampered The Auxiliary also strives to reflect all
Sea Scouts focus on sailing skills and our ability to follow our Diversity Mission the wonderful people and cultures that
seamanship as a vehicle for leaderships as in-person meeting is a primary way comprise the United States of America.
and confidence building. The partnership we develop our prospective volunteers/
aligns the similar objectives of both members. Local, community relationships THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE
organizations. Once an Auxiliarist has are a key component of all our activities COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
completed the Boy Scouts of America and a means of building awareness of the As you have all experienced, COVID-19
(BSA) adult leadership courses, youth Auxiliary and our missions. We understand turned the world upside down. The U.S.
protection and boating qualifications, active the need to stay safe and healthy for Coast Guard Auxiliary, following the U.S.
engagement between Auxiliarists and Sea ourselves, our families, and the public. Our Coast Guard’s motto of Semper Paratus
Scouts can begin. engagement with the recreational boating (Always Ready), found itself charting new
public has suffered significantly at this time.
The Sea Scout Ships, much like troops We are, however, diversifying the ways we ways to serve the boating public. As with
in BSA units, engage with existing Coast reach out to and connect with our local many things in life now, we have gone
Guard Auxiliary units, called Flotillas. In communities and the boating public. Virtual! Here are some of the exiting new
some cases, new ships will be created as a opportunities that the Auxiliary is providing:
result of the partnerships. It is expected that The Coast Guard Auxiliary does not Virtual Vessel Safety Checks
membership will increase for Boy Scouts discriminate based on race, color, religion, Via various web conferencing platforms
of America Sea Scouts and the Coast sex, age, national origin, or disability. Any or video chat, Auxiliarists are now doing
Guard Auxiliary as a result of this dynamic person interested in joining the Coast vessel safety checks (VSCs) from home.
arrangement. Guard Auxiliary is encouraged to learn

8 2020 yachting in chicago (Article continued on page 38)