U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division 091-30 - Northstar

05/11/2024

And another!

All lights on! The American Century arriving Duluth MN this Monday evening for the 17th time this season. Arriving to load coal at the SMET dock in Superior for the 16th time this season as well. One time back in May they loaded ore at CN. If we count the Superior entry they have arrived 24 times and loaded Iron Ore 8 times.

07/08/2024

Crow Wing County, MN. Nearly 70,000 visitors were expected at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd, Minnesota, last week, where the International Falls Flotilla (091-30-07) hosted visitors for their 10th year. Flotilla members encourage discussions of life jacket ear and boater safety using both Coastie (the safety robot) and an interesting hypothermia experiment that both kids and adults enjoy. This year’s booth was 10 x 30 long and featured the flotilla’s new pop-up purchased with the assistance of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Association. Partnering with the United States Corps of Engineers, fair-goers received frisbees, safety bags to put their fair-goer stuff in, coloring books, and activity books. And, of course, there was candy in Coastie’s bow. Auxiliarists Thurlow x 2 and Raymone Kral manned the booth from 9 AM to 9 PM for the five-day fair run. Record heat and rainfall did nothing to quash the dedication of our volunteers. They met thousands of people from all over the country and made initial contact with four new members of the flotilla detachment located in Nisswa, Minnesota. The flotilla thanked the Crow Wing County Fair Board representative for giving the flotilla space for the booth at no coat. (Click on each photo to view the caption.)

06/08/2024

06/08/2024

It was a big week at the Crow Wing County Fair in Brainerd, MN! Our IFalls Flotilla hosted several thousand visitors at our booth. We featured life jackets, frisbees, "Coastie", a hypothermia experiment, coloring books, activity booklets, and more. Watch this site for a story and more photos of the week. The photos below were taken the morning of Day One before the fun began

04/06/2024

Duluth MN. It was a special day for Tom and me while attending the All Hands at Marine Safety Unit Duluth where Tom was recognized for his service to the Coast Guard. His Auxiliary Commandants Letter of Commendation recognized his work with Public Affairs and "Coastie", the CG robot, his work on Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV) Exams for Lake of the Woods Charter Captains and his efforts to train new UPV Examiners for the mission. Rear Admiral Jonathan P. Hickey, Coast Guard District Nine Commander, was on hand to present the award.

24/05/2024

The state of Texas sent me a terrific boating safety reminder for this Memorial Day weekend. It is important information for every boater in every state on every day. Thank you ,Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Dear Safe Boater,

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, it’s essential to prioritize boating safety. Whether you’re an experienced boater or a novice, here are some crucial tips to keep in mind:

~Wear a Life Jacket: Make sure everyone on board wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. It’s the simplest way to prevent drowning.
~Check Your Equipment: Before heading out, verify that all essential equipment is operational. This includes navigation lights, sound-producing devices (like a horn or whistle), flares and a fire extinguisher.
~Create a Float Plan: Let someone know your boating plans. Share details such as where you’re going, how long you’ll be out and your expected return time.
~Stay Sober: Never operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Impaired boating can lead to accidents and fatalities.
~~Watch the Weather: Keep an eye on weather forecasts. Sudden storms can be dangerous on the water.
~Know Your Surroundings: Be aware of other boats, swimmers and potential hazards. Lake levels are constantly changing. Maintain a safe speed and distance from other vessels and watch for obstacles in the water.
~Comply with Capacity Limits: Don’t overload your boat. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for passenger capacity.

Remember, Memorial Day weekend should be enjoyable, but safety comes first. Have a great time on the water, and stay safe!

24/05/2024

This is great information. Thank you Sector NGL.

21/05/2024

A few more photos of our boat camp. These were taken on Nisswa Lake in central Minnesota. Why is the USCG Auxiliary working on Nisswa Lake and the Gull Lake Chain? The Gull River Reservoir (Gull Chain) is identified as a Federal Water because it flows into the Mississippi River via the Crow Wing River. Who knew? Do you want to give back to the community? Interested in working on your boating skills, meeting like- minded people? Join us. Go to cgaux.org.

21/05/2024

Division 30 member Raymone Kral is wearing her life jacket at work and shopping for one of her charities. National Safe Boating Week is this week!

21/05/2024

Photos of Division 30 Boat Camp. Our four-day camp featured vision tests, fellowship, preparing for boat training, debriefing after a patrol, and more. Nat Henderson, Qualification Examiner in training gave members their vision check at the landing. The weather cooperated most of the time. Wind was an issue on Saturday afternoon, but Sunday made up for it. Division 30 members were terrific sports.

21/05/2024

Last weekend, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota celebrated the Minnesota Walleye Fishing Opener at Lake Pepin in Lake City. He attended with an entourage of dignitaries and went fishing on Friday and Saturday. (Keepers are only allowed on Saturday after midnight.) The Governor (in a sports coat) is shown promoting boating safety with members of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Communities hosting the Governor's Opener receive lots of media attention. We are pleased to see our top fisherman following the advice: "Wear it."

20/05/2024

It is Safe Boating Week, a national campaign designed to bring awareness to the importance of wearing your life jacket and staying safe on the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is a partner in safe boating activities during this week. To draw attention to the importance of wearing a life preserver, community members wore their life jackets to help us get the word out. In the photos made a part of this post, you can see Warroad Minnesota Mayor Bob Marvin and his pooch U2 sporting a life jacket. We also have Roseau, Minnesota Mayor, wearing his life jacket while at work on the farm and, of course. Check out 7 Safe Boating Habits, too.