Back to NACON
(Click Here To See Photos)
In Auxiliary circles there is no banquet quite like this. Imagine; the National Commodore, Gene Seibert; the National Commodore-elect, Steve Budar; and the Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen under one roof.
Auxiliarists in all of their finery, formal dress and gowns, were treated to an exceptional meal and another evening of fellowship. Admiral Allen was most receptive to photo ops with, as he said, “my Auxiliary family.”
Many awards were bestowed on members for exceptional service to the Auxiliary but the awarding of the Distinguished Service Medal by Admiral Allen to NACO Gene Seibert was the highlight of the ceremony.
All of the traditional trappings of the National Commodores Banquet were observed. The new National Bridge took the oath of office as administered by Rear Admiral Bone and Admiral Allen.
It is always an exciting happening when the new National Commodore is frocked. Assisted by NACO Gene Seibert, NACO-elect Steve Budar’s wife Mary Kay changed the two star epaulets to the three star boards of the National Commodore.
Gifts were exchanged including a poignant ceremony of gift giving from the outgoing Bridge wives to Maria Seibert.
Admiral Allen was the keynote speaker of the evening followed by addresses by the National Commodore and the National Commodore-elect. Their addresses follow this article.
As the evening drew to a close, lots of “See you next year,” and “Have a safe trip home” was interspersed with some hugs, handshakes and tearful goodbyes.
COMMANDANT’S REMARKS – SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET
ADM Allen remarked that it was a year ago that he and his wife received the call to take the assignment as principal federal officer. While he contemplated the offer, he said to himself, “this kind of opportunity only happens once in a lifetime, where you can help so many people at the same time.”
“I grew up with you (the Auxiliary) in the Coast Guard…this is not a conference, it is a reunion.”
“My congratulations to the new bridge, said Allen. “It is a great team, and I think you’re joining a great team. And I think we have a really strong flag that we have in the Coast Guard right now. I couldn’t have picked a better bunch of folks to work with and I welcome you all aboard, and look forward to working with you.”
“As many of you know, I’ve asked COMO Seibert to serve on the Leadership Council for the Coast Guard. He will serve as a bridge capacity. We need his counsel his experience, we need the voice of the Auxiliary, and between he and Steve (Budar), and we look forward to a great partnership.”
Allen went on to thank our international counterparts for being here, saying we need them to address the problems that the world faces today. “We look forward to expanding our partnerships with you.”
“I tell a lot of folks that I meet, not just since Katrina but since 9/11, the good news is that the Coast Guard has never been more relevant or visible,” said Allen. “The bad news is we’ve never been more relevant and visible.”
“But I would have to say, that would apply equally to the Coast Guard Auxiliary – you’ve never been more relevant, you’ve never been or more visible, and the things you bring to the surface which have always been strong, the things you do for us on a daily basis make us stronger as an organization.”
Your are vertically and horizontally integrated into this organization. You are all over this organization…you are part of the organizational DNA of the Coast Guard. We couldn’t do anything we do today with out you, you have never been more relevant or visible – give yourselves a hand.”
Next the ADM went on to talk about alignment and how sectors should interact with the Auxiliary. “I applaud the work you’ve done on your resources alignment study, and you should be very proud of that.”
“The other thing I discussed today was strategy. I feel very, very strongly that when you take a step that you should know where you are going,” said Allen.” You ought to know where you’re going over the horizon – or in nautical terms, you ought to know your DR is.”
Allen went on to say he say he plans to produce a Coast Guard Maritime Strategy, which will show how we need to move forward over the next four years. “It will focus on three areas – security, safety and stewardship,” said Allen. “In doing that I am going to consult widely with the Coast Guard Auxiliary because you bring something to the table that we have to have – and that’s your linkage to the boating public, and the users of our waterways of the United States.”
ADM Allen said one of the elusive items in a post 9/11 environment: “What is an acceptable maritime security regime for this country given the threats we face?”
Allen said, “We’ve done a lot of thing since 9/11 that we can be proud of, such as Operation Patriot Readiness.”
“What you’re going to see me be involved in over the next 6-12 months, is to have a conversation with America about what kind of maritime security regime we need to put in place to reduce risk in this country of a maritime attack.
Allen cautioned that we need to avoid political panics such as the Du Bai port world issue. “We need to look at the real threats and vulnerabilities, and that is where I need you all.”
“I talked to your leadership today about the need to take a look at the threats and vulnerabilities from a vessel borne improvised explosive device (IEDs), and how we manage that.” Allen went on to say that while we’re doing a good job in making progress towards container security, and technology helps us with that, we have a lot of work to do with respect to IEDs onboard vessels.
ADM Allen went on to say that there are a lot of things we need to think about in moving towards that goal of reducing the risk of a vessel borne IED. “You have to look at the recreational boating public, the unispected towboat operations, and commercial fishing operations. You have to look at registration, where the boat is registered, and who is operating the vessel.”
“These are issues that have been bubbling for a long, long time, said Allen.” I’ve been working on them on my entire life in the Coast Guard. We’ve put them in the ‘too hard to’ locker. But we have to open the ‘yes’ locker. We have to have the discussion. And if we decide these things are too difficult after we have a discussion, that’s fine, but it won’t be because on my watch we didn’t ask the question. “
Allen went on to say he owed us some answers regarding the future of SAMA, and pledged to build upon the start made in FY 2005.
Allen also saluted the Auxiliarists present who were involved in Katrina operations in some way. “Every time would walk into a Disaster recovery center around the Gulf Coast, and thank them for their service. I’d ask them where they were from and I would thank them for their service.”
I went to a DRC in Jefferson Parish, LA to be pre-staged to meet the President, and found that a group of Auxiliarists were staffing the center. I said to GEN Russ Honere ‘I want you to meet true Americans’. And it was my pleasure to introduce them to them President when he arrived, and said’ Mr. President these are Coast Guard Auxiliarists’.”
“Principal Federal Officers are not born by Immaculate Conception,” said Allen.” You learn this over a series of years, and I would be remiss in not closing my remarks in paying homage to the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s part in my preparation for being a principal federal official. You don’t think about it, but these things are built over the years, in accumulated experiences conducting operations. That make you learn how to cooperation with people and deal with first responders.”
Allen went on to recall his various experiences throughout his career where he worked with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. “If we are the accumulation of our experiences and the people we’ve known over a lifetime, a good deal of my operational performance and ability to lead as the principal federal official in Katrina, was directly related to my experiences with the Coast Guard Auxiliary as the link to a community over my entire 35 year career. Thank you for helping me do the job!”
“It doesn’t matter if it Coast Guard Auxiliary, reserve, Active Duty or civilians, said Allen, when in trouble “people just worry about getting a hand.”
Allen went on to discuss the Jacobs ladder, used to move between a small bat and a ship. He went on to make an analogy of the first three rungs of the Jacob’s ladder to the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty. “Honor is a compact that we make with ourselves. Respect is a compact we make with those around us, and devotion to duty is a compact we’ve made with our country,” said Allen.
“You share those core values,” said Allen.” But you have established three rungs here on your own Jacob’s ladder – ready, responsive, and resolute. Those are the first three rungs on your Jacob’s ladder, and I look forward to climbing it with you.”
NACO’S BANQUET REMARKS
Good evening and what a perfect evening it is! Every face I see is a memory, some more perfect than others but all so very good. Tonight is a celebration and recognition of the culmination of what YOU, the membership have accomplished over the past 2 years.
My personal congratulations to my friend, shipmate and partner over the past 2 years, COMO Steven Budar and the newly elect bridge, for I know they will do great things and further the Coast Guard Auxiliary over the next 2 years.
Yesterday, I gave my report at our National Board Meeting that outlined the accomplishments of our National Board and dedicated staff. We talked about where we started just 2 short years ago, how far we have come and what yet need to be done. We talked about the importance of “Staying the Course”, that “WE” collectively have charted. I need not reiterate any of this tonight.
Instead, I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the many members of our team, whom without their contributions and dedication, we could not have been as successful.
Sir Isaac Newton credited his scientific break throughs to the work of those that had gone before him in the field of science by saying, “If I have seen further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
So it is only fitting that we acknowledge the contributions of our past National Commodores and their colleagues. Each have made key contributions to the Auxiliary and set the stage for continued mission excellence. Each of them has shared insights on the Auxiliary and how we should plan for the future. Therefore, it can truly be said: “if WE have seen further, it is only by standing upon the shoulders of these giants”. So, Henry, Joe, Ev, Viggo and Bill, I extend to you my personal gratitude and thanks for all that you have done and continue to do.
Next I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our National Executive Committee and our Executive Staff. These members have helped to chart our course for the past two years and, I hope, well into the future. Their continuing good humor and willingness to roll up their sleeves has been remarkable. I sometimes wish that our membership could have listened in on our meetings and monthly conference calls—they truly would have been proud of our outstanding leadership team, as I have been.
The same can be said of our wider leadership team, the District Commodores, Vice Commodores and the Directors of Auxiliary. They have played a key role in helping to forge our strategic plans at the national level and to formulate sound plans at the District level. To each of them, thank you.
There is a Spanish proverb which states to the effect, “that success has a thousand fathers, while failure dies an orphan”. Well, I’m proud to acknowledge the many fathers and mothers of our success—our National Staff. I have always been and remain very impressed with the quality, energy, and commitment of this staff and hope that our new bridge will take advantage of these highly competent, professional individuals.
I want to thank Captain Smith and his staff for all of their continued support. With all of the changes over the past 2 years, within the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, (AuxMan, OPS Policy, Congressionals, the day-to-day issues in general), they truly were and remained Semper Paratus.
To the Coast Guard Flag Corp, I thank you for your acceptance, your partnership, your council and most importantly, for your friendship.
And how can I not thank our membership, for without them, we would have accomplished little. For it is they at the deck plate, that implement and executed our missions in support of the Coast Guard and the Recreational Boaters. To use one of Admiral Allen’s key terms, they symbolize, Mission Excellence.
Lastly, I want to thank my family, specifically my wife Maria for allowing me to fulfill a dream. I thank you for the understanding and the sacrifices; the missed family events; not being able to spend as much time with our children and grandchildren as we would have liked to; the travel; missed dinners and late nights working on various projects. Most of all, thank you for your continued support for allowing me to do what I wanted, to focus and to contributed to the best of my ability, to the greatest volunteer organization anywhere. Dear, you are truly one of a kind and I love ya!
To take a quote from Admiral Collins, “Great organizations don’t just happen; they evolve from sound visionary leadership, willingness to change what needs to be changed and the commitment to safeguard those guiding principles most critical to organization success”. I firmly believe this is true of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and each of you here tonight should be proud of what you have accomplished.
In closing, I wish you could all have a life as lucky as mine; that you can wake up one morning and say, I do not want anything more. Furthermore, I want you to promise me something, that you will live each day to its fullest and have no regrets!
Again, I thank you, for allowing me the privilege and honor to serve you, the members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
NACO-ELECT BANQUET REMARKS
Admiral Allen, Commodore Seibert, colleagues on the NEXCOM. My fellow Auxiliarists, ladies and gentlemen. , good evening.
It is an incredible privilege and honor to address you this evening as your National Commodore-elect.
When I joined this magnificent organization some 21 years ago I was fortunate to have a mentor in my flotilla, someone to encourage me and help take the mystery out of this acronym laden fellowship. My mentor, Past National Commodore, William “Papa” Harr helped me understand the unique nature of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the importance and value of the wonderful people that give of their time, talents and treasure to serve their fellow boaters.
In the last 6 years, I have been fortunate to have been able to travel through out the United States attending your district conferences. At nearly every conference the issues and concerns that were discussed were surprisingly similar.
Recruiting members, and retaining members
Recruiting, retention and I will add, responsibility…
Three simple words that are at the forefront of my thoughts daily because they represent the keys to our success in the next couple of years.
Recruiting isn’t something new or special for the Auxiliary, we do it everyday and we do it very well. In the first 7 months of this year we recruited over 3,000 new Auxiliarists to our ranks. That’s a good thing! And we need to keep up our focus on this good thing.
New people with new, innovative ideas is the way we stay on course.
Recruiting new members is the life blood of our organization. As the missions offered to us by the US Coast Guard continue to expand we find we are now engaged in so many different areas…… …public education, vessel safety checks, commercial fishing vessel inspections, search and rescue, land, sea and air patrols, harbor, bridge and environmental patrols, radio watch standing, ombudsman programs, physicians and dentist in Coast Guard clinics and most recently, providing chefs aboard Coast Guard cutters or ashore galleys.
Retention…
You would think that with so many missions that it would be easy to retain all of our members.
We don’t need every volunteer to be involved in every mission we perform. We need every member to be respected and allowed… no, encouraged to devote as much or as little time as they have to offer because it’s our collective efforts that drive our success.
As you already know, once someone joins us in service, keeping them active and interested and contributing has always been the hard part of the deal. Over the 21 years of my Auxiliary career, it was you, my fellow Auxiliarists that mentored me, kept me motivated and excited. It’s the Auxiliarist and Coast Guardsman and women that guided and encouraged me so I could give of my service to the Coast Guard and my fellow boaters.
We heard an excellent presentation yesterday about the changing habits of volunteers as we baby boomers age and we have volunteers from Generation “X” and Generation “Y” beginning to look for ways to give back to their community.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary needs to be reaching out to these people.
But for us to be successful,
- we need to change how we approach the new generations,
- we need to make sure that we provide a challenging and rewarding experience of being a member of the coast guard Auxiliary in the context that our new members understand.
In short we need to value our members.
No matter how much or how little time they can give, we must see them as a valuable, critically important part of our organization. We must make them feel welcome, and ensure they are treated honestly and with respect. We need to provide the mentoring that we received, that is our responsibility.
Responsibility,
A fourteen letter word that defines the job of every Auxiliarist in this nation. We must recognize our responsibility to the Coast Guard, to the boating community and to one another. From the newest recruit to our most senior Auxiliarists…… yes like you Gene, oh, sorry no more like Captain Robert Platt, who has been serving in a Coast Guard uniform for 60 years this week.
Thank you Bob for your service.
Recruiting, retention and responsibility are to be our focus but we can’t forget about our missions.
Balancing our missions and resources is critical to our continued success. Not just in how we relate to our volunteers but in the mission sets as well.
We continue to work to transform the Coast Guard Auxiliary from an organization solely concerned with maritime safety, to one that gives added attention to maritime security.
We are making major progress with this transformation. Our intended course was and continues to be one that blends maritime safety and security into one balanced effort that will see the Coast Guard Auxiliary in step with the Coast Guard, providing our countrymen with safe and secure waterways.
To achieve this balance we need to recruit to specific needs like… computer technicians, desktop publishers, salesman, educators, doctors, radio operators or sailors.
This is new to many of our members, it’s “not the way we used to do it”…
It has been said that... Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
I know we are not insane, we must discover new ways …. And it’s exciting and it’s challenging, and it’s hard …. But I believe that there is not better time to be doing what we are doing than right now….
I ask for your commitment to continue the service you have been providing to the Auxiliary.
I ask you to take on the responsibility to mentor a new person in your flotilla, division or district and be the positive influence in their career,
In closing I want to recognize those new Auxiliarist attending their first NACON, would all those in the audience attending this National Conference for the first time please stand so we can recognize you ?
Thank you for participating in our conference.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are exciting times, and I look forward to working for you over the next 2 years to lead our efforts
In recruiting.
In retention.
And in our responsibility to our service and one another.
I thank you for your kind attention this evening.