The training plan for NACON 2006 was very exciting!  The workshops featured instructors and speakers from the National Departments, the Coast Guard and guest speakers from outside companies. Workshops ran on Friday and Saturday afternoons, four workshops at a time, offering choices to all in attendance.

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY RBS EDUCATION
To effectively reach the recreational boater, the Auxiliary needs to look to state-of-the-art delivery.  Discussions included the direction the Education Department is heading with multi-modality delivery, blended courses.  Also discussed were topics: online delivery, self-study and other means we are already using and exploring to attract more students.  It included discussions on how the Flotilla can be part of this revolution and how the Auxiliary's new Public Education navigation course, Weekend Navigator, uses such multi-modality delivery.

TROUBLES WATERS: MEMORABLE BOATING MISHAPS, MISTAKES AND BLUNDERS.
The most dramatic incidents of maritime mishaps ever to appear on the pages of Soundings and were recounted and accompanied by extraordinary photos.  Soundings picked this presentation to show at NACON and it served as a fun, mind-relaxing presentation.  It supplied everyone with a clear understanding of how and why Soundings is published and how it can help the Auxiliary. Most importantly it reinforced why the USCG Auxiliary was formed and why it is so desperately needed in today's boating environment!  Most of the accidents in the presentation could have been avoided!
PRESENTER: Mr. William, (Bill), Sisson, Editor, Soundings magazine

RECRUITING DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN!
The recruiting seminar at the National Conference was conducted by Chief of Personnel Gregg L. Trask. This interactive, high energy session discussed the keys of successful recruiting programs such as the personal touch and local orientation of recruiting campaigns. Using best practices and experiences from the audience, non-traditional methods of recruiting diverse members were explored. The participants were advised of some of the thoughts that the Department of Personnel has for the upcoming year in the areas of quicker distribution of prospective member leads from National and family initiatives for recruiting. The members attending were charged with going back to their flotillas with a renewed enthusiasm to think creatively by utilizing the team concept with the other staff officers and include EVERY member in the recruitment effort.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
Outreach programs provide your public affairs programs with a reenergizing face-lift.  The Public Affairs workshop focused primarily on their outreach programs. Items discussed included the Speaker's Bureau, how it works, and how to identify local speaking opportunities.  Also discussed were their various youth outreach programs, including the resources available, such as Coastie and the PFD Panda.  Also discussed was our flag and ceremonies program, including Color Guards, and how to identify opportunities to use this program in your local area.  Lastly, ideas were offered on how to add spark to your efforts to tell the Auxiliary story.

FREE PUBLICITY.
An active TV reporter, Mr.Jeff Crilley, author and newscaster for Dallas FOX TV, shared the secrets of getting coverage on the news, how to write a 'killer' press release, who to call and when, and how to come up with ideas guaranteed to get coverage. Discussions included how to get your message to the news folks and why normal news releases don't work well.

JUST BE FAIR.
In order for organizations to stay competitive, deal with change, and become the organization of choice, both people and organizations must be culturally competent.  One of the ways cultural competence can be developed is by using the “F.A.I.R. Approach.”  This session introduced the “F.A.I.R. Approach” as a practical way to help our members support the organization's commitment to fairness.  It was designed to improve their ability to relate to the people important to the organization's success.  JUST BE FAIR is designed to help people recognize and respond to those similarities and differences and understand what diversity really is.

COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL EXAMINATION WORKSHOP.
The question asked was “Are you interested in improving fishing vessel safety?”  The workshop was attended by members who are currently involved or those who would like to learn about improving the safety of commercial fishing vessels.  With the rapidly changing needs and demands on the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary is working to provide a cadre of Dock Walkers and Examiners to improve fishing vessel safety.  Also discussed were the policies and procedures for the tow vessel and uninspected passenger vessel inspection programs.

THE NEW MEMBER - THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
This workshop was designed to help remedy the following situation:  You work really hard to bring a new member into your flotilla.  The new member comes to the first meeting and is very enthusiastic.  You introduce him/her around and perhaps sign them up for a training class.  They attend the next couple of meetings, but appear less enthusiastic.  Soon they stop coming to meetings, but no one notices. At one point, someone says, "Hey, I haven't seen Jim (or Sally) for a while. Where are they?" The truth is - you've lost them!  The session was intended to help you to understand the first six months of membership and presented a unique way to 'orient' a new member so that they will integrate into your flotilla.  Discussions included understanding the dynamics of joining a group and help you design your flotilla's on-boarding process so you can keep those new members that you worked so hard to recruit, keep engaged and active.

AUXILIARY INSTRUCTORS OF TOMORROW.
This session was modeled after the US Coast Guard instructor course at CG Training Center Petaluma, CA.  Discussed was the new Auxiliary Instructor Development Course and how it will focus on the nuts-and-bolts of effective teaching...Also discussed was a practical approach to instructor training and a look at the public education tools of the future.  Mentioned were the new Boating Skills & Seamanship edition, the Sailing Skills & Seamanship text that will follow shortly after BS&S.  Discussed was how our partnerships with International Marine/McGraw-Hill, American Canoe Association, and boat manufacturers can improve the way your Flotilla does public education in the future.

CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR AUXILIARY UNITS.
As Auxiliarists, we stand ready to assist the Coast Guard in responding to any measure of need. But there is a lot of planning that must occur before our members can be successfully integrated into a Coast Guard response. During the session the attendees explored what Contingency Planning entails.  They also identified some of the pitfalls that cause us to fall short of Coast Guard expectations for mission execution and readiness. The Auxiliary is the ideal force multiplier for the Coast Guard, but we must do our homework to get ready!

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY HEALTH CARE SUPPORT PROGRAM
The Coast Guard is in need of additional health care resources to backfill or augment its clinics and sickbays in the event of situations, such as, TAD deployments, surge operations, man made or natural disasters, and a pandemic and to assist in medical training and response.  The target audience for the meeting was Auxiliary leadership from around the country; Auxiliarists with health care skills such as doctors, dentists, nurses; Auxiliarists with recruiting skills; and active duty Coast Guard care and command personnel.  The meeting familiarized those persons with the mechanism for accession into the health care program, medico-legal coverage, locations where they can be utilized, the amount of time they will be asked to provide, and the services they will be authorized to perform.