REPORT of the SO-PA May 7, 2012
· Wednesday, May 23rd, marks the official start of the 2012 National Safe Boating Week Campaign and we have been asked to plan and coordinate any activities within our area of responsibility with other like-minded organizations to help promote recreational boating safety and ultimately save lives. For more information, please visit http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/ or visit the Coast Guard's Boating Safety Resource Center located at http://www.uscgboating.org/
· May 23rd also marks the beginning of the celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 as well as Fleet Week in New York Harbor. Wednesday from 0830 to 1000 hrs will be the Parade of Ships in the Hudson River with six US Navy vessels, including the air craft carrier USS WASP; three US Coast Guard vessels, including the Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE; and this year eight other tall ships from around the world. The remainder of the week, the ships will be open to the public in Manhattan, Staten Island and Brooklyn from 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs. Go to http://www.fleetweeknewyork.com/ships.html for listing. The event is free except for those events on board the INTREPID where admission fee is charged except for those with military ID. Here is a list of visiting ships: USS WASP, USS MITSCHER, USS SAN JACINTO, USS ROOSEVELT, USS DONALD COOK, USS GONZALEZ from the US Navy, and from the US Coast Guard: USCGC EAGLE, USCGC SENECA, USCGC WILLOW. Tall ships: CISNE BRANCO (Brazil), GLORIA (Columbia), GUAYAS (Ecuador), ETOILE (France), BELLE POULE (France), DEWARUCI (Indonesia), CUAUHTETMOC (Mexico), JUAN SEBASTIAN ELCANO (Spain) and the US Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE (USA).
· Thursday, May 31st, is the deadline for submissions to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary's 2012 National Public Affairs, Photography and Video Contest which is open to all Auxiliary units and members. For additional information on the contest, including submission instructions, please visit http://www.auxpa.org/contest
· Severe weather damaged the Auxiliary National Supply Center (ANSC) on Saturday, April 28th. The building is currently in non-operational status while personnel assess the damage and work towards getting the facility back and running. Coast Guard Auxiliary units requesting brochures for Public Affairs and other programs are asked to be patient.
· Thursday, June 7th, will be the inaugural exhibition reception of the annual Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP) at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, New York City from 1830 to 2100 hrs. The special guest speaker will be RDML Linda Fagan, Commanding Officer, USCG Sector New York. Military uniform is Service Dress Blues with Combination Hat. The exhibit will feature over forty works of art depicting the various Coast Guard missions. Artists donate their time and talents as visual historians. Visit http://www.uscg.mil/community/Art_Program.asp for information. For directions call 212 255-7740 or email info@salmagundi.org Please give me your name and email address so that an invitation may be sent to you. The reception is generously funded by the New York Council of the Navy League and sponsored by the Salmagundi Club. Those unable to attend the reception will be able to see the exhibition from noon until 1700 hrs from June 3rd through June 15th and admission is free.
· Saturday, July 14th, will be the City of Water Day Festival sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance on Governors Island and Liberty State Park from 1000 to 1600 hrs. It is a day of entertainment, education and adventure celebrating the potential of our waterfront. Free ferries will transport visitors from Manhattan, Pier 6, next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal with passengers, bicycles and carriages but NO CARS. There will also be free ferry service between Governors Island and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The event will offer free boat tours of historic and educational vessels, as well arts and crafts, exhibits and special programs, free kayaking, rowing and fishing. The MWA, 241 Water Street New York City, may be reached at 212 935-9831 or LouisKleinman@waterfrontalliance.org or their web site http://waterfrontalliance.org or listing for their Water Wire calendar editor@waterfrontalliance.org
Respectfully submitted, Hope Wright, SO-PA