Occasionally we are asked by community members or friends,
“Just what is it that you do?” We most likely answer with a short explanation of what we do and how we go about it and maybe ask, “Would you care to join?”
Possibly a new approach needs to be taken.
As auxiliarists we need to remind ourselves who we really are and why we do what we do. What motivates us? Why would someone want to join? If we can sell the “why,” then the “what” will follow more easily. According to some researchers, people buy into or get involved with organizations when they understand why an organization does what it does. We have to understand our core values and how they affect what we do — patrols, training, public education classes, program visits, public affairs, vessel safety checks, etc.
We do what we do because we have core values. A belief system. Those core values are honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Within those core values we would find ideals such as: operational excellence, integrity, support, professionalism, communicating, training to proficiency, caring for members, commitment, and veritas — truth.
And we embody an uncommon sense of civic duty.
How do we show these values? In everything that we do.
We should remind ourselves and the communities in which we work, play and live of those core beliefs. We can show these values to community members and anyone that asks: What is it you do? Who are you?
We can demonstrate these values when we teach a class. We will teach every course to the best of our abilities, to everyone who walks into the class, no matter how experienced or inexperienced. We treat all students with respect and do our utmost to maximize their learning. Just ask the Homer flotilla how valuable those classes can be.
We can demonstrate our values by placing flyers, brochures and other information in local community businesses, information that could potentially keep them safe. We even go out of our way to do this — sometimes after having been at work for an extended time, stopping off on the hour’s long drive home to make those program visits. We are dedicated to what we do — ask Tim Winters how he feels about this.
We will demonstrate our concern for you on the water by examining your vessel as if it was our own and we were going out on it.
We do this because we are dedicated to safety. Ask any auxiliarist.
We offer our own vessels as operational facilities and operate SAFE boats for the Coast Guard. We train hard to reach a level of proficiency so that when we are called and arrive on scene you will know we are professionals because we perform at that level and we will do our utmost to keep you safe.
And we volunteer to do this. All you need to do is talk with boat crew members who have stood on the decks of those vessels or at the helm and find out what it feels like to tow someone in to a safe harbor or save a life. Chat with the Auxiliary station boat crews, or talk with boat crew members Joe and Carol Meador, and Debbie DeGrazio to get a real sense of what it is like.
When we personify those values then it becomes much easier to talk to our communities.
We can then recruit. When we recognize these values in ourselves, we can recognize them in others, and it becomes so much easier at that point to say to someone, you look just like someone we would want in this organization.
“I have an application here. Would you like to join us?”
CONTENTS
Commodore’s Message, Page 2
2012 Awards and Recognition, Pages 4-7
Message from DIRAUX, Page 8
National Safe