Division 2 What's New!

‘Change of Watch’ Event Reflected ‘Team Coast Guard’
And Featured Awards for 5 Central New York Flotillas

 
The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Division 2 Change of Watch was a family affair – the Team Coast Guard family – with active-duty personnel joining Auxiliary members for the Jan. 27th event held at GS Steamers restaurant in Oswego.

“It’s payday for Auxiliarists,” proclaimed Division Commander Peter Wiles, who oversees five central New York flotillas from Oswego to Ithaca. “And the pay is in the form of awards.”

But before the dispensing of awards, Wiles and Immediate Past Division Commander Rick Kunz welcomed the crew from Coast Guard Station Oswego (led by Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Davis III, representing the station officer-in-charge, Senior Chief Petty Officer Bradley Wilcox), the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Thousand Islands (with Chief Petty Officer Thomas Link), and the chief of prevention from Sector Eastern Great Lakes in Buffalo (Cmdr. Jeff Bybee, representing Capt. Mark Kuperman, sector commander).

Commander Bybee thanked members of the Auxiliary for all they do, especially with the Coast Guard experiencing a shortage of personnel, and noted the need to extend the “Safe Boating Week” message beyond May.

The commander also had the honor of swearing in the 2024 division staff and flotilla commanders.

Other special guests included the Ninth District Eastern Region’s chief of staff, Steven Botsford, and the executive director of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, Mercedes Neiss. The latter gave a presentation on the history of the Oswego museum and expressed her gratitude for the longstanding relationship with both the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Coast Guard.

Wiles, Kunz and Robert Shanahan, immediate past division vice commander, presented a series of awards and recognition for 2023 activities.

Sylvan Beach Flotilla 26 walked away with a number of them:

-- Flotilla of the Year for recruitment and member training accomplishments.

-- Public Relations Activity Award, with 198 hours of promoting the Auxiliary to the public and collaborating with other entities of the Auxiliary.

-- Auxiliarist of the Year honors shared by Holly Dillard and Michelle Stoddard, new members who stepped up their training to become qualified in Auxiliary paddle-craft operations (AUXPAD) as well as paddle-craft instructors.

-- Recruitment Award to John Conroy, immediate past flotilla commander.

Kunz presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Shanahan, citing 15 years of dedicated service to the Auxiliary. A member of Syracuse Flotilla 21, Shanahan has served in a number of key roles, including flotilla commander and division commander.

Two flotillas were each honored with dual awards:

-- Syracuse Flotilla 21 received the Program Visitations Award, recognizing 45 visits, and the Public Education Award for training 277 students.

-- Brewerton Flotilla 2-14 received the Operations Award for completing 180 under way hours, and the Vessel Examination Award for completing 40 exams.

In addition:

-- Oswego Flotilla 24 received the Culinary Assistance Award for providing 30 hours of food service to the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary.

-- Ithaca Flotilla 22 received the Member Training Award for completing 45 hours of training.