What is a well-rounded boater looking for - A little community service involving boating?  Training that could save your life? Camaraderie? Education in all things marine? Social events with other boaters? 

Then maybe the Coast Guard Auxiliary is just the group for you.

Yes, but I don’t own a boat.

Actually most of our members don’t. We welcome non-boat owners to round out our crews. It’s a great way for a non-boat owner to get out on the water with friends and do a little community service. We check to see that aids to navigation are on station and look to see what bridge lights are out. For big events like the Quonset Air Show or Swim the Bay, we provide a safety screen to keep spectators away from danger.

But I wouldn’t know what to do.

We know people come to us with all levels of boating skills. We don’t ask you to jump into a patrol until we have given you all the training you need. 

Can’t I do something other than boating?

Of course, we need people to teach a session in navigation or boat handling, weather, trailering, engines, etc. 

Yes, but I’m not a teacher.

Who better to teach engines than a mechanic? If you have years on the water, surely some of your experiences would be helpful to others. And if you want to get your feet wet slowly on the teaching front, start off as an assistant, helping students tie knots on a one-to one while the instructor is demonstrating. Again, we provide the training you need. Want to help with public education but not in the classroom? Take attendance, make coffee, correct homework. Are you a nurse or an EMT? Give a short talk on first aid for our members.

We need people to go down the docks and do examinations of the safety equipment on boats at marinas. Are their life preservers in good working order? Do they have all the safety equipment they need? We teach you all you need to know for this.

Do you shop, or like to eat out?

We have a program where you leave pamphlets about marine safety or on upcoming public education courses. Are you concerned about pollution of our bay? Our marine safety program is one where teams drive to various marinas to check for oil spills, etc. What else is there? We need people who can do finances, writing, passing out information at boat shows, communications, organization, or social events. Or just bring refreshments to a meeting.

What kind of people are in the CG Aux?

Plumbers, nurses, doctors, radio hams, captains, teachers, CPA’s, lawyers, mechanics, waiters, electricians. We need everyone. What do you get out of it? We have courses for our members on a wide variety of topics from navigation to marlinspike. We also have training at our monthly meetings. Informal training happens all the time with members helping other members master boat handling, etc. giving tips and hands on training.

It sounds like an overwhelming time commitment.

Not at all. You choose how much time you want to put in. If you do only one thing a year it helps. 

What else do you do? 

Well, we have events just for fun too. Rendezvous in Potter Cove, where we ferry out non-boat owners to join in the fun. A flotilla cruise to Mystic Seaport or Block Island. Steak fries, hayrides, dinner theater nights, bowling, parties, pot luck suppers, movie nights and anything people come up with. Want to think about joining? Go to www.northstarflotilla.com and read more about it. Send an email to any of the folks listed there and they will get back to you. Above all, remember to take one of the Safe Boating Courses they offer starting March 14. Boating Safety and Seamanship which gets you your RI State Boating Card, Sailing, or Advanced Coastal Navigation are all listed on the same website. Winter is the time to do it and you’ll be ready for a safe boating season.