The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Coast guard seeking members
LORAIN — The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is seeking members. For those interested in assisting the U.S. Coast Guard at its Lorain Coast Guard Station, 110 Alabama Ave., and in helping the boating community remain safe, the Lorain Flotilla 6-4 will have two introductory meetings this month.
The meetings are intended for prospective members to the auxiliary, said Russ Cromwell, flotilla commander for the past six years. The auxiliary has about 37 members.
The meetings will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lorain Coast Guard Station.
Registration deadline is today for the Saturday meeting. Deadline is Sunday for the Sept. 26 meeting.
Those who are planning to attend the meeting are asked to contact Cromwell at 288-9932 or by email at auxruss@centurytel.net.
“I will discuss what to expect as a member of the auxiliary and what is expected by the Coast Guard of the volunteer,” Cromwell said.
Each meeting should last about an hour, he said.
Cromwell said attending this meeting is not an obligation to join.
“It is an opportunity to discover more about the organization and to ask questions.”
Membership is open to men and women of any age.
“They can participate in safe boating vessel exams for safety classes for safe boat- ing. They can take a class in navigation and docking. They can also support a Coast Guard watch. The auxiliary can stand watch on the radio in the station,” Crom- well said.
“There’s a lot of study and training and tests you have to do. There’s a lot of responsibility. It is not a boat club,” Cromwell said.