March BAMSAR MINUTES

Minutes of the March, 2006, BAMSAR meeting, held at Patchogue. Thanks to Scott Parris and Carter Biggs for their hospitality.

Present: Bayport, Patchogue, Hagerman, Bellport, Brookhaven, Center Moriches.

Excused: Mastic.

Old Business:

Dive Rescue 1 course in May. Dates are 19, 20, 21, but, we are going to try and see if we can get the course adjusted to Thursday and Friday nights, then all day Saturday/Sunday. We need 15 people, as a minimum. So far, we have 13 (Brookhaven- 5; Patchogue- 3; Mastic and East Hampton PD- 2 each; Center Moriches-1). Cost is approximately $250/man. We are in need of a pool, as the YMCA is closed, and the Lab isn’t available, during weeknights, to outside agencies. Hagerman will try to see if we can get St. Joe’s. Brookhaven will check to see if they can host. Vouchers must be in to Dive Rescue International, by no later than 28 April.  They may be faxed directly to DRI at phone number 1 (970) 482-0893.

Secretary has only received equipment updates/lists from Hagerman and Center Moriches. These need to be in as soon as possible, so we can get the matrix updated and passed along to the Coast Guard, before they move their command to Connecticut.

Surf entry class at Mastic Beach; No report.

John went to talk with the Coast Guard, about the up-coming move of the Command Staff to Connecticut. Responses will not change; Emergency phone numbers that were used by Group/Sector Field Office Moriches, will not change. An emergency number,  (800) 697-8724,  has been set up, and will take effect sometime in April, or May, for water rescue incidents in Sector Long Island Sound. CG will notify FRES, as has been done in the past, of any water rescue incidents (this will also include the north shore areas). Ltjg Kris Tsairis will be our point man on the other side. He’ll be working directly for the SAR Boss, a gent by the name of Cmdr. Bob McKenna. Capt. Peter Boynton and his XO, Cmdr. J.J. Plunkett, will be the persons in charge of the Long Island/Connecticut Sector. LCdr. Tamez, XO of SFO Moriches, will be staying at Moriches, as an administrator for the south shore, but will not be in the SAR chain of command. A radio “listening watch” will be instituted on, or about, 01 April, and on, or about 15 April, all calls to the Coast Guard will be handled by Sector Long Island Sound, in New Haven. Command Staff will be shifted in May, and Commander Healey will be relieved in early June. He will then become the XO of Sector Southeast New England, based in Woods Hole, Mass.

New Business:

Bayport will be hosting a Rapid Deployment/Public Safety Diver/Dry Suit and AGA Mask certification class, from lifeguard Systems, in September. Date is to be announced later.

Bayport has also been in contact with Station Fire Island, regarding a boat search pattern class. Barry was asked if the guys from Fire Island might be agreeable to doing the same for all of BAMSAR, as had Station Moriches, in years  past.

LCdr. Tamez is looking into getting permission to host the September meeting at Station Moriches. If, in the event that she can’t get permission, Hagerman has said that they would host it, pending Chief’s approval.

Craig Diaz (Mastic) is looking into scheduling the Lab pool, for a practice dive. Details to follow.

Scott and Carter showed off Patchogue’s new fire/dive/rescue boat, at it’s berth on the Patchogue River. She’s a very impressive vessel. Best of luck with her!

Remaining meetings for 2006 are as follows:

April                13        Center Moriches

May                11        Hampton Dive Center

June                08        Bellport

July                             No Meeting

August            10        Brookhaven

September      14        Open (See Above)

October           12        Bayport

November       09        Mastic

December                   No Meeting

Dive Rescue 1 is 19, 20 & 21 May.

If any agency is not able to host their assigned meeting, please contact the Secretary.

Training:

Dive Rescue 1 will be held 19, 20 & 21 May, 2006.

If anyone has, or knows of, any training going on that may be of interest to the membership, please feel free to send notice of the training to either the BAMSAR webmaster@bamsar.org, or to the Secretary, at  o_foghladha@yahoo.com .

Next meeting: Thursday, 13 April, 2006, at 1930, at Center Moriches.  

Any corrections, additions, or questions; please contact the Secretary.

Respectfully,

John Foley