From the Bridge...

• Good morning all. Yesterday was a great day in Boston for the District Search and Rescue Competition. Thank you to Sector Boston for allowing
  the event to take place in this venue. We had 2 teams participating: Divisions 3 and 5. 30+ Auxiliarists and over a dozen active duty personnel
  were in attendance. Admiral Gabel attended and had lunch with both teams. Commander Nourse and Captain Kulisch (Sector Commander and
  also an Auxiliarist) observed the events and cheered on the teams for most of the day. 
  
  A special THANK YOU to the Coordinator of this year's event Joe Antanavich. A lot of work goes into the planning of the events and securing
  a location, judges and OPFACs, support personnel, and encouraging participation of teams and for all of that we thank you, Joe. Thank you 
  also to Ron Booth (District Captain), Jim Healy (Division Commander 5), Jane Eastman, Colleen Kloster, and members of DIVISION 5 for their
  participation as support personnel (working out logistics and providing a terrific lunch to the teams, judges, spectators, active duty, and crew
  of the target boat). Thank you to the following judges who created scenarios and materials for their events: Keith Weston, Paul McShane, Joe
  Encalada, COMO Gene Bernstein, and COMO Bob Johnson. 
  
  Both teams are to be congratulated for outstanding performance in all 5 events. Both teams worked closely together as a team. At the conclusion
  of the day's events, a debriefing was conducted and the winning team announced. Division 3 will be continuing on to the National Contest in Cape
  May, New Jersey on Oct 2-5. We will all be watching that event very closely for status reports as the contests take place. We wish the team well
  and will be cheering for them (either in person) or by e-mail. I would encourage those of you who would like to visit Cape May to plan on attending.
  
  Congratulations to members of the Division 3 team: John Merrill, Alan Gould, and Rex Kelly. See you in Cape May.
  
  COMO LeBlanc 
  

• Guidance for SECCEN Applications has been updated (23 Jul 08)

• As announced at the May meeting, elections will be held on Sept 19 for each of the 3 District Captain positions.
  
  Intent to run (signed by 3 voting members of the Board) needs to be sent, return receipt requested, postmarked
  no later that August 1, 2008 to COMO Bernstein, COMO Belmore, and COMO Gordon.  Eligibility will be checked
  prior to the release of the names by August 15. 
  
  Please disseminate so that all interested in running have the opportunity.
  
  COMO LeBlanc