On a cold January afternoon in St . Louis , Missouri , National Commodore Rick Washburn approached the lectern at N-Train 2017 and called the national board meeting to order . In a brief opening statement Commodore Washburn quickly warmed the room by challenging all Auxiliary members to reflect on the watchwords : Mission , Leadership and Excellence . These words along with the philosophy of servant leadership personified the words echoed by the speakers that followed .

Captain Martin L . Malloy , commander , Sector Upper Mississippi River , USCG , spoke on behalf of Rear Admiral David R , Callahan - commander , Eighth Coast Guard District , USCG , who was unable to attend the meeting . Captain Malloy expressed his amazement on “ the quality of leadership that is evident at every level of the organization to include , flotillas , divisions , and national levels .” In support of this statement , he highlighted the 2016 calendar year contributions of the estimated 3600 Auxiliary members that make up the Eighth Coast Guard District as follows :

STATISTICS FOR EIGHTH DISTRICT

Captain Malloy concluded by stating , “ You all have mastered the illusive skill of leading volunteers , your efforts are greatly appreciated – Semper Paratus .”

Mel Borofsky , USCG Aux

The morning ’ s next speaker was Rear Admiral David G . Throop , commander , Force Readiness Command , USCG . Ms . Terry Barth , executive assistant to the National Commodore , approached the microphone and began to read Admiral Throop ’ s biography but was promptly interrupted in midsentence by Admiral Throop himself when he stated , “ I appreciate the grace and thanks for the introduction but I would much rather hear from you than you hear about me , because that is looking into the wake and what is really exciting is to look towards the horizon and everything that is going on for our Auxiliary .” After a brief moment of silence , the room filled with laughter and applause .

Admiral Throop voiced how much the Auxiliary is valued and appreciated by the Coast Guard active duty . He further stated that Auxiliarists are - “ patriotic Americans who volunteer and provide more value to the public than most people know .” He echoed the watchwords of Commodore Washburn – mission , leadership , and excellence , and said they will take us to a new place in the Coast Guard Auxiliary .

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