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Volume 115, Issue 1
Page 13
Division 15
2017 was a very productive year for Division 15. We elected new leadership: DCDR- James Sheridan and VCDR
– Diego Herrera and saw our immediate past Division Commander Robert G. Vanderhook fleet up to DCAPT-
W.
Division 15 has 122 members and continues to increase its membership with several new and active members in
each of our Flotillas. We continue to engage new members with Division training events and challenging existing
members in mentoring positions and through the development of additional Division sponsored events.
Division 15 has five active Flotillas; 15-09 Towanda in Bradford County to the West, 15-10 Lake Hopatcong, New
Jersey to the East, and 15-11 Easton, PA to our South with 15-03 Wilkes-Barre and 15-02 Stroudsburg in the
middle.
June 24, a Division “VE Day” was held at Harvey’s Lake Boat Launch. Simultaneously two facilities were on
patrol. One facility conducted crew training for three new members with a night patrol to assist in completion of
crew training for two veteran members. On August 19, a second Division Day was held in response to the PA
Fish and Boat Commission requesting patrol assistance on Beltzville Lake. Auxiliary patrols will continue on this
lake. On 8/19 two facilities were on the water for 8 hours conducting safe boating patrols together with crew
training for members from several Flotillas. 15-09 Ed Hilscher coxswained one Facility and 15-02’s David
Edinger coxswained the second. VE’s were conducted the entire day with mentoring and qualifying of Ivan
Meixell, 15-11’s FC as a VE. DCDR Sheridan met with two of the local DCNR Officers who welcomed our
activities at the lake. A significant percentage of out of state boaters use the lake. We provided educational
material on PA. Boating Laws, and distributed CGAUX Marine Safety coloring books to the children.
The Division formed a Color Guard with 8 committed volunteers who underwent detailed preparatory training.
We added SO-IS Diego Herrera to the staff after he completed C-School and all of the requirements for his “IS”
certification.
Flotilla 15-02 assisted the PA Fish and Boat Commission on July 4 at Lake Wallenpaupak’s firework display as well
as several other patrols on both Wallenpaupak and Beltzville Lakes. They also conducted an ABS class in June.
15-03 John Cummings, PA Fish and Boat Supervisor and one of his officers were asked to instruct the Law
Enforcement Section at one of the Flotilla’s ABS classes which assisted the PA Fish and Boat Commission
personnel in meeting their mandatory instructor hours. SO-MS Kim Weber lead a highly successful Marine Safety
Clean-Up event at Francis Slocum Park in May.
15-10 Lake Hopatcong owns a facility, yet had only two qualified crew. Due to transfers 15-10 did not have a
qualified coxswain for the boating season. To assist 15-10 and get patrols on Lake Hopatcong, David Edinger, FC
15-02 (Cox) and Bob Vanderhook, D. Captain W. (QE), went to Lake Hopatcong several weekends getting patrols
on the lake, resulting in retention currency of 15-10’s crew certifications and trainees certified.
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