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Volume 115, Issue 1
Page 8
Marine Safety
Conducting a Marine Safety Outreach Public Event
Introduction.
Conducting outreach at public events is a very important aspect of the work of the
MS officer. You will be acting also as a de facto Public Affairs Officer as it has
been my experience that often, questions asked by the public are about the
Auxiliary and Coast Guard in general rather than being limited to just Marine
Safety. You, as a representative of the Gold Side and the Auxiliary, are most likely,
the only contact many people will have with the Coast Guard and its Auxiliary. In
point-of-fact, It has been my experience at public events, that many people
seemingly don’t see the many visible references to “Auxiliary” and think that you
are the Coast Guard. Presenting the best possible image and message is therefore
even more vital to your mission.
Gregg Bollinger
ADSO-W
Marine Safety
Getting Started.
Be on the lookout for opportunities around you. Scan the news media as well
as listening to other Auxiliarists for opportunities. Your shipmates often belong to other organizations that
hold public events or could arrange for you to be a guest speaker at one of their meetings. Sometimes,
Auxiliarists in other offices will not be able to attend a public event where they would represent their
department opening the door to you as a Marine Safety officer, to present the Marine Safety/Environmental
Protection/America’s Waterway Watch message. The very first public event I conducted came about this way
when our flotilla’s PA off