A letter from
DCP at Change of Watch
 the Captain

January,  2001

As I begin my tenure as Division Captain, I have a vision for the future that consists of the following objectives:

    1) To continue facilitating the smooth operation of Division 8 through the collaborative efforts of the six independent flotillas.  I plan to achieve this goal by supporting all local initiatives and coordinating the material and human resources to ensure the success of all programs.  My hope is that all flotillas will be informed of the achievements and shortcomings of other units, so that we can emulate successful enterprises and avoid failure.
    2) To encourage membership growth in terms of numbers and development, aware of the fact that member satisfaction and recruitment are directly related to the prospect of training.  Traditionally, many Auxiliarists have joined our ranks to increase their own knowledge base and to qualify for a wide array of courses that are free to members.  On the other hand, many of our members have regrettably disenrolled because of the fact that training was neither available nor relevant.
    3) To contribute to the Team Coast Guard notion by encouraging and arranging opportunities for active or standby duty in some of the Coast Guard educational or emergency relief programs.
    4) To enfranchise the membership into all divisional aspects by keeping every flotilla commander abreast of the latest changes and opportunities for eventual distribution to every member in the division.  A similar open line of communication will be maintained with our divisional chief of staff—the VCP—so that he, in turn, can keep the staff apprised of these.
    5) To be open and available to the membership so that everyone can feel like they are an indispensable part of the division, that their opinion counts, and that their efforts are appreciated.

I trust that I can continue to count on everyone for their support as we all strive to make Division 8 an even better and more functional division, and one that reflects the many talents, dedication and generosity of our membership.

Sincerely,


Luis Felipe Clay Méndez, Ph.D.
Captain, Division 8, 8WR