Post on 11-Feb-2017
Coast Guard Auxiliary 2016 National Convention
NACON 2016 PA REPORT: Roger Bazeley FVC, FSO-PA F17 D11N, August 24-28
NACON 2016 in Phoenix -- This year’s convention was held at the beautiful Arizona Grand Resort and
Spa, and had a lot going on – from informative workshops to some great networking opportunities,
along with a chance to get a behind-the-scenes view of the Auxiliary National organization at work.
Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix Exterior View toward Scottsdale, Interior Lobby Grill Phoenix Mural
Activities beyond classes and leadership meetings included networking with International CG Auxiliaries
from Australia, Dominican Republic and the Philippines as well as National Auxiliary leadership working
in the areas of International Affairs outreach and interpreters corps. There was an impressive collective
of active Coast Guard Admirals from USCG Commandant Admiral Zukunft and his dedicated incredible
staff of Aides and support staff including our own dedicated national leadership from Public Affairs to
Operations/RBS. The opportunity to witness the election and appointments of the new 2016-2018
“National Bridge” (Auxiliary National Leadership) at the Opening Day Ceremony was impressive, to all.
NACON Opening Presentation of Colors, Lou DiLeo-Auxiliary Musician, N.Y. Band Singing Nat. Anthem
Remembrance Bell Ringing for Auxiliary Leadership, NACON Leadership – Pledge of Allegiance
There were other opportunities of meeting and mixing with Auxiliary Leadership at the International
Luncheon, the Friday night buffet Connor Stone dinner with a “Patriotic Theme”, and Saturday night’s
Commodores Banquet. Our District Eleven North was well represented by many of our top Auxiliary
leadership including Pacific Area Deputy National Commodore Rod Collins, Pacific Area National
Commodore Rich Thomas, Deputy Chief of Staff Wally Smith D11N, Capt. Mary Kirkwood D11N, and
many others including active Pacific Command, District Coast Guard, and DIRAUX.
COMO Al Verdi BC-ACM, Aux. Janszen, COMO Blanchette - Hickey, Rich Mihalcik , COMO Dale Fajardo
The NACON events included Auxiliary Musician Qualification Auditions and playing 3rd Trumpet with the
impressive USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band which performed over 20 pieces at Friday night’s Fellowship
Dinner. The 20 plus Arizona Band Auxiliary Musicians included several other professional music
educators and musicians from the New York Auxiliary Band, which also performs as a USCGAUX
Marching Band in parades and at various civic/USCG events. During the Fellowship Dinner program the
USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band Played two sets and between the sets a smaller Jazz Ensemble Group
played a set of Jazz and Swing music. The AUX-MU1 QE auditions resulted in adjudicating four Arizona
and one D11NR musicians to AUX-MU ratings including Auxiliarist Jennifer Goode who was adjudicated
to MU1 and QE to support PAC Area for further adjudications to expand the Auxiliary Musician Program.
The USCG Auxiliary 11SR-10-03 Arizona Band is the second of three Auxiliary Band Flotillas to be formed
with New York being the first and a new Los Angeles Band Flotilla 114-12-76 from Marina Del Rey being
the third. The USCGAUX Arizona Band started in January 2015 and operates year around rehearsing
weekly on Tuesday evenings at The American Legion Post 2 at 2125 South Industrial Park Ave., Tempe
Arizona. The musicians in the Auxiliary Bands come from many different professions and careers and
enjoy performing music for their communities as well as serving their country by supporting USCG and
USCG Auxiliary. All of the Bands primary function is to support the U.S. Coast Guard and the Auxiliary as
required and needed. The USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band performs for local and National Parades, Marine
Festivals, Dedications, and ceremonial Events for both Coast Guard and Auxiliary functions. They have
played concerts for Veterans at the VA Hospital and Nursing Home Residents in Phoenix.
USCG Auxiliary Arizona Band at NACON-Patriotic Program, Brass Ensemble at Banquet Reception
Recently, the Arizona Band had the honor of performing at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on
Memorial Day 2016, as well as for NACON 2016, the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Association
Convention. The Arizona Band’s leadership consists of Flotilla Commander Leon Artac, Vice Flotilla
Commander Ben Palmer, Director/Conductor Ben Palmer, and FSO Publications Pam Wolfe.
Other flotilla staff officers besides Auxiliary Qualified Musicians are needed for performing other public
affairs, finance, operations/scheduling, education, Web/IT and HR functions that are necessary to
operate these incredible Auxiliary Band Flotillas as they develop, and for new possible future emerging
local area Auxiliary Band Flotillas and AUX-MU qualified musicians and small developing ensembles.
The Program Manager of the Auxiliary Musician Program (AUX-MU) is Commodore Al Verdi who holds
the national staff position of BC-ACM (Branch Chief Auxiliary Musician Program) has also formed the
Auxiliary Los Angeles Band Flotilla 114-12-76 for D11SR. COMO Verdi BC-ACM introduced me to the
emerging Auxiliary Musician and Band program to further the development of an AUX-MU program for
D11N. Lou DiLeo an AUX-MU1 and QE sang with his impressive voice at the Fellowship Dinner and the
Opening Day Ceremony. Lou DiLeo is not only a professional trumpet player and educator, but a
qualified Aux Music Examiner, along with Lee Dash an AUX-MU1 QE, and Keith Schmidt an AUX-MU1
and QE from the New York Auxiliary Band. Lou DiLeo and a small select group performed additionally as
a Brass Ensemble of five for the reception before the formal National Commodore’s Banquet.
Benediction Opening Ceremony – [Photos Roger Bazeley PA] - National Commodore Rod Collins
The experience of attending NACON and having the privilege and honor to sit in with the fantastic USCG
Auxiliary Arizona Band, music auditions, and take a one hour work shop from the incredibly experienced
2015-2016 Public Affairs National Commodore Harold Jacobs on the NEW PA program going forward, as
well as, meeting the International and National Auxiliary Leadership was very meaningful in deciding on
my own future’s strategic volunteer goals and leadership path as a USCG Auxiliary Member.
Additional NACON Photos: Roger Bazeley FSO- PA D11N
At NACON it was easy to be overwhelmed by the quality of leadership and dedication from both the
USCG Command leadership and the Auxiliary National Commodores leadership and an honor to
participate and continue to develop and learn in every interaction, support function that supports the
United States Coast Guard and all those that serve our missions as a part of “Team Coast Guard”. Joining
with the USCG Arizona Band in the patriotic Medley of music in playing the “Service Sets” and coming to
Semper Paratus which was played with such enthusiastic vigor that all attendees were moved with a
tearful pride of respect to participate and serve as “Team Coast Guard”. Bravo Zulu! Semper Pratus!
Respectfully Submitted,
Roger Bazeley, FSO-PA, FVC F17 D11N