Our members come from the Baltimore metropolitan area with a single goal: to support the US Coast Guard's mission to protect US waters and make recreational boating safer.

Since its founding in 1939, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary has fostered a proud tradition of helping others: Qualified Auxiliarists teach boating safety and seamanship to the public. We conduct on-the-water boater-assistance patrols. We help keep our navigational aids (buoys and day beacons) in working order. And we help ensure safety for on-the-water events such as the July 4th harbor fireworks, tall ships visits, and the Bay Bridge swim. We conduct free vessel safety checks to ensure that boaters have the required safety equipment aboard. And we spread the word about boating safety at dozens of boating shows and events in our maritime communities.

We additionally help the Coast Guard by standing radio communications watches at Coast Guard stations in Baltimore and Maxwell Point. Properly qualified Auxiliarsits also assist in a variety of duties aboard Coast Guard vessels, both on the Chesapeake Bay and out at sea.

As Coast Guard volunteers, Auxiliarists may take many of the same courses and training open to active-duty and reserve Coast Guardsmen and women - with no charge for tuition or books. All you need is the interest, dedication, and willingness to give some of your time.

Finally, we enjoy fellowship and fun - at picnics, dinner meetings, and a variety of shore-side activities. There's something for everyone. The minimum joining age is 17.

Interested in finding out more about us? Come to one of our meetings. Flotilla 22-2 meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Baltimore County Fire Station in Pikesville, just northwest of Baltimore.

Please call me for details. I hope to see you there.

John Galleazzi