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Thursday meeting participants |
Charlotte, August 25. The Auxiliary's annual National Conference (NACON) affords an opportunity for each of the organization's three geographical and structural Areas to meet, the Pacific and Atlantic East and West. These meetings are called National Area Planning Meetings (NAPM) and they are held twice a year in their respective areas and twice a year at a joint conclave, NTRAIN in January and NACON in August.
The meetings are chaired by the Deputy National Commodore (DNACO) and the participants are Auxiliarists and Coastguardsman. The Auxiliary participants are the Area's District Commodores (DCO) and their Chiefs of Staff (DCOS). The Coast Guard is represented by the Area's Directors of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) and the Operational Training Officers (OTO).
The meetings allow the DNACO to brief the participants about changes and items of importance. Often there are motions and votes taken on issues to be brought before Saturday's General Assembly.
Local problems and other issues are discussed at the round table; solutions and ideas from fellow attendees are of great value.
Throughout the course of these meetings, senior officers, including the National Commodore (NACO) visit to offer addition items of interest and importance. The visit also affords a question and answer session, also a valuable purpose of the meeting.
Some of the Auxiliary departments hold separate meetings for their group. Each of these meetings are limited to their fields of interest and expertise. Department plans for the coming year are often initiated at these meetings.
~CC 08-25-11