Hi Lou,
As a member of the AUX, I don't have a problem with background checks.
My past is clean and my background pristine. I haven't even had a
traffic ticket in the last 10 years.

Your background is checked many times a year without you ever knowing
it. Police cars simply type in your tag number and your life's history
comes up. So does your bank, credit card companies, tax collector's
office, and in some cases, sales persons. Believe me, your "private"
stats" are not private at all. Go to the link below, and with little
input info, you can find out anything about anyone.

http://www.800ussearch.com/search/st...ID=1050017173&

As far as fingerprints, no problem! It would not be the first time, and
with bio-metrics coming into their own, likely won't be the last.

Capt. Frank
USCG AUX and damn proud of it.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Capt Lou wrote:

When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs, they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen volunteers?
What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough! I hear that 60% of the
auxiliarists in my division will not submit to the fingerprinting. That's a lot
of dues paying members dropping out!

"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou every
Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at
www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial to
95.9FM.