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.