N-Train 2005 will mark the second year for the department where we spend more time listening than talking. What we will principally be listening to is feedback from our DSO’s to ascertain future directions. On Friday evening we will conduct a brainstorming session where we will learn from the DSO’s the plusses and deltas in public education. These will be identified by information being brought to N-Train by the DSO’s that they have “harvested” from their SO-PE and FSO-PE. Being far closer to the action than we at the national staff can be, we expect our DSO’s to be representative of their constituents…the Flotillas.

On Saturday we will conduct breakout sessions addressing four principal subjects:

▪ What is the future of CGAux public education? Where will be and what will it look like in 2-5 years? 10 years? Beyond the NASBLA-mandated material, what should we be focusing on?
▪ What future courses should we be considering? What have we missed? What does the public want?
▪ What can the Auxiliary E-Team be doing more of our better to provide boating safety education to more boaters?
What needs to be included in the 2006 Mandatory Instructor Workshop and PE update?

The information generated by the Friday night brainstorming and the break-out sessions will largely determine the course of the Education Department for 2005.

Saturday afternoon we will conduct a joint discussion with the RBSPV present at N-Train to encourage greater synergy in the RBS directorate.

Other topics being presented and discussed include the following:

▪ What is the role of the DSO-PE and how can it be performed more effectively?
▪ An introduction of the 2005 Mandatory Instructor Workshop
▪ A discussion of using Good Mate, Officer Snook and Sea Partners materials in the public education arena
▪ Whether or not we need to develop more online and self-study RBS education for the public
▪ Are there ways and means for us to improve communications within the department involving our DSO’s? Should we be utilizing NetMeeting, conference calls or other means? Should these communication sessions take place on a regularly scheduled basis or be ad hoc?
▪ Trying to determine how we can help Flotillas attract more individuals into their public education classes
▪ A look at course updates, new courses and courses being evaluated:

o Sailing Skills & Seamanship
o ABC update
o BS&S 2005 revision
o Weekend Navigator
o Radar for Mariners
o The revision/re-write of Boating Safely for the Caribbean

An explanation of our new learning partnership with McGraw-Hill/International Marine and what it will mean to the quality of our future public education products…and a preview of the “Boating Essentials Library”

So, the Education Department’s plate is truly overflowing at N-Train and we’re confident that everyone will leave St. Louis totally energized.