Mina A. Alber has been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since October 10, 1990, some 18 years.  Over the years she has held elected offices through Division vice Captain.  She has held many appointed positions at both the flotilla and division level.  When Mina joined the Auxiliary in 1990, she enthusiastically took on the task of learning as much as possible about all of our activities and training.

In January 1991 she edited her first issue of the newsletter the “Upstream”.  In a very short time Mina had made friends with a bird that talked only to her, but was everywhere, all the time.   Thus the beginning of the “Pelican Brief” with all the funny happenings on the river or at any Auxiliary activity.  It was not safe to go overboard to install the drain plug in the middle of the river, or get too close to a jetty unless you wanted the Pelican to tell the whole world.  Flotilla members could not wait to get the newsletter to see who had pulled the faux pas of the month. 

She became Flotilla Vice Commander for one year then moved on to Flotilla Commander.  In 2003 she once again served as Flotilla Vice Commander for one year and then FC the next year.

Mina has held flotilla offices in MR, PB, PS, PV, SR, VE, and Division staff Offices in CC, MV, SR, VE and is currently the SR for both Flotilla and Division 15 and also the Flotilla staff officer for PV.  

She became a VE in April 1992 and never fails to be at the VE booth on the ramps whenever they are scheduled.

She took the Administrative Procedures Course in May 1992, the RBS Visitor Qualification Course Jan 1999 and has been performing from 40 to 200 Mdv visits every year since.  Mina always organizes the Flotilla’s Boat Show Schedule and is always the main force in putting the booths together.  Mina BQed most of the new members in the Ft Smith detachment which became Lake Dardanelle Flotilla 6 at Russellville, Arkansas.

In addition to being a qualified Crew member, she became an Aid Verifier in June 2002, has gone on several ATON patrols and is always ready for a night cruise.

Although Mina is not an Instructor she has never missed a class either in Public Education or Member Training, always with her big bag of homemade cookies or brownies. 

Mina began work on her AUXOP in November of 1991 with the Weather Specialty Course and finished with Navigation Specialty in November 2006.

Mina was Vice Division Captain for one and a half years when she was diagnosed with cancer.  Fearing she would not be able to continue to Division Captain, she once again put the Auxiliary ahead of herself and stepped down so the Division could elect a new Division Vice Captain who would be able to move up to DCP. 

If you are at her flotilla, division, or district meetings, just look up and you will see Mina Alber there, encouraging everyone to do their best for the organization she loves, the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Langhorne M. Radeke has been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since April 5, 1972, some 36 years.  Over the years she has held many elected positions and appointed ones to include Division Captain, Flotilla Commander, District Staff Officer Member Training, and several Division/Flotilla Staff Officer positions.  She was one of the first women in Division 8 to earn her Coxswain, currently holds the Division Staff Officer of Member Training and is one of two AUXOPs in Division 8.

As indicated by the positions and certifications held by Mrs. Radeke currently and in the past, over her tenure with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, she has been entirely dedicated to the goals and objectives of the Auxiliary.  She gives freely of her time which is evidenced by receiving 9 Auxiliary Sustained Service Awards (not counting all hours in the 36 years) and 21 other Coast Guard awards which exemplifies her commitment to the Auxiliary.  Along with the Coast Guard awards, she has received numerous Division and District awards for personal and team achievements including Auxiliarist of the Year of Division 8 for the year 2005.

Mrs. Radeke has specialized in the fields of Member Training and Public Education.  She is a Master Instructor for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is highly regarded in her dedication to making the waterways of Illinois safer for the boating public. She freely shares her knowledge of the Auxiliary to help members and units better themselves and to train members wishing to qualify as coxswain and crew. Her performance is unwavering even if personal sacrifice is necessary to accomplish the job.  She is a mentor, friend and counselor to anyone seeking her out. 

Mrs. Radeke’s 36 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Auxiliary merits recognition by the award of the District’s Life Time Achievement Award.