R 221935Z JUL 09 ALCOAST 423/09 COMDTNOTE 5350 SUBJ: COAST GUARD CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM REALIGNMENT A. CIVIL RIGHTS CHECKLIST, COMDTINST 5350.8 (SERIES) 1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COMDT HAS APPROVED THE REORGANIZATION OF THE CG CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM IN EFFORT TO BRING INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. 2. ON JULY 19, 2009, THREE INDEPENDENT CIVIL RIGHTS DETACHMENTS WERE ESTABLISHED REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS. UNDER THE NEW STRUCTURE, ALL CG CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UNDER A SINGLE CHAIN OF COMMAND IN ORDER TO ENSURE EVERY MEMBER, EMPLOYEE OR COMPLAINANT HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO A FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER. 3. MILITARY MEMBERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WILL BE ABLE TO CONTACT ANY FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER DIRECTLY AT THE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW, THEIR CO, XO OR COMMAND CHIEF TO GAIN IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO A PROVIDER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. 4. EACH COMMAND WILL ALSO BE ASSIGNED TO A FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND PROACTIVELY ASSISTING UNITS IN COMPLYING WITH EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY LAWS AND COAST GUARD CIVIL RIGHTS POLICIES. 5. THESE CHANGES WILL NOT TAKE PLACE OVERNIGHT. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS SUMMER, WE WILL RELY ON THE SUPPORT OF COLLATERAL DUTY CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICERS TO WORK WITH THEIR FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE ACTIVE CASES, CASE FILES AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS INFORMATION IS HANDED OFF IN AN ORDERLY MANNER. 6. COLLATERAL DUTY CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICERS AND COUNSELORS ARE DIRECTED TO CONTACT THEIR FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER NO LATER THAN 1 AUGUST 2009 WITH A LIST OF ACTIVE CASES, CASE FILES, AND CONTACT SHEETS HOUSED AT THEIR UNIT. FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE TRANSFER OF THESE CASES AND MATERIALS BY 30 SEPT 2009. FOLLOWING THE TRANSFER OF THESE MATERIALS, COLLATERAL DUTY CIVIL RIGHTS PROVIDERS WILL BE STOOD DOWN, BUT ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN CIVIL RIGHTS BY PARTICIPATING IN PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE), FEDERALLY EMPLOYED WOMENS (FEW) PROGRAM, AND OTHER SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAMS. 7. COLLATERAL DUTY SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM MANAGERS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS REALIGNMENT. 8. EVERY MEMBER AND EMPLOYEE OF THE COAST GUARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UPHOLDING OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THOSE CORE VALUES IS OUR SERVICE WIDE COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AT EVERY LEVEL. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS VITAL OBJECTIVE. 9. COMMANDS ARE REMINDED THAT PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS IS AN ONGOING LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL COAST GUARD UNITS. IN ORDER TO ASSIST UNIT COMMANDERS IN MEETING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, WE HAVE PUBLISHED A CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM CHECKLIST IN REF A, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/DIRECTIVES/CI/5000-5999/CI(UNDERSCORE)5350(UNDE RSCORE)8.PDF. NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 31, EACH UNIT COMMANDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE CIVIL RIGHTS CHECKLIST AND RETURNING IT TO THEIR FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER. ALL COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENGAGE IN AN ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH THEIR FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER IN MEETING THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLETING THE ANNUAL CHECKLIST. SHOULD ISSUES OF NON-COMPLIANCE ARISE, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM WILL CONTACT THE COMMAND TO OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. 10. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES PLEASE VISIT THE NEWLY UPDATED CIVIL RIGHTS WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG00/CG00H/. 11. THE FOLLOWING CIVIL RIGHTS PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THESE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS: A. MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT (ZONE 1): MS. JOYCE PERRY JOYCE.M.PERRY(AT)USCG.MIL (202) 372-4264 B. CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK (ZONE 2): MR. KENNETH HUNTER KENNETH.B.HUNTER(AT)USCGA.EDU (860) 444-8269 C. DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA (ZONE 3): MS. GLORIA TOWNES GLORIA.M.TOWNES(AT)USCG.MIL D. D.C., NORTHERN VIRGINIA (ZONE 4): MS. LINDA SYNOWCZYNSKI LINDA.SYNOWCZYNSKI(AT)USCG.MIL (202) 372-4259 E. VIRGINIA (ZONE 5): MS. PATRICIA HILL PATRICIA.C.HILL(AT)USCG.MIL (757) 628-4286 F. GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE (ZONE 6): MR. REGINALD DIGGINS REGINALD.C.DIGGINS(AT)USCG.MIL (757) 628-4003 G. FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO, EUROPE, BAHRAIN (ZONE 7): MR. PETER FLANAGAN PETER.J.FLANAGAN(AT)USCG.MIL 305-953-4656 H. ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI (ZONE 8): MR. VESONE DEAN VESONE.X.DEAN(AT)USCG.MIL 504-671-2043 I. TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WYOMING, NEBRASKA, COLORADO, KANSAS, NEW MEXICO (ZONE 9): MR. VESONE DEAN VESONE.X.DEAN(AT)USCG.MIL 504-671-2043 J. ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN (ZONE 10): RODNEY.O.BROWN(AT)USCG.MIL (216) 902-6456 K. ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, UTAH (ZONE 11): MS. BERLINDA PHILLIPS BERLINDA.A.PHILLIPS(AT)USCG.MIL 510-437-1250 L. ALASKA (ZONE 12): MR. JOEL CASTO JOEL.M.CASTO(AT)USCG.MIL 907-463-2034 M. IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, WASHINGTON (ZONE 13): MS.TRINA ANDERSON TRINA.ANDERSON(AT)USCG.MIL 510-437-3859 N. HAWAII, GUAM, SAIPAN, JAPAN (ZONE 14): MS.TRINA ANDERSON TRINA.ANDERSON(AT)USCG.MIL 510-437-3859 12. CUTTERS UNDERWAY AND DEPLOYED UNITS SHOULD CONTACT THE FULL TIME CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE PROVIDER RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR HOMEPORT. 13. COMDT (CG-00H) POC: CDR P. KOFI ABOAGYE, (202) 372-4502. 14. T. A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS. 15. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.