Participation in Association Meetings and Activities

COMDTINST 5760.13

consider an opinion and recommendation from their servicing Coast Guard legal office before

accepting the gift from the prohibited source.

7. PARTICIPATION IN ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES. Coast Guard

personnel participate in Association meetings and activities in either an official (Coast Guard) or personal

(private citizen) capacity.

Participation in an Official Capacity.

(1)

All flag officers and SES employees are hereby designated as official Coast Guard liaisons

to the Associations. No other Coast Guard personnel are designated as liaisons to the

Associations. The Vice-Commandant is the senior Association liaison and shall make or

approve policy regarding the Coast Guard's and the Academy's relations with the

Associations. As liaisons, when it is in the best interest of the Coast Guard, flag officers

and SES employees can, as described below, participate in Association meetings and

activities. Such participation is official, shall be in uniform and is at government expense.

Liaisons should contact their servicing legal office for ethics advice prior to participating

in any Association meeting or activity especially if the activity is an Association

fundraising event. Liaisons are permitted to use Coast Guard time, assets and funds to

prepare for or participate in the Association meetings and activities. The Association

liaisons represent only the Coast Guard's interests, never the Association's interests.

Liaisons are prohibited from participating in the management of the Associations, sitting

as an honorary or official Association board member, or exercising a vote during

Association meetings or activities. Liaisons are prohibited from soliciting gifts from the

Associations for the Coast Guard, Academy, or themselves. If the Association offers to

pay some or all of the expenses associated with a liaison participating in an Association

meeting or activity, or if the Association offers any gift to a liaison, the liaison shall

contact their servicing legal office for advice.

(2)

It may be in the Coast Guard's interest that other Coast Guard personnel attend

Association meetings and activities in an official capacity. Such personnel must first

contact their servicing legal office for guidance.

Participation in a Private Capacity. Within certain restrictions, Coast Guard personnel can

participate in Association meetings and activities in their private, personal capacities. In so doing,

they are acting as private citizens. They do not represent the Coast Guard and cannot wear the

uniform. Coast Guard time, assets, or funds cannot be used to prepare for or participate in an

Association meeting or activity in a private, personal capacity. Prior to participating in an

Association meeting or activity in a private, personal capacity, Coast Guard personnel should

contact their servicing legal office for ethics advice. Even when acting in a private, personal

capacity, Coast Guard personnel cannot solicit gifts from the Associations for the Coast Guard,

Academy, or themselves. If an Association offers to pay some or all of the expenses associated

with participating in an Association meeting or activity in a private, personal capacity, or offers

any gift, Coast Guard personnel must contact their servicing legal office for advice.

8. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.