[SaraHap] SARA Happenings January 2007

Mon Jan 15 20:48:54 MST 2007

Hi All: 

This is our regular mailing intended to improve communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e_mail addresses that are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were requested to be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the newsletter. 

PARKLAND SAR ACQUIRES FORMER STONY PLAIN FIRE HALL 

Parkland SAR is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of the former Stony Plain Fire Hall. With the opening of a new Fire Hall the previous facility was highly sought after by a number of community groups in the region. Stony Plain town council approved PSAR's proposal for use and we took possession on December 1, 2006. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for PSAR to develop and most importantly a chance for the members to clear out their basements, garages, and driveways of stuff belonging to PSAR.

In celebration of our new home, the PSAR Hall, we invite everyone to the following event: 

PSAR Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

Saturday, January 27, 2007 

4908-51 Avenue (across from Town Hall) 

Stony Plain, Alberta 

Ribbon Cutting & Open House at 1430h 

Please RSVP before January 24th to Ian MacVittie, PSAR President at 780-960-3683 or ianroy67 at hotmail.com 

Happy New Year! 

Blaine Barody 

Regional Representative www.parklandsar.org

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TRAIN THE TRAINER

I see that the SAR website says there are still spaces available for this course. Check with Shannon Krzywicki at sarbasicsinstructor at calsara.com 

SAR BASICS "TRAIN THE TRAINER" COURSE, CALGARY, JANUARY 26_28, 2007

Become a SAR Basics Instructor. Hosted by CALSARA, and taught by ERI's Daryl Black, this course will feature the latest version of the Fundamentals of Ground Search and Rescue (FOGSAR) manual. 

Course Information available in PDF or in RTF.

Inquiries regarding the course can be directed to Shannon Krzywicki or by phone at 403_270_3364 (after reading the information package first).

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THE SEARCH FOR STEPHANIE STEWART

The following is a shortened version of the article written for the Hinton paper by Marc Symbaluk, the search manager. The item was submitted by Jerry Fochler jerry at inroads.ca - I expect he will send a copy of the full article to anyone interested.

Stephanie Stewart was the Athabasca tower attendant who went missing in August 2006. The Hinton SAR group were heading the five day search that ensued.

Since the initial Stewart SAR Mission, HSAR has participated or led a number of follow up area searches. We will continue to work for the RCMP, exploring areas for evidence or lack of evidence (both have investigative value) until her whereabouts are determined. The initial SAR Mission was a large endeavor, covering some 5,000 sq km utilizing several dozen ground searchers, canine teams, helicopters, mobile (vehicular) teams, OHVs, and jet boats. Being the Search Manager for such an incident was a nearly overwhelming challenge, and would have been so without the exceptional Incident Command Team (ICT) we managed to assemble. The initial scene assessment provided variable incident scenarios, including potential wildlife encounter or incidental personal injury. We began to learn through information provided by the RCMP's investigation that there was a likelihood of foul play and adjusted our search areas and objectives accordingly. 

As a leader of this search, the innate primary objective is to recover Stephanie Steward and return her to her family. One of the most difficult tasks following 5 intense days of search is for the ICT to decide that our search objectives have been completely met therefore standing down the initial response, while recommending that a continuous limited search tactic be employed going forward. Part of this tactic involves awareness programs, SAR missions to meet RCMP investigative requirements, or focused ongoing SAR training operations. All of these have taken place since Stephanie's disappearance in late August. 

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MANAGING SEARCH OPERATIONS COURSE

Hosted by Lethbridge Area SAR and taught by ERI. LETHBRIDGE, FEBRUARY 5_9, 2007

Course Information available in PDF or in DOC. Inquiries regarding the course can be directed to Spencer training at lasara.org or by phone at 403_758_6108

Registration Deadline is January 22nd. Don't Delay!

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THERE'S MORE ON THE SAR WEBSITE

Take a look at our website http://www.saralberta.org/ for more notices of events upcoming and the new edition of the SarScene magazine.

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The SAR Super Bowl

An interesting article was submitted by Jolie Janssen of Edmonton Regional SAR, but as usual, the space limitations and format of SARA Happenings preclude my including the whole piece. I don't know if the article has been published elsewhere but it ought to be. Perhaps the full article is on Edmonton Regional's website http://www.ersara.com or else you might contact Jolie at jokena at telusplanet.net I include the first two paragraphs of the article below - 

On a remote area farm, a toddler wanders away from his grandparents while they are working in the garden on a late summers evening. The 23 month old is wearing nothing more than a light colored tank top, a diaper and a pair of running shoes. The daylight hours fade as quickly as the warm temperatures and with the arrival of the cold, damp darkness the call is made to SAR to assist in the urgent search for the child. 

It may be the reason we join a SAR team; it's most always in the back of our minds when we dedicate the endless hours and dollars to gear, training and field responses. Often it is called the 'ultimate' SAR call, the one that fires the adrenaline through the roof, the proverbial SAR Super Bowl. Members of Edmonton Regional Search and Rescue responded to this very call in the wee morning hours of August 25, 2006. Accompanied by members of Klondike Trail SAR and Lesser Slave Lake SAR, teams initiated the first response phase in textbook fashion. Continued . . . 

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SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS 

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the middle of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the 14th of each month. 

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings mailing? If so, please send information 1_1/2 months prior to the dates you wish advertised. It will then give ample time for those reading it to respond. 

Please send all material to the editor; Chris Hoare at choare at shaw.ca PLEASE DO include contact information for members to gain further information.

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi_bin/mailman/listinfo/sara_happenings enter your e_mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will need to click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on the same page. 

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