[SaraHap] SARA Happenings -- Christmas 2007

[Chris Hoare]

Hi All: 

This is a late version of our regular mailing, bringing Christmas Greetings and perhaps a forward look to our activities in 2008.

SARA Happenings is issued to foster 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. 




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SEASONAL GREETINGS

As another year comes to an end, I just want to say - Thank you - for all your hard work and dedication during the year. As professional volunteers you have shown Albertans what we do best. 

I am wishing you, your team and your families an enjoyable time during the festive season, here's hoping you can send spend time with family and friends. 

I look forward to working with you in the new year Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 



Rodney Dietrich SAR Alberta - President 




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YOU KNOW YOU ARE A SAR JUNKIE WHEN:

* You have more than 4 rolls of flagging in your car at any one time What color do you want?? Orange? Lime?)

* You can hold an entire crew briefing in acronyms (Considering the PLS, LKP and POD the Type 3 POA for SEC 3 will be...)

* You can wear a different rescue shirt everyday of the week. (CARDA on Monday, EDCSAR on Tuesday, NASAR on Wednesday...) 

* All of your Christmas wish list items are in the catalogs from Search Gear, Galls, SAR Camp, etc/

* You think blaze orange is a great color.

* You own LOTS of stuff that is BLAZE ORANGE.

* You always have these items in the back of your car: 24 hour SAR pack, Wilderness Medical Kit, rope throw bag, a few coils of static line, and enough climbing hardware to decrease you gas mileage to 10 gallons per mile. 

* You've ever duct taped together rain gear (& more!)

* You have yet to encounter a problem that duct tape and a Leatherman tool can't fix. 

* You've ever had a heated debate between Gibbs vs. Prussics, Leatherman tool vs. Gerber, or 1/3 strength Gatorade vs. ½ strength Gatorade.

* You can vow that the saying "A shower a day keeps the flies away" is true from experience. 

* You lost all your table manners when you joined your SAR team.

* You've considered a turkey sandwich & Gatorade fine dining after 3days in the field. 

* You can splint just about anything with sticks, zip ties and duct tape

* Your favorite free time activity is going through your SAR gear.

* Reflective tape is a sought after fashion accessory.

* You have a CPR mask, flashlight, knife & rescue 8 bottle opener on your keyring.

* You have more than 5 rescue decals or 3 radio antennas on you personal vehicle. 

* You know all of your local SAR radio frequencies by heart.

* You think SAR conferences are a great vacation.

* You can't go to a SAR conference with out spending $100 at the gear vendors. if you get away that cheap!) 

* Your friends have teased you by leaving you strapped in a stokes litter.

* You take a 30lb pack to go for a day hike with friends.

* The criteria for your personal vehicle was having 4 wheel drive and ample gear space. 

* You're an Advil junkie.

* You have a rescue cut in more than 1 pair of boots.

* You don't own anything that is cotton.

* This list actually makes sense to you!



Thanks for this one, Michelle. It's on the web at > http://www.dbs-sar.com/SARJunkie.htm 




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AND FOR ALL YOU SAR JUNKIES

Michelle sent this link for some serious reading over the holidays. It's from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. http://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2007/11/ezine.html?id=12583&link=1#inthenews 

In the News: Fatigue - The Foe You Don't Want to Know at Work

Hazard Alerts: Seafarer Safety

OSH Answers: MSDS - A Safe Read

Partner News: Pushing, Pulling, Lifting and Lowering

CCOHS News: Health and Safety Committees




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NEW IN THE USA

Congress passes Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act 

WASHINGTON - New legislation was passed Tuesday that will prohibit the federal government from taxing benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by state and local authorities.

The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) was passed by the House of Representatives after it went through the Senate last week.

The act, one of the NVFC's top legislative priorities in 2007, is now headed to the president for signature. 

Leaders from the NVFC testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in October about the need to protect the benefits communities across the country provide to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel as a recruitment and retention tool. 

"Federal taxation of volunteer first responder benefits has several effects," said John McAuliffe, NVFC Connecticut State Director, during the testimony. "The most obvious is to reduce the value of the benefit to the volunteer." 

The language that passed in H.R. 3648 exempts all tax benefits provided by state and local units of government to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel from taxation by the federal government. Additionally, the first $360 per year of any other type of benefit that a volunteer receives would be exempted from taxation. 



Item sent in by Rodney Dietrich, SAR Alberta - President 




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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.




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