From choare at shaw.ca Tue Jan 15 21:27:30 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:27:30 -0700 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings -- January 2008 Message-ID: <013b01c857f8$1be5a580$90ac4018@lb.shawcable.net> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM PAUL OLMSTEAD This is really a test. Shelly sent this commercial and I'm running it naked (well, the way it arrived, un-edited and still in its colours and formatting.) If anyone finds this gaudy ad a problem in your issue of SARA Happenings, let me know (or else tighten up your spam filter - whatever.) FREE - New sat Phone ( plus accessories) and Garmin GPS ( plus software) Talk about the power of advertising. Below is a link to my house in Stony Plain Alberta and as you may know I am about to retire and move to where I can launch my sea kayak almost 12 months of the year. BUT I need to sell this house - see web link below. http://users.eastlink.ca/~ghm//albertahouse4sale/ I may list it in Feb. 2008, but for now anyone who directly brings or steers a buyer my way will receive gifts as an incentive. I will provide that person with the Newest Global Star Satellite Phone (Model # 1700) , a pelican case, a car charger and spare battery (accessories are worth almost $400.00) as well I will throw in a new Garmin GPS 60CX and software to download maps into the GPS. All this can be yours if you please keep your ears and eyes open for someone who might be looking to buy a great house in Stony Plain Alberta. Thanks Paul OLMSTEAD 780 991 6406 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMERCIAL FROM THE PRESIDENT Please put in the next SARA Happenings issue - thank you (that way if anyone is interested from our member groups, associates and others they can contact Eldon directly) Rodney Our company, Wyse Design & Development Inc., has developed a Portable Winch Recovery System designed for Snowmobile, ATV, and Rescue and Recovery operations. Extensive product testing and evaluation was conducted by Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue and our winch was given their stamp of approval; "A superior product, its tough construction and heavy-duty components make it almost indestructible. Its pulling capacity is more than adequate and portability makes it ideal for SAR Teams." - Barry Nash, NLSARA The Wyse Portable Winch System provides quick and easy set-up, is lightweight and compact, and comes complete with a remote control, 2 straps, 1-ton shackle, wiring harness and carry bag. The winch has a 2000lb rating from a 1.2hp motor and is powered by any 12 volt source. Detailed product specifications are available from our website - www.wyse-design.com Our Winch Recovery System was developed in Canada and is an effective tool used by Fisheries & Oceans Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association. At $299.00 per unit, this is a very affordable and valuable asset for Search and Rescue operations. If you have any questions about our Portable Winch System, or would like more information, please contact me at your convenience. Eldon Davis Marketing Director WYSE Design & Development Inc. Suite 3022, INCO Innovation Centre P.O. Box 4200 St. Johns, NL, Canada, A1C 5S7 Telephone: 709-737-6215 Fax: 709-737-2539 Email: Eldon.Davis at WYSE-Design.com www.wyse-design.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW SARA TRAINING COORDINATOR It is my pleasure to announce Ric Henderson as the SAR Alberta Provincial Training Coordinator. Richard (Ric ) Henderson h: 403.348.8868 w: 403.357.2371 c: 403.505.3069 p: 403.304.3181 email: rhenderson at reddeercounty.ab.ca rjh1 at telusplanet.net I also want to thank Paul Olmstead for all his time he put into this position over the last number of years (very much appreciated) and wish him well with his future endeavours Thanks also to Cindy Heselton sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca who canvassed for nominations to this position. Rodney Dietrich SAR Alberta - President -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WORKING WITH A SEARCH DOG TEAM IN THE WILDERNESS / URBAN ENVIRONMENT by Mary-Ann Warren Training Director/Dog Handler Search & Rescue Dog Association of Alberta Since not many ground searchers or search managers have worked with SAR dogs, this document is meant for you! A search dog team is defined as one dog with one handler. How a search dog is worked, and how successful it will be, is very much dependent on the environmental conditions at the time of the search incident. Most search dog teams in Alberta are deployed as air-scenting dogs. These dogs are trained to pick up human scent from air currents. Depending on environmental conditions, the scent may be picked up as far away as one km or more. The air-scenting dog does not require a scent article from the lost person. Some search dogs are trained to track a lost person's scent left by their foot impressions, also called 'Tracking'. Civilian dog teams are rarely used as tracking dogs in the province of Alberta. About the Search Dog Teams: The dog handlers are to have met the minimum standard for GSAR in the Province of Alberta. Dog handlers are trained to recognize and interpret how their dogs work and what their dog is scenting. Dog handlers will communicate how they will work a search segment. Dog teams don't always physically cover the entire search area. Depending on wind and scent conditions, the team may "miss" large areas of the search zone (example -- only searching the bottom and top of a gully, but not the sides). At times the search dog teams are relocated from one-search segment to another at any given time as dictated by Command. Dog handlers are trained in clue awareness. Dog handlers will dependent on conditions, and dogs ranging capabilities usually move through areas quicker than the ground SAR teams. Dog handlers are independent; they carry their dogs and own needs in their packs. Dog handlers don't use sound signals, support personnel should expect to be working quietly most of the time. You can talk to the handler, but you won't be yelling or whistling to try and get the subject's attention, unless the dog is stopped. Dog handlers may take breaks at intervals in the field, to give the dog a chance to rest and be re-motivated if needed. At times during a long search, the handler may ask the support personnel to hide so that the dog has a "live find" during or after the search, then play with the dog as it's reward. About the Dogs: A search dog should be approachable. An "alert" is a trained response the dog will give when it has located the lost person and or clue. The handler should identify what their dog's alert is. The dogs are trained to alert on people as well as articles (clues) with human scent on them. The dogs should not distract on other searchers, or support personnel. However they may identify to the handler when other people are in the area. The dog may alert on other search teams in the area. It is what they are trained to do.indicate where the human scents are located. Their handler will check out whatever the dog alerts on. Just wait until the handler arrives at your location and provides instructions to continue. The dogs should not distract on animal activity in the area. However dogs are animals and may identify to the handler when there are critters around. Dogs are not 100%; they do there best based on their trained capabilities and environmental conditions during any given incident. As a Support Personnel working with a SAR dog team you may expect the following duties: Communications The Support Personnel working with a dog team handles the communications with the command base and other SAR teams. This frees up the handler to concentrate on their dog. Support personnel are free to question the handlers at any time. Navigation Wind and environment play a huge role in how the dog is worked. The dog handler will communicate how they will be working the dog. Preferable, the handler will want to work the dog using the wind direction to their advantage. Whether it is in a type I, II, III search, the dog handler will give direction to their support on what heading they will want to go. Keep in mind that the direction of their search pattern may change at any time. Documentation If communicated by the handler, the support personnel may be expected to take notes. The notes may contain time started/ended search, search segment and location of clues. Dog handler search reports differ from those that GSAR write out at the end of a search. Dog handlers document, environment conditions, how the dog was worked etc. First Aid Support personnel may at times need to aid in performing first aid functions for the victim, the handler, support person or even the dog. Another set of eyes The dog handler may communicate to the support how their dog reacts when it is on the scent and how the dog alerts when it has located someone. Since handlers are trained to be clue aware as well they also are visually searching. If the support personnel sees the dog react to something they need to communicate this to the handler since the handler could have missed it. By working together as a team and eliminating the time it takes to explain how to work together, more time may be given in searching for that potential survivor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080115/1ae5f1bc/attachment.htm From choare at shaw.ca Fri Feb 15 21:19:14 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:19:14 -0700 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings February 2008 Message-ID: <009401c87053$1714e160$90ac4018@lb.shawcable.net> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR DAYS What is Alberta Search and Rescue Day all about? Search and Rescue Day was established by the Hon. Walter Paszkowski, then Minister of Municipal Affairs. Starting in 2000, the first Saturday in May has been proclaimed as an opportunity to highlight search and rescue activities in the province and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the volunteers who put their lives at risk to save others. During the inaugural proclamation, the Minister Walter Paszkowski said "The designation of Search and Rescue Day will increase awareness of the good work being done in this area. The fact that these special individuals give so freely of their efforts at any time of day or night is worthy of recognition." SAR day this year is on May 3, 2008 please send any and all submissions for events to sarabsecertary at yahoo.com Deadline for submissions is April 1st, 2008 thanks. Michelle -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR DAY - AMAZING RACE No sooner announced that we have an addition to the program. SAR days are coming up again and LASARA has decided to organize a SAR Amazing race. We want to invite teams from other local SAR groups and the community (local police/fire/emergency groups, youth groups, scouts, etc) to come and compete. I have attached a quick announcement. We were hoping CSDA would be interested in joining with us again this year. If you are, we would love your input into planning and organizing. Contact Lana at - lanamiller at yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself (Lance Stephenson), and my partner Coby Duerr - we are the Task Force Leaders with Canada Task Force 2, a newly formed National Disaster Response Team. CAN-TF2 is a federally-mandated, volunteer-based team, affiliated with the City of Calgary Fire Department and the Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS). Our mandate is Heavy Urban Search & Rescue - however, the team will be built in 8 separate modules, all capable of individual response, supporting the needs of emergency services and ground SAR in Alberta. CAN-TF2 will be a multi-disciplinary team designed to provide a wide range of services related to disaster and emergency events. The team's primary role is to locate, extricate and provide immediate medical care to individuals affected by natural or human-caused disasters. Our strength is in our diversity. CAN-TF2 will comprised of volunteer members throughout the province of Alberta, with specialists in: search (including highly-trained search dogs), rescue, communications, logistics (cooks, small engine mechanics, equipment operators, enthusiastic individuals), HazMat, medical (paramedics and emergency physicians), structural engineers and air support. To comply with the six hour deployment, team members must live within a four-hour radius of the Task Force building located in Calgary, Alberta. While still in development, CAN-TF2 is built on teamwork and professionalism; members strive for excellence and lead the way in advance heavy urban search and rescue techniques. CAN- TF2 had the ability to be self-contained for up to 14 days and can respond provincially, nationally and eventually internationally. If this sounds interesting - we need people like you.... For more information, check out our website at http://www.cantf2.com Please pass this onto individuals that may have an interest in being part of the new initiative.... Thanks Lance Stephenson Task Force Leader Canada Task Force 2 Alberta - Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE WYSE PORTABLE WINCH A "real" example of usage of our technology; the Rovers Ground SAR (Harry Blackmore) were tasked with removing a downed helicopter in St. John's for inspection by Canada's Transportation Safety Board. They were assisted by the Wyse Portable Winch. Here's a link to some pictures. http://www.vocm.com/viewgallery.asp?id=149 Eldon Davis Marketing Director WYSE Design & Development Inc. Suite 3022, INCO Innovation Centre P.O. Box 4200 St. Johns, NL, Canada, A1C 5S7 Telephone: 709-737-6215 Fax: 709-737-2539 Email: Eldon.Davis at WYSE-Design.com www.wyse-design.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE Invitation to a Wilderness first aid course hosted by KTSAR, evening of Friday Feb 29th , Sat Mar 1st , and Sun Mar 2nd Location: Barrhead EMS Centre with instructor Daryl Black from ERI Contact Dale at 780 674 6145 or email arkise at telus.net to register. Also, in the same message received by SARA Happenings, was the following addition - Anyone interested in ATV safety contact Marty 780 674 7350 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080215/4c19c680/attachment.htm From choare at shaw.ca Mon Mar 17 14:06:07 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:06:07 -0700 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings March 2008 Message-ID: <00f701c8886a$56aabc80$90ac4018@lb.shawcable.net> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR ALBERTA AGM This issue of SARA Happenings was held over until the advance information about this year's AGM arrived. As you see, not all the details are available yet. The AGM is on April 26 at the Lethbridge Lodge. > Friday April 25- Meet and Greet > Saturday April 26- 0900-1000- Q&A > 1000-1020-break > 1020-1200-AGM > 1200-1330-lunch - costs to follow > 1330-? AGM > Board Meeting > 1800- Supper - costs to follow > Social in evening - costs to follow > Rooms are $106.00 for queen and you can phone the Lodge and it > is under either Search and Rescue Alberta or Lethbridge Search > and Rescue. Contact President, Rodney Dietrich for more infromation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS In addition to the announcement of the AGM details, Rodney sent SARA Happenings the pdf file of the Call for Candidates for the 2008 elections. Unfortunately I cannot print out the whole document or attach it to this newsletter. Those interested in standing for office will have to e-mail him directly for a copy of the forms. A partial transcript follows:- 2008 SAR ALBERTA ELECTIONS All SAR Alberta members are invited to become candidates for the positions of: Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer Any Member may be nominated for election to the SAR Alberta Board of Directors. The position of Vice President is for a one-year term, after which the incumbent will serve a one-year term as President and a one-year term as Past-President. The position as Secretary is for a two-year term The position of Treasurer is for a two-year term All Regional Directors and Deputy Directors need to have elections completed within the six (6) SAR Alberta regions prior to the AGM on April 26th 2008. Induction of the new SAR Alberta Board members will commence at the April 26th 2008 Board meeting immediately following the AGM. Regional positions are elected within the region with each member organization having one vote. The term for the Director and Deputy Director is from AGM to AGM. Please e-mail President Rodney Dietrich for a copy of the forms and return the completed documents to him or to Reese Wolsey (Past President) at westpem at telusplanet.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REGARDING THE WEBSITE: The SAR Alberta website is visible again, but is not working completely and has not been updated since November. Brad's submission regarding the website problem is below. From bogus@does.not.exist.com Mon Mar 17 14:12:48 2008 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:12:48 -0000 Subject: No subject Message-ID: offline due to technical difficulties on the part of the website host. = The host company's Edmonton based servers suffered a major system = malfunction and it took a couple of weeks for the company to rectify the = problem. This loss of service impacted hundred's of customers in the = Edmonton area, so it took a bit of time to resolve.=20 By mid February, the company had returned most of their accounts = affected to full service, however SAR Alberta's website remained offline = due to additional administrative issues. After considerable and ongoing = investigating and troubleshooting, it would appear that when SARVAC's = website was transferred away from the same company SAR Alberta uses, our = account was inadvertently cancelled as well. No notices were received = because the account was cancelled at the request of the account holder.=20 For reasons unexplainable, SAR Alberta's website remained active and in = service for an additional two years, until January 18 when the server it = was hosted on, failed. In addressing the failure, the company only = transferred current accounts over to a new server, and the SAR Alberta = website was considered cancelled.=20 The company has confirmed that they are able to re-institute the SAR = Alberta website from their backup systems, and we are in the process of = resolving the financial aspects of re-activating service. Hopefully we = can conclude these matters soon, so SAR Alberta website returns to = service.=20 We appreciate everyone patience and inquiries. Obvious the website is = one of the steadfast deliverables those involved in SAR, in Alberta, = have come to rely on SAR Alberta for.=20 Brad Marshall Webmaster bmarsh at telusplanet.net=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SAR DAYS What is Alberta Search and Rescue Day all about? Search and Rescue Day was established by the Hon. Walter Paszkowski, = then Minister of Municipal Affairs.=20 Starting in 2000, the first Saturday in May has been proclaimed as an = opportunity to highlight search and rescue activities in the province = and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the volunteers who put = their lives at risk to save others.=20 During the inaugural proclamation, the Minister Walter Paszkowski said = "The designation of Search and Rescue Day will increase awareness of the = good work being done in this area. The fact that these special = individuals give so freely of their efforts at any time of day or night = is worthy of recognition."=20 SAR day this year is on May 3, 2008 please send any and all submissions = for events to sarabsecertary at yahoo.com Deadline for submissions is = April 1st, 2008 thanks. Michelle -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SAR DAY - AMAZING RACE No sooner announced that we have an addition to the program. SAR days are coming up again and LASARA has decided to organize a SAR = Amazing race. We want to invite teams from other local SAR groups and = the community (local police/fire/emergency groups, youth groups, scouts, = etc) to come and compete. I have attached a quick announcement. We were = hoping CSDA would be interested in joining with us again this year. If = you are, we would love your input into planning and organizing.=20 Contact Lana at - lanamiller at yahoo.com=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- FEDS TO CONSIDER TAX BREAK FOR VOLUNTEERS =20 The following clip was sent by Mary-Ann at SARDAA Federal politicians are expected to once again consider providing tax = breaks to volunteer emergency workers when they debate in the House of = Commons on Monday. Bill C-219 would amend the Income Tax Act to allow volunteer emergency = workers -- such as firefighters, paramedics and search-and-rescue = workers --to deduct $1,000 from their taxable income if they performed = at least 100 hours of volunteer service, and $2,000 for at least 200 = hours. The private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Wayne Easter, has = been introduced several times, but has been scuttled by either a = prorogation or an election call. This time, there's hope it passes, said Scott Simms, Liberal MP for = Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor in Newfoundland and Labrador. "I = think the crucial part is going to be the vote. We already know now that = the Conservatives will vote it down -- but of course, being in a = minority Parliament, numbers speak a lot," he said. "I'm really, really hoping it'll pass, and more to the point, I'm hoping = it sends a message to include this in the budget." The bill provides a = small incentive to help small communities across the country recruit = more volunteers, Simms said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- RESCUERS HONOURED This clip was submitted by Rodney Dietrich from the Red Deer Advocate By Paul Cowley Advocate staff - February 21, 2008=20 Rocky search and rescue volunteers were recently honoured by the RCMP = for their efforts in rescuing a hunter in the West Country last fall.=20 Rescue team member David ""Polly"" Hadley is modest when asked about the = recognition the group received last month for its role in rescuing an = Edson hunter who was lost for two days last September near Blackstone = Gap, 40 km northwest of Nordegg. Four members of the Rocky Mountain = Rescue Team took part.=20 ""It''s nice. But it''s what we do,"" said Hadley, who is Nordegg''s = fire chief and a local carpenter. ""We''re all volunteers and this is = what we do.""=20 The search and rescue team was given an RCMP District Commander''s = Certificate of Appreciation. The Rocky Alberta Fish and Wildlife office = and Rocky RCMP were also recognized in a ceremony at the detachment.=20 The 25-year-old hunter left to go hunting on Sept. 23 but was reported = missing after he failed to contact his wife by cellphone at a = pre-arranged time.=20 Hadley said searchers were called in about 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 and within = three hours had located the hunter, who had fallen into a ravine and = injured his ankle. He had managed to mark his location by throwing an = orange scarf onto a ledge where it could be seen from above, He also = fired shots from his rifle every four hours to alert searchers.=20 A Nordegg-based Ahlstrom Air helicopter took searchers to the area, = where they hiked and climbed down to the hunter.=20 Since it was getting late, one of the searchers, Roland Curll, stayed = overnight with the hunter at the bottom of the ravine. Curll is a member = of Australia''s New South Wales police rescue squad who had been in = Nordegg on a year-long visit to learn mountain rescue techniques.=20 Mountain rescue team members Doug Ritchie and Larry Jackshaw stood by at = the top of the ravine and Hadley co-ordinated the rescue from base camp = with the RCMP.=20 Three members of the Kananaskis Country Public Safety Services = ""long-lined"" the hunter out the following morning. The hunter, who had = been alone and unfamiliar with the area, suffered only minor injuries.=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- GET READY IN THE PARK The City of Edmonton Office of Emergency Preparedness will again be = holding the Get Ready in the Park event on the 10 May 2008. As soon as I = have the poster etc for the event I will place the details in SARA = Happenings - Likely the April issue. Further Information can be obtained from :- Mike COOK=20 Emergency Preparedness Officer=20 Office of Emergency Preparedness=20 City of Edmonton=20 780-944-6462=20 Cell 780-940-3148=20 Pager 780-401-0251=20 mike.cook at edmonton.ca=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20 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.=20 =20 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.=20 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.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C8882F.AA212B00 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi All:
 
SARA Happenings is issued to foster = communication=20 within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 = e-mail=20 addresses that are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member = groups or=20 which were requested to be added to the mailing list.
Subscription = and=20 unsubscription information is at the end of the=20 newsletter. 
     
 
SAR ALBERTA AGM =
 
This issue of SARA Happenings was held = over until=20 the advance information about this year=92s AGM arrived. As you see, not = all the=20 details are available yet.
 
The AGM is on April 26 at the = Lethbridge=20 Lodge.

> Friday April 25- Meet and = Greet
>=20 Saturday April 26- 0900-1000- Q&A
> 1000-1020-break
>=20 1020-1200-AGM
> 1200-1330-lunch - costs to follow
> 1330-?=20 AGM
> Board Meeting
> 1800- Supper - costs to follow
> = Social=20 in evening - costs to follow
> Rooms are $106.00 for queen and you = can=20 phone the Lodge and it
> is under either Search and Rescue = Alberta or=20 Lethbridge Search
> and Rescue.
 
Contact President, Rodney Dietrich = <accountinggod at shaw.ca> = for more=20 infromation.
 
 
 
CALL FOR = NOMINATIONS
 
In addition to the announcement of the = AGM details,=20 Rodney sent SARA Happenings the pdf file of the Call for Candidates for = the 2008=20 elections. Unfortunately I cannot print out the whole document or attach = it to=20 this newsletter. Those interested in standing for office will have to = e-mail him=20 directly for a copy of the forms. <accountinggod at shaw.ca> =
 
A partial transcript = follows:-
 
2008 SAR ALBERTA ELECTIONS
 
All SAR Alberta members are invited to = become=20 candidates for the positions of:
 
Vice President, Secretary, and=20 Treasurer
 
Any Member may be nominated for = election to the SAR=20 Alberta Board of Directors.
 
The position of Vice President is for a = one-year=20 term, after which the incumbent will serve a one-year term as President = and a=20 one-year term as Past-President.
 
The position as Secretary is for a = two-year=20 term
 
The position of Treasurer is for a = two-year=20 term
 
All Regional Directors and Deputy = Directors need to=20 have elections completed within the six (6) SAR Alberta regions prior to = the AGM=20 on April 26th 2008. Induction of the new SAR Alberta Board members will = commence=20 at the April 26th 2008 Board meeting immediately following the AGM. = Regional=20 positions are elected within the region with each member organization = having one=20 vote. The term for the Director and Deputy Director is from AGM to=20 AGM.
 
Please e-mail President Rodney Dietrich = <accountinggod at shaw.ca> = for a=20 copy of the forms and return the completed documents to him or to Reese = Wolsey=20 (Past President) at westpem at telusplanet.net =
 
 
 
REGARDING THE=20 WEBSITE:
 
The SAR Alberta website is = visible again,=20 but is not working completely and has not been updated since November.=20
Brad=92s submission regarding the website problem is = below.
 
From approximately January 18 to mid = February, the=20 SAR Alberta was offline due to technical difficulties on the part of the = website=20 host. The host company's Edmonton based servers suffered a major system=20 malfunction and it took a couple of weeks for the company to rectify the = problem. This loss of service impacted hundred's of customers in the = Edmonton=20 area, so it took a bit of time to resolve.
By mid February, the company had = returned most of=20 their accounts affected to full service, however SAR Alberta's website = remained=20 offline due to additional administrative issues. After considerable and = ongoing=20 investigating and troubleshooting, it would appear that when SARVAC's = website=20 was transferred away from the same company SAR Alberta uses, our account = was=20 inadvertently cancelled as well. No notices were received because the = account=20 was cancelled at the request of the account holder.
For reasons=20 unexplainable, SAR Alberta's website remained active and in service for = an=20 additional two years, until January 18 when the server it was hosted on, = failed.=20 In addressing the failure, the company only transferred current accounts = over to=20 a new server, and the SAR Alberta website was considered cancelled.=20
The company has confirmed that they are = able to=20 re-institute the SAR Alberta website from their backup systems, and we = are in=20 the process of resolving the financial aspects of re-activating service. = Hopefully we can conclude these matters soon, so SAR Alberta website = returns to=20 service.
We appreciate everyone patience and = inquiries.=20 Obvious the website is one of the steadfast deliverables those involved = in SAR,=20 in Alberta, have come to rely on SAR Alberta for.
Brad = Marshall =20 Webmaster  bmarsh at telusplanet.net =
 
 
 
SAR DAYS
 
What is Alberta Search and Rescue Day = all=20 about?

Search and Rescue Day was established by the Hon. Walter = Paszkowski,=20 then Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Starting in 2000, the first = Saturday in=20 May has been proclaimed as an opportunity to highlight search and rescue = activities in the province and celebrate the outstanding contributions = of the=20 volunteers who put their lives at risk to save others.
During the inaugural proclamation, the Minister Walter Paszkowski = said "The=20 designation of Search and Rescue Day will increase awareness of the good = work=20 being done in this area. The fact that these special individuals give so = freely=20 of their efforts at any time of day or night is worthy of recognition."=20
 
SAR day this year is on May 3, 2008 = please send any=20 and all submissions for events to sarabsecertary at yahoo.com&nbs= p;=20 Deadline for submissions is April 1st, 2008 thanks. = Michelle
 

SAR DAY =96 AMAZING RACE
 
No sooner announced that we have an addition to the program.
 
SAR days are coming up again and LASARA has decided to organize a = SAR=20 Amazing race. We want to invite teams from other local SAR groups and = the=20 community (local police/fire/emergency groups, youth groups, scouts, = etc) to=20 come and compete. I have attached a quick announcement. We were hoping = CSDA=20 would be interested in joining with us again this year. If you are, we = would=20 love your input into planning and organizing.
 
Contact Lana at =96  lanamiller at yahoo.com
 
 
FEDS TO CONSIDER TAX BREAK FOR=20 VOLUNTEERS  
 
The following clip was sent by Mary-Ann at SARDAA
 
Federal politicians are expected to once again consider providing = tax=20 breaks to volunteer emergency workers when they debate in the House of = Commons=20 on Monday.
Bill C-219 would amend the Income Tax Act to allow = volunteer=20 emergency workers =97=97 such as firefighters, paramedics and = search-and-rescue=20 workers =97=97to deduct $1,000 from their taxable income if they = performed at least=20 100 hours of volunteer service, and $2,000 for at least 200 = hours.
The private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Wayne Easter, = has been=20 introduced several times, but has been scuttled by either a prorogation = or an=20 election call.
This time, there's hope it passes, said Scott Simms, = Liberal=20 MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor in Newfoundland and = Labrador. "I=20 think the crucial part is going to be the vote. We already know now that = the=20 Conservatives will vote it down =97=97 but of course, being in a = minority=20 Parliament, numbers speak a lot," he said.
"I'm really, really hoping it'll pass, and more to the point, I'm = hoping it=20 sends a message to include this in the budget." The bill provides a = small=20 incentive to help small communities across the country recruit more = volunteers,=20 Simms said.
 

RESCUERS HONOURED
 
This clip was submitted by Rodney Dietrich from the Red Deer=20 Advocate
By Paul Cowley Advocate staff - February 21, 2008
Rocky search and rescue volunteers were recently honoured by the = RCMP for=20 their efforts in rescuing a hunter in the West Country last fall. =
Rescue=20 team member David =93=93Polly=94=94 Hadley is modest when asked about = the recognition=20 the group received last month for its role in rescuing an Edson hunter = who was=20 lost for two days last September near Blackstone Gap, 40 km northwest of = Nordegg. Four members of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Team took part. =
=93=93It=92=92s nice. But it=92=92s what we do,=94=94 said Hadley, = who is Nordegg=92=92s fire=20 chief and a local carpenter. =93=93We=92=92re all volunteers and this is = what we do.=94=94=20
The search and rescue team was given an RCMP District = Commander=92=92s=20 Certificate of Appreciation. The Rocky Alberta Fish and Wildlife office = and=20 Rocky RCMP were also recognized in a ceremony at the detachment. =
The 25-year-old hunter left to go hunting on Sept. 23 but was = reported=20 missing after he failed to contact his wife by cellphone at a = pre-arranged time.=20
Hadley said searchers were called in about 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 and = within=20 three hours had located the hunter, who had fallen into a ravine and = injured his=20 ankle. He had managed to mark his location by throwing an orange scarf = onto a=20 ledge where it could be seen from above, He also fired shots from his = rifle=20 every four hours to alert searchers.
A Nordegg-based Ahlstrom Air helicopter took searchers to the area, = where=20 they hiked and climbed down to the hunter.
Since it was getting = late, one of=20 the searchers, Roland Curll, stayed overnight with the hunter at the = bottom of=20 the ravine. Curll is a member of Australia=92=92s New South Wales police = rescue=20 squad who had been in Nordegg on a year-long visit to learn mountain = rescue=20 techniques.
Mountain rescue team members Doug Ritchie and Larry Jackshaw stood = by at=20 the top of the ravine and Hadley co-ordinated the rescue from base camp = with the=20 RCMP.
Three members of the Kananaskis Country Public Safety Services = =93=93long-lined=94=94 the hunter out the following morning. The hunter, = who had been=20 alone and unfamiliar with the area, suffered only minor injuries.
 

GET READY IN THE PARK
 
The City of Edmonton Office of Emergency Preparedness will again be = holding=20 the Get Ready in the Park event on the 10 May 2008. As soon as I have = the poster=20 etc for the event I will place the details in SARA Happenings =96 Likely = the April=20 issue.
 
Further Information can be obtained from :-
Mike COOK =
Emergency=20 Preparedness Officer
Office of Emergency Preparedness
City of = Edmonton=20
780-944-6462
Cell 780-940-3148
Pager 780-401-0251
mike.cook at edmonton.ca
 

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS
 
Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the = middle=20 of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the 14th of = each=20 month.
 
Does your group have an event posting for the SARA=20 Happenings mailing? If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to = the=20 dates you wish advertised. It will then give ample time for those = reading it to=20 respond.
 
Please send all material to the editor; Chris Hoare at  choare at shaw.ca PLEASE DO include = contact=20 information for members to gain further information.
 

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings=  =20 enter your e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic = subscribers=20 will need to click on "EMail My Password to Me".  You can subscribe = and=20 unsubscribe on the same page.
------=_NextPart_000_00F4_01C8882F.AA212B00-- From choare at shaw.ca Wed Apr 16 20:59:16 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:59:16 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings -- April 2008 Message-ID: <007b01c8a037$062bd340$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXCUSES This issue may not be exactly the way it should be - my computer crashed as I was planning to start on the newsletter, and this is a new one, with a whole batch of things my old one didn't have. I might say, didn't need. Why is every new version of software more stupid than the last? The nerds decide they can make it do things that the user is too stupid to think of, without realizing that my brain is the result or several million years of development and their software has been cobbled together at the last minute to make it work well enough to sell. In this newsletter I may have repeated some items from last month that might have been updated, but I see no updates. The SAR Alberta website hasn't been updated, so I'm going with the last versions of information that I can pry out of software that seems reluctant to give it up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR ALBERTA AGM This is repeated from last month's newsletter. The AGM is on April 26 at the Lethbridge Lodge. > Friday April 25- Meet and Greet > Saturday April 26- 0900-1000- Q&A > 1000-1020-break > 1020-1200-AGM > 1200-1330-lunch - costs to follow > 1330-? AGM > Board Meeting > 1800- Supper - costs to follow > Social in evening - costs to follow > Rooms are $106.00 for queen and you can phone the Lodge and it > is under either Search and Rescue Alberta or Lethbridge Search > and Rescue. Contact President, Rodney Dietrich for more information. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SARVAC JOB POSTING This is part of the job ad from SARVAC. Not all of it will print out. Harry Blackmore's email address is below. Search & Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada Inc. Employment: Business Manger 1. Staffing Action by : Search & Rescue Volunteers of Canada President 2. Position Title: Search & Rescue Volunteers of Canada Business Manger 3. Location: SARVAC Headquarters St. John's, Newfoundland Labrador 4. Job Requirements: NOTE: The onus is on the candidate to clearly relate his/her qualifications to the requirements of the position. a. Open to: Search & Rescue Volunteers of Canada from a P/T Search & Rescue Association b. Security Requirement: Enhanced Reliability ( Police Conduct ) c. Language Requirements: English Essential Education: A bachelor's degree from a recognized university in one of the following disciplines: Economics, Commerce, Finance, and Business Administration, Emergency Management Duration: Term position of three years (April 30, 2008 - March 31, 2011) subject to NIF Funding Job Description: a. Researching, analyzing and presenting issues and opportunities to advance Ground SAR in Canada.; b. Implementing and developing strategic plan initiatives based on multi-stakeholder consultations; c. Preparing business cases and/or submissions to enhance management of this horizontal program. Disbursing and managing program funds through the New SAR initiatives proposal and reporting to project manager and steering committee. SARVAC will not be responsible for providing transportation to & from the work place location and will not be responsible for meals or accommodations in the work location. Closing Date April 18, 2008 @ 1600hours . Applications can be mailed to 8 Paradise Rd Paradise, NL A1L 3B4 Or email hblackmore at nl.rogers.com Harry Blackmore President SARVAC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORIENTEERING This from Cindy Heselton -- I've taken up orienteering to improve my navigation skills (I don't run much!) and the orienteering folks definitely are the pro's. I encourage all SAR teams to look at orienteering as a way to provide navigation training (especially map reading and route finding) to their members. Orienteering is an international sport and there have been many drills and exercises designed to teach specific navigation skills.many of which would keep a SAR navigation training program interesting and diverse. The Alberta Orienteering Association has information on their website. http://www.orienteeringalberta.ca/ If you're interested in a two day navigation marathon in Saskatchewan, check out http://www.orienteering.sk.ca/nm/index.html Orienteering is generally an individual sport but they have no issues if people want to team up.just don't expect to gain any ranking towards national and international competition. Cindy Heselton, P. Eng (*Note new Mail Code and Fax) Environmental Specialist Transportation Infrastructure The City of Calgary | Mail code #8481 P.O. Box 2100, Station M, Calgary, AB Canada T2P 2M5 T 403-268-5561 | C 403-813-4782| F 403-268-4799 www.calgary.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS In addition to the announcement of the AGM details, Rodney sent SARA Happenings the pdf file of the Call for Candidates for the 2008 elections. Unfortunately I cannot print out the whole document or attach it to this newsletter. Those interested in standing for office will have to e-mail him directly for a copy of the forms. A partial transcript follows:- 2008 SAR ALBERTA ELECTIONS All SAR Alberta members are invited to become candidates for the positions of: Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer Any Member may be nominated for election to the SAR Alberta Board of Directors. The position of Vice President is for a one-year term, after which the incumbent will serve a one-year term as President and a one-year term as Past-President. The position as Secretary is for a two-year term The position of Treasurer is for a two-year term All Regional Directors and Deputy Directors need to have elections completed within the six (6) SAR Alberta regions prior to the AGM on April 26th 2008. Induction of the new SAR Alberta Board members will commence at the April 26th 2008 Board meeting immediately following the AGM. Regional positions are elected within the region with each member organization having one vote. The term for the Director and Deputy Director is from AGM to AGM. Please e-mail President Rodney Dietrich for a copy of the forms and return the completed documents to him or to Reese Wolsey (Past President) at westpem at telusplanet.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR DAYS What is Alberta Search and Rescue Day all about? Search and Rescue Day was established by the Hon. Walter Paszkowski, then Minister of Municipal Affairs. Starting in 2000, the first Saturday in May has been proclaimed as an opportunity to highlight search and rescue activities in the province and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the volunteers who put their lives at risk to save others. During the inaugural proclamation, the Minister Walter Paszkowski said "The designation of Search and Rescue Day will increase awareness of the good work being done in this area. The fact that these special individuals give so freely of their efforts at any time of day or night is worthy of recognition." SAR day this year is on May 3, 2008 please send any and all submissions for events to sarabsecertary at yahoo.com Deadline for submissions is April 1st, 2008 thanks. Michelle -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR DAY - AMAZING RACE No sooner announced that we have an addition to the program. SAR days are coming up again and LASARA has decided to organize a SAR Amazing race. We want to invite teams from other local SAR groups and the community (local police/fire/emergency groups, youth groups, scouts, etc) to come and compete. I have attached a quick announcement. We were hoping CSDA would be interested in joining with us again this year. If you are, we would love your input into planning and organizing. Contact Lana at - lanamiller at yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAN ANYONE ANSWER THIS? I'm posting this query about waivers as I received it - Michelle Maschke writes: > Tania Jensen wrote: Michelle > Would we be able to receive a copy of the minutes from SAR > Alberta meetings. I've been to the website and I cannot find > recent minutes. I agree that the minutes should be on the web site. Understanding of course, that until recently the web site was having some problems. > We have a few legal questions I'm looking into and I was > wondering if there was a provincial standard before I consult a > lawyer. Firstly, do our member waivers have to be drafted by a > lawyer, or can this be done internally? I think waivers are legalistic enough that a lawyer needs to have a hand in drafting it. Given that, you may find that some other SAR group has already done that work. Perhaps a good question for SARA Happenings. > Or, is there a provincial standard? Does SAR Alberta have any > "release of information" or confidentiality guidelines. We are > currently, trying to update our website, etc and I just wanted > to make sure there were not any provincial standards. I haven't heard of any SARA documents like this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GET READY IN THE PARK The City of Edmonton Office of Emergency Preparedness will again be holding the Get Ready in the Park event in Hawrelak Park on Saturday May 10th 2008 from 10 am to 4 pm. Several of the local SAR Groups will be participating. There will be lots of "BIG TOYS" fire trucks, helicopters etc. For more information visit, www.edmonton.ca/oep. Further Information can be obtained from :- Mike COOK Emergency Preparedness Officer Office of Emergency Preparedness City of Edmonton 780-944-6462 Cell 780-940-3148 Pager 780-401-0251 mike.cook at edmonton.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080416/b0341b79/attachment.htm From choare at shaw.ca Fri May 16 19:22:14 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 19:22:14 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings May 2008 Message-ID: <002501c8b7bc$707faf90$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RED DEER SAR IN CHINA The following was submitted to SARA Happenings by Brett Wuth Eight members of the Red Deer Search and Rescue team have headed to China to help search for victims of a devastating earthquake. Bev Sliger, past president of the team, said Wednesday the five men and three women left Tuesday night from Calgary and were expected to land in Hong Kong sometime Wednesday. Sliger said she didn't have permission to release the names of the rescuers. All eight received the "amazing co-operation of their employers" to participate in the rescue work, she said. The members are expected to return home in about 10 days. Sliger said the effort was organized by Doug Copp of the Sydney, N.S., area who is the rescue manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI). Sliger said a member of the Red Deer group had an agreement with ARTI in February to assist with any worldwide rescue effort if needed. Sliger said the rescue effort has no involvement with either the Alberta or Federal governments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCENT DOG NEWS The March (Number 17) issue of Scent Dog News is up on the SARDAA website - have a look. www.sardaa.ca Comments and congratulations for the fine new issue should be sent to - Michelle udcdoberman at shaw.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN CANADA SAREX From bogus@does.not.exist.com Fri May 16 20:14:00 2008 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 02:14:00 -0000 Subject: No subject Message-ID: CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red = Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the = mountains, up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, = Rimbey, Forestburg, to Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and = crews from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus = some military C130 Hercs and possibly some helos. We may be looking for = some "live" targets to be strategically placed along the search area, so = we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be interested in doing a summer = campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to find.=20 As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact numbers = for those who would like to participate.=20 Thanks=20 Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca=20 CASARA Red Deer=20 Zone Commander -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- CINDY HESELTON'S SUBMISSIONS=20 Technical Rope Rescue Course hosted by CALSARA - Spaces Still Available CALSARA is hosting a 40+ hr technical rope rescue course being taught by = George Hanus during the last two weekends in May (including Sunday Jun = 1). George has extensive experience working with SAR, fire, and other = emergency response teams. He is also a mountaineer and a caver and = places emphasis on rope systems and techniques that are safe and = efficient. For more information, please go to = http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/ITM/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=3D11= 33 Cave Rescue Workshops a Success A second workshop series combining Companion Cave Rescue/Cave Response = Rescue was held May 2 - 6, 2008 in Canmore. The workshops were a joint = effort between the Alberta Cave Rescue Organization(ACRO) and British = Columbia Cave Rescue (BCCR). Phil Whitfield (BCCR) lead a team of = international instructors and over 20 participants including = recreational cavers, volunteer SAR workers, and cave guides in skills = ranging from how to rescue your companions while on a caving trip to a = full-on organized cave rescue response. The workshops were a great = chance to learn and practice Single Rope Techniques (SRT), rigging = skills (anchors, haul systems, lowering systems, belay systems), rescue = organization and included two days of mock scenarios in Rat's Nest Cave. = A set of cave radios donated by BCCR to ACRO proved to be an effective = communications link in the cave during the final mock rescue. Logistics = were facilitated by Chas Yonge of Canmore Caverns (accommodations, = social activities and cave access) as well as Mike Shaw of the Pacific = Centre for Leadership (rope and rigging facilities for the SRT work). = Next year's workshops will likely be held in the Crowsnest Pass/Fernie = area.=20 New faces in the Alberta Cave Rescue Organization The workshops in Canmore gave members from ACRO a chance to get together = and discuss organizational aspects of ACRO. Tom DeHaas will be taking on = the role of Provincial Coordinator from Lynn Keeler, who lead ACRO into = entering a partnership with BCCR over the past two years. Lynn's been a = member of ACRO since its inception and was instrumental in ensuring the = group stayed viable during its transition to the new partnership with = BCCR. Thank you Lynn for all of your hard work and dedication! The = regional coordinators remain in position and are: Alberta Northern = Region - Jerry Fochler, Alberta Central Region - John Chaychuck, Alberta = Southern Region - Henry Bruns Cindy can be contacted at Cindy.Heselton at calgary.ca=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20 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.=20 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.=20 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.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0022_01C8B78A.25A74C30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi All:

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search = and=20 Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that = are listed=20 as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were = requested to=20 be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the = newsletter.=20

RED DEER SAR IN CHINA

The following was submitted to SARA Happenings by Brett Wuth

Eight members of the Red Deer Search and Rescue team have headed to = China to=20 help search for victims of a devastating earthquake.

Bev Sliger, past president of the team, said Wednesday the five men = and three=20 women left Tuesday night from Calgary and were expected to land in Hong = Kong=20 sometime Wednesday.

Sliger said she didn=92t have permission to release the names of the=20 rescuers.

All eight received the "amazing co-operation of their employers" to=20 participate in the rescue work, she said.

The members are expected to return home in about 10 days.

Sliger said the effort was organized by Doug Copp of the Sydney, = N.S., area=20 who is the rescue manager of the American Rescue Team International = (ARTI).

Sliger said a member of the Red Deer group had an agreement with ARTI = in=20 February to assist with any worldwide rescue effort if needed.

Sliger said the rescue effort has no involvement with either the = Alberta or=20 Federal governments

SCENT DOG NEWS

The March (Number 17) issue of Scent Dog News is up on the SARDAA = website =96=20 have a look. www.sardaa.ca

Comments and congratulations for the fine new issue should be sent to = =96=20

Michelle udcdoberman at shaw.ca

WESTERN CANADA SAREX

From the CASARA Side of the house.

CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red = Deer=20 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the mountains, up = past=20 the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, Rimbey, Forestburg, to = Three=20 Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and crews from Manitoba, = Saskatchewan, AB,=20 BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus some military C130 Hercs and possibly = some=20 helos. We may be looking for some "live" targets to be strategically = placed=20 along the search area, so we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be = interested=20 in doing a summer campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to = find.

As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact = numbers for=20 those who would like to participate.

Thanks

Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca =

CASARA Red Deer

Zone Commander

CINDY HESELTON=92S SUBMISSIONS

Technical Rope Rescue Course hosted by CALSARA - Spaces Still=20 Available

CALSARA is hosting a 40+ hr technical rope rescue course being taught = by=20 George Hanus during the last two weekends in May (including Sunday Jun = 1).=20 George has extensive experience working with SAR, fire, and other = emergency=20 response teams. He is also a mountaineer and a caver and places emphasis = on rope=20 systems and techniques that are safe and efficient. For more = information, please=20 go to=20 http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/ITM/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=3D11= 33

Cave Rescue Workshops a Success

A second workshop series combining Companion Cave Rescue/Cave = Response Rescue=20 was held May 2 - 6, 2008 in Canmore. The workshops were a joint effort = between=20 the Alberta Cave Rescue Organization(ACRO) and British Columbia Cave = Rescue=20 (BCCR). Phil Whitfield (BCCR) lead a team of international instructors = and over=20 20 participants including recreational cavers, volunteer SAR workers, = and cave=20 guides in skills ranging from how to rescue your companions while on a = caving=20 trip to a full-on organized cave rescue response. The workshops were a = great=20 chance to learn and practice Single Rope Techniques (SRT), rigging = skills=20 (anchors, haul systems, lowering systems, belay systems), rescue = organization=20 and included two days of mock scenarios in Rat's Nest Cave. A set of = cave radios=20 donated by BCCR to ACRO proved to be an effective communications link in = the=20 cave during the final mock rescue. Logistics were facilitated by Chas = Yonge of=20 Canmore Caverns (accommodations, social activities and cave access) as = well as=20 Mike Shaw of the Pacific Centre for Leadership (rope and rigging = facilities for=20 the SRT work). Next year's workshops will likely be held in the = Crowsnest=20 Pass/Fernie area.

New faces in the Alberta Cave Rescue Organization

The workshops in Canmore gave members from ACRO a chance to get = together and=20 discuss organizational aspects of ACRO. Tom DeHaas will be taking on the = role of=20 Provincial Coordinator from Lynn Keeler, who lead ACRO into entering a=20 partnership with BCCR over the past two years. Lynn's been a member of = ACRO=20 since its inception and was instrumental in ensuring the group stayed = viable=20 during its transition to the new partnership with BCCR. Thank you Lynn = for all=20 of your hard work and dedication! The regional coordinators remain in = position=20 and are: Alberta Northern Region - Jerry Fochler, Alberta Central Region = - John=20 Chaychuck, Alberta Southern Region - Henry Bruns

Cindy can be contacted at Cindy.Heselton at calgary.ca

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the = middle of=20 each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the = 14th of=20 each month.

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings = mailing? If so,=20 please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates you wish = advertised. It=20 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=20 information.

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit=20 http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter = your=20 e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will = need to=20 click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on = the=20 same page.

------=_NextPart_000_0022_01C8B78A.25A74C30-- From choare at shaw.ca Mon Jun 16 19:49:55 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:49:55 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings June 2008 Message-ID: <003f01c8d01c$710f02d0$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. First of all, here are the names of your new SAR AB Executive: President - Monica Ahlstrom mavada at cruzinternet.com Vice Pres/Training Coordinator - Ric Henderson rjh1 at telusplanet.net Secretary - Kelly James kelly at oliverirrigation.com Treasurer - Rodney Dietrich accountinggod at shaw.ca Editors Note: The SAR Alberta Website is up and running again and several items SARA Happenings received for this issue are available there. In the interest of keeping this newsletter file size down for those members with e-mail restrictions, please go to http://www.saralberta.org/ to see the new Regional Directors and Deputy Directors. Also posted there is the value statement, but not the President's message which you will find here, next. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Back when SAR Alberta first started, the goal of the organization was a simple one - we wanted to make it as easy as possible for search and rescue volunteers to do their job. It was felt that one of the best ways to accomplish this goal was to bring all of the teams together in Alberta to work through common issues and to stand as a unified voice for search and rescue across the province. I believe these basic principles still hold true today. Over the years, SAR Alberta has been very good at identifying issues and developing strategic direction, but like most volunteer organizations we have struggled with the implementation of those ideas. The approach this year is to take this information and act upon it. In order to do this, SAR Alberta, as a team, is going to try some new things. Our meetings will be differently structured - they will be broken into three sections - strategic planning, tactical planning and administration. We have dissolved all but a few committees and will be moving toward a project model where individual SAR teams will be given projects to implement on behalf of SAR Alberta. The projects will have clearly defined outcomes and due dates. This model is not a new one to search and rescue - it is basically how we run a search. I figure we may as well use what we know operationally and put it into practice administratively. In that sense, the SAR Alberta board will be the overhead team and we will be making some major decisions this year. Teams will be expected to give their input on issues that affect search and rescue in this province. This means, that as a team, you will have to ensure that you are briefed and debriefed on the issues and objectives so you can provide adequate input to SAR Alberta. As in a search, you and your team will need to make sure you have the information you need to do your job, and you need to come back with the information the overhead team needs, so they can move the decision making process forward. There will also be a strong focus on team building and leadership this year - not only for the SAR Alberta board but for teams in general. For many years I have noted that we are great at teaching people to find lost persons but we have fallen down on teaching people to run effective organizations. We need to develop leaders and strong teams to help move our organizations forward. I also think we should put some fun back into search and rescue. While the work we do is often very serious we don't always need to be. Some of the best times I have ever had have been in search and rescue - often those good times helped me and others in the group, through the moments that were tragic and not so good. So on that note I would like to say what an honor and privilege it is to be a part of the SAR Alberta team. It has already started out great, and I am looking forward to the year ahead and working with you all. It's going to be fun! Sincerely, Monica -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR AB BOARD MEETING - MAY 31, 2008 1. Identified Issues which include (in no particular order): Lack of communication Need for more efficient and timely way of getting team reports to their Directors Website (Lack of.) Standardized training for all SAR AB teams (ie. Access to information of what the accepted courses are and who instructs these courses) Non-functioning committees (in some cases) Division of SAR AB Executive and Board vs. SAR AB search teams due to lack of trust. Need for administrative support - possible paid person to take on admin duties Over-arching Goal for the Year: To show value of SAR AB's role to all teams. To re-establish trust of teams in its Executive and Board. To demonstrate strong leadership for SAR AB teams by being a strong cohesive Board. Other Discussions Team Development and Networking Need for budget review and restructuring to fit our operational requirements Governance models Grievance policies AEMA's perception of their role with SAR AB vs. SAR AB's perception of AEMA's role. SAR AB IS and should be the Provincial voice for all SAR AB Teams. AEMA should be our supporting agency only- not our lead agency. Discussed and voted to dissolve "Committees" and instead develop Projects (with a beginning and an end). Please note that the Telecommunications and Training Committees will remain as such but may be redeveloped and restructured as we grow. This is not to say that ANY work already done on any committee will be thrown out and forgotten about. The work will still be recognized but with a new approach and redevelopment..with YOUR input. Two of the resources we are using for team building and meeting structure are the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting by Pat Lencioni .. Maybe some of the other teams may be interested as well. SAR AB will be asking AEMA to postpone the Advisory Board meeting until a clearer role for that organization is established. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEVIL'S LAKE SEARCH Mike Self mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca sent a link which contains news update and photos of Devil's Lake search. http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iReports/Story.aspx?ID=1011074 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN CANADA SAREX From bogus@does.not.exist.com Mon Jun 2 23:15:55 2008 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:15:55 -0000 Subject: No subject Message-ID: CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red = Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the = mountains, up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, = Rimbey, Forestburg, to Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and = crews from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus = some military C130 Hercs and possibly some helos. We may be looking for = some "live" targets to be strategically placed along the search area, so = we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be interested in doing a summer = campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to find.=20 As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact numbers = for those who would like to participate.=20 Thanks=20 Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca=20 CASARA Red Deer=20 Zone Commander -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20 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.=20 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.=20 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.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_003C_01C8CFEA.26498B30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi All:

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication = within the=20 Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail = addresses that=20 are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which = were=20 requested to be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the = end of the=20 newsletter.

 

First of all, here are the names of your new SAR AB=20 Executive:

President =96 Monica Ahlstrom mavada at cruzinternet.com

Vice Pres/Training Coordinator =96 Ric Henderson = rjh1 at telusplanet.net=20

Secretary =96 Kelly James kelly at oliverirrigation.com

Treasurer =96 Rodney Dietrich accountinggod at shaw.ca=20

Editors Note:

The SAR Alberta Website is up and running again and = several=20 items SARA Happenings received for this issue are available there. In = the=20 interest of keeping this newsletter file size down for those members = with e-mail=20 restrictions, please go to http://www.saralberta.org/ to see the new Regional Directors and Deputy = Directors.

Also posted there is the value statement, but not the=20 President=92s message which you will find here, next.

 

PRESIDENT=92S MESSAGE

Back when SAR Alberta first started, the goal of the=20 organization was a simple one =96 we wanted to make it as easy as = possible for=20 search and rescue volunteers to do their job. It was felt that one of = the best=20 ways to accomplish this goal was to bring all of the teams together in = Alberta=20 to work through common issues and to stand as a unified voice for search = and=20 rescue across the province. I believe these basic principles still hold = true=20 today.

Over the years, SAR Alberta has been very good at = identifying=20 issues and developing strategic direction, but like most volunteer = organizations=20 we have struggled with the implementation of those ideas. The approach = this year=20 is to take this information and act upon it. In order to do this, SAR = Alberta,=20 as a team, is going to try some new things. Our meetings will be = differently=20 structured - they will be broken into three sections =96 strategic = planning,=20 tactical planning and administration. We have dissolved all but a few = committees=20 and will be moving toward a project model where individual SAR teams = will be=20 given projects to implement on behalf of SAR Alberta. The projects will = have=20 clearly defined outcomes and due dates.

This model is not a new one to search and rescue =96 = it is=20 basically how we run a search. I figure we may as well use what we know=20 operationally and put it into practice administratively. In that sense, = the SAR=20 Alberta board will be the overhead team and we will be making some major = decisions this year. Teams will be expected to give their input on = issues that=20 affect search and rescue in this province. This means, that as a team, = you will=20 have to ensure that you are briefed and debriefed on the issues and = objectives=20 so you can provide adequate input to SAR Alberta. As in a search, you = and your=20 team will need to make sure you have the information you need to do your = job,=20 and you need to come back with the information the overhead team needs, = so they=20 can move the decision making process forward.

There will also be a strong focus on team building and = leadership this year =96 not only for the SAR Alberta board but for = teams in=20 general. For many years I have noted that we are great at teaching = people to=20 find lost persons but we have fallen down on teaching people to run = effective=20 organizations. We need to develop leaders and strong teams to help move = our=20 organizations forward.

I also think we should put some fun back into search = and rescue.=20 While the work we do is often very serious we don=92t always need to be. = Some of=20 the best times I have ever had have been in search and rescue =96 often = those good=20 times helped me and others in the group, through the moments that were = tragic=20 and not so good.

So on that note I would like to say what an honor and = privilege=20 it is to be a part of the SAR Alberta team. It has already started out = great,=20 and I am looking forward to the year ahead and working with you all. = It=92s going=20 to be fun!

Sincerely,

Monica

 

SAR AB BOARD MEETING =96 MAY 31, = 2008

1. Identified Issues which include (in no particular=20 order):

Lack of communication

Need for more efficient and timely way of getting team = reports=20 to their Directors

Website (Lack of=85)

Standardized training for all SAR AB teams (ie. Access = to=20 information of what the accepted courses are and who instructs these=20 courses)

Non-functioning committees (in some cases)

Division of SAR AB Executive and Board vs. SAR AB = search teams=20 due to lack of trust.

Need for administrative support =96 possible paid = person to take=20 on admin duties

Over-arching Goal for the Year:

 

To show value of SAR AB=92s role to all = teams.

To re-establish trust of teams in its Executive and=20 Board.

To demonstrate strong leadership for SAR AB teams by=20 being a strong cohesive = Board.

 

Other Discussions

Team Development and Networking

Need for budget review and restructuring to fit our operational=20 requirements

Governance models

Grievance policies

AEMA=92s perception of their role with SAR AB vs. SAR AB=92s = perception of AEMA=92s=20 role.

SAR AB IS and should be the Provincial voice for all = SAR AB=20 Teams. AEMA should be our supporting agency only- not our = lead=20 agency.

Discussed and voted to dissolve "Committees" and instead develop = Projects=20 (with a beginning and an end). Please note that the Telecommunications = and=20 Training Committees will remain as such but may be redeveloped and = restructured=20 as we grow. This is not to say that ANY work already done on any=20 committee will be thrown out and forgotten about. The work will still be = recognized but with a new approach and redevelopment=85=85with = YOUR=20 input. =

Two of the resources we are using for team building and meeting = structure are=20 the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting by Pat Lencioni =85. = Maybe some=20 of the other teams may be interested as well.

SAR AB will be asking AEMA to postpone the Advisory Board meeting = until a=20 clearer role for that organization is established.

 

DEVIL=92S LAKE SEARCH

Mike Self mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca sent a link which contains news update and photos of Devil's = Lake=20 search.
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iReports/Story.aspx?ID= =3D1011074=20


 

WESTERN CANADA SAREX

From the CASARA Side of the house.

CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western = Canada SAREX in=20 Red Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the = mountains,=20 up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, Rimbey, = Forestburg, to=20 Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and crews from Manitoba,=20 Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus some military C130 = Hercs and=20 possibly some helos. We may be looking for some "live" targets to be=20 strategically placed along the search area, so we may be contacting GSAR = groups=20 who may be interested in doing a summer campout and wouldn't mind being = targets=20 for us to find.

As we get closer, I will provide further information = and contact=20 numbers for those who would like to participate.

Thanks

Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca=20

CASARA Red Deer

Zone Commander

 

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA = Happenings is=20 the middle of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is = the=20 14th of each month.

Does your group have an event posting = for the SARA=20 Happenings mailing? If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to = the=20 dates you wish advertised. It will then give ample time for those = reading it to=20 respond.

Please send all material to the editor; = Chris Hoare=20 at choare at shaw.ca PLEASE=20 DO include contact information for members to gain further=20 information.

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit=20 http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter = your=20 e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will = need to=20 click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on = the=20 same page.

------=_NextPart_000_003C_01C8CFEA.26498B30-- From choare at shaw.ca Tue Jul 15 20:14:31 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:14:31 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings July 2008 Message-ID: <006b01c8e6e9$af1c1200$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAVE RESCUE Three members of ACRO (Alberta Cave Rescue Organization) attended British Columbia Cave Rescue's biannual cave rescue seminar from July 5th to 12th on Vancouver Island. In addition to covering some technical rope aspects of cave rescue, the seminar included a series of mock rescues which dramatically illustrated the challenges of cave rescue. In the final scenario, for example, it took over four and a half hours to transport a patient (in a stretcher) over a linear distance of roughly 300 meters - a process which completely exhausted 25 rescuers. This was after rescuers had already been working underground for six and a half hours to locate the patient, get the stretcher and packaging material to him, and prepare him for transport. ACRO will definitely be drawing on the experience of this seminar as it reviews its call-out procedures and concept of operations over the next few months. Doug Munroe hdmunroe at ucalgary.ca Provincial Coordinator, ACRO (Alberta Cave Rescue Organization) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THREE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND This CALL FOR THREE ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVES comes from the SAR Alberta website. http://www.saralberta.org/ SARVAC is looking for three Alberta reprsentatives to attend two training sessions in Newfoundland on October 14th & 15th in conjunction with SARSCENE 2008. - How to design a Search & Rescue Exercise - AdventureSmart program & how to deliver it Travel expenses will be covered (flights/hotel & expenses) but you must attend BOTH training sessions. The expectations will be that you return and share your knowledge which will include setting up an Excercise in the province and to teach the Adventure Smart program to the teams/public (train the trainer). The AdventureSmart website is at http://www.adventuresmart.ca/ Deadlines to get submissions to the SARVAC Executives is July 25th . For more infomation or to submit a name please contact your SAR Alberta Regional Director. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008/2009 AEMA APPROVED SAR TRAINING GRANTS The information for these can be found on the SAR Alberta website. http://www.saralberta.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN CANADA SAREX From bogus@does.not.exist.com Mon Jun 2 23:15:55 2008 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:15:55 -0000 Subject: No subject Message-ID: CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red = Deer 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the = mountains, up past the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, = Rimbey, Forestburg, to Three Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and = crews from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, AB, BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus = some military C130 Hercs and possibly some helos. We may be looking for = some "live" targets to be strategically placed along the search area, so = we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be interested in doing a summer = campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to find.=20 As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact numbers = for those who would like to participate.=20 Thanks=20 Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca=20 CASARA Red Deer Zone Commander -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20 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.=20 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.=20 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.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0068_01C8E6B7.644D4B90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi All:

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search = and=20 Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that = are listed=20 as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were = requested to=20 be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the = newsletter.=20

CAVE RESCUE

Three members of ACRO (Alberta Cave Rescue Organization) attended = British=20 Columbia Cave Rescue's biannual cave rescue seminar from July 5th to = 12th on=20 Vancouver Island. In addition to covering some technical rope aspects of = cave=20 rescue, the seminar included a series of mock rescues which dramatically = illustrated the challenges of cave rescue. In the final scenario, for = example,=20 it took over four and a
half hours to transport a patient (in a = stretcher)=20 over a linear distance of roughly 300 meters - a process which = completely=20 exhausted 25 rescuers. This was after rescuers had already been working=20 underground for six and a half hours to locate the patient, get the = stretcher=20 and packaging material to him, and prepare him for = transport.

ACRO will=20 definitely be drawing on the experience of this seminar as it reviews = its=20 call-out procedures and concept of operations over the next few=20 months.

Doug Munroe hdmunroe at ucalgary.ca=20
Provincial Coordinator, ACRO (Alberta Cave Rescue=20 Organization)

THREE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND

This CALL FOR THREE ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVES comes from the SAR = Alberta=20 website. http://www.saralberta.org/

SARVAC is looking for three Alberta reprsentatives to attend two = training=20 sessions in Newfoundland on October 14th & 15th in conjunction with = SARSCENE=20 2008.

- How to design a Search & Rescue Exercise

- AdventureSmart program & how to deliver it

Travel expenses will be covered (flights/hotel & expenses) but = you must=20 attend BOTH training sessions. The expectations will be that you return = and=20 share your knowledge which will include setting up an Excercise in the = province=20 and to teach the Adventure Smart program to the teams/public (train the=20 trainer).

The AdventureSmart website is at http://www.adventuresmart.ca/

Deadlines to get submissions to the SARVAC Executives is July 25th = .

For more infomation or to submit a name please contact your SAR = Alberta=20 Regional Director.

2008/2009 AEMA APPROVED SAR TRAINING GRANTS

The information for these can be found on the SAR Alberta website. = http://www.saralberta.org/

WESTERN CANADA SAREX

From the CASARA Side of the house.

CASARA Red Deer Zone is hosting a CASARA Western Canada SAREX in Red = Deer=20 8-10 Aug. Our search area will be from Carstairs, into the mountains, up = past=20 the Ram River Airstrip, Nordegg, Drayton Valley, Rimbey, Forestburg, to = Three=20 Hills. We expect to have 15 aircraft and crews from Manitoba, = Saskatchewan, AB,=20 BC, NWT and possibly Yukon, plus some military C130 Hercs and possibly = some=20 helos. We may be looking for some "live" targets to be strategically = placed=20 along the search area, so we may be contacting GSAR groups who may be = interested=20 in doing a summer campout and wouldn't mind being targets for us to = find.

As we get closer, I will provide further information and contact = numbers for=20 those who would like to participate.

Thanks

Jim Thoreson jimthoreson at shaw.ca =

CASARA Red Deer Zone Commander

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the = middle of=20 each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the = 14th of=20 each month.

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings = mailing? If so,=20 please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates you wish = advertised. It=20 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=20 information.

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit=20 http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter = your=20 e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will = need to=20 click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on = the=20 same page.

------=_NextPart_000_0068_01C8E6B7.644D4B90-- From choare at shaw.ca Fri Aug 15 11:18:42 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:18:42 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings for August 2008 Message-ID: <003401c8fefa$f7bfa430$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APPLICATION FOR CIVILIAN SAR VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD Applications must be submitted to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator by February 28th 2009. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned. Completed forms must be sent to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator via E-MAIL: mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca OR al.fraser at rcmp-grc.gc.ca The following letter was also submitted by Mike Self. This same material and the application forms are posted on the SAR Alberta website. Mike also sent me images of the awards, but unfortunately SARA Happenings is kept platform inclusive by not including images and video. I expect the images of the awards will be posted on the website. An open letter to all Civilian Search and Rescue Volunteers: August 13th, 2008. The experience and commitment of SAR volunteers is an important resource in assisting the RCMP in our delivery of Search and Rescue Service throughout Alberta. Consequently, the "K" Division RCMP has implemented an award program to acknowledge the contribution of Civilian Search and Rescue Volunteers to the RCMP at our detachments throughout Alberta. The award consists of a uniquely designed certificate and lapel pin which will be presented to volunteers who have completed five, ten, or fifteen years of Search and Rescue service. All Search and Rescue volunteers are eligible to apply for the award, regardless of their role with the team. The only eligibility requirements are that the volunteers be a current member in good standing with his or her Search and Rescue team and that they have volunteered the required number of years for the award requested It is our intention to maintain the program through the future, and in the fullness of time, the award levels will be increased to recognize volunteers reaching twenty or more years of service. Once the years of historical service are accounted for and acknowledged, the program will settle into a pattern of presenting the awards with natural progression as volunteers move through the years of service landmarks. As 2003 saw the launch of the program, we realize that the service periods for eligible volunteers will vary widely, the cut off date for the year 2008 eligible service has been set at December 31st, 2008, and any volunteers having completed five, ten, or fifteen years of service as of that date are eligible for one or more awards, matching their years of service. Search and Rescue groups are invited to review their records and submit the names of eligible candidates, and where applicable, indicate those volunteers deserving of multiple awards. It is the responsibility the volunteer's Search and Rescue team, as well as the volunteer, to ensure that an application is submitted to request an award. Applications must be submitted to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator by February 28th, 2009. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned. Completed forms must be sent to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator via E-MAIL: mike.self at rcmp-grc.gc.ca OR al.fraser at rcmp-grc.gc.ca This is applicable to the initial launch as well as through coming years. The RCMP will not be maintaining a database of Search and Rescue volunteers and automatically generating the awards. The partnership between the RCMP and the civilian Search and Rescue community is an integral part of our Search and Rescue presence in Alberta and we are grateful for your unselfish commitment to your community. Sincerely yours, M. W. (Mike) SELF, Sgt. "K" Division Criminal Operations, SAR Coordinator -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWO COURSES FROM SEASAR This was submitted by Nancy Smart; nancy223 at telus.net At SEASAR. Just in the nick of time, we would like to have the following training sessions included: - ManTracking II Course: 20 and 21 September 2008 ( two-day course), and - Green Check GPS Certification Program: choice of 27 or 28 September 2008 (one-day course) - still room for a few more. Contact Nancy at SEASAR at the e-mail address above. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THREE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND Cindy Heselton Cindy.Heselton at calgary.ca sent out more detailed info about the AdventureSmart program after last month's SARA Happenings was posted and I update it here. This CALL FOR THREE ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVES comes from the SAR Alberta website. http://www.saralberta.org/ SARVAC is looking for three Alberta reprsentatives to attend two training sessions in Newfoundland on October 14th & 15th in conjunction with SARSCENE 2008. - How to design a Search & Rescue Exercise - AdventureSmart program & how to deliver it Travel expenses will be covered (flights/hotel & expenses) but you must attend BOTH training sessions. The expectations will be that you return and share your knowledge which will include setting up an Excercise in the province and to teach the Adventure Smart program to the teams/public (train the trainer). The AdventureSmart website is at http://www.adventuresmart.ca/ Deadlines to get submissions to the SARVAC Executives is July 25th . For more infomation or to submit a name please contact your SAR Alberta Regional Director. Cindy adds - Unfortunately, the only extra information I can provide is that the AdventureSmart program is a preventative SAR program aimed at young adults/adults. A website with more info on the program is provided http://www.adventuresmart.ca/ I also asked if there was an application form but I was told no, so I suggest that if you want to be fairly considered, that those interested answer the following questions: Full Name Contact Info SAR Affiliation Years in SAR Leadership roles Summary of key accomplishments or projects Related experience in mock exercise organization, preventative SAR, public relations, etc. Your interest in the project/role Time availability/commitment (i.e. # weekends per year, hrs per week, are you available during the day, etc Please forward submissions directly to sara-executive at castrov.cuug.ab.ca and cc myself and Kelly Kobe. Thanks.mailto:Cindy.Heselton at calgary.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080815/4ec19a42/attachment.html From choare at shaw.ca Tue Aug 19 21:06:33 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:06:33 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings Supplement -- Aug 2008 Message-ID: <00aa01c90271$c0b44750$cbac4018@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE I don't do this often but two time sensitive items missed my mail-out date on August 15th. Wouldn't you know I was on time when it would have been an advantage to be late. For future submissions I must hold firmly to the cut-off date of one day before the stated time of newsletter mailing - generally the 14th of each month. To ensure everyone has time to see the posting about your event I direct your attention to the request at the bottom of the newsletter. It's to your advantage to send the item to SARA Happenings early enough for it to appear in at least 2 issues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE Cindy Heselton has volunteered to chair the SAR Alberta Standards Committee and was appointed at the Jul 5, 2008 SAR Alberta Board Meeting. She asked for this extra issue of SARA Happenings as, you may see, it is hoped the committee is able to start work at the end of August. The next newsletter item below this is part of her Terms of Reference for the committee, which she is also posting to SAR Alberta website. I just reproduce part of the notice. Immediately following is from her cover letter and addressed to all SAR Alberta members. Please review the attached document (on the website) (includes Draft Terms of Reference) for more information. The Committee is seeking 4 - 6 dedicated, enthusiastic individuals who have: * Experience and knowledge in the development/implementation of standards and accreditation/certification processes * Ability to engage people, build relationships and maintain an open positive attitude * Willingness to work outside of meetings/discussions and can meet internal deadlines* Organization and time management skills * Desire to further SAR from a provincial perspective The Committee will also be seeking members who have the above qualifications as well as specific knowledge in related SAR topics to form working groups as required (i.e. to develop standards in specific SAR topic areas). Please contact Cindy via email if you are interested and provide a short description on how you meet the above qualifications and whether or not you are interested in the Committee or a specific working group (indicate SAR topic that you are interested in focusing on). Provide your return email address and phone number so she can follow-up with you. Please submit your applications as soon as possible. Ideally, committee members will be finalized by August 31. If you know of people who are away for summer holidays and have expressed interest in this work, please notify her as well. Cindy goes on to say - Regardless of committee membership, I intend for work to begin immediately with communications primarily being via email / phone / internet and once we have a few members on board we'll look at scheduling a committee meeting. A top priority will be member engagement so if you are not able to serve on the Committee or inea Working Group, mechanisms will be set up early to provide everyone with the opportunity for input and perspective at various points throughout the Committee's work. Our committee and AEMA will also be scheduling some forums to give members a chance to provide feedback on aspects related to the development of standards, accreditation and certification and topics related to AEMA's training initiative. I'm looking forward to our continued work so that others may live! I look forward to hearing from you. Cindy Heselton Director, South Central Region sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca Search and Rescue Alberta (SAR AB) Day (403) 268-5561 | Eve (403) 295-6474 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE DRAFT SAR Alberta Standards Committee Terms of Reference (This is abbreviated for the newsletter.) Structure The SAR Alberta Standards Committee is a standing committee that reports to the SAR Alberta Board . Its members consist of: Chair - appointed by SAR Alberta Board (does not have to be a member of the SAR Alberta Board) Vice Chair - appointed by Standards Committee Members - appointed by the Chair and Vice Chair Ideally, committee members should have knowledge and skills in the following areas: Concepts and development of standards, certification, accreditation Stakeholder engagement and relationship building Organization and time management Desire to further SAR from a provincial perspective The Standards Committee will strike working groups as needed to develop the specific standards as identified by the committee. The working groups will be made up of one or more individuals who are considered subject matter experts for the standard being developed and led by someone designated within the working group upon approval of the Standards Committee. Purpose of the Committee and its Working Groups (or Project Teams) On behalf of SAR Alberta and its members: Develop, implement and review mechanisms for engaging SAR Alberta members, volunteers and stakeholders with respect to the development of standards Meetings and workshops (may be done utilizing AEMA resources and in partnership with AEMA as described in AEMA's training initiative) Wiki page Email / newsletters One on one discussion Research and review existing SAR related standards, criteria and guidelines (extensive coordination with AEMA research as well as independent research) Develop, implement and review accreditation / certification mechanisms (partner with AEMA training initiative efforts on initial development accreditation / certification process, implementation to follow at a later date) Conduct gap analysis and needs assessment for SAR standards Prioritize standards needing to be reviewed / developed Risk and liability to member organizations Need for consistency and interoperability Ease of development (i.e. standard exists in practice but needs to be documented and reviewed) Develop and review training, operational and administrative standards Develop, implement and review documentation mechanisms Review the existing standards approval process and propose revisions if necessary For additional information please contact - Cindy Heselton Director, South Central Region sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CISM TRAINING This from South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue Association Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Group Crisis Intervention When: October 18 and 19, 2008; 8:30-4:30 p.m. Where: # 8, 49 Viscount Ave. SW (Old Terminal at Medicine Hat Airport) Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5G4 The Group Crisis Intervention training program is designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multicomponent crisis intervention curriculum. The two day course prepares participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention services including pre- and post-incident crisis education, significant-other support services, on-scene support services, demobilizations (Rest Information Transition Session) after large scale traumatic incidents, Immediate Small Group Support (defusing), Powerful Event Group Support (PEGS/CISD) and more. The Group Crisis Intervention training is open to any person who wishes to know more about crisis intervention techniques. Emergency services and disaster workers, security, safety, military, industrial and school system personnel, EAPs, human resources personnel, mental health professionals and others can all benefit from the Group Crisis Intervention training. Gail Eastman is an ICISF Approved Instructor. Only those attending the entire 14 hours will receive a certificate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Temperature in venue may vary, please dress accordingly Send registration and payment to: SEASAR Before October 1, 2008 $170.00 After October 1, 2008 $185.00 To: Sue Berner #8-49 Viscount Ave SW Medicine Hat AB T1A 5G4 1-403-527-8592 Info from: De Lea mapskd at shockware.com Space is limited - workshop maybe cancelled due to low registration. Following info required. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Organization: Phone: Address: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080819/b08547d9/attachment.htm From choare at shaw.ca Mon Sep 15 19:37:04 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:37:04 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings September 2008 Message-ID: <07394926EFF643B2BAF58F812862EF01@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWO COURSES FROM SEASAR - UPDATE This was submitted by Nancy Smart; nancy223 at telus.net At SEASAR. Just in the nick of time, we would like to have the following training sessions included: - ManTracking II Course: 20 and 21 September 2008 ( two-day course), and - Green Check GPS Certification Program: choice of 27 or 28 September 2008 (one-day course) - still room for a few more. UPDATE - South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue (SEASAR) has a few spots left for anyone interested in taking the Man Tracking II course being held on 20 and 21 September 2008. The Green Check GPS Certification course scheduled for 27 or 28 September is fully booked. For more information on the Man Tracking II course, please go to www.seasar.ca in the heading, click on 'Contact Us'; from there you can click on the email link -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPCOMING SARSCENE SARSCENE, now in its 17th year, has grown from a small workshop into a national conference that is gaining international appeal. It is the largest national Search and Rescue (SAR) conference and expo where Canadian and international SAR professionals (Air, Ground, Marine) gather to learn about new equipment and emerging technologies, share best practices, exchange ideas and tackle issues facing SAR. The National Search and Rescue Secretariat, along with the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Justice, are working hard as co-hosts to develop an engaging and interactive SAR program under the theme of Strengthening Partnerships. This year's conference and expo will be in St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador, October 15-18, 2008. Participants will be treated to the province's rich history, unique culture and its' world renowned hospitality and natural beauty. SARSCENE events are being held at the Delta St. John's Hotel and Conference Centre, Sunshine Park and Quidi Vidi Lake. For more information, visit http://www.sarscene.ca/index-new.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RED DEER SAR IN TEXAS On August 28th, 12 members of Red Deer Search and Rescue Technical Rescue Team travelled to College Station, Texas, to train at the world renowned "Disaster City" training facility. All 12 members received certification as Disaster Technical Search Specialists. This 40 hour course was undertaken over a four day period under the excellent guidance of two search managers of Texas Task Force 1, who immediately headed south at the end of the training to assist with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Gustav. Training in collapsed buildings and on rubble piles, team members are now qualified in the use of search cameras and seismic and acoustic listening devices. Disaster City is operated by the Texas Engineering Extension Service of the Texas A&M University System, and trains rescuers from around the world. Submitted by Ric Henderson rjh1 at telusplanet.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND RAISING PARTY Edmonton Regional SAR is having a Fund raiser and Party on November 15, 2009. We will be having a silent auction and live music with the band "Rule of Nines" Location is at "On the Rocks" 11740 - Jasper Ave. Edmonton. Tickets are $20.00 and are now on sale. For more information and tickets you can contact ERSARA at 780.440.1710 or Denis at denis.babin at ersara.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2009 SARA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Tickets for the 2009 Search and Rescue Alberta Annual Conference go on sale on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. Direct access to purchase tickets can be found at: http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=26481. For further information please contact Norman Mathew at normanmathew at xplornet.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20080915/9ffdff58/attachment.htm From choare at shaw.ca Mon Oct 20 20:30:02 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:30:02 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings October 2008 Message-ID: <32D177997345455ABCC10408FCEDA629@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LATE ........... MY APOLOGIES I had been delaying this month's newsletter to catch an article of SAR interest we were trying for, but still no show. I hope we will have the article for next month's newsletter. Editor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATTENTION ALL TEAMS From bogus@does.not.exist.com Mon Oct 20 22:48:22 2008 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:48:22 -0000 Subject: No subject Message-ID: Be advised that the Telecommunications Committee is functioning, and = working hard.=20 It is apparent however that many teams are working individually on = communications projects without regard to the bigger picture in Alberta. = This may in the long term be detrimental to obtaining a working = agreement with Industry Canada and not in the best interests of Search = and Rescue Alberta.=20 It is therefore essential that all teams working on communications = frequencies and repeater projects work through a liaison with the = telecommunications committee. We are working on similar projects, = however the waters get muddy when you throw too many pebbles at the = pond. The work should be co-ordinated through the telecommunications = committee to come up with a satisfactory solution for all teams in = Alberta so that all teams can be on the same page. That is not the = situation at present.=20 We are working with Industry Canada, the National Search and Rescue = Secretariat AEMA, and others for solutions.=20 For the common good of SAR in Alberta, please forward comments, = innovations, and ideas through the committee.=20 Please contact the committee through the SARAB web page or directly = through my email address listed below.=20 Kindest regards,=20 John R. (Jack) Humphries=20 Telecommunications Committee Chairman=20 Search and Rescue Alberta=20 Email: gwfgroup at telus.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- CIVILIAN SAR TEAM REPORT RCMP "K" DIVISION -- CIVILIAN SAR TEAM REPORT=20 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION This item came from Mike Self, and was in the form of a complete printer = ready form - which unfortunately cannot be disseminated through this = newsletter which is not set up for Word attachments. I am, however = reproducing the detailed instructions for completing the form so that = groups will know what they can expect to see. If the form does not = appear soon on the SAR Alberta website, I suggest teams get in touch = with the originator directly. Mike Self's E-mail Address(es): Mike.SELF at rcmp-grc.gc.ca=20 1. This Report must be competed and submitted to the tasking RCMP = detachment and to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator within 14 days = of completing any RCMP tasking, including specialized operations such as = evidence searches. 2. If more than one civilian SAR team is used on the operation, each = team must submit a separate Report form. 3. Instructions for Completion: (these cannot be reproduced here in the = tabular form used in Mike's submission. Viewing in full screen should = line up the items.) Team Name:.................................Self Explanatory Tasking Date:................................Date SAR Tasking conducted; RCMP Det:...................................Name of the RCMP Detachment = in charge of the operation RCMP File #:...............................RCMP Detachment File Number = if known Incident Type:...............................Indicate type of search. = Describe "other", e.g." evidence search" Number Team Members Responding:...........Total number of team members = who responded to the search. Team members Injured:................Was a SAR volunteer injured on the = operation?=20 Number of Operational Periods Worked:......Total number of operational = periods worked by the team while assisting with the search Total Volunteer Hours Contributed:.......The total of all team hours = contributed to the Search Operation.=20 Team Expenses, Reimbursed:.........................Self Explanatory Team Expenses, Non-Reimbursed:.................Internal expenses = absorbed by the SAR team to participate in the mission that are not = reimbursed, (eg. administration costs, stationary costs, etc.) Subjects Located:............................................Subject = Located by SAR Team Subject Condition:.........................................Condition of = found subjects (fill in all that apply) Clue / Evidence:.............................................Describe = any clues / evidence located Found By: ......................................................Name of = Volunteer's who found Clue / Evidence Search Actions and Results:...........................Narrative = description of actions taken on search operations, e.g. area searched, = terrain type, weather, techniques used, observations made, items found, = etc. Signature and Date:........................................Report must = be signed and dated by the SAR Team representative. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- FUNDRAISING PARTY Edmonton Regional SAR is having a Fund raiser and Party on November 15, = 2009. We will be having a silent auction and live music with the band = "Rule of Nines"=20 Location is at "On the Rocks" 11740 - Jasper Ave. Edmonton.=20 Tickets are $20.00 and are now on sale.=20 For more information and tickets you can contact ERSARA at 780.440.1710 = or Denis at denis.babin at ersara.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- 2009 SARA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Tickets for the 2009 Search and Rescue Alberta Annual Conference go on = sale on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. Direct access to purchase = tickets can be found at: = http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D26481http://www.= ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D26481http://www.ticketweb.c= a/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D26481. For further information please = contact Norman Mathew at normanmathew at xplornet.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS=20 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.=20 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.=20 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.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0101_01C932F2.A1778990 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi All:

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search = and=20 Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that = are listed=20 as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were = requested to=20 be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the = newsletter.=20

LATE ........... MY APOLOGIES

I had been delaying this month=92s newsletter to catch an article of = SAR=20 interest we were trying for, but still no show. I hope we will have the = article=20 for next month=92s newsletter. Editor.

ATTENTION ALL TEAMS=20

From Search and Rescue Alberta Telecommunications = Committee

Be advised that the Telecommunications Committee is functioning, and = working=20 hard.

It is apparent however that many teams are working individually on=20 communications projects without regard to the bigger picture in Alberta. = This=20 may in the long term be detrimental to obtaining a working agreement = with=20 Industry Canada and not in the best interests of Search and Rescue = Alberta.

It is therefore essential that all teams working on communications=20 frequencies and repeater projects work through a liaison with the=20 telecommunications committee. We are working on similar projects, = however the=20 waters get muddy when you throw too many pebbles at the pond. The work = should be=20 co-ordinated through the telecommunications committee to come up with a=20 satisfactory solution for all teams in Alberta so that all teams can be = on the=20 same page. That is not the situation at present.

We are working with Industry Canada, the National Search and Rescue=20 Secretariat AEMA, and others for solutions.=20

For the common good of SAR in Alberta, please forward comments, = innovations,=20 and ideas through the committee.

Please contact the committee through the SARAB web page or directly = through=20 my email address listed below.

Kindest regards, =

John R. (Jack) Humphries =

Telecommunications Committee Chairman=20

Search and Rescue Alberta=20

Email: gwfgroup at telus.net

CIVILIAN SAR TEAM REPORT

 

RCMP "K" DIVISION -- CIVILIAN SAR TEAM REPORT

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION

This item came from Mike Self, and was in the form of a complete = printer=20 ready form =96 which unfortunately cannot be disseminated through this = newsletter=20 which is not set up for Word attachments. I am, however reproducing the = detailed=20 instructions for completing the form so that groups will know what they = can=20 expect to see. If the form does not appear soon on the SAR Alberta = website, I=20 suggest teams get in touch with the originator directly.

Mike Self=92s E-mail Address(es): Mike.SELF at rcmp-grc.gc.ca

1. This Report must be competed and submitted to the tasking RCMP = detachment=20 and to the RCMP "K" Division SAR Coordinator within 14 days of = completing any=20 RCMP tasking, including specialized operations such as evidence = searches.

2. If more than one civilian SAR team is used on the operation, each = team=20 must submit a separate Report form.

3. Instructions for Completion: (these cannot be reproduced here in = the=20 tabular form used in Mike=92s submission. Viewing in full screen should = line up=20 the items.)

Team Name:.................................Self Explanatory

Tasking Date:................................Date SAR Tasking = conducted;

RCMP Det:...................................Name of the RCMP = Detachment in=20 charge of the operation

RCMP File #:...............................RCMP Detachment File = Number if=20 known

Incident Type:...............................Indicate type of search. = Describe "other", e.g." evidence search"

Number Team Members Responding:...........Total number of team = members who=20 responded to the search.

Team members Injured:................Was a SAR volunteer injured on = the=20 operation?

Number of Operational Periods Worked:......Total number of = operational=20 periods worked by the team while assisting with the search

Total Volunteer Hours Contributed:.......The total of all team hours=20 contributed to the Search Operation.

Team Expenses, Reimbursed:.........................Self = Explanatory

Team Expenses, Non-Reimbursed:.................Internal expenses = absorbed by=20 the SAR team to participate in the mission that are not reimbursed, (eg. = administration costs, stationary costs, etc.)

Subjects Located:............................................Subject = Located=20 by SAR Team

Subject Condition:.........................................Condition = of found=20 subjects (fill in all that apply)

Clue / Evidence:.............................................Describe = any=20 clues / evidence located

Found By: ......................................................Name = of=20 Volunteer's who found Clue / Evidence

Search Actions and Results:...........................Narrative = description=20 of actions taken on search operations, e.g. area searched, terrain type, = weather, techniques used, observations made, items found, etc.

Signature and Date:........................................Report = must be=20 signed and dated by the SAR Team representative.

FUNDRAISING PARTY

Edmonton Regional SAR is having a Fund raiser and Party on November = 15, 2009.=20 We will be having a silent auction and live music with the band "Rule of = Nines"=20

Location is at "On the Rocks" 11740 - Jasper Ave. Edmonton.

Tickets are $20.00 and are now on sale.

For more information and tickets you can contact ERSARA at = 780.440.1710 or=20 Denis at denis.babin at ersara.com

2009 SARA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Tickets for the 2009 Search and Rescue Alberta Annual Conference go = on sale=20 on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. Direct access to purchase tickets = can be=20 found at: <= U>http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D= 26481<= U>http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D= 26481<= U>http://www.ticketweb.ca/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=3D26481. For further information please contact Norman Mathew at = <= U>normanmathew at xplornet.com.

SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the = middle of=20 each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the = 14th of=20 each month.

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA = Happenings=20 mailing? If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates = you wish=20 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=20 include contact information for members to gain further information.

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit=20 http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter = your=20 e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will = need to=20 click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on = the=20 same page.

------=_NextPart_000_0101_01C932F2.A1778990-- From choare at shaw.ca Tue Oct 21 21:50:44 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:50:44 -0600 Subject: [SaraHap] Supplement to October SARA Happenings Message-ID: <54BABC875D7E4B6C968BA3CB2B5E0121@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHOOPS ........... GOOFED AGAIN While delaying this month's newsletter to catch that article I failed to notice that the President's mail to me about it also included an open letter to the membership for me to publish. So here it is -- Editor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Now that SAR Alberta's board has had a few meetings I wanted to bring you up to date on some of the things that are happening. We are focusing our efforts on a few key areas, communications, standards and defining our working relationship with AEMA and other agencies. Under communications we have two main projects: redevelopment of the website and a PR package for government and media. We are redesigning the website with an updated look and making it more user friendly. With the PR project we will be writing and producing materials to send to Cabinet Ministers, MLA's, and others in the provincial government. The teams will be asked to participate in this process by delivering the PR package to the MLA in your area and arranging a meeting to introduce your team and search and rescue to your MLA (if you haven't already). Kelly Kobe from Calgary SAR is looking after the website project and Darlene Holden from Edmonton SAR is coordinating the PR project, contact them if you are interested in helping with either project. A standards committee has been set up under the direction of Cindy Heselton. A call for people to sit on this committee was sent out last month. A process for how the work on this committee will be carried out is being done. The initial priority of this committee will be to determine how certification and accreditation for SAR will work in this province. From there standards will be developed - much will be based on what is already out there - we are trying to keep this complex issue as simple as possible and to adopt standards already available when and where we can. Vice President Ric Henderson and I have been to a number of meetings over the last few months with AEMA. Most recently I met with Ernie Polsom, Acting Fire Commissioner to discuss how SAR Alberta and AEMA can move forward. Some initial points taken from that meeting were: 1.We need to revamp the training grant and find a way to make it work better for both SAR and AEMA; 2.SAR Alberta needs administrative support - we are going to explore options for this and see what solutions may be available in both the short term and long term; 3.AEMA will work with SAR Alberta to develop standards; 4.The two organizations will look at ways to revamp the Civil Emergency Response Program - perhaps through a NIF grant; 5.RCMP K-Division needs to be kept in the loop and they need to know they still have an important role to play in search and rescue in the province; 6.We need to sort out liability issues - insurance etc, for SAR teams and individuals 7.Some research should be done on emerging SAR issues such as the possible increase in search for Alzheimer's patients and what kind of extra training may be needed. AEMA and SAR Alberta both want to start moving forward on these and other issues and we seem to have come to a place where we better understand what each organization is trying to achieve. I will continue to update you on the issues as SAR Alberta and AEMA work through them, having said that, if you want to get involved or feel strongly about an issue please get in touch with me or your regional representative - it is important that you and your team be heard. Along with AEMA SAR Alberta wants to re-establish our relationship with a number of agencies and groups including Parks Canada, provincial parks, Fish and Wildlife, fire departments, municipal police forces, municipalities and the Canadian military. It is also important to encourage the Solicitor General to keep an interest in SAR - as we are a very well used policing resource. During the week of Oct 12-19 I will be at the national conference, SARSCENE, in Newfoundland. I will be representing SAR Alberta at the SARVAC (Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada) meetings which will be held on Oct 13 and 14. A number of major initiatives are being undertaken by SARVAC this year. One major project is being funded through a federal NIF grant. Three people from each province and territory are being sent to St John's to train in two programs. One is called Adventure Smart - a basic wilderness survival course for pre-teens to adults, the second course will be on how to set up SAR exercises. The three people chosen from Alberta are Carianne Budalich, Natasha Jensen and Ian Oxton. On a final note, we are looking to set up a meeting for all the teams in January or February - a location is needed so if anyone can help with this it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Monica Ahlstrom mavada at cruzinternet.com President SAR Alberta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D'JUNO Something lighter from Jerry Fochler, jerry at inroads.ca If you have an analog wrist watch, you can use the time to find north. Hold your watch up in front of you, and let the short hand, red on the figure, that indicates hours point at the sun. While holding it like this, cut the angle between the red arrow and 12 o'clock in two, (noonwards if the time is before 6am or after 6pm), that way is south. (The reason you need to cut it in two, is because the clock takes two rotations while the sun takes one around the earth, it is of course the other way around, but never mind.) Many people wear digital watches these days (I do myself, if I wear one at all). If you do, draw an analog watch face on a piece of paper, and then mark the hour hand on using the digital watch. The rest of the method is identical. This method can be used even when it is pretty foggy. Although you may not be able to see the sun, it may still cast a shadow. If you take up a straw or a tiny stick, and you may see a shadow. You just have to remember that the shadow points the opposite way from the sun, but the rest of it is quite similar as above. (While I read this I thought of the somewhat more accurate method of gaining the azimuth of the sun I used when surveying in the Arctic. Does anyone think it would be useful to know, or do you all already know it? It's a calculation involving the sun's hour angle and the local longitude. I can add it to a future newsletter if you like. Editor.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20081021/3b32c9c7/attachment.html From choare at shaw.ca Fri Nov 21 10:57:32 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:57:32 -0700 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings November 2008 Message-ID: <8FF6F86A7F0C4652B61914B3607891D7@user978bb393cd> Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE UPDATE (It takes a lot to get the train rolling, but once it gets moving.) Wow! Since the approval of the Draft Terms of Reference at the July2008 SAR Alberta Board meeting we've been busy. Four members with experience and diverse backgrounds came forward to participate as well as others who have expressed interest in working on specific standard areas. The Committee members are: Cindy Heselton, Les Brace, Allan Tomalty, John Chaychuck and Matthew Christopher. We've created an internal web-page for organization and discussion, added a page to the SAR Alberta Wiki http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/SARAlbertaStandardsCommittee and had our first in-person meeting on Sunday November 16. The key outcome of the meeting was the scheduling of consultation sessions in conjunction with AEMA for ALL SAR stakeholders. We also recognize that our Committee needs to expand to include tasking agencies and other SAR stakeholders and will be starting to make contact. One of the key outcomes of our Nov 16 meeting was the scheduling of consultation sessions in conjunction with AEMA for ALL SAR stakeholders. We recognize that this is an extremely aggressive schedule with short notice, but we were in the situation of playing catch-up to AEMA on their Fire and Emergency Services Training Initiative. We are committed to doing the best job on behalf of all SAR volunteers and we encourage your participation and input. Please log on to the wiki page or contact any one of us if you have questions or comments. Cindy Heselton sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO AEMA AND THE SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE (Round 1 - Six Consultation Sessions Planned between November 21 and November 29) The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the SAR Alberta Standards Committee have planned six (6) joint consultation sessions to check the current status of search and rescue within Alberta. This will complete the initial consultation with fire and emergency services started under AEMA's Fire and Emergency Services Training Initiative (FESTI). The sessions are open to ALL SAR stakeholders including volunteers, tasking agencies, industry or anyone else having a stake in search and rescue - now and in the future. Information is also being sent out to the SAR Alberta Regional Directors and Deputy Directors. I expect that future sessions will be planned with much more notice, but in the meantime I am asking that everyone recognize the opportunity that is being created, do their best to participate and go forward with the attitude and ability that SAR is so well known for - to perform on short notice under extreme conditions. Please make every effort to notify your members and others whom you think might be interested, to help us generate the excitement and motivation needed to make this a success. We will also be arranging for alternative ways you can provide feedback should you not be able to attend a session. Note that you can provide your feedback directly via the wiki page indicated previously. Fred Tyrrell, Manager of Stakeholder Relations for AEMA will be coordinating the logistics and facilitating the consultation process. Please RSVP directly to Fred at fred.tyrell at gov.ab.ca or register by clicking the link shown beside the date you plan to attend. Fri Nov 21 Calgary (7 - 10 pm) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1818 Sat Nov 22 Lethbridge (1 - 4 pm) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1823 Thurs Nov 27 Red Deer (7 - 10 pm) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1824 Fri Nov 28 Edmonton (7 - 10 pm) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1825 Sat Nov 29 Cold Lake - (9 - 12 am) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1826 Sat Nov 29 Grande Prairie (3 - 6 pm) http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1827 More information on the SAR Alberta Standards Committee can be found on the SAR Alberta Wiki at http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/SARAlbertaStandardsCommittee The next step will be the development of an appropriate accreditation / certification process, etc. which is scheduled to begin in mid to late January. Cindy Heselton sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAR RELATED TRAINING INSTRUCTOR LIST http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/CourseInstructors (Who you gonna call?) If you are an instructor, institution or service provider that is able to provide search and rescue related training, please take advantage of this opportunity and add your information to the wiki pages (see link above). THIS INCLUDES VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS IN THE VARIOUS ERI COURSES SUCH AS BASIC SAR SKILLS, SAR FUNDAMENTALS, TEAM LEADER, ETC. While AEMA and SAR Alberta are sorting stuff out, in the meantime, ALL teams are busy trying to organize and coordinator their current and upcoming training. This is just a reminder of the wiki page that was created to list potential training providers (free advertising!!!) for SAR groups to access if they are seeking instructors in a particular topic area. Please note that the pages are completely self-serve and that SAR Alberta (and AEMA) has not vetted them and therefore does not endorse any or all of the information provided. It is up to the individual SAR group to confirm the credentials and qualifications of the instructors they employ as well as to ensure their courses or programs meet any applicable standards or requirements. It's a good idea to document this. Cindy Heselton sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following stories our compliments of the Red Deer Advocate and SAR Alberta appreciates their support in allowing us to share them with you (1 article - CASARA Pilot & 2 articles on a bear mauling) SPRUCE VIEW MAN DIES IN PLANE CRASH By Stacy O'Brien - Red Deer Advocate Published: November 09, 2008 5:06 PM Updated: November 10, 2008 8:23 AM Many Central Albertans are mourning the loss of a life-long pilot who was one of the founding members of the Innisfail Flying Club. Herluf Nielsen died in an airplane crash late Saturday night, shortly after taking off from Red Deer Regional Airport heading to the Innisfail Airport. He was the lone occupant in the aircraft. He once told the Innisfail Province that he got the flying bug watching Harvard trainers fly out of Penhold in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a boy. He didn't have his first flight until 1960 and had his pilot's licence by 1961, around the time the Innisfail Flying Club was getting started. Alvin Hand, who is one of the original members of the Innisfail Flying Club, said Nielsen was a capable pilot and had his night endorsement, meaning he was able to fly at night. Hand, a pilot himself, said losing him is a big loss to the club. Nielsen was a strong supporter of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program. As part of the program, Nielsen and other Innisfail Flying Club members would take youngsters from Bowden and Innisfail up for 15 to 20 minute flights over Central Alberta, pointing out landmarks and sometimes flying over their homes. Hand said Nielsen was one of the most enthusiastic pilots doing the program. Nielsen, 67, loved flying so much that he had a hangar and landing strip at his farm in Spruce View, where he lived with his wife of more than 30 years Alice Nielsen. The couple's children Kevin and Kristine and their significant others gathered in Spruce View Sunday with other friends. Nielsen had retired from farming barley, canola and a little wheat, but he continued to take part in other ways in the community. He was an active member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Dickson. "He was very involved and got a lot of people in the community flying as well," said Nielsen's daughter-in-law Nicole Nielsen. "He was a very safe pilot, so it was very surprising for this to happen." She said he had owned his Cessna 182 for at least 30 years and her husband Kevin (Nielsen's son) had his first ride in it as a baby. Nicole and Kevin joined Nielsen and Alice on a trip from Whitehorse to Dawson City this summer. "Given what has happened it is something that is nice to look back on," Nicole said. She said Nielsen's wife Alice was the navigator and they were quite a pair. Nicole said her father-in-law was a very humble man and known for being calm. "You would never hear him raise his voice," she said. Nielsen's parents had immigrated to Canada from Denmark and he spoke some Danish. "He loved his coffee, like any good Dane," she said. Besides the flying club he also volunteered with Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). Nielsen had been taking part in CASARA exercises earlier Saturday evening before his plane went down. The CASARA volunteers regularly practise doing search patterns so they are ready when they do have to search for a downed aircraft. "We finished our exercise around 10 p.m. (Saturday) night. We were finishing up and he was on his way home," said Jim Thoreson, zone commander with CASARA. Nielsen left the airport around 10:30 p.m. and shortly thereafter was reported overdue at the Innisfail Airport. Thoreson said around 14 CASARA volunteers, along with Red Deer Search and Rescue started looking for him. Their search was hampered by heavy fog. "We were covering all the land around the airport as much as we could," Thoreson said. It took until 5 a.m. Sunday morning to find the wreckage near the Innisfail Airport. Jon Lee, Western regional manger of the Transportation Safety Board, said two investigators from the board were dispatched Sunday and will be at the site of the crash during the next couple days. He said they'll be photographing and documenting the crash site, as well as trying to find eye witnesses to speak with. As part of the investigation they look at the pilot's background, his work/rest cycle and his experience. They will also be examining the aircraft's maintenance records, refuelling history and anything they can collect at the site. They will also take the weather conditions into consideration at the time of the accident. Innisfail RCMP have reported there was heavy fog at the time of the crash. Lee said they don't yet know what caused the accident. "We'll be gathering a lot of information over the next couple of weeks and as we analyze it we'll rule out factors that wouldn't have contributed and that will help narrow the investigation down to where we end up with a cause," he said. Contact Stacy O'Brien at sobrien at reddeeradvocate.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEARCH ON FOR MISSING HUNTER NEAR SUNDRE Published: October 01, 2008 7:56 AM Updated: October 01, 2008 8:52 AM A search is underway for a hunter who went missing Monday in the Sundre area. Sundre RCMP were notified at noon Tuesday about the missing hunter, who has not been identified. Police say he is an avid hunter who was dressed for the weather. He was hunting in the Bergen area, about 15 km southeast of Sundre. About 10 police officers and 20 local search and rescue workers are involved in a ground search. The hunter's vehicle was located along Hwy 22. RCMP search dogs and a civilian search and rescue fixed-wing aircraft are also active in the search. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HUNTER WAS MAULED BY BEAR By Jack Wilson - Red Deer Advocate Published: October 03, 2008 6:49 AM Updated: October 03, 2008 7:08 AM http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Hunter_was_mauled.html Fear of bears prompted RCMP sharpshooters to accompany searchers who were combing bush for a missing hunter this week, a search official said. Monica Ahlstrom, president of Search and Rescue Alberta, said on Thursday that police sent in their emergency response team (ERT) to protect searchers on Tuesday and Wednesday because bears were spotted in the area. "The police knew bears were in the area, so they sent in their ERT team" to watch over the search teams, Ahlstrom said. The hunter's remains were found on Tuesday near Sundre. An autopsy could determine if the hunter was killed by a bear, an RCMP officer said. Sgt. Patrick Webb of Calgary said the body of the hunter showed injuries consistent with a bear mauling but police aren't sure if the attack occurred before or after death. Webb said the speed of the autopsy depends on how busy the Medical Examiner's Office is. "Usually they try to get it done the same day, but it depends on staffing," Webb said. The victim, in his late 40s and from the Didsbury area, didn't return from a trip to the Sundre area on Monday and was reported missing on Tuesday. Wildlife officers were immediately dispatched to the area about 15 km southeast of Sundre to hunt for what is believed to be a grizzly bear. Sustainable Resource Development spokesman Dave Ealey said the wildlife officers were setting up traps. Sundre RCMP said the man's name isn't being released. They described him as an experienced hunter who was well dressed for the weather. His body was found about 1,200 metres off of Hwy 22, where his vehicle was parked. Webb said the decision to either hunt and kill the bear or trap it is left up to the Fish and Wildlife Department officers. "If the examination comes back and says it was a bear that killed him, then we turn around and tell the Fish and Wildlife people it's your call," Webb said. If it's confirmed the hunter was killed by a bear, this will be the second fatal attack in less than a year in the region. Another hunter was mauled last November in an area about 60 km west of the area of the current fatality. Ealey said that anyone hunting in the area is urged to use extreme caution. Jim Pissot, a Canmore director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada, said it's been a difficult year for bears because of a lack of buffalo berries. He said although hikers tend to make noise when walking and exploring, hunters do the opposite. The police officers accompanied various teams of searchers from organizations in Sundre, Olds, Red Deer, Didsbury and Rocky Mountain House, Ahlstrom said. The Civil Air Search Association Central Alberta branch also contributed a search plane, Ahlstrom said. She said the search area was just off Hwy 22 and consisted of farmland and trees. "It was a huge inter-agency effort. "I wasn't down there but from talking to our people there, it went very well. The co-operation between all the agencies went really well." Contact Jack Wilson at jwilson at reddeeradvocate.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20081121/33266442/attachment.html From choare at shaw.ca Tue Dec 16 11:14:32 2008 From: choare at shaw.ca (Chris Hoare) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:14:32 -0700 Subject: [SaraHap] SARA Happenings December 2008 Message-ID: Hi All: 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEASON'S GREETINGS Keep warm and stay out of the ditch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2009 PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE April 24 to 26 Hosted by Parkland SAR see www.parklandsar.org or www.saralberta.org for info - register at www.ticketweb.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EMERGENCY CONTACTS So your team is on a search and you've found out that your subject is from the far end of the province. You'd like to ask the SAR team there to spend some time with the family and help develop a subject profile for you. Or your search is becoming really big, and you want to ask for help from teams you don't work with so often. How are you going to get a hold of other teams? Do you know that you can have a list that tells you how to get a hold of every SAR group in the province? Download it from http://www.saralberta.org/emergency/index.html Why not put a copy with your team's resource list or give copies to your search managers? Subscribe to the notification list and you'll be told every time the list is updated. http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-contactannounce If you have any questions or see any corrections, contact Brett Wuth . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT New Zealand groups looking for Canadian Sister teams In October I was invited to attend and speak at New Zealand's national search and rescue conference in Palmerston, North. The conference, held November 21-23, had a theme on partnerships and how organizations and government agencies work together. Two other international speakers were also invited, Mike Rose with the Devon Police, in England, and Sigurdur Olafur Sigurdsson - Siggi for short- from ICE-SAR the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue. Mike Rose's presentation focused on the policing partnerships being developed in his area and also around the issues of using search and rescue for evidence searches. Siggi discussed the history of Icelandic SAR - as a point of interest there are just over 350,000 people in Iceland and over 18,000 search and rescue volunteers. Both provided some great ideas that I think would be of value to teams in Alberta and I will be writing about them in the future. New Zealand search and rescue has a great deal in common with SAR in Alberta. Though only a third of the size of Alberta they have about the same population base - however they have more teams than us - with over 70. The teams are very grass roots orientated and have a lot of autonomy, like here some work very well with their local police - others have a different relationship. Most groups started out as "tramping" clubs and evolved into SAR groups. Like us they have issues with training and standards as at this point there is no national standard for search and rescue in New Zealand. Like Alberta they have gone around and around on this issue but seem to be making some headway now with some new initiative by Land SAR and the government. On a national scale New Zealand has created a National Search and Rescue Secretariat model on Canada's NSS and they also have a national volunteer organization - Land SAR- which represents the volunteers at a national level. There are a few key differences - there is only one police force in New Zealand but it is structured similar to the RCMP with regions set out that SAR teams belong to. Another difference is that Land SAR has hired staff and I was told at the conference that funding is about to be increased to help with both training and administrative issues. SARINZ, a not-for-profit training organization is another difference. They do the majority of training for search and rescue in the country at the moment and have been instrumental in developing material and courses in search and rescue. One of the key people with SARINZ is Ross Gordon who used to have a private company teaching SAR. He did his training with the folks from Washington State, the same people who are responsible for the training that originally came to Alberta - thus there are some major similarities in the way we do things. After the conference I had the opportunity to travel around the South Island of New Zealand meeting with different SAR teams. I was able to gather some great information that, again, I will be sharing as I think there are some really simple and very useful things teams here can learn. While talking to the teams, some suggested that they would like to hook up with a team in Canada to have as a sister team, I told them I thought that would be a great idea and would pass that on. So if you have a team that might be interested in sharing information and becoming a sister team with a team in New Zealand please let me know. There are only a few teams in this at the moment in New Zealand, but it was a rather informal request - so other teams may be interested as well. The New Zealand teams believe they can learn a lot from teams here - and I was told repeatedly that Canada is seen as one of the leaders in the world in search and rescue. Though we don't always value it, other countries see our ability to work in partnerships and to bring various organizations together as one of our greatest strengths. I was honored to speak on behalf of the volunteers in Alberta because I know, having traveled across Canada and to numerous other countries that we have some of the best SAR teams in the world right here. And despite all our issues when the call comes - we do work well together. I will be writing more in the next few days to update you on SAR Alberta's activities - there have been some good things happening and some issues we need to deal with - but overall things are moving forward and I am looking forward to a productive new year. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and may your New Year be a happy and prosperous one. Sincerely, Monica mavada at cruzinternet.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://castrov.dyndns.org/pipermail/sara-happenings/attachments/20081216/4368d599/attachment.htm